You are currently browsing the daily archive for May 6th, 2008.
The report by the Office of National Statistics about the inevitable increase in Englands population, making it the most crowded major nation in Europe, will no doubt prompt a lot of discussion. Deservedly so, however leaving all that aside there are other points worth raising which are tucked away in its pages.
Whilst populations in the South East are projected to jump, populations in Scotland and the North East are expected to remain static. If immigration is so good for us why are these regions being denied its benfits? If immigration is so important, why is our control freak government leaving it to market forces.
Its not as if there is not room or need in the North for fresh blood. Scotland suffers from a declining population and the charm of Alex Salmond do not seem to be reversing the trend. Its not as if there is currently any overcrowding in these regions. Glasgow has suffered massive population loss and Newcastle has also suffered some decline.
On issues where some central direction might be welcome our government is strangely silent.
After waiting years for one to turn up, three elections arrive at once.
Following the local elections and the London Mayoral election we now have the by-election at Crewe and Nantwich. Political geeks and hacks can hardly be believing their luck – especially since it seems Miss Great Britain has announced her candidacy.
You have to hand it to the Conservatives, they are quick out of the blocks. There has already been a lot of coverage of the Conservative candidate’s open letter to his labour opponent, outlining 10 quite pertinent points, now we have a Tory initiative involving Rolls Royce. Rolls are Derby based but traditionally were assocoiated with Crewe (Bentley cars are still based there). Expressing concern at Britains declining industrial base could not be more timely.
