LPUK Policy: Monetary Reform. The monetary reform proposals of the Libertarian Party consist of three central planks. However, and before we can talk about what we'd like to change, we need to take a brief look at how the current banking system works, and expose the flaws that our policies seek to address.   more »

The biggest-ever loss is almost double the size of the rescue package rejected by the US House of Representatives earlier Monday.

Markets around the world panicked after lawmakers voted down the $US700 billion bailout for the financial system, raising the prospect of deeper financial turmoil.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average sank 777.68 points (6.98 per cent) to close at 10,365.45, in its biggest single-day point decline ever.

Advance Opt Out Notice to BT. To BT - Please be noted and be aware that I do not consent to any participation in the Phorm trials due to begin today 30th September 2008, and that I represent this notice as a permenant Opt Out Notice. I have not been asked, and I do not consent. Do not present me with an unauthorised intercept form asking for my participation.   more »

The package, which was backed by both the Democratic and Republican congressional leadership as well as President Bush, failed in the House by a vote of 228-205. The stock market immediately dipped hundreds of points after it became apparent that the bill would fail.   more »

Last week Reuters reported the U.S. Federal Reserve, a central bank owned by a private majority, has created over 1000 billion dollars (1 trillion) in just 2 weeks. This also shows that the $700 billion bailout bill being debated in congress has nothing to do with money but everything to do with unprecedented powers granted in the bill.   more »

A lot of those nice blogger chappies are out playing with the Tories in Birmingham this week, but whilst they are away the state of the economy is getting ever worse, fuelled over the weekend by the Treasury (aka 1 G.Brown) taking on yet more public debt by nationalising B&B to the tune of £45bln (minimum figure). So dont forget to add that to the chart below. The Taxpayers Alliance however have been busy putting some rather shocking sums together, which hopefully, our blogger chums will try to get some sensible answers out of the Tories whilst they are herded into their conference hall, hotels and fringe meetings.   more »

After the bilge and bull that came out of the Labour Party Conference in Birmingham, we are now faced with a similar amount of untruths and nudges from the Tories. EU Referendum pulls no punches in its summary of Cameron's calls for reform of the banking sector. They are promising to deliver what they cannot deliver, unless Cameron is willing to take on the EU. Well, is he?   more »

Looking through the web logs this evening, there appears to have been a lot of interest this afternoon in an article, first published in October last year, from IP addresses from within the Palace of Westminster on the domain 'hpux12x.parliament.uk'. So we will publish it again, and wonder why such interest has been raised at this time by those in the halls of power, certainly in front of an expected reshuffle by Brown this weekend. I wonder if Brown is going to hang Miliband out to dry.   more »

So Farewell then B&B but worry not those out there who have failed to heed our advice to remove your deposits that nice Mr Peston at the BBC says you shouldn't "get the willies" (?) We quote ..."There's too much at stake (including the stability of our banking system) for the government to allow B&B savers to lose a penny ...."   more »

France is moving to strip privileges from graduates of its elite École Nationale d'Administration (ENA). Nicolas Sarkozy's government plans to remove the automatic right of ENA graduates to choose the top state jobs and to reform the school, broadening its intake to closer reflect French society today. How familiar those words sound to us here in the UK.   more »

Back in August we advised of the super database that the Government was already building to collect and collate all of your mobile phone calls, text messages and emails. Today, The Register tells us that this database will not be included in the Communications Bill, but will instead be built and operate without any legal base (likewise the the ANPR and the DNA databases), outside of the coverage of the Information Commissioner, and outside of any judicial oversight.   more »

Conservative Home today is running an 'Exclusive' with regard to a speech given by former Blair aid Matthew Taylor.   more »

Who has ever heard of the private company Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation? Shouldn’t all of us be some what familiar with a company that holds $40 trillion in assets and last year handled “more than $1.86 quadrillion” in securities transactions?   more »

The EU Sceptic blog site England Expects has been consigned to the dustbin of history. Gawain Towler the Press officer of the UK delegation to the European Union Parliament's Ind/Dem Group, who writes the blog explains why.   more »

They Say Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery, so its quite a complement to see such political heavyweights as Daniel Hannan MEP and Douglas Carswell MP borrowing the Libertarian Party manifesto and putting it into book form.   more »

The Daily Telegraph tells us today that virtually all of us are criminals, that we break the law every day, in fact it says that millions of us who consider ourselves law abiding citizens break around 7 laws per week. The most common offences are speeding, texting or talking while driving, dropping litter, downloading music illegally or riding bicycles on the pavement. Other daily crimes include eating or drinking while driving, parking on pavements or not wearing a seatbelt. What is a crime? Good question, but how to go about answering it?   more »

An Englishman refers to this story from the Times, about a scheme to vote for words to continue to be included in a dictionary published by Messrs. Collins. This entire concept is what the Army would call ‘arse-about-face’. Dictionaries are descriptive, not prescriptive. Compilers collect the words that are in use and set them out in alphabetical order with their meanings, etymologies, etc.   more »

I wanted to do a quick search on the make up of the current cabinet, working on the basis that it will be all change for a lot of them following the Conference and the various fringe meetings during which the PM has been heavily critisized, albeit rather veiled by some. So, I visited the new flagship site Number10.gov.uk to get the information. Search on Cabinet, recommended link......Silly me.....   more »

In a pointed protest against Gordon Brown's increasingly rapacious tax regime, Ian Cheshire, the chief executive of Kingfisher – the company which owns the B&Q do-it-yourself retail chain – is considering moving his headquarters offshore.   more »

A secret Government report has condemned Home Information Packs (HIPs) as "a waste of time". The damning report, made public because of a Parliamentary Question, savages Labour's flagship housing policy.   more »

Conservative Home is putting forward what it calls an exclusive, that the Tories are flip flopping again, changing their minds and are going to tinker with the taxation system but not change anything.   more »

If I were a US taxpayer I'd be laughing right now. Hysterically. What other options would I have, short of picking up my rifle and walking to Washington? The text of the proposed Paulson 'bail out' has been released, and it's a real doozy. Your eyes are naturally drawn to the numbers:   more »

A council has sent staff equipped with ladders on spying missions to check whether householders are using more than one wheelie bin for their non-recyclable rubbish. Senior staff at Blackburn with Darwen Council which is a Conservative/ Liberal Democrat coalition run council, have now apologized for the "spying" missions. However, they insist that their policy of allowing only one rubbish bin per household is necessary.   more »

Lady Warnock, a former headmistress who went on to become Britain's leading moral philosopher, insisted there was "nothing wrong" with people being helped to die for the sake of their loved ones or society. The 84-year-old added that she hoped people will soon be "licensed to put others down" if they are unable to look after themselves.   more »

On the ever funny FCO blog, David Miliband makes comments about Zimbabwe and the latest actions of Bob 'I still have the Army' Mugabe.   more »

The content in the article below has been rated FFF using the Libertarian Party policy test rating. This indicates that it is detrimental to the citizens of the UK and is bad law. Back in 2005, we warned that the unelected, unaccountable quango (private limited company), the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Home Office were creating, by stealth , and without any public debate or consultation, a new National Automatic Number Plate Recognition Database which could retain the vehicle movement data of millions of innocent motorists, for excessive periods of time, i.e. up to 6 years.   more »

The Taxpayers' Alliance have produced a report examining Gordon Brown's economic reputation [PDF]; given that it is titled Gordon Brown's Economic Failure, it is almost superfluous to point out that the 'Best Chancellor ever' does not come out of it very well.   more »

The Libertarian Party in the UK is to begin using a series of tests to check the Big Government and Statist values of any policies or legislation put forward by Political Parties, Local Authorities, Quangos and the EU.


You may begin to see Libertarian Blogs using these tests as they write their articles, which we would like to see being use more and more as policy announcements are made by the Tories and LibDems in order to fool voters that their brand of Statism will be so much better for you.

The Libertarian Party is committed to making the life of the individual one which is free from Government interference, and to disentangle Corporate interests with government legislation.



If you would like to know more about the Libertarian Party and its objectives, read our manifesto or are just curious, visit our website by clicking on the logo below. You can join the Libertarian Party by clicking the Join Now link in the sidebar.



Edit: Rule 3 Rule of Law added following comment.

The following was posted on Hunter/Gatherers's blog, the dignity of struggle. It would be superfluous for me to add anything, other than noting that, bar the odd constitutional difference, what he writes about the US applies equally to the UK:   more »

Global financial markets were in turmoil again on Monday as Wall Street braced itself for a dramatic plunge in share prices after the collapse two major US investment banks. On Sunday, investment bank Merrill Lynch sold itself to Bank of America for about $50 billion in order to avert a financial crisis. Meanwhile, another top investment bank, Lehman Brothers, filed for bankruptcy protection very early on Monday after it failed to find a buyer.   more »

Chris Soghoian from Indiana posts on the Surveillance State blog of C net on September 8, 2008 . He writes ..."Exclusive: Widespread cell phone location snooping by NSA?" It is lengthy and technical requiring careful and rewarding reading. Basically Chris identifies an opportunity for NSA to use legal powers to divulge details commercial companies may have about telcom communications. The major networks – in the UK, Vodafone, Orange, O2 and T-Mobile decided, in around 2002, to sell their location data to any company willing to pay for it.   more »

A little while ago, I blogged about a (then) secret report by the EU Future Group. That report informed part of the process currently under way to roll out state surveillance and control of individuals across Europe on an unprecedented scale. Today, statewatch.org have released a 60 page report that looks at what is going on, and what is planned, in far more detail. Tony Bunyan, the Director of Statewatch and the report's author, makes some very pertinent observations:   more »

Statist politicians and international bureaucracies such as the OECD and UN routinely attack tax havens, claiming that they lead to "harmful tax competition." Yet at no point do critics bother to provide any evidence for this claim.   more »

When next we hear Gordon the Optimistic making his financial forecasts telling us we are on track for 2% growth, inflation is within targets, and that the UK is better placed than most to weather the financial storm, ask him why the EU think otherwise. My understanding of the financial rules that govern boom and bust are that 3 consecutive quarters of zero or minus growth = recession. In that case, the UK is in recession, and the bow of the ship of state is pointing south.   more »

Is anyone else getting fed up -- I mean REALLY P*SSED OFF -- with the ignorant, petty, small-minded little ars*wipes 'employed' in national and local government in this once pleasant land of ours? Some residents of Eastrington, East Yorkshire, have received letters from their local council telling them that they cannot use their own drives, as the road kerbs are not the right sort. Kerbs built by the same local council.   more »

The institutionally corrupt (no accounts for 13 years) EU Commission has given permission for the import of GM soya products by the same firm that is being investigated for killing off most of Europe's bees, with another of its modified products, the pesticide Clothianidin.   more »

The National Institute for health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) has come under fire in recent months for the time it takes to decide which drugs can be given on the NHS and for rejecting some life extending medications as too expensive. Official figures show that Nice spent almost £3.4 million, 10 per cent of its budget, evaluating new drugs and technologies last year. But the organisation spent around £4.5 million, 13 per cent, on communications.   more »

Those of you who faithfully follow your local council's diktats wrt sorting your rubbish into various categories, or those of you who have been fined for throwing a crisp packet in with the paper may have enjoyed Monday night's Tonight programme on ITV. Tonight revealed that we are being conned by our councils when they tell us that our rubbish is recycled. The Tonight investigation revealed that waste, originally collected for recycling by four British local authorities, is being dumped on Indian farmland near the migration path of wild elephants.   more »

Is this the beginning of Government controls over which software you will be able to use to contact government websites, or even the first step into the world of controlling which software you may legally use on your PC's and Laptopsin the UK. This controversial subject has been the focus of much speculation for some time and widely discussed on the internet forums and blogs. Now, The Central Office of Information is consulting on a proposal that public sector websites could exclude browsers with a low market share.   more »

UK HOME Secretary Jacqui Smith has told the NUJ that police are entitled to restrict the work of photographers in public places. She was replying to a letter from General Secretary Jeremy Dear, who had written raising photographers’ concerns at the way that police in London, notably those in the Forward Intelligence Team (FIT) have been recording their activities and impeding their ability to work while covering demonstrations. Jacqui Smith confirmed that there are no legal restrictions on photography in public places   more »

This should be interesting. Thierry Meyssan reports from Moscow that he and other leading international 9/11 truth experts have completed taping a television debate which will be telecast on the first national program of Russian state television this coming Friday, September 12.   more »

So just why are we suffering shortages and massive price rises in the UK, just who is pushing and manipulating these markets, creating a false supply and scaring the market to push prices across Europe even higher   more »

France's civil liberties groups are aghast following the creation of a computer database which will be used to spy on citizens - even those with no criminal record. The database, named Edvige, will contain personal information such as interests, sexual inclination, social circle and tax payments.   more »

Richard Littlejohn writes in the Mail about the speech that Brown made in Birmingham yesterday, eloquently summing up the national mood about this most arrogant of politicians.   more »

A German prosecutor is investigating Werner Wenning, Bayer's chairman, and Friedrich Berschauer, the head of Bayer CropScience, after critics alleged that they knowingly polluted the environment, because of the effect one of its best-selling pesticides has had on honeybees. The investigation was triggered by an Aug. 13 complaint filed by German beekeepers and consumer protection advocates, a Coalition against Bayer Dangers spokesman, Philipp Mimkes, said Monday.   more »

When you're preparing your firebombs, piano wire, lamp posts, candiru fish and cockroaches for the coming revolution, make sure you have some spare for this fucker: John Wells, Emeritus Professor of Phonetics at University College London, is proposing English adopts a phonetic approach to spelling in order to relieve kids of the "burden" of learning to write our beloved mother tongue as God intended.   more »

David Cameron has lured a team of Tony Blair's key advisers into the Tory 'big tent' as part of a sudden realignment of power and influence at Westminster, The Observer can reveal. Among those ready to help the Conservatives are Matthew Taylor, head of the Number 10 Policy Unit under Blair, Professor Julian le Grand, a former adviser on NHS policy, Geoff Mulgan, a former director of policy at Downing Street and Ken Anderson, a health expert.   more »

According to the Telegraph today David Cameron would like to see a reduction of the state: The battleground of British politics is changing. As the economic news continues to get worse, and the Government has to borrow ever more gigantic sums, the central issue for the electorate is no longer: which party can best protect public services? It is: how can the size of the state be reduced?   more »

We do hope that you enjoy your stay. Just been born? Well done, and welcome to the UK, the land of logic. We strive to make it as unpleasant as possible, with as much intrusion into your personal life as... well, as we see fit really. I'll just flag up some highlights   more »

This Indian news clip, in English, states farmers are using Coke and Pepsi as a cost effective pesticide.

Pesticides cost $20 to $30 while spraying their fields with Coke and Pepsi costs only $6.

The centre for Science and Environment found pesticide residue in Coke 24% above agreed limits. In the news clip you can see Indian farmers even diluting the potent pesticide soft-drinks with water.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fpEgurO-ec

You just never know what you are chucking down your throat these days..



Hattip WiseUp Journal

Nanny has taken a little lesson from the history books, and is employing a rather nasty little technique once used by the Nazis. Nanny's Gauliters in her local councils are employing children to act as spies.   more »

High marks for EU energy policy, the European Commission tells us. International Energy Agency issues first report on EU energy policy, praising EU moves on climate change and energy market liberalisation.   more »

No blogging today.

Am into London for meet up of like minded Libertarians, which is open to all who want to discuss Libertarian Party policy, lots of beer and chat.. about 7pm onwards.

The Rose & Crown
Colombo St
LONDON SE1

http://www.london-se1.co.uk/restaurants/map/263/rose-and-crown

Look forward to seeing everyone there.

A council allegedly refused to clean up a dustbin that fell into a four inch stream because no-one "qualified" to wear Wellington boots was available. An official from run Chichester District Council also allegedly said that ropes and harnesses would be needed to prevent workers from being washed away.   more »

Turns out that a secret report commissioned by the EU has dictated that blogging is (wait for it).... AN ANTI ESTABLISHMENT ACTIVITY. Well many people forget that over 80% of our law is now written in Brussels. The OECD's highlighting of the UK as the only one of the G7 to face recession this year highlights the end result of a decade of Labour's economic mismanagement   more »

The BBC is reporting that Lauren Booth, the left wing human rights activist and sister to Cherie, wife of the former ex, redundant, pushed out British Prime Minister Tony Blair, has said she is being prevented from leaving Gaza.   more »

A ground-breaking computer system that stores and monitors allegations made against adults working with children has been created by Hertfordshire County Council. But allegations found to be false will stay on the system for ten years and are free to be read by future employers.   more »

Nanny's special chum, Jacqui Smith (Home Orifice Home Economics teacher), has played the old politicians' trick of "leaking" a memo; the memo forewarns of strife and chaos, as the recession bites ever deeper. In summary the Home Orifice believes that crime will rise, and the "disenfranchised" would be tempted to join terrorist organisations. Why would the Home Orifice leak such a memo?   more »

Tax code changes announced earlier this year will take effect on the 7th September 08.   more »

The UK Border Agency has given a start date to compulsory identity cards, for foreign nationals applying to stay in the country as students or through marriage. From 25 November, applicants from outside the European Economic Area in these two categories will have to travel to one of six centres to enrol in the National Identity Scheme, which will include having their fingerprints and a photograph taken.   more »

Bürger in Wut (BIW) is a new German political party, (its name translates roughly as Citizens in Rage) of a eurocritical bent.   more »

The Czech Constitutional Court is now prepared to start examining the Lisbon Treaty to decide whether it is consistent with the country's constitution, the body's chairman said in Prague on 31 August.   more »

How is it possible that even under the “third way”, Labour STILL end up in exactly the same fucking place as ALL Labour governments? Skint. Society trashed, country diluted more than a month old curry, knife wielding 6 year olds ruling the   more »