As the bloodshed continues unabated in Ukraine and Gaza, the latest escalation in the Middle East crisis has the power to unleash unprecedented global shockwaves. I won’t be only one who finds it frankly terrifying that, thanks to Trump, Putin and Netanyahu wrecking the rules-based international order so no organization (eg the UN) any longerContinue reading “Sunday 22 June”
Tag Archives: Parliament
Sunday 1 December
‘This is a historic day’, the John Cleese character in the film Clockwise repeatedly intoned to himself as he rehearsed his speech while driving to a conference – a scene which has always stuck in my mind. Whether or not we approve of the Assisted Dying Bill passing its first reading (330 to 275 votes),Continue reading “Sunday 1 December”
Sunday 14 July
Just over a week since Labour’s election success and five things have been very noticeable: how many are saying they feel relieved and hopeful for the first time in years (a vitally needed mental wellbeing boost); the speed with which Starmer got his programme up and running, with a Cabinet meeting the following day, talksContinue reading “Sunday 14 July”
Sunday 25 February
If you thought our politics were turbulent before, they’ve hit rock bottom now, the epitome being the debacle in the House of Commons on Wednesday and its continuing aftermath. The Conservatives suddenly started caring about democracy when they’ve done their best to wreck it over recent years and not everyone is buying the weak Speaker’sContinue reading “Sunday 25 February”
Saturday 20 January 2024
From a 2023 editorial in The Week, we learn that German politicians used the word Zeitenwende (meaning epochal shift) to describe the effect of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. While that was well justified, it seems to me that in the UK we’re getting our own version in the form of the alarmingly deluded Rwanda BillContinue reading “Saturday 20 January 2024”
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 30 July
You almost have to feel sorry for beleaguered PM Rishi Sunak – while his MPs swan off on holiday for weeks on end, he doggedly continues trying to defend his government’s terrible record despite most of the problems being of his own making. He’s been slammed for taking no genuine interest in green policies orContinue reading “Sunday 30 July”
Sunday 19 March
Another fortnight passes, with no let up in the pace of events, including the publication of the Illegal Migration bill, the Gary Lineker row which followed and which still rumbles on, the Budget and the government appearing to finally settle with the health unions after months of avoidable disruption. ‘… the government ditched its claimContinue reading “Sunday 19 March”
Sunday 5 February
This week saw ‘Integrity, Professionalism, Accountability’ Rishi Sunak pass the 100 day mark of his administration (sorry but I can’t call it ‘premiership’) and besides those three mission statement keywords being undermined on a daily basis it does look as if his regime is fast unravelling. It was widely predicted that Zahawi wouldn’t last theContinue reading “Sunday 5 February”
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”
Politics and mental health - the missing link? 