Rudderless

I have never liked Amber Rudd, personally, nor warmed to her interpretation of modern Conservatism. Nevertheless, she was doing her job so her passing from an otherwise struggling government is regrettable. Meantime, I find it astonishing that the media should be concerned or surprised that he government has a plan to deal with illegal immigration - that's the, probably, hundreds of thousands of people who have fraudulently entered UK and are taking advantage of our facilities (to the detriment of those here legally and who are paying for their privileges). That a plan to reduce illegal immigration, in accordance with the manifesto, involves aims and targets and is being pursued vigorously is equally unremarkable, nay expected!

Speculation on who should replace her is natural but the media appears obsessed with the notion that the Prime Minister should find a new Home Secretary who supports remaining in Europe. This, apparently, is to preserve the delicate balance between leavers and remainers in the Cabinet. It is this delicate balance, of course, by ensuring that nothing of substance is agreed or carried forward, that is responsible for the lack of progress of government efforts to extricate ourselves from the EU. The delicate balance comprises the 50%, the remain fifth column, dedicated to overturning the Referendum. If Mrs May really believes in leaving the EU, she should appoint a Home Secretary who shares that vision. Amber Rudd will cause enough trouble on the back benches without appointing a further champion of sympathy within.

The new Home Secretary will have a difficult job fighting to fire storm of the Windrsush debacle, the embers of which will continue to be fanned by those with a grievance on behalf of those, apparently, affected.  A massive distraction for the media and public opinion could help – perhaps a plan to introduce ID cards?

Phew - An End to Austerity

Government borrowing now in surplus pronounced the trusted Kamal Ahmed on the BBC news last night, helpfully making the left-wing case and siren voices for “an end to austerity” and more spending by public bodies. No mention of the possibility of additional funding for defence, of course. Neither is it all good news because borrowing figures, by not considering Government liabilities, only tell a part of the whole financial situation. The BBC’s Micawber-like simplification conveniently overlooked the potentially crippling burden of, for example, hundreds of billions in future public service pension liabilities, the illusory treatment of student debt and PFI smoke and mirrors balance sheet treatment.  Otherwise, it is generally assumed that our National Debt amounts to a manageable 87% of our GDP, on which basis, people are happy to continue to lend us money to fund our lifestyle. However, as Philip Aldrick, writing in the Times, points out, once future liabilities are taken into account, the debt to GDP ratio almost doubles to 161%!  It’s the sort of fantasy accounting normally reserved for County Cricket Clubs.  A proper appraisal of the UK financial situation would look at both profit and loss and assets and liabilities. In this case, the bottom line would make salutary reading and support the, diminishing, band of voices who believe we should live within our means now and for the benefit of our successors.

London Murders

The array of liberal experts, regularly paraded by an enraged media, portray a common theme on the causes of the increase in murders in London. Usually, after their opening, “what we need is,” the witness blames Tory cuts, from police numbers to social, education and recreational provision. The social fabric of our “Commune E Es” is being torn apart, they wail. Nobody acknowledges the work the government has done over recent years to stabilise finances and, at least, avoid bankruptcy and national humiliation and that we cannot continue to live beyond our means. Some sacrifices and prioritisation of expenditure is inevitable. Neither does anyone mention one thing that has not been cut at all – the numbers of parents responsible for their offspring.