Opinion

 

Opinion

I’m not overtly political. I have never belonged to a political party, as I’m not sufficiently convinced by the causes each party espouses. I have voted for each of the three major parties (as they were) over the years and have never understood people who claim to have ‘always’ voted for the same party. The ‘newer’ parties I find worrying, and even more so the thinking of some of the people who support them.

Along with much of the populace I am fed up with the current government. Keir Starmer’s lack of clear purpose is irritating, and the constant changes of direction are confusing and do not encourage confidence. The only thing that seems to be obvious is that an increasing amount of money will be spent on ‘welfare,’ to the detriment of other needs, without sorting out the basic causes of ill-health and poverty.

It is disgraceful that so many British youth have never been in employment and may indeed be the third or fourth generations in their families to be dependent on the state for benefits.

It is a cause for enormous concern that so many young people leave education unable to speak coherently, read, write, and do simple calculations.  The fact that many ‘fall into’ crime, serve prison sentences and, while incarcerated, are educated to a higher degree than they ever were at school is cause for alarm.

It is shocking that people can claim ‘mental health’ problems and corresponding allowances without a proper diagnosis.

I am tired of hearing the current government constantly blaming all our problems on ‘the last government.’ They were voted in to do something about the concerns, of which there are many. After two years in post nothing of note has been accomplished.

To hark back to history, had Winston Churchill adopted a similar stance, dithering and complaining about his predecessors, the country would never have been able to defend itself in the Second World War. As it was, it was a squeak to do so, since we were woefully ill-equipped. However, we were better prepared than we are at present, with an air force and a strong navy, though the army was small. We had a significant industrial capability, which allowed us to adapt our needs for warfare. That has been massively reduced in the decades following the Second World War.

Currently, we have a tiny army, a barely existing navy, and an air force which will have to work hard to bear the stress of any conflict.

Now, in the face of growing concerns about our national security, the government has reneged on its promise properly to fund the armed services. John Healey has resigned as Secretary for Defence, followed by Al Karns, armed forces minister.

The prime minister seems incapable of making a decision and sticking with it. His huge majority is proving a millstone round his neck as he attempts to please all sides and satisfies none. His chancellor, Rachel Reeves, is inept and ill-qualified for the job, having greatly exaggerated her capabilities and experience. In any other line of work, she would have been sacked for dishonesty.

In the forthcoming struggle to lead the Labour party, who will win? Is there anyone who will be more capable? No-one stands out, and those who think the Makerfield by-election hopeful, Andy Burnham, will be an improvement need to think back to when he was in Blair’s government.

Will any of the contenders put country before party? Somehow, I doubt it.