Did anyone else spot the the huge misdirection during PMQs yesterday. In response to Louise Ellman MP (Liverpool, Riverside), here's what the Prime Minister replied:

I think I should tell the House that 85 per cent. of the benefits of the 10p rate go to higher-rate and basic-rate taxpayers, and that 11 million people, mainly the lowest-income people in the country, receive no benefit at all from it. That is why we have increased tax credits to tackle poverty. That is why we have increased child tax credits, pension credits and the pension tax allowance in our Budgets. That is why the Chancellor said today in his letter to the Treasury Committee, repeating what he had said yesterday, that for the group that had missed out—those of pensionable age, between 60 and 64, who were benefiting from the 10p rate—we would present proposals, perhaps using the mechanism of the winter allowance, to provide them with additional payments that could be backdated to April this year. And that is why we will present proposals on the working tax credit, which involves issues relating to young people and part-time workers, in time for the pre-Budget report.

So basically, what he is saying is that nobody is affected by the the cut in the basic rate. Read it again:

11 million people, mainly the lowest-income people in the country, receive no benefit at all from it.

Because:

That is why we have increased child tax credits, pension credits and the pension tax allowance in our Budgets.

So poor people of Great Britain, stop fucking bleating about how worse off you are now that you are paying 20p in the pound as opposed to 10p. You aren't. Gordy Broon-troosers says so.

But look at this, despite saying that no-one loses,  there are pensioners who are affected by the abolition of the basic rate and this is what Gordon the Moron is going to do:

that for the group that had missed out—those of pensionable age, between 60 and 64, who were benefiting from the 10p rate—we would present proposals, perhaps using the mechanism of the winter allowance, to provide them with additional payments that could be backdated to April this year.

Since when did people receive the Winter Fuel Allowance in April, May, June, July, August or even fucking September. It's nothing more than sleight of hand. They aren't even committing to doing anything for the pensioners, there are merely going to " present proposals" to perhaps use "the mechanism of the winter allowance".

If the winter allowance is to be used, here's who qualifies:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Inretirement/DG_10018657

Go and read it - I gave up about 3/4 down the page so goodness knows how any old age pensioner is expected to make sense of it.

And whilst Gordon was making this proclamation, the rest of the Labour mongs sat in the green seats yesterday like nodding dogs in the back of an Austin Allegro.

Frank Field apparently has torn up the amendment to the Finance Bill - well Frank, of all the Labour MPs, I thought you would have had more sense than to trust Gordy Broon-troosers.

When will they realise that Bodger and Badger have just shafted them knowing full well a vote against the government would mean annihilation in the local election? Melchett-Brown and Capt. Darling have done nothing more than offer the rebels a vinegar soaked sop.

What utter utter cunts.

And where were the "rebels" this time last year after Brownfinger (well, everything he touches turns to shite) announced in the small print that the 10p basic rate of income tax would be scrapped?. They all sat there braying like donkeys praising Brownfinger to the rafters for his tax-cutting budget. The same "rebels" who sat idly by during Brownfinger's coronation. Better start dusting off those CVs because no Labour seat could be regarded as safe now, not with Gordon the Moron in charge.

Blogging has been very light of late. Not because there hasn't been anything to moan on about, but others have been much more articulate than I at getting the points across; bloggers such as Dizzy,, Jackart, Guido, Devils Kitchen (who, I have to say, when I first started reading thought he was a little OTT but I have warmed to him) and of course, my old mucker Bag.

Also,working abroad does tend to soften the perspective in that the national news bulletins are not entitled "The Prime Minister Says". I haven't talked politics with my French and Dutch colleagues much, not because I think they are apathetic but rather they keep their political opinions to themselves.

On recent journeys to the Netherlands, France and Germany I have noted that airport security on the continent has relaxed somewhat. On our side of the channel however, the jobsworths seem to take great delight at inconveniencing travellers. I cite two examples:

1. Returning from France the other week via Eurotunnel I was waved through customs by the French officers. On stopping a British Passport Control I was given the third degree by one of Jackart's favourite people - a jobsworth in a hi-vis coat. "Where have you been? How long have you been there? What do you do for a living?" Since when did it become any of their fucking business? I answered politely and honestly whilst seething inside knowing full well that the slightest hint of facetiousness would probably result in a search involving rubber gloves. It wasn't so much the questions themselves, but the tone of the questioning.

2. On a recent return from Netherlands I was unable to get a direct flight back to Manchester and so had to trave via Gatwick. Being of the northern persuasion I'd never travelled through Gatwick before. The flight fom Amsterdam got in approx 25 mins before boarding for the Manchester flight. But Gatwick is designed so that passengers have to take a five mile walk from one end of the terminal to the other. Plus, there's no transit desk so yo have to exit via passport control and customs and then hike over to departures for the connecting flight. It was at departures I had to go through security all over again. However, this time as my passport was examined I was instructed to look into a camera mounted on the desk. WTF? Does this mean HMRC (for it is customs that operate the passport control) are recording the facial images of all travellers leaving the country now? If so, what are they doing with this data? Where is it being stored? Has it ever been transferred on a disk via TNT? Then after going through security - yeah unpack the laptop, take of coat and belt, retrieve belongings, get dressed, etc., there's a second scanning unit where you have to take off your shoes and put them through a scanner. Are these people insane? Why are we treated like fucking criminals in our own country? Is this sledgehammer to crack a nut security because some arsewipe put a few hundred grams of semtex in his trainers and then tried to set it off with a box of matches?

Seriously, the more time I spend abroad, the less I recognise Britain when I return. On the return from France I stopped at motorway services for a wee. I thought I'd walked into Fritz Lang's Metropolis - people were milling about like soulless drones, standing in queues for Costa Coffee or Burger King.

Is this what 11 years of Labour policies has done to us? It has browbeaten and sucked the enthusiasm out of the general populace so that we just operate on autopilot.

Don't know about you, but it fucking scares me to death.