Matt Buck’s Hack Cartoons Diary

© Matthew Buck Hack Cartoons for Hampshire Chronicle

There is outrage about the pay increases for the executive team for the recently merged NHS trusts in north and central Hampshire. Read all about it in the Hampshire Chronicle.

© Matthew Buck Hack Cartoons

The minister responsible for reform of the social security system in the UK and the institution of a universal benefits cap. Here he is interviewed about it on the Radio 4 Today show.

Visitors from Mars at present would be forgiven for thinking the National Health Service was not long for its own deathbed.

The propaganda wars about, let’s face it, the ideological inclinations and practical needs of the rich and the poor are being argued throughout the land. The resulting and inevitable compromise is likely to be uncomfortable for all.

In spite of this prospect, it is good to know that a majority of people in the country believe the taxpayer services provided do more good than harm*. Here’s a nice story to that effect from the Hampshire Chronicle which provided the cartoon above.

• Imagine how it might be if the Revenue was able (or, allowed) to collect the tax due it by global corporations who are active in business in the UK.

© Matthew Buck Hack Cartoons for http://tribunecartoons.com

The leader of the Labour party has responded to the traditional Conservative taunt ‘you are paid for by the unions’ by promising not to be.

The link is to an FT comment defining the argument as the battle Miliband cannot afford to lose.

This public promise, assuming it can be delivered, is an important moment because of the problem it also poses for the Conservative party and its own rather more opaque sources of funding.

The second link is to a Bureau of Investigative Journalism report into sources of Conservative Party Funding.

The Electoral Commission offer an overview of the dispute for all sides with some statistical breakdown of who gets what from who.

And for fun, here’s a fine old story about this very long-lived problem.

Updated 29th July 2013: Latest statistics on party political fundraising from the Electoral Commission covering 2012 and Q1 of 2013.

© Matthew Buck Hack Cartoons for Hampshire Chronicle

An eminent Winchester academic proposes a joint sport and civil language centre during the redevelopment of a local sports centre. Read all about it in The Hampshire Chronicle.

Take a look back at Mervyn King’s time in the hot seat at Threadneedle Street courtesy of Channel 4 News. The package features a short sequence of my drawings one of which I post below with a bit more time in hand.

© Matthew Buck Hack Cartoons for Channel 4 News

As Mervyn reached the end of his role Mark Carney of Canada arrived today to step into the most political of all the non-political jobs in the country.

Despite the hefty wage and incentives he is receiving, courtesy of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who hired him, Carney is also now in possession of a very difficult job.

The expectations of some in the financial industry and government are already ridiculous. The photo comparison made in this BBC report gives a flavour of this daft ‘rock star’ treatment.

© Matthew Buck Hack Cartoons for Hampshire Chronicle

Celebrity chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s attempts to open a new River Cafe Canteen in the unused but listed Abbey Mill House in central Winchester are popular with the city council.

© Matthew Buck Hack Cartoons for http://tribunecartoons.com

After the revelations of mass surveillance technologies revealed by US Whistleblower Edward Snowden and British activity within it, I was reminded of the  world war Two propaganda image by Kenneth Bird, aka Fougasse. There were many variations on the original image, this one is hosted by the Victoria and Albert Museum.

The Metroplitan Police get a seat on the bus because of the revelations about the police investigation following the murder of Stephen Lawrence.

Updated 22nd August 2013: The story about the detention of David Miranda at London Heathrow has also crystalised many of the complicated debates swirling around the collection and possession of public and private data in the digital age.

This article by Adrian Monck offers an overview of the global debate which stretches across many individual jurisdictions.

© Matthew Buck Hack Cartoons for Hampshire Chronicle

Here is a terrific story of a metaphorical David and Goliath.

The parish of South Wonston lives side-by-side with the giant military training base at Worthy Down on the edge of Winchester and the two have been involved in an interesting punch-up about money.

© Matthew Buck Hack Cartoons for Hampshire Chronicle

The parish council won. You can read all about it at the Hampshire Chronicle.

© Matthew Buck Hack Cartoons for Hampshire Chronicle