The Minister for Shipping

[Guest]

Here is a potted CV of that great boating expert junior minister Mr Keith Hill MP (for Streatham)who has introduced this insulting measure about breathalysers. Born 1943 (Jobs in sequence) Res asst in politics in Leicester Univ., Lecturer in Politics Strathclyde, Research Officer Labour party, Political liaison offcer Nat Union of Rail, MARITIME and Trpt, Asst govt whip, then minister!! Publication European Political parties; Recreations: walks, books, films. That's your man and that's his experiece of life!

 

[Guest]

For heaven's sake not even a spell as a Winger (MN slang for a Steward)

 

[Guest]

Over the side with him!!

Sue

 

[Guest]

Sue maybe you can get him as a replacement for the plank walking contest.

 

[Guest]

Could'nt we use him as the plank?

 

[Guest]

Couldn't too thick

 

[Guest]

One would need two of him, presuming he's vertically challenged..

Sue

 

[Guest]

How about a lash up then?

 

[Guest]

I expect he's a jolly good chap. (& a mate of Tone's)

 

[Guest]

How can one be a Minister for Shipping if one does not have a boat?

'Film's , books and walking' - this guy should be Minister for unemployment.

Sue

 

[Guest]

Good. Obviously a highly expereinced fellow, and just the sorrt to tell us all what to do for the best.

hands up those who voted this lot in.

Hands up those who voted the last lot in.

Are any of you ashamed of yourself?

Come back Guy Fawkwes. All is forgiven.

 

[Guest]

Re: Let\'s be positive

I like your sentiments but it's just not going to work.

The civil service, just like any other organisation

attempts to grow as much as possible.

It knows that if it made sencible rules there

would only be three of them in the office.

So it has to make complicated noncence rules that

nobody understands so it can become bigger and bigger

and earn lots of money for those at the top.

There has ben a hugh exodus of people to the sea cos,

with speed cameras and silly road markings just to name a few. The government has made the land a thoroughly unhappy place.

The civil service is running out of legislation

ideas on the land but has now realised that the sea

is a golden opertunity cos it's managed to be

prity much legislation free for thousands of years.

So theres loads of new rules it can dream up

and therefore expand it's network.

Many governments have tried to stop this in the past

but it's too expencive cos you then need a load more civil servants to do it.

Maggie Thatcher said lets get rid of rates cos its

unfair that only those people that own a house

pay for all the services used by every one else.

They can all pay a little bit each which is fairer

and cheaper.

Now along comes the civil service to impliment this idea and !!!!!

 

[Guest]

Let\'s be positive

So, he knows nothing about boats. So let's tell him what we want. If there's only us that talks to him from outside the civil service, he won't know anything else from the public side so, if he wants to do something, he can only do what we tell him.

But let only those of us who can restrain ourselves from abusive outburts contact him otherwise it'll be counterproductive.

Having said the above, I think that most politicians are maligned by the public. I think it's the civil service (and political advisers) who really prepare information for the politicians to make their speaches so perhaps we really need to influence them.

However, now is the time to influence the politicians. We've already spotted one prospective parliamentary candidate doorknocking looking for votes. A brief word now, ask the candidate to remember our interest in boats when (s)he has been elected and we've opened a door and a receptive ear for when it's needed in the future. Or is this too much like hard work and it's easier to just blast off on this BB?