There are interesting questions being asked of Mr Cameron on blogs by the Tory Party faithful.

The issue is where and from whom are they getting their funding. The essential question appears to be

"Why are Juniper Trading Equities Limited based in Geneva but registered in the British Virgin Islands, Lanners Services Limited, registered in the British Virgin Islands, The 'Medlina Foundation' of Liechtenstein and Ironmade Limited all lending millions to the Conservative party."

Politics 2006.

It is an interesting time when Scarlett of the Dodgy Iraq Dossier is rewarded in the recent Honours list. At the same time the Prime Minister freeloads on a former arsonist and we are all party to the disgraceful murder of Saddam.

It can only get better in 2007. Or can it?

A New Star.

At a time when the French have sent off their own cosmic exploration rocket to find a new star the BBC have discovered their own.

The reporting of Kate Silverstone from Iraq has been relevant, objective and informative and has also highlighted the shabby treatment of those we expose to death in the cause of the political imperative of the present Government. The fact that serving soldiers need to go public, on the lack of resources available to those who offer the final sacrifice, emphasises the disgrace of how we treat our armed forces.

Honours in the United Kingdom.

A knighthood for Bono is a further example of the total irrelevance of the whole charade.

If we must endure the award of these meaningless baubles to mainly irrelevant people can we at least ensure that those rewarded reside in the United Kingdom for taxation purposes and that we do not make non-UK citizens part of the whole Gilbert and Sullivan experience.

Plain English.

It is the time of year for awards. The Plain English Campaign's Annual Foot in the mouth award was to The British supermodel, Naomi Campbell. She allegedly said in June "I love England, especially the food. There's nothing I like more than a lovely bowl of pasta."

There was also a Golden Ball Award to our near neighbours Eastleigh Borough Council for a Notice given under the Building Act 1984 -

'Hereby in accordance with the provision of the Building Act 1984, Section 32 declares that the said plans shall be of no effect and accordingly the said Act and the said Building Regulations shall as respects the proposed work have effect as if no plan had been deposited.'

Merry Christmas.

Independence in Politics.

The public dissatisfaction with all political parties is at an all time high. The great danger is that, because of the deception and outright dishonesty practised by the discredited traditional parties, democracy itself will fall into disrepute.

At one time many elected local government members were independent. Given the limited powers of local authorities today, where funding and what they can do is largely prescribed by Whitehall, it makes little sense for local Councils to be organized on party political lines. What is required are more independent Councillors. They would at least be free of the political machines and the whipping system that directs how they will vote on particular issues. Neither would they be subjected to pressure by the extremists who tend to run the local party political machines.

We are coming to the stage where nominations will soon be called for the May 2007 local government elections. There is an urgent need for an increase in the number of people willing to stand as Independents. Maybe then the electorate, given their present general dissatisfaction with politics, will be attracted back to voting. They will at least have the opportunity to elect a representative who is not a prisoner of the political machines and who is free to vote in the best interests of their constituents.

Poetry and Humour.

The problem with approaching middle age (!) is that sometimes I listen to Radio 5 in the early hours of the morning (circa 4 a.m.). Last night there was an item with Felix Dennis who has published his third books of poems. Poetry is not normally my bag but these poems are a beautiful commentary on contemporary life. The book is entitled 'When Jack Sued Jill - Nursery Rhymes for Modern Times'. I commended it to everyone. At the risk of being sued for breach of copyright I will nevertheless give a taster -

ASBO, ASBO, little law,
How we wonder what you're for.
Chavs and yobs who love to fight
Terrorise us every night,
Toothless, useless little law,
How we wonder what you're for!

There is more of this particular poem and many more but you should either buy the book (£9.99) or borrow a copy from our excellent Libraries.

Curiously enough in Waterstone's it is in the Humour Section and not the Poetry part. It should be in both.

I do not make New Year Resolutions since I go into a deep depression when they are broken. Nevertheless as this is 21 December 2006 I have promised myself that I will blog daily from now on. It seems to me that blogging is an acceptable form of talking to oneself.

Today was bitterly cold and maybe the beginning of a hard winter promised earlier this year. As I did not have a proper winter hat (the umpteenth having been left somewhere) I ventured out in one of those terrible tea pot warmers the younger generation wear. When I passed the local beat bobbies they remarked that the hat would keep me warm but hoped I was not going out to do a bit of mugging. I said not today as I was concentrating on doing a bit of nicking. None of this was true of course but in considering such a dialogue I feel I am in touch with contemporary life.

The terrible performance last week of the Blair Government is the final straw. The practice of spinning and burying bad news is obvious and apparent to everyone. It has contributed so significantly to the general distrust that everyone has for politicians yet they appear to be the only ones who do not hoist in the fact. The reappearance of Mandelson to hasten the death of Blair's premiership seems most appropriate.

I fear my earlier suggestion (that we should consider the 12-1 odds that Blair would be gone by the end of the year) will be a lost bet. The sooner he goes the better but given his messianic beliefs he will of course hang on causing further and greater damage to the interests of the Labour Party and the Country.