Summer edges forward

 

Tis that time of the year where Summer Specials come hot off the press so the Dandy and Beano ones will be here soon so readers of the other blog will see something fairly soon regarding one of this years offerings  as there's not a dedicated Monster Fun or Phoenix one.

What we have been seeing is more position making and start of post campaigns assuming that there will be summer elections which to me is a bit of joke really given the Prime Minister is more likely to leave it to the last minute and hope green shoots and all the other strange fruits politicians believe in will all come up roses with a line of more "Were getting it right, don't let Labour ruin it" when he knows there's at least a weariness with industrial disputes, pressure on food, fuel and housing costs coupled with the ability of them to sort matters out.

Then there's the matter of the M.P. for Dover crossing over to Labour and facing accusations of trying to get the Lord Chancellor to intervene in a law case involving her partner not that I'm going to repeat what is alleged as it is just that.

It's just if, big if, that has any truth in it, that would be quite wrong.

Then given the noises from Military Jets overhead it's obvious the diplomatic tensions have increased even from last year as more practice is taking place in case they are needed which given Ukraine has lost a few villages while on the one hand we are saying to Ukraine you can attack targets in Russia that are threatening you and the U.S. is expressly saying they can't use any from them so in effect they stand down and let them march in.

Talk about fighting a war with your hands tied behind your back...

Until next week BFN.

Results and such

Well there will be a brief round up of events last week where the Conservatives only saved one of two Elected mayors, lost some Police & Crime Commissioners and generally had a jolly rotten night last Thursday.

Of course that was added to this week when the Conservative M.P. for Dover walked across the House of Commons floor and joined Labour!

Things were hotting up in other ways here this week so I had a new skirt, technically it's a games skirt but it's  longish on me so you could wear it as a summer wraparound skirt.

It's pleated in the traditional way and doesn't come with a pin although I dare say you could add a suitable on if you're concerned about it flapping in the wind

Just the thing to slip on and if needs be adjust the fastener to fit in this weather.

Politics is hotting up - II

 More heat as things get underway in the undeclared rush to the General Election starting with the collapse of the joint Green and SNP party government in the Scottish Parliament when the latters leader just declared a meeting where he called it off, really upsetting the Greens to the point he felt he had to stand down.

That means the SNP have to find a leader who will be the First Minister of the Parliament leading a minority administration relying on support from the other parties measure by measure which may prove...difficult.

Why does it matter elsewhere? Because dissatisfaction is likely to lead to gains in any election for Labour which may well feed into the U.K. General Election and in the event of a Labour victory lead to any becoming Ministers in Government.

Then our Prime Minister decided he needed to declare war on "Sick Note Culture" and those with mental health issues on both Employment and Disability needs benefits which ignored the poor state of mental health services, available of one to one support and lack of employer sympathy for staff with recurring conditions.

He then doubled down by suggesting a total overhaul of Personal Independance Payments in England and Wales suggesting too many with mental health issues were getting it and really people needed equipment, therapy, repayments for services.

Obliviously he'd forgotten Councils can offer Disability Grants for Adaptations and you really need qualified Occupational Therapists to make those kinds of assessment per person based on individual needs of which - oh yes - we have a shortage of.

Many of us can recall similar talk about Disability Living Allowance prior to it being changed in in the 2010's and reassessment of all DLA claimants like me which on the average showed we had more needs than previously thought.

That was supposed to be more sustainable, reduce marginal claims and support the genuinely ill so speaking personally I see this as a cost cutting measure nothing more and a potentially more bureaucratically one having to send in receipts for refunds, apply for coupons for aid and state why for instance having applied for handrails, you reapply 12 months on when if you've moved flat, you won't be taking fittings with you and how many landlords would want you go wild with the screwdriver taking stuff out?

Labour are suggesting they don't favour it but haven't said just what they would do cos really health and social care go together - increasing my independence through proper support reduces the likelihood of me ending up in A&E as a emergency.

Why can't we all agree that and get it integrated?