Friday on my mind

The last couple of weeks have seen a shortage of interesting political stories, then all of a sudden they come in waves. So today I'll catch up on the developments that have taken my interest.

Firstly the Catholic Church reveals that the attempted ordination of women priests is a crime. A news story that tried to lessen the bad publicity regarding the Church and child abuse , turns into an own goal of huge proportions. The PR department of the Vatican might think its Ok to lump together child abusing priests and women who want to play a full part in church life, but for the rest of us it rings of values centuries out of date. Just why thinking, liberal people and especially women remain loyal to an institution that practices gender apartheid is bewildering. In the weeks ahead I suspect there will be a growing wave of protest against public spending on the Pope's visit to Britain.

While on the subject of public spending, Cameron seems to be back tracking on his pledge to keep free bus passes for the over 60s. Now I must admit a certain amount of self interest here.

However having already scraped free swimming for pensioners, it is just another example of those who are unable to pay taking the brunt of the cuts being inflicted by the CON DEM government.

Is the BP Gulf of Mexico saga coming to an end, I suspect that if the new cap prevents further seepage then the media will lose interest fast. This of course will be little use to the inhabitants around the Gulf whose lives and way of life have been massively affected in recent months. What is being conveniently forgot is the destruction the spill has reaped upon wildlife and the ecosystem of the Gulf. What price should BP have to pay for that ?

It has been revealed that the CON DEM govt is prepared to permit deep sea drilling off the coast of the Shetlands. Now while the oil companies may celebrate, the people of Scotland will once again potentially suffer. After the recent events in the Gulf of Mexico what sane person would agree to deep see drilling off the nation's coast. It seems that the government that promised to be the greenest government in the country's history is nothing of the sort, and Cameron is , in the words of Palin a supporter of " drill, baby, drill".