Wednesday 4th January

Europe, and our relationship with the EU has been a running sore in both the Tory and Labour parties for at least a generation.  There was a time when it seemed that we were settled with both major parties largely in favour of Europe; a few mavericks shouting from the sidelines but nobody seriously thinking there was any chance of us leaving.  But now things look very different indeed.  An electorate which has decided marginally that we should leave and a Parliament with a majority in favour of remaining and yet both major parties agreeing that the referendum result must be obeyed.  Even Theresa May was until a few months ago quite happy for us to be in the EU, and yet she is now going to be the one negotiating our departure.  There is bound to be trouble ahead.

Labour are in a real mess.  The feeling is that Jeremy, though unassailable in the party is un-electable.  Their poll ratings are slipping with every new poll and even a new leader (wherever and however they might emerge) may be incapable of winning in 2020.  There is bound to be trouble ahead.

Donald Trump has not even been inaugurated yet, but with every tweet he is sowing panic and confusion into an already volatile situation.  Nobody has any idea, least of all Donald it would seem, just what his Presidency will look like.  There is bound to be trouble ahead.

And meanwhile the two biggest problems facing the world are blatantly ignored.  Global Warming is being sidelined and the deniers are now in control of the White House.  And the only solution anyone can think of is to borrow more money.  We have learnt nothing from the Financial Crash of 2008, credit is booming again; fueled by low interest rates individuals, corporations and countries are simply borrowing more and more money to shore up a crumbling system.  There is bound to be trouble ahead.

But hey, let’s look on the bright side…..er, what bright side?