Poor Gordon Brown was on the receiving end of some vitriolic comment from David Cameron today in the run up to the Queen’s Speech. What could be so wrong with it?
Apprenticeships (draft) Bill
Applying in England, this bill is likely to give 16 to 18-year-olds an entitlement to an apprenticeship, in an effort to reduce the number of young people not in education, training or employment.
Come on, Gordy! Where are all these apprenticeships going to come from? Now, if your next proposal were to be a massive investment in basic economic infrastructure, you know, even if it’s only a couple of nuclear power stations or a maglev or two, then I could see where you’re going with this …
Climate Change Bill
This bill creates a legal framework to reduce the UK’s carbon dioxide emissions up to 2050 and beyond. It will propose statutory targets to reduce UK carbon dioxide emissions by at least 60% by 2050 and between 26 and 32% by 2020 – as compared with 1990′s emissions. Provides for pilot schemes by councils to cut household waste. Much of the bill applies to the whole UK.
Nope, nothing here which might create an apprenticeship. This one’s just silly. Gordon, repeat after me, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS ANTHROPOMORPHIC CLIMATE CHANGE!
But as I have said before, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t get rid of fossil fuel based power generation and transport systems. Why don’t you simply commit to complete replacement of our coal, oil and gas fuelled power stations with some nice, safe, pebble bed high temperature gas cooled reactors? Why not go for a hydrogen economy? Could it be that your mate Al Gore wouldn’t be able to make his millions through his various carbon trading hedge fund activities? Could that be it? Just maybe?
Energy Bill
This bill aims to provide greater incentives for renewable energy generation and to make it easier for private firms to invest in offshore gas supply infrastructure, in “carbon capture” research and provisions on nuclear waste and decommissioning financing. Applies to whole UK.
I’m confused now … why, if you want to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, are you promoting gas supply infrastructure? “Carbon capture?!?!?!” You’re nuts! Spend the money on FUSION research. Then you won’t have a carbon dioxide problem, real or not. Nor would you have a nuclear waste issue. Remind me, why aren’t we involved in fusion energy research? Oh yes, you’re blowing bubbles, aren’t you?
Constitutional Renewal (draft) Bill
Promises to “rebalance power” between Parliament and the government and give MPs more clout to hold the government to account. Subject to more consultation, the bill will propose giving Parliament powers to ratify treaties and decide whether troops should be deployed. It will also incorporate the findings of the ongoing consultation on judicial appointments and the handling of protests in Parliament Square. Most of the bill applies to the whole UK.
So, does this mean it’s going to be harder in future to get us into one of your dodgy wars? Tony was good at that, wasn’t he? Or does this just mean that you’re going to redouble the propoganda effort to make sure that MPs are too scared to say no? Just like Hitler did, maybe?
Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Bill
Allows the government to use money held in bank and building society accounts which have not been used for 15 years to provide more youth facilities. Applies to the whole UK.
This one’s great! So, I’ve got some money in a bank account that’s just sitting there accumulating interest. And you come along and take it. Isn’t that theft? Ah, I see that if I notice that you’ve done it, I can claim the money back. Does that include the interest?
Just finance the damned projects! You don’t have to steal people’s money for this kind of thing.
The rest of it bored me, Gordy. Come on, you want my vote?