This is a story of institutions, work and habits changing out of recognition – and how we can improve our position and the country once we’re heard.
They described Johnson as a “dictator”, and want a local champion. The Conservatives have now selected their candidate.
Some good things, a few bad ones, some absences – and an opportunity missed not so much to level up Britain as to level with voters.
With economics, sleaze and environmentalism off the table, Labour is only left with the culture wars to fight the Tories on.
Plus: Is it really a bad thing if more work from home? And: It’s time to acknowledge private workers’ contributions in the Covid crisis.
Will it be: Keir On Course, So-So Starmer…or a Knightmare for the Labour Party in Hartlepool – and elsewhere?
The party has its own history of politicians with close links to business.
I got one message from a Brexiteer artist telling me “it would be career suicide for me to be public about my opinions”.
Strangely, one of the few things that now unites voters across the Left and Right is a feeling he won’t win an election.
The sad truth is that many local Labour councils and local bureaucracies don’t want it: they’re scared of it.
Furthermore, critics of the programme are alarmed by the rising costs. But will they ever acknowledge that ‘lockdown sceptics’ warned about these?
Perhaps the simplest way of putting it is: it’s all about economic credibility, stupid. Because come 2024, it certainly will be.
The saga shows how vulnerable Britain’s planning system can be to high profile, articulate pressure groups.
It despises the very values of patriotism and economic self-improvement that made people like my grandparents vote for them.