Author Archives: Phil

Full Fact fails to spot Jeremy Corbyn’s dishonest data picking first time

Posted on November 3, 2017 by Phil

I have a lot of time for Full Fact, the independent fact checking charity. We need them. Yesterday though they cocked up and fell for one of the oldest tricks in the book – it is called data picking. Choosing … Continue reading →

Posted in Facts and data - and fibs about them | 2 Comments

The Labour MP going after the Grenfell inquiry judge has some questions of her own to answer

Posted on July 4, 2017 by Phil

It seems new Kensington MP, Emma Dent Coad, is one of the pack of Labour politicians going after Sir Martin Moore-Bick who has been asked to lead the public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower disaster. I find it strange that … Continue reading →

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Labour’s Land Value Tax would be excruciating for London

Posted on June 6, 2017 by Phil

On page 86 of its manifesto Labour raises the prospect of a Land Value Tax (LVT): A Labour government will give local government extra funding next year. We will initiate a review into reforming council tax and business rates and … Continue reading →

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The Royal College of Surgeons is an unreliable witness

Posted on March 21, 2017 by Phil

I don’t blog so much nowadays – trying to get on with the rest of my life. But, a story I heard on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme this morning piqued my interest. A 24% increase in dental extractions … Continue reading →

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The EU’s poor record on free trade agreements

Posted on January 18, 2017 by Phil

I quite often listen to James O’Brien on LBC. He can be quite entertaining in spite of his reflex leftism. This morning I heard O’Brien roasting some bloke on Brexit and talking about the EU having 50 free trade agreements … Continue reading →

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Labour pushed up rail fares much faster than now

Posted on January 4, 2017 by Phil

For the last couple of days Labour and its fellow travellers in ostensibly neutral campaign groups such as Campaign for Better Transport have been complaining loudly about rail fare rises in line with longstanding government policy. In particular Labour is … Continue reading →

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Brexit fun and games in Ealing last night

Posted on December 22, 2016 by Phil

Rather than doing something useful our councillors are discussing this tosh tonight https://t.co/a4bTBMPCJi pic.twitter.com/NVqc7zhRPe — Phil Taylor (@philjvtaylor) December 20, 2016 I was unimpressed by the Ealing councillors choosing to spend their time debating Brexit at the year’s last full … Continue reading →

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Onkar Sahota’s £7 million property portfolio

Posted on April 25, 2016 by Phil

Labour Assembly Member Onkar Sahota defended himself and his 11 properties at the CCA Hustings last week by saying that he had “worked hard to get them”. I am sure he did, or at least his tenants did. .@DrOnkarSahota finished by … Continue reading →

Posted in Ealing and Northfield | 1 Comment

Gazette falls for bogus Ealing Hospital petition

Posted on April 22, 2016 by Phil

The Ealing Gazette’s front page today talks about “the Government” rejecting a debate on a petition on Ealing Hospital. In fact the petition was rejected by a committee of the House of Commons chaired by a Labour MP, Helen Jones. … Continue reading →

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Don’t throw stones Dr Sahota – your record on transparency is awful

Posted on April 5, 2016 by Phil

Yesterday it was unwise of Labour AM Onkar Sahota to comment on the transparency of someone else’s affairs when his own are so opaque. He tweeted this headline from the Guardian: Fund run by David Cameron’s father avoided paying tax … Continue reading →

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