Successive governments have made decisions on immigration and around assimilation which have created conditions in which some groups haven’t adopted the norms, behaviours, and customs of mainstream British society. Sectarianism is the political manifestation of that and, if we want to address it, we must address these underlying causes.
If protecting our veterans from vexatious prosecution really isn’t compatible with ECHR membership, this only strengthens the case for leaving the ECHR altogether.
Strengthening our hand at home in order to deal with challenges abroad is about being realistic about what we can and can’t do, what needs to come first, and recognising that our interactions with the rest of the world have real, material consequences for the British people.
Failure to acknowledge the truth, and a desire to prevent other people from doing so, allowed people to get away with the some of the very worst crimes committed in this country in living memory.
It is absurd that our financial regulator cares more about whether you have enough women on your board than if you actually make any money.
While the state has a role to play in setting standards, and ensuring accountability for senior leadership, this must not be allowed to morph into an all-consuming drive for uniformity.
We need to believe that we are a country which can solve its own problems, rather than shrugging our shoulders and stumble from crisis to crisis. We will need to recognise that we have our own part to play in creating the world that we want for future generations.
Getting spending under control, letting hard-working people keep more of what they earn, getting out of the way of those who want to take risks and build things – this is what the country needs.
There is no better start you can give children than teaching them to read, write and add. Labour’s approach to education leaves state-educated children less able to succeed, and asserts that our history, art and literature – our cultural jewels – are the preserve of the wealthy.
This Government is clearly – and especially after the weekend – incredibly weak. The Prime Minister took office with no plan for the economy, public services, or our borders, and is now hostage to his backbenchers.
If we want to get the UK growing again, we need to stop assuming that every challenge has a government solution.
No law has changed yet we are already seeing a chilling effect with critics of Islam already being dragged through the courts for simply expressing themselves.
The money for the Mauritians looks likely to come from the recently announced uplift in defence spending. This rise was already insufficient; now it seems billions of it will be spent paying an ally of China to use a base we already own.
At a fundamental, instinctive level, Labour don’t trust the British people. They argue that their plans to curb jury trials are an administrative necessity, yet this argument falls down on closer inspection. I’d be far happier placing my faith in the British people than in any single judge.