Embed from Getty Images We’re sailing breezily towards Friday when, suddenly, everybody is meant to be wearing face masks in shops. It’s not going to happen. I see hardly any face masks being worn out at the moment. To expect a sudden pivot on Friday is just ridiculous. The police aren’t going to enforce the […]
Op-eds
Neo-liberalism is deceitfully plundering society
We face interactive networks of problems. Some were and are easily perceived, some not. All need analysis and addressing. The U.K. is amongst the worst performing nations in the protection of its citizens against the current plague. A chronic cause is under-investment in national health infrastructures. An immediate cause is serial governmental ineptitude. A foundation […]
How the Social Contract idea can serve both our party and the country
It is easy to be high-minded about the Social Contract idea, which may be why it is not yet universally known or accepted. Yes, it is a vision of addressing the main social ills of this country, campaigning to have them put right. And yes, it gains legitimacy by assuming the mantle of William Beveridge, […]
Two options
I never thought that I would end up having a fear about my job! I currently have two part-time jobs. One, there is no problem at all, but the second has become quite a worry. That is because it is working behind the bar in a social club, and I have type1 diabetes, which I […]
Every so often, it’s worth having a look at this table…
OK, I know that countries have very different ways of reporting deaths from Covid-19. But this table, from Worldometer (excluding a couple of micro-states), gives us some idea how the UK is doing in terms of Covid-19 deaths per million of population. Badly. We are second in the world for the rate of deaths, after […]
Who gains from Rishi Sunak’s Summer Economic Statement?
It is easy to criticise Rishi Sunak’s Summer Economic Statement for not doing enough. The Chancellor had a difficult task to assess what size of economic stimulus would be effective. His main aim was apparently to create jobs for those who had lost them or will be losing them soon. But the Statement.is very disappointing […]
Boris on Care: wrong words, right target
The corporate voice of the care sector is up in arms about the PM’s comments on care. Of course, his remarks about care homes, not following procedures were sly and clumsy, but he is right that the care sector should shoulder some of the blame for the virtual decimation of their aged residents. Clap for […]
I went to the pub…light the blue touchpaper and stand well back
Embed from Getty Images I figured that last weekend would be a bit crowded in pubs, so I reserved time in my (not-so)busy diary to visit the pub yesterday. Monday is the new Saturday. All went well. The pub I visited seem to have lots of measures in place, and well-trained staff. I enjoyed an […]
The herd and the unheard!
Embed from Getty Images There is a current running through this government. It is one of confusion. But, despite my best efforts to not impune motives, I am coming to the view that the current running through this government is one of callousness. Not always intentional, but incredible, too. Sometimes the callousness is because of […]
Looking back: How investing in our communities laid the foundations for tackling Covid-19 in York
Embed from Getty Images Just over a year ago I was appointed to the role of Executive Member for Culture, Leisure and Communities in the new Lib Dem/Green partnership running City of York Council following the May elections of 2019. I’m hugely proud of the way our team in York rose to the challenge presented […]