It’s ’all fur coat and no knickers’.

 In other words the Defence Investment Plan (DIP) isn’t all it appears after further investigation and interrogation. The new defence secretary Dan Jarvis, came to the House of Commons and presented his DIP expecting a warm reception - for his apparent largesse, but after cross examination - it wasn’t all that substantial an increase over the parliament. The Ministry of Defence, never has enough money and you can understand the reluctance of The Treasury to resist any more demands for extra cash. They are notorious poor at their procurement and over the years, have managed to waste many millions of pounds, but they always want more, no matter how much they get. It’s safe to say the generals and other military top brass will send around the - begging bowl before the end of the current parliament. Will the next prime minister agree with the budget for the DIP or not? 

Number 10 North.

 In a speech in Manchester, where he was mayor until recently, Andy Burnham set out his vision if he was to become prime minister in the next few weeks. Essentially it’s moving the centre of gravity away from London to the various parts of the country and in particular Manchester. For too long the epicentre has been on London and the south east of England and that has to changed in order to bring prosperity to the regions. A new nerve centre for Downing Street will be established in Manchester where more decisions can be made and acted on. This is a bold idea, but will it work? Time will tell, but it’s worth trying as the old system doesn’t work. 

An interesting faux pas.

 An old friend from my time at the London School of Economics in the early 1970’s and I were planning to meet for lunch tomorrow in Mayfair. The restaurant has had very good reviews and is now a fashionable place to eat. I decided to reconnoiter the place as I was in town the other day. It’s certainly very à la mode with a large and spacious eating area. However, he booked for their sister restaurant in Manchester and not London. An innocent mistake. Thankfully he was able to rectify the faux pas and we eat in London not Manchester.

 

Roasting in the sunshine ☀️.

 It was back in the summer of 1976 - some 50 years ago - when we had the last major heatwave. I remember it well as at the time I was working at weekends in a rather chic restaurant in Holland Park to finance my psychoanalytic training and analysis. In addition I had a full time job as a - psychiatric social worker in adult psychiatry. Fortunately I was used to hot temperatures as I worked in Israel at Ein Gedi kibbutz by the Dead Sea. The kibbutz sits about 400 mitres below sea level, so the heat gets - trapped and it feels as if you are inside a cooker. So temperatures only 20 miles away could be less severe. I remember going to the Old City of Jerusalem in 1967 and staying in a monastery on the Via Dolorosa. I slept on the roof and was awoken to the Muslim call to prayer at sunrise. It was a magical experience. I have very good memories of my time in Israel working in the kibbutz and at a beach bar in Eilat for a couple of months. So long ago when I was only 24. 

PMQ’s.

 At PMQ’s today Kemi Badenoch, was robust in her attack on Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary about the rise of VAT on private schools fees. Was the attack inappropriate and too personal in the House of Commons? The House of Commons is something of a - bear pit and very forthright in its attacks. The influential politician Ian Macleod, said many years ago “the best time to kick a politician, is when they are down”. In America and the continent - would never have this degree of aggression. For my part I agree with this robust political debate. 

Who will gets the top jobs?

 Power has now deserted Keir Starmer as the - horse trading starts for cabinet positions. The key role is chancellor and my money is on Yvette Cooper, she has spent time there - when Gordon Brown was prime minister and has a good background in economics. She would be a safe pair of hands and moreover would be the second woman in that role after Rachel Reeves, who will be demoted. Other names mentioned are: Pat Macfadden, Wes Streeting and Ed Miliband. I see Wes Streeting, going to the Foreign Office, where his diplomatic skills will come to the fore. So the Snakes and Ladders of politics - has a lot more excitement to come. 

Brexit - 10 years on.

 Today is the sad and unnecessary anniversary of the Brexit referendum on 23 June 2016. The start of the political schism that has - poisoned the our government, democracy and sense of us as a nation. We have been living through this nightmare ever since and accounts for the collection of - mediocre prime ministers from that day to this. Can the forthcoming new one be any better than the last six? We shall soon find out whether it’s Andy Burnham, or someone else.