ALAN SIMPSON
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Governments fall more often from let-downs than lock-downs. That’s why Marcus Rashford’s ‘end child food-poverty’ campaign has thrown British politics into a tiz. Who would have thought a young, black footballer would provide the leadership politics seems to lack. Although Rashford consistently says “This is not about politics: it is about humanity,” everyone understands the…
Britain’s ‘4 week national lockdown’ will not halt the rate at which Tory pandemic planning falls apart. Privately, there are calls for a ‘Grand Coalition’, a Government of National Unity to save the country. For Labour (and Britain) it would be the Kiss of the Spider Woman; something to be avoided as much as Covid…
Are we the new Number 6? Don’t be under any illusions. This article offers no sanctuary for the advocates of ‘herd immunity’. As an answer to the Covid-19 pandemic, it’s a price too high. A colossal increase in death rates, and overwhelming the NHS, does not even bear thinking about. All the same, the growing…
The government’s educational omnishambles is stealing all the headlines at the moment. It pushes political incompetence to new limits. But behind the debacle lies a bigger crime. Boris Johnson is killing parliamentary democracy faster than the pandemic is killing people. And though Labour is immeasurably more virtuous, the Party struggles to lay a glove on…
Robin Hood Dies: the legend lives on As news hits the press about the imminent demise of Nottingham’s Robin Hood Energy company (RHE), I took a look at the plinth in front of St Mary’s church in the middle of Nottingham. The plinth offers a mythical version of Robin Hood’s demise; slowly being ‘bled’ to…
Tipping or turning: the choice is still ours We are in a bad place; a really bad place. The IMF predicts that the Covid pandemic will shrink the global economy by 5% this year, with a cumulative loss of around $9 trillion. Britain’s Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) records a ‘lockdown’ economic collapse of over…
Transformation Moment
My pamphlet 'Transformation Moment' is intended to support the case for a radical shift in energy thinking; as much about democracy as technology, and about 'systems' rather than just supply.
If there's not a radical economic offer next time round, there's no realistic chance of Labour forming a govt. And that can't just mean promising more spending or a bigger state - it means a serious programme to transform the economy in the wake of covid-19. https://t.co/CfP1tLIgtg
I’m not sure this is what ‘global leadership’ was supposed to be about.
"World Beating"
UK now has highest Covid death rate in the world
If the lorries are in London, I hope it’s to donate fish rather than complaints. If you want domestic sovereignty at least cater for a domestic market.
A message is being sent from the fishing industry to London. We don’t use buses! #BrexitCarnage
Can you hear us @BorisJohnson Are you still happy @Jacob_Rees_Mogg Are you still busy @VictoriaPrentis
“Ok, guys, just give Derbyshire a miss if if you can.”
Two groups of penguins pass each other, stopping briefly to exchange information.
It takes some balls for @nadhimzahawi to call Labour's vote on a £20 benefit/week cut a "political stunt" at exactly the same time as his colleague Robert Jenrick publishes more details of planning conditions on statues and street names.
Best cartoon I have seen in 2021...but the year is still young !
Robert Jenrick says he won't hesitate to use his powers to intervene in planning decisions about statues, but decided not to use his power to intervene in the decision to grant planning permission for a new coal mine in Cumbria. #priorities
Jenrick criticised over decision not to block new Cumbria coal mine
Environmental campaigners say failure to call in West Cumbria Mining planning application ‘jaw-dropping’
www.theguardian.com
'We, the People - the Case for Radical Federalism' published today! This report is an innovative + fresh contribution to thinking and debate about future structure and constitution of the UK. Report is available now at
All is well. He’s just obtained his French passport. À bientôt.
Haven’t heard from Lexit in a while, hope he’s doing OK
This is heart-breaking, but the call to "get it sorted" is misplaced. It's not happening because of sortable glitches in Brexit but because what Brexit does by design is to erect barriers with the EU. Those who warned of the consequences were called fearmongers. Now it's too late https://t.co/4Kyuq1kZnY