British army's top woman to quit

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/jul/01/british-army-top-woman-quits

No Female General for Britain

Britain’s most senior woman officer is resigning from the army. She was expected to become Britain's first female general but after 26 years of service she chose voluntary redundancy. Brigadier Nicky Moffat says that the army cuts in 2020 have nothing to do with her decision and hopes that more young women will join the army because they are fundamental to the operational effectiveness. The army cuts in 2020 include a reduction in strength from 100,000 soldiers now to 82,000 in 2020. It has been added that some historic battalions might disappear because of the cuts.

My reaction

before I read this article I did not know Britain did not have a female general. I hope her resignation really has nothing to do with the budget cuts because I do not like people having to quit because of lack of funding. But seeing that she is a high ranking officer I think it is true she voluntary left. I hope they find another capable female to become Britain's first female general. And I hope that the historic battalions survive the 2020 budget cuts.

No Help Means No Benefits

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/may/22/jobseekers-alcohol-drug-addiction-benefits-cut

Jobseekers who reject help for alcohol and drug addiction face benefits cut

Unemployed people will be subject to a new benefits regime. When unemployed people are suspected of suffering from alcoholism or drug addiction and refuse treatment, they will have their benefits cut. The staff in Jobcenter Plus offices will be granted the power to cut the claimants benefits if they reject treatment. Analysis shows that almost 40.000 people claim incapacity benefits with alcoholism as their primary diagnoses, 13.500 of these have been claiming for at least 10 years.

My reaction.

I feel this is a step in the right direction. If you are an addict you should seek help. If you are an addict who claims money from the community you should definitely seek help, if you refuse this I think it is only right that you would be cut on your benefits. I hope this new regime will be accepted by parliament when it appears next April. I do wonder about granting that sort of power to the employees at the Jobcenter who is going to check them and see if they are doing their job right?

UK Prepares for Greek Exit

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/may/20/banks-ready-for-greece-eurozone-exit

UK banks are ready for Greek exit, says Bank of England adviser.

Britain's banks are preparing for a possible Greek exit from the Euro zone. Michael Chohrs, a member of a Bank of England regulatory body says in his first interview "British banks are ready for Greece, their liquidity is strong and they have enough capital to withstand shocks from Greece” He says it is advisable for the banks to keep building up more capital, but that is only because of the current uncertainty in the Euro zone.

My reaction

I feel it is sad but necessary to prepare for a possible Greek exit. It is nice to know that the Banks of England feel that they are prepared to deal with it without going under together with the Greeks. I hope the Dutch banks are similarly preparing for that event and that we as taxpayers don't suffer to much because of it. I hope the Greek will come to their senses and elect a government that will uphold the budget cuts instead of one that will disregard them. We'll see on the 17^th of June.

A possible standstill threatens Britain

The union of Britain's petrol tanker drivers have decided that the proposals from fuel distributors did not go far enough in guaranteeing minimum standards for safety and training and are thinking about going on strike. There are no strike dates set yet and it is hoped that more talks will prevent strikes altogether. But in the mean time the army has been training soldiers to take over fuel transport in the event of a strike. The union has said that if it comes to a strike, deliveries to the emergency services will continue.


I feel that the petrol tanker drivers are completely in their rights, they are petitioning for minimum standards for safety and training! Most of the accidents on motorways are caused by trucks, so if this can help diminish that i'm all for it. I do wonder why the fuel distributors are against those standards, perhaps the feel it costs too much or that they won't be efficient enough but I feel that even if it saves only 1 live it is worth it.

Finally four charged in Jamie Dack case

3 man and 1 women have been charged with the murder of Jamie Dack. Jamie's body had been found by firemen tackling a blaze in the bin at the Empress Road industrial estate in Southampton. Ryan Woodmansey, 31, Lee Nicholls, 28, Andrew Dwyer-Skeats, 25, and Donna Chalk, 20, are charged with murder, false imprisonment and conspiracy to rob. Dack was probably kidnapped to steal his bank card and was attacked with a baseball bat before being stabbed to death and set on fire

I am rather happy that, in this gruesome murder case, four people have been finally charged. I hope they will be found guilty and I would like to learn their motives how what seemed to be a fairly standard robbery turned in to a gruesome murder and desecration. I hope the firemen won't be traumatized by their find and that if it turns out they are, psychological help will be provided.