Sir Keir Starmer is wrong not to come out firmly with a statement encouraging parents who can, to get their children back to school. Widespread anxiety among parents, made worse by the posturing of the teaching unions, which the Labour leadership is doing far too little to dispel, is handing useful political capital and scoring […]
One metre is essential and soon. We are losing sight of what we are trying to do. We cannot give absolute priority to saving life until we have the power to do so. It is right to lock everybody up and shut everything down for a short period when, in an unforeseen emergency, that gives […]
It is now clear that this government is a disappointment even to its enthusiastic supporters. It is not an ideology issue, nor even one of party. It is not actually about politics. It is about competence. At the centre is the pandemic with it horrific death toll of over 50,000 if you include all deaths […]
Everything seemed well in Trump land. There were political arguments about impeachment, Russian interference and Chinese trade. There was also the wall on the border with Mexico. But the economy boomed, stocks soared, employment was at record levels. Foreign policy was all over the place, but mainly Americans bought into America First and were not […]
A week ago the government was rather pleased with itself, in spite of the many missteps littering its progress. But now. Oh dear. It is perhaps inevitable that if you place a box of fireworks like Cummings at the heart of government, sooner or later it will explode. And it has. But first let us […]
The freedom to move all across Europe is a modern human right on a continent awash with needless bloodshed, spilled over the centuries since the fall of the Roman Empire. It is one of the greatest political achievements in recorded history. My own citizenship of Europe is something I value above all other official recognitions […]
That nobody in the population at large has a moment spare to think about the distraction of Brexit, in the midst of a double crisis, each segment of which is on a scale hitherto unseen, is likely to be an understatement. Yet Brexit is still there and, unless the government implodes, there will be no […]
In the election sense no it is not. Opinion polls continue to show a comfortable lead for the Tories and Labour has a lot of work to do to establish itself as a potential alternative government. But there will be no general election for another four years, so these polls are of little importance. However […]
In the messaging yes, Boris created a lot of anxiety and confusion with his over generalised broadcast and his blustering enthusiasm. Covid 19 is not a war which can be ended when the enemy signs a surrender document. So stuff like ‘together we will beat it’ really is off target. Moreover there is a general […]
There is little point in commenting today until after Boris has delivered his address to the nation later, so expect a mid-week follow on as the situation becomes less confused. For confused it certainly is with briefings this way and that, messaging which says one thing and means another, cracks in the four nation unified […]