Author: Richard

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.

So the government lost its appeal against the Rwanda Scheme. However the topic of migration is still urgent. The Governments processing of asylum seekers is a shambles. £140 million has been spent regarding Rwanda so far (plus legal fees). Processing needs to be speeded up – surely not that difficult? Also we need to have a functioning relationship with the EU and France regarding this. There is no doubt that the public is concerned regarding migration – Brexit was a result of this. What is really needed is a grown up debate which considers the demographics of this country, our role as an international donor to the UN and climate impact amelioration schemes. Integration of migrants into society also needs addressing. For too long we have concentrated on the ‘little boats’ rather than bigger issues.

With more of us old ‘uns there needs to be sensible strategies for dealing with an increasingly unbalanced population.

So Sunak states that he has a unified Cabinet – thus acknowledging that he has not had this before. Braverman has gone and Sunak has appointed Ester McVie as Minister without Portfolio which is basically a sop to the right wing. She is apparently tasked with leading the anti-woke culture war. I thought they had given up on this, it is hardly relevant to those struggling with bills this winter.

Now we wait to hear what the instructions from the ERG will be. They will have been blindsided by Camerons appointment. I suspect they will resort to demands about Brexit – although everyone else has moved on, and about migration. Tje advantage Bracerman now has is that she is no longer in Government and therefore divorced from the problem.

Sacked at last! Cleverly to replace her. Whilst not a moderate conservative he is not of the rabid right and is regarded as a pragmatist. Cameron as Foreign Secretary is more interesting – sending a clear message that there are no candidates of worth in the rest of the party! A safe smiley face he maybe – but surely not the election winner he hopes. We also have to wait and see what Braverman says in the next few days. Rees-Mogg has already cindemned her sacking. The Daily Mail, Express and Telegraph were all too bust trying to condemn the handfull of peace marchers with potentially anti-semetic slogans on, stating to be violent? Tomorrow we will be able to gauge their reaction – they are non-too-keen on Cameron who was a remainer.