INTERESTING
Trade deals with USA have a clause inserted to prohibit a country introducing legislation that would endanger the American companies profitability. Philip Morris did this to the Australian Govt. when it introduced anti-smoking legislation. The govt. won but it was time consuming and expensive. Another good reason for trade deals with Europe.
Starmer and Labour down in the polls – Reform up.
Well no surprise there. What have Labour actually done so far? I follow the news and cannot see much evidence. NHS is struggling as before. Schools are laying off teachers. Boat people keep arriving. Are houses being built? (Those that are maybe on floodplains)! The news is dominated by Trump and America.
Whinging on about a multi billion black hole is boring.
Whitehall employment expanded with Covid – time to cut costs of central government. Elections in May should see powers shifted to local authorities. So transfer the dosh too! And the jobs. The Department of Education could be slashed – Local Authorities could prioritise spending to areas which need the help.
NHS – whenever I visit the Docs for a repeat prescription I am astonished at the lack of patients. I have no idea who my designated doctor is (do they exist). Any phone calls result is questioning by a secretary, if lucky a doctor will phone back at their convenience. Is that what they do – talk on phones? Do they have reams of paperwork and targets? Whatever – efficiency is not a word used?
The armed forces – Israel had 70000 bombing raids on Gaza and still Hamas kept hostages! I am sure I read somewhere about keyboard players needing x amount of hours to become proficient. There must be a huge potential workforce there for drones?
Climate change still gets short shift in the papers. Artic areas are suffering from melting and the release of methane.
EV’s – some are being introduced in Putney – max speed 20mph (why MPH and not kph?). Looking a little like pope mobiles for the poor they take one passenger. But the concept is good! A Chinese rival to Tesla is apparently really good, and cheaper. Bring it on! If European car companies cannot compete, they will collapse. BT/Morris etc. did! However the market make morph into a more niche market. About town vehicles for hire, or basically mobility scooters (the scooters have taken off). And then more luxurious vehicles for longer journeys – again hired. Garages are being converted anyway, perhaps they should become battery rooms?