View From The House - 2nd October 2003

Reprinted From The Lichfield Mercury

SOMEONE SAID TO ME that the other day that the Hutton Inquiry is only interesting to those who follow politics closely. For those who have followed the day by day events, this may be true. But the phrase ‘cynical duplicity’ used by the Kelly family lawyer referring to the Government is striking a chord with many more.

Geoff Hoon’s assertions that he had nothing to do with the release of David Kelly’s name have now been revealed as untrue. His actions during the inquiry had been "hypocritical" and evasive, and the defence secretary was guilty of a "cynical abuse of power", the inquiry was told. But, you know, this has been symtomatic of this Government since the very day they were elected. Stephen Byers made assertions which forced him to resign eventually. Mandelson twice made assertions denying his wrong-doings. He had to resign eventually. Twice! I am not saying that all was rosy in the Conservative Government. It was not. But at least when Ministers were caught out, they admitted it and resigned immediately. It’s this bear faced lying under the Blair Administration which is so disgraceful.

EVEN JACK STRAW, someone for whom I have a certain respect, makes the most incredible assertions not based on any fact. Regular readers will know my doubts on whether the European Union benefits Britain’s economy or not. Time and time again our Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, together with Tony Blair assert that our membership of the European Union has created 300,000 jobs and had made our nation more wealthy. Well, maybe they are right. But they just don’t know and neither do we. A Foreign Office Minister finally admitted to me on the record in the Commons Chamber that no financial analysis has been conducted by the Government since 1991 of our membership of the EU! So where do these figures come from? And worryingly, a U.S. Government analysis (over 400 pages long) reckons that far from benefitting us, the U.K. economy is stung by the European Union to the tune of $50 billion a year: equivalent to doubling our State Pension overnight! Perhaps they have done their sums wrong. But while the Labour Government assert that the EU benefits us, they staunchly refuse to conduct their own economic analysis to prove their bold assertions. Why? What are they afraid of?

The sad thing about all this is that it has given politics and politicians a bad name.

LOCALLY, THE LICHFIELD GARRICK seems to be getting some stick in the letters columns of the Mercury. I am not one of those knockers. Of course there are teething problems, but the Garrick is winning national publicity putting Lichfield on the Arts map. And the broad choice of performances are certainly provocative! Corin Redgrave’s brilliant portrayal in the Recruiting Officer and (someone else’s!) nudity on stage in an earlier show combine well with more traditional performances such as The King and I which I shall be enjoying early in November performed by our excellent Lichfield Operatic Society.

I know that some people have been shocked by displays of nudity, but like the TV off-button, you don’t have to go and watch a performance. And the repertoire at the Lichfield Garrick isn’t all nudity, swearing, and political speeches! By combining the avant-garde with the more traditional, the Lichfield Garrick is beginning to attract large audiences and a growing national reputation. Lichfield is never dull, nor should it be - and the Lichfield Garrick should reflect this.