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Brian, the dispute arose because my belief in localism was compared to the communist policies of the Soviet Union, North Korea and Cuba.
In reality, that which I believe in is compatible with the Government's intentions to decentralise our administration, and with what I believe is the long-term goal the Government wishes to reach.
It has nothing to do with nationalising companies. In fact, I have never advocated nationalising a company. It has to do with re-introducing productive sectors that used to be in our Country, but have been meanwhile largely transferred abroad, mainly to China. For example, the textile industry, and even the electronics industry.
Another example is the Argos-style furniture industry made in Java.
So, if we were to reintroduce these spheres of economy at home, at least to cover national demand to some extent (doesn't have to be 100%), there might have to be a form of Government-owned factory, for the simple reason that the old producers have largely packed up or transferred the production to Indonesia (see Wedgewood) and India (Pears soap) and China (just about everything!).
This has nothing at all to do with nationalising companies that have remained here and kept up local production. So there is no form of communism in my ideas.
However, once a State-backed textile industry (and various other spheres of lost industry) were up and running in Britain, some workers in these factories - having meanwhile garnered some experience in their trade - might want to open their own small businesses, which would be great.
But as it stands now, I think almost no-one in Britain KNOWS how to produce clothes anymore, or furniture, or many other things that once we were famous for.
In 20 years time, we could well be a Paleolithic country where no-one has any skills anymore, and almost everyone eats fast-food, and possibly where people don't even know how to cook any more.
And my point is, that local Government, at County and District level, would have a role in implementing an economic revival, by determining how many people need a job, what kind of production is available, and what other production could be introduced to reduce imports and give work to local people.
All this would be coordinated at national level, to assure a fair distribution of production nationwide, so as to prevent an over-concentration of production in some areas while others remain without employment.
And quite clearly, we cannot afford to go on giving the minimum-wage jobs mainly to non-British people, as each country has to satisfy first and foremost their own people.
Hence, local administrators in a district area would be able to make sure that factories are abiding to these rules, and not employing out of principle non-British workers.
Local administrations (economic boards) would have the power to introduce training courses for local people to work, for example, in our local salad factories, or as seasonal crop pickers, as carers and nurses etc., and as builders.
I do not mind if people do not agree with all this, but it is NOT based on North Korean, Cuban and Soviet ideas.
It is my idea of localism on an economic and administrative scale here in Britain.
I also detest the idea of EU interference, using tax-payers money to pay private owners to close their factories and open up elsewhere.
They probably don't do it so much now, as the damage has been done.
What we are seeing is a collapse of our society, where people are giving up a healthy life and degenerating into anxiety and poverty-related sub-conditions.
Where one is either on the dole, or could be on the dole any time soon.
And believe me, if this continues, the Government will end up cutting pensions too, and child benefit, and even JSA.
I am sincerely concerned that people in Britain may soon be eating junk food simply because they can't afford anything better, and giving up going to the swimming pool and the sports centre because they can't afford it.
And all we ever get in the shops is clothes "made in China"!
Personally I believe the Government will decide to do the right thing and push ahead with making guidelines for more responsibility at the level of local Government, with law and order being asserted into the economy.
This is one reason I don't campaign to bring down the Government, because I believe they have chosen the right way with the Localism idea, and want to bring it into fruition, and need encouragement.