Although what we really is a general election, the local elections have proved somewhat cathartic and predictably the Conservatives did very badly, losing the Blackpool South by-election with a swing of 26% to Labour, over half the council seats they contested (could be as many as 500) and losing ten entire councils including Redditch, RushmoreContinue reading “Sunday 5 May”
Tag Archives: asylum seekers
Monday 29 April 2024
Not surprisingly, the last few weeks have seen no let up in the pace of events on the political stage, most of them worrying and/or downright nasty: the escalation of the Middle East conflict and constant platforming of our over-promoted Lord Dave; the passage of the Rwanda Bill (despite the best efforts of the Lords);Continue reading “Monday 29 April 2024”
Sunday 19 November
As the Middle East crisis rages on, causing political upheaval way beyond those borders, not to mention Ukraine, the UK is experiencing a constitutional crisis which has been building for some considerable time, yet it doesn’t seem to be acknowledged as such by politicians or the media, except somewhat in the Radio 4 Today podcast.Continue reading “Sunday 19 November”
Sunday 13 August
August is traditionally known in the media as ‘the silly season’, compensation for the apparent lack of news coming in the form of reporting trivia. But despite most of our MPs including our PM remaining resolutely On Holiday despite the disasters unfolding around them there’s been no shortage of news, the main item of whichContinue reading “Sunday 13 August”
Sunday 2 April
The House of Commons may have begun its Easter recess (why do MPs ‘need so much holiday?) but you can tell the government started preparing weeks ago for the local government elections: the Illegal Immigration bill going through Parliament has already sparked endless debate about ‘illegal migrants’, but it seems ministers are really ramping upContinue reading “Sunday 2 April”
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”
Sunday 28 November
After social psychologist Professor Stephen Reicher tweeted that trust was crucial for people to accept and follow government restrictions a sceptic responded that trust is not specific to one area of government action: ‘sadly this government has repeatedly shown itself to be dishonest and corrupt, harming public health’. This principle is central to this blog,Continue reading “Sunday 28 November”
Politics and mental health - the missing link? 