𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

An economy so weakened that, in the view of the Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey, it could not sustain a change in interest rates. Defence so starved of cash we could soon be in a position not to be able to defend ourselves to a level acceptable to some of our NATO allies. A housing crisis in which target after target is missed and construction moves at slower than a snail’s pace. Borders still so weak a record number of 710 “asylum seekers” arrived last week, despite sending hundreds of millions of pounds sent to the French to improve their border security.

A health system in which “corridor care” has become so standardised in parts of our NHS hospitals actually advertise for “Corridor Nursing Staff.” And a level of growth – remember the promise that would be “the engine” for lifting us out of economic gloom – so anaemic it hardly registers. And what will the Government be consuming itself with over the next few weeks?

A self-indulgent, internecine war over who will lead the Labour Party and therefore the country, all of which highlights the glaring irresponsibility of these preening narcissists.

While Andy Burnham’s victory at the Makerfield by-election hardly came as a surprise, the margin certainly did, showing the appetite for a change at the top to be palpable, but the key now will be how the Labour Party reacts.

Because while you might be concerned about the cost-of-living crisis or how you could be stuck on one of those interminable NHS waiting lists, be in no doubt the politicians paid to rectify such matters will have zero interest in your plight.

Instead, they will be jockeying for position and trying to align themselves with whoever looks set to be the next leader and therefore, of course, Prime Minister.

After Friday’s bruising dent to his authority, as Sir Keir Starmer was quick to say “I’m not going to walk away” and he will fight on, Andy Burnham was reportedly rallying his allies and working his way to getting to the 81 Labour MPs he needs to launch an official bid for the leadership.

But if the PM wants to “fight on,” it’s fair to ask “fight” for what? In the unlikely event it even exists, what does “Starmerism” look like? As discussed before, like or loathe them, everyone knew what “Thatcherism” or “Blairism” was about. It is impossible to determine any real direction of travel under Starmer, not least as the number of U-turns is giddying.

It was less than two years ago Labour was elected promising to end “the political psycho-dramas” of previous years, but with political commentators now suggesting Starmer could be gone before this autumn’s conference, get ready for “Curtains Up” on this latest instalment.

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Any chance that yachting couple could tackle the dinghies in the English Channel?

This picture of tragic toddler Preston Davey should be put on the walls of EVERY social services department in the land.

This poor little lad never really stood a chance. Born four weeks premature to a convicted killer mother and with his grandmother unable to step in due to cancer, at just five days of age Preston was put in the “care” of the local social services team and its social workers. Some care.

Within five months of being placed with adoptive parents Jamie Varley, 37, and his partner John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, baby Preston had been sexually abused on multiple occasions, tortured and effectively beaten to death.

As his grandmother has said, there can be little doubt the fact they were a gay couple was a massive factor as social workers would have felt considerable nervousness about being portrayed as being homophobic had they stepped in.

As it was, between the social services team and the local hospital, no fewer than EIGHT chances to save the tot went begging.

As so many of our public services sink into a cesspit of inaction due to a fear of being labelled politically incorrect for whatever reason, they should all start each day by staring into little Preston’s eyes and asking themselves: how did we get it so fundamentally and fatally wrong?

Make it make sense

How have we got to the bizarre position in which the Foreign and Commonwealth Office officially advises against travel to a list of countries from which thousands of mostly undocumented men of fighting age have arrived – and they get free accommodation and spending money into the bargain?

Says it all

If reports are true and the first wave of political earthquakes that could topple Sir Keir Starmer could be the resignation of Ed ‘Nuts for Net Zero’ Miliband then this shows everything that has been wrong with the PM’s reign, as he should have faced down his Energy Security Secretary many months ago. Clueless, rudderless, spineless.

How is this going to help?

Ten years after the murder of MP Jo Cox, her sister Kim Leadbeater (also an MP) has said the nation seems even more divided all these years later. And regrettably she is right, as events like the riots in cities such as Southampton and Belfast, the ‘Summer riots’ after the murders of the schoolgirls at a dance class in Southport and the pro-Palestinian demos have shown.

All of which shows the decision by some local authorities to restrict the flying of flags during the World Cup to be utter insanity.

If we ever needed a nation to come together it is now. And if football achieves that, albeit briefly, it is to be celebrated that a bit of unity returns to this part of the United Kingdom.

End the benefits bonanza NOW

The number of people claiming disability benefits has hit more than four million – approximately 10% of the nation’s working population. Nearly 40% claim mental health problems, which seems an inordinately high figure. But it gets worse, as 48 people are getting benefits for bedwetting and 173 for constipation. Who will end this bogus benefits’ bonanza?