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UK unemployment figures were released today, February 15, 2012, and yet aagin they make for grim reading. They figures show an increase for the eigth month in a row. The total is now a massive 2.67 million. 

Jobless figures in the UK in the 21st Century are never plain and simple. What is? There are some exclusions so in fact the total will be much higher.

In the three months up to December 2011 ONS, the Office for National Statistics, showed the number of people out of work had increased by 48,000. Whilst some job losses may be ex[plained away as seasonal the promise of Christmas increases work available by way of temporary Christmas jobs.

The number of people claiming JSA, Job Seeker's Allowance or unemployment benefit, rose in January for the eleventh month in a row. January saw a rise in JSA claimants of 6,900. January also experienced the highest increase in women claiming JSA. The increase left the total of women in the UK claiming JSA at 531,700, which is its highest level since 1995. 

1995
was two years before a New Labour era began in 1997. The Tories were in power in 1995 and they are again albeit this time with their Coalition buddies the Liberal Democrats. These days the Tories blame most ills on the previous Labour government but they could harldy do that back in 1995. After all the UK had endured a Tory government for many years.

Three years ago unemployment levels in the UK passed the two million mark. It is obvious that global woes have played a part and any political party would struggle with the economy. It is about priorities though and for that you can blame the government.

Since that time there has been a never ending upward trend. Youth unemployment in the UK is currently very high. With more job cuts on the cards yet people being told they must work longer before retiring the situation cannot improve.  The coalition seems unable to comprehend that people being forced to work longer before retirement added to job cuts means an ever increasing number of people out of work. That is an ever increasing number of people out of pocket, demoralised, caring not one jot for UK society and more. Get the picture Mr Cameron?

In an attempt at positive spin some pundits have said that the 48,000 increase was less than predicted. Well it is a good job that it was. However a senior economist has stressed things in the UK will get much worse before they improve. John Philipott said,  "The problem for 2012 is that most analysts, including ourselves, expect the economy to grow very slowly at best and that will inevitably lead to rising unemployment".  

With the UK coalition planning to cut benefit.payments you have to assume that it is cheaper to make people work until they are older than try and address unemployment. That is bonkers is my opinion. Unless they are hoping to make people work until they drop? In that case it will save on paying a pension I suppose!

 
 
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UK Conservative cabinet minister Dr Liam Fox has been hounded by the media in recent weeks.

In the recent past there have been sniggering asides and innuendos reported by various media sources, hinting at his sexuality. That should not make one bit of difference if he is or is a good politician, doing his job well.

However, his friendship with Adam Werritty has ultimately cost him his job, and in some ways his good name.

Dr Fox, even yesterday October 13, 2011, was maintaining that he waould not leave office and that there were no charges to answer. As more and more details were revealed, even to a lay person it was obvious that Dr Fox had broken the ministerial code of practice.

Not only was Mr Werritty present at meetings, when he probably should not have been, it began to be questioned just who was footing the bill for such jaunts?.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron was insistent yesterday that he would not be quick to judge Dr Fox but rather was prepared for internal findings to be revealed before he decoded what, if any, action to take. Dr Fox however, in choosing to resign today, has left many wondering what else could yet be revealed. Is it a case of he knows that more sensational information will be released and that there will be no escape?.

Of course he could simply have decided that enough was enough. The recent furore must have damaged his relationship with his wife and more.

As a senior Tory politician his fall will hit the coalition hard. He has been said to a very competent defence minister. That said the government already have a replacement in mind. Pundits are guessing that Transport Secretary Phillip Hammond will be quickly moved to Defence. For now it's a case of watch this space after all 24 hours is a long time in politics.
 
 
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Today Friday October 7, 2011, various UK banks have had their credit rating downgraded.

Yesterday the Bank Of England's Mervyn King painted a gloomy picture of the UK economy and its future prospects. He said that it had sunk to the depths of the last great depression of the nineteen-thirties.

Maybe his words and the Bank of England's reaction and action yesterday has played a part in today's downgrade. Certainlt the government's stance on bank bail-outs will not have helped.

UK Chancellor George Osborne continues to maintain that credit agency Moody's fears are unfounded. They it seems see the UK government as trying to move away from easing the debt crisis for banks, if and when it should become neceasasry. Osborne today said, "As I understand it, one of the reasons they are doing this, is because they think the British Government is actually moving in the direction of trying to get away from guaranteeing all the largest banks in Britain. I'm confident that British banks are well capitalised, they are liquid, they are not experiencing the kinds of problems that some of the banks in the Eurozone are experiencing at the moment." Maybe, but some did not so very long ago.

According to Moody's the UK Coalition government however has recently " withdrawn its backing for seven smaller institutions and scaled back its support for the five "larger, more systemically important financial institutions.""

Moody's does seem to still believe that the UK government would help out the larger banks but just not the smaller ones. However some of these smaller ones hold the investments, savings and mortgages of many UK householders. One of those downgraded, The Nationwide, has consistently performed well. It is one that many UK bank users, including myself, rely on. This downgrading should not affect Nationwide's trading but it might. Some people will soon run scared and move their financial portfolio elsewhere.

The Banks downgraded today include, regional Building Societies Newcastle, Norwich & Peterborough, Nottingham, Principality, Skipton, West Bromwich and Yorkshire; the UK arm of Spain's Santander, Co-Operative bank, Nationwide building society and several smaller UK banks; plus state-owned banks RBS  Lloyds TSB. RBS faired worse than Lloyds TSB which they are not happy about.

Moody's also downgraded some Portuguese banks.

Opinion: When people such as those involved in Occupy Wall Street protest movement complain about corporate greed and the like, this is the sort of thing they mean. At one fell swoop such downgradings can affect a person's life savings and future. The "money men and women" will of course know exactly how and where to protect their wealth.

The Great Depression spiralled out of control rapidly when certain investors decided to pull the plug. Almost 80 years on little has changed, as far as the markets go, especially for the better.

Stock markets around the world reacted true to form and share values plunged again this morning.
 
 
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The two week vacation in Menorca has ended and it is back to reality. For once the sun shone as we arrived back into Doncaster airport, where it was a record breaking temperature for September 30. With good weather set to last a few days it will be a great end to our vacation.

The UK though is not Menorca.

Our love affair with that Island looks set to last. The UK in comparison is a dull autumn colour with brown houses topped with grey coloured roofs. Although it is the start of Autumn in Menorca it retains its sunny charm. White houses with some classical buildings painted in bright colours are set against turquoise waters and crisp blue skies. Local people warm and frendly, in spite of the day to day pressures they too face.

So what of the world?

On vacation we seldom look at any news. The odd glimpse at the headlines on newspapers displayed outside of shops in racks is as far as it gets. The UK could sink for all we care, at least for our two weeks in the sun.

Home again it seems that those two weeks have had the usual doom and gloom going on elsewhere. Little will have been resolved and politicians around the globe will have been posturing and playing mind games. As they play politics we ordinary folk feel the brunt of their plans.

David Cameron in the UK may like to reiterate that we are alll "in it together" but as we know that is nonsense. How can a millionaire's experiences, of the recent financial difficulties the global recession has brought, compare to a person's living on the minimum wage? Obviously it can't. We may all be in it together but some are in deeper than others, some have more options available to them and some will be facing a dismal future.

Yesterday in the UK cuts to the British Naval forces were announced, making our armed services struggle further. Yet the government is happy to involve the country in many conflicts around the world.

As people in the UK face an uncertain future the Coalition government seems always willing and able to find money to put into the broken pot of Europe and world conflicts. Now in what some may see as a good move, and others like myself see as nonsense, they have freed up some funds to restore weekly refuse collections in towns and cities. Is this really the most needy cause for cash strapped councils? Offering councils funds for the resumption of weekly refuse collections is a mixed bag.. Many Councils such as ours have made a committment to recycling and have a system which works well in operation. I am sure though they could use some extra funding for more urgent needs.

For now chores beckon but I know once I get to grips with the world and its wife again the news will be grim. Spending a two week vacation on Menorca though, not a million miles from Libya and the conflict torn Middle East, reminds you that the world continues to beat itself up but you do not have to take it all on board. Being aware is important but it is good to get on with living and ignore the world, at least for a while.