Only two short years since he led the Tories to a decisive parliamentary victory, Boris Johnson appears a palpably weakened figure and his problems show no sign of disappearing any time soon. Following this week’s continued garden-party revelations, and perhaps with an eye to the upcoming local elections, there’s even talk of metaphorical regicide where the party turfs its veritable King of the World out on his ear.
This year’s first PMQs picked-up where last year’s left-off with lies a’ plenty. Deputy leader of the opposition, Radiant Rayner kicked-off with a simple enough question enquiring if Bojo had changed his mind wrt the inflationary nature of our current economy as, back in October, he stated on Sky News that it was nothing for anyone to be concerned about.
Christmas is when we cling hardest to tradition, as clearly evidenced by the fact that we all collectively eat turkey, even though, deep down, we know that almost any other meat tastes nicer! But, with a spoon of cranberry, bullet-ready sprouts, charred pigs-in-blankets and the bread sauce that no-one likes, Christmas dinner is imbued with all our hope, dreams, love and loss.
ll of you will already know that I seldom praise our centre-right/far-right Tory politicians but, hand on heart, they could be worse, they could be American. Just four days after yet another mass school shooting where three pupils were killed and seven injured, US congressman, Thomas Massie, posted a yuletide photograph of himself and direct family members all posing with military-grade semi-automatic assault weapons.
Leaky, decaying and riddled with poisonous substances, the Palace of Westminster is in as poor condition as many of its corrupt inhabitants and is undeniably in desperate need of restoration. And it’s not only the building itself but the vast network of pipes, cables and data-services provision that are the real problem.
When the Mayflower left Plymouth on 16th September 1620 and set sail for the New World, it carried the hopes and dreams of 102 passengers and the journey would shape the history of modern America.
Estate agents’ glossy leaflets drop through my letterbox daily. ‘For Sale’ signs proliferate on pavements. Transit vans advertising extensions park haphazardly on each and every verge. Tarpaulins shielding the latest loft conversion flap in the breeze. The signs are clear that people are looking for property in my neck-of-the-woods. For those of us lucky enough to own one, the value and quality of life is measured in house prices.
How many times does this need to happen? Sorry. I can’t hold my tongue any longer and apologise in advance. Fans and supporters of our woeful, disreputable prime minister should look away now. How much more evidence do we need that Boris Johnson has complete contempt for both the rule of law and for the dignity such high office warrants?
The good news is that this isn’t going to be an overtly political post. The bad news is that I drew little comfort from Rishi and Bojo’s recent reassurances that there would be a goodly amount of Christmas presents available for everyone to buy. But whatever the situation proves to be, it isn’t all their fault.
Considering the first modern humans appeared on the plains of Africa some 200,00 years ago and current estimates are that life, in some form, will continue for more than another billion years, the average human lifespan is terrifyingly short and truly does represent the proverbial blink of an eye.