MOD RELEGATED AFTER A SERIES OF HEAVY DEFEATS.

You could not make this up. Bring back the pigeons. I know its old news but you got to laugh.

From The Times

March 8, 2007

MOD NEW RADIO TOO HEAVY FOR MOST SOLDIERS.

Michael Evans, Defence Editor

A new radio system for the Armed Forces, developed at a cost of £2.4 billion, is too heavy for the average soldier to carry, a report by MPs has revealed.

Soldiers using the Bowman digital radio have also found that they cannot talk to other communication systems deployed with allies on the battle-field in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Edward Leigh, chairman of the committee, said: “The Bowman radio packs, despite the repeated concerns of directors of infantry, weigh a ton and so can’t easily be carried by the infantry in combat.”

MPs said that the MoD had paid an extra £121 million to General Dynamics to ensure that the first phase of the Bowman programme was completed on time.

Missing the targets

Eight advanced special-operations Chinook Mark 3 helicopters were bought from the United States for £252 million 12 years ago but have been grounded ever since because they cannot fly in cloud… DOH!!!

More than £90 million was spent to modify the standard SA80 rifle after numerous complaints from soldiers that it jammed and that bits fell off. DRAT….WE SHOULD HAVE GOT A WARRANTY FROM THE MANUFACTURER

The £2.2 billion Nimrod MRA4 maritime patrol and attack aircraft programme ran into trouble when it was found that the wings were the wrong size…….. HELLO!

Northern Ireland 8 —– NHS junk computer 7

Yes a bit of a result for Northern Ireland gaining £8 billion from the Government who only spent £7 billion on the NHS Computer system that doesn’t work. There is one slight problem The NHS Computer may well get a few more in injury time as N.I. is finished scoring for this year at least.

I just heard on the news that consumer spending in the UK this year is expected to top £600 billion. Now that set me thinking… The government would get at least £60 billion of that in VAT AND PROBABLY A LOT MORE. Never mind the money they get from Income Tax, Corporation Tax, Inheritance Tax, Rates and the rest of the little schemes devised to extract money from the general public. An interesting one that you couldnt make up goes like this…… Your relative dies in Plymouth and you live in Manchester, to bring the body home you have to pay a tax for each county it passes through, what sick mind came up with that idea? What exactly do they do with it all?

Why did Northern Ireland only get £8 billion? We live in the most expensive part of the UK; we have the lowest wages, highest fuel costs, food costs and housing costs. The Government says (Peter Hain 2005) we get £5 billion more than we contribute, presumably that means we contribute £3 billion and it costs the UK Government £5 billion a year to keep us going. Local Government (its not really a government, its more like a franchise or something) can’t reduce corporation tax to compete with the Republic of Ireland for investment so we are prevented from competing on a level playing field.

Now the British Government is not completely stupid but are they paying us £5 billion a year so that we cant compete with the rest of the UK? It’s a possibility is it not? After all £5 billion is a pittance in their terms.

Up to £100k a Year. No Experience or Qualifications required.

No sales, No Targets but an ability to waffle and tell lies would be helpful. All you need to do is get elected to parliament. It is astonishing that the people running the country don’t need even a single GCSE. An office manager with a dozen staff usually needs a good University Degree and he will have targets and earn every penny of a £30k a year salary.

Perhaps we are wrong to expect our* politicians to make reasonable decisions based on experience and knowledge when they don’t have either (actually they are your politicians not mine as I don’t vote).

The decision making process probably goes something like this….

“What shall we do with Northern Rock?”

“Why don’t we get Branson to take it over?”

“But hes the guy who defrauded the Vat people of 60k”

“Yeah but that was years ago, and he looks a bit like Jesus…. go for it”

“Well done Prime Minister”

IFA £8 Million — Village Residents 0

The Village Residents did score but this was disallowed when the Minister discovered there was no money left to refurbish the sub standard homes in the Village Area.

• BUDGET BITES AT HOUSING FUNDING

Residents of South Belfast’s Greater Village area were left reeling this week after being told they will not be receiving funding for regeneration of the area. In a meeting with representatives from the Department of Social Development on Monday furious residents were informed that budgetary restraints mean they will not be given any public money to address the housing crisis in the area. The news comes after a year of protests and marches by residents, cross party support for the campaign and a visit from social development minister Margaret Ritchie who said a number of the properties were “unfit for habitation” and pledged there would be a “balanced and comprehensive” regeneration of the area.

Around £8 million has been promised to local football…. by the Department of Culture, Arts & Leisure if the two main associations streamline into a smaller, more representative board.

No money for houses but £8 Million for local football? OK I know it’s a different department but its still government money.

£200,000 for a sculpture in Belfast Centre and no money for houses!

£8.5 million to refurbish the Ulster Hall and no money for houses.

The list is endless………..

One of the key skills of Management is the ability to prioritise

Has anyone checked to see if these politicians know what they are doing? Do they have any management skills? It doesn’t look like it.

You are entitled to know because these decisions are made on YOUR behalf.