Middle Class benefits

In recent days the media has been softening the public in advance of what I'm sure are some unpalatable cuts. Yesterday the Times in its editorial focused on what it deemed Middle Class Benefits. The areas under consideration were child benefit, winter fuel payments, and the free bus pass.

On BBC News the "freedom pass" was raised, when a journalist mentioned that some of her colleagues who were over sixty travelled to work for free. Now I'm sure these are the exceptions.

Rather than lumping all these benefits together under the "middle class benefits" label, as the Times did, it would be better to consider each in turn. The Times was reluctant to grasp the nettle of Child Benefit. Obviously universal benefits are made to a proportion of the population who are not in need, but Child benefit replaced a tax allowance and was designed to be paid to mothers. Two points need to be made, firstly the benefit should be skewed towards the first child, where the largest costs are involved and towards the early years when many mothers are economically disadvantaged. On the other side should government continue to pay women for every child. Should benefits be used to encourage large families/over population ?

With winter heating payments, there is no doubt that elderly people spend a higher proportion of their income on fuel payments. Whether these should start at age 60 is debatable. There is a very strong case that some of this money would be better spent on insulating the homes of elderly people. It is fair to assume that 40% of heating is lost through inadequate insulation.

Finally the Bus Pass, I'm convinced that this would be a political own goal for the Coalition government. People choose to have children, they don't choose to be old. The Bus Pass is an unreal cost, as many buses would travel with empty seats if it wasn't for the elderly.

I'm sure that this is a philosophical debate that will rumble on in the months ahead. The key issue is what facilities or benefits should a society provide for its citizens ? Should some of these only be granted to the most vulnerable ? Ultimately is it benefits such as bus passes that make Britain a decent country, ? If they were to be abandoned we might reduce a deficit but at what cost ?

Saturday news

While I was focused on the Test Match at the Oval. The Dons were in action at Kingsmeadow and maintained their 100% record with a 3-0 victory. Meanwhile at the Arsenal, Theo Walcott hit the headlines scoring a hat trick in a 6-0 demolition of newly promoted Blackpool, pleased to report that Abou Diaby ( the name on the back of my shirt), scored one goal and made another. Norwich City left it late in defeating Swansea 2-0.

Away from sport, my attention was drawn to the Australian election. Parallels with the situation in England are too apparent. On the plus side of a "hung parliament", the australian Greens won their first seat, in Melbourne, and my find themselves in a pivotal position. Meanwhile in the Australian Senate the Green vote went to 12% which should ensure greater representation. Significantly these two results show the difference between AV and STV when it comes to representation of small parties.

Test Cricket

Few of us made our way to the Oval with any great expectations of an England victory and things didn't improve when England lost their last wicket in the first over of the day Leaving Pakistan with a modest target of 148. At lunch the visitors seemed to be moving steadily towards their target, however immediately after the break Jimmy Anderson and Graeme Swann took three quick wickets and for 45 minutes the impossible seemed possible. Perhaps that's the great attraction of Test Cricket, the way the game ebbs and flows, how wickets often fall in pairs, how the unexpected happens. It leaves the spectator exhilarated. Pakistan deserved their victory and it means that the series is still alive going to the final test at Lords next week.

The Oval test in recent years has become the sporting highlight of my calendar, over in four days it leaves me wanting more, yet knowing that there is a long Ashes winter ahead.

Testing Time

After three days of Test Match Cricket England have a long way to go to save the match. It seems strange watching an Oval test match knowing that there is another test match to the played. The opening day was an unusual day for me, sitting quietly on the Pavilion Terrace. Its rare that I sit on my own, just letting the game sweep over me. Very relaxing. As I walked round the ground I reflected on a few points, firstly in the past a test series between England and Pakistan would have seen large contingents of Pakistan supporters supporting their team. Over these three days this has not been the case. This is in stark contrast to the World T20 Tournament last year.

Perhaps Asian cricket fans have abandoned test cricket with the rise of T20, I must admit to be disappointed about that. Test Cricket , for me, remains the highest form of the game. One issue did amuse me at lunchtime, deciding to walk round the ground I saw large number of England fans at the Curry stalls, while Pakistan supporters queued to buy chips. Perhaps that says something about culture in London.

The game over the first three days has been disappointing from an England viewpoint. The only highlights have been Graeme Swann's bowling performance in the visitors first innings. Swann has been England's standout performer over the last 18 months, a bowler who can hold down an end and also be an attacking threat. England 's second innings after Alastair Cook scored a century to restore his reputation, collapsed after lunch, with 6 wickets falling for just 26 runs.

Yet such is the appeal of test cricket and as England cricket fans are long suffering, that we'll be back tomorrow hoping that England can set a target of around 150 and hope for good bowling conditions.

First game of the season

Tuesday night saw the Dons first home game of the season against Histon. Histon are the epitomy of the Club punching above their weight. With John Beck as their manager they won't make many friends, but I sense they'll make it difficult for home sides, and along the way they'll collect enough points to survive.

The Dons attracted more than 3000 for a midweek game, which suggests a steady growth in support. The first half saw the Dons play some good football and with more assured finishing would have had the game wrapped up by half time. As it was it took till time added on for the beakthrough.

The visitors were reduced to ten men, needlessly when the only player who had received a yellow card decided it was smart to kick the ball away after a stoppage in play. The referee obliged by producing a second yellow. Minutes later Danny Kedwell was fouled in the box and got up to score the resulting penalty. A minute later the points were safe when Kedwell set up Wellard to make the score 2-0.

The game also marked our friend Mark 40th birthday, so the victory and Mark's birthday was toasted after the game with beer and cake !

100 days and there's worse to come

It's 100 days since the Lib Dems got into bed with the Tories and inflicted a government that seems to take such pleasure out of cutting the public sector and anciliary agencies.

The Guardian focussed on proposed cuts to conservation and environmental projects. After all the hot air of being Britain's most green government, it's come to this.

That organisations such as the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England and the Ramblers' Association have to campaign against the government is an indication of where we are at:

The scope of the proposed is best summarised in the Guardian article below:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/aug/13/plan-sell-nature-reserves-austerity-countryside

Boys' Own Cricket

Saturday saw the final days of the T20 competition. After weeks of glorious weather, rain returned in the couple of days leading up to the final Saturday. The four sides who travelled to the Rose Bowl had played 16 gams to reach that point. In the semi finals Hampshire (the outsiders) defeated Essex, and in the second semi final many peoples favourites , Notts met Somerset. Now Notts were able to recall their England stars Stuart Broad and Graham Swann, and it seemed they were on their way restricting Somerset to an average total and progressing towards that target. The game changed when West Indian international Kieron Pollard plucked a stunning catch out of the sky, one handed, on the boundary rope at long on. The game was interupted soon after by the rain that was a regular visitor across southern England. The game somewhat unsatisfactorily was decided by the D/L method.

The final would therefore be Somerset v Hampshire. The Somerset batting looked by far the stronger, and Marcus Thescothick started the innings by hitting two well placed sixes, Kieswetter carried on the good work, and when he was out, Pollard despatched two huge sixes into the grandstands. In the 18th over with Somerset well set, the game was changed by a short pitched ball by veteran Cork, which smashed into Pollard's helmet. The grill did not save him and pollard was led from the field his eye already swollen and closed.

The Somerset innings limped to a close and perhaps more significantly they lost pollard's 4 over spell, meaning a part time bowler would have to step forward. Hampshire started well and seemed on course when in the 17/18th overs wickets started to tumble. In a frenetic last over , runs were run to the keeper. The last ball and the game still in the balance, Hampshire -one run and victory, even though the game would be tied they win it on losing fewer wickets. Somerset needed a dot ball. The ball was fired into the batsman's pads , lbw was the appeal as Hampshire ran a leg bye. The umpire turned down the appeal, and Hampshire who few gave much hope to were champions.

So many twists I doubt many would have written such a script.

All a Broad

Three days away in Norfolk. How have I reached my age and not visited the Norfolk Broads before. There are a beautiful and interesting environment. We stayed just 8 miles from Norwich , yet it could have been hundreds of miles from urban life.

The Norfolk Wildlife Trust centre at Hickling takes pride of place. Walkways, hides and a really interesting boat trip on the Hickling Broad, which is the largest in he system. Learned about the Broads origins, the trades that grew up along the Broads, and the lifes of those who worked there.

Wroxham is the commercial centre of the Broads, for most visitors its where you head to hire your vessel. Yes it is a holiday centre, but stays in keeping. Its not tacky but it provides the services that both the local population and tourists need. My knowledge of Wroxham had previously revolved around their non league football club, now I know more of its origins and development. The fact that it has a railway station linking it with Norwich and the rest of the country is hugely significant.

Our final visit was to Barton Broad and here the Broads Authority run a solar powered boat, the Ra, a chance to see birdlife close up, and experience life at 4MPH. What's so pleasing is the respect for the environment shown by those working on the Broads, hopefully that rubs off on the tourists.

We stayed in the village of Coltishall, now lacking local knowledge I wasn't aware that it was once the location of a RAF base (now closed). The village itself by the River Bere, allowed some lovely walks and the Red Lion , a good pub for an evening meal and pints of Wherry Ale.

Norfolk has many attractions, far enough away from London to have an independent culture and approach to life. I'm left with both a desire to return and to experience some days on a boat on the Broads. Putting it on my list of "to do".

Who'd have believed it ?

About 8 years ago, AFC Wimbledon ran onto the pitch at Bottom Meadow, the home of Sandhurst Town to start their first competitive fixture in the CCL. Eight years later in preparation for the new season they welcomed an Arsenal XI to Kingsmeadow. The Dons now in the Conference are able to attract Premiership opponents .

On Saturday the Arsenal team coach was severely delayed by the almost inevitable traffic delay on the M25, meaning that the game did not kick off till 3.30pm. Nevertheless the Arsenal XI coached by Arsenal legends Steve Bould and Liam Brady, contained some members of the 2008-09 Youth Cup Winning Team in Kyle Bartley and Tom Cruise and the England Under 17 players Benik Afobe and Chuks Aneke.

A crowd of close to 3000 saw Arsenal defend well for 45 minutes and threaten the Dons goal on a number of occasions. The goalless score at half time, allowed both coaches to introduced a range of substitutes for the 2nd half. Arsenal's weakened their defence and the Dons capitalised with two quick goals and although Afobe pulled one back with literally the last kick of the game.

From an Arsenal prospective these games are not about results, but a part of player development where young players grow accustomed to playing the game against adults and in a more crowded stadium. Inevitably after Dons fans focused on the victory and on how far the team had come.

Hopfully Arsenal will have been impressed by how they were treated, the quality of the pitch and the approach on the field of he Dons. It would be good to think that rather than being a one-off this fixture could be part of a fledging relationship.

Will I stay or shall I go ?

Thursday 5th August - the Emirates Stadium. After a long wait those who have tickets for Arsenal members day wait for the 2010-11 first team squad to be introduced on the pitch by Arsenal legend Bob Wilson.

Wilson announces : "fresh from his World Cup success, Captain, Cesc Fabregas. Fabregas runs out onto the pitch he applauds the crowd, who in turn chant "we've got Cesc Fabreagas" Of course the key question was : For who much longer ?

There were few signs on the day. The shops did a good trade selling new kits, but not many were taking the risk of having Fabregas put on the back of the shirt. During the training session Fabregas, like Van Persie, and Bendtner kept to one side not training with the rest of the squad as not yet being fit for action.

Yet on the same day news was announced that three young Arsenal players had been selected to be in the England squad for the next friendly against Hungary, seemingly the start of the next generation. Walcott, Gibbs and Jack Wiltshere. Wiltshere will get the media attention, 18 and his premiership experience largely restricted to a loan spell at Bolton, nevertheless Wiltshere has a real presence on the ball and used last weekends Emirates Cup to showcase his talent.

It's about bloody time !

A couple of days ago the Guardian printed an article in its comment section calling for a campaign of resistance to the cuts in the public sector. Its author was Tony Benn , however it was co-signed by 70 other representatives of the left, including Labour MPs Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell and Green MP Caroline Lucas.

While some comment has talked about the "usual suspects" and "a return to the 80s" and doomed to failure. I suppose that I'm not surprised at the complete absence of the names of the leading contenders for the Labour Party leadership.. Yet it needs the Labour Party to lead the campaign against the cuts if it is to be successful.

While in some European countries cuts have been resisted, in Britain the possibility that over a million people may lose their jobs and some of he most vulnerable may be forced to live without much needed services has been met with a shrug of the shoulders and a moan. For some of us it's easy to say "Well I never voted for them" , but that in itself won't make it harder for the Con Dem government to implement these measures. Indeed I sense that the Tories have got off rather light, as most venom has been saved for Cameron's lap dog Clegg and his team of "orange book slashers".

Can it really be that the British have been taken in by the " we're all in it together" and the "there's no alternative" spin peddled by the Coalition since the election. Of course there's an alternative as Benn and co explain. How has this country become so blinkered ?

I'm left to conclude that what's lacking is a credible political alternative. Any fightback requires leadership, and as much as I applaud those who have signed the article, it needs rather more.

The truth is that since the mid 90s there has been a form of political hegemony in Britain. New Labour moved closer to the Tories and the Lib Dems who for some appeared more radical, well that radicalism was just an illusion. The marginalisation of the left in British politics has allowed the "there is no alternative" to be believed by the mass of the population. It's like farm animals being led to the slaughterhouse.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/aug/04/tony-benn-coalition-cuts-campaign

August and the staycation

August has arrived and for once we're at home. The world of politics has all but closed down , living the first weekend with a strong sports focus.

On Saturday we made our way to Islington, enjoyed a very decent lunch in an Italian restaurant ,"Small and Beautiful" in Blackstock Road, before walking to the Emirates to watch Celtic v Lyon and Arsenal v AC Milan in the Emirates Cup. Having bought the tickets a couple of months ago allowed us the rare treat of sitting in the lower tier, in seats normally held by season ticket holders. An enjoyable afternoon which showcased the talent of young midfield players, Jack wiltshere and Emanuel Frimpong. Most Arsenal fans got their first view of new striker Chamakh and he obliged with a well taken goal.

With a multitude of substitutes the final score was not of paramount importance, although Arsene Wenger focussed on the mental and physical tiredness in the final twenty minutes. Arsenal conceded an equaliser from a free kick where lack of organisation seem the main culprit.

On Sunday Arsenal defeated Celtic 3-2 to win the trophy, but the doubts remain over the defence, another central defender is a must and a settled reliable keeper would be a bonus.

In the background the Fabregas saga lingers on and as Wenger has it is now not Barcelona as a club not the Spanish press and individual players ( Messi now) who are hyping up the chance of a transfer.

Away from football, England showed their resiliance and self belief in defeating Pakistan by 354 runs in the 1st Test match. On Saturday Prior came to he rescue with a century when the more established bats failed; but the stars of the show were the England pace attack and in particular James anderson. Anderson, the waterboy during the T20 World Cup success, roared back with 11 wickets in the match at Trent Bridge , an excellent performance. Pakistan, looked like a team in transition, certainly there are some gifted bowlers but the batting looked fragile and the fielding gave an indication that all is not well in the camp.

Finally if anyone needs to learn how to win , a talk with Phil "The Power" Taylor would be a good idea. On Sunday he won the European Darts Championship 11-1 frames. Taylor continues to maintain discipline, focus and desire, a model for many other sportsmen.