What an
excellent start to the new year! First there`s the Leader`s accurate analysis of
the Brexit vote, with the opportunity it gave thousands in the north of England
and the Midlands "to protest against decades of neglect" (The new divides,6th
January,2017). Not many of us believe in the existence of a "northern
powerhouse", especially when the government gives priority to spending billions
on cutting the Birmingham to London rail journey by twenty
minutes!
Then George
Eaton wrote, again with validity, about the UK having to lose its single-market
membership if it "wishes to control immigration" (Politics,6th January,2017).
But then the disappointment! Praise for May for "making progress in some
areas", such as with the housing problem, banning letting agent fees. Is this
really praiseworthy, when nothing whatsoever has been done to stop rents rising,
or to carry out her pledges to help the "just about managing"? Similarly, the
Chancellor is lauded for his plan to "soften welfare cuts", when most agree the
Tories` austerity ploicies have been misplaced and unnecessary. What about the
salient point that in April there will be £13bn benefit cuts, decreasing the
incomes of low-paid families, and hurting especially the most vulnerable, the
disabled and single mothers? Hammond hasn`t dropped the noxious plan to shrink
the state back to 35% of GDP. Some hopes for making "divided Britain united once
more"!
Surely, though,
Tristram Hunt had his tongue firmly in his cheek when writing about liberals who
"condescendingly seek to educate rather than empathise" (Closed v open, 6th
January, 2017)? He must know that many of us will never forget how his complete
lack of "empathy" led him to cross the picket lines of university workers
requesting a living wage, in February, 2014, so that he could "educate" students
with his lecture at London`s Queen Mary University!
No comments:
Post a Comment