Wednesday 2 October 2013

I support Ed: the 'Daily Wail' had no right slagging his dad off

I’m gunna be blunt: this pi**ed me off.
I think I’ve criticised every party leader in some way or another after seeing them on telly or reading something about them or what they’ve done/said, but 1 thing I will not do is treat someone as though members of their family are fair game to slag off because I don’t like them.
I am me: I am not my dad. Frankly my dad is an abusive arsehole. That does not mean that I am. It doesn’t mean that I can be expected to inherit being disliked, I didn’t pick my dad I got the one nature gave me, not my fault.
Fortunately for Ed Miliband he actually has a father worth defending, and despite their differences I’m glad that the other party leaders have stood by him in condemning the Daily Mail for claiming Ed’s father ‘hated Britain’ in order to tarnish Ed’s reputation.
Firstly I think Ed is a much better judge of his father’s politics than a newspaper can be, as they are after all family.
Secondly I think Ed should be judged on what Ed says and does, not his father’s beliefs; especially as clearly Ed’s father didn’t hate Britain because he defended this country in the 2nd world war. Yes, I’ve criticised Ed myself once or twice; but who his father is does not reflect in my view his ability to run this country.
In fact it would be just as stupid as asking the current Daily Mail staff to inherit being disliked because of the fact that between 1934 and 1939 the Mail was pro-Hitler (we don’t hold it against you; but don’t think we’ve forgotten).
In conclusion I would like to say a big thanks to the Daily Mail: I already said I’m glad his opponents in government stood by Ed in this in giving you the middle finger - but if they didn’t they could probably have really used this to damage him and the fact that they stood up for him, and criticised you fear-mongering guys and girls has left me that little bit less cynical of British politics than I was yesterday. It proves that they are guided by a sense of right and wrong and not just self-interest. Not the outcome you were hoping for was it?

Tuesday 1 October 2013

30 hour week: we'd get more done


I completely agree with this article: I have the luxury of setting my own working hours as I work as an author; however I know that a lot of other people don’t. Firstly working more than 40 hours a week and in my view your taking work away from someone else, working more than 48 and your being taken for a ride. A cut down from a 5 to a 4 or 4.5 day week in my view would better our productivity. We’d be less tired at work, we’d get to spend more time with friends and family so we’d be happier and to top it all off the unemployment figures would fall through the floor.

My Little Blue Book is now avaliable on kindle


I got the e-mail this morning; My Little Blue Book is now out in its kindle edition:

UK


USA


Canada