Persevere?

As we saw from the Government's thumping defeat in the House of Lords last night, it is the Conservatives who are pushing for the nationalisation of everyone's children, and that in such a way as could only work by means of universal digital ID. Anything rather than a commonsensical nationalisation such as that of water.

Why are we even discussing whether the Chief Executive of South East Water should be paid his bonus? His bonus for what? Having failed to supply water in the South East, he should not be paid his salary, much less a bonus. He should not be paid. Nor should you pay.  If you have had no water, then do not pay your water bill. And if they cancel your local elections, then do not pay your council tax.

Might the Greenlanders say something in support of the 5.6 million people whom Steve Reed intended to disenfranchise? But this legislation will pass. The precedent will then be set. All future Governments will be aware of it, just as all future Governments would be empowered by digital ID. That always happens, but incumbents never seem to understand it, even as they exercised the extended and expanded powers that they had inherited.

Still, there will presumably be one election on 7 May, to fill the parliamentary seat of Gorton and Denton. I have my own struggles with mental health, so I wish the very best to Andrew Gwynne, whose account rings true. As to his successor, consider the possibilities. Andy Burnham wins, a nightmare for Keir Starmer. Burnham is not allowed to stand, and Labour loses the seat, and Burnham "would have won", another nightmare for Starmer. Burnham stands, but Labour loses the seat, a nightmare both for Burnham and for Starmer. Or Burnham is not allowed to stand, another Labour candidate holds the seat, and Starmer cannot believe his luck. But that is wildly unlikely.