Time up for the hereditary peers.

 Well they have sat in the House of Lords for almost a 1000 years, but the - drawbridge finally closes on their long and sometimes - illustrious history. In 1999 Tony Blair, culled most of them, but a comprise was found - to save a few. The last remaining 15 have been offered an another compromise - Life Peerages, which are therefore not hereditary. The Earl of Devon, lamented this seismic change in our constitution as his family had had a place in the House of Lords for 900 years and was sad to have to leave. Perhaps he could apply for one of the Life Peerages? Another great institution on the constitution is the monarchy which again is hereditary - so should that go too? 

Picasso at Tate Modern.

 At the exhibition of the work of the revolutionary artist Pablo Picasso (1881-1973). There was for me a very evocative portrait of a Girl in a Chemise. My psychoanalyst had a copy of the picture in her consulting room. She lived about a mile from Freud, when he came to London in September 1938 - he was of course very ill with cancer and died in September 1939. So for me memories came rushing back when I saw the picture. It’s interesting as I finished my analysis after 12 years in July 1984, but it felt like only yesterday, that I last saw this picture. 

Happiness and - can you measure it?

 The short answer is yes you can. Lord Richard Layard, has had a very important effect on the - the measurement of happiness. He has had this with a number of governments. The question - how happy are you with your life? It has a strong correlation with your longevity. If you have good health and a positive relationship with friends, neighbours and family - makes you more resilient emotionally. Other factors are to be able to - accept your life and what happens to you and being stoical. An important touchstone is the quality of your relationship with your mother - when you were a very young child and the quality of her mental health. This has a longitudinal effect and cannot be underestimated in our adult psychology. This is a time when you develop an inner life, that will support you throughout your life. We should therefore applaud - this increased interest in an international organisations like the World Wellbeing Movement. 

The bull in the china shop.

 This war in Iran, started by Trump has - unforeseen consequences for the world economy and for individual economies. Trump has a limited ability to concentrate for long, so it’s very possible that by the end of the week, he might decide this war is - too expensive politically and economically. In retrospect the decision by Starmer, not to join America in this - idiotic confrontation - looks very wise and sapient. Tony Blair, was highly critical of the stance of the prime minister. The shadow of the 2003 - invasion of Iraq hangs over the decisions about Iran. It’s obviously clear the Blair doesn’t fully understand the political consequences of this war. So for once Starmer comes out well from his decision, not to join the invasion. The bull in the china shop - continues to destroy so much credibility. Trump will regret this myopic decision. 

G7 crisis meeting.

 The finance ministers of the G7 will hold an emergency Zoom meeting today as the oil price passes $100 a barrel for the first time since 2022 and the war in Ukraine. There could be a serious impact on the world economy, unless the war in Iran ends very soon. The UK is therefore very vulnerable to this shock as our productivity is so anaemic and not sufficiently robust in the current environment. We have suffered for many years with a below average productivity relative to our other G7 countries. The longer the war goes on Rachel Reeves, will be kept awake at night. 

Are we reading enough?

The historian Dominic Sandbrook, has argued that we are - not reading enough and in particular great literature like: Wuthering Heights, Emma, Middlemarch and Moby Dick et al. And consequently this is detrimental to our ability to empathise with other people. He started his podcast The Book Club earlier this year. He cites the polymath and late academic at Oxford University, Dr John Cary’s book What Good are the Arts? Despite the obvious observation about some of the most heinous people in history loved the arts. People like Hitler and other notorious Nazi followers. Nevertheless Carey still argues that overall the arts are - generally good for you. The problem is - how do you measure this? There isn’t an alternative cohort to study over time and make comparisons with. The basic premise is still worth considering. 

Not needed.

 Apparently president Trump has expressed his exasperation with Starmer, by stating - ‘we aren’t needed’. The so called special relationship in - on life support. Moreover Tony Blair has been less than helpful in saving in a private meeting - ‘we should have been more supportive of the US’. These are troubling times both nationally and internationally as the Middle East goes up in flames. Can the government reclaim any credibility or are we on a downward trajectory? It seems to me that there is obviously a lacklustre leadership at the centre - and this consequently leads to mismanagement of the crisis. We are cut adrift from America and have lost a role in Europe as we approach the 10th anniversary of Brexit. What a mess.