President Trump has taken powers to tackle the lawlessness and social problems of his nation’s capital. It will be interesting to see what impact he makes.
His diagnosis is shared by many voters, here as well as there. People fear the streets, seeing to much petty crime and serious violence. Neighbourhoods are damaged by criminal gangs, too much drug pushing and taking, too many people left to live and sleep on the streets and in the parks. Local shops and centres are disfigured by rubbish and waste, by shoplifting and graffiti.
He plans a tough blitz on crime including on gangs and drugs. He plans to offer the homeless something better somewhere else, which will often entail helping them off a life of drugs and crime.He plans a zero tolerance policy, coming down hard on petty crime as well as more robust treating of serious crime. He wishes to deport illegals and lock up more criminals.
The UK government is beginning to say it wants to do more for UK cities but so far there is no focus, no helpful law changes, no single purpose drive from the top against the shocking state of some city centres . It is going to take a Trump like insistence at the very least as we watch to see if Trump tactics do work or need amending.
August 12, 2025
Good morning.
Governments in the UK tend to be big on rhetoric and little on product. Something that Mrs.T noted some years out of office.
August 12, 2025
We here and at certain mass media enterprises are calling for ‘action not just words’. The problem with that is we have a PM and senior members of government whose entire working lives have been ‘words are enough’ only. A lawyer deals in words. A SPAD and media adviser deals in words. None have had to do what their words mean.
Don’t expect any change from this government, just more rhetoric and propaganda.
August 12, 2025
This government or as we have seems anything much positive from Labour or the Con-Socialists.
A good interview on The Current Thing podcast Nick Dixon with David Starkey a couple of Cumbrian lads- Britain’s collapse is coming. I agreed with almost everything said!
August 12, 2025
@Peter Wood – +1, I agree, But I cant get past our system of government means that over 50% of the elected House of Commons and unelected House of Lords are in agreement with those at the so-called top table – the Government. We cant keep hanging failures on a few individuals when it is more than 700 that are in support of the direction the UK is taking.
There is an option to change yet it is refused.
August 12, 2025
Before any headway on uk crime , the woke police need shaking up.
Telling a shopkeeper to remove a sigm calling shoplifters scum or arresting anyone demonstrating against channel rapists, whilst protecting masked antifa thugs, is not policing.
In the UK most people are thebpolice as the paramilitary wing of government or cash collectors from motorists
We don’t get very good value for our money
Well done Trump.
August 12, 2025
When Trump is almost bad he’s bad, but when he’s good he’s a salvation.
August 12, 2025
On a relatively benign day wind is producing just 2.8gw and we are Importing 24% of our electricity at £97 per gwh. The British consumer is literally subsidising foreign governments and consumers.
Milibrain wants to double down on this nonesense. Incoherent nobody able to stop him.
August 12, 2025
Orsted the Danish wind champion had 29% of its share value reduced yesterday as Teump withheld all offshore licenses and stopped the subsidies.
On the other hand milibrains offering eye-watering guarantees to carpet the UK with useless windmills.
Why can’t we have someone like Trump in Westminster.
August 12, 2025
Yes, Ørsted are in deep trouble. The CFD on their Hornsea 4 project was formally marked as terminated a fortnight ago, so they won’t be bidding under AR7. They are no longer able to flog off stakes in wind farms at inflated prices to pension funds who were chasing inflation indexed yield in the ZIRP world at silly prices, completely undermining their business model.
The share price collapse was the response to their announcement of a $9.4bn rights issue to shore up their balance sheet. Even the announcement that the Danish government was taking up its rights on its majority stake did not inspire confidence.
The Sunrise offshore wind project under attack by Trump is visible at 16 miles from Martha’s Vineyard. It has a strike price of $146/MWh, which is very similar to the top end of AR7 prices. But without extra tax credits its economics are at risk.
August 12, 2025
@Ian wragg – ah, yes the UK taxpayer financing foreign state owned industry, so the taxpayer burden in their home country is reduced. In the meanwhile we have a Parliament and Government endeavouring to build more ‘black-holes’ by exporting our wealth that will never return.
August 12, 2025
@Ian wragg +1, the don’t seem to like the idea of others highlighting the crime on our streets therefore their lazy attitude to it
August 12, 2025
@Ian B @Ian wragg – correction ‘they don’t
August 12, 2025
Worse the product they push often does little or no good and very often does nt harm like Net Zero, benefit payments to augment the feckless, border taxi services, HS2, market rigging in housing, healthcare, schools, banking, pension investments, hotels for illegal migrants…
A good recent podcast on the Sceptic “the lunacy of green finance”.
August 12, 2025
@Lifelogic – layers on layers to correct the wrong choices elsewhere. The whole tax system needs qualifying, is it there for our safety, security, infrastructure and the framework for growth, therefore wealth creation and tax income for the benefit of all. Or is the Tax system just to assert ‘political will’ that when that goes wrong, as it traps the unintended they have to deploy massive administration costs have to pay compensation(benefits) – an expensive way to stroke personal ego.
August 12, 2025
They find ways to justify endless essentially parasitic jobs some state sector and many private sector in compliance with usually misguided red tape – and then they need endless ways to tax people so as to keep this parasitic job industry going – Net Zero perhaps the main con trick currently.
August 12, 2025
We know zero tolerance works, as proven by the efforts of Rudy Giuliani, the mayor of New York from 1994 to 2001. Our capital city is a disgrace. Foreigners and criminals have taken it over, and it reflects a third-world hellhole rather than the great place it used to be. Why Londoners keep returning Khan as Mayor is beyond me. An interesting press conference with Reform the other day, setting out how they plan to tackle law and order in this country.
Reply Reform hit the right topic on the back of polls showing how so many women do not feel safe on our streets. I did not hear new solutions – could you expand on what you heard?
August 12, 2025
I did hear that Reform are proposing that outer London boroughs should secede from control by Khan. Fat would provide an interesting contrast for those still imprisoned under his rule.
August 12, 2025
@Reply – the nation needs reforming at every level. Unfortunately, ‘Reform'(the party) is moving from not being the others therefore a shoe in at the GE – to becoming just another tier of the Uniparty.
August 12, 2025
Let’s hope Trump makes life better for citizens of those cities. With some issues he identifies a problem and takes concrete action to fix it.
Trump is an alpha male who loves his country and his leadership of it, and occasionally gets things right. Starmer is a weak bureaucrat who loathes his country, prefers direction from international bodies and consistently makes things worse.
Our cities are not going to improve under Starmer, and we all know it.
Trump
August 12, 2025
Labour controls the cities: they have created the problem. They have no solutions.
August 12, 2025
“Our cities are not going to improve under Starmer, and we all know it.“
Indeed they surely want aggressive beggars, shop lifters, phone snatchers, tent cities… given the total lack of action they take other than to encourage this. It seems shop keepers cannot even call shoplifters “scum bags” they get ordered to take the sign (in his own shop) down!
August 12, 2025
But then “Tory Scum, Scum, Scum” from Angela Rayner is just fine with Starmer it seems!
August 12, 2025
Wanderer you hit that nail on the head but Starmer et al don’t want to own a hammer.
August 12, 2025
I am intrigued as to why JD Vance, the American Vice President, is clearly attempting to ingratiate himself with the British. He has just enjoyed a weekend with the Foreign Secretary David Lammy at Chevening, Lammy’s official summer residence
Yesterday Vance was touring the Cotswolds, visiting Baroness Bansford’s Daylesford Farm Shop with his wife Usha and their three children. He spent three hours there. David Cameron, the ex-PM, who lives in the Cotswolds was conspicuous by his absence. Of course, the Cotswolds voted Remain in the referendum
Lammy and Vance have obviously developed a raport – both of them are Catholics. On Sunday, Vance toured Hampton Court Palace, which is full of history. Vance may be trying to upstage Trump, who recently visited his Scottish golf course.
August 14, 2025
They both seem to have been fishing for something.
August 12, 2025
Zero tolerance is the answer.
Fare dodgers, litter, vandalism, cycling on the pavements, jumping red lights, shoplifting, illegal immigration, carrying knives (stop and search), all types of fraud especially white collar.
The police need to get off social media and onto the streets, policing without fear or favour. Justice is blind.
If that requires greater funding, then take it from the illegal immigrant budget and give them less.
August 12, 2025
Sir John, we must all recognise Starmer is never going to be Trump so we must not be too optimistic anything mill be done to return our once law abiding nation back to a stable safe society.
Starmer is more concerned about what you might say in a blogpost comment, or on an email among private communications between teachers etc. His answer to criminals entering the country via rubber dinghies is to pay France to do nothing and to further agree to allow another unknown migrant in to replace any migrant that is rejected back to France? Something that has never happened.
With that policy attitude in place and being tooted as a positive sign Starer is doing something, what hope for the nation is there?
August 12, 2025
Graffiti, shoplifting, mugging, phone and bike theft, wilful damage, all seem to be called low-level crime nowadays, along with burglary in many cases,
If you are a victim of the above you are deemed fortunate if you get a crime number, let alone a prosecution or an investigation, so the criminals are emboldened and continue to offend, with some moving onto more serious crime.
Excessive littering, open drug taking/dealing and sleeping rough on the streets is now commonplace in many Cities and Towns, and is sadly taken as the norm.
All of the above creates a feeling of fear, decay, and abandonment of any care for the community, or for those who live, work, or travel through it.
Start controlling and dealing with the above, and you may just may start to improve matters and more serious crime going forwards.
August 12, 2025
Just as I found it embarrasing to accompany chairmen of Japans leading autoparts companies to British Leyland in the 70, I now find that I advise foreign friends to stay well clear of London. For a true experience of what they suppose England to be, I would opt for the Far North, East Anglia, Devon and Cornwall and the londoners escape zone called the Cotswolds.
August 12, 2025
agricola
Indeed, London used to be an exciting place to live, visit, work and be entertained way back in the 1960’s
Now in many places it is a dump, and a place not to go, especially after dark.
We still visit the London theatres occasionally with a local Wokingham theatre group, all trips organised by coach which drops us off directly outside the theatre, and collects us from that drop off point for the return journey Home, would not even consider it by car or public transport, far too much hassle and worry.
August 12, 2025
London now is as bad as it was in the early 1980s in terms of rubbish, graffiti, rough sleeping, begging etc. As time went on it improved a lot and now has got worse again. It can improve again but not under the current Mayor.
August 12, 2025
I recall that Elspeth Howe (Geoffrey’s wife) had a major role in highlighting and tackling the problems of the homeless in central London. She worked in soup kitchens and learned about the underlying problems and then sought solutions with ministers. The homeless were mostly harmless, unlike some today.
August 12, 2025
But then London (£69k GDP/cap) and somewhat the SouthEast (£41k) is more productive than the other regions (Scotland £37k, NI £33k, Wales £29k, SW £36k, Midlands £32k, NW £35k, NE £29k).
ons.gov.uk 17/04/2025 ‘Regional economic activity by GDP, UK: 1998 to 2023).
When will the Londoners/SEasterners be able to get rid of all these ´suckers’?
Or (more seriously) could Gove’s Levelling Up have addressed a real problem in the UK?
August 12, 2025
London’s GDP per capita figure is boosted by being not just a world capital city but because it is a world financial centre.
Within London there are some areas of poverty and deprivation.
I’m sure the same disparity of GDP per Capita in areas would apply to most major nations.
EG USA Australia Canada France Germany.
So I’m not sure what point you are making hefner when one looks at the title of today’s article by Sir John.
August 12, 2025
My point was simply to see whether I’d get a reaction from MiB/Sam who are strangely quiet most of the days whatever enormities are often written here but always have to comment as soon as I write a little something.
Have a goodnight/good day tomorrow.
August 13, 2025
You have achieved your ambition hefner with your pointless post
So well done.
PS
I generally agree with those who post on here and I see no benefit in repeating what has already been said.
But one or two need countering or correcting in my opinion.
August 12, 2025
Sir JR, off topic but way more important. We now know Starmer lied in parliament about the Chagos give away. He claimed a net cost of £3.4 billion. The figures have been checked and the truth is it will cost £34.7 billion. Ten times his claim.
Surely parliament must be recalled to cross-examine the so called Prime Minister on this issue. In fact he should be voted out of the job.
August 12, 2025
Did Mauritius dispute the £3.4bn figure? If not, a future government can stop paying them once they get to that amount. After all, the man who signed the deal told parliament how much it would be.
August 12, 2025
The man who signed lied.
August 12, 2025
On this and so much else. Did he not promise to “smash the people smuggling gangs” 50,000 so far this year. Did he thing the illegal migrants were forced onto the boats by these gangs? Hardly the gangs are funded by the passengers and assisted by the government, legal aid, the RNLI…
August 12, 2025
Lifelogic
Exactly my take on the situation, the smugglers are simply supplying a need, which is driven by those who want to come here because of the pull factor, Housing, food, benefits, health care, education, spending money.
Then after all that, they have the opportunity of legally bringing over their entire families when granted permission to stay.
Sadly most of our politicians are too dim to see it, as I have said many times before they ignor or do not understand human nature !
August 12, 2025
What happened to the promise that he would not increase the working man’s taxes?
August 13, 2025
The “gangs” are the Civil Service and the “charities”. The answer is given by Gus O’Donnell who, when Cabinet Secretary, said in 2011: “When I was at the Treasury I argued for the most open door possible to immigration … I think it’s my job to maximise global welfare not national welfare.”
August 12, 2025
Old Albion.
Nice idea, but Labour is in overwhelming control of Parliament. Better Liam Halligan and others explain the true financial scam to the GBNews audience. That cuts the roots from our duplicitous PM and his fantasy government.
August 12, 2025
The U.S.A. is doing well on many fronts. The economy is improving there.
As we are similar to them in so many ways, why don’t we just copy their policies?
August 12, 2025
It is all very well that President Trump “plans a tough blitz on crime including on gangs and drugs” but can we all spare a thought for the human rights of the criminals, gangs and drug pushers?
August 12, 2025
well, the users won’t want a ‘tough blitz’ will they?
August 12, 2025
I am not sure if you are serious, but assuming you are, I agree that we should spare a thought for the people you mentioned but we should also consider those who are affected by the actions of those people, which I am sure would be in greater numbers.
We should always consider the minority but, in a democracy, surely the needs of the majority should always trump the needs of the minority.
August 12, 2025
I watched Trump on the TV yesterday afternoon, and my main thought was “How lucky the Americans are to have someone like that”. Of course the constitutional background is different, but can you imagine the Home Secretary, or, still less likely, Mr Khan, announcing anything like the action promised by Donald Trump? And of course if they tried, it would be immediately quashed by some Human Rights legislation.
August 12, 2025
In Washington USA and London, anarchy threatens democracy. Donald Trump realises this, and unlike his predecessor , is prepared to take steps to reverse it. 2TK will bow to all the groups he perceives as his support base, the mayor of London, unions, sectarian religious groupings, his own party in the Commons, and do little or nothing. Consider his lack of effective action to deal with illegal and in many cases spurious legal immigration. His only contact with the realities of our growing anarchy is spotting a bit of grafitti from his ministerial car. Short of declaring a state of emergency he has no powers to direct the fey social engineering leadership of our police forces, and there is no national guard, homeland security, FBI, or DEA to call upon. He is a pawn in the hands of his civil service who are not minded to do anything until they return to direct power via our return to EU membership.
We are stuck in this rut of our own wheel spinning until such time when the country implodes financially and socialism departs to its holes in the ground. I then hope it is replaced by Nigel with pre prepared plans for swamp draining and Donald like determination to right the wrongs of the socialism that has reigned supreme in various guises since the advent of Blair. At worst july 2029.
August 12, 2025
Feint hope, sadly.
August 12, 2025
We have criminality in cities because they are disintegrated. In an integrated society the Yeomen of England maintain a sense of law abiding in the community. Criminal activities are suppressed by all.
In our cities, there are various communities not wishing to integrate and take pride in a common community. If someone engages in low level crime, everyone looks the other way as they don’t see it as their problem and don’t want to get involved.
Over time the communities will find convergence, but until then expect problems. Continually adding to those problems with more importing of alien cultures isn’t helping.
Rhetoric like getting tough on crime doesn’t tackle the underlying problems. If you are going to do anything, vigorously protect people who want to abandon their ancestral culture from those who would persecute who they see as infidels. Right now, if you are in certain religions and want to abandon them, expect a visit from the mob.
We have helplines for those who suffer domestic violence, those who feel suicidal, children suffering abuse. What we need is a helpline for those who wish to turn their back on their religion and fear the consequences.
August 12, 2025
The ‘HELPLINE’ used to be 999.
August 12, 2025
Sir John
The theory behind lawlessness stemming from petty crime and serious violence, general dirt, filth etc. Is that those effected, will leave. It is a product of the Socialist way of rule, as it is the easiest way to ensure those that wont vote for you, are the main target, so they will leave. It is a practice carried out in the US for some time by some left learning mayors that only know how to fail. That as we have seen has now spread to this side of the pond.
It is a political decision, much in the same way, the attack on school fees, inheritance tax, anyone that is prepared to step up and support themselves, their family and contribute to society.
As we have seen on your ‘Diary’ over time there is a suggestion that those that have the power, the government our MPs are making mistakes, showing ineptitude. But think about it, Socialism doesn’t like those who fend for themselves, they are seen as a threat, they won’t win you the next election. These reliant people are the ones that will never vote for curtailing freedom, the removal personal responsibility – so its simple you drive them out.
Its about removing those that will no support your personal aspirations.
August 12, 2025
Think London, a massive conurbation of Labour supporting population of 9.8million, that is deteriorating fast. Not a nice place to be or visit. Its Government is untouchable, and the UK Taxpayer is for ever providing addition funds.
Then think Surrey 1.2 million, the UK Government wants to break it up because it says it is to big. The only people in support are those, the unelected, that see the opportunity to build an empire – the voter wont be consulted. Then be reminded that London is the size it is because it has stolen much of Surrey, as with other counties, and absorbed it to create a foreign land in our midst.
The break up of London should have come before the break up on contiguous areas of the Country.
These are political decision aimed at strengthening Socialist control. They have nothing to do with growth, development and tomorrow, its about creating a mess that is almost impossible to unravel to satisfy personal ego.
August 12, 2025
Zero tolerance works! But it takes a tough approach from those in authority. That is why it won’t happen in the UK while this weak PM and government remain in power. Sadly, we have had a succession of weak governments over the past years, as demonstrated by their complete failure to control immigration, both legal and illegal.
Even worse, Labour’s early release scheme is putting 3500 criminals back on the streets each month!
Then we have a PM who has lied to us about the cost of the Chagos Islands surrender.
A Chancellor who has no idea how to promote growth in the UK economy.
A Deputy PM who plans to make life even tougher for the productive sector of the economy.
If it were not happening, you would think it was the plot of a farce! What a shambles they all are.
August 12, 2025
Let’s start the zero tolerance at the immigration desk.
August 12, 2025
There are lots of bossy / controlling people in life.
Bossy / controlling does not equal effective!
August 12, 2025
In order to clean up a city, normally a majority of the resident population is needed to make that decision.
The majority of the resident population of our major cities, like that of DC, is uncertain or indifferent on the subject, and there is a large minority that opposes any cleaning up at all, for erm ‘reasons’.
Successive governments have successfully effected the demographic changes that have led to this state of affairs.
No more need be said.
August 12, 2025
@mancunius – the demographic of remove those that wont vote for me!
August 12, 2025
Sir John, as Trump can claim British Citizenship and get a passport as his mother was Scottish should we ask him to come over and sort the UK out after he has sorted out the USA?
One gets the impression that he and J D Vance think more of the UK than our own Government.
If the Governor of the Bank of England can become PM of Canada I see no problem ( hope he does a better job running Canada than he did for the Bank of England)
August 12, 2025
Canada is in meltdown.
August 12, 2025
Well the dopes voted for the dire Trudeau and then the dire Carney!
August 12, 2025
@John McDonald – a good idea. But do you even thing the UK’s Parliament, the HoC & HoL let alone the so-called Government even think about the UK? They seem to self-abscessed with self to think of anything else
August 12, 2025
The problem in the UK is largely social / cultural not political. Trump can’t sort out a seriously dysfunctional country (the whole West not just UK). All he can do is over play his card like an autocrat and send the apple cart tipping in a new direction. And power goes to autocrats’ heads – whether right-wing, left-wing or woke. Just open your history books. Your views are dangerously Utopian.
The only fix is to restore as many people as possible to following our trad Judaeo-Christian values and the best of our Greco-Roman values (that conform with our Judaeo-Christian ones). Through education, the media, the arts and the churches. And in turn through parents.
Reply So how do you do that?
August 12, 2025
reply to reply…..you could start by holding the food banks/handouts and possibly the vouchers for the congregation who would need to be locked-in before the service began! No late comers served.
A brief summary could be given of all the volunteer operations needing help in the area, and a call for thanks for all those volunteers present!
August 12, 2025
I’m all for satire but this isn’t satire .. You’re just being cynical – and trying to laugh me down without even hearing me out a bit first!
August 12, 2025
actually I WAS being serious. Any better practical solutions?
Handing out a bible won’t solve anything.
August 13, 2025
‘actually I WAS being serious. Any better practical solutions?
Handing out a bible won’t solve anything’
– You initially responded to me before I had made my argument! And then totally misrepresented my argument when I did!
The Judaeo-Christian / ancient Greek virtue of WISDOM (whether you’re a priest, warrior, entrepreneur, physician or leader of your country) is first LISTEN, then THINK about and then respond in MEASURED, NUANCED way! That’s part of the problem of our great country – and the West – today. People aren’t listening enough, thinking deeply about, and not responding with careful thought.
August 12, 2025
Not easy but it’s about returning more to the kind of thinking of Edmund Burke (the founder of Conservative philosophy but not just thinking but acting upon, too, and thinking in a way that isn’t just about Burke’s philosophy but expanding to meet the challenges of the modern world).
Message needs to be made that 90% of a strong economy, low taxes, low crime and happy nation overall is dependant on a country that has strong SOCIAL / /CULTURAL values Only 10% is dependant on politics / economics.
By strong social / cultural values, I mean: 1 .Strong / happier families –> happier children who turn out more productive and effective as adults 2. Dependance on family over state 3. Work ethic 4. Taking personal responsibility for self 5. Patriotism 6. Healthy competitive spirit and love of sport and exercise . 7. Love of British arts and history 8. Love of British nature
When each person is strong in all these then they are going to be more productive in work overall, far more people will be in work, people will be much healthier, crime will tumble – and taxes will tumble, the economy will be much stronger and more varied – and happier, more unified and patriotic nation overall.
It’s like the foundations of a strong building or the fertile soil to strong plant life.
And key to influencing all this are those in the churches, education, media and arts.
So we at least need to discuss all this in Tory Conference. First off, you need someone to direct all this and say how they are going to measure results. So a series of lectures in Tory Conference. Everything from the value of Judaeo-Christian values in our economy to help bring about low taxes and a happy, productive, unified, and patriotic nation (values – this is NOT about proselytising. There are lots of atheists who mourn the loss of Judaeo-Christian values in our country and in the West in general). And other lectures on the value of the best of our Greco-Roman values. In particular, on the Greek heroes (what it means to be heroic in life – which is essential for all as well as to be a leader in politics, business and so on). And related to this Rite of Passage. And so on. And the importance of psychology and knowing oneself (in particular Jung who drew much of his psychology from studying the ancient Greeks – but many other cultures too).
To have lectures form people in the churches, media, arts and eduction on this topic and to explore how we can RESTORE our Judaeo-Christian values and the best of our Greco-Roman values in the country overall – and how these can be measured (to a certain degree it’s impossible to measure but to a degree it’s possible to measure, too. But we could at least be having this conversation in Tory Conference. Instead of just lectures on politics / economics which is just not grabbing people anymore more and isn’t enough anyway.
That’s a good start.
August 12, 2025
Trump did try to explain to Starmer at one of his Scottish golf clubs exactly where he was going so wrong. Net Zero, killing free speech, the Mayor of London, absurd tax rates, low skilled and often criminal immigration levels… in fact he is wrong on everything!
August 12, 2025
More than 40 years ago I was a 19 year old homeless teenager camping in a park for 3 months due to family breakdown and my wages being insufficient to rent a bedsit or flat. I certainly never damaged the neighbourhood or caused any problems but, just as Trump now promises the homeless something better, I certainly would have appreciated a hand up at the time
August 12, 2025
Lots of great men from the past experienced impecunious and humiliating circumstances in their early life (and later life). Part of what made them. So 100% no shame on your part or people such as you (people who through no fault of their own find themselves in such circumstances).
August 12, 2025
£500 million spent on ‘Operation Scatter’ to move the problem from London to the rest of the UK.
So not a solution but a removal of the problem from the doorsteps of the ‘nice’ ladies in Islington.
August 12, 2025
As a former resident of Washington DC at another point in its history when it was the murder capital of the USA, in the aftermath of the riots of 1968 that left scars on the fabric of the city, listening to Trump comparing it with Mexico City and Bogota (which I have also lived in) brought back memories. DC introduced me to the idea of apartheid: the NE,SE and SW quarters were predominantly black, crime ridden and unsafe, while NW (and nearby rich enclaves like Bethseda) was somewhat safer with few black faces even manning supermarket checkouts, but the police still patrolled in pairs for their own safety. Mugging was a serious risk: it was said if you didn’t know someone who had been mugged you were new in town.
I suspect that the underlying structural problems still remain. But as Rudi Giuliani showed in New York (which I also visited at the time – Harlem was a no go area and you avoided being a target for the Ives around Times Square), it is possible to make a city much safer. The mayoress of Washington no doubt feels threatened by her loss of power to allow Antifa to roam the streets in semi rebellion as her shock troops. But clearly the return of control to sensible forces will do DC a lot of good. The same is needed in other US cities: Chicago has spiralled in a similar way with major shopping areas blighted by looting.
Of course we also need to take London and the Met away from Sadiq Khan and restore proper public order. Whether it would now even be possible in Birmingham, Leicester or Rochdale for example is a difficult question.
August 12, 2025
“Of course we also need to take London and the Met away from Sadiq Khan and restore proper public order. Whether it would now even be possible in Birmingham, Leicester or Rochdale for example is a difficult question.”
Indeed Birmingham’s problems largely caused by Harriet Harman’s moronic equalities act that meant judges could determine which jobs were of equal value. So a refuse collector compares with a dinner lady, or a top male footballer with a perhaps harder working but not very good female footballer! Or actor A with actor B. The damage done by Harman’s moronic act is vastly more than just Birmingham ! Needless to say Cameron, May, Boris, Sunak failed to kill or even amend this vandalism.
August 12, 2025
474 criminals were illicitly shipped, into the UK yesterday on the 11th August from France……
August 12, 2025
I don’t think the migrant gangs got TTK’s memo about stopping them.
August 12, 2025
Rapidly reaching 50,000 small boat arrivals under Labour.
Starmer must be proud and sleep easy.
August 12, 2025
Let’s hope he can get decent staff to manage those many problems.!
August 12, 2025
John,
Have you seen this?
“Delete old emails and pictures as data centres require vast amounts of water to cool their systems.” from
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/national-drought-group-meets-to-address-nationally-significant-water-shortfall
Absolutely shockingly clueless. I have been in thousands of data centres, this is absolute BS of the highest order.
So the government does not actually want tech infrastructure in this country at all… dont worry I am sure the cloud vendors will happily move workloads to other countries without such rubbish clueless public sectors.
So the reason for drought now is not massive leaks in the water supply system, lack of reservoirs being built, or massive population increase with out of control immigration… its data centres.
You simply could not make this nonsense up.
Where is the proper opposition?
Kemi did a few years as a grad trainee at whateverLogicaIsCalledThisWeek you would think she would mention this. Although probably she was in a completely non substance BS role.
August 13, 2025
Ineffective leadership leads to ineffective decisions. Nothing will happen here because we are locked in a state of inertia. The government has lost its way, backbench politicians see this as there one and only time in office and will vote as they see fit and not as whipped. Khan is without any sense of responsibility and happy not to upset his electorate. Nothing happens. QED