Scoring generously, we can say the Prime Minister has saved the nation from two policies of his own government. The other three seem only to have been internal proposals.
In the meantime, it’s been another deluge of bad news for the Scottish Government on the domestic front. But when will that start telling decisively with Scottish voters?
Where the consumer is king, those who can best package the darker corners of ourselves can do very well indeed.
The row over nutrient neutrality rules was an important test of the Opposition’s willingness to confront the vetocracy that ensures we get nothing built – and they failed it.
The First Minister stands accused of having officials draw up new statistics to “reverse engineer” an excuse for his wildly inaccurate statements about an independent Scotland’s energy potential.
There is a debate to be had about future engagement with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. It can be had without propagandising for its members and making the fight against them look ridiculous.
Tony Blair and Gordon Brown inherited a strong economy and low taxes, and thus plenty of scope for more spending. Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves would take office in vastly more difficult circumstances.
It is remarkable that a country prepared to ban almost anything appears unwilling to take action against the small number of breeds responsible for the overwhelming majority of dangerous attacks.
Opportunities to do useful spying (as opposed to covert PR) in the employ of a backbench MP seem extremely limited. Doing the politicians’ thinking for them, on the other hand…
If Britain’s productivity problem could be fixed by politicians tilting at unpopular targets – in this case, an assumed army of scroungers – it would have been fixed long ago.
Also: Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland grapple with RAAC in schools and health buildings; ex-SNP MP receives trivial fine for embezzlement as short-term lets sector revolts against Scottish Government’s new licencing regime.
If ministers are going to start holding senior mandarins publicly accountable for their alleged failures, it is inevitable that those officials are going to start publicly defending their records.
How much of the post-war public sector estate is going to come to the end of its useful life over the next few decades – and how much will we end up paying for the false economy of cheap concrete?
“Every man thinks meanly of himself for not having been a soldier, or not having been at sea.” Dr Johnson’s observation has stood the test of time – but is a poor basis for civilian, parliamentary government.
Also: Scottish Government’s legal regulation reforms denounced by judges and lawyers; Ross offers to work with Nationalist rebels to break Greens’ grip on government; new scandal for PSNI as High Court finds it illegally disciplined officers.