So it’s the week of winners and losers. We had the budget, we’ve had the Conservative Party leadership contest and then, just to make up the 3, we’ll include the rather trivial American election on Tuesday. Possibly to be repeated on Friday, depending on allegations of cheating. By both sides. In the same states. And then, after 9 months of legal action, we shall see whom ‘due democratic process’ will allow to become the next President of America!!!

The budget was a well considered plan by the government to increase ‘growth’. Though they didn’t say precisely what’s growing, they strongly implied it would be the economy. They’re not interested in the new area of lawn I seeded. Whereas what would appear to be in line for ‘growth’ once the budget kicks in are, in no particular order:

Unemployment, as small businesses, hammered by a rise in the ‘working wage’ and by the rise in NI payments, employ less people. Or just go under due to the increased burden and fold altogether.

NHS waiting lists and the care sector. By not including GP practices in the new NI exemption, many will either close or have to reduce professional staffing levels. Leaving the much-advertised ‘40,000 extra appointments a week!!!’, looking more like a 20,000 reduction. Similarly the care sector, being not officially ‘NHS’, will become unviable by the increase in NI. Leaving the old and infirm to care for each other.

And tinned foods will be an area of ‘growth’ as the change in inheritance tax for farms will result in a massive loss in our nation’s food production. Be good for Deliveroo, not so good for the NHS plans at ‘prevention’ of illnesses by good eating practice, as instead of eating potatoes, tomatoes and lettuces, we’ll have a pizza instead.

So Kemi Badenoch, the undisputed winner of the (poisoned chalice?) Tory party leadership, has a lot to work on already. With what’s left of her diminished, divided party.

Kier Starmer praised her for becoming ‘the first black woman to become the leader of a major political party’. Well shame on him. Her colour and (chosen) gender should be totally irrelevant. To even mention them is to make implications and assumptions of a particularly patronising, old-white-man type nature.

America. Oyyyyyy. The devil and the deep blue sea. Don or Kam. Hopeless or Clueless. So I’m going to be honest. I know, it’s a first. But my own hope for the new POTUS, once it’s eventually finalised, is for the most Israel-friendly candidate. Don talks the talk, but is fickle and marginally insane. Kamala has to appease a very pro-Palestinian force in her party and makes a few noises supporting the ‘right to defend itself’. So we need US help to enable the continued existence of the state of Israel. And whoever supports that is my chosen candidate. Even though I don’t get a vote over there. Nor, apparently, will my old person’s rail card work in New York. Awful.

Today’s photo is of an actual ‘Batmobile’ that you can buy. They’re making 10 of them at the bargain price of 2.3 million quid each. I only want one. It has a 6.3 litre engine, one seat and must be the best fun ever. So if you’re wondering what to get me for Christmas…

Happy Saturday

A xxxx