Forum Topics

Predictions?

Two lab MPs, one lib dem and the council stays Con.

Graham Weeks ● 6023d18 Comments ● 6022d

Go Compare

Does anyone else, besides me find that advert very annoying? Its got to the stage where I turn the sound down on the teleision everytime it is on.

J Smith ● 6025d25 Comments ● 6022d

CHURCHES inEALING: 50-90% of the time NOBODY is in the church buildings =REHEARSAL SPACE FOR SINGING

CHURCHES in EALING: 50-90% of the time NOBODY is in the church buildings = REHEARSAL SPACE FOR SINGING.People from churches say they love people. Will you prove it in the real? PLEASE, will you help me? I am a young man who is looking for a charitable community/person who could help me to find a quiet space in West London where I could intensively rehearse singing at least 12 hours daily to record my DEMO with my own music equipment. If you have any little space (at least 1x2 metres, any cellar, basement, storage, cubby, office, workroom or whatever - please suggest), please, can you help me? I can regularly rehearse at any times it is possible according to our arrangement, (including in the nights if the space is only available in the nights). In return, I could keep your property tidy (I cannot offer any money but I can offer my work, (suggest what work you would like (e.g.: keeping your property tidy, pet-sitting, dog-walking etc.)). If you think you can help me with a space where I could intensively rehearse singing at least 12 hours daily, please, suggest where and when (time and date) we could meet to talk about details in person. If you cannot decide about this matter, please, forward this message to whom it may concern. ANY ADVICE IS WELCOME.In advanced thank you very much for understanding

George Jiri ● 6026d119 Comments ● 6022d

A quiet SPACE where I could intensively REHEARSE singing at least 12 hours daily to record my DEMO

Hello, I am a young man who is looking for a charitable community/person who could help me to find a quiet space in West London where I could intensively rehearse singing at least 12 hours daily to record my DEMO with my own music equipment. If you have any little space (at least 1x2 metres, any cellar, basement, storage, cubby, office, workroom or whatever - please suggest), please, can you help me? I can regularly rehearse at any times it is possible according to our arrangement, (including in the nights if the space is only available in the nights). In return, I could keep your property tidy (I cannot offer any money but I can offer my work, (suggest what work you would like (e.g.: keeping your property tidy, pet-sitting, dog-walking etc.)). If you think you can help me with a space where I could intensively rehearse singing at least 12 hours daily, please, suggest where and when (time and date) we could meet to talk about details in person. If you cannot decide about this matter, please, forward this message to whom it may concern. ANY ADVICE IS WELCOME.In advanced thank you very much for understanding

George Jiri ● 6031d19 Comments ● 6022d

Postal Vote open to fraud?

Headline in the news today:50 criminal inquiries nationwide amid fears bogus voters could swing election.Voter fraud could determine the outcome of the general election as evidence emerges of massive postal vote riggng. Police have launched 50 criminal inquiries nationwide amid widespread cases of electoral rolls being packed with 'bogus' voters.Officials report a flood of postal vote applications in marginal seats. With the outcome of the closest election in a generation hanging in the balance, a few thousand 'stolen' votes there could determine who wins the keys to Downing Street.Anti-sleeze campaigner Martin Bell said: 'There is actually the possibility that the result of the election coulllld be decided on electoral fraud. That's pretty grim. 'We are facing a situation where we can no longer trust the integrity of our electoral system. It was a huge mistake to extend the postal vote. It opened up our system to all kinds of frauds.' Out of a total estimated electorate of 46 million, 7 million have registered for postal votes.The Metropolitan po0lice are examining 28 claims of major abuses across 12 boroughs - with 4 separate investigations in Tower Hamlets, East London. Labour supporters stand accused of packing the electoral roll at the last minute with relatives living overseas or simply inventing phantom voters.Officials in Tower Hamlets received 5,166 new registrations just before the April 20 deadline, and there has been no time to check them all. In Bethnal Gre3en, it is feared the electoral register has been deliberately stacked with ficticious names.Yesterday The Mail visited one 4 bedroom flat in the area where 18 men are apparently claiming a vote, all of whom registered within the past month. The students living there were all baffled by name of the names said to be residing with them. Another resident was surprised to learn that 8 complete strangers were also registered as living in the small flat she shares with her partner.Other addresses investigated by The Mail were linked to The Labour Party.At a property in Rainhill Way, Bethnal Green, where Labour Party council election candidate Khales Uddin Ahmed lives with his family, 7 adults have suddenly joined the electoral roll.A few streets away, where Labour councillor Shiria Khatun is seeking re-election, her household has been boosted by 3 new voter registrations in the past few weeks. Her husband angrily slammed the door when questions were asked yesterday. The Mail's Richard Key has learned that for the first time ever the Commonwealth is dispatching a group of election monitors - more used to supervising banana republics - to scrutinise the results on Thursday.Opposition parties fer a concerted effort is being made to swing he election. Tower Hamlets Conservative councillor Peter Golds said: 'There is increasing evidence of ongoing electoral corruption. I am concerned that there will be no attempt to investigate this before election day. 'All the dodgy addresses seem to involve Bangladeshi names, and the police are terrified of investigating for fear of being branded racists.At one of the addresses, a Russion woman answers the door. How many Bangladeshi men live together with a Russian woman?'Numerous other examples of this corruption are coming to light, including a visitor from Bangladesh who arrives with a tourist visa next week, but whose postal vote has already been sent off.The problem is not confined to London. In Yorkshire, 5 police investigations ae under way in Bradford and Calderdale, where 2 arrests have already been made. In Derby, police are investigating several claims of electoral fraud, including one case where a female voter was allegedly intimated by 3 men who demanded that she fill in and sign postal votes for the Labour party. In Surrey, Tory activists have received reports theat 2 members of a rival party pretended to be Conservatives and bullied a man on a ventilator in hospital into signing over his postal vote to them. Under election law, anyone from Commonwealth countries can vote in the general elction if resident in the UK. But names can be added to the electoral roll - and become eligible for postal votes - without anyone checkng their identities or whether they are atually in the country.In 2005 around 15% of all votes were cast using a postal bote, but the Electoral Commission watchdog believes that figure will rise this time.In the last month there were 150,000 applications and in some areas, postal vote registrations have increased by 200% since 2005. Surveys of the most marginal seats, whee the election will be decided, have received a surge in postal voting.In the key marginals Edinburgh South & Barnet, postal votes are up by 60%, while Brighton has seen an increase of 40% in voter registration. In Islington, a vital Labour-LibDem marginal, the numbers of electoral roll have increased by nearly 20,000 to 135,800 in just 5 years.The Electoral Commission, which oversees the elections process, warned 7 years ago that widespread postal voting is open to fraud. But rules to ensure that every voter has to provide personal ID before joining the electral roll will not some into force for 3 years.End of article.I think it is common knowledge that postal voting is open to fraud but one wonders just how big the problem is after reading the above!

Jean F Fernandez ● 6025d5 Comments ● 6023d

Forget the 'X' Factor ?

Just think about it tomorrow when you go to vote!Perhaps we should forget about the 'X' Factor competition which is what this election seems to be - the most important 'X' is the one you put on the ballot paper!It is all about which PARTY will get us out of this mess - we don't want to end up like GREECE!

Jean F Fernandez ● 6024d3 Comments ● 6024d

Mosque Application To be Considered by Ealing

What do you think? Ealing Council has extended the deadline for residents to make their views known about proposals for a new mosque.The planning application submitted to the authority is to convert two empty shops in Horsenden Lane North, Greenford. It has received more than 400 responses on the Council's website.Planning permission was due to have been decided on January 27 but has been delayed after residents complained that the consultation was not wide enough.Locals are concerned the mosque could cause traffic chaos in the area - but supporters of the religious facility say it would be used for people who lived locally and would arrive on foot.Muslims have been looking for a place to meet and pray for several years and have been using a temporary hut off Greenford Road.Council officers had recommended approving the proposal after the first consultation.The new consultation will end on February 22 and the application will be heard by councillors on March 10.My personal opinion: NO at a Mosque in Ealing, there are so many in the neighbourds area that there's no need for another one in Ealing.

Valentina Dell'Aquila ● 6099d225 Comments ● 6025d

Tomatoes - some advice

Last year I grew tomoatoes for the first time with great success. I made lots of tomato sauce and used it my various pies, bolognese and lasagne dishes as well as giving some of the fruit away to people at work.This year I am having some problems. I've grown the tomato plants successfully from seeds and have planted them outdoors. Since then they do not seem to be at all happy. I've checked for slugs etc, but they do not appear to be doing at all well. It looks as if something is feasting on them as the leaves are tattered. I'm not sure if the cold spell we've had has had any bearing on this or whether there is a little critter who has taken a liking to my plants. As far as I am aware I am not visited by Tufty or Foxy Loxy, so any advice would be gratefully appreciated.

J Smith ● 6026d2 Comments ● 6025d

Equality Pledge - Among Equals Newsletter

See this months newsletter from the Equality Trust just received(extract below) or at www.equalitytrust.org.uk  :Among Equals - April 2010Welcome to the fourth issue of Among Equals the quarterly campaign update from The Equality Trust. Please support our campaign by printing a few copies to distribute. A PDF version of this newsletter is available here to download and print  General Election specialOn 6th May we get the chance to vote for a new parliament, but what have the parties been saying about equality? Here are a few key points...Conservative PartyTwenty nine Conservative Party candidates have signed the Equality Pledge. David Cameron acknowledged in the Hugo Young lecture that "more unequal countries do worse according to every quality of life indicator" and on the Radio 4 Today programme, Michael Gove said that The Spirit Level has influenced Conservative thinking on social policy. In the election build up they have proposed public sector co-operatives and announced their intention to limit public sector pay ratios to 20:1.Labour PartySeventy nine Labour Party candidates and seven Labour & Co-operative candidates have signed our Equality Pledge and we recently received a letter from Michael Foster in the Government Equalities Office describing the Pledge as "completely consistent" with their position. Harriet Harman's Equality Act received Royal Assent this month, complete with the socio-economic duty described in the last issue of Among Equals.Liberal DemocratsVince Cable and Lynne Featherstone are among 125 Liberal Democrat candidates who have signed the Equality Pledge. Lynne Featherstone said in a letter to a supporter "My colleagues and I are committed to attacking inequality in the UK on all fronts." They have used their election manifesto to criticise Labour and Conservative records on tackling income inequality.Green Party Caroline Lucas and 131 other Green Party candidates have signed the Equality Pledge. Kate Pickett was invited to speak at their Spring Conference and also addressed a strategic policy meeting, after which they decided to include evidence about the benefits of equality in their election manifesto and agreed a policy to limit pay ratios in all sectors to 10:1.Other partiesThe Equality Pledge has also been signed by a small number of candidates from the English Democrats, SNP, Plaid Cymru, Respect, Scottish Green Party, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Welsh Conservatives, Welsh Liberal Democrats, UKIP and three independent candidates. In total more than 390 candidates have added their names so far. Congratulations to the London Equality Group who have successfully signed up more than half of all London candidates.

Conrad Bryan ● 6029d5 Comments ● 6026d

Lib Dems - Ealing or Hillingdon?

Could anyone confirm if the Nigel Bakhai standing for the Liberal Democrats in Elthorne ward and for the Ealing Southall Parliamentary seat is the same same Nigel Bakhai who is standing for the Liberal Democrats in the Botwell ward in the London Borough of Hillingdon?

Bob Roberts ● 6044d12 Comments ● 6026d

“Et tu, The Guardian?” cries New Labour!

“Et Tu, Brute?” cried Julius Caesar as he fell, with the unkindest cut of all, inflicted by his hitherto best friend Marcus Brutus (the Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare)In its editorial commentary, “The liberal moment has come (1st May 2010), The Guardian has today declared its support for the Liberal Democrats, prompting   millions of Labour voters to cry out, “et tu (even you), The Guardian?”The real tragedy is that a vote for the Libdems will be a vote for the Tories who have promised to abolish the Child Trust Fund, raid pension funds, freeze public sector pay and introduce inheritance tax for a few super rich people. They will also replace Trident nuclear weapons system at an initial cost of £20 billion, diverting scares resources from health, education, housing, transport and law and order etc.  Thankfully, in Ealing Central and Acton, the voters have the choice to support me, an independent candidate. Given that we are heading for a hung parliament, mine will be the magic vote that will carry or sink any proposed Tory legislation, depending on how it affects our basic public services.  By contrast, a vote for Labour, Conservative and Libdem candidates will be wasted votes as these party MPs will vote in Parliament as directed by their party Whips and funders. After all, he who pays the pier calls the tune, read policies!

Sam Akaki ● 6027d4 Comments ● 6026d

Confiscation of  11-18 year-olds Oyster cards

Regarding the topic as shown on the front page of EalingToday:I fail to see the reasoning behind the prospective Labour candidate's remarks regarding the London Mayor's use of his powers.If individuals are misusing the cards then they deserve to lose the privilege; lots of us grew up without the benefit of free bus travel.To suggest that the mayor's office is abusing the powers given is nonsense. On one hand it shows a lack of education by the originator - living things can be abused, all else is misused. How does one abuse alcohol - hit it with a stick?More seriously the remarks seem to indicate a disregard of the regulations as they currently exist, true Socialism in action - "don't do as I do, do what I say."The article states that there is a prevalence of misuse in the 11-13 year old group. Of course there are other metrics to identify which groups individuals are part of. These of course won't be published and are perhaps the cause of the comments.

Alan Brainsby ● 6035d26 Comments ● 6027d

Does Labour even know the names of their council candidates?

Labour’s glossy leaflet popped through the door of my house in Northfield Avenue yesterday. While being slightly disappointed at how hard it was to actually read it, I was also somewhat surprised to see that one of the candidates’ names was spelt in two different ways. Considering the candidate is Polish and hopes to get some support from Poles in Walpole, I think the Labour Party is achieving the complete opposite effect. How can they expect people to vote for them when they clearly can’t be bothered to check something as important as their own names?

Krzysztof Leszczynski ● 6066d9 Comments ● 6028d

Election smile

THIS IS A NONPARTISAN JOKE THAT CAN BE ENJOYED BY All PARTIES!NOT ONLY THAT-- it is POLITICALLY CORRECT!!While walking down the street one day a "Member of Parliament" is tragically hit by a truck and dies.His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.'Welcome to heaven,' says St. Peter.. 'Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you.''No problem, just let me in,' says the man.'Well, I'd like to, but I  have orders from higher up. What we'll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity.''Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven,' says the MP.'I'm sorry, but we have our rules.'And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had  while getting rich at the expense of the people.They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and champagne.Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly & nice guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that before he realizes it, it is time to go.Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises....The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him.'Now it's time to visit heaven.'So, 24 hours pass with the MP joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.'Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity.'The MP reflects for a minute, then he answers: 'Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell.'So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell.Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage.He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above.The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder. 'I don't understand,' stammers the MP. 'Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time.. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable.What happened?'The devil looks at him, smiles and says, 'Yesterday we were campaigning... ...Today you voted.' 

Graham Weeks ● 6028d0 Comments ● 6028d

Blair Peach  R.I.P.

Amazing that there is no accountability.God bless Blair Peach .Anti-racist activist died after demo in Southall in 1979Blair Peach died after 1979 Southall demo The Metropolitan Police said no officers would face further action. Blair Peach was likely to have been killed by a police officer according to a report published by Scotland Yard today.The 33-year-old teacher from New Zealand, was taking part in a demonstration against the National Front in Southall in 1979 when he was hit during clashes with the police. He was later found with fatal head injuries.The previously secret report attaches "grave suspicion" to an officer, who it says may also have been involved in a cover-up along with two colleagues. Mr Peach's family have long campaigned for the report - written by Commander John Cass - to be released. His partner, Celia Stubbs, said the report "totally vindicated" what the family had always believed. The Cass report does not name any of the implicated officers, but said six were on board a van belonging to the now disbanded Special Patrol Group identified as carrier U.11. It said there was insufficient evidence to charge anyone over the death but recommended action for perverting the course of justice for three officers, and there was "grave suspicion" over one of them, only identified as "Officer EA Met statement said: "We have gone to great lengths to ensure that all investigative options currently available have been exhausted. "To this extent the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has provided us with independent advice stating that there is nothing which would currently justify carrying out a further investigation." And amazing i got a leaflet posted by hand by my pastman from the BNP.Yet to see one from the Lib Dems.

ajit singh ● 6029d1 Comments ● 6028d

Amazing Chocolate Risotto Idea from All in Italian Language School!

Chocolate Risotto (main entree, not a dessert!)* Ingredients: Serves 4 people:300 g rice1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa3 tablespoons cooking cream1/2 onion320 g butter1/2 vegetable brotha bit of cumin1 potato1 celery1 carrotPreparation:Mix the vegetable broth with the potato and the celery, and add just a touch of cumin. In a frying pan let the finely cut onion simmer in 30 gr butter, then add the rice to the hot butter and 'golden' onion. Let the rice 'toast' for a few minutes, and then start adding the vegetable stock, without the vegetables. Do this little by little, making sure the rice does dot dry up too much. In the meantime, mix the cocoa and the cream, and warm up making sure you don't let it go to a full 'boil'. When the rice is ready, add the cocoa and cream sauce to it, and garnish with the remaining butter.Buon Appetito!  All in Italian Ltd5 The MallW5 2PJT. 0208 840 7735 M. 0750 1468131W. www.allinitalian.co.ukE. info@allinitalian.co.uk

Laura Panza ● 6030d2 Comments ● 6029d

Questions raised about 'Three Jobs Nigel' - but what about his Libdem colleague Two Jobs Jon (Ball)

Seems to be endemic among Libdem politicians round here. Jon Ball, the longstanding (and utterly useless and untrustworthy) Ealing Common Ward Councillor is standing again as a Councillor as well as standing for the Ealing Central and Acton MP job. As one of his highly dissatisfied Ealng Common punters I've already asked him publicly on the Acton forum which of the two jobs he really wants? - or is he planning to emulate the despicable example we've had in from Ealing Southall in recent years and pretend to do both - and get paid for both  -  while doing neither properly? Predictably and characteristically, answer comes there none from this uncommunicative waste of space.So why should anybody in Ealing Common Ward vote for him as a Councillor, knowing that at best he'll immediately resign from the Council if he gets the MP job and waste our time having to vote again in a byelection; or at worst hang onto both jobs but just turn up to a Council meeting once in a blue moon to claim his lucrative 'allowance'?And let me assure the rest of you in Ealing Central and Acton that on the basis of his demonstrable track record as a Ward Councillor the last thing we need is to have him as our 'representative' in  the Westmonster parliament.I might have been inclined to give the Libdems a try in this general election, but with Jon Ball as their candidate, NO WAY!!!!Happy to substantiate the above if anybody wants to know more.

Chris Veasey ● 6030d10 Comments ● 6029d

Am I a bigoted parliamentary candidate - according to Gordon Brown?

I was born in Uganda, yet I am campaigning to tackle the causes of asylum (arms trade, poverty and civil wars etc) as a long term solution to the problem.  Mr Brown has today called Mr Duffy a "bigoted" woman for questioning Labour's immigration policy based on the so-called point-system.  If so, like Mrs Duffy, I must be bigoted too.  I very much suspect many people in Ealing and Acton will think differently on 6th May.

Sam Akaki ● 6030d9 Comments ● 6029d

A Christian Voice

Taken from an article in yesterday's paper:DAILY MAIL COMMENTA Christian VoiceI cannot imagine any politician expressing concern that Britain should remain a Christian country. That reticence is a scandal and a disgrace to our history. So declared former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey, in a speech to the House of Lords yesterday.The Mail applauds his analysis. A view has taken root among our politicians that they cannot stand up for Christianity without disparaging other faiths.Not only is this nonsense, it is an insult to the traditions happy to recognize Britain's Christian heritage and thankful for the opportunity to practice their religion in a truly multifaith society.Lord Carey says of Christians: 'if we behave like doormats, don't be surprised if we are treated as though we are.'What a pity some of those bishops who are still in the pulpit - not least his successor - find it so hard to vigoursly defend their faith.It is not only in England that this sort of thing has been noticed, a while ago I received a letter from my sister-in-law from Malaysia, and she writes: I've been aware for some time now that Jesus is slowly being removed from the Christmas scene in the West, but I was shocked when after combing to malls and two smaller bookshops I could not find a single card with a nativity scene. Our Christmas cards are imported,for example, Hallmark. This is Malaysia, but my friend from London says that it is the same in England where Christmas is now celebrated just as a holiday season. Next year I shall look to the East (India, Taiwan, Japan, Philippines) for Christian Christmas cards!!What do other forum members think?Please discuss.

Jean F Fernandez ● 6086d76 Comments ● 6029d

Santa Maria pizzeria voted best in London

I am in complete agreement with Timeout who voted Santa Maria the best pizzeria not only in the West, but the whole of London!!In my opinion it is a true Neapolitan pizza as you would find in Italy. The same type of tomatoes,authentic toppings such as real Neapolitan salami, the buffalo mozzarella delicately melted not the mass of rubbery mozzarella you usually find smothered all over pizza's here. The base crispy but soft in the middle and the crusts light and crunchy having spent time cooking in the wood fired oven Apart from the pizzas there are some excellent starters and it can be washed down with amongst other things Red Peroni not often found in the UK. The ice creams to follow was very delicious and the finale of an great espresso. (that whilst being half Roman I have to concede that Neapolitans make better coffee!)I am not connected to this restaurant and many of you will recognise my name from other postings - I just like to support my local restaurants; especially one where the owners have made a real effort to serve excellent food coupled with a warm welcome and excellent service - they deserve nothing less. It is certainly my local pizzeria and if I am not eating in, one of their pizza boxes cab often be seen in my green recycling box!

Nadia Shaw ● 6036d9 Comments ● 6029d