The phoney `vaccine war `is a fig leaf designed to obscure the failure on the part of Commissioner Von Der Leyen and the EU to roll out an effective vax programme while the UK Government notches up a significant post-Cummings success in its approach to the pandemic. Less attractive is the Government`s offer of aone-per-cent pay increase as a `reward` to NHS staff for their service on the front line.
STOP PRESS!!! A line in the Budget statement suggests that the Government may be going to honour its pledge to grant “votes for Life” in General Elections in the next session of Parliament. We await the Queen`s Speech with interest!
With 39,9 thousand Null votes, 5,081,0 Abstentions, 46,9 Blank, and 255,0 Others (nanoparties) NABO won with some 58%!
January. Back to School. For a day. Schools are safe? Yes, but no, but yes but no. School`s out! Except for a growing number of vulnerable children and the children of key workers. Confusion and indecision in the Department for Education leaves Teachers in despair. Parliament is recalled for the second time to approve school closures. Keir “Captain Hindsight” Starmer wants schools open…er, no…shut.
December. Brexit deal on the cliff edge. Mayor Boris makes a dash to Brussels for a dinner with Ursula Von Der Leyen. It`s supposed to be a charm offensive not offensive and charmless.
On assuming the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union on New Year’s Day, Portugal’s top political leaders sounded remarkably enthusiastic and positive about tackling the huge challenges facing the 27 member states over the next six months.
November. The election of the 46th President of the United States is the gift to journalists that keeps on giving as Nevada, Arizona, Michigan, Georgia and Pennsylvania pore over their results.
With many tables, McKinsey tells how decision-makers may obtain good results. A brutal deficit in state budgets is expected in coming years. Interest rates are low, tend to rise, which will worsen the deficit. Surveys point to a deficit of 16-17 percent in most countries.
