Xinomorph

This is the current Minister for Local Environment, Marine and Animal Welfare, Ben Bradshaw MP.

Or is it the bastard lovechild of David Bowie and Kyle MacLachlan?

You decide.

When Margaret Beckett, the Foreign Secretary, appeared on BBC Radio 4's The World at One programme, she was asked if the invasion of Iraq could be seen in future as a foreign policy disaster. Her answer?

Yes, they may.

I don't know what world she's living in, but it's certainly not the same one as the rest of us.

I just don't get it. Why do MPs think that an elected House of Lords would be a) any better, or b) good at all? One presumes that the average idiot on the street would be one of those electors, in which case the Lords would surely just be a carbon copy of the Government; if one likes a specific party, then one is probably going to vote for that same party again for the House of Lords as well as Commons.

Everything about Lords reform is laughable. There was nothing wrong with the House of Lords as it stood. Certainly nothing enough to warrant all of the time and money which has been wasted on the issue. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. I'm not sure that that phrase has ever been more applicable than it is here. The Lords had worked for hundreds of years previously, and these treasonous Labour fools trashed it because they knew that the Lords had the experience, knowledge, power and responsibility to block the ridiculous legislation which has been passed over the past 9 years to destroy this country piece by piece. If they had really wanted reform for any other reason, then they would have waited until they actually had a solution before making such drastic changes. Anyone with any sense can see that.

I boil with rage at this whole state of affairs. It is, to be frank, utterly fucking stupid.

Well, the EU unveiled a new logo for its 50th birthday celebrations next year, and unsurprisingly, it leaves a lot to be desired.

I'm not entirely sure what to make of it. Politically and socially, one drowns in a storming sea of irony and ridiculousness. Graphically it is even worse.

I have never seen a more ugly, pathetic 'logo'. The colours are painful, and even moreso when in contrast to one another such that they are. The arrangement is barely any better, and the whole thing looks like a bad 1980s spoof of some kind. Absolutely awful.

The logo was designed by a Polish 'fine arts' student as part of a competition to find a logo for the celebrations, and if this abomination won, it says a lot of the standard of the other entries.

Oh look. Auditors are expected to criticise the EU's finances - for the 12th year running.

Why am I not surprised?

Is this the stupidest woman in Britain?

After hearing her comments on Question Time, the answer is: yes, quite probably.

(Her name is Salma Yaqoob; the vice-chairman of the 'Respect Coalition'.)

Good God. It has been revealed today that 5 US citizens (and these are just the ones we know about at present) are here in the UK claiming asylum from racial discrimination - and yet openly admitting that they are actually here because they believe that life will be better than in the States.

Whilst one half of me isn't really surprised that people are trying to get out of the US, I can not see how this can possibly be allowed. It's just plain criminal. Apparently, it could take up to 5 years for their applications to be progressed, and meanwhile they are immediately awarded free healthcare, free accommodation, and £35/week benefits. Yes, their applications will almost certainly be turned down, but they can then appeal, and claim legal aid to do so - probably adding another few years and numerous thousands of pounds onto the bill!

It's just absolutely shocking. How can this be happening? Our Government are absolutely, completely useless. These 5 men are just the tip of the iceberg - thousands upon thousands of others are in similar or same situations.

This will never get sorted, not until we get this disgusting Labour lot out of office. They'll never clear up the situation because it's exactly these kinds of people who will vote for them. They're raping this country dry, and it can not continue. We need to concentrate on ourselves, not stupidly unrealistic campaigns to eradicate poverty and hunger. How can we possibly be in a position to spend money and time instructing and advising others on what to do if we cannot take control of the situation in our own country? Charity starts at home, as they say, and this should apply throughout every aspect of life.

Everything at the moment is wrong with this country, it's mostly the fault of Labour - or at very least their treasonous failure to combat the problems, and no one seems to be doing anything about it. Chuck out all of these sponging immigrants and fake asylum-seekers, pour money into sorting out OUR public services and infrastructure, in short sort out the problems here, and then perhaps we can start thinking about helping others.