The Government are concerned that shortages in the labour market risk harming economic growth. Of course, some might suggest that labour shortages have a bit of a relationship to recent changes to immigration policy post Brexit.[1] However, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt has come up with a different answer. As part of a… Continue reading Government, childcare, muddled values and faulty assumptions
Tag: Conservatives
Responding to the Prime Minister’s resignation
Well another Prime Minister has gone. I just popped upstairs for a few minutes to wrap Sarah’s Birthday present and came back downstairs again to find it was all change. Here are a couple of initial thoughts. First that response of anger and sadness at the utter mess is right. The people harmed most by… Continue reading Responding to the Prime Minister’s resignation
Where did it all go wrong for Kwasi Kwarteng -and what can we learn from it?
o, Kwasi Kwarteng’s short and eventful time in office as Chancellor of the Exchequer is over. How did it go so wrong? Here was a man who was both a close friend of the Prime Minister and was united with her in a shared vision for how to take Britain forward economically. That vision was… Continue reading Where did it all go wrong for Kwasi Kwarteng -and what can we learn from it?
Boris and a question of character
As I write, Boris Johnson is still clinging on to power. That could change quickly. Prime Ministers are remembered as much by how the leave office as anything. Gordon Brown will be remembered for eventually leaving with his two sons and a level of dignity left, David Cameron for humming a care free tune as… Continue reading Boris and a question of character
What next for Boris?
Yesterday evening, Boris Johnson survived a “No Confidence” vote from his own MPs by 211 votes to 148. This meant that 41% of his own MPs declared no confidence in him. However, in fact, he fare worse than that. Between 160-170 MPs are on the government payroll as ministers/aides. It’s possible that some of these… Continue reading What next for Boris?
The cost of living crisis: Poverty and politics
I want to return to our discussion about poverty and the cost of living crisis. Over the past week, a lot of people will have been getting updates from their energy companies to tell them that prices are increasing, potentially doubling the cost of heating and lighting your home. For some this will mean a… Continue reading The cost of living crisis: Poverty and politics
Awkward – the unsayable?
A baby boy is born, rejoice, a symbol of hope in troubled times. That was the general mood of many public statements yesterday. Carrie Symonds, the prime-minister’s fiancé had given birth. This was the Archbishop of Canterbury’s reaction. There is a lot to be thankful for. A few weeks back, we were praying for Boris… Continue reading Awkward – the unsayable?