Sunday 8 January 2023

In the circumstances saying Happy New Year to all sounds somewhat hollow so I’ll settle for very best wishes for 2023. Over the years we’ve got used to various ‘Twixmas’ and New Year occurrences, some of them proving irritating, if not infuriating, bah humbug (or whatever the New Year equivalent is). One is the numerousContinue reading “Sunday 8 January 2023”

24 December

As happy a Christmas as possible to all readers! These are busy days for many but you may perhaps have time to peruse this mini blog post while basting that turkey or nut roast, when grabbing a crafty snifter while peeling those spuds, or during the post-lunch/dinner slump! Recently transport minister Mark Harper was trying,Continue reading “24 December”

Sunday 11 December

As ever, a fortnight is a long time in politics and for its psychological consequences. As we approach the festive season we’re having to contend with arctic temperatures, a deepening cost of living crisis and a prime minister who is surely on the ropes given the number of challenges he is facing but not resolving.Continue reading “Sunday 11 December”

Sunday 27 November

In the wake of the impactful Autumn Statement and as we enter the last week of November we’re faced yet again with a relentlessly depressing situation: continuing industrial action from transport workers, postmen, university staff and soon nurses; the news that by Spring millions of households will be spending a third of their income onContinue reading “Sunday 27 November”

Sunday 13 November

As ever, a week is a long time in politics, and any Conservatives who fantasized that Rishi Sunak would be the one to rescue them from the mire they’ve made  must surely now see that as a lost cause. Right from the start his poor judgement has been apparent, including appointing and keeping on SuellaContinue reading “Sunday 13 November”

Saturday 5 November

Yet another rollercoaster fortnight has passed, during which we’ve seen the accession of Rishi (which some erroneously persist in calling ‘election’); dismay in many quarters at his Titanic deckchair rearrangement including the reappointment of disgraced former Home Secretary Suella Braverman; the delay of the Autumn Statement until 17th November; heavy media coverage of the £50bnContinue reading “Saturday 5 November”

Saturday 22 October

Of all the stormy weeks we’ve seen in UK politics recently, this last fortnight must qualify as the most tumultuous, during which, astonishingly, we’ve seen the PM’s sacking of her Chancellor, her absence from the House for Labour’s Urgent Question, (leaving Penny Mordaunt to endlessly stonewall the inevitable questions), poor performance at her second PMQs,Continue reading “Saturday 22 October”

Sunday 9 October

Another turbulent few weeks have passed, the new Chancellor and PM going AWOL for weeks after their ‘election’ before delivering a devastating ‘mini-budget’, the significant feature of which was subjected to a U-turn less than two days later. Within a month of taking office, Liz Truss was fighting for her political life, many of herContinue reading “Sunday 9 October”

Sunday 25 September

What a momentous few weeks it’s been, from the ‘election’ of Liz Truss as PM by a small minority of Conservative party members, following weeks of long drawn out contest when the government was effectively absent, the death and funeral of the Queen after a 70 year reign, to the announcement of key government policiesContinue reading “Sunday 25 September”

Sunday 4 September

This last week, the end of August and start of September, is often characterised by a poignant change in the light, signalling the end of summer, returns to school, college and work and perhaps the necessity to face up to harsh realities which holidays can obscure. But there’s no sense of any new beginning inContinue reading “Sunday 4 September”