Worthing Flash now has a Facebook page.

Worthing Flash now has a Facebook page.

I am hoping to use it to recruit new writers to join the 40 who have already written excellent flash fiction stories for the https://worthingflash.blogspot.com blog. 

Today the number of visitors has risen to 11000. 

So please go to the page (reference below) and "like" it. 

https://fb.me/worthingflash 

I will use it to announce the story of the week and for any other communications on matters of flash fiction.

If your train is late there's probably a fat cat on the line.

Sometimes the combination of greed and incompetence makes capitalism look bad. Northern Rail - branded the worst rail operator in the country (that will be a surprise to those who use Southern Rail!)  paid out £83m in dividends between 2013-14 and 2017-2018.

If your train is late there's probably a fat cat on the line. It is time they were kicked out of public transport as even the mild-mannered TUC has observed.



Grant Shapps has indicated that it will be taken into public ownership. Grant Shapps is an ideological Conservative. He is sworn to oppose nationalisation and all its works.

As a Tory he loves three-word slogans. How about ‘Labour was right’?

A Conservative Government is an organized hypocrisy.

Disraeli once said, "A Conservative Government is an organized hypocrisy." The Trial of Christine Keeler on BBC1 would seem to bear out that analysis.

I will avoid spoilers but all the main events are in the public domain already. The politicians, press and police all come out of this disgracefully tarnished.

On the one hand, Profumo (played by Ben Miles) lost his job in the government. On the other of course, he remained a millionaire who did a bit of charity work on the side to salve his conscience. He received a CBE in 1975. You will be astonished to learn that Christine Keeler did not receive any such honour.

Christine Keeler (played by Sophie Cookson) and Mandy Rice-Davies (played by Ellie Bamber) both got jail time. Christine Keeler was accused of perjury. Yet the series suggests that the police pressurised both of them to give fake evidence against Stephen Ward. If that isn't perjury what is?
The casual racism of the Met Police is a feature of the series. If only things had changed!


The press routinely referred to them (without evidence) as "prostitutes". Prostitution was not a criminal offence. They were vilified in the media and the Conservative Party have never forgiven them. The scandal contributed to the loss of the 1964 election by the Tories.

Stephen Ward (played by James Norton) found the ruling class closing ranks against him. The extraordinary waste of police manpower in "gathering evidence" against him caused his patients to seek help elsewhere. He was driven to suicide and for many people, his blood is on Conservative Party hands.

All of the performances are superb and bring this bit of history to life. But is it history or is the Conservative Government an organised hypocrisy to this day?

Derek McMillan's Author Page on Amazon

No War on Iran - Demonstration

No War on Iran - Demonstration
Sat 11 Jan
Assemble 12pm - Outside the BBC, Portland Place
March to Trafalgar Square
Facebook Event »

Organised by: Stop the War Coalition & CND

**NO WAR ON IRAN - NO WAR ON IRAQ - TROOPS OUT OF IRAQ**

The assassination of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani is an act of war by Donald Trump. The act was carried out in Baghdad, violating all agreements with the Iraqi government. Both Iran and Iraq will retaliate. Trump has been heading for war since tearing up the nuclear deal with Iran and if he succeeds will create a bigger war than we have seen in the Middle East. It will draw in major players across the region including Israel, Saudi Arabia and possibly Russia.

 We must do all we can to campaign for peace and de-escalation in the Middle East. Join Saturday's demonstration.

Derek McMillan's Author Page on Amazon

In Defence of Trotskyism review

I received this book as a Christmas gift. As a teacher of children and adults, I am well aware that the people who are hardest to teach are those who think they know everything already. I learned a lot from reading this book and I have been a Socialist for a good fifty years. Trotsky's classic "Death Agony of Capitalism" was a major part of my education fifty years ago. "In Defence of Trotskyism" is about reasserting the working-class basis of Socialism. For Socialists, the key to the future is the role of the working class. This is often expressed through the trade union movement. My own union, UNITE is cited in the book as an example of how the working class can transform a bureaucratic body into one which actively campaigns for workers' rights, advances the cause of Socialism and provides hope for the future.

The book refers to "Mandelism" which is a term I remember from the past. It simply means the seeking of a short cut to Socialism which bypasses the working class and is therefore doomed to failure.

The struggles of the next period will test all organisations which claim the mantle of Trotskyism and some will be found wanting. The CWI (Committee for a Workers' International) has been refounded on fundamental principles which will stand it in good stead.

I enjoyed reading this book and I would recommend it to anybody. 

Derek McMillan's Author Page on Amazon

What She Saw by Wendy Clarke

What She Saw
by Wendy Clarke
Published by Bookouture
ISBN-13: 978-1786818188

The story is set in the Lake District and it dwells on the lovely scenery in a way which will encourage readers to visit. All the characters (with one exception!) are likeable. They are all three-dimensional characters and they engage the interest of the reader in their lives.

The unlikeable character gives the reader an insight into how a manipulative bullying relationship can develop.

Without giving too much away, the book does explore the consequences of the Witness Protection Programme for the victim of a crime who needs to escape from a dangerous partner who can do harm even from a prison cell.

It does not dwell on graphic sex and violence and is suitable for young adults.

You will enjoy reading this book.

Derek McMillan's Author Page on Amazon