“EVENTS, dear boy, events,” is the most overworked political cliché of our times.
It was Tory premier Harold ‘Supermac’ Macmillan’s answer when asked about the greatest challenge facing a statesman. But like most truisms, it is founded in truth. Unexpected hits wreck Prime Ministers. Think David Cameron and his ill-fated Brexit referendum. It’s how they handle them that counts, and few incomers to Downing Street have confronted a more testing start than Sir Keir Starmer.
Days after taking office, he had to deal with riots in many provincial towns and cities – not London, notice –with far-right thugs and yobbos attacking migrants. He acted with calm authority drawn from long experience of the justice system, creating a fast-track process of detection, prosecution and incarceration.
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The same get-on-with-it attitude is visible across the piece. Wes Streeting acted to end the junior doctors’ dispute. Rachel Reeves agreed crucial pay rises for teachers, police and the armed services. Transport Secretary Louise Haigh has resolved the two- year-long train drivers’ dispute. Sort-it government is what the public wants, not years of zombie do-nothing.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy quietly restored UK funding to the UN charity giving aid to Palestinians in war-torn Gaza. A discreet diplomatic bid to improve relations with the EU is under way. Good, about time.
I’m not an apologist for this – or any other – government, but credit where credit is due. This lot seem to be living up to their responsibilities. There will be occasions for criticism, like the raid on old folks’ winter fuel bonuses, but what a change a few weeks can make – for the better.
Blame lies with killer
The families of victims of triple-killer Valdo Calocane say health professionals who treated him “have blood on their hands”. Their anger and grief is understandable, but I fear I must demur. The man with blood on his hands is the criminal psycho who stabbed to death Barnaby Webber, Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Ian Coates in Nottingham last year.
Clearly, there have been failings, but no system is perfect, and certainly not the overworked staff of the underfunded NHS mental health service. A public inquiry will establish the facts and provide a path forward, but meanwhile, let’s not shift all the blame from the killer to the medics who tried to treat his mental illness.
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Money runs the world
Sports chiefs want cash bonuses for Team GB medallists in future Olympics, as happens with rivals in the US, Australia, Germany and France. Only Lord Coe’s World Athletics currently rewards gold with £39,000 prize money, but pressure is mounting for a level playing field.
One sport is making the running, so to speak. Hugely successful British rowing seeks a rich sponsor to honour its oarsmen and women. Brings a whole new meaning to “going for gold”, but who can blame them? A hefty bung for a gong is handier than a gilded pillar box in your local high street.
Ugly truth to ageing
Unattractive people die younger than the pretty things, say scientists in America (where else?).
I don’t believe it. Pulchritude has never been my strong suit, but here I am in my ninth decade while more handsome pals are strumming their harps. Anyway, what is attractiveness? Personality means more and lasts longer than good looks. Ask Mick Jagger, who’s five months older than me.