The Descent of the UK

It has been a hard 15 years for the UK since the banking collapse of 2008 but the past five years have been the most disruptive. Brexit, Covid and Climate Change have been yoked with a government at war with itself as well as Europe, Russia, China, immigrants, its own citizens and UK businesses. The United States no longer regards the UK as its trusted supporter, nor does the United Nations or developing countries that have watched the UK slash its aid programmes and retreat into a state of selfish obfuscation.

We have been blessed by the guiding hand of three Prime Ministers who, with diverse personalities, have all managed to accelerate the decline without any remorse. Boris Johnson was so disengaged from the job that his knowledge of his government's actions and policies were unknown unknowns. Liz Truss was so unaware of her limitations that her unknown knowns led to a rapid dismissal. In both cases, these frailties in leadership were self-evident to most electors and well evidenced by journalists, civil servants, and academics. Sadly, the Tory party members and MPs, who were the electors in this dumbed-down democracy that we are so proud of, had no such acuity. 

Rishi Sunak is allegedly smarter and harder working than his predecessors as well as claiming integrity, professionalism and accountability as his leadership credentials. In which case his lack of concern about known known issues such as the cost of living, social injustice, climate change, air quality, the environment, tax havens, industrial relations and international aid tells us he will never sing along with common people. He is damaging the country and its reputation just as much as his shamed predecessors.