Stay Alert!
When I was out for my walk tonight I constructed a blog post for today in my head. I had the key points and the flow of an argument and everything, but then, as I was walking, my mind drifted, and by the time I got home that blog post had completely gone. I should have noted it down but the temperature has dropped and it was too chilly to get out my notebook. It was a great post though. Really.
I should, no doubt, have stayed alert, the PM’s new slogan. I don’t pay much attention in this blog to the politics of it all, but today something changed, and not just the weather. Today the PM went on nationwide TV and announced UK changes that apply only in England. The Scottish and Welsh governments and the Northern Ireland Assembly weren’t consulted and are not implementing those changes. It seems the PM’s address was prerecorded and thus ready to go before the devolved governments knew about it.
Nicola Sturgeon used her daily press conference to propel the toe of her immaculate heels* firmly into the PM’s groin. It was polite, but also unmistakeable.
I’ve seen it suggested that the PM deserves some credit for facing down the concerted attempts of the right-wing press to force an easing of restrictions, and I’m happy to concede that as far as it goes, but in all other respects it is a shit show. I understand that the mayors of the major English cities are unhappy as well.
Much as I hate to quote the more portentious lyrics of progressive rock, Confusion will be my epitaph ** sounds appropriate.
*you know what I mean
** Epitaph, from King Crimson, In The Court of the Crimson King (1969)
***
Enough of that: after that Al Bowlly/Richard Thompson thing a couple of nights ago, I’ve had this next tune in my mind. Norma Waterson, Martin Carthy, Eliza Carthy, Richard Thompson, Danny Thompson and Dave Mattacks.
Down and down he dragged me
Like a fiend he nagged me
For years and years
There ain’t no sweet man
That’s worth the salt of my tears
Oops, almost political again.
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