What A Mess !!!

Wednesday 5th June

I have been back in England for a few days, and everyone I have spoken to, from old-fashioned Tory voters to committed Labour, and many in the middle who are neither; they all agree that we are in a terrible mess.  And just at such a critical time with Article 50 already triggered and nobody having any idea of what exactly our Government is planning, or rather desperately hoping for.

Everyone, at least, is agreed that Theresa May is both the architect of her own failure and a broken Prime Minister.  But there really is no-one in the Tory Party who can or even wants to, for now anyway, replace her.  We are in such a mess and the Tory party even more so, that the last thing anyone really wants is another election – either General or for Leader of the Tory party.  This is of course why Mrs. May has brought back her arch-rival Michael Gove into her Cabinet.  It will now take a resignation from that shabby body for anyone to challenge her.  So, although weakened and a proven loser for now she is safe.  And she will take the flak.  Everything which goes wrong, especially Brexit, will be down to her and her alone.

But far more importantly the country is drifting rudderless on very perilous seas.  We are almost certainly heading for a period of economic downturn.  House prices are beginning to slip.  Inflation is rising inexorably month on month.  Interest rates may go up far sooner than later.  An emergency budget may well be needed.  But even here we have chaos.  The public voted partly for Labour because they were fed up with Austerity, now in its seventh year – and despite Tory claims we are still no nearer clearing the deficit and the actual National Debt is spiraling ever higher.  And we now have siren voices asking for, if not demanding, a softening on Public Sector wages.  Nurses are leaving the profession faster than they can be recruited.  Firefighters and Ambulancemen, so recently praised for their responses to National Tragedies are still not worth more than a 1% pay rise.

Almost all the nastier elements of the disastrous Tory Manifesto have been abandoned, with possibly more to follow as Theresa May clings to Power – or rather Office.  And still she insists on a Hard Brexit, even, according to some reports, planning to ‘stage’ a walkout of the talks.  Talk about rushing towards the precipice as we go to hell in a handcart.  British based banks are rapidly buying up Office blocks in Dublin.  Industry and Farmers, who blindly supported the Tories, are now panicking as the prospect of Tariffs loom on the horizon.

Labour are pushing hard, but the Tories are so desperate to cling to power that they will make Alliances with even the DUP and support any votes just to avoid meltdown at a new election.

What a mess.  And, even if there is to be a new election and Labour wins, the situation may be so dire then, Brexit may be irretrievable, we may be in Recession…..

So, for once I can make no predictions, except to say that I am truly sorry for my country and I fear for the future for my Grandchildren.