State of the (Home) Nation

The people dispensing their version of the news on the TV and in the press (well, on the web), seem to have forgotten that this is what they always used to call "the silly season" when there was no real news, so any old cobblers could make a headline.

Maybe this year it is not so silly, although most commentators seem to have very short memories.

• Johnson has gone, mainly due to his inability to differentiate between real truth and what he wanted to be the truth (at that moment). The contenders are not up to much, but adopting conservative values might help.

• The (very recent) global pandemic caused huge business problems, cost billions in government support, and the effects will be felt for years. It hasn´t just gone away.

• The war in Ukraine is the main reason for the surge in the cost of living. Grain, oil and gas supplies are nowhere near where they used to be and people are seeing that in the price of things. Keep telling people it is temporary result of the war and it will improve (and keep your fingers crossed that is true). Generally people are very supportive of Ukraine, but need to be reminded that there is a cost (to them) for their support.

• Get someone in (say Shell) to explain how their "windfall" is actually going to be used to cover the company´s losses in Russia. I hear the assets have been nationalised over there and that must be a huge hit. (and while you are at it Shell, give the pensioners the same bonus you just paid the working staff). Just never admit you have no idea what drives the oil price and you are at the mercy of shifts in the political weather (especially in August).

• Get that bloody NHS sorted out. Stop calling it the envy of the world - it isn´t. It maybe the equal of most European contries, but they certainly don´t treat public health as some sort of sacred cow. The "professional" managers just aren´t cutting it. Root and branch reform soon please.

• Get the police force to start policing real crime and stop trying to be woke.

• Ignore the supposed problems at airports and ferry ports and simply stay(cation) at home. That would work for us here too (holidays in the sun are not part of anyone´s "human rights")

• Stop pretending that any regular bloke actually gives a toss about women´s football, cricket, rugby, etc. - create a dedicated channel to show women playing men´s sports (and see how long it stays financially afloat).

... and the key one in the UK, get off the Green Agenda fast-track and realise that you (the government) never had an actual plan, just an unrealistic target. The infrastructure for electrical cars, hydrogen boilers, etc etc is fairy-dust. As is the power generation "policy". Use the carbon resources you have to keep the cost of living down NOW. You are going to miss your targets anyway, so make it reasonable to fail!

Rant over.