The Jam Jam

The tories are desperate. JR-M calls the Gray inquiry into Partygate a socialist stitch up, although. he was extolling her virtues at the time. The tired old right wing are desperate to cling on to anything now that their cheerleader appears to be a spent force. Notba good week for them – first Sunak delivers a reasonable package (this is agreed by all but the rapid few). They seem to forget that BJBJ was found guilty by the police, not Sue Gray. Durham police also found Starmer not guilty – not Sue Gray. Perhapsnthey are concerned that as a senior civil servant she knows where the bodies are buried? Then we had Oakenshott leaking 100000 What’sApp messages to the Telegraph – Hancock must be gutted. The Telegraph will filter ones against BJBJ but desperately need to up circulation.

With MI5 admitting faults regarding the Manchester bombing – not a good week for many in the estasblishment this week!

What is it about this country? And are others like this? Confrontational as a basic reaction. Anyone who gains success is seen as a target for tye press to undermine and find something bad about. Conservative politicians faced with an issue will immediately resort to acerbic attacks. The whole Brexit farce has been inflicted on us by this imdercirrent of aggression and distrust.

Being mentally strong and aggressive certainly seemed to benefit co-workers getting promotion whilst I was teaching. Those who were prepared to crucify fellow workers were lauded, those who were supportive were seen as weak and by-passed for promotion. Drivers are quick to hit the aggression button. Do we teach children that arguments are not bi-polar? The press get headlines from bi-polar opinions and faning anger, distrust and angst.

I guess not much going on as far as the British Press is concerned. Horrific train crash in Greece largely ignored. Sun and Express lead with Harry and Meghan being kicked out of their house by Charlie, who may give it to Pervo boy! Guardian, Telegraph and Metro go for Hancock. Mail goes for supporting Carrie Johnsons call for longer sentences for wife beaters. Times goes for Bravermans claim that Islamic extremism is the fault of the left.

Mean while 30p Anderson has a go at food banks, Badeock has a go at menapausal women, Williamson accuses teachers of being lazy, whilst tory MP’s avoid work!

So the general feeling about the Brexit deal is that a) Nobody in the EU really cares anymore; b) Treating the EU negotiators with respect rather than agression and contempt made a deal possible; c) this could see off the criminal fool and his cohort. It seems that the EU has given way on a large number of things. Perhaps we can develop a proper relationship in many more areas. Starmer is well positioned to develop these ties. The DUP is already looking for support from the like of John Redwood to nit pock the treaty – Sunak should just tell them to fuck off back under the stone they crawl out of. Hopefully there share of the vote will diminish in May (it will remain string due to the bigitry embeded in many NI communities.

Could we see the same attention to detail and respect used in negotiations with the unions. First stop woulld be to stop refering to them as “barons”. Getting rid of “turnip” Coffey and “30p” Anderson would also help – however every Labour supporter will wnt to keep them in post for the election boost they get everytime either one opens their mouths.

At last they come up with a settlement. I know they say the devil is in the detail, BUT it loksfairly straight forward to me! The problem is likely to be in the ambiguity about using The Stormont Brake. The words trivial and significant are used which gives a free hand to the bigots in the DUP who make this definitions dangerous. The Green Plan seems commonsense but with criminal gangs active in both catholic and unionist communities there is likely to be plenty of misuse of labels!

I am neither naive or stupid – but …. energy costs went up rapidly after price of wholesale gas rose after invasion of Ukraine. That cost is nower lower than ot was a year ago. Why are we still seeing a price hike in April? The energy companies made fortunes for directors and shareholders. Surely even with capitalism, providers of essential services/utilties have a responsibility to the public? If they do not take this sensibly it then becomes the duty of government to regulate the cost to the consumer. If companies do not like it they can leave.

At present we are seeing firms go bust due to cost rises, food rationing due to companies unable to heat hot houses (alternatives should be examined), schools and other public services facing staff cuts and poorer services. OFGEM is blatently failing in its duty and members should resign and replaced with experts like Martin Lewis.

The same goes for OFWAT and the press needs proper regulation too.

It seems that a deal between the Westminster government and the EU is entirely feasible. Whether the DUP will endorse it is debatable, as is the backing of the ERG. Sunak can almost certainly get it through Parliament, albeit with the backing of Labour. This is riski for Rishi as Johnson and the ERG are mustering troops for an assault on his leadership. The real test will be the spring elections which are just a couple of months away. If the Conservatives do as badly as expected, the hyenas on the right will be circling.

Mean while Coffrey tells us that we should be eating turnips not tomatoes! At least Marie-Antoinette replaced bread with cake! Perhap Lee Anderson could include turnips in his 30p meals. Add in some Bully Beef from Raab and Braverman – a dishi Rishi could be proud of!

Seriously Rishi needs to sort the cabinet out soon. Appeasing the ERG for party unity before the welfare of the country will inevitably lead to his downfall, regardless of whether the NI agreement is a success or not. There is a definite sizeable minority who support Britain First or whatever the latest conflagration of the racist right is. However in most areas I believe that getting those 15% of votes will be at the cost of a similar proportion moving to the LibDems or Starmers ‘tory friendly” Labour. This should be a landmark oportunity for the Greens too, unfortunately they are probably to concerned with being WOKE and gender issues. However important these issues may seem, climate change, the environment, the economy and social justice are so much more important. Transgender issues will have their day – if we can work out the rest of the shit first. And where are the LibDems?

Regarding the local elections – photo ID needed. I suspect most young people have a driving licence or passport. Those disadvantaged people in society, and especially cities will possibly be barred from voting. The other section of society that may struggle is the older sector. OK I am nearly 70 but my passport is nearly out of date, I only have a paper copy of my driving licence. Would an out of date copy of either be relevant? There is a poster about this – small and surrounded by many other posters for recycling etc. How many people will turn up on the day and be denied the opportunity to vote? Will the police be on standby?