What a contrast between the just completed Tory party Conference and that of Labour. Whilst the sun is in the ascendant for Corbyn, it looks like the Conservatives are gradually slipping into the night. The superficial unity unable to mask the jockeying for position of contradictory wings of the party. Cough sweets and iron determination are not enough to cover the lacklustre contrast with Corbyn, who seemed to loom over the whole event. The realisation that the Conservatives need to connect with the younger voters is a bit late in the day. So the ship with its fractious crew will sail on ineffectually, squabbling when they should be united to deal with either Brexit or alternatives. When members of the European Parliament said that they did not know who to talk to in the UK now, was it Theresa May, Boris Johnson or David Davis, it was only half in jest.
There was at least some good news for the UK, hidden away by the major stories of the Prime Minister's Cough-ageddon, other conference bad omens (falling words from signs, comedian offering May a p45 from Boris) and mass killing across the pond. According to Reuters and the Financial Times, the EU and UK have agreed to ask the World Trade Organization (WTO) to maintain the current level of quotas for farm produce after Brexit. This is important as, if accepted, this affords some protection for local agriculture from a free for all competition for access to the UK market. However, there will be some resistance from countries like Australia, New Zealand, the US and Brazil who want greater UK market access. Still, this is more promising than the stalled Brexit talks.
President Trump has been, well, presidential, when visiting Las Vegas to meet with the police, emergency services, victims and bereaved families, offering a suitable tone as consoling Commander in Chief. Refusing to be drawn on the issue of gun control, it had been left to others to provide inappropriate advice. Republican Senator John Thune made this sage comment:
"I think people are going to have to take steps in their own lives to take precautions. To protect themselves. And in situations like that, you know, try to stay safe. As somebody said — get small."
Statistically this might work with a loosely distributed crowd - in a packed stadium, less so.
Woke up with a really bad migraine and therefore bedridden till about midday. Not sure if it was just a re-ignition of a lesser migraine suppressed yesterday or a reaction to the flu jab. Still slightly not quite with it in the afternoon, but OK to work on setting articles into the Bulletin.
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