On the move to a new start

After nearly two years of blogging with blogger I have decided to move on to a new platform.

In future you can find me at www.kevindavis.org.uk or www.kevindavis.wordpress.com

Many more things I will be able to do and I look forward to seeing you all there.

This site will remain for a while as a signpost for those not on RSS and who lag behind.

Surbiton pub gains award

This local pub has gained an award. It appears dropping the name "Rat and Parrott" might have helped. Should the people who drink there be worried that the profits at the St. Mark's Tavern have surged by 700%?

The Publican - number one for licensed trade news, and Proud of Pubs - Award for Spirited publican

a UK bIll of Rights

It has become apparent that the Human Rights Act that the Labour Government signed us up to has become something of a joke. I am no legal expert but even if the HRA was working in the way it was designed then it is still a mess. It is a mess because its implementation has allowed the type of stupid cases that originate from Europe on a regular basis.

It has become the fear of the HRA that is the worse aspect.There was the recent case of the roof top protester who "had" to be given Kentucky Fried Chicken because not to feed him was against the Human Rights Act - there are many more examples. We are now afraid not to feed the chap because he might sue someone.

So why should Britian not have its own Bill of Rights? Germany have one so why not us?

But there is another issue. The HRA enshrines in UK law the right of Judges to argue that parliament, in setting a law, has acted in contravention of the HRA and therefore the law should be changed. I accept that Parliament frequently makes a pig's ear of framing new laws but the idea that a democratically elected institution is not able to make law unless the judiciary decides is absurd.

Before the HRA the system operated that EU Judges could decide whether new law was in contravention of the Convention on Human Rights and the Minister in London could decide what he was going to do about it. It seemed to work quite well and during the period between 1975 and 1996 only 316 cases were considered and in 16 of them a change was made. In the 18 months after the UK implemented the Human Rights Act some 431 cases were considered and in 316 of them the outcpme was affected.

At least a UK BIll of Rights would allow us the opportunity to clearly define what are the rights and responsibilites of UK citizens.

BBC NEWS | Politics | Tories want a UK Bill of Rights

Vote for a new Tory logo

 


Over at Conservativehome they are asking you to vote for what you think is the best new logo for the Conservative party. The result gets announced tomorrow at 9am.

What a mess they have made of Memorial Square

Memorial Square in Kingston needed money spent on it. They have been spending over £500,000 upgrading the pavings but the contractor has made a total pigs ear of it. It was due to be finished in early 2006. Boards then went up saying it would be finished by the end of April 2006. They missed that target and then went away for the May Merrie. They are back now trying to finish it. But even when it is finished the standard of the work is rubbish. Badly filled in holes, uneven pavings - I just hope the Council is doing something about this appalling state of affairs.

Rubbish collections

This is a road in Berrylands just after the collection of rubbish last Friday. This is not the first time that this has happened. It is probably not the fault of the bin collectors but more likely a result of the urban fox. Still, I would have thought that the bin collection contract would have the bin men tidy up this type of problem - obviously not?

Daily Mirror slams Kingston road humps

This story in Friday's Daily Mirror concerns a cyclist who had to get the bearings replaced on his expensive off road bike because of the road humps in Kingston. I drive a SMART car and am forever grounding on the damn things - who nows how much damage they are doing? I do not agree with some of these 4X4 cars but it is about the only thing you can guarantee not to get damaged by Kingston's traffic calming.

I really believe that the Council should now be consulting residents on the removal of road humps whenever they resurface a road (which I admit is not that often).