Labour's think tank has thought...

The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) is Labour's favourite think tank and the organisation that the BBC use to support their world view. Today they have published their investigation into identity, citizenship and community cohesion. Their suggestions include the following - from the Daily Mail, my comments in italics:

"Christmas should be downgraded in favour of festivals from other religions to improve race relations"
Typical left wing politically correct rubbish. Downgrading Christmas would do nothing to improve race relations in fact the exact opposite. This is a Christian country that is why we have an Established Church, followers of other religions can practice them in this country (unlike in Saudi Arabia for example) but Christian festivals are the UK's festivals and should not be downgraded.

""Birth ceremonies", at which state and parents agree to "work in partnership" to bring up children"
This smacks of Communism or maybe Kibbutzism, this Government's totalitarian instincts do not need any encouraging.

"Action to "ensure access" for ethnic minorities to "largely white" countryside"
Please explain why ethnic minorities find it harder to access the environment than anyone else. The same trains go to country town stations, the same roads go into the countryside, as far as I am aware there are no restrictions on bicycle riding in the countryside. This is just plain ridiculous if people want to go to the countryside they can, if they don't want to they wont. If they don't want to go because they don't want to go for a country walk then they shouldn't have to go.

"An overhaul of Britain's "imperial" honours system"
NotaSheep likes a bit of history and pageantry but the "buggins turn" honours system does irritate me hugely.

"Bishops being thrown out of the House of Lords"
Throwing out seems a little extreme. Why do I think that the IPPR would never recommend throwing an Iman out of anywhere?

"An end to "sectarian" religious education"
No more religious schools seems a great idea but I am not sure that is what they mean.

"Flying flags other than the Union Jack"
I didn't know that flying flags other than the Union Flag/Jack was prohibited.

This report was commissioned when Nick Pearce, now head of public policy at Downing Street, was its director.

This government and its advisers are rapidly losing the plot, maybe they realise that their time in power is coming to an end and they are now pursuing a scorched earth policy.