is it all going pear shaped?

 

Well it's been such a big fortnight in the groan up world of politics it would of been difficult to had predicted what was going to be around the corner beyond the inability of the government with a massive commons majority to get done what it's leader and Prime Minister wishes.

 

From votes that would of been lost requiring 180 degree turn arounds to losing the deputy Prime Minister for being less than entirely truthful about just how much Stamp Duty she should of paid on her third home following on from the less than accurate work experience details on her Political C.V. the Chancellor or the Exchequer had.

 

The week saw four contenders whittled down to two to be the deputy leader of the ruling Labour Party which not being the same as Deputy Prime Minister has the potential to act as an out of parliament challenge to his authority and losing Lord Mandelson over connections to a U.S. Developer who is a pedophile with gushing set of emails and comments upon his then 50th birthday.

 

And this person, prominent in Tony Blair's days in office from 1997 to 2007for handling the media was seem as a bit a slippery eel then was appointed in 2024 after the General Election to be our Ambassador to the United States of America.

 

Now he has been sacked.

 

Not a good week and bit for Prime Minister Starmer,eh? 

Another one bites the dust

A new month almost a year on from the General Election, four month near enough from the arrival of one Donald J. Trump in the White House and we return to more current affairs.

We are in Staffordshire, specifically Greater Stoke on Trent an area radically changed in a half century into a if not the world centre of Pottery production with a massive legacy in that regard beyond Coal mining and Iron and Steel production which we had a good deal of.

Changing dining habits, the increased use of dishwasher leading to less specialized crockery being bought, competition from much cheaper labour countries, wholesale "dumping" at below cost foreign production and monsterous hikes in energy prices which firing wares in the kiln has seen decimation over recent years.

Late Wednesday it was announced the famous Moorcroft pottery with a very long history is set to close as the impact of energy costs and, yes, the impact of Tariffs on U.S. sales, a major sales area for speciality ware which they produce.
 

 It is sad the brand and its wear will be lost beyond obviously the loss of jobs but as this continues it is bound to have an impact on skills which in order to maintain the industry are needed to be taught both in college and also in the workplace.

It's the world economy, stupid?

 It's not all stopped or paused for ninety days but good god almighty what a week we've all been through with the suited baby with all the vocabulary of  six year old minus the fluency crashing the markets, removing stability by the hour.

The whole business of ever increasing tariffs between China and the United States currently over 104% and 84% respectively with neither side prepared back of and agree to look into the issues around dumping things such as steel at below cost and barriers to trade through diplomatic means.

It is like watching to kids in the park threatening and counter threatening each other as the atmosphere gets uglier and uglier as one by one we all leave the park losing out.

It never really works.

In so far far as elsewhere goes, the pause is to be welcomed but even the 10% we were due to pay still would of adversely affected UK Exports and from the Jobs not least here in the Midlands with the Car and Pottery industries.

The 25% on things from the EU and the threat of retaliatory actions would impact us as we still trade a fair bit with the EU as much as post Brexit the volume has dropped by at least a third and the basis for the figures seems...muddled.

One can only hope this breather is used constructively to set up proper talks to explore with independent trade exports how these disagreements can be resolved with less damaging measures. 

Governance  by chaos???

Messing up the economy Donald style...

Was it that long ago back in June 1983 I took my Economics examination in three papers and from a week or two later had no lessons to attend until school was out for good?

We were in throws of major changes as banks and building societies started to do what had been each others bespoke activities, public sector businesses were being prepared for privatization and if they were not profitable, being shut down.

Globalization and trade liberalization were the new order of the day even on the financial markets because it was believed by all but the hard political left competition on a global scale lead to greater efficiency, lower prices and greater prosperity than shoring up anything any once country did where there was no competitive advantage in the same.

Now on Wednesday President Trump, leader of the country that really pushed that philosophy, signalled he was having none of it sticking protective tariffs from 10% to 34% beyond individual whole world tariffs on sectors such as Steel or Automobiles of some 25%

It is on the face of it fragrant violation of the rules of trade the WTO (World Trade Organization) expect of members that include the United States and is likely beyond legal action likely to result in retaliatory measures and a full blown trade war.

How ____ irresponsible in a time of global recession can you get when we need to grow the global economic cake, finding work for those without and getting major infrastructure works done to aid it in individual countries. 

And actually protectionism doesn't work. You just  waste your GDP sustaining inefficiencies.

Inappropriate Representives

 Well I will be off for the weekend so before I do we'd better get this post done I think.

Something that has concerned me for a good while in modern politics is the manner representatives communicate information to others

Instances that stick out in my mind were the Tameside Labour Whats App group that verbally insulted members of the public who complained about various policies that also included a Member of Parliament where no member ever questioned what was being said within that group.

It was as of they'd forgotten the responsibility that comes with political office and were just like students taking the mickey out of those they represent and ignorant that they had in effect published remarks which carry the same constraints in law as in publication such as a election leaflet.

Of course this week the totally bizarre world of Donald Trump's administration has been in the news again for using Signal, an app to discuss military action around the Somali coast as shipping makes its way towards the Suez Canal.

While the plans were not technically restricted in most circumstances given it was a live operation it would of been "Classified".

Apart from the odd idea to add a reporter to this group, one member was working in Moscow on talks  so would having this on end of his smartphone be great?

Even more troubling was the casual banality of the discussion that didn't show any awareness that you were committing U.S. forces lives  to actions that could result in loss of life, much of the comments being more suited to the chat room of a gaggle of kids playing war games.

Thirdly, government decisions are Confidential: I had to go on data handling courses to make sure I know the levels of confidentiality, how to carry documents, procedures if anything were lost and yes keeping your mouth shut yet they're just yapping away.

The numbers of times I see ministers here breaching the very guidance we were given and faced a "dressing down" for if we made a mistake is shocking.

Given the administrations reaction to this with flat out lies, you might wonder if that sign has any truth in it

On Presidential Election 2024

 Well the best you can say it is all over now, no coup attempts in the White House, no assassinations (yet) despite the odds and general public decency The Trump out trumped Harris and at least on this side of the Atlantic well dealing with what is.

It's far too early to write the definitive blog entry, so much happens so rapidly but given they have a Presidential system, he'll be establishing a team of advisers to (one hopes) advise him around a range of issues from broad economic policy, the vexed question of migration (legal and otherwise), law including  reproductive rights that remains highly polarizing, dealing with entrenched racial discrimination and attitudes, foreign policy and defence and so on.

At some point the question of a State Visit to the U.K. will come up and I know there many of us who have grave misgivings about the man and some of his statements during the course but he WILL BE their Head of State, just like our King Charles III is so we need to put that behind us and deal with his as their representative and afford him a welcome.

Thank goodness we don't have all this! 

The Rioting - a few thoughts

 Having mulled this other I thought I would just add my 6d at this point.

This rioting following the deaths of three children, serious injuries to others including two adult helpers at Holiday Club in Southport, Lancs has been some of the most worrying in recent years even if for extent and total damage they are not as extensive as say the '81 Summer Riots, The "Poll Tax" riots of 1990 or the disturbances in 2011.

While I hold that there is no excuse for criminal damage, assault and murder, we know from our country's history that sometimes there reaches a point where Civil Society says "enough" and this can spill over, the thing here was there was no connection what so ever with what those people were gathered for, burning buildings, looting and assaulting people...for just being of a different ethnicity and religion.

The person responsible for what happened in Southport as tragic as it is was neither a Immigrant nor a Muslim, a person British born of Christian parents. Little different than me actually.

Some who were around the disturbances did have concerns around overall migration such as the impact on host communities and I will say as a West Midlander, I know that is shared at least in part with previous generations of immigrants too.

People who added much to our region who understand the need for  immigration control and support to aid integration so they become an asset to us all.

The bigger majority however were racially motivated attacking black and asian businesses, people and mosques when really what had happened had NOTHING to do with it and had they of looked more into things it was obvious false information was being circulated by people with a race hate agenda.

Justice has been sped up - as it should to deter others and provided needed reassurance such behaviour and the attitudes that lie behind it have no place in our society - but we need to address misunderstandings about religious belief, perhaps opening our doors to those of other faiths in our communities literally and ensure politician do listen to the concerns of many so any issues may be nipped in the bud.

Social media has a lot to answer for on the moderation front around the spreading of such vile incitements and slurs, just as many of are concerned about how the needs of teenagers are managed and perhaps it is time to introduce some in real time post approval to bring such misuse across the board under control.

As adults I'm all sure we've seen things that we should never expect on social media on our smartphones and tablets. It needs to end. It's damaging our children too.

Railways and potential changes

 

(Photo credits:BBC)

Parliament opened on Tuesday with its time honoured rituals with the Kings Speech - we're still getting used to that term after decades of a Queen - which include at a rough count some thirty-five Bills the incoming Labour wishes to bring before both Houses of Parliament to turn into Acts of Parliament.

It's quite probably some will end up being withdrawn, other put to one side while the propositions are worked on and resubmitted.

Other matters could be subject to legal and other challenges.

One that does interests me is the intention to Nationalize the railways.

Speaking as a conservative, it always puzzled me why under the Major conservative government even bothered with it as it was accepted from 1947 from nationalization from the Big Four by all the parties it worked better whatever we might think of the merits or otherwise of the Beeching Report.

Was it just a way for the Treasury to just offload a chunk of the public sector borrowing requirement so get way with running with less?

Trains ownership got seperated from track, stations and routes so on winning a contract for a service, that provider having said what the service would be like had to hire the trains from another body and if you had an accident repairs were more complicated because all the bits you need to clear the line were owned by different people and not where they were needed.

So some sort of integration or re-integration is needed and nationalization is one way of achieving this although my understanding it will be a matter of taking over when contracts come up for renewal so it's likely to be patchy until chunks are taken over.

You might say"Why not just take it all over"?

Well that would be quicker but you can be sure they'd be legal challenges, insistence on compensating shareholders which would have to be paid for by public funds which we're a bit low on.

I'm interested to see how this works out as the year or so moves on.  

Election 2024 - result

Well I did promise you a report of sorts last week as things were moving oh so rapidly and we we go. 

As was custom I did go down to the polling station although I had cast my vote in advance and here at least turnout appeared up and I did see more under 40 voters in an area which has seen sizable changes in property ownership since last time.

That suggested to me a sea change in results certainly was probably above and beyond the many opinion polls during the campaign that had seen Conservative support in freefall.

Newspapers like blog writers struggle to keep up but by after polls closed at ten polls of those who had voted indicated something rather shocking, a massive hemorrhaging of support for the Conservatives and a Labour landslide.

As it happened the results looked rather like this:

Labour: 412

Conservative: 121

Liberal Democrats: 72

Reform UK: 5

Scots N P 9

and others.

Was it that a vote FOR Labour or a vote AGAINST the Conservatives?

For me, Trust became an issue firstly with three leaders over one term becoming three Prime Ministers, the policies voted for drifted away as exceptional as Covid and the war in Ukraine was and remains.

That was compounded by a merry-go-round of Ministers, some lasting weeks which makes forming the connections and making the arguments  to make policies a reality difficult in the extreme even if they were workable.

Rwanda certainly was anything but.

So all we had announcements and feeling everything was very much "at sea", drifting off with little real governing taking place and that was despite some good work around helping those most affected by the rapid increase in the Cost Of Living (which only showed up what a state the safety net though deliberate underfunding was in) and the state of essential public services.

It wasn't just left leaning people who were very concerned around this, many conservative voters were, myself included, so we did the unthinkable and voted Liberal Democrat or Labour because hand outs and foodbanks are not sufficient.

We really need something like a Royal Commission into Benefit and Pension policy as the amounts just haven't kept pace with what people reasonably need, not least with housing, energy and food costs.

Arguments around "conditionality", getting those who can work to take up job offers while important should not preclude realistic support and people with complex needs need support in doing this.
 

Having won an Election and had a seamless transfer of power - memo to the U.S. of A - the new Prime Minister wasted no time in getting to work, appointing Ministers, chairing meetings and attending the N.A.T.O. Summit.

Ultimately it is the extent he can meet those expectations, deal with the unexpected and deliver that will judge if this will be the reset many of us hoped and voted for.

Congratulations!

The beginning of the end - just over two weeks to go?

Remember the betting on the Election Day story?

Well it appears two candidates and a police officer serving in a protection role are to be investigated into it as lines get thicker between the leaders responses both Conservative and of course, Labour and to be honest I feel Keir Starmer's remark to the effect they'd be through the door, out if they were his matches more how I feel as they'd have some inside knowledge and just whatever possesses someone to bet on that, something that with Mp's pay you certainly don't need.

What I might ask was any money gained through this going to be spent on and why?

That one rather like the question of what in practise is each party really going to achieve by way of immigration policy remains lacking an clear answer.

Immigration does place pressure on housing and public services that most acknowledge is real and affects the least well off the most even if the UK does have some skills shortages from its own population and so may benefit from something more like a points system immigration system prioritizing those sills we need the most.

Few of us take issue when people do work that is necessary and contribute in the wider sense to the host community.

How we deal with people who wish to claim Asylum, facing a "well founded fear of persecution or death" but insist that it's "The UK or nothing" is difficult.

Many have been through countries that could of offered asylum and they could of sought it in but a policy of rigid denial leads to tense situations, stand offs and even threats to take their own lives.

Understandably many of us feel very uncomfortable holding a rigid line but how do you prevent people just deciding where they wish to be and plowing on toward it? 

Is that fair even when all you are saying is "I cannot follow my faith, sexuality or engage in politics in my own country but there's only one I will accept to go to" when other countries can offer you that very thing?

Still there's time as I have received my Postal Vote pack and can either complete and return to the Councils Elections office or hand in, sealed on the day at the polling station.

I'd be very surprised if we didn't see a change of Government unless things really change.

This weeks election round up

 Three weeks to go so a bit of round up this week after last weeks break from the election but was it?

Well D-Day became an issue even if the event should never be party politicized because the Day had began so well, attending events, meeting veterans, other invitees such as towns people where the liberation happened and obviously other international politicians such as Prime ministers and Presidents.

Then extraordinary having done all of that to the book, even helping to push veterans in their wheelchairs he shoots back to England in the late afternoon to a prebooked interview with ITV just as other events that involved those senior politicians were to take place leaving the Foreign Secretary to fill in.

This day was a fixed event before he called the election, often having attended remembrance events personally can run later and often have get together just happening that you seriously can't plan on shoe horning anything else in.

Given he alone made that decision to call the election when he did, he needed to reschedule the interview as this thing was and is far more important.

He says it was a mistake - well, yes it was, a major one that give the impression an interview was more important than this extremely important event - and one that angered people even in the upper levels of his party.

He needed to be there for US, the British people as Prime Minister.

Major self inflicted wound.

Then Labour are still struggling with both how to increase spending on areas that are NOT protected when it comes to government spending while ruling out tax raises like dealing with immigration issues when that department may well be facing funding cuts.

Nobody would say things are not difficult - that's painfully apparent - but given a chunk of your appeal is about reversing 14+ years of austerity like how?

Calculating what you may claw through tax loopholes is an inexact science and often the very well monied know how to move it around out of your path.

Don't start me on the morality of making Private Education taxable when everything else in education is not just cos you want the money.

That comes over as just class based warfare even if it's more likely to hit aspirational working people or those with a  child with disability who need the extra support and low pupil teacher rations (never more than 14 children to one class) which few secondary schools and a fair number of Junior schools in state sector just don't provide and are often failing.

Then his explanations on Wednesdays for why he enthusiastically backed Jeremy Corbyn in 2019 in a Sky News  public discussion just aren't so convincing and there are still issues with activists over Gaza, Just Stop Oil and co.

The mood music may well be "something better change" but the question remains by what?

Week One thoughts

 It's hardly the most inspiring full week of a General Election campaign, one of weakest I can recall in a few decades where nothing's caught fire not that the great outdoors could with the amount of rain we've had in recent days.

As ever I half expect this blog to be out of date within a few hours given how things go but there are a few topics I'd like to talk about.

The first being Tax and Spend which despite attempts by politicians is really one the main things modern governments all do given the state does more than run a system of law and order and defend itself.

Modern social security really starts with the 1909 budget and the beginning of Old Age Pensions and has taken in support for families with children, those out of work, those who struggle on low ages and those unable to work.

All of that costs and that is where taxes, national insurance contributions and that all come in paying for it.

The opposition Labour Party having been pushed to come out with their tax plans are just saying taxes for working people won't go up and they'd like to reduce value added tax, currently at 20%.

The Conservatives aspire to reducing it too but given much of the spending is both essential and something they wish to increase spending on, like just how can you actually do this?

When Labour talk about taxes for working people, are they saying taxes those of us who can't or don't work may rise or is it just sloppy keyword placing in headlines?

The other matter is Dianne Abbott M.P. who had been suspended for comments including really offensive comments on the issue of racism as it applies to being Jewish but had been restored at the beginning of the week.

Well, she is saying she's being stopped from being a candidate in the elections, party leader is saying she's not but the Labours National Executive Committee has to decide on that but that needs to happen by Tuesday.

Well it seems odd a person who has been restored to the Parliamentary Party shouldn't be able to stand either in their old seat or another as you in restoring her are implying you feel she can represent constituents AND the party.

Antisemitism in the Labour Party together with Brexit played a major part in my voting Conservative in 2019 but it seems unjust to me to leave her in this twilight zone and if you don't want her as a M.P. for Labour then you should have the guts to tell her just that.

I find it hard to believe Keir Starmer, who is the leader of the Party doesn't know what the committee's thoughts are on this matter.

 

The firing shot has been fired

Wednesday seemed to be on the face of it a fairly ordinary late Spring day, a couple of political scandals going back decades going through the motions of being investigated as the news broke of a meeting of the Prime Minister and some of the cabinet taking place in the morning.

Rumours abounded: What was this all about? Members of Parliament relying on BBC journalists for clues?

Something was up.

Switching the Tv on after five in the afternoon regular programming had been replaced by footage of the Prime Minster speaking at the lectern outside 10 Downing Street.

Larry had wisely decided to stay curled up on the window ledge while all this was going on. 

The General Election campaign had started and it wasn't long before the Rt. Hon. Keir Starmer, leader of the opposition Labour Party made his reply, setting out his parties policies and why he feels people should take a chance on it.

Some measure of the surprising nature of it is drawing up and printing the party manifestos may well take a week or so of a six week run up until Thursday July 4th, some parties have yet to complete the selection process for all their candidate in each of the 650 parliamentary seats and get leaflets ready to be delivered to would be voters.

The 2024 race to form a Government is on.

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.

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?

Politics is hotting up

A damp end to the week as we make our way out of this month and next weeks "Polish and Grime Commissioners" elections here and across neighbouring Cheshire so needless to say there's a lot of "letters to the editor" signed the candidate or his supporters to talk with at least going beyond remit in pushing for change of the law when the role really about policing and priorities in any one area.

If you have good nose you no doubt have smelt a General Election in the offing and so nationally there's much setting out of policies and jostling for position on various things such as defence.

Few of us can argue against the proposition that from an international standpoint the world is a more dangerous place than 2013 with events in Crimea a year later being in many respects the precursor to those in Ukraine in 2022.

Equally China has put itself in an economically dominant position - how much of your everyday life uses things from there? -  and is using that as a lever to minimize opposition to ill treatment of minorities in political China, frequent attempts to threaten to invade Taiwan against the wishes of that countries people and own the lions share of world in demand minerals. 

Then there are the conflicts in the middle east, Israel vs its Arab neighbours, plus the Palestinians, the jostling for position in the islamic world between Saudi Arabia and Iran and so on.

And all three are becoming intermeshed, China supplies drones to Iran and Russia, Both support North Korea.

When as we all did, we rejoiced when the Berlin Wall came down the stock response of UK Governments of both main parties to reduce the numbers in the Armed Services, the numbers of aircraft, vessels and tanks and so on impacting noticeably on our ability to protect our interests.

These measures need to be reversed over time which means spending rather more than we have and putting more when it comes to direct involvement in NATO to protect the flank from attempts to invade or destablize eastern Europe and work in concert with Australia, Canada and the United States to keep China in check 

These issues are what in the next nine or so months we'll hear more that

Budgetary thoughts

 

Money, that's what I want said Barratt Strong in 1960 and in the intervening years little has changed, we want most of our money in our pockets and yet we expect (perhaps rightly) for services such as health, education, social care and so on to be provided collectively for all of us regardless of income.

Wednesday saw Jeremy Hunt's second budget, the one after the Albatruss imploded the UK economy in style requiring emergency treatment after fifty days of mind-blowing madness and it is fair to say stagflation is under control even if the beast isn't dead yet and the UK economy continues to outperform those most sceptical predictions.

The overall tax burden remains stubbornly high even if with everything we've endured since 2019 such as Covid and it's impact, the war in Ukraine and it's implications for fuel and food and so on.

There's scarcely a major economy not grappling and struggling too with these things as much as chaotic, even malfunctioning poltical machinery over hardly helped, not that had the General Election result had been different, there wouldn't of been other problems.

Thus cutting the National Insurance contributions isn't a bad idea nor is leaving taxes on alcohol alone coupled with assistance for the hospitality sector but what cannot be dodged is there is little real room for manoeuvre when it comes to either cutting taxes however desirable (and i.m.h.o it is ) in the medium to long term or increasing public sector commitments where we see the struggles in hospitals, social services and education.

I would rather see more attention paid to reducing "back room" office costs, ending the virtual signaling and non jobs associated with it and looking at more efficient centralized procurement to reduce the costs of providing services which few of us can deny are really needed rather than a race to the bottom of eligibility criteria. 

While I understand and to a point agree people looking for work need to be prepared to take up reasonable offers and be prepared to train for new roles, there still remains too much "shirkers vs workers" rhetoric when in reality many benefit claimants are in fact workers and shamefully what they earn of itself doesn't begin to meet the true costs of living of which massive hikes in food, fuel and rent/mortgage costs have pushed up to worrying levels.

The implied threat to remove free prescriptions from those found to not met revised conditions for benefits is simply wrong. 

There is no connection  at all between employment and such support - a person sacked for a disciplinary offence at work doesn't lose entitlement, a prisoner receives free medical services regardless of his or her crime and yet we are suggesting not taking up an offer (that might be contestable at tribunal) such be denied free medication if needed or legal aid to challenge the very decision at a tribunal???

Nor is expecting disabled people to work from home where the issue may not be getting to work but such things as anxiety, fatigue and so and where you may of been waiting years for any treatment from - yes the very government that seems to think being disabled and out of work is a lifestyle choice. 

That side of things makes little sense and potentially hands over a victory to the opposition parties and for what?

Another week of craziness for Uk Politics

Another crazy week in the pantomime that is U.K. politics which is the big kicker in terms of keeping this blog active really that really kicked off last week when then Home Secretary Suella Braverman let rip in one of the "quality" newspapers basically accusing the police, specifically the Metropolitan Police of being partial in way the police certain protests such as the Stop The Oil and Gaza ones of the last few weeks compared to that of more right of centre ones.

This was always going to be contentious as, rightly, the police are supposed to keep the peace without favour so such an accusation would been as a major slight although I'd say all decisions are made with some reference to what is seen as causing the least issues and that *may* at times lead to questions being asked.

Policing is seldom a simple matter of "The Law is the Law".

This article was submitted to the Office of the Prime Minister where some alterations were outlined but seemingly Ms Braverman elected to ignore which I'd say was very ill advised that so she went from wreath laying at Sunday's remembrance parade in Whitehall to being sacked on Monday.

That meant only one thing: a Cabinet reshuffle with the original purpose to replacement the Home Secretary but as ever the re-arranging of the deck chairs brings a resignation here, a plot there and then there was something few saw coming...

That man who was Prime Minister from 2010 through 2016 when he backed the wrong horse on Brexit (yes dear reader we're so tired of it) is seen walking into Downing Street and into No.10 which I might add I've been in after resigning from being a Member of Parliament.

David Cameron walks out as a Member of the House of Lords as the Foreign Secretary so Mr Cleverly can move from that to Home Secretary!

Deja vu?

Cue unrest on the Conservative right....

Meanwhile The War on Israel by Hamas and subsequent actions in Gaza causes resignations and splits across the Labour opposition both in parliament after Wednesdays amendment vote on the King's Speech and in councils

Just what with domestic issues such as the economy, reduced living standards, terrorism and internationally conflicts and the asylum seeker crisis we don't need for government and opposition as we the people need politicians who are focused on tackling these pressing matters not fighting each other.

Ever felt like staying in bed for a year?

The Gaza interuption

We're back this week having been away for a few days at The Party doing spooky things of a more child-like nature which is more the sort of thing I like but even then you can't easily avoid what's going on around which in a way isn't so dissimilar to how things were as a child where at least with me childhood was intermingled with with the impact of terrorism and of war being in the family newspapers and on the tv.

Thus in a way that the Invasion of an Israeli kibbutz and horrific murder of over 1,400 women, men and children and the subsequent action in Gaza by the Israeli military should rear its head perhaps ought not to have surprised me although at least people knew when enough had been said and promptly changed subject.

While many felt their sympathies were with Israel, an understandable concern has been getting aid to those most in need, ensuring that would not be taken by Hamas, the terrorist organization that is very much on their ground there and nothing usable for war would be smuggled in.

Related to that is what to do with the sick and injured in hospitals short on medicines and having no mains electricity reliant upon oil fired generators and Hamas having taken oil from all over Gaza for their conflict means they are desperately short of the means of keeping literally the lights on and medicines cool.

Israel is justifiably concerned about oil as aid being intercepted by Hamas which you can't rule out although that's no consolation to the hospitals and so why many of us feel sadly Hamas brought this upon the Gaza people and it could never go unpunished, we are concerned, moved even, to feel international bodies not the least the United Nations need to step in running a safe program, fully escorted to get aid in without the risk of it being used by Hamas for war.

Fortunately some aid is getting through now, although oil remains a sticking point - and why is that 18-30 year men feel it's okay to raid a UN Aid Store helping themselves to what is there for those in need - and some evacuations have began to Egypt including that of those holding UK Citizenship to flee.

It's not perfect but at least something that will make a difference in a messy situation where the only long term answer is learning to live in peace and respect for each other's rights.

A resumption of stable governance?

Finally we *may* have an end to the chaos of the last five and a bit weeks following Friday's about time too intention to resign statement from the Prime Minister Liz Truss following the final straw for many of an amazing premiership-amazingly inept and incompetent-of a motion to move a Fracking Bill that descended into farce of the first degree last Wednesday.

There was a foreshortened selection process for the leader of the Conservative and Unionist Party where three members of parliament were touted by supporters but with Boris Johnston deciding his standing would only lead to more disunity undermining his abilities and Penny Mordaunt being unable to pass the one hundred nominations threshold Rishi Sunak was the only one standing with a large majority of nominations.

Given the speed of all of this, the headline of Monday's papers was soon superseded by Mrs Mordaunt's withdraw from the contest late Monday Morning even though she had little support.

Thus by Monday we knew Rishi was to be the Leader of the Conservative and Unionist Party but under our constitution the previous Prime Minister's resignation has to be presented and accepted by our Head of State, His Royal Majesty King Charles III and after that he sees and asks the new Leader of the largest party in the House of Commons to be the Prime Minister in whose name he governs to Form a Government.

 

That in practical terms means with having a clear majority incoming Prime Minister Rishi Sunak after having a meeting ("audience with") the King, returned to No.10 Downing Street to deliver an sobering speech to the Nation and get on appointing Ministers many of which will attend daily Cabinet meetings with him.

This is an important event, the first ever appointment of a Prime Minister of Indian heritage, the son of immigrants following the then ground-breaking appointment of its first ever Woman Prime Minister in 1979.

It is a clear indication that sex and race are not impediments to getting on and holding supreme power in the Conservative Party as much as it, like the remainder of society does hold some prejudiced views in its members. 

It is interesting to note this has not yet been matched by the socialist Labour Party which makes more play on integration and inclusion.

Given he was a very successful chancellor during Lockdown striking a balance delivering much needed help while keeping a lid on finance and does understand finance well given his former employment, I feel if anyone can set us on road to dealing with the unprecedented crisis of inflation in food and fuel bills and a stagnant economic growth it is him.