From the In Tray of Mr Sunak this week:
😬 Schools decay like overbaked scones
😬 Prisoners turn into escape artists
😬 Hospitals become crime scenes
😬 Wind energy auctions with zero participants.
Ah, the nostalgia of 2010—a time when the nation was absorbed in the melodrama of a coalition government, and I found myself an unlikely hero to a room full of Yorkshire teachers. Their gratitude was refreshingly straightforward: "Thanks for giving Michael Gove a dressing-down." What a joy.
If you were an early adopter of social media, you may remember the incident that prompted such admiration. It involved Michael Gove's swift and merciless axing of £100 million from the 'Building Schools for the Future' initiative in Sandwell.
For those needing a geography lesson, that's an area grappling with poverty—certainly not the place to strip funding meant to rejuvenate disintegrating educational buildings. Well, surprise, surprise.
In a performance that would give the Royal Shakespeare Company a run for its money, Gove apologised, said he’d made a mistake and promptly announced his intent to visit Sandwell. His words were as vacuous as his government's penchant for learning from past follies. He never turned up. It’s as if he wanted to add insult to structural instability.
Fast-forward to the present and Rishi Sunak has taken the throne of fiscal calamity. What began as a Govean political blunder now places Sunak in an awkward spotlight, a legacy of governmental disarray and cuts that stretches back to the days of David Cameron.
Indeed, the storyline couldn't be more straightforward for the voting public: under Sunak's watchful eye, schools crumble like stale scones, escaping prisoners turn Houdini, and our police investigate our hospitals for potential crimes.
The Brexit Blues: UK Musicians Sing a Woeful Tune
In a new survey by UK Music, the verdict is clear—Brexit's hit our musicians and hit them hard.
Gone are the days of effortlessly touring the EU for many of our musicians. The survey, completed by 1,461 artists and industry professionals, uncovers a disheartening eight out of ten who report a downturn in earnings since our EU adieu in 2020. And what's worse? About 43% declare it's no longer feasible to tour EU nations.
Let's not mince words here: The government's efforts to remove barriers for EU tours have been as effective as a waterproof teabag. Costs have skyrocketed; securing visas and work permits is a nightmare, and other issues like transport and logistics continue to hamper efforts.
Notable artists like Katie Melua say that tour costs have increased by an astounding 30%. Yet, the government remains tone-deaf to these harrowing statistics.
And what are the consequences? Reduced invites for EU performances, increased costs, and even withdrawal from potential opportunities. In short, a cacophony of setbacks makes the UK's music industry less competitive globally.
UK Music is not sitting idle; they're urgently calling for a new Cultural Touring Agreement with the EU. Artists like Maxïmo Park's Paul Smith and Everything Everything's Jeremy Pritchard echo this, lamenting the red tape and financial barriers that have turned what used to be opportunities into logistical nightmares.
So, what's next? UK Music and its allies insist on a Government Touring Minister to coordinate solutions and salvage what's left of our international reputation. And let's be honest, regarding the music industry, that reputation is not just a matter of pride; it's a critical economic driver.
Labour's Reshuffle: The Analysis
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This Wednesday offered a joyful scene at the House of Commons terrace. Dozens of Labour MPs, basking in the late afternoon sun, were excitedly abuzz. The three-day reshuffle had concluded, and Keir Starmer, drinking a cold lager, was the palpable excitement epicentre.
The leader of the opposition has had a good week. What many had expected to be a perfunctory reshuffle had instead turned out to be a seismic shift in policy direction and focus.
I'll explore these personnel changes and their implications for those who want more detailed intelligence. For the first time in a decade, it feels like the winds in Westminster are shifting, perhaps heralding an era of substantive change.
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