vivweb01blog

  Editor's note: This blog first saw the light of day in late December last year after 5 months of Labour's incumbency (or should it be encumbrance ?). If anything, the prospects of  its leader securing a second term, or even surviving in post to seek one, seem even more remote. The latest mis-step (or should it be ' lammy ') is a frontal attack on seven of his back-bench 'rebels', four of whom have actually had the whip removed. Far from trying to bring them and their many 'potential rebel' colleagues onside in an attempt to save his premiership, as any remotely astute leader would do, he 'goes for the jugular' in a (probably vain) attempt to frighten them all into submission. Even Diane Abbott may not be safe, now that she has withdrawn her recantation over her comments on 'differential racism', which are being 'considered' as we speak..... Oh no, not another 'lammy'...... I spoke too soon - he's just expelled Diane ...

Last year  I took a look at various options that we in the UK might use for energy conservation as part of a wider review of our energy crisis and its consequences.  Since then, political parties of all hues have weighed in on the ‘greening’ debate and there appears to be a general consensus that we need to replace fossil fuels with renewables and nuclear for our energy generation and supply. The only dispute is over how quickly we should do it, and in the UK at least, this is currently tied up with the post-election policy tussle between the two (erstwhile) major parties and Reform. Starmer's recent 'go slower' initiative was designed primarily to wrong-foot the Tories and Reform on their criticism of Miliband's over-hasty introduction of Cameron's so eloquently described 'green crap'. Miliband is, needless to say not happy with the wind being taken out of his sails in this way, and I foresee trouble ahead for Starmer from his 400-strong 'rump' of...

I first published this blog immediately after the last general election when Labour were seen as the peoples' choice and the best hope for the future. What a difference  day year makes.... Given the Labour Leadeship's abysmal popularity ratings, Reform's success in the local elections on May 1st was anticipated, but it's extent certainly wasn't. It's obvious now that this wasn't just a 'punishment vote' against Labour, but a wholesale rejection of the old 2-party system with its perpetuation of periodic swaps between the two 'old guard' major parties to the exclusion of the others. Even the Lib Dems did barely more than tread water this time.  The message is a clear one - the UK electorate are clearly desperate to see an improvement in their morale and fortunes after a prolonged period of decline - if the old guard can't provide it, they will simply vote them out and try someone new.  The caveats: It remains to be seen whether Reform c...

Editor's note: Looking back at this blog from 2022 has been instructive in showing just how much has changed since then...and how much hasn't.... Putin is obviously as resolved as ever to continue is 'special operation' in Ukraine, and as the devious campaigner that he is has found ways to circumvent all attempts by the west to broker a cease-fire deal. Even that arch-deal maker himself, Trump, in 'legacy-seeking' mode, has singularly failed to make any impression, and has now finally realised that Putin has been 'playing him' all along. His surprise overnight BBC interview confirmed this, but Trump obviously hasn't given up yet on arranging his 'master deal'. When he does realiise it's hopeless, things could get quite unpleasant for Russia on the economic front, and more to the point, for anyone found to be continuing to trade with Putin. Sadly the religious option we considered in 2022 will clearly not 'fly' Kirill remains a sta...