Theresa May has delivered her upbeat new year message (HERE). It's her way of trying to keep the natives happy. She still has the delusional idea that she is in control of some vast, all encompassing and smooth running machine which will allow her to go down in history as a transformational prime minister. Don't worry, this is not going to happen. Brexit is a huge drag anchor both on government and her ambitions. Far from a smooth running machine, her government is a rusty, ramshackle Heath Robinson mess, battling with itself most of the time.
The prime minister said that while Brexit will be "crucial" in the coming year, it is "not the limit" of the government's ambitions. The BBC report says the PM will:
"focus on schools, the police and NHS to change people's daily lives. Whilst 2017 was a turbulent year for Mrs May, she described it as one of progress, with the first stage of Brexit talks completed in December. 'Most people just want the government to get on and deliver a good Brexit, and that's exactly what we are doing'".
But this is what we expect governments to be focused on in any case. What were they doing in the past? We have had all kinds of governments since the second world war, good and bad, and they all had the same ambition. They may have failed but at least some of them tried. Brexit is sucking everything out of this particularly talent free government. Time, money, thinking and other resources are all in short supply. The cabinet itself is split and arguing about where we are headed. The Treasury and Foreign Office as well as other departments of state are full of people who think Brexit is a bad idea.
Parliament has a big majority of remainers who will never allow the UK to move far from European standards and ideals anyway.
Lord Adonis, the Labour peer who was appointed Infrastructure Tsar by Theresa May, has resigned and his letter of resignation published in The Spectator (HERE). I particularly liked these bits:
"The Government is hurtling towards the EU’s emergency exit with no credible plan for the future of British trade and European co-operation, all the while ignoring – beyond soundbites and inadequate programmes – the crises of housing, education, the NHS, and social and regional inequality which are undermining the fabric of our nation and feeding a populist surge".
Which rather contradicts her claim to be focusing relentlessly on the same issues, and how about this one:
"If Brexit happens, taking us back into Europe will become the mission of our children’s generation, who will marvel at your acts of destruction".
Note the use of the word "if". Mrs May thought last year was turbulent, let's make sure it's just the beginning. A Happy New Year to you.
