Why have a civil service when they are not informing the government of long term problems before they become short term crisis? Or does the government take no notice?
HGV CRISIS
This not going away anytime soon. With 60% of hauliers stating that retirement is, and will be a major factor it seems the problem can only get worse, Brexit is 2nd major factor also at 60% followed by IR35 and drivers leaving for different industry, and pay rates also over 50% as a stated reason for driver shortage.
CRISIS – WHAT CRISIS?
STARMER – “Is it better to lose with honour and integrity , rather than compromise to a life of servitude and poverty?”
Has written an essay about taking Labour back to the middle. Well Keir there is already a middle – called the LibDems, a Tory Party that is not as far right as many think (just so no right regarding competence and honesty). Labours problem was not with the policies of Corbyn, but the unabated press attack on him, and his lack of chutzpah. His policies were popular, but thought to be unachievable by him.
TIME FOR A RETHINK
Many things are broken or not functioning properly in our society. The prime Minister bangs on about levelling up – why? because too many in society have been left behind. Our free market economy is reliant on poorly paid workers with little security. The supply chain is breaking apart and patching it will only delay the need for an overhaul.
FOR THE RECORD
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng states that there is no chance of the lights going out, people being unable to heat their homes or a 3-day working week. The British Chambers of Commerce however suggested that many factories were already considering reducing working hours or a 3 or 4 day week due to the high price of energy.
Johnson and Gove said that Brexit would mean lower gas prices – hmmm. Not tell untruths then??
THE WINTER AHEAD
In line with recent times it looks like this winter could be ‘interesting’. Fuel prices are definitely going to be higher – by how much we do not know yet. The impact on commercial coal firms is already hitting with CO2 production slashed which has an impact on meat processing and fizzy drinks, as well as the NHS whose supply the government says is safeguarded. So food and drink supplies are likely to be disrupted rather than curtailed. Power supplies should be OK but it might be touch or go at times if we have overcast high pressure reducing wind capacity and leading to low temperatures.
BASIC MATHS
Population UK 2010 62.51 million. 2020 67.89 million. Calculator out – an increase of 8.6%. So at a basic level demand for NHS has gone up 8.6%. Inflation in the decade has been about 25%. Then the increase in people over 65 increasing. Ok extrapolation is getting silly, and beyond my ability. But a basic calculation means that NHS spending should have gone up by 25% for inflation, then another 8.6% for population increase, and then more for the ageing population.
COVID
The great vaccine victory claimed by Brexiteers is turning sour. 9 EU countries, after a slow and clumsy start, have now overtaken the UK with numbers vaccinated. With our government having vaccine as its top policy, actually its only policy, is is sad that they seem to have given up on any policies to get more people vaccinated – new policy will be to trumpet the total number of jabs given so they can treble count people. Not all is rosy in the EU Bulgaria is on 16% and Romania 27%.
GAS CONTROL FREAKS
With headlines in some papers about Xmas dinner being cancelled and the Business Secretary saying ‘don’t panic’ it probably is time to be very worried. Britain is about 50% reliant on gas and the price has soared recently, possibly resulting in a £400 increase in household bills. 7 energy suppliers have gone bust with another 4 likely to go next week. CO2 is in short supply due to 2 plants shutting down due to cost of gas.