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People trafficking leaders
In an exclusive post, ConservativeNewsSite.com can reveal the face of a person suspected of people trafficking.
More to follow…
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A coffee cup culture
It’s great to see how we have the infrastructure to supply all the necessary wares for our cultural experience.
This isn’t easy, or cheap, however.
It takes dedication and talent to source and supply all the sorts of wares necessary for our enjoyment of a simple cup of coffee, for instance.
It takes a global operation involving thousands if not hundreds of thousands of people.
These are coffee growers, shipping agents, logistics advisors, and suppliers, to name but a few.
It’s a remarkable feat in its totality.
It ensures we have coffee to drink, and more to follow. It’s our way of life, and it’s lived out by millions of people around the world.
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People trafficking isn’t a norm
In an age of travel it’s difficult to say why people trafficking is such a bad thing.
It doesn’t look dishonest because of conflicts, climate change, and political troubles which mean people have to flee.
The disturbing truth is that whilst seeking refuge is possible, other troubles creep up slowly.
It entails a slow departure, and covert journey across territory that’s not yours.
There are no alternatives to this, at times.
It’s why it’s desperate, and it’s dangerous to deal with people traffickers regardless.
They’re criminals, and hold ill-will toward us, our society, and our laws.
It’s difficult but not impossible to crack this sort of crime whenever it happens.
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Still signs of life out there
The high street is a fascinating place, if you want to find something different.
It may not be cheap, although sales help with that, but it’s an Aladdin’s cave if you’re willing to look.
I looked in a ‘vintage’ fashion shop today and had a look at the array of items. It’s a similar setup.
A Window Display 
Inside The Store 
A Box Of Ties 
Shelves Of Footwear It’s not my type, or style, but it makes sense; have it all on display for those who can throw it all together, to make an outfit.
This is the sort of shopping that we have.
It’s a sort of mix-and-match of things that makes up into what we had originally wanted.
This is the sort of ‘style’ of a choosy and design-led market. It fits the bill for many of us.
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The state of dereliction
The state of the UK’s high streets is obvious, but elsewhere it’s a similar narrative.
In the byways and highways of our places of residence, the ghosts of buildings past haunt our ways.
Of course, these are not the only types of building around; there are shops, offices, and health centres, by example.
These are just some of the uses we have for a built infrastructure.
However, there are those of us who want things to be done with such derelict features.
Their uses are starting to come through.
A community centre is a vital need, as is more affordable accommodation for those in the community. Our arts needs are more than catered for.
In my view, right now our needs are more fundamental than those of before; we need jobs, infrastructure, and the means by which to keep it going.
If we don’t do this, who’ll want to live here?
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Sunak’s problem is not only his
In a way, conservatives in general tend to come across as looking at life as being about ‘more’; more votes, more airtime, and more history-making moments.
It isn’t true to say this is what ‘conservatism’ is about, but in the UK we see it so often we might as well say it is.
The speech by Rishi Sunak at the steps of Number 10 took place under dreary skies, and his tone echoed tired times.
He announced his intention to win his party another election victory, and so the nation groaned. It’s time for Tories to get more; more PM’s, more policies, and more interviews.
In actual fact, Boris Johnson is the last elected Prime Minister on record.
While Liz Truss took over – and Sunak stepped in shortly after – it will mean the next Prime Minister is going to be Johnson’s successor.
The question is if anyone has the ideas good enough to prove us a way forward.
In large part, his much-hyped Premiership didn’t get off the ground too well.
It’s solely due to the Covid pandemic, of course, but his “levelling up” agenda fell far short of reality, and he fell through too.
His successor has a hard task ahead of them.
The slogan Johnson had – “Get Brexit Done” – is now replaced by, “Get The Job Done”. The public are tired of laziness, and tardiness in the way of its politics right now.
The urgency Johnson had raised now needs to be believed on and worked through by whoever wins the next election on July 4.
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Labour’s pledges to the nation ring hollow
After the promises, promises, promises Government of Tony Blair’s Labour heyday years, Sir Keir Starmer has returned the party to form with six key pledges that look remarkably similar, but resemble a new way forward.
I mean polling form, not necessarily ideologically.
A pledge card I downloaded recently succinctly states six aims of Starmer’s Government in waiting.
“Labour’s First Steps” This is a key way to engage voters. It keeps it simple and makes politics look straightforward.
The problem is, we’ve heard all this before.
As if a shortfall of funding for schools isn’t already a long-running complaint. As if we haven’t heard a Labour leader decry antisocial behaviour – over 17 years ago.
It sounds the same, and it probably is.
The question is over effectiveness and Starmer has long pumped his own record for working in effective roles.
His record is a strong case against Rishi Sunak’s, who cut his teeth publicly during a pandemic. He had more screen time than most Chancellor’s get.
The test is the patience of a public who’ve heard all this before, and by now have seen it.
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Do you miss offline banking?
The world is digitising. It’s happening locally, as well as across the globe.
The offset of banking to online is a part of this.
It also comes as the closure of bank branches hit different parts of the country. This hastens a transition to online banking, as it’s more convenient.
In some cases, it’s also the only way.
The transition is painless, but it can’t replace speaking to someone in person. It’s also important to know our deposits are in the right hands.
Another financial crisis may hit, but who knows how we’ll all feel about it. It isn’t as if we know who to rely on.
In my local area, there are still plenty of branches to choose from. This reminds me that talking to someone is important.
However, not all areas are this lucky.
A post office leaves a village and it spells disaster for the less mobile. Another locality may lose a branch, but it was the only one there.
The dilemma is not if digitisation is a good thing, it’s who’s advice is good enough if there’s no relationship.
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The reality of being unhoused and outdoors
The issue of homelessness is ever in the news.
As if A Street Cat Named Bob wasn’t enough to highlight the issue and draw attention to the plight of the homeless (in and out of accommodation), the many television reports and newspaper appeals bring to us the reality of living outdoors at night.
Rough Sleepers Outside Westminster Cathedral The fact is, however, it’s more problematic than that.
There are things which happen every night that affect the life of a homeless person.
There are fights, robberies, assaults and numerous other anti-social acts that affect the homeless, too.
It’s frightening, and it’s alienating.
The fact charities help isn’t the point.
It’s anti-social attitudes which make life harder and more hostile for the homeless.
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Empty buildings mark our landscape
If you walk around a town in England today, a familiar sight are the hoardings.
There are old shops fronts still there, and empty shop units missing shelves of shoes or bedding.
It’s a sight that blights more towns than you might at first appreciate.
Take for example the photos below, and you’ll get my point. This isn’t a new building or a modern unit for a quick coffee shop.
It has some history about it, and character.
Heavy Frames 
A Blocked Door 
Upper Floors 
Latticed Windows Yet, it’s empty.
My affront is not at the sight of it – or its ‘look’ – but a question of what it means.
Do these types of building not fit anymore, or suit our modern tastes? Is it about our comfort over “mod cons”, and eschewing of the old and fuddy-duddy?
It may not be, but it’s an interesting omission in a nation of old and ageing towns.
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The issue of shopping habits
Neal’s Yard is a peculiar feature of London’s past, and it continues with Neal’s Yard Dairy at Park Street.
I popped in to take a look, and it was doing a brisk trade.
The cheese wheels are delightful (as you can see), and the wedges are really too tasty-looking to not buy into.
A Cheese Display 
Other Products On Sale Of course, dairy farming has its opponents because of vegan activism. Also, dairy shops such as this one have to compete against supermarkets as well.
So, what’s the point? In the opposite, in fact.
In reality, not many of us are vegans and neither do we all want to pick our cheeses off a shelf by ourselves.
It’s a fair enquiry, but to investigate another’s shopping habits – or to change them – belies a peculiar sort of nimbyism .
