Entente Cordiale.

 Since the 8 April 1904 we have been trying to have an entente cordiale with our closest neighbour France, sometimes it’s successful and other times not. This week will be a further attempt to keep the show on the road - as president Macron pops over for a chat and state visit. There will of course be trumpets, castles and cakes, but will it make any difference? The most pressing issue is - illegal migrants across the channel. Unless this is solved and resolved its - curtains for the prime minister. This is the Achilles heel of Starmer and could lead to Reform in 4 years forming a government. Will Macron deliver on this complex political issue? There have been innumerable attempts, but little real success at dealing with it. The Brexit vote in 2016 was essentially about - taking back control of our borders - but that patently hasn’t happened. Is this the last roll of the dice? Im not too optimistic as we have had platitudes and fine words before. As the saying goes - the chickens could come home to roost on the - entente cordiale. 

Political Thinking.

 The podcast Political Thinking on BBC Sounds this week had Nick Robinson, putting the questions to the prime minister in Downing Street on the first anniversary of Labour back in power - after 14 years of misrule by the Conservatives. The balance sheet he thought - was broadly speaking favourable for his government. He made a robust defence of his year in office and was optimistic for the future. He cited the wins: breakfast clubs for kids going to school, reducing the waiting lists for patients and increasing the number of appointments, trade agreements with a number of countries including the United States, an improved relationship with with Donald Trump, a better relationship with our immediate neighbours and in particular France, Germany and Italy. Giving ongoing support both financially and military to Ukraine. He concluded the interview by saying “we’re only just beginning”. 

An interesting discussion and worth listening to on his opinion about the Labour project going forward, but no overall philosophy or vision for the nation, more a pragmatic approach to each problem. But not someone - you would die in a ditch for. Clearly a decent politician who cares for his family, but a rather boring chap and too dour. However where we do agree is our support for Arsenal football club. 

Waiting in the wings.

 As the Labour Party goes from crisis to crisis and Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves - try to hang onto their jobs - one political figure comes out with an enhanced reputation. Step forward from the wings - Angela Rayner. So far she hasn’t put a foot wrong and her calm demeanour has exuded confidence and competence. These characteristics clearly lacking in Starmer and Reeves - as has been only too obvious over the last few days and weeks. Labour have never had a female leader - could she be it? If this was to happen, it would be an extraordinary - rags to riches parable. From a working class background - where her mother was illiterate and borderline intelligent - she has become deputy prime minister. From a personal point of view - I sincerely hope it happens as it would indicate - you mustn’t right anyone off - no matter where they might start from. 

5 July 1948.

On this date the NHS was founded after the WW2 and it’s the - closest thing the British have to a religion. So looking into the future the prime minister today - spelt out a 10 year plan of moving the focus from hospitals - to community health centres. In addition more time and money will be spent on - preventative measures. Especially in the ares of: mental health and emotional wellbeing, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, smoking, lung cancer, alcoholism and similar health related problems. Making the nation fitter and healthier - will drive social and health policies in the next few years. The big stand alone general hospital will increasingly be a thing of the past - like the dinosaurs it’s had its day. Health closer to the patient and public will be the - guiding principle. Sounds a very laudable aim - if it can be achieved. Let’s see in 2035? 

The Grand old Duke of York.

 As the children’s nursery says ‘he marched them up to the top of the hill and marched them down again’. Just so the prime minister, with his Welfare Bill in the House of Commons on Tuesday. Has there been a more humiliating episode in recent government history? He has had is authority absolutely - shredded. Why did the party managers get themselves in this humiliating position? The bill was left dead - in the gutter of public opinion and is unlikely to be resuscitated in the near future. What is wrong with this government? 

A book launch.

 On Sunday afternoon on a sweltering day in London - I went to join friends and family at a book launch of one of my oldest friends. We were studying at the London School of Economics in the early 1979’s. His latest tomb - has the catchy title Reflecting,  Critically on the Political Psyche. Normally these events are held at the Freud Museum in Hampstead. But not today as we sweated - in his roomy fourth floor flat. There were re of course speeches, but you never hear a criticism of his oeuvre  - it’s as if these tablets came down from Mount Zion. Nevertheless it was a jolly affair, and I met his three children after many years. In particular I  was pleased to see my - goddaughter Lydia, she is expecting a baby in October. The other two, Joel and Raffle looked well and happy. Many year’s ago from January 1995 to September 2003 - I shared a house with him. I had a consultation room at the top of the house and he had his on the ground floor. Very happy memories of these years sharing. I then obtained a cottage on a private estate in Kent, Penshurst, which my - children and patients loved to come down to. 

Regrets , I have a few.

 There are only three regrets in my life: not learning a foreign language to a competent level, secondly not learning to play a musical instrument and finally into learning to surf. Research published to day after the. British Council survey 1,000 students across the country in primary schools and at private schools. What they discovered - should not surprise - middle class children in the wealthy parts of the country, did pursue learning a foreign language, but that wasn’t the case for children at poor parts of England. This isn’t surprising, but is shocking. In other words the disadvantages from a very young age - persistent over time. that are the foundation stones of doing relatively well in life and throughout life. . I have three regrets: not learning a learning a musical instrument like the guitar or piano not learning to surf after - my first tries in Honolulu in 1963 and not learning to a competent level a foreign language. I worked in Germany and lived with my French 🇫🇷 girlfriend in Paris in November 1964, so I could have done so -  but regrettably never did.