http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/david-bell/ birmmail en-gb Birmingham Mail no birmmail IC NETWORK http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/david-bell/2009/06/29/if-you-think-this-year-is-bad-just-wait-for-2010-97319-24011096/ Mon, 29 Jun 2009 08:34:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/david-bell/2009/06/29/if-you-think-this-year-is-bad-just-wait-for-2010-97319-24011096/ THIS is a red letter day for the average West Midlands taxpayer. It is the beginning of the first week in which he starts working for himself and his family. David Bell http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/david-bell/2009/06/22/our-pm-s-rapidly-losing-touch-with-reality-97319-23942471/ Mon, 22 Jun 2009 07:45:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/david-bell/2009/06/22/our-pm-s-rapidly-losing-touch-with-reality-97319-23942471/ A man dies and goes to Heaven. On a giant wall behind St Peter he sees millions and millions of clocks, all showing different times of day. David Bell http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/david-bell/2009/06/15/time-to-clamp-down-on-parking-menace-97319-23879531/ Mon, 15 Jun 2009 07:50:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/david-bell/2009/06/15/time-to-clamp-down-on-parking-menace-97319-23879531/ WE are spied on by CCTV cameras everywhere we go. David Bell http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/david-bell/2009/06/08/devil-s-in-the-detail-with-these-flawed-schemes-97319-23814802/ Mon, 08 Jun 2009 07:53:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/david-bell/2009/06/08/devil-s-in-the-detail-with-these-flawed-schemes-97319-23814802/ WITH 75,000 families expected to have their homes repossessed this year, you would think that the Government’s £285 million mortgage rescue scheme could not fail. David Bell http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/david-bell/2009/06/01/european-parliament-gravy-train-is-an-even-worse-scandal-97319-23755313/ Sun, 31 May 2009 23:00:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/david-bell/2009/06/01/european-parliament-gravy-train-is-an-even-worse-scandal-97319-23755313/ THROWING more cash at MPs won’t make them behave any better. David Bell http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/david-bell/2009/05/25/sitting-pretty-as-our-troops-are-dying-97319-23706127/ Mon, 25 May 2009 09:25:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/david-bell/2009/05/25/sitting-pretty-as-our-troops-are-dying-97319-23706127/ IT is marketed as the most comfortable office chair in the world so, as you’d expect, it isn’t cheap. David Bell http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/david-bell/2009/05/18/give-rotten-parliamentary-orchard-a-prune-97319-23648574/ Mon, 18 May 2009 07:45:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/david-bell/2009/05/18/give-rotten-parliamentary-orchard-a-prune-97319-23648574/ THEY are blaming the system when its guiding rule couldn’t be clearer. David Bell http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/david-bell/2009/05/11/forget-swine-flu-look-at-the-hospitals-97319-23592774/ Mon, 11 May 2009 07:46:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/david-bell/2009/05/11/forget-swine-flu-look-at-the-hospitals-97319-23592774/ REMEMBER the Millennium Bug? We were warned that aircraft would fall from the sky when computers crashed at midnight on December 31, 1999. Nothing happened. David Bell http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/david-bell/2009/05/04/tax-hike-is-the-last-straw-for-sir-michael-97319-23536747/ Mon, 04 May 2009 07:26:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/david-bell/2009/05/04/tax-hike-is-the-last-straw-for-sir-michael-97319-23536747/ “WE have three and a half million layabouts on benefits and I am 76 and getting up at 6am to go to work and keep them.” David Bell http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/david-bell/2009/04/27/electric-car-stunt-lacks-real-power-97319-23481758/ Mon, 27 Apr 2009 07:47:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/david-bell/2009/04/27/electric-car-stunt-lacks-real-power-97319-23481758/ YOU probably spotted those posed snaps of Lord Mandelson and wooden-faced Geoff Hoon spinning around a track in an electric car that doesn’t exist. David Bell http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/david-bell/2009/04/20/it-s-just-a-complete-govt-disaster-97319-23425154/ Mon, 20 Apr 2009 08:50:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/david-bell/2009/04/20/it-s-just-a-complete-govt-disaster-97319-23425154/ GOVERNMENT is so institutionally incompetent that the less it does, the better. David Bell http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/david-bell/2009/04/13/i-m-not-mad-about-mps-priorities-97319-23375412/ Mon, 13 Apr 2009 07:48:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/david-bell/2009/04/13/i-m-not-mad-about-mps-priorities-97319-23375412/ “BEFORE we ask anyone else to give, we in this Government must examine our own costs. Those of us in politics have been entrusted with great privilege by the people. We must lead by example.” David Bell http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/david-bell/2009/04/06/time-to-plug-this-expenses-loophole-97319-23323683/ Mon, 06 Apr 2009 09:54:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/david-bell/2009/04/06/time-to-plug-this-expenses-loophole-97319-23323683/ THE abuse of a dodgy expenses system by MPs has for many years been a boil ripe for lancing. David Bell http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/david-bell/2009/03/30/saving-the-world-no-wasting-50m-97319-23286791/ Mon, 30 Mar 2009 11:25:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/david-bell/2009/03/30/saving-the-world-no-wasting-50m-97319-23286791/ IT looks like being one of the most expensive publicity stunts in history. David Bell http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/david-bell/2009/03/23/it-s-a-promised-land-for-the-workshy-97319-23212713/ Mon, 23 Mar 2009 10:13:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/david-bell/2009/03/23/it-s-a-promised-land-for-the-workshy-97319-23212713/ IN AUSTRALIA, immigration policy is decided on the basis of what best helps the country. David Bell http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/david-bell/2009/03/16/you-re-watched-every-step-you-take-97319-23154233/ Mon, 16 Mar 2009 09:54:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/david-bell/2009/03/16/you-re-watched-every-step-you-take-97319-23154233/ EVERY move you make. Every step you take. I’ll be watching you. David Bell http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/david-bell/2009/03/09/one-of-many-very-public-scandals-97319-23098498/ Mon, 09 Mar 2009 08:41:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/david-bell/2009/03/09/one-of-many-very-public-scandals-97319-23098498/ TWO placards have appeared outside the Edinburgh home of the worst banker in the world. David Bell http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/david-bell/2009/03/02/pm-has-to-unite-party-before-election-97319-23042417/ Mon, 02 Mar 2009 08:51:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/david-bell/2009/03/02/pm-has-to-unite-party-before-election-97319-23042417/ DO YOU think Gordon will venture a peak at the dramatisation of the Iron Lady’s final days of power? David Bell http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/david-bell/2009/02/16/ms-smith-could-be-taught-a-lesson-97319-22938142/ Mon, 16 Feb 2009 10:19:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/david-bell/2009/02/16/ms-smith-could-be-taught-a-lesson-97319-22938142/ WHEN William Gladstone was Prime Minister he even bought all his own postage stamps. David Bell http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/david-bell/2009/02/09/birth-rate-nonsense-needs-killing-off-97319-22886434/ Mon, 09 Feb 2009 08:57:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/david-bell/2009/02/09/birth-rate-nonsense-needs-killing-off-97319-22886434/ BARELY a day goes by before another unelected quack is hectoring us to change our lifestyle. David Bell