Month: November 2023

Alistair Darling has died – an honest and much respected politician. In contrast I have listened to te Covid Inquiry where a succession of politicians have lied about their horrific incompetence which led to thousands of deaths. I do not blame them for their incompetence – justthe lies they continue to perpetuate. It seems to be the norm for this government to use lies as a normal form of communication. The latest during PMQ’s was that the government has done £30 billion trade deals when everyone knows this is not true.

Although I am old I am not aware that politicians in the past used lies as a primary form of communication. Did Blair start this trend with the Iraq debacle? I am sure politicians in the past were economical with the truth, but did they build their whole political efficafe on blatant lies?

Normally tedious today Starmer came out fighting. He was witty and pithy! He exposed Sunak’s incompetence in repeated ways. Firstly regarding Sunak’s botched avoidance tactic regarding the Greek PM; then repeatedly regarding migration and the economy.

Sunak really is losing all credibility.

Quite big news today with hostage release continuing – but not for the trash British Press Frontpages. Mail leads with royals, telegraph about trans laws and UN whilst the Express slams the BoE chief for telling the truth! I guess they are trying to deflect from the migration row, where all the sensible comments point out that care homes, hospitality, the NHS, etc. would be near collapse without migration. The Rwanda scheme is seen by the right as a vote winner even though it it is largely irrelevant to migration figures.

Elsewhere in the news – Gove is giving evidence to the Covid Inquiry. And is painting himself as Mr.Ensible and Reasonable. He has apologised for the mistakes made claiming to be only human (which I am sure he does not believe!). he has not criticised other members of the Government, probably in the belief that he can still become leader?

It is greatbthat there is a cease fire and hostages will be released. This is not a but, more of a ‘I don’t understand’!

Israel has spent weeks bombing the shit out ofbthe area and last week invaded by land. Yet now they agree to a ceasefire. Ok so the Americans may have put pressure on them after 11000 deaths (at least half woman and children). Have Hamas defences proven to be more capable than predicted? Presumably the Israeli’s would have continued if their actions looked like succeeding? What does this mean for politicans who have supported Israels right to defend itself by bombing the crap out of civilians and depriving them of food and water? Palestinian prisoners are being released to the West Bank – how will they be protected here?

After a 4 day ceasefire what will have changed? Both sides will have regrouped. There needs to be a mandate for a long term solution. How will Gaza be rebuilt?

i am minded to discuss Brexit for the first time for a while. the economic costs of Brexit are clear. No amount of effort by Badenoch and the Daily Express can disguise the damage wreaked on the economy by that vote. I am however more concerned with the damage done to the fabric of the UK. Taking back control seems to have been interpreted by the Government to concentrate power in the hands of Ministers rather than Parliament. The lies told during the campaign have seriously eroded the faith of the public in Ministers and politicians generally.

Let me unpick these a little. The Brexit campaign was notable for the whopping lies told blatantly. All politicians lie, or are at least economical with the truth, however Brexit legitimised the avoidance of truth at all. Politicians themzelves are more likely to eminate from Universities where they read Politics and Economics than coming from jobs where they work for a livelihood, I do not mean a few months as an intern or a job in a corporate entities, but as a proper employee whether in management or on the shop floor. Angela Rayner seems to be one of the few real people in politics. The Covid Inquiry has revealed the shameful lack of scientists and engineers in the upper eschelons of politics and the civil service. The way government has switched people between completely different departments is indicative of a culture where the quality most admired is the ability to ‘put on a good show’ rather than evidence of substance and understanding. To move between department briefs, the inhabitants of these posts, develop the necessary skills of procrastination and fudge.

The budget was obviously a culmination of these skills. The MSP latched onto the bullshit with alacrity – claiming it to have been a huge tax cut. The cut was to public services which will experience a 4% cut – byebye any remaining ‘green policies’. Local councils will find further cuts impossible without closing valuable resources. Pot holes will become larger and more common. The budget also seems to have risked fuelling inflation. Much was said about the benefit of a National Insurance cuts, but nothing about the rise in energy bills, or the costs facing those who have to reset their mortgages. Nothing was said about investment in our infrastructure or National Health System.

So to be generous the budget was economical with the truth, ratehr than out and out lies.

It is a shame this is not getting more press coverage. Johnson has been confirmed as the buffoon he is – no surprise there! Sunak is also emerging as out of his depth and with concern only for the economics rather than people. Again no surprise!

Evidence that this government is not fit to govern – time for a general election.