Creater economy.

 The new entertainment phenomenon is the - creater economy and its big bucks. Social influencers are attracting many followers across the globe. Whether that’s Taylor Swift or Tyson Fury. Is this the marginalisation of normal media? Can monolithic organisations like the BBC and others survive this - breakup of the media ecosystem? Netflix is now the biggest streaming broadcaster and has a global reach. They were responsible for international successes of The Crown - that brought the royal family into living rooms around the world. Can dinosaurs like the main media survive into the future? It’s unlikely. 

Chair of the 22.

 I’m reading a book by Sir Graham Brady Kingmaker - about his time as a backbencher of the Conservative Party and then his pivotal role as chairman of the influential 1922 Committee. He had a - ring side seat during the tumultuous years of coalition government and the - topsy turvy years of 5 prime ministers. He is discreetly critical of the prime minister David Cameron, and his attempts to marginalise him. Brady, comes across as his own person and won’t be pressurised into a policy he doesn’t support. This came to a head over the place of Gramma Schools as part of Conservative Party policy. He was in favour and this was moreover the established position of the party, but Cameron, wanted that changed. This led to a - stand off. Brady is eventually voted to be chairman of the influential 1922 Committee in May 2010. He was now a powerful member of parliament and not dependent on the prime minister. He was free at last. 

What next for Ukraine?

 With the election of Trump, there are serious misgivings in Ukraine about the next move on the - chess board. In an informative podcast The Story by The Times - Catherine Philip, who has been in the country over the last few weeks - gives an excellent overview of the current status quo. Moreover she explains the dilemma facing president Zelensky, about the future of the war. Will there be a settlement - forced on Ukraine by Trump? He claims to be able to get a deal with Putin, within hours as president. Is this more - hot air and hubris or is it possible? Philip’s suggests the Ukrainian troops and people are exhausted by the war. What next in this attritional conflict? 

An interesting appointment.

 The appointment by the president elect Trump, of Robert F. Kennedy Jr, as the forthcoming US health secretary - has raised alarm bells in Washington. He is a sceptical about the value of vaccines and in particular - was an outspoken critic and - deriding Covid as a hoax. We know during the last Covid crisis in 2020 - President Trump, had some wild and crazy ideas about how to protect against the virus. In one broadcast he went as far as suggesting, that people drink - disinfectant. Much to the astonishment of health professionals in the room. This appointment has to be approved by the Senate, so there is the possibility this - idiotic person may fall at the first fence. 

Assisted Dying bill.

 Over the years we have become familiar with terrible stories of many seriously ill people, suffering agonising deaths. Hopefully the Assisted Dying bill published today will elevate the indignity. There are a number of safeguards in the proposed legislation. 1.The person must be 18 and have the mental capacity to make a rational decision. 2.The person is expected to die within the next 6 months. 3.Two independent doctors plus a judge must agree with the decision. 4.The medication must be self administered and without any assistance. 5. Any coersion would be a criminal offence with a punishment of up to 14 years in prison. The bill will come before parliament on Friday 29 November. I hope the bill will eventually become law after its passage through both Houses of Parliament. This has been a long and painful process, in particular for those many patients - who have suffered over many years. I wrote to my MP Laura Trott, suggesting she support the legislation in the House of Commons. I know it’s a - free vote and not subject to being Whipped. Nevertheless, I hope in good conscience she can give it the necessary support. 

Can Welby hang on?

 There is increasing alarm about the position of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s role as the head of the Anglican Church in England. A priest abused boys over a 50 year period and it was drawn to the attention of Welby, some years ago. The Bishop of Newcastle Helen Ann Hartley, has suggested that Welby, has lost the confidence of its members and should resign. Can this - lame duck hang on? I think not, it’s time Welby left the church as its leader. 

Tuesday afternoon 12 November Justin Welby, finally decides to resign as Archbishop of Canterbury today and has written to the King accordingly. It was evident that he had lost the confidence not only of his flock, but also the wider general public. This was a disgraceful - mark on the Church of England as one of its clergy John Smyth, systematically sexual abuse victims over a period of 50 years. Eventually the Archbishop has done the only course of action open to him and decided - to go. The church now needs to introduce proper procedures - to ensure this history doesn’t get repeated. 

The Mirror and the Light.

 The last in this epic series - we have the beginning of the end of Hilary Mantel’s classic story - on BBC One The Mirror and the Light was engrossing. We have a stared studied cast - with the irascible Henry VIII played by Damien Lewis and trusted Thomas Cromwell, by Mark Rylance. The Duke of Norfolk by Timothy Spall. The year is 1536 and the opening sequence links the third marriage of Jane Seymour, and the execution of his second marriage to Anne Boleyn. There is endless sculduggery and elliptical discussion in cold corridors of power. No one is safe, including Thomas Cromwell - it’s a paranoid courtly world and Henry is at the centre of it. Highly recommended.