spiceyokooko

651 reputation

bio	website
	location	Surrey, United Kingdom
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visits	member for	5 months
	seen	Jan 24 at 9:53
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I have a BA Hons degree in typographic design and Masters degree in business administration. I worked in the publishing industry for 30 years as a setter, copy editor and proof reader, before moving into management. Now semi-retired.

My main interest areas are cookery, cricket, and reading/writing.

	651 reputation	bio	website		visits	member for	5 months
6 badges		location	Surrey, United Kingdom		seen	Jan 24 at 9:53

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Jan 24	answered	'Sub rosa' council meetings
Jan 18	comment	Financial ramifications of peerages created since the 19th century @Drux I appreciate you're interested in hereditary peerages of the past but it's also interesting to know why hereditary peerages were stopped and replaced by life peerages. It's important to realise that peers automatically gain a place in the House of Lords (although that has been changed recently) and the reason for creating peers (by either labour or Tory governments) was to balance the numbers on either side in the House of Lords.
Jan 18	comment	Financial ramifications of peerages created since the 19th century @FelixGoldberg Given that it is entirely the Queen's prerogative to create Peers, the only new hereditary peerages created will go to Royals because they're pretty much exempt from anything the government might wish to do. Also see my reply to Drux, re the political motivation of peerage creation and why hereditary peerages were stopped by Harold Wilson's government.
Jan 18	comment	Financial ramifications of peerages created since the 19th century @FelixGoldberg However, with the accession of the Labour government of Harold Wilson in 1964, the practice of granting hereditary peerages effectively stopped. Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hereditary_peer
Jan 18	comment	Financial ramifications of peerages created since the 19th century @FelixGoldberg Yes they're recent, but importantly now constitute almost all peerages awarded. Very few if any hereditary peerages are now being awarded. Important distinction.
Jan 17	answered	Financial ramifications of peerages created since the 19th century
Jan 10	comment	Why is the Commonwealth of England considered a Republic? Yes, pretty much. A state without a Monarch is de facto a Republic in which power rests with the people or their representatives.
Jan 10	answered	Comparison of naval fleet strengths during the Napoleonic wars
Jan 9	comment	British way in construction of AFV I suspect it's simple financial expediency. They'd rather invest money in other areas such as jet fighters rather than rather antiquated land warfare. Britain is an island, I don't think they expect land invasion anytime soon!
Jan 1	revised	Which arm was the shield held in? added 1006 characters in body
Dec 31	comment	How much did helping the American Revolution cost France? @FelixGoldberg I agree it needs more research, but there are a number of factors in play here. France's finances were already bad from fighting the seven years war, from rebuilding its destroyed Navy, from having a very poor tax collection ability etc. The losses incurred from the American War merely added to an already bad debt situation for them, which contributed to high inflation and ultimately the French Revolution.
Dec 31	answered	How much did helping the American Revolution cost France?
Dec 31	answered	Why did the start of the Roman consular year move?
Dec 22	comment	Was Edward VIII of England forced to abdicate? You asked if Edward was forced to abdicate - the answer is No. He abdicated because he chose to marry Wallis Simpson as per answer. If you meant something else, ask something else, people can't mind-read what question you meant to ask. He could not ascend to the throne and marry Wallis Simpson, the government wouldn't let him, so that question has been answered as well if you actually bothered to read the Wiki article.
Dec 22	answered	Was Edward VIII of England forced to abdicate?
Dec 21	comment	Where does the tradition of Christmas gifts comes from? Then it still doesn't address or answer the question as asked.
Dec 21	comment	Where does the tradition of Christmas gifts comes from? This is mere speculation and opinion and cannot be proven.
Dec 21	comment	Where does the tradition of Christmas gifts comes from? Not sure where you get the connection of the birth of Christ (that's what Christmas celebrates) with the polytheism of Romans!
Dec 20	comment	Was Churchill a poor HR manager? @FelixGoldberg I'm aware of that, but like Churchill, his interference hindered the war effort, not improved it. Russia was eventually successful, but that was down soley to the quality of some of their generals and their massive resources rather than anything to do with Stalin. Bear in mind when Germany invaded, they were utterly ill prepared and suffered many losses, despite Stalin knowing that it was likely to happen. He just hoped it wouldn't.
Dec 20	comment	Was Churchill a poor HR manager? @FelixGoldberg It's been a while since I read the books that contained references to Churchills leadership abilities and I'd have to re-read those sections to give you more specific answers. I do remember however, that he was a politician first and foremost and the second world war was won despite his interference rather than because of it. Re Stalin, he was just a dictator, his military leadership was non existent.