'Will a new phoenix rise from the ashes of Corus?'

Hello I’m Harry Riley

Welcome to Harry’s Five-Minute-Rant

‘Will a new phoenix rise from the ashes of Corus?’

‘We live in a land of free enterprise.’ What a sick laugh!

We really live in a land of get and grab, a land full of weak politicians who cannot see further than the end of their nose. They sell off the family silver and then offer useless platitudes when things go belly-up! Such as this latest Corus screw-up in the North-East. God knows, the politicians must have foreseen the likelihood of this sort of thing happening when Corus was initially sold off to a foreign company. There have been a great many industrial precedents; Rover is a prime example.

Why couldn’t our business Tzars have had the foresight to put in some protective stipulations such as not allowing companies to close down vital plants in this country while plans are in place to build in their own or other countries. What beats me is that often these foreign firms are given incentives to take over ailing UK companies, so why can we not ask that these handouts be given back if and when they decide to close down, if only to help ease the pain of redundancy.

I understand it cannot be done if the proprietors have gone into liquidation but that is not always the case, as with the Corus owners. Workers in the North-East Region are tough and resourceful and will take this closure on the chin as they always do but the bitter memories will surely live on.

I worked in Consett County Durham for a year in the mid eighties, commuting backwards and forwards from Nottingham every day and got to know some of those straight talking folk. They are gritty hard-workers who’ve had a raw deal and deserve better. I despair of the many gutless wonders we have now at the helm in politics. Other countries try and protect their own industries so why can’t we.

After the last war this seemed to me to be a land full of hope but I have to say it is now a land where our so-called-leaders make big mistakes through complacency and

through addressing issues only on a short term-day-to-day re-active basis. Where are the pro-active, inspirational leaders who can lift us out of this quagmire of misery, doubt and despair?

I really thought Tony Blair was going to guide us to a bright new future but he turned out to have feet of clay just like all the rest. Some industries are just too important to this

country’s survival that they should never have been put at the mercy of free market conditions. The Railways and the Royal Mail should never have been privatised. Look what it’s doing to our rural communities. Talk about a land fit for hero’s! My dad’s family were miners and voted Labour.

It was the only party for the ordinary workingman. When I first got the vote I was also proud to join them and vote Labour but not anymore New Labour or Old Labour, it can go shove it’s vote where monkeys shove their nuts for all I care! I suspect I’m now like a lot of other people of my generation, Disgusted and disenfranchised with the whole political process. It seems we are hurtling back to the soup kitchens of the thirties.

'Hearts of Oak' by Harry Riley

(Two old friends, Horatio Nelson and Cuthbert Collingwood meeting aboard the flagship HMS Victory on the eve of Trafalgar)

‘Hearts of Oak’ a tribute to our naval hero's by Harry Riley

“We’ve seen some changes you and I

And more are yet to come.”

We’ve carried battles to the foe

And watched him dance a merry gig

With gunfire all around

Let’s drink a toast to that my friend!”

We’ve seen men fight and seen men die

We’ve played Almighty God and still won through.

For King and Country-clarion’s call

Let’s drink a toast to that my friend!”

“Tomorrow we will test the strength

Of English Oak, and English blood

We’ll light a fire to warm men’s hearts

For a hundred years or more

We’ll make ‘em wish that they were here

And they could call the tune

For you and I are history bound

“Let’s drink to that my friend!”

“If Nelson wants, then Nelson gets…

You’ve brought us through the darkest day

With conquests all along the way…

“Let’s drink to that my friend!”

“Lord Cuddy, ‘truth your name will shine

And it will be the same as mine

If I should fall ere struggle’s done

You’ll pound the foe until we’ve won?”

“Aye, count on me, but please be sure.

Yer’ll not expire midst Trafalgar’s roar”

We’ll both be here as wise old goats

To teem more whisky down our throats’

“I’ll echo that my Geordie lad

Pipes are calling; drums are beating,

England’s fleet is boldly waiting

Hearts of Oak are deadly sure!

Let’s get to work and sink some more

We’ll drink a toast to that my friend

For the sake of Auld Lang Syne!”