There’s been frequent talk of and demand for emergency budgets through the year as the cost-of-living crisis has worsened. Earlier I argued that we shouldn’t be panicked into doing what this or that politician or former prime minister demanded and that rushing to hold an emergency budget wasn’t the right response. Because the main driver… Continue reading The Cost of Living Crisis – it’s time to act
Tag: Public Theology
The Cost of Living Crisis: I’m sorry but “warm banks” may not be the answer
With the impending energy crisis, this winter, one suggestion that is gathering pace is for churches, libraries, community centres etc to provide places where people can go during the day to keep warm. Just as we had food banks, so too, we can provide “warm banks,” Some Councils such as Birmingham are even beginning to… Continue reading The Cost of Living Crisis: I’m sorry but “warm banks” may not be the answer
Why I don’t think partial nationalisation will solve the energy crisis
*This article is an attempt to look further at questions around the cost-of-living crisis. As we get into practical solutions, this does start to politicise things. I don’t favour Christian leaders making party political pronouncements. However, public theology and ethics will involve some engagement with political application and there should be room for charitable disagreement.… Continue reading Why I don’t think partial nationalisation will solve the energy crisis
Champagne Legalism
This week, Dominic Raab stood in for Boris Johnson at Prime Ministers’ Questions whilst the PM was at the NATO summit. Given Raab’s reputation for putting his foot in his mouth, I assume his main job was to demonstrate exactly why Boris is still Prime Minister. He didn’t disappoint. Convention meant that if the PM… Continue reading Champagne Legalism
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?
How do we deal with the Cost of Living Crisis? Wrong answers only please.
There’s a trend on social media where someone asks a question and then invites people to give only wrong answers. The aim is to get the silliest response possible. It looked this week as though Conservative Government Minister Rachel Maclean thought she had been invited to participate in such a challenge. Maclean has managed to… Continue reading How do we deal with the Cost of Living Crisis? Wrong answers only please.
How much do the politics of Eurovision really count?
So, for the first time in many years, the UK were serious contenders in the Eurovision song contest. For much of the might, Great Britain were in fact the front runners, only to be pipped by Ukraine at the very last minute from the final popular vote. No more “nul points” – we nearly did… Continue reading How much do the politics of Eurovision really count?
Resignation offers, integrity and grace
#Partygate and #Beergate continue to rumble on. In latest developments, Labour leader Keir Starmer has said that he will resign if he is issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice fine for breeching covid regulations. His supporters have suggested that this shows integrity and compares unfavourably with the way that the Prime Minister has refused to… Continue reading Resignation offers, integrity and grace
The future of Northern Ireland
Last week, Sinn Fein topped the poll for the Northern Irish assembly at Stormont. This means that it is likely that a nationalist will be the First Minister for the first time in the province’s history. Elections and devolved government in Northern Ireland are complex and so simply being the largest party doesn’t tell us… Continue reading The future of Northern Ireland
The problem of the non-voter
I thought I’d write a little bit more about the problem of the non-voter and who it is a problem for. My friend who is passionate that we all must vote shared this graphic with me as part of our conversation. This kind of graphic is often favoured by political parties when they are in… Continue reading The problem of the non-voter