Failure on every front
Tough virus tiers operating from today in England and the imminent introduction of tighter controls in Wales are proof of this incompetent government’s failures.
With people still dying in their hundreds every day, Covid rules remain a necessary burden across the United Kingdom.
But it’s clear from Keir Starmer’s dissection of Boris Johnson’s economic mistakes, together with complaints from Labour MPs and dozens of Tory rebels, that the incompetent Prime Minister is unforgivably financially short-changing families and businesses.
Losing intolerably high numbers of lives and livelihoods is a double condemnation of the Conservative government.
The OECD group of rich nations predicts Britain’s economy will be 6% smaller next year as the rest of the world returns to 2019 levels.
Grants of £1,000 for shut pubs are small beer, a feeble gesture that highlights the shortcomings of Mr Johnson and his Cabinet.
Retail tragedy
All 124 Debenhams stores shutting with the loss of 12,000 jobs is a hammer blow.
The collapse of the possible rescue by JD Sports signals the end of a chain that was founded more than 200 years ago. The tragedy underlines the crisis engulfing the retail sector.
Topshop, Miss Selfridge, Dorothy Perkins and the rest of the Arcadia group are also in serious trouble, putting a total of 25,000 jobs on the line.
We need a Minister for Shopping with a plan and a PM with vision to rejuvenate town and city centres.
Britain’s high streets, home of so many retail jobs, are the hearts of our communities. New life must be pumped into them.
Real leadership
In skipping Christmas in Sandringham for the first time in 33 years, an elderly couple are leading by example.
By staying put instead of travelling, The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh are sending out a message.
This may be the season to be jolly, but this year it is also the season to be jolly careful – however grand you are.
