Sir Keir Starmer described the Tory leadership contest as a “ridiculous, chaotic circus”.
He is wrong. It is more like a like a vaudevillian show devoid of moral integrity and top heavy on acts that would keep most of us awake at night.
Liz Truss’s successor will be selected by Tory MPs, who could install the winner today, or 180,000 Tory members on Friday.
The frontrunner appears to be Rishi Sunak after Boris Johnson was left scrambling for backers in his bid to return to No10. Maybe one of them could be fired from a cannon while the other is invited to look into a lion’s gaping mouth?
Johnson was deposed as PM in the summer over a catalogue of disasters. When Sunak, who quit as Johnson’s chancellor in July, was scrutinised it emerged his wife had saved millions in taxes thanks to “non dom” status.
He is also believed to be the richest MP in the country who once said he didn’t have any working-class friends.
The fact Johnson was even considering a return says everything you need to know about this egotistical, me-first chancer.
Sunak was also rejected by members weeks ago in a run-off with Truss and is shamelessly going for the top job again.
Britain deserves better and there must be a general election so the high wire act that is the Conservative party can be tumbled out of power – preferably without a safety net.
Scotland's child poverty and death rate is shameful for a First World country
Children born into poverty are 2.6 times more likely to die before their first birthday than those from wealthier areas.
This statistic would be bad enough if it was from the Victorian era, the Third World or the globe’s emerging economies.
That it is the horrific outlook in Scotland in the 21st Century is shameful.
The SNP government recently celebrated the fifth year of their baby box scheme – a collection of essentials and a sturdy cardboard container that can be transformed into a temporary bed.
Launched in 2017, more than 222,000 families have received items. The Scottish Government announced an upgrade would be introduced in August to mark the anniversary – new books and a child’s toothbrush.
This seems nowhere near enough in light of Glasgow University’s findings. It comes after the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) said half of the respondents in their survey of Scots members said they rarely have enough staff to provide safe care for women.
Many of those mums being put at risk will have received baby boxes and live in the deprived communities examined by analysts.
Their full report will be published by the end of 2022. Our political leaders shouldn’t wait until then. They should act now.
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