http://kironreid.co.uk/newsarchive.php Recent News Stories from Kiron Reid en-GB Kiron Reid http://kironreid.co.uk/ Prater Raines Ltd http://www.praterraines.co.uk/ (c) 2010 Kiron Reid 2010-03-10T10:50+00:00 United Kingdom http://kironreid.co.uk/news/000035/more_evidence_against_god_allah_and_the_others.html http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_8458000/8458611.stm This interview by John Humphrys of the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, is one of the most impressive demolitions of 'God' that I have heard. John Humphrys does not take any stance or put forward a view, he simply asks questions as a journalist. Radio 4 Today programme, 14 January 2010 8.31am. 'Where is God in Haiti?'. The difficulty the Archbishop has in dealing with the distress of the earthquake is obvious. 2010-01-14T22:11+00:00 http://kironreid.co.uk/news/000034/attitudes_to_children_and_young_people_examples_of_media_reporting.html BBC NEWS | UK | British adults 'fear youngsters' 2009-12-14T10:29+00:00 http://kironreid.co.uk/news/000033/inspiring_hope_not_promoting_fear.html This was the front page headline of Liberal Democrat News (the only UK major party weekly political newspaper) on 26 November 2004. It referred to a speech by party leader, Charles Kennedy MP, before the Labour Government's Queen's Speech announcing its legislative programme for the year in Parliament. Kennedy spoke out in favour of action on the environment, crime prevention and preventing re-offending and against a using a climate of fear to force through repressive measures. The issues resonate just as much five years on. 2009-12-14T10:27+00:00 http://kironreid.co.uk/news/000032/consumer_issues_previous_issues__update.html I previously published links on this site and comment on three issues. These were: the appallingly bad family law firm in Ormskirk, West Lancashire, the Kennedy Partnership; a review into the law on insurance which I hope will lead to a fairer deal for consumers with the law less one sided in favour of the companies; and some complaints by me and others about the working of the digital switchover process for television. 2009-12-12T20:25+00:00 http://kironreid.co.uk/news/000031/tributes_to_sir_ludovic_kennedy.html http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8314778.stm The BBC report of the death of Sir Ludovic Kennedy is a good tribute to a great campaigner and Liberal. I met him in passing twice, hearing him speak in support of Don Foster at Bath in the General Election campaign of 1992. 2009-10-19T22:32+01:00 http://kironreid.co.uk/news/000030/the_recession_was_obvious_if_you_used_common_sense.html I've been writing about the causes of the recession. It is a length essay. Here are some snippets. The full text is in the articles and downloads section. 2009-09-24T09:12+01:00 http://kironreid.co.uk/news/000029/on_the_election_wins_for_the_british_national_party_speaker_john_bercow_in_parliament_the_ban_the_burka_campaign_tory_bloggers_political_conversion_redemption_and_reform.html They say that every dog has his day. You can only hope that the BNP being elected to Parliamentary positions will be their high point and either they will moderate their views or their supporting public will see this bunch of extremist nutters for how un British they are. It is reassuring to remember, as NW MEP Chris Davies pointed out, that 92% of people in the North West of England did not vote for this Far Right party. There were plenty of other extremists and left or right for them to choose but the main stream parties have to take most of the blame for votes for fringe candidates due to the expenses scandal by many of their MPs. Of course I am disappointed that extra people did not vote Liberal Democrat and more of my friends did not win when we stood on a pro-European platform and membership of the EU has brought so many direct and indirect benefits to British people. A lot of people across the political spectrum and outside of party politics did good campaigning work against the BNP. Will Nick Griffin realise that he has to represent the whole of the North West and everyone in it. The BNP did get a very large amount of votes in England and Wales in the European Parliament elections and some English County Council elections. Those of us who believe in a tolerant, rational, inclusive, modern and diverse (one might even say multicultural) society need to keep up the effort to engage with people who voted for them and even with their foot soldiers so hopefully they can see why they are wrong to blame others for their real and perceived problems. 2009-07-17T10:14+01:00 http://kironreid.co.uk/news/000028/the_european_elections_4_june_vote_anyone_except_bnp_in_nw_and_for_a_good_guy_in_london.html (On Facebook and web post) 2009-05-19T22:17+01:00 http://kironreid.co.uk/news/000027/idiots_who_kill_in_northern_ireland_betray_the_hopes_of_all_ireland.html These exchanges from the Facebook social network site and concluding comments show my thoughts, as someone who used to be a romantic Irish nationalist in youth and comes from a nationalist background. 2009-05-15T23:46+01:00 http://kironreid.co.uk/news/000026/vigilance_needed_to_stop_the_peddlers_of_hate_of_others.html Quite a few fake stories are circulating on the internet to try and stir up anti-Islamic sentiment. The worst one I've seen is the fake internet story claiming that teaching about the Holocaust has been banned in Britain. A complete lie. I write about the 'it seems impossible. . pps' in some detail on the views and the downloads section of my website. 2009-05-15T11:16+01:00 http://kironreid.co.uk/news/000025/thoughts_on_the_labour_government_in_2009.html The expenses scandal in Parliament, about second homes and expense claims, shows a lot about the attitude of Labour MPs and the Labour Party. So often for the party founded on principles, once its members are elected to power, they are content to become the establishment and to advance themselves. The party was founded on Socialist principles that I disagree with but principles nonetheless that were about advancing society. Yet the figures who run Labour now (whether New Labour or Old) appear as throughout the Tony Blair years to be more comfortable rubbing shoulders with right wing elites in Europe and America than with ordinary working people. 2009-05-13T22:53+01:00 http://kironreid.co.uk/news/000024/watch_or_read_obamas_speech.html Obama's speech is a message of hope and of raising people's sights and aspirations. If you haven't seen or read it, do. He may just do it; he may let people down; he may not succeed; but even if he doesn't do it the message is still right. 2009-01-21T01:28+00:00 http://kironreid.co.uk/news/000023/on_recession_tolerance_diversity_violence_crime_good_and_evil.html I'd intended to write a short article welcoming work on increasing tolerance and highlighting the need for that work in the recession. Also pointing out that mindless thugs and hooligans appear to feel they have it hard while people have real difficulties with recession, losing or fear for their jobs, with terrorism and war and poverty abroad. And pointing out that there are good people who do good work which we should recall and be optimistic about. I actually wrote a long essay that covers the following themes: 2009-01-03T17:26+00:00 http://kironreid.co.uk/news/000022/the_government_are_getting_some_things_right.html I have heavily criticised Frank Field & Phil Woolas in the past for their comments on immigration that are blatant pandering to racism. But Woolas' recent comments about controlling immigration are clearly addressing public concern. 2008-10-20T10:34+01:00 http://kironreid.co.uk/news/000021/polish__scousers_encouraged_to_get_together_in_liverpool.html "Taste of Polish life. A brand new project is inviting the people of Liverpool to get a taste of Polish life and culture. 2008-10-10T10:40+01:00