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New Agenda on Sunday. is out! Edition of 5th February 2018

https://paper.li/f-1346065353#/


Good morning everyone

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Italy 15 pts, England 46 pts.
Swing low, sweet chariot.

I watched the opening England match of the 6 Nations last season and remarked at the time that England were less than impressive in their performance. This year however things were very different. Admittedly there were periods in the game when England seemed to drift off and loose concentration (and the ball) but overall their performance was the best of the three matches. New boy Sam Simmonds has the speed of a sprinter and scored two tries on his debut and must surely have claimed the number 8 spot as his own. Farrell, Hughes and Ford turned in first class performances in a team effort which was good value for the win. It is too early to even start thinking about the "Grand Slam", but in the other matches Scotland were less than poor andan injury hit Wales took full advantage with an ordinary performance to secure the win, while Ireland poached a two point win in Paris ina poor rain soaked match where both sides gave the impression of preferring to be in one of the numerous Paris restaurant, with a strong coffee and a pastry. Next week, Twickenham will welcome the fans who carry leeks and daffodils. It promises to be quite agame, but England have much work to do over the next few days.

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In a mind boggling piece of media speculation, it is suggested that Theresa May could be soon be removed in a Downing Street coup and replaced by the "Dream Team" of Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson, as Prime Minister, Michael Andrew Gove as his Deputy PM and Jacob William Rees-Mogg as Chancellor of the Exchequer. To me this is less of a "Dream Team" and more like a terrifying nightmare. The worrying thing is that in today's warped, confused and fragmented Conservative Party this speculation could become reality.
There are some strange examples of serialised drama on television at the moment. 


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Are you watching "Hard Sun" for example, which should probably be called Renko but that would be too close to the name of another television serial of a few years back. Renko, sorry Hard Sun has more twists and turns than a long country lane and I have a sneaking suspicion that despite the fights in almost every episode, there is more to the Robert Hicks and Elaine Renko relationship than meet the eye. This would of course be very complicated for Hicks with his pregnant wife, lover who just happens to be the widow of his partner who he allegedly killed while both were on a case. However, an entertaining piece of drama which concludes next week. 
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Not so the case with McMaffia. If you are watching this and have spotted who are the "good guys" and who are the "baddies" while leaping between Moscow, London, Tel Aviv, Istanbul,Mumbai, Paris and numerous other exotic locations,and you are managing to keep up with the plot through much muffled soundtrack and mumbling, please drop me an email with the explanation.
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It is revealed that there is over £1 billion "missing" from the Carillion Pension fund, while executives and share holders continued to collect dividends and salaries right up to the collapse.This is absolutely outrageous. A situation where a few benefit while the many are left to bear the consequences of their "missing" pension fund, is unacceptable. For far too long , companies have been using their employees pension funds to shore up their ailing businesses. When the company eventually fails, the employees are penalised while the management walk away unscathed but with their bonuses and severance payments intact. Punitive measures must be introduced to deter the "diversion" of pension funds to the operating accounts of companies who may resort to this questionable accountancy maneuver.

In a footnote to this story, companies who are owed money by Carillion some in excess of £1 million, may now apply for Government backed loans to cover the debts. It seems ironic that a company owed money by another company have to borrow money from the bank, thus incurring a debt on their books while the defaulting company walk away scot free. Perhaps the Carillion directors and senior management should have all their assets seized, including their homes and other properties, with the proceeds distributed to those workers and suppliers who have claims.



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Practically every newspaper you pick up (particularly the Express) is predicting severe weather with snow, frost, wind and hail. This week they say, will be the coldest for decades, with temperature expected to dip to -18C or lower in many places. Get supplies in, get the thermals ready and turn up the heating. (We hope that the pensioners and vulnerable people in our society will be looked after too)

Have a nice week



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