We already gave away our infrastructure. How can we ensure security now?

Posted on November 17, 2015 by Nicky

George Osborne has announced this morning that Islamic State is plotting deadly cyber-attacks on UK targets. To combat this threat he plans to double funding to fight cyber-crime to £1.9bn by 2020.

No great surprise there. Neither are the examples he gives as likely targets; hospitals, energy infrastructure and air traffic control.

The question this forms in my mind is ‘How?’. Our energy is privatised, as is our water. Air traffic control is operated by NATS, another private company, and our hospitals are heading that way.

Is the government suddenly going to give these private operators more cash to secure their systems? Are they going to wait for a threat to happen – then spend the money investigating it? Are GCHQ going to monitor their networks?

The biggest threat to the security of our vital services is loss of control – and that has already happened. Any action the Government chooses to take now will be akin to a bail out.

 

 

 

 

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Flirting with China is anything but secure

Posted on October 20, 2015 by Nicky

We’ve established by now that the theme of Government rhetoric is Security, and I suspect that there is a weekly prize in Cabinet for the minister able to come up with the most creative application of the term.

This week I nominate the Foreign Secretary, because apparently our cosying up to China is going to bring us Economic Security, which in turn guarantees National Security. Note how he’s already ahead as he got the ‘S’ word in twice!

I find this amusing, since our cousins across the pond gave China a really hard time over state sponsored hacking, which if I’m not mistaken is a definite threat to National Security.

That aside, I’m not so sure about the Economic Security argument either.

The term Economic Security implies a degree of stability and self sufficiency. The kind of concept that is associated with a country not heavily dependent on the politics, fortunes or whims of other sovereign states – such as China. When we go cap in hand to the most ruthless example of capitalism on the planet we can hardly be surprised when we get dropped as they got a better deal elsewhere. Furthermore, where does our Economic Security lie when we choose to import steel from China while letting plants in the UK collapse?

As I see it, the only way this Government can start to talk about Security credibly is to invest in the areas that can guarantee our future on the world stage. We must invest in skills, research, innovation and technology if we are going to have anything other than a low wage labour force and a tax haven.

 

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The Evangelical Alliance submission to the UK Government Transgender Equality Inquiry

Posted on October 18, 2015 by Nicky

Note: Updated Monday 19th Oct with expanded response to suggestion of anorexia as an overvalued idea.

I have just come across a piece of written evidence submitted by the Evangelical Alliance to the recent Transgender Equality Inquiry held by the Womens and Equalities committee of the UK Government.

Unfortunately I do not have the time here to summarise and comment on the whole submission, but there are some points I consider really important to make and I’ll probably add to this over the next few days. So if you haven’t read it yet, I urge you to click on the link above and read it for yourself before continuing.

It is clear that the submission is intended to protect the rights of those the EA represents against any advancement in equality legislation that would amount to the granting of ‘special privileges’ to another group based on gender identity. However, the way the submission specifically undermines and devalues the experience of those suffering from gender dysphoria betrays a level of arrogance, ignorance and spite that is simply breathtaking.

The submission states ‘Our fundamental position is based on the reality that a person cannot change their sex’. Actually I agree with this point, they cannot. But the most clinically successful treatment for many people experiencing gender dysphoria (but many do not take this path) is to align their physical experience with the gender they identify with internally. This is a very different reality.

Unlike the EA, I can offer some credible, research based material to back up my point of view. The World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) is an international association devoted to the understanding and treatment of individuals with gender identity disorders. Founded in 1979, and currently with over 600 physician, psychologist, social scientist, and legal professional members, all of whom are engaged in research and/or clinical practice that affects the lives of transgender and transsexual people, WPATH is the oldest interdisciplinary professional association in the world concerned with this specialty. The NHS has adopted WPATH guidelines for the treatment of gender dysphoria. You can read what they have to say here.

The submission goes on to state:

Because we regard gender dysphoria as a psychological condition that can best be described by the category of ‘over-valued ideas’, akin to those who suffer from anorexia, dysmorphophobia and related expressions, we reject the moral acceptability of treating psychological conditions with surgery.

So anorexia is an ‘overvalued idea’. Really?

It’s interesting how the EA chooses to dismiss theories of gender dysphoria yet readily embrace a psychological theory that is best described as ‘niche’. Whilst an element of the condition is undoubtedly delusional, there are a number of contributory factors ranging from personality to genetics, and to distill these to a single cause is, frankly, bad science.

But let’s for a moment consider that the nature of gender dysphoria is delusional in nature and similar to anorexia. My daughter suffers from anorexia. Aside from the acute danger to her physical wellbeing this illness has led to deep depression and caused her to contemplate suicide on a number of occasions, most frequently when she is near or at a healthy weight. This experience is common with many people who experience gender dysphoria and are unable to reconcile their identity with their physical body.

Another point. “We are also seeing increasing numbers of cases of people unhappy about their transgender process and who have reverted to their birth gender and/or have sued those who encouraged them to transgender in the first place.”  That’s interesting. I would very much like to see the citation. Bearing in mind that this is an ‘extremely rare condition’ I could cite two studies that draw this statement into question. The first (Pfafflin and Junge) looked at 70 previous studies on outcomes of sex reassignment surgery including 2000 individuals between 1961 and 1991.  The second later study considered long term follow-up of 66  Male to Female transexual patients.

  1. Pfafflin F., Junge A. (1992) Sex Reassignment: 30 Years of International Follow-up Studies after SRS http://www.antijen.org/Articles/cohen.html
  2. Krege S., Bex A., Lummen G., et al. (2001). Male-to-female transsexualism: a technique, results and long-term follow-up in 66 patients. BJU International. 88:396-402. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11564029

A quick Google search will surface a few dozen instances of people who have sought to reverse transition but these are still the overwhelming minority. The WPATH Standards of Care on which NHS treatment is based are, in fact, incredibly stringent and go to great lengths to ensure that the treatment provided to people experiencing gender dysphoria are right for them and not taken lightly. Most people accessing NHS services will actually tell you that the process is actually too stringent.

I have more to say but I’m leaving it there for now. Suffice to say I’m not a fan of this submission or the EA.

N.

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It’s One Nation. You just need to work out if you belong.

Posted on May 27, 2015 by Nicky

As the Queen outlined the 26 bills to be introduced by ‘her Government’ this morning, each cleverly worded statement felt like the standard representing ‘One Nation’ was being hammered deliberately and decisively into the bleeding heart of our society.

Many have expressed doubts as to how a ‘One Nation’ vision could ever describe a country with such extremes of wealth and poverty that even the United Nations has started to take note. I think the answer is as clear as it is chilling.

For a start, let’s be clear that ‘One Nation’ has nothing to do with John Major’s vision of a ‘classless society’. The patronising label of ‘hardworking citizens’ is divisive, not just to those it excludes but also to those it names. Class keeps people in their place, which is essential to the fabric of a ‘One Nation’ society.

It has become clear to me that being part of ‘One Nation’ also has nothing to do with living in the United Kingdom. The two cannot be synonymous. If so, why exclude immigrants, even those who have lived in the UK for many years, from the EU referendum? Likewise, if you’re not considered ‘hardworking’ it’s likely you don’t count either. After all, we learned today that the goal of proposed ‘legal high’ legislation is to ‘protect hard-working citizens from the risks posted by untested, unknown and potential harmful drugs’. Those reliant on any kind of benefits and characterised as scroungers – why would you do that if the objective is not to divide?

Consider this statement made by David Cameron earlier this month:

“For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens ‘as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone”

Incidentally, the phrase ‘hardworking’ is conspicuous by it’s absence. More significantly it also widens the net for the Government to crack down on anyone it feels is acting contrary to British values (see here for more) – outside the rule of law. So here we see it’s quite possible to be a British citizen and clearly find yourself outside the boundaries of the ‘One Nation’.

The underlying value system of this ‘One Nation’ is unabashed and naked Neoliberalism. You can be part of this, if you ‘fit’. If you don’t it’s your choice. Unfortunately, as is so often the case with government, legislation is a blunt instrument and is unable or unwilling to understand if it is your fault or not. For the sick and disabled the prospects are truly horrific.

 

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Guinea Pigs to the rescue!

Posted on April 17, 2015 by Nicky

I put out the word that you need guinea pigs…..

They came from far flung places…

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Some running…..

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Some swam….

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Others were too cool to walk….

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Some wise..

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Some cute…

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Strong…

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Fearless…

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Studious…..

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And even royalty. ….

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But however cute, funny, clever, strong plain bonkers they are they can’t compare with you!

Hope this makes you smile x

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Rochester, a triumph of pantomime over policy

Posted on November 21, 2014 by Nicky

I doubt whether too many people are really surprised that UKIP won the Rochester and Strood by-election yesterday. It was a stunt by a disgruntled Tory who got a better offer and gets to enjoy his few moments of attention before disappearing into oblivion.

When Labour got wind that UKIP had banned their Activists from speaking to the Media for fear that they would be too ‘UKIP-y’ I would think they had little idea that the indiscretion of one of their own would be sharing the headlines with Farage. Emily Thornberry failed to contain her excitement of seeing a house with columns and flags that didn’t qualify for the mansion tax and the damage was swift and irreparable.

British Politics is about Pantomime. The media directs and the politicians play to their tune. Unfortunately, the majority of the media is also biased – so the left will always be the ugly sisters while the right are the heroes. At present, it seems that Farage is playing the Dame that the audience just loves. The big problem is that the British public get sucked into the drama, and the laughs, and forget what’s really at stake.

And this is the real danger zone. When voters become an audience and forget that, quite literally, lives and livelihoods are at stake then anything can happen. We have to hit the reset button and reform the system. We have to see policy, once again, take centre stage.

Polls suggest that when it comes to May, the Tories will retake Rochester and this little shindig will be forgotten. However, what is has done is laid bare the truth of British politics and why it is still capable of delivering the unthinkable into the next Parliament.

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Mr Cameron, you can’t have it both ways

Posted on November 17, 2014 by Nicky

At the end of the G20 summit in Brisbane the British Prime Minister took to the stage and issued a stark warning that the world was headed towards another global financial crisis.

This was not a great surprise to many commentators who had been seeing the signs in their tea leaves for some time. However, it is a sobering reminder of the fragility of the world economy and the fact that global markets resemble an intricately stacked house of cards.

At home, it has not escaped notice that Cameron was quick to blame Labour for the last crisis, yet he’s getting his excuses out first by blaming the rest of the world for harming the UK’s ‘recovery’. It’s so convenient when you can control the story.

However,  I think this begs a deeper question about the nature of the UK’s ‘recovery’. The coalition achieved top line economic growth by letting the financial markets do it’s thing and bring cash into London. This ‘light touch’ approach, or put more simply to just let the markets operate freely, is favoured by the current administration. This is not a great surprise since the Tories are bankrolled by the very same institutions being given free reign. This approach has, for a time at least, boosted GDP and has succeeded in drawing some money to the capital. However, there has been little to cheer about elsewhere in the UK as the Coalition has failed to translate any of that wealth into wider society.

Where the wheels really come off is that the same financial market that has driven the UK ‘recovery’ is the same market that now threatens it. The debt fueled habits of the Finance industry have been allowed to continue, because the figures looked good and the UK could boast about leading growth in Europe. However, underneath it all, nothing of substance remains and this is why we are so vulnerable. A progressive, sustainable recovery could have weathered the coming storm a little better. Unfortunately we’ll never know.

David Cameron has a solid track record of turning on his friends to save himself. However, I doubt the financial industry will be too bothered as they are as ruthless and treacherous as he is.

 

 

 

 

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Is Austerity just a smokescreen?

Posted on November 16, 2014 by Nicky

In the past 4 years, many of us have been deeply unconvinced by the coalition statement that “We’re all in this together”, sensing that Austerity has taken from the poor, single parents and large families while rewarding the more affluent in society.

According to new independent research, previewed in the Observer today, we were not wrong. You can read their analysis for yourself, but I do want to draw your attention to a key finding that deserves more attention than it gets in the article.

For me the most significant statement is that this transfer of income had no effect on reducing the deficit. The report points out (as quoted by the Observer):

“The reforms had the effect of making an income transfer from the poorer half of households (and some of the very richest) to most of the richer half, with no net effect on the public finances. “ (emphasis mine)

There are two possible explanations for this:

1. George Osborne is completely incompetent and the package of changes he has made have completely failed to achieve any deficit reduction (it has in fact increased).

or

2. The whole plan is ideologically driven – that this was a redistribution of income that was never intended to reduce the deficit. In fact, given the groups that have benefited I would even dare to suggest this could be a shameless attempt to shore up the Tory vote.

Taking into account the recent announcement relating to removing the 55pc tax on unused pension assets, which removes altogether another tax on the wealthy, it is evident that the Tories are anything but equitable. I am shocked that they would even consider it while the deficit continues to increase.

David Cameron has gone on record stating he has a moral duty to cut taxes while the Civil Service has been put on notice to find an additional £30bn in cuts. If the Tories gain control of the next parliament, the impact on our social fabric promises to be even more devastating.

In the run up to the election, The Tories and the right-wing press will question voters who they would trust with the nations finances. I’m sure they would be first in line to criticise a single parent who maxes out their credit card to feed and clothe their children. Yet, this research proves that the Tories have maxed out the nations credit card on gifts to their friends.

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In this age of technology why is working in London still so important?

Posted on October 29, 2014 by Nicky

I spent last week visiting members of my team based in India. I visit a couple of times a year to work on specific projects or areas, but most of the time we collaborate using videoconferencing, shared screens and chat services. While we were out there I met colleagues from another extended team. One was a New Zealander based in Glasgow, his companion was just hired in New Jersey and they had other team members in spread across the globe.

When I was growing up this possibility of working so effectively across borders was a dream, yet here we are now living it on a day-by-day basis. Yet, in an age where London is recognised as the most expensive city in the world to live and work and we continue to struggle with regional development, why are so many of us stomaching the costs and continuing to work there? As I started to write this post Neal Hudson, a housing analyst working at Savills, posted a series of images showing the average strength and direction of commuting by local authority. For me, this picture really emphasises the dominance of London as a working base.

Commuting

When I was growing up, I remember a series of advertisements promoting Milton Keynes. The invitation to companies to up sticks and move from London to a greener city was compelling (until, perhaps, you actually got there) and a few did. But with the spiraling costs of living, overloaded transport system and the environmental cost of commuting shouldn’t we be looking elsewhere?

The parallel story is the growing economic gap between the south-east of England and the rest of the UK. The graph below shows the differential in Gross Value Add attributable to each UK region in 2012, coloured by the rate of growth between 2011 and 2012. While London has arguably reached saturation point, the South East continues to grow strongly. This is in contrast to areas like the Midlands that hardly grew at all.

GVA By Region

 

 

It’s clearly not sustainable for this rate of growth to continue, but frankly I thought we would have reached a tipping point before now. Yet, the focus of discussion seems to remain on keeping up with and accommodating the continued growth of London, rather than addressing the demand. This will only be achieved through significant social and environmental costs. In fact, we are already seeing the poorest in London being moved out, compounding issues of unemployment and social costs elsewhere.

I have no scientific basis for this, but my hunch is that a large portion of economic growth in the South East is down to London-based workers living in a commutable distance and spending where they live. So my hypothesis is that if a proportion of those workers were not tied to London and were based elsewhere in the UK then their spending would translate into a measure of growth elsewhere.This could be achieved through a mix of flexible working, technology and planned growth in regional offices of companies that either have or are prepared to invest in locations outside of the South East.

In spite of the increase in costs to firms and their employees, it seems evident that this kind of shift is not going to happen voluntarily so some kind of additional incentive is required. Differential business rates, even where rate-setting is devolved to local authorities, could make expansion of regional offices more favourable and tax relief on technology that enables flexible working could both help, yet I cannot help wondering if there are cultural barriers to overcome.

For some, working from home has become a euphemism for a day off. Whilst for some this is be a real possibility, adapting management approaches to enable greater flexibility have in many cases paid off through increased productivity and engagement.

This is not a panacea and by itself will not suddenly re-balance our regional economy. However, something needs to be done to address the problem of London and the associated social and environmental catastrophe it is rapidly becoming. It’s time for us to stop accommodating the demands of a spoiled prodigy and look towards a more sustainable future for the nation as a whole.

 

 

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ISIS and Ebola – which is the greater threat?

Posted on September 24, 2014 by Nicky

I’m once again caught in a counterpoint between huge issues in the news. The first concerns Ebola, and the shocking WHO statistic that 70% of people in Africa contracting the disease will die. The second is the question of bombing ISIS, which according to Cameron, is necessary otherwise they will attack the UK.

I guess the way the two are reported really underlines the priority of the western world, Obama has already ordered air strikes and we are likely to recall Parliament for permission to do the same yet there seems little interest to express the same level of concern over the epidemic in Africa.

This seems both wrong and deeply flawed on a number of levels. First of all, is the risk of Ebola killing thousands greater – including the risk of it spreading over here? Secondly, after decades of interference in the Middle East have we not learned that insurgents can’t just be bombed – and sending ground troops just results in an extended and bloody guerilla war? And given that many jihadis from the UK are fighting in Syria and Iraq is that really going to weaken their capability to attack us here? Instead I see it will only strengthen their resolve while adding ‘legitimacy’ to an attack on US or UK soil.

Whilst I see an obligation to protect and rescue minorities who are being wiped out I struggle to see the goal here. Iraq and Afghanistan should have taught us that we cannot bomb an idea out of existence, and all that remains is a vacuum waiting to be filled by those who believe the land is rightfully theirs. The videos of beheaded hostages were designed to do one thing – draw the US and UK into a conflict they cannot win. Unfortunately, the popular press with it’s characterization of ‘Jihadi John’ has served them far too well, egging on an administration clueless, but convinced they have to do something about it.

In the meantime thousands continue to die unnoticed in Western Africa until, of course someone with Ebola makes it into Oxford Street,

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