Almost every commentator has predicted that Barack Obama will beat John McCain to become the next US president. Anybody replacing the disgraceful George W Bush would certainly be an improvement (to Europeans). However, here’s a timely warning from an article from Jonathan Freedland in the Guardian this week. Read the article.

Remember, remember the Fourth of November. It ain’t over ’til the fat lady sings…..

One of the many areas where the present government has failed is in transport policy. Research by a joint team of academics from the Universities of Glasgow and Plymouth have rightly called the policy as a ‘big disappointment’.

The academics found that:

• Traffic congestion is now worse than ten years ago
• The investment needs of the railways have been completely ignored, in particular to increase capacity
• Bus services in the UK remain poor
• Tram schemes have been abandoned
• Policies to encourage walking and cycling have been neglected
• The government is afraid of addressing the environmental impact of aviation
• Transport carbon emissions continue to rise

This is another damning verdict on the government. Many argue that their policies have been timid, yet in many areas the opposite is the case. They are still in favour of expanding the airports, despite public opposition. They have deliberately cut spending on public transport, forcing up fares on both buses and trains… indeed, nothing has been done to address the long-term impact of privatisation. People are reluctant to walk and cycle to places because their environments have been either neglected or perceived to be dangerous.

The situation is going to get worse. Many vital local schemes aorund the country aimed at easing congestion will certainly be shelved, because the government is far too busy diverting taxpayers’ cash to the pockets of City bankers…

According to the Labour government, the people of Iceland are now terrorists. Their stupid decision to use anti-terror laws to seize key financial assets of that country smacks in the face of common sense.

The Icelandic people are rightly angry at this slur and have set up an online petition to stop this blatant abuse of the law. You can sign the petition from this website.

While ministers feel totally relaxed about seizing Icelandic assets and aid some of the failed banks, people working for government departments will go on another one-day strike on November 10th. Staff in key vital public-sector services will walk out in a long-running dispute over pay.

All the government’s plans are unraveling before our very eyes…. and the ordinary people in both countries are paying the price for their incompetence.