Mass Immigration proceeds apace - as planned by Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats.

In my view, the Labour Party encouraged mass immigration in order to promote multiculturalism and, at the same time, advance its doctrine of “diversity” with almost religious fervour.  The Liberal Democrats advocated mass immigration, without any upper limit as far as England was concerned, in order to further their Internationalist agenda.
Now, the Conservative government has achieved record-breaking levels of net immigration.  Ignore David Cameron’s pledge to cut net immigration to the “tens of thousands”: the Conservatives have a policy of mass immigration aimed at providing an inexhaustible supply of cheap labour for its friends and supporters in the business world to exploit.

As Peter Hitchens wrote in the Mail on Sunday (30^th August), “. . .  Tory concern about immigration was faked.  They don’t want the power to stop it.”

This letter published in the Western Daily Press on March 14th still rings true today.

Immigration policy has failed dismally

David Cameron has failed spectacularly in his aim of reducing immigration to the tens of thousands. The failure is so total that one has to wonder whether he meant what he said in the first place. Furthermore, George Osborne has suggested that reducing immigration is now just an “aspiration”. It seems obvious that Conservative immigration policy is to have no upper limit on numbers; exactly the same as Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party. Astonishingly, Nigel Farage too has abandoned any cap.

How can this country support a burgeoning population? If England is not to have a vast concrete and Tarmac urban sprawl from the North Sea to Offa’s Dyke there needs to be a stable population. Sadly, for the English and their green and pleasant land, such a policy would be anathema to the British political establishment which appears intent on making England the most densely populated place on Earth.

S.W.

English Democrats, Somerset

Brean Down and its Victorian era Palmerston Fort.

Brean Down, reaching out into the Bristol Channel from the Somerset coast, was one of Queen Victoria's unsinkable battleships standing guard over the Severn Estuary and its ports.  In the mid 19th century concern over the growing strength of the French Navy led to the construction of a number of forts at key points around the coast.  These were known as the Palmerston Forts. Seven such forts protected the Severn Estuary one of which was built on the headland at Brean Down.

The fort was completed in 1871 having taken seven years to build.  It was armed with seven 7 inch rifled muzzle-loading guns, mounted in 1877, and remained in service until 1900.  In World War ll it was brought back into use and armed with two 6 inch naval guns and two searchlights.
  

Brean Down Fort on a hazy April day with Steep Holm, which also has a Palmerston Fort, in the background.

Having parked at the National Trust car park, free to members, at the end of Warren Road there is a decision to be made about which route up on to Brean Down is best.  There are fairly narrow steps taking the direct but rather intimidating way straight up or the sloping path to the right.  As an asthmatic I chose the less steeply rising path - one can stop as often as necessary and enjoy the view to the south.

On reaching the high ground there is another choice of route.  You can follow the undulating path along the ridge to the headland or take the tarmac path along the northern slopes which is easier going and sheltered from the prevailing south west wind.

The path along the ridge obviously provides the most spectacular views:  the Levels and Glastonbury Tor to the south east; Brent Knoll and the Mendips; Bridgwater Bay and the Quantock Hills beyond; the Blackdown Hills to the far south west; Weston Bay and Sand Point to the north east; and, on the other side of the Bristol Channel, the coast of South Wales.

While enjoying the panoramic views, tranquillity and fresh air, don't forget to keep an eye open for the local flora and fauna - including the feral goats.

Finally, a word of warning.  If you take your dog with you keep it under control: dogs regularly lose their lives falling over Brean Down's steep slopes and cliffs.

A section of the 1.5 mile route along the ridge toward the headland.  A Trig Point is just visible on the skyline.

A Labour Party led by Jeremy Corbyn is extremely unlikely to advocate an English Parliament.

There are a few Labour MPs who advocate an English Parliament but I suspect they are vastly outnumbered by others who dislike recognition of English nationhood in general and the idea of an English Parliament in particular.  Although Chuka Umunna withdrew from the Labour leadership election he has since called for an English Parliament within a federal UK - good for him!  I doubt a Labour party led by an avowedly left wing Jeremy Corbyn will make such a call anytime soon.

This letter published in the Western Daily Press on 19th August 2015 reflects my view.

Mixed messages on devolution policy.

Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish nationhood is recognised in their respective devolved parliaments and assemblies. English nationhood also deserves the same recognition and the most straightforward means of achieving it is by the creation of an English parliament.

Unfortunately most British unionist politicians in Westminster make all manner of excuses or propose contorted constitutional arrangements rather than accept any semblance of an English parliament.

However, there are notable exceptions. The Labour Party, for example, has a long-time advocate of an English parliament in Frank Field MP and, from a younger generation, Chuka Umunna, who recently made a speech advocating an English parliament within a federal structure for the nations of the UK. Regrettably, from an English nationalist point of view, Mr Umunna withdrew from the Labour leadership election.

In such circumstances it is worth recalling the words of George Orwell who, over 70 years ago, wrote: “In left-wing circles it is felt that there is always something slightly disgraceful in being an Englishman and that it is duty to snigger at every English institution...”

S.W.

English Democrats, Somerset

The Burton Pynsent Monument near Curry Rivel in South Somerset.

The Burton Pynsent Monument viewed from the east.

On the ridge just a short distance west of Curry Rivel in South Somerset is the Burton Pynsent Monument which also goes under various other names including the Cider Monument, Burton Steeple or the Chatham Monument.

There is no practical place to park near the Monument so it is best to use the free, signposted car park just off the A378 in the village of Curry Rivel.

Walk back to the main road and follow the A378 west until you reach Heale Lane.  Proceed along the lane past allotments and "Ostlers" until, on your left, you reach metal double-gates at "Stoneleigh".  By the gates is a signposted footpath.  Follow the path into a field and carry on along the hedgerow to the Monument.

The best views are to the west across West Sedgemoor toward Taunton and the Quantock Hills, and further along the ridge to the south west to Swell Wood.  Beyond Swell Wood, 16 miles away on the north west edge of the Blackdown Hills, Wellington's Monument can be seen.

The Burton Pynsent Monument was designed by "Capability" Brown in 1767 for William Pitt the Elder, Earl of Chatham, to honour Sir William Pynsent who bequeathed Pitt his nearby Elizabethan Manor and Estate.  Sir William, a prosperous businessman in the growing Somerset cider trade, made the bequest out of admiration - and on account of Pitt's opposition to a new tax on cider!

While in Curry Rivel the nicely presented War Memorial and the Church of St Andrew, built in the Somersetshire Perpendicular style, are both well worth viewing.


A view across West Sedgemoor from near the Monument.

Veritas to merge with English Democrats.

It seems that a proposal for Veritas to merge with the English Democrats will be put to a vote in September at a joint party conference in Leicester.  As an English patriotic nationalist who supports the call for the recognition of English nationhood by the creation of an English Parliament independent of the United Kingdom, I remain to be convinced of the compatability of such a merger.

Looking at the Veritas Party website and 2005 General Election manifesto it appears to me that Veritas is a "British Unionist" party; Union Flags abound, lots of talk of "the British", policies which would facilitate the abolition of devolved parliaments and assemblies, no call for an English Parliament let alone English Independence, in fact very little mention of England and the English at all.  Having said that, I have to concede that Veritas' ideals are praiseworthy.

Now if Veritas members want to leave and join the English Democrats campaign for an independent England with an English Parliament, as does their leader, I say, "Well done chaps and chapesses!"

However, would members of a "British Unionist" party, as Veritas appears to be, happily join the English Democrats and campaign for, in effect, the breakup of the United Kingdom?  Or will the English Democrats have to compromise on their policy of English Independence in order to accommodate them?

Time, and the joint party conference, will tell.

Is London an English city? Apparantly not any more according to John Cleese and Terence Stamp.

Several years ago, when I lived in Bristol, I read an article in the Bristol Evening Post, I think, in which John Cleese, who hails from Weston-Super-Mare, was reported as saying he lived in Bath instead of London because it no longer felt like an English city.  At about the same time he was reported in the Daily Mail as saying that mass immigration had turned London into a city which is no longer English and that he felt like a foreigner walking through the capital's streets.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2032956/John-Cleese-London-longer-English-city-thats-got-2012-Olympics.html

 

Now Terence Stamp, another actor, has just given practically the same opinion.  Apparently he now feels like an alien in his own country.  The Daily Mail  reports him as saying, "When I grew up in East London everyone seemed to speak English, and now you can barely get by speaking our own language." and "I feel like its not London anymore; not the one I used to know anyway." and also "It would be very sad if London stopped being predominantly English."
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3167654/SEBASTIAN-SHAKESPEARE-English-foreign-language-London-says-Terence-Stamp.html

On a personal note, I moved home from Bristol to a market town in South Somerset where it feels, comparatively, like living in the 1950s.  England's great cities, and London in particular, are changing - and not for the better in my view.

 

In the neighbouring County of Dorsetshire an Apache helicopter flies low along the Jurassic Coast.

One of my favourite stretches of road is the B3157 between Burton Bradstock and Abbotsbury.  The road climbs steadily from Burton Bradstock, then takes a sudden dive downhill into Swyre where you a find a road leading off to the coast and the village of West Bexington which sits just behind the Chesil Beach. There is a pay-and-display car park at West Bexington which is handy for taking a stroll east or west along the shingle beach.  Driving on along the B3157 and ascending eastwards you will come across many a lay-by with wonderful views of the coast and the countryside inland.  The best views of all are just below Wears Hill, where you have a fine sight of the Chesil Beach and Portland, before the road descends steeply down Abbotsbury Hill.

On my last spin on this road I had parked in a lay-by overlooked by Wears Hill to enjoy the view when I heard the unmistakable clatter of a helicopter.  Two Apache helicopters, presumably from the Army Air Corps base at Middle Wallop, swept around the eastern side of Wears Hill dived down towards the sea and disappeared, last seen heading west along the Jurassic Coast.  I grabbed my camera and managed to take a couple of photos - hence the picture below. 
 

Local Dorsetshire resident unmooooved by Apache helicopter.