Entries from July 2010 ↓

The White House, Washington D.C., April 9, 1963. (Awarding of honorary citizenship of the United States of America to Winston Churchill)

President John F. Kennedy said:-

“We meet to honour a man whose honour requires no meeting – for he is the most honoured and honourable man to walk the stage of human history in the time in which we live. Whenever and wherever tyranny threatened, he has always championed liberty. Facing firmly toward the future, he has never forgotten the past. Serving six monarchs of his native Great Britain, he has served all men’s freedom and dignity. In the dark days and darker nights when Britain stood alone – and most men save Englishmen despaired of England’s life – he mobilised the English language and sent it into battle. The incandescent quality of his words illuminated the courage of his countrymen. Given unlimited powers by his citizens, he was ever vigilant to protect their rights. Indifferent himself to danger, he wept over the sorrows of others. A child of the House of Commons, he became in time its father. Accustomed to the hardships of battle, he has no distaste for pleasure. Now his stately Ship of Life, having weathered the severest storms of a troubled century, is anchored in tranquil waters, proof that courage and faith and the zest for freedom are truly indestructible. The record of his triumphant passage will inspire free hearts for all time.

By adding his name to our rolls, we mean to honour him – but his acceptance honours us far more. For no statement or proclamation can enrich his name — the name Sir Winston Churchill is already legend.”

There’s a by-election in Walsall tomorrow. The Conservative candidate has either reproduced a leaflet from May, or misprinted the leaflet and bodged two important amendments. If you look at the black blotches on the page you will see two things.

1. The date of the election was originally printed as Thursday 6th May. An amendment added in black ink to put the new date.

2. This is the bit that simply takes the biscuit. In the section headed “Together building a better town” you see the line “investment in schools”. Above, clearly visible for all to see through the black ink are the words “200 million”!

The Tories cut the Building Schools of the Future programme last week so they just blocked it out. As well as the bare faced cheek of it, it’s politically inane.

Investment in schools

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for health, if he will publish the KPMG report on the effectiveness of the NHS Choise and NHS Direct Websites.

Simon Burns: We are not able to publish the requested report as it is central to the formulation of government policy. The KPMG report on NHS Choices and NHS Direct is informing the Department’s Information Strategy.

Time for the Freedom of Information Act: NHS Choices/NHS Direct