Sunday Paper Review: 29th November 2009

The Sunday Telegraph stands out amongst British media outlets by having some balls and publishing a pretty comprehensive background to ClimateGate, as part of a reported development that the University of East Anglia is agreeing to perform a U-turn and publish their climate change data figures in full. However, it is suggested that publication may be many months away and there are a number of caveats applied to what may or may not be published. Interesting story.

By contrast, the Independent on Sunday reports that Sir Paul McCartney is going to tell the EU how it's important that we all eat less meat to save the planet from global warming. That ludicrous story again. How many more will get on this same train? Still, he's only telling the EU. They'll make us do whatever they want as we have no democratic voice there. Easy victory for the climate change and vegetarian lobby, methinks. Anyone for a Linda McCartney tofu treat? The same report quotes Tory MEP Edward McMillan-Scott who says: "There is growing support for eating less meat so as to reduce global warming and to improve personal health." And less support for the Conservatives from this blogger as a result of such espoused views.

Meanwhile, Shadow "climate change" secretary Greg Clark is up in arms about the fact that the BNP's Nick Griffin will be part of an EU delegation to the Copenhagen global government climate change summit. Clark is quoted by The Observer as saying: "It is utterly ridiculous that someone who doesn't even believe in climate change should be seeking to represent Europe in Copenhagen." So, the Conservatives obviously only want a one-sided conversation about the issue then. So much for listening and democracy. We really cannot abide Nick Griffin, but we hope he tells anyone with ideas about global government or personal carbon allowances to naff off - though we can think of a conspiracy theory as to why Griffin might have been chosen to represent the opposing side of the AGW debate. Have a look at the headline. "Climate Change Denier" the newspaper screams. No obvious psychological agenda being peddled there, then. The fact that it's Nick Griffin of the BNP makes the word association game all too easy. But some of us do have an IQ of over 50, thank you.

The Sunday Times reports that Zac Goldsmith - the "green advisor" to Conservative leader David Cameron - has non-domicile tax status which, the newspaper says, enables him to "avoid huge sums of tax on his estimated £200m fortune". Strangely, he is also standing for Parliament as the Conservative candidate for Richmond Park. So, if you want to know who is behind the nonsense 'green' policies of the Conservatives, it's a multi-millionaire who officially doesn't even live in the UK but who is standing for our Parliament. Interesting...

Staying with the Conservatives and democracy, the Sunday Express suggests that Michael Ashcroft - who it describes as the "Tory bankroller" - will become one of the most influential people in Britain if the Conservatives win the General Election. Ashcroft, who is based in Belize, is apparently set to become a "back-room dealer".

Meanwhile, the Mail on Sunday picks up on news that has been reported elsewhere and questions why BBC weatherman Paul Hudson apparently had the leaked ClimateGate emails several weeks ago but chose to do absolutely nothing with them - raising question marks about not acting in the public interest over such information.

And the News of the World reports on a study which suggests that 9 out of 10 people who phoned the swine flu hotline were misdiagnosed and that only 10% of those tested actually had the swine flu they had been diagnosed with. We've long known that most people can't tell the difference between the common cold and influenza, so are we really surprised? Anyway, nice to have a study blowing holes in some of the 'swine flu' hysteria. Will we ever know how many people ever actually had 'swine flu'..? Rhetorical question...