I've recently blogged on this issue and since posting it I've had some time to consider my opinion further. After visiting the statement-not-substance facebook group to ask for clarification about what the aims are of Compass, and those that support a windfall tax on energy and oil companies, also asking in several other blogs for a greater idea of the figures and strategy, I've come to the conclusion this is a very dangerous proposition to be supporting.

The reasons for this conclusion? Firstly, the figures...they don't add up, especially when you consider how little Compass and other supporters of this windfall tax actually talk about figures other than taking corporate profits completely out of context. Secondly, mixed messages. The call for a windfall tax is a catch-all political statement rather than a real solution, much like the everything to every person Lib Dem transport policy. And finally time-scales, if this truly is some level of mass altruism based upon a belief that only Labour (or the left) can solve the world's problems then it's missing the point of who is really going to benefit from this move at this time.

Thanks to Jock Coats for the heads up about this, it turns out a Libertarian, Tory councillor has had his words mangled by a national paper. He has responded since and I think it's only too important to encourage people to support him in this case.

I'm seeing a surprising number (and by surprising I mean more than one, and more than just devout Labour supporters) of people supporting what are absolutely obscene benefit reform proposals, proposals we have just about zero chance of stopping unfortunately. Take, for example, supposedly Liberal Anders Hanson who thinks that no harm can come of it...

But regardless of your circumstances, I think everyone can do some form of voluntary community service whilst being unemployed. It keeps you in the habit of getting up and going to work (even if it is only once or twice a week that you do it) and it helps put something back in whilst you receive your benefit. This shouldn’t be seen as a punishment as the Government seem to be making it. It should simply be a way of contributing.

And what happens when that person refuses to "contribute"? They get no benefits, that's cool right?

Not a pun on Gordon Brown's affliction, but instead the current state of politics which means that political parties simply cannot afford to be different to each other. From Cameron fearing the new Lib Dem tax policy so being forced to admit that his "tax cut" agenda isn't set in stone at all, to Brown aping the Tory policies on forced labour for benefits, and all of this after the Lib Dems craftily stole the main points of Labours transport policy.

Of course while I think the Lib Dem policy is hypocritical garbage, and the news of Cameron willing to raise taxes is like saying the sky is blue, the Labour party never fail to surprise me in how far they're willing to go to become the nasty party, and to completely abandon the kind of liberal thinking that changed the face of this country over a decade ago.

Continuing with my theme of highlighting when I'm actually impressed with Labour, given how little it has happened in the last year, I am happy to say that I'm actually glad for once that Caroline Flint has opened her gob. Usually all that falls out of it is garbage, but when it comes to rent then buy schemes she wants to set up finally there could be something at least resembling roses flowing instead.

Unfortunately with every silver lining there must be a thunderstorm of moronic proportions. Undoing any shred of good work that she started at the beginning of the week, Jacqui Smith has gone back in to nasty mode in such a way that surely the Tory old guard must be blushing.

And while we're at it why don't we throw in the fact that the Lib Dem's have announced their own strategy to tackle youth crime, one that looks like a pantheon of saintly forgiveness compared to the now fleshed out policies of Smith.

You'd think we're in some kind of war time disaster scenario, or the pinicle of crime in our time, the way some seem to wish to go on about "youths" and the crime they cause. Of course, by crime we mean nuisence. And by nuisence we mean they look a little bit unruly while standing around causing no harm whatsoever to anyone. In Redruth they wish now to ramp up from dispersal orders which have clearly had no lasting effect by implementing a curfew scheme, something the Times claims has wide ranging support not only for Cornwall but nationally as well!

How Cornwall, completely ruled over by Liberal Democrats, can abide by this I'll never know. But I'll say this, if you wanted one shining example of why I could never be an active Lib Dem supporter then Cornwall is your answer. Try as we might, the Cornish are a fairly liberal sort...those not living there in their second or third home pushing those actually from the region away that is...it seems our endeavours to encourage liberal governance is being thrown back in our face at every turn.

Yesterday the new Finance bill went through with a comfortable vote on all counts, the government and Labour party clearly rallied together enough not to enable the Tories to claim a victory here. The main crux of the debates yesterday surrounded car taxation and partly fuel duty for those in "remote rural" areas.

Without sugar coating it, the debate was awful. It was engaging in a way that usually only a minor car accident can be, and definitely showed the worst of our elected representatives.

There is little more comforting to me right now than the idea of Keith Vaz fighting for his job. Whether it's because he was actually audacious enough to believe he would get away with gaining a public honour for voting (and convincing others to vote) for the illiberal 42 day legislation, or because he was simply so stupid as to stare evidence in the face and disregard it 6 months later, I'm just glad he's maybe getting screwed.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not vindictive, but as Aaron over at Tygerland says, if you're stupid enough to get caught then you deserve to be punished.

Dissent is in the air, and who blames the Labour MPs looking to capitalise on the festering carcass of their own party, when the leader of the sinking ship seems ready to hand out all kinds of shady concessions to get a yes vote? A 9 vote majority on the illiberal 42 day legislation, saved only by the DUP, the hint of rebellion on the most recent planning bill and now concessions are being called for on the long coming plans to tax people more, and retrospectively, for their cars

Now is possibly the best time for fair policy construction and implementation, not ideal by a looong way, but the best we could hope for with a government and parliament structured the way it is

It looks as though the Telegraph, or someone has finally taken down some of Richard Barnbrook's, only BNP member of the London Assembly, blog postings from their site. Is this a victory for liberty and anti-racism, the BNP back tracking, or just another shallow point made that doesn't solve any of our problems regarding the BNP?