Author Archives: George
Podcast Episode 03515: Happy Birthday NHS. 75 years since the National Health Service was founded and it is on its knees.
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Happy Birthday NHS. 75 years since the National Health Service was founded and it is on its knees.
Podcast Episode 03514: Russia will blow up Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station. Ukraine War. Putin will escalate
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Russia will blow up Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station. Ukraine War. Putin will escalate
Podcast Episode 03513: Moscow Airport attack. Did Ukrainian drones threaten Vnukovo? Russian counterstrike. Ukraine advance
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Moscow Airport attack. Did Ukrainian drones threaten Vnukovo? Russian counterstrike. Ukraine advance
Rishi Sunak
In 1980 Rishi Sunak was born in Southampton, United Kingdom. The city had a tiny Indian community. Rishi’s father was a doctor and his mother was a pharmacist. He is one of three children. Mr. Sunak’s parents were born in East Africa to Indian parents. Sunak’s grandparents emigrated from British India. One of his grandparents was born in what is now Pakistan.
The Sunak family profess the Hindu faith. Sunak wears a cast wrist band. He also abstains from alcohol.
Rishi sat the scholarship exam for Winchester College. He was unsuccessful. He was admitted to the school as a commoner – as in his parents had to pay fees. He did very well and ended up as head boy of he school. In his school holidays he worked as a waiter.
AFter school, Rishi went to Oxford University to read Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE). Oxford University is divided into 39 colleges. Rishi went to Lincoln College.
At university Rishi eschewed politics. He put his nose in his books and was awarded a double first class degree. Then he began his career with Goldman Sachs.
After a couple of years he went to Stanford University in the United States to study for a Master’s of Business Administration (MBA). He was awarded this degree. In California he met Akshata Murthy who is the daughter of one of the richest men in India. Mr. Murthy founded Info Sys (Information Systems) which is a computer company.
Akshata and Rishi began a relationship. They got engaged. They then had a lavish wedding. The couple were blessed with a brace of daughters.
Sunak and his bride moved back to the United Kingdom. They retained their green cards. His wife chose not to become a British citizen. She retained her Indian tax residency. She is non domiciled in the UK for tax purposes.
By the age of 30 Rishi was a self made multi millionaire. He retired from banking. He had been a Conservative since his school days when that was very unfashionable particularly for someone of an Asian background.
Rishi got onto the Conservatives’ candidates list. He was selected for the safe Conservative constituency of Richmond in Yorkshire. The incumbent William Hague was a former leader of the party and he was Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary. Hague had announced his intention to stand down from the House of Commons at the 2015 election.
In 2015 Sunak was elected MP for Richmond (Yorkshire). He had bought a house in the constituency to show commitment to the area. His wife and children spent most of their time in London.
In 2016 Sunak campaigned for a Leave vote in the Brexit referendum. This was against the grain for a banker.
Sunak rose fast in the Conservative Government. He was made Chancellor of the Exchequer in 2019. In 2020 he had to shepherd the UK’s economy through coronavirus. Businesses could apply for a GBP 45 000 loan no questions asked. Some enterprising fraudsters created bogus businesses and registered them online with Companies House. They then applied for a GB 45 000 loan. The Treasury was so overwhelmed by the number of claims. They waved them through without checking them. It did not notice that some of the so called businesses had been founded the day that the claim was made!
In July 2022 Rishi resigned from the cabinet because Boris Johnson had lied over the Chris Pincher affair. In what must have been an orchestrated move a dozen other cabinet ministers tendered their resignations. Boris Johnson was brought down in 24 hours.
In August 2022 there was a leadership contest. Eight people were nominated. Jeremy Hunt was soon eliminated. Nadhim Zahawi the then Chancellor of the Exchequer was knocked out. Rishi Sunak led from the first among the Members of Parliament (MPs). Some other MPs who were in the contest were knocked out in rounds of voting among Conservative MPs: Suella Braverman and then Kemi Badenoch.
To everyone’s surprise Liz Truss was in the final two. Most thought it would be Penny Mordaunt.
The final two were Rishi and Liz Truss. They went around the UK addressing Conservative Associations. The membership voted for Liz. The result was announced that 47% of party members voted for her. 41% voted for Rishi. The rest did not vote.
Liz Truss became Prime Minister on 6 September. On 8 September the Queen died.
Truss did not have Sunak in her cabinet. He remained on the backbenches.
Truss wrought enormous economic damage in record time. Her won party was aghast. Eventually her party turned against her. She was forced out.
Liz Truss resigned as PM on October 25. Rishi was summoned to Buckingham Palace to be appointed Prime Minister.
Rishi continued with most of Truss’ cabinet. However, he reappointed Suella Braverman as Home Secretary only 5 days after she had resigned over the misuse of a private email on official business.
Sunak’s appointment was greeted with general relief. His primary has has been to restore the economy ‘s health. The Pound Sterling rgeaine value under him. Inflation has still been bad but has fallen.
Podcast Episode 03512: Rwanda Plan: Tory policy to deport illegal immigrants for processing found to be illegal by Court
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Rwanda Plan: Tory policy to deport illegal immigrants for processing found to be illegal by Court
Home thoughts from abroad by Robert Browning. ”Oh to be in England now that April is there!”
Podcast Episode 03510: Roe v Wade: a year after the US Supreme Court overturned the ruling. Babies lives are being saved
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Roe v Wade: a year after the US Supreme Court overturned the ruling. Babies lives are being saved
Podcast Episode 03509: Where is General Surovikin? Putin is purging his generals. The sawdust Stalin fears his army.
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Where is General Surovikin? Putin is purging his generals. The sawdust Stalin fears his army.
Podcast Episode 03508: inside the UK Parliament
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inside the UK Parliament
Podcast Episode 03507: Prince William wants to end homelessness. Let them eat cake! Give away your palaces then!
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Prince William wants to end homelessness. Let them eat cake! Give away your palaces then!
Podcast Episode 03506: Could the Prigozhin Wagner coup d’etat have succeeded?
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Could the Prigozhin Wagner coup d’etat have succeeded?
Podcast Episode 03505: Richmond upon Thames by boat
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Richmond upon Thames by boat
Podcast Episode 03504: Prigozhin’s Wagner Group attempted coup – what will the long term consequences be?
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Prigozhin’s Wagner Group attempted coup – what will the long term consequences be?
Podcast Episode 03503: Wagner Group tried to seize power. Yevgeny Prigozhin backed down and went to Belarus it is claimed
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Wagner Group tried to seize power. Yevgeny Prigozhin backed down and went to Belarus it is claimed
Podcast Episode 03502: Kew Palace in Kew gardens
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Kew Palace in Kew gardens
Windsor Castle: dining room
Podcast Episode 03500: 98% of MPs vote to accept the report condemning Boris Johnson as a liar.
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98% of MPs vote to accept the report condemning Boris Johnson as a liar.
Podcast Episode 03499: Russian Miliary has suffered at least 25 000 deaths in the Ukraine War. BBC report proves it
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Russian Miliary has suffered at least 25 000 deaths in the Ukraine War. BBC report proves it
Podcast Episode 03498: President of South Africa in Moscow. The African peace mission has little chance of success.
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President of South Africa in Moscow. The African peace mission has little chance of success.
Podcast Episode 03497: St Petersburg International Economic Forum 2023 is a damp squib. No major leaders come.
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St Petersburg International Economic Forum 2023 is a damp squib. No major leaders come.
Podcast Episode 03496: African presidents in Ukraine on a peace mission. Russia fired missiles at Kyiv despite this.
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African presidents in Ukraine on a peace mission. Russia fired missiles at Kyiv despite this.
Podcast Episode 03495: Ukrainian counter offensive is modest as Russia pummels Ukrainian civilians.
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Ukrainian counter offensive is modest as Russia pummels Ukrainian civilians.
Podcast Episode 03494: Boris Johnson excoriated by the Commons Standards + Privileges Committee. Disgraced ex PM
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Boris Johnson excoriated by the Commons Standards + Privileges Committee. Disgraced ex PM
Podcast Episode 03493: British woman imprisoned for aborting her baby after the legal time limit. Carla Foster is in jail.
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British woman imprisoned for aborting her baby after the legal time limit. Carla Foster is in jail.
Podcast Episode 03492: Boris Johnson’s resignation list honours: why the fallout? PM’s usually nominate people to the Lords
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Boris Johnson’s resignation list honours: why the fallout? PM’s usually nominate people to the Lords
Podcast Episode 03489: Elysian evening in the summer
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Elysian evening in the summer
Podcast Episode 03491: RIP Silvio Berlusconi. Thrice Prime Minister of Italy: ‘the knight’ was Italy’s 3rd richest man
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RIP Silvio Berlusconi. Thrice Prime Minister of Italy: ‘the knight’ was Italy’s 3rd richest man
Podcast Episode 03490: Nicola Sturgeon arrested. Is the SNP in big trouble? Will they win the next Holyrood election?
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Nicola Sturgeon arrested. Is the SNP in big trouble? Will they win the next Holyrood election?
Podcast Episode 03485: Boris Johnson: liar, liar but he wants to make a comeback. Is he trying to destroy the Tory Party?
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Boris Johnson: liar, liar but he wants to make a comeback. Is he trying to destroy the Tory Party?
Podcast Episode 03484: Boris Johnson resigns as an MP. Former Prime Minister stands down due to a damning Commons report
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Boris Johnson resigns as an MP. Former Prime Minister stands down due to a damning Commons report
Podcast Episode 03483: Ammonia pipeline in Ukraine blown up. Whodunit? Is Ukraine’s counter offensive ruined by floods?
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Ammonia pipeline in Ukraine blown up. Whodunit? Is Ukraine’s counter offensive ruined by floods?
Podcast Episode 03482: Prince Harry’s war against the free media. He breaks the UK Constitution by taking sides in politics
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Prince Harry’s war against the free media. He breaks the UK Constitution by taking sides in politics
Podcast Episode 03481: Russia blows up a dam in Ukraine: an ecological crime.
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Russia blows up a dam in Ukraine: an ecological crime.
Podcast Episode 03480: Philip Schofield and This Morning: the star resigned after allegations of sexual misconduct
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Philip Schofield and This Morning: the star resigned after allegations of sexual misconduct
Khalistan Zinbadab chant KLF sympathisers in London. 39 years since Hari Mandir was stormed
Podcast Episode 03478: Russia’s response to attacks on Moscow. Drone attacks on Russia lead to little comment.
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Russia’s response to attacks on Moscow. Drone attacks on Russia lead to little comment.
Khalistan Zinbadab chant KLF sympathisers in London. 39 years since Hari Mandir was stormed
anti Iranian government protest in London
British cavalry prepare for the trooping of the colour
Podcast Episode 03474: Former President of Russia calls for the murder of British civilians. Medvedev calls for war on UK
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Former President of Russia calls for the murder of British civilians. Medvedev calls for war on UK
Podcast Episode 03473: Moscow hit by drones
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Moscow hit by drones
Podcast Episode 03472: Street party for the coronation of King Charles III
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Street party for the coronation of King Charles III
British cavalry: all the king’s horses and all the king’s men
Podcast Episode 03470: Lord Raglan
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Lord Raglan
bike ride by Buckingham palace
Podcast Episode 03468: Henry Kissinger is 100 years old. Is he a hero or villain. Cold Warrior – grand old man of IR
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Henry Kissinger is 100 years old. Is he a hero or villain. Cold Warrior – grand old man of IR
Podcast Episode 03467: Suella Braverman – did the Home Secretary act unethically? Is she the next Conservative leader?
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Suella Braverman – did the Home Secretary act unethically? Is she the next Conservative leader?
Podcast Episode 03466: Russia has lost 50 000 scientists in 5 years. The brain drain is accelerating.
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Russia has lost 50 000 scientists in 5 years. The brain drain is accelerating.
Podcast Episode 03465: Rolf Harris is dead. The disgraced British-Australian cartoonist and broadcaster died aged 93.
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Rolf Harris is dead. The disgraced British-Australian cartoonist and broadcaster died aged 93.
Podcast Episode 03464: Ukrainian attacks into Russian. This proves Putin’s war has backfired. Counter-offensive
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Ukrainian attacks into Russian. This proves Putin’s war has backfired. Counter-offensive
Podcast Episode 03463: Russia has won the Battle of Bakhmut. It is a pyrrhic victory. What happens next?
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Russia has won the Battle of Bakhmut. It is a pyrrhic victory. What happens next?
Podcast Episode 03462: RIP Martin Amis. One of the UK’s greatest novelists of modern times has died aged 73.
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RIP Martin Amis. One of the UK’s greatest novelists of modern times has died aged 73.
Podcast Episode 03461: Georgia and Russia normalise travel between them. Why? What is the significance of this?
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Georgia and Russia normalise travel between them. Why? What is the significance of this?
Podcast Episode 03460: G7 Summit: jets for Ukraine. Does this mean Ukraine will win the war?
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