I always thought the collapsing school roofs of the RAAC scandal was the ultimate picture of 14 years of Tory mismanagement. But the continuing sewage scandal seems to be topping the bill now!!
Spot-on analysis Philip! Like many UK citizens, I welcomed 'Sunak the Sane' after (as you say) the bare-faced lies of Johnson and the wrecking ball that was the staggeringly deluded Truss. I welcomed his fence-mending with Macron and the EU — but the wider problem is an ungovernable, venally corrupt, English nationalist Tory party waging pointless culture wars. Sunak might, as you say, be relatively decent, but he's also tin-eared when it comes to wealth and soaring inequality. The Tories need to be voted out, and out for a generation.
So glad you’ve taken up the substack method of speaking up. Always appreciated your FT column it’s good to know there’s a place for the best serious journalism.
Perhaps the state of our waterways best sums up the disgraceful condition of this pestered isle.
I am reliably informed that here in Wessex the water company dumps sewage into previously pristine chalk streams. Not far downstream of one site is located a watercress farm. Mmm … nice!
Makes for depressing reading, Stephen. I had thought that since Sunak is much more preferable to Johnson and Truss, he would do a good job. Sadly not. The UK badly needs a change of government, and in the longer run maybe a change to its first past the post electoral system, where a party with less than 40% of the popular vote can rule with a large majority in the House of Commons, and to the House of Lords, now used primarily as a 'reward' for donors and unswerving acolytes of prime ministers.
Thank you for this. As a Labour supporter I want Sunak to survive until the General Election so that he can face responsibility for his cowardice in the face of extremism within the ranks of his party. A lot of commentators praise him for his 'niceness'. A nice person would not have brought Braverman back or continued with the disgraceful Rwanda policy. He deserves to own the defeat and to be forced into a, no doubt, ungracious concession speech at 4 in the morning in a leisure centre in Richmond before he jets off to sunnier climbs, untouched by the destruction of the state he's left behind.
Pretty much sums it up. But it is weird. What's even weirder as I was saying to a staunch Shires Tory is how the One-Nation Tories have allowed themselves to be herded into this impossible position
I always thought the collapsing school roofs of the RAAC scandal was the ultimate picture of 14 years of Tory mismanagement. But the continuing sewage scandal seems to be topping the bill now!!
Glad I moved to Scandinavia 25 years ago…
Spot-on analysis Philip! Like many UK citizens, I welcomed 'Sunak the Sane' after (as you say) the bare-faced lies of Johnson and the wrecking ball that was the staggeringly deluded Truss. I welcomed his fence-mending with Macron and the EU — but the wider problem is an ungovernable, venally corrupt, English nationalist Tory party waging pointless culture wars. Sunak might, as you say, be relatively decent, but he's also tin-eared when it comes to wealth and soaring inequality. The Tories need to be voted out, and out for a generation.
So glad you’ve taken up the substack method of speaking up. Always appreciated your FT column it’s good to know there’s a place for the best serious journalism.
Indeed. North, South, East and West. I heard the French call us L’isle de Merde.🐀
Philip Stephens always writes such excellent and penetrating articles. This one is outstanding. Thank you.
Great article, Philip, as usual.
Perhaps the state of our waterways best sums up the disgraceful condition of this pestered isle.
I am reliably informed that here in Wessex the water company dumps sewage into previously pristine chalk streams. Not far downstream of one site is located a watercress farm. Mmm … nice!
First class and absolutely on the money, as ever, from Philip.
Sorry Philip, not Stephen. I keep mixing you and Stephen Collins up!
Makes for depressing reading, Stephen. I had thought that since Sunak is much more preferable to Johnson and Truss, he would do a good job. Sadly not. The UK badly needs a change of government, and in the longer run maybe a change to its first past the post electoral system, where a party with less than 40% of the popular vote can rule with a large majority in the House of Commons, and to the House of Lords, now used primarily as a 'reward' for donors and unswerving acolytes of prime ministers.
Thank you for this. As a Labour supporter I want Sunak to survive until the General Election so that he can face responsibility for his cowardice in the face of extremism within the ranks of his party. A lot of commentators praise him for his 'niceness'. A nice person would not have brought Braverman back or continued with the disgraceful Rwanda policy. He deserves to own the defeat and to be forced into a, no doubt, ungracious concession speech at 4 in the morning in a leisure centre in Richmond before he jets off to sunnier climbs, untouched by the destruction of the state he's left behind.
Pretty much sums it up. But it is weird. What's even weirder as I was saying to a staunch Shires Tory is how the One-Nation Tories have allowed themselves to be herded into this impossible position