We are assured by a desperate Defence Secretary that the money available for defence will be 3% of UK GDP in the next Parliament. This is a way of telling us he thinks it ought to be at that level but it will not be this Parliament. What is the point of saying that? He is very unlikely to still be Defence Secretary in 2034. The PM and the government might be swept away in 2028/9 if they stay this unpopular.
What he needs to do in his Review is give us an honest appraisal of the strengths and weaknesses of our current forces, a statement of what they need to be able to do in the years ahead, and construct a budget of essential spending for the next three years. It is obvious we need to spend more on cyber activities, on drones, on ammunition stocks, on fast missiles and on an Iron Dome style missile and drone defence system for the home islands. We also need to improve the offer to our personnel, with better quality and more stable housing arrangements.
The Secretary of State has taken an interest in better housing. More staff could have a home base, and more could be given help to buy their own home near the base. They could even be allowed to buy a home on the base on a contract which required them to sell it back on leaving the service at a price enhanced by the general movement in home prices during their period of service. That way they would have a deposit or substantial capital contribution for their first home in civilian life and the MOD keeps its property at base. This scheme would bring private capital into service housing to the advantage of the MOD budget, and would ensure people leaving service had some capital for a home of their own or already had a home of their own to relieve the stress and pressure of ending without somewhere to live.
June 2, 2025
Good morning Sir John,
It seems our politicians are intent on going to war against Russia sometime soon. Let us hope Russia, if they are to be our enemy, will wait half a decade for our government to get ready.
Our military do get a very raw deal today and your ideas for improving their lot, makes sense.
During the last major conflict, many Germans and Italians were put into secure camps for the duration of the war. I wonder whether something similar could happen, should the politicians get their way and take us into a major conflict.
I worry that if we did get involved, that Iran, China, North Korea and others would back Russia, and we would end up in a major battle that we could never win.
Sir John, we are told continuously of the dangers of cyber conflicts in the media. This begs the question, is it really sensible to push everything on line?
June 2, 2025
There’s already an alliance – BRICS – Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates.
The idea of a BRICS-like group can be traced back to Russian foreign minister Yevgeny Primakov and to the two forums RIC and IBSA.
I too worry about putting everything online – but there’s still a push for it! Even for our water and energy they want us on smart meters. Hack those and imagine the devastation that would cause!
June 2, 2025
@Cliff.. Wokingham. – most of the UK lack of Cyber defence can be laid at the doors of our Governments, and its MP’s they are afraid of the people, so they have enforced by law ‘acts’ to stop people and organisations from protecting themselves. The UK Parliament its authorities must have access to all personal, private data at all times as a way of monitoring everyone even those that are not under in suspicion of anything. Its called a fishing trip. The suspicion that the UK has now more people monitoring sites like Sir Johns, social media and so on looking for remarks that could be against the State than they have fighting crime. Certainly there are more engaged in that activity than stopping the criminal invasion. Prior to the current laws the same data could be attained through the courts- but the did require a reason and suspicion
June 2, 2025
Took the words out of my mouth.
Maybe we should not participate in striking deep into Russia – without telling Trump – until we have a few things in place – like a defence force for instance.
Russia can cut the energy from Europe and bring the whole continent to it’s knees. It can copy us and arm ‘proxies’, and much more.
Just how stupid are these fools in Westminster?
The USA does NOT have to defend us if we started the war provoking an attack.
June 2, 2025
Life’s too short!
We need to help Ukraine 1) Make Europe geo-politically more stable. 2) As part of process to help Russia become democratic and prosperous thus an extra trading partner relatively close to UK to help UK become wealthier. And similar for Ukraine and Belarus. 3) Go down on the right side of history (similar to ‘what did you do daddy in the war’ aiding the heroic efforts of Zelensky and the Ukrainians in one of the most valiant military efforts in recent times.
June 2, 2025
Also, what makes UK great isn’t just financial prudence (a prudent finance director is vital in a successful company but it’s ultimately the creativity, overall planning and leadership of the CEO that makes a company great – similar for a country – and helping leaders such as Zelensky is an important part of this – Britts WANT to feel that they’re helping the underdog on their doorstep here – in this case Zelensky and Ukraine. You’re out of touch with the mood of the people which is in this case is benevolent mood)
June 3, 2025
Brits have been fed a load of propaganda about the Russia-Ukraine conflict. They may “want to support the underdog” but I very much doubt they would want us to get involved in a full-on war with Russia (which we wouldn’t stand a hope of winning) and maybe trigger WW3.
Personally, I think this talk of war with Russia is just the latest “Project Fear ” intended to scare the bejesus out of the gullible; justify the creation of an EU Defence Force and enrich those in charge.
June 3, 2025
‘but I very much doubt they would want us to get involved in a full-on war with Russia’ – I never said they did. I don’t want to either (I just want subtle but firm support for Ukraine). Your comment is just a straw man – a form of anti-participating-at-all-in-Ukraine propaganda!
‘Personally, I think this talk of war with Russia is just the latest “Project Fear ” intended to scare the bejesus out of the gullible; justify the creation of an EU Defence Force and enrich those in charge’ – conspiracy theory. You’re just being a hard-right fanatic here (not saying in general) on the wrong side of history instead of being a firm but flexible right-winger (here).
‘the bamboo that bends with the wind is stronger and more resilient than the oak tree that resists’ – wise man once said. (And the same applies to business and the military – as it does to politics).
June 2, 2025
Russia, China and N. Korea are not going to invade the UK Main Islands. That is not to say that they do not represent a threat to the UK’s interest, but a military confrontation in direct defence of our homeland is not one of them.
If anyone disagrees, please feel free to explain how such an invasion (rubber dingy’s do not count) might happen ?
June 2, 2025
First thing to do is drop the 100 year commitment to Ukraine and all spending there. Switch from Offence spending to Defence spending. Stop pretending to play power games overseas by hanging on to the US or EU coat tails. Protect our borders from unarmed and armed invaders.
June 2, 2025
All of a sudden 2TK wants a higher defence budget; could it possibly be to pay over to the EU under this new ‘defence pact’?
2TK sees no reason to stop the flood of illegal migrants – HE is part of Europe now, so WE must follow his lead and accept whatever the EU decides we should have. The Nation’s interests will always be subordinate to those of the EU under HIS administration.
June 2, 2025
Agreed. A Government which cannot defend the British people from 1200 potential terrorists entering the country illegally in one day, is never going to be capable of successfully going on the offensive in a foreign war.
June 3, 2025
Especially against the top nuclear power on earth.
Has Kier got glasses so he can’t be hit? He seems to believe that he can kick the biggest boy in the school secure behind his glasses from any retaliation.
June 2, 2025
Good morning.
When it comes to our armed forces I am always reminded of the first question that any government should ask of itself – What is our foreign policy ?
You cannot build a defence force if you do not know who your most likely opponent(s) will be. Currently the government has decided to join in with the EU, so they will be deciding UK foreign policy from now on. Not BREXIT is it ?
June 2, 2025
John Healey “Social and Political Science Cambridge” seems to think defence expenditure will be an engine for growth!
It might be sensible to do IF spent well and perhaps deter a war but it certainly is another anti-growth policy from Labour in the short terms. This on top of high taxes, big government, net zero, rip off energy, abolition of Non Doms, VAT on school fees, over regulation of everything, the workers rights bill, the war on car drivers, business and the self employed…
So Miliband plans a 15% tax on gas surely if renewable are cheaper as he dishonestly claims better to tax them!
June 2, 2025
Another water tax too it seems!
June 2, 2025
@Lifelogic – we have to tax water so as to have some for the protected criminals 2TK allows to enter the country. Another thought is 2TK just keeping his old legal buddies fully taxpayer funded in defending foreign criminals?
June 2, 2025
So no concept of the creation of wealth. Who knew!
June 2, 2025
Our ex journalist and trade union official defence minister seems to be good at verbal defence. When the Russian survey ship was examining the indefensible pipelines and cables he told them that we knew what they were doing! When asked by Camilla on GB News whether having to tell Mauritius when we intend to use the now rented Chagos base for an attack, he told us that Diego Garcia was a very important place for the USA and UK but avoided saying why we had given it to away to a country 1300 miles away that never owned it. When standing up to Russian aggression after expanding Nato to its border he forgot that we have cut numbers of personnel [ except for admirals and generals] and frigates, amphibious attack, helicopters, Typoon fighters, refuelling tankers and sent all our self propelled guns and shells to Ukraine. But the Russians must be quaking at the thought of his future submarines.
June 2, 2025
I’m trying to understand why the political pundits are telling Farage his spending plans aren’t costed, but they are not saying the same to Healey and Starmer.
Or has getting into debt become a way of properly costing your policies now?
June 2, 2025
This is specific detail in one of many areas of need. None of which can be satisfied until you have a successful economy. “It is the economy stupid”. As everything this government has and will do is the antithisis of that which is required for a successful economy, they are selling snake oil or deckchair shuffeling on the Titanic. When we rightfuly punished the conservatives, we opened the door to the unanticipated incompetence and malevalence of labour. We have since realised that giving our support to Reform is the only positive game in town.
Reply As there is unlikely to be an election for four years you need to be thinking about how to influence this government
June 2, 2025
It will be the cost of or inability to increase the overdraft that will influence this government, well before anything you or I say.
June 2, 2025
As Sir Kier seems to swing with the polls and focus groups, one of the best ways to influence Government policy at this time is to support Reform in the polls. Despite their current left wing populism
June 2, 2025
reply to reply …better still, how to undermine decisions this ‘government’ make?
June 2, 2025
As to suggestions. If you like the utopian socialist model , opt for birth in Finland, Norway, Sweden, or Denmark. If the high GDP per capita model appeals, minus religious backwardness, then consider Singapore. For aesthetic balance or just hedonism there are other choices. Personally I would opt for thirty years of Singapore slowly morphing into Scandinavia where benefits are balanced with responsibilities. For sure our current model, such as it is, is a descent into penury.
June 3, 2025
Sweden is lost – don’t you know? Their version of ‘boat people’.
June 2, 2025
R to R
Some people have, but they were locked up for it. And I am not talking about the ones who actually did something wrong.
June 2, 2025
R to R: Pointless. You need to be thinking how to influence the alternatives to this government, so it can repair the damage when it takes over in four years or less.
June 2, 2025
R to R
One way to influence this governement is by taking a far left approach but I suspect you would need to undertake some re-education or indoctrination first. Constantly trying to comprehend the incomprehensible takes a toll, a toll which this site helps to soften. Thank you Sir John Redwood and all who contribute
June 2, 2025
In typical government fashion after years of decimating our armed forces, incidentally one of the few arms of the civil service that actually works, they realise cuts have gone too far.
It’s amazing how governments can cut the military with abandon but are unable to cut the burgeoning civil Serpents in general.
The same cuts could be made to NHS managers which would fund an increase in defence spending.
A hatchet could be taken to the gold plated pension schemes, one council in Scotland is spending 110% of its revenue propping up the pension scheme.
Yes we urgently need to strengthen our capabilities and not whistle in the wind whilst our potential enemies, and there are plenty of them, make ready to attack us.
Another 1100 potential recruits arrived over the weekend for the 77th brigade, I wonder what the government sees as enough.
Reply Over recent years defence spending has gone up and the size of our armed services has shrunk. There have been large overruns on the costs of buying weapons and vehicles. Not clear top management has done a good job.
June 2, 2025
You are correct john. The MOD is a disgrace. Their priorities seem to be protecting their own jobs. Spending on capital equipment is out of control with no element of competition in it.
It’s time building warships for example was spread around the country and not limited to the Scottish yards. It’s time England saw some of its taxes returned via skilled jobs.
June 2, 2025
reply to reply…does our ‘defence spending ‘ include the military gifts around the world, or did we make it clear we will want cost recovery in some form?
June 2, 2025
@Reply – i suspect, but don’t actually know, the civil servants now employed by the MOD actually outnumber the number of troops the UK could put on the front-line. The equipment the MOD has apparently lost could pay for a lot of our much needed defence.
June 2, 2025
Your ideas on housing for servicemen are worth pursuing by those in charge.
As for the rest of the Defence Review I have not read it nor is it clear to me how much is actually covered by current spending authorities. I suspect there might be a hole in the bucket.
June 2, 2025
Agree that housing scheme is an excellent idea.
Notable that all the plans current government have seem to be over a 10 year period!!!
June 3, 2025
Expect the Military installations to be targeted first. Therefore the military need to be housed further from work than before. Perhaps we can house the boat people in the the current Services accommodation?
June 2, 2025
The Minister for Defence is one of a tiny number of Labour Ministers who can approximate “talking human” and hasn’t been humiliated (yet) by the utter failure of the Government’s policies. Although the Coalition of the Willing would be more accurately named the Coalition of the Incapable and the Not Very Willing.
He was sent out yesterday, presumably by McSweeney, as a dead cat distraction to try and prevent further extensive debate on the Sunday politics programmes about Two-Tier’s disastrous “Farage is the PM-in-Waiting” speech.
Healey duly did as requested and gave us Official confirmation that “The Government has lost control of the borders” after 1200 potential terrorists were given a free ferry ride into the UK in one day.
I’m sure McSweeney was delighted with his choice to deliver the distraction “strategy.”
June 2, 2025
Today a second round of peace talks will be held in Istanbul between Ukraine and Russia. The details this time are confidential, but the Russians have again sent a low-level delegation. Doubtless with instructions from the war criminal Putin to concede nothing and to repeat his maximalist demands for a Ukraine capitulation.
Over the weekend, the Russians launched 450 drones, cruise missiles, glide bombs etc, exclusively at civilian targets in Ukraine. The Ukrainians, on the other hand, pulled off a spectacular, hitting five Russian air bases including Severniy in Ivanovo region, Dyagilievo in Razan region and Engels II in Saratov region – source; the BBC. At least 40 Tu-95, Tu-160 and Tu-22M strategic Russian nuclear bombers have been hit, with geolocated video posted online of rows of Russian bombers exploding and burning
Putin has been emboldened by Trump’s support and is clearly intent on continuing the war, demonstrating Trump’s complete impotence. Nobody can trust American security guarantees again. As SoS Defence Healey said yesterday, we must look to our own defence
June 2, 2025
What is it with Britain? Why do we, a diminished nation seek to fight above our weight? Is it this inbuilt Russophobia or is it the free rein driven to the MI’s to promote unrest. Time to stop and recover this domestic mess rather than try to pretend all is well by dancing on the world stage.
June 2, 2025
Setting a target of 3% GDP spending is idiotic. For example if it goes to 3% and Starmer hands the extra over to Mauritius then it is wasted. They need start by identifying what the needs are – how many troops, ships etc. – and then work out the cost. It might be 2%, 3%, 4% GDP who knows ?
June 2, 2025
The top brass in the defence forces live in splendour. Civil servants in action, remove funds from the lower ranks and frontline services while protecting those at the top.
June 2, 2025
An Iron Dome system when the government can’t operate a defence against rubber boats in the Channel?
If it’s a missile defence system, we’d be better off with an Arrow system to intercept ICBMs, as the threat isn’t short range missiles.
June 2, 2025
Interesting point made above regarding how easy it seems to cut the armed forces but difficult to cut the NHS and Civil Servants. Increasing the defence budge is needed but as usual the “plans” to achieve this are subject to the usual caveat of being implemented by the final day of the next Parliament. Why not dump the aid budget until such time as the UK growth shows that we can afford it.- but no, carry on spending money abroad which we have to borrow in the first place.
June 2, 2025
By the next Parliament the UK will be gone as a separate entity it would have been given away by 2TK and his crew.
5-year terms for Parliament without seeking a modicum of approval, that is obscene for a nation calling itself a democracy. Even Trump essential only gets 2-years, after which he gets approved with a supporting congress or enters a period of fail.
June 2, 2025
No one is going to join the UK armed forces all the time the courts can impose retrospective laws on those that serve their country for doing what has been ordered by the political class.
It is verging on in-human that those that give the orders(parliament) are not in the dock along with those that knew that they were training people to be the countries killers to act on their behalf would do. Sending the UK’s armed forces out to do their (parliaments)dirty work then disowning them when the UK’s corrupt legal profession can see a fast, easy ‘buck’ is a sure-fire way to ensure the UK has no one wishing to serve and protect the country.
June 3, 2025
Well said. Not involving us in illegal and unwinnable wars would help as well.
June 2, 2025
Homes for servicemen is a great option to encourage military service as a career. Buying into the base assured the property will be bought when leaving is a real positive and would encourage family life on bases.
As for Labour and spending promises, well does anyone believe a word they say?
June 2, 2025
I am sure that in 4 years’ time everyone would have forgotten today. Even now it’s a long-distance memory in most people’s minds of just a year ago (just a year), when the other tribe brought the UK to the brink of disaster through 14 years of socialist, woke, fight the people, thinking.
The other tribe still think they got it right, it has held on to the same management ways, retained the continuity of failure of those the were part of the collective responsibility for their 14years of failure. They own the failure. That is why there is no opposition to today’s tribe – they are cut from the same cloth just with differing levels of political terrorism and zealotry.
As that old time Socialist that has indoctrinated the corruption of this UK Parliament even today, is attributed as saying – “a week is a long time in politics”, Prime Minister Harold Wilson. So what does that make a 5 year term?
June 2, 2025
You get the impression when all the photo ops for 2TK show him in military style uniform in situations with the seemingly fawning armed forces, that he supports the troops. That is wrong – to actually meet real people would be a PR disaster – as he fights them, the nation.
It is more as if Two Tier Kier calling himself PM Starmer sees his position the same as Putin or Xi Jinping strutting themselves as hard-men, not to be messed with rulers of State.
June 2, 2025
Life and our economic future continues to be very bleak under this most impervious government.
With us sending so much to Ukraine to keep the war going indefinitely will we actually have the 3% to spend on our armed forces and weapons, ever?
One wonders if this 3% has been costed – just where are they going to find all of this extra cash – or is that a question for some future administration to find an answer to.
The money tree is already looking bare and barren.
HMG should be concentrating on working to a budget instead of wilfully robbing everyone that doesn’t have much to start with to pay for their foul management of the country!
June 2, 2025
Ukraine demonstrated how far behind the MOD are in many respect and
Labour are dinosaur rigid thinkers, big wasters with zero vision by comparison.
Another virtue signalling photo shoot this week again.
June 2, 2025
While we are all distracted with how we should fund a better defence force, or worrying about how this government is making everything so expensive, while at the same time empty supermarket shelves are becoming all too common, a major plank of net0 is progressing all too well!
Four UK cities have achieved the 15-minute city status – compact, walkable neighbourhoods
This is not just about introducing LTNs (Low traffic neighbourhoods) – it is all about isolating us to alleged self serving areas where some, not all, facilities are available.
But just like anything imposed by net0 the details are necessarily vague and facilities will not be uniform:
So the propaganda states, areas will include; shops, schools, healthcare, parks, and employment opportunities in the list of facilities, but how true will that be?
How many people have things like a cinema or other forms of entertainment close at hand?
Most people will have an Indian restaurant close by or probably a few takeaways – that doesn’t mean they will be served well with choice.
What about natural practitioners, spas or hairdressers?
Many people still use the trains to get to work. Reduced Car Dependence is part of the plan.
Initially people will be allowed to roam into other areas, but that won’t last long – eventually these 15 minute zones will become our prisons.
June 2, 2025
“This is a way of telling us he thinks it ought to be at that level but it will not be this Parliament. What is the point of saying that? – not because that is what he thinks, just to keep Trump off his back, I assume, no?
June 2, 2025
Healey’s comments are a joke. Yet another pathetic Defence Secretary, and we have had a few. It needs to be 3% next financial year, 4% the following financial year and 5% a year thereafter. But it must be spent sensibly, so we would be better off buying equipment which has been proven to work, and building it under license in the UK, as fast as we can adapt or set up factories to do so.
We live in a dangerous world with some very nasty leaders out there, so the government needs to get serious!
But it won’t be because you have the wobbly, wishy washy leadership of Keir Starmer, a man with no clear convictions other than to damage the UK. For example, where is the £100 million a year rent for the Chagos Islands base coming from? That would have been better spent on our defence budget!!!
June 2, 2025
It’s all very well discussing the credibility or otherwise of 3% expenditure on defence
but what is it intended to be spent on? First of all, what are our defence objectives and secondly, how are they to be met and, most importantly, are they credible? What of our current materiel line-up is potent and capable of surviving in a hot war or expendable and replaceable? Are our aircraft carriers, assuming that they can be fixed, credible power projectors when they can’t launch fixed-wing maritime designated aircraft and have a limited range unlike the equivalent USN boats?
June 2, 2025
UK to spend £billions on building 12 submarines (non-nuclear) …..a weapon platform against who ?
June 2, 2025
I cannot see why anyone would sign up with an ‘industry’ that has very limited career prospects, offers a good chance of being killed or maimed, takes you away from home, wife and children for extended periods and has no-one (either union or politicians) making sure you are not screwed the moment money become tight.
I spent ten years in the Armed Forces and have no pension rights for that time served. Fortunately I’d just met my wife (to be) and found out that headcount ‘slots’ for my next promotion had been cut back (by an order of magnitude) just two weeks before I would have been automatically auto-enrolled for another three years service. I decided to take the opt-out and in hindsight it was the best decision I ever made. I was able to start a new career in my late 20’s, buy a house and start a family. Our Armed Forces have been very badly let down by successive governments over decades, simply because they can do so. Our service people are at the bottom of the pile in terms of care, prospects and (now) even basic legal protection. The “Armed Forces Covenent” – what a load of BS.
June 2, 2025
Excellent ideas, but the country in which they might be implemented has been lost.
June 2, 2025
Alistair Crooke (retired British Diplomat) in discussion with Judge Neopolatano on Judging Freedom (YouTube) very interesting regarding the west’s drone attack inside Russia.
If you attack the worlds strongest nuclear power you need to have got your defence capability in place before that action. Starmer seems to think this is a computer game.
June 2, 2025
02/06/2025
“He [the Defence secretary] is very unlikely to still be Defence Secretary in 2034.”
Never mind 2034, he is not making the decisions today let alone in 2034. He has just uttered the words his Permanent Secretary has told him to say. Decisions are made by our Civil Service and they will still be in place in 2034. In this case the Permanent Secretary of the MOD. This is the person who should be interviewed on the Sunday shows. Just as these political shows should be interviewing the heads of our ‘Rolls Royce’ Civil Service such as the heads of the CCC, Ofgem, the LCCC, the Met Office etc together with the Permanent Secretary of DESNZ for anything to do with energy, Net Zero and climate change.
June 2, 2025
While we should spend more on what is going to be useful in Defence in the modern age, the U.K. should no longer spend money on what has become obsolete (surface ships) or obsolescent amid modern technology.
If we are to get an Iron Dome type system we must import it, probably from the U.S.A. as (like with an Identity Cards system 20 years ago) we would be incapable of developing it either on time or on cost ourselves!
As for John Redwood’s idea on military housing, it seems a potentially good idea though in need of fine tuning. On military pay servicemen could not afford market housing costs, especially in expensive parts of the country. So housing would have to be sold at below market cost with prices linked to inflation (to avoid the peaks and troughs of the housing market and negative equity). There are other problems such as redeployments and bureaucracy. So I can see such a scheme being yes-Ministered for ever by those who don’t want to do it. It is therefore a potentially good idea that won’t happen.
June 2, 2025
“It is obvious we need to spend more on cyber activities, on drones, on ammunition stocks, on fast missiles and on an Iron Dome style missile and drone defence system for the home islands.”
What about first defending our country from the invasion across the Channel of unidentified young men of fighting age and with alien cultures please? All this high tech military hardware will be pointless in a land full of strangers.
June 2, 2025
PS : You would think that a PM would want to do something to stop this invasion because a majority of the voters are in favour and to enable them to win the next GE. But he’s clearly not in charge is he? We’re in a post democratic world and those with the real power over policy are unaffected by voting and Parliaments. This can be the only explanation for our current PM’s policies on energy, the Chagos Islands, the economy etc. etc. Nothing else makes sense.
June 2, 2025
I wonder why we are spending such vast sums into the future on Chagos when the defence secretary is self evidently impotent when it comes to spending what clearly is necessary in the next three years due to obvious monetary constraints caused by growth deterring budget decisions.
The British public aren’t idiots. They see a “right on” Labour government making a peacocking gesture at the expense of the country when that money might well need to be spent fighting a Cold War with Russia.
June 2, 2025
“It is obvious we need to spend more on cyber activities, on drones, on ammunition stocks, on fast missiles and on an Iron Dome style missile and drone defence system for the home islands.”
Doesn’t our Foreign Secretary and the Civil Service believe that climate change is our biggest threat and hence the money should be spent on Net Zero instead?
June 2, 2025
More likely any extra spending will be directed towards the 77th Brigade’s operations in the UK and internal security.
June 2, 2025
57 post of excellent quality at the point of writing.
A pleasure to read, despite some varied views.
As well as another article from Sir John which obviously is the main thing.
What a pleasant change.
I can’t think what the difference is.
June 3, 2025
“The PM and the government might be swept away in 2028/9 if they stay this unpopular.”
What, ‘might be’, and only ‘if’ ?It is only the consideration that they will be – having damaged the country almost irreparably by then, but still with a shred of hope if a reforming government unrolls their worst ravages – that has held me off from immediately emigrating!
June 4, 2025
I think the plan is to staff it with volunteers on national service. Ask Rishi, he had the blueprint for it. Cameron was one of the first to suggest it so its been in the background for quite a while. Starmer just puts into place what his controllers suggest so it will soon happen.