The Impact of Lack of Investment and Poor Prison Salaries
There has been a lot of outrage in the last couple of days regarding prisoners getting 10% knocked off their sentences. Why is this? Well, the UK prison system is, quite frankly, a clusterfuck. Overcrowding has become a serious crisis, and while prisoner numbers are part of the story, the real problem lies in two things: years of underinvestment and appallingly low pay for prison staff. Together, these have created the perfect storm—too many ...
A Podding Holiday in West Dorset
When I went camping with the dog last year, it was tough. I enjoyed it, but it hurt. Let’s just say, there were more aches than adventures. It saddened me as I realised my hardcore camping days were probably behind me. However, a couple of weeks ago, I began to contemplate a 'Last Dance' with camping. The thought popped up when I was sent a marketing email about the place I stayed last year (those targeted ads know how to get you). The ...
The Many Faces of Depression
One thing we learn as the years pass is that depression comes in many forms. When I suffered from anxiety attacks and a sense of darkness many decades ago, the issue was solved not by antidepressants but by a forceful and caring doctor who suggested I might want to look at my lifestyle. Moderate soft drug abuse—speed, marijuana, ecstasy—heavy alcohol intake, and smoking were all in the mix. If you’re poisoning your body, it makes sense ...
Rachel Reeves and the Mini Crisis: A Self-Made Problem
I can’t help but wonder how Rachel Reeves managed to get herself tangled up in this mini-crisis over heating payments for pensioners. Sure, the system could use an overhaul, but why turn it into a full-blown drama? I mean, £1.4 billion in savings isn’t exactly a game-changer. Fiscal Responsibility or Just for Show? I’m guessing Reeves thought this was her chance to showcase her fiscal responsibility. And in some ways, it is. Take ...
Is Immigration Really a Problem?
Lately, I’ve been wondering: is immigration truly the problem it’s often painted as? After all, with 20 years of experience working alongside immigrants and a few family members who've had a front-row seat at the Home Office, I've got some insights to share. A Quick Jaunt Through History Let’s kick off with a little history lesson. Immigration, as we know it, really got going during the age of colonisation. Back then, European ...