Going to the dogs

+It is a sign of the government’s political incompetence that they are holding the Budget a month short of Christmas. The media (and not necessarily just of the right wing sort) will make ample use of the word ‘scrooge’ when it comes to describing the floundering Chancellor of the Exchequer’s statement. It seems so many bad news kites have been flown to test the water (apols) to see how much horror could be inflicted on the British public that regardless of whether Rachel Reeves does anything nasty it won’t make any difference. The public’s gloom is already well entrenched. Now give him his due, Trump showing his usual political acumen has announced a $2,000 dollar payment to citizens (except the very wealthiest), although if this gets paid before Christmas may be another question. When Budgets were announced in the Spring I think bad news could be more easily accommodated as people began to see the light (literally) of Springtime. The Starmer/Reeves message of hopelessness is unlikely to evaporate anytime before Armageddon (2029 at the latest) and we might be tempted to ask ‘what actually is their game?’

+Sad to see Lord Mandelson going to the dogs. Photographed relieving himself in public against a millionaire’s balustrade in Notting Hill, whilst according to press reports ’looking worse for wear’ after having spent a ’jolly’ evening at George Osborne’s house reminds us all that we are all too human. My deepest compassion is extended to Mandy. Or maybe the whole thing is an AI generated scam? Who would choose to do such a thing to the Noble Lord?