COMMENT: The extent of the X Factor fraud continues to unravel

Having been in trouble with OFCOM on previous series for product promotion, amongst other things, and in the current series for a dodgy quiz and the fixed return of a contestant who had been eliminated, the X Factor is now in trouble because of Tulisa's promotion of her perfume at the beginning of every show, as well as a lengthy discussion of it on the Xtra Factor.

Basically, the silly arm gesture she does on arriving on stage, displays her forearm tattoo which is the brand name of her perfume, "The Female Boss".

Yep, truly blatant and idiotic. Greed at its most basic. Her snout is well and truly in the trough.

Having now heard her perform over the weekend of Children in Need performances many might also be questioning how she is qualified to advise others about their singing talents, and her complete lack of music beyond R'n'B suggests she really is a one trick pony at best.

Hopefully the end of X Factor (surely this is the final series) will see the end of talentless Tulisa. Quite why she was chosen to be a will, I'm sure, remain a mystery!

OPINION: We shouldn't get a warm glow from telethons

Yesterday, the BBC's Children in Need set a new first day fundraising record raising £26 million from all sorts of activities. Lots of praise has followed from celebs (all very keen to promote their latest book or song) and online in places like Twitter.

But, really, isn't it a disgrace that, in 2011, telethons are seen as a normal way of raising money for things which ought to be there, provided by the state?

Let's put it into a bit of context. £26 million is considerably less than the £40 million cost of the civil list (money given to the Queen) each year and, when put into contrast with the £202 million total cost of the royal family, it makes you wonder what 21st century Britons' priorities are. Why not scrap the irrelevant and anachronistic monarchy and use that money to fund hospices, youth centres, medical research, etc.

Then let's look at taxation. We (Britons) seem to expect everything without paying more tax. This is moronic on a level that only George W Bush could equal. We NEED to pay more taxes in order to find essential services - and it's not simply a case of the rich paying more, we all need to pay a bit more. In return, we'd have a better society. Doesn't that make sense? Isn't that what the majority want?

If every tax payer in the UK paid an extra one pound per week in tax (hardly enough to bankrupt anyone) it would raise over £2 BILLION pounds each year. Yes, I'll say that again, £2 BILLION - that makes yesterday's £26 million seem rather pathetic doesn't it? It shows how greedy and selfish many Britons are.

But, of course, Children in Need's trump card last night was to keep repeating that all monies donated would go to UK-based projects and charities. Yes, the xenophobic, if not racist, card. Nigel Farage must have been grinning to himself all day.

The poverty and suffering experienced by British children is nothing in comparison to the poverty and suffering of children in the Third World but, oh no, Children in Need, unlike Comic Relief, is only helping the children in a country who can well-afford to eliminate poverty and suffering affecting its own children overnight.

Anyone who watched the hours of inane nonsense last night shouldn't feel a warm glow but a deep embarrassment that they, like me, live in a society that puts greed and self above caring for others and sharing resources.

Any good Prime Minister should be embarrassed that telethons like Children in Need are providing essential services in a nation that can easily afford to fund those services, but I wonder if Cameron cares. I'm fairly sure he doesn't. Not do the vast majority of politicians in Westminster.

The time has come for a new Britain, with new priorities and an egalitarian outlook. If there is any compassion in this country then last night should be the last ever Children in Need. Sadly, I doubt it will be. There are too many who just don't care.

Remember, £1 per week from every taxpayer would raise over £2 BILLION pounds per annum. Imagine, with that as a starting point, how quickly the UK, and then the rest of the world, could be transformed.


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See also: http://pimpmycadence.blogspot.com/2011/10/i-don-want-to-give-to-charity.html