economics

Apologies – the recent period of inactivity is caused by a period for me – of what the Americans would call ‘off grid’. For those that follow, the unfortunate details are that my mother, a widow, died at the respectably young age of 102¾… Having informed British Gas, they told me to do nothing (by... Read more

I was rather intrigued by the understanding of The Western Traffic Commissioner’s decision not to fine Stagecoach South West for their utter incompetence in running a bus service. He says (and I’m quoting directly): Without having made a decision, I remarked to the operator that this appeared not to be a case where a formal... Read more

Is riddled with the inconsistency that is the hallmark of this so-called government. We have train fares going up by ‘only’ 5.9% in March – less than the the usual ‘in line with inflation’ increase because actual inflation would dictate a rise of double that. So we have rail workers offered a 4% pay increase... Read more

Merry Christmas from me – and of course from our wonderfully tin-eared, out of touch Prime Minister, who seems to think that people visiting homeless shelters should work in finance:... Read more

A remarkable story has surfaced in yesterday’s Mail on line saying that Civil Servants have been getting shopping vouchers as part of an annual reward: Millions of pounds worth of Greggs, Nandos and Primark vouchers have been handed out to reward Civil Servants this year. The vouchers are , it seems, worth up to £100... Read more

The Independent has already suggested that two thirds of junior doctors are considering leaving the NHS, but the fact that this is also disclosed in the right wing Spectator (previously edited by Boris Johnson) means that personally I am convinced it is true. It provides even more evidence that we have a government that is... Read more

Well, this article by Rachel Reeves in the Telegraph gives me some albeit, fairly folorn, hope. It is a peon of praise for her old school. Because my mum and dad were primary school teachers I respected other teachers and wanted them to like me and have a good impression of me. I do care... Read more

These are all good things that John McDonnell suggests and much to be admired – but he really does look washed out, poor man… Even more importantly, even after all those years as shadow chancellor he still has no idea that money is actually always the state’s… He talks of a control on energy costs... Read more