13 November 2026
First of all, a disclaimer.
Nothing I say in the following piece is to be interpreted, or imply, that I in any way support acts of violence, race hatred, discrimination or exhortation to use anything other than a peaceful expression of one’s views.
One day I will pen a letter which is made up and totally satirical in content. I would defy anyone to make the distinction between the satirical piece and the real letter describing real events.
The Labour Party is splitting into three distinct factions, often with varying objectives and policy needs. The traditional working-class blue-collar worker, the engineers and coal miners in the north and the midlands are losing influence in the party. This is almost a policy within the Labour policy as it abandons its roots and neglects the needs of its traditional support base. These supporters are gradually being pushed aside by the metropolitan elite, the university educated who ‘know what is good for us’ and will make sure we get their policies. We should accept that they know best and it’s their role to see that society is developed to suit their vision. A good comparison is the stereotypes typified by Ed Miliband and Keir Starmer.
The third and potentially most dangerous faction is the rapidly increasing ethnic grouping. Most of these are politically Islamic, supporting Gaza and dangerously close to being antisemitic. They are radical, strong and unswerving in their views.
In South Yorkshire (which includes Rotherham of grooming fame), a declining steel and coal mining area, Labour’s changing priorities can be seen. The white working class, and especially the youth, is the most disadvantaged of all the groups. The Metropolitan Borough of Rotherham faces acute youth employment pressures. A September 2026 report by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) ranked Rotherham lowest in Britain for entry-level opportunities, recording just 46 suitable online job vacancies per 1,000 young people (compared to a national average of 109), with the borough’s youth unemployment benefit claimant rate sitting at 7.7 per cent (above the 5.9 per cent for Great Britain).
Rotherham comprises 86.1 per cent white and 9.0 per cent Asian inhabitants. Furthermore, there were 1.5 per cent black and interestingly 0.5 per cent Arab. As we recall the grooming gangs were mostly Asian of Pakistani origin. And the complaints from the population were generally ignored.
The 1991 census shows the white population of Rotherham being 98 per cent white and 1.64 per cent Asian. So, in terms of Labour support, they have assumed that the white working class is less worthy in retaining votes than going after the growth section – Asian. This abandonment of the working class will cause resentment on the ground in affected areas.
The Sewell report was recently reviewed five years after its publication. The Sewell Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities: The Report was published on March 31, 2021, by the UK government-appointed commission chaired by Dr Tony Sewell CBE.
The review reported:
White working‑class boys are stuck at the bottom of the class, a new analysis warns, published to mark the fifth anniversary of the Sewell Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities.
The pupils the commission highlighted as being ‘left behind’ in 2021 remain among the worst‑performing in England according to the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), despite years of debate about race and gender equality.
Disadvantaged white British boys continue to record some of the lowest results in key exams, even as many poorer pupils from ethnic minority backgrounds now pull ahead.
Just 36 per cent of white British boys on free school meals reached the expected standard in GCSE Maths and English last year, analysis of the latest Department for Education figures finds.
This compares to 65 per cent of all pupils, 39 per cent of black Caribbean boys on free school meals, and 82 per cent of Chinese boys on free school meals. Among black African boys on free school meals the figure rises to 58 per cent, for Bangladeshi boys 68 per cent. Source: (Centre for Social Justice, March 22, 2026)
This all points to a fracturing society and is a breeding ground for discontent.
Quite bluntly the country is in a mess and heading for trouble.
On to less depressing matters (just):
The recent budget was a non-event, basically putting the hard decisions down the road to be dealt with in the future.
In the budget the minimum wage was raised. This is in fact a furtive increase in the tax take, on which the MSM hasn’t commented. The increased part of the minimum wage will now be subject to income tax and also incur additional National Insurance contributions from both the employee and employer. All these costs will of course be an extra cost for the employer, placing yet more burdens on the small business sector.
An estimated 5.7 million private-sector businesses, accounting for 99.85 per cent of all UK businesses, 60 per cent of private-sector employment (16.9 million jobs) and 51 per cent of total private-sector turnover (£2.8 trillion) are classified as being small businesses (SMEs). (Gov UK official statistics October 2025)
The Bank of England has raised base rate from 3.75 per cent to 4.0 per cent, the first-rate rise in three years. This has put more pressure on SMEs with the cost of doing business increasing, mortgage rates rising and credit card rates increasing. My informal chats with relevant people in organisations that deal with SMEs have forecast an increase in insolvencies and owners looking to sell up and retire early. Construction, retail and hospitality are the sectors that will be most affected.
Well, that’s my summary of some of the issues facing the UK. I always refrain from forecasting, but I am worried about NZ following the UK trends. The indicators are there and the question is will anyone take heed of them?
