Aug 31 2007
Gordon Brown and three modern horesemen of the Apocalypse
The Prime Minister’s reign began with three tragedies. Terrorism drove into the doors of Glasgow airport. Foot and Mouth pestilence spread from a government and private laboratory complex into the Surrey countryside. Floods engulfed Yorkshire, the Cotswolds and parts of the south of England. The Prime Minister cancelled his English holiday. Many of us felt the whole summer was cancelled, because it has been so cold and wet most of the time.
Most independent commentators agree that the Prime Minister’s responses to each of the three crises was appropriately serious and sombre. Now that the waters have subsided and the foot and mouth outbreaks appear to have stopped, it is time to ask how well will the government respond to the longer term underlying problems?
Foot and Mouth. It appears they did enough to contain the outbreak. We are all very pleased that is true, as some of us at the time would have had drawn a bit wider area for controls around the sick animals. The unresolved issue is how did the virus escape from the laboratories, and did it escape from the government’s own lab or from its contractor’s? If we are never to know that, what actions are being taken at both labs to avoid any future outbreak? How have the enquiries gone into possbile transmission by staff members?
Flooding. All too many people are still finding it difficult to get the help they need to repair and clean their homes after the inundation. Meanwhile, government Inspectors announce the need to build a large number of new homes across the south, including places where building on flood plains is likely. If the PM’s own even higher target for housebuilding is to be met, more flood plain will be going under concrete. The government has announced that it is close to having a plan for a bigger London flood barrier further east than the present one. That is much needed. They also need to bring forward more plans for river and coastal flood protection schemes, and to make clear there will only be building on flood plain if it is combined with projects to improve the flood containment.
Terrorism. Much of the work that needs doing has to be clandestine, as it requires more efforts to eavesdrop, monitor and infiltrate the networks that fuel this evi. The government is still too lax in its border controls on people likely to undertake terrorist activities, and needs to improve the legal framework to allow more cases to be brought to court when people have joined terrorist networks and are planning atrocities.
John Redwood has been the Member of Parliament for Wokingham since 1987. First attending Kent College, Canterbury, he graduated from Magdalen College...
The four horsemen were Conquest, War, Famine, and Death:
You seem to have forgotten Conquest, I don’t suppose the silent but effective subjugation of our Nation by a Constitution that dares not speak its name counts, does it? Or is it just me - http://www.anenglishmanscastle.com/archives/004415.html ?
Reply: a very good addition - I listed 3 modern horsemen.
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I have real concerns that your tone and choice of words when mentioning the recent flooding betrays your lack of concern for the damage that your ill considered exaggeration of the facts may cause. As a highly respected public and political figure, well informed and with the best interests for the livelihood and economic prosperity of the country at heart, you of all people should understand the importance of what you say and how you say it.
There is no doubt tourism in Yorkshire, an industry which generates
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I certainly got the impression that Gordon Brown was milking events, especially so soon after his coronation. The floods certainly call into question Labour’s ill-conceived housing policy. On the subject of terrorism its going to see what exactly Labour’s border police will look like. Will there be a crack unit set up made from servicemen and policemen, or will Labour opt for auxiliary workers and if so how will they be vetted? The border police ought to be made up of police and military, it is too important to be left to run of the mill security guards.
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I’ll read your post tomorow when I’m sober, but whilst you’re on the subject, I’m telling you, Gordon Brown is Satan himself.
In terms of the Christian Book of Revelations he wants us all to trade only with ‘the mark of the beast’ or carbon. In sub-atomic terms 6 protons, 6 neutrons, 6 electrons - 666.
Muslims believe the antichrist will have one eye - Gordon Brown has one eye. I don’t thimnk we should risk it - this Cameron seems a sensible sort of chap.
Remember people, Satan masquerades as an angel of light.
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(Unflattering personal comment re PM left out -ed|) Nevertheless, Brown has a distinct lack of vision (lol) when it comes to being PM. Cameron seems like a regular guy who would serve this country well and bring hope. Brown is negative through and through, just theoretical humble BS hokum that has no grounding in reality. Wrong man in the wrong job.
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