December 16th 2022. As a break from the deluge of incompetence coming from the Conservative Government, I have been watching the blanket coverage of the soccer World Cup and then had a visit to Exeter Cathedral Christmas Market. I saw the Senegalese supporters in the Crowd at one game. I
December 12th 2022. Well here we are, coming into Christmas and Britain is in a little bit of strife. There is a rising of discontent throughout the country as more and more unions lobby for wage increases and then successfully ballot their members to vote for strike action. This has
November 17th, 2022. The only chance the conservatives have electorally is if the electorate thinks that the measures are fair and the pain is shared. It is 2 budgets in one, 1 for today’s issues and one for election year 2025. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) needed to
November 16th, 2022. Following on from the revelations in my last letter about Albanians entering the UK, the next day the BBC broadcast a detailed investigative piece about the Albanians’ criminal activity and the links to the “boat” people. It’s nice to see that the BFD got the news
November 3rd 2022. I occasionally compare the UK to Alice in Wonderland and Alice through the looking glass. I can’t do that anymore as real life in the UK surpasses satire. We have had over 40,000 people arrive by boat on the Southern Coast. I hesitate to select
October 25th 2022. The situation in the UK makes me more incredulous by the day. Rishi Sunak was crowned leader of the Conservative party by the MPs. This was caused by there being no other candidate left standing at the deadline of 2 pm on Monday 24th October. According to
October 19th 2022. If a writer was to pitch the current events to a BBC commissioning editor as political mystery series it would be given short shrift as it possessing not a shred of reality. Today saw the “resignation” of the Home Secretary Suella Braverman after a mere 40 days
October 17th 2022. It’s been a while since my last letter as I have been laid low with non-covid Covid. All the benefits and symptoms but with negative tests. This is apparently a not uncommon occurrence in parts of the country. The remedy recommended was the same as it
September 19th, 2022. The United Kingdom, and indeed the world bade farewell to Queen Elizabeth II today. London was full of people lining the route from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey, then to the Wellington Arch and finally along non-motorway roads to her last resting place in St. Georges Chapel
September 18th, 2022. Since my last letter, a week of mourning has passed. The nation still seems stunned by events and the mourning has taken a sombre tone. Away from the queuing and the accompanying feeling of being part of a festival, the country is very subdued. People are carrying
September 11th, 2022. It’s now the third day following the death of Queen Elizabeth II and things are settling down. Charles has officially become Charles III following his proclamation after the accession council meeting of the Privy Council. Away from the stifling atmosphere of the television and print media
September 8th, 2022. A life of service. Whilst the House of Commons were debating the cost-of-living crisis and proposals regarding limiting energy prices for the next two years, the Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle interrupted the proceedings to make an announcement. “Her Majesty the Queen has been announced to be receiving
September 5th, 2022. Well, the Conservative party election is over, and to no one’s surprise, the winner is Liz Truss. What is surprising is that the margin of success was lower than forecast, with Truss receiving 57% and Sunak 43%. She now has the job of selecting a cabinet
September 4th, 2022. The UK has been “enjoying” the summer recess of Parliament. Usually, there is a welcome break from political stories, but this time we have had to endure the Conservative leadership campaign as it trundled through the shires and towns of Britain. The two candidates remaining, Liz Truss
August 23rd, 2022. Lots of things appear to be happening as I have been on my midsummer break. Unusually for the UK, in which August is known as the “Silly Season” as nothing ever happens and the media scratch around for stories, there has been an abundance of news, much
August 18th, 2022. My summer hiatus has been interrupted by events in the UK that I find difficult to comment on but cannot ignore. A period of violence saw 6 people murdered in 4 days, with the nadir being reached with the knife murder of an 87-year-old busker whilst sitting
