davelevy.info
type: channel
description: my site; opinion, notes and record
date: 2026-08-23T16:01:15Z
update period: hourly
update frequency: 1
update base: 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00
generator agent: https://wordpress.org/
items: Backwardness of Glamour
items: Labour and the water industry
items: On the Boles proposals
items: Labour’s Membership 2025
items: A local income tax
items: Simplicity is power
items: Rejoin and the need for speed
items: A new 5 point plan on Europe
items: A time for reflection by London Labour, or not.
items: Prime Ministers and their fates ’26
items: On the Euro
items: Working rights
items: Burnham’s speech on Manchesterism
items: Changing up
items: Happy Birthday USA
items: The Cruel Sea
items: There’s no useful half way house
items: After Makerfield, what next?
items: On “Stop killing video” games
items: Bye Bye Healey and Cairns

Backwardness of Glamour
type: item
creator: Dave
date: 2026-08-23T11:43:46Z
subject: Politics
subject: thoughts
subject: monarchy
subject: political theory
subject: politics
subject: tomnairn
description: Sometimes one’s feeds actually throw up some golden nuggets. I came across this facebook video reel from Andi Shehu. It’s not very long, but packs a lot in. He argues that much of the support for the Brexit vote was
encoded: <img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="750" height="500" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/State_Opening_of_Parliament_18129547086-OGL1-w750-via-wikimendiacommons.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-13966" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/State_Opening_of_Parliament_18129547086-OGL1-w750-via-wikimendiacommons.jpg 750w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/State_Opening_of_Parliament_18129547086-OGL1-w750-via-wikimendiacommons-300x200.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" /> State Opening of Parliament – FCO – OGL1.0 2015 Sometimes one’s feeds actually throw up some golden nuggets. I came across this facebook video reel from Andi Shehu. It’s not very long, but packs a lot in. He argues that much of the support for the Brexit vote was based upon nostalgia for an empire that had already been dismantled and one that today’s voters cannot possibly remember and that that this political nostalgia is fuelled by outdated Victorian traditions at the core of British government, maybe even from pre-Victorian times and that true improvement requires democratic reform. The reel led me to look at some earlier theorists who first articulated these ideas and suggesting that the British state never adopted democracy and remained the instrument of old wealth based on land. In many ways what came after 1945 was much better and much more democratic and served the mass of the population better than its predecessor. The UK built houses, formed the NHS and developed its manufacturing capability to provide jobs wealth and income to the bulk of the population. People’s memory of the poverty of the Great Depression led them to build a comprehensive welfare state guaranteeing social security and a limited freedom from poverty. This was dismantled by reactionary conservative movements, and the engine of the economy moved back towards finance and the City of London, institutions that have no patriotism and yield no investment…

Labour and the water industry
type: item
creator: Dave
date: 2026-08-19T11:34:18Z
subject: Politics
subject: #lab26
subject: labour
subject: nationalisation
subject: politics
subject: water industry
description: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/reservoir-farinsadiq-vjWE8KXmbwI-unsplash-w750-letterbox-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="Edgbaston reservoir" decoding="async" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/reservoir-farinsadiq-vjWE8KXmbwI-unsplash-w750-letterbox-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/reservoir-farinsadiq-vjWE8KXmbwI-unsplash-w750-letterbox-230x230.png 230w" sizes="(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />I am planning to write a series of responses to Labour NPF report 2026. Some I hope to pursue the conference itself through my CLP, others I hope will be of interest to others in the party. In this article
encoded: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/reservoir-farinsadiq-vjWE8KXmbwI-unsplash-w750-letterbox-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="Edgbaston reservoir" decoding="async" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/reservoir-farinsadiq-vjWE8KXmbwI-unsplash-w750-letterbox-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/reservoir-farinsadiq-vjWE8KXmbwI-unsplash-w750-letterbox-230x230.png 230w" sizes="(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /> I am planning to write a series of responses to Labour NPF report 2026. Some I hope to pursue the conference itself through my CLP, others I hope will be of interest to others in the party. In this article I talk about Water, which I don’t propose to put to my CLP. In the Commission, “MAKE BRITAIN A CLEAN ENERGY SUPERPOWER”, there is a section on the Water industry, which welcomes the Labour Government’s initiatives to repair the damage done by the conservatives. Most submissions want greater pace. The report also makes little mention of the excessive bonuses being paid to directors of Thames Water, and probably others. In the conclusions section, on page 25, the obvious policy proposal missing is the renationalisation of the water boards The BBC report on 10th August that Thames Water made a £1m signing bonus to a new Finance Director. (This might well be a hook for a contemporary motion, although SERA & Mainstream have published a model motion calling for the renatitonalisation of the industry.) If this is important to you, take it to your CLP, and submit it to Labour Conference before the 17th Sept.

On the Boles proposals
type: item
creator: Dave
date: 2026-08-14T09:19:15Z
subject: Politics
subject: defence
subject: labour
subject: nickboles
subject: nuclear deterent
subject: politics
subject: rejoineu
subject: singlemarket
description: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/russia-ukraine-border-Sergey-Bystro-CC-BY-SA-2013-cropped-w650-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/russia-ukraine-border-Sergey-Bystro-CC-BY-SA-2013-cropped-w650-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/russia-ukraine-border-Sergey-Bystro-CC-BY-SA-2013-cropped-w650-50x50.png 50w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />There is an essay by Nick Boles, published on demos website that argues to reframe Starmer’s EU reset by offering to extend Britain’s nuclear umbrella in exchange for a single market in goods. It is claimed this is circulating within
encoded: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/russia-ukraine-border-Sergey-Bystro-CC-BY-SA-2013-cropped-w650-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/russia-ukraine-border-Sergey-Bystro-CC-BY-SA-2013-cropped-w650-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/russia-ukraine-border-Sergey-Bystro-CC-BY-SA-2013-cropped-w650-50x50.png 50w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /> There is an essay by Nick Boles, published on demos website that argues to reframe Starmer’s EU reset by offering to extend Britain’s nuclear umbrella in exchange for a single market in goods. It is claimed this is circulating within government. It has caused much excitement by the rejoin opposing press and its followers in the Labour Party. It has also been noted by some of the rejoin commentators as an item of hope. It’s nonsense. This proposal fails to recognise that, Starmer’s reset has failed, mostly through lack of ambition on the British side. This proposal is similar to the reset agreement made in May 25 which set an agenda, including an enhanced defence agreement. Not one single item of the reset has been finalised. The one disappointment I have in Starmer being replaced is that the learning process on the subject of EU relations within the government has been set back. I believe the Starmer speech on 1st May, together with the House of Commons Select Committee report and the Fabian Society’s “Pressing Reset” shows that large elements of labour we’re ready to learn a new lesson. What needs to be understood is that the European Union will not make an agreement that leaves a third country in a better position than either current members or aspirant members and it considers the single market as indivisible. The proposal has the benefit to Labour’s Atlanticists that it embeds Britains commitment to th…

Labour’s Membership 2025
type: item
creator: Dave
date: 2026-08-07T16:41:36Z
subject: Politics
subject: labour
subject: labour money
subject: politics
description: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/ashkan-forouzani-rosegarden-unsplash-w750-cropped-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="a red rose" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/ashkan-forouzani-rosegarden-unsplash-w750-cropped-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/ashkan-forouzani-rosegarden-unsplash-w750-cropped-50x50.png 50w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />The Labour Party’s accounts and this membership facts are available on the Electoral Commission site. On membership, they say, “As at 31 December 2025 the total individual membership of the Party was 264,754 (2024: 333,235).” That’s a 21% decline on
encoded: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/ashkan-forouzani-rosegarden-unsplash-w750-cropped-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="a red rose" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/ashkan-forouzani-rosegarden-unsplash-w750-cropped-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/ashkan-forouzani-rosegarden-unsplash-w750-cropped-50x50.png 50w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /> The Labour Party’s accounts and this membership facts are available on the Electoral Commission site. On membership, they say, “As at 31 December 2025 the total individual membership of the Party was 264,754 (2024: 333,235).” That’s a 21% decline on the year and over 50% from when Starmer took over. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="414" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/LP-Membership-2025-1024x414.png" alt="" class="wp-image-13941" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/LP-Membership-2025-1024x414.png 1024w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/LP-Membership-2025-300x121.png 300w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/LP-Membership-2025-768x310.png 768w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/LP-Membership-2025.png 1269w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> Labour’s membership 1989 – 2025 For more, see the Data file, in .xls.

A local income tax
type: item
creator: Dave
date: 2026-07-31T09:13:03Z
subject: Politics
subject: andyburnham
subject: local government finance
subject: politics
subject: tax
description: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/burnham-no10n-cc-2026-BY-NC-ND-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="Burnham's first cabinet meeting at No 10 North" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/burnham-no10n-cc-2026-BY-NC-ND-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/burnham-no10n-cc-2026-BY-NC-ND-230x230.png 230w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />So it seems that Burnham is going ahead with his plans to introduce a local income tax. This is a major step forward beyond the Brown Commission’s recommendations. Without detail this may be hard to comment on, but when I
encoded: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/burnham-no10n-cc-2026-BY-NC-ND-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="Burnham's first cabinet meeting at No 10 North" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/burnham-no10n-cc-2026-BY-NC-ND-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/burnham-no10n-cc-2026-BY-NC-ND-230x230.png 230w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /> So it seems that Burnham is going ahead with his plans to introduce a local income tax. This is a major step forward beyond the Brown Commission’s recommendations. Without detail this may be hard to comment on, but when I read the Brown Commission report I noted that the proposals do not involve any transfers from poor to richer places. Those places with a low tax base, which often require enhanced services will not find their problem solved by these proposals. I also note that Labour is still stuck with its fixation on Commissars otherwise known that directly elected mayors. I am of the view that these are not democratic improvements, that committees are more democratic than commissars and wonder whether or when labour will drop this. My more detached mind knows this is unlikely. For the big cities, a hotel tax might be simpler and great greater room for movement.

Simplicity is power
type: item
creator: Dave
date: 2026-07-24T08:18:37Z
subject: thoughts
subject: politics
description: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/sparking-robot-deepai_org-w750h350-CCPD-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="a robot giving off sparks, in bue tones (AI)" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/sparking-robot-deepai_org-w750h350-CCPD-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/sparking-robot-deepai_org-w750h350-CCPD-270x270.png 270w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/sparking-robot-deepai_org-w750h350-CCPD-230x230.png 230w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />The events that made me write Rejoin the need for speed reminded me of Robocop II, where Robocop’s three directives were augmented to over 300. In that case, they were deliberately designed to reduce Robocop’s effectiveness. In the world of
encoded: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/sparking-robot-deepai_org-w750h350-CCPD-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="a robot giving off sparks, in bue tones (AI)" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/sparking-robot-deepai_org-w750h350-CCPD-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/sparking-robot-deepai_org-w750h350-CCPD-270x270.png 270w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/sparking-robot-deepai_org-w750h350-CCPD-230x230.png 230w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /> The events that made me write Rejoin the need for speed reminded me of Robocop II, where Robocop’s three directives were augmented to over 300. In that case, they were deliberately designed to reduce Robocop’s effectiveness. In the world of resolutionary politics, too often, the special interest demands of part of a majority voting bloc are accepted weakening the powerful simplicity of the motion’s original design. Work out what you want and keep it simple. (It also makes it harder for opponents to nit pick).

Rejoin and the need for speed
type: item
creator: Dave
date: 2026-07-24T07:55:43Z
subject: Politics
subject: andyburnham
subject: labour
subject: politics
subject: rejoineu
description: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/staircase-lancasterhouse-viaOGL-w750-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="the staircase at Lancaster House" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/staircase-lancasterhouse-viaOGL-w750-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/staircase-lancasterhouse-viaOGL-w750-270x270.png 270w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/staircase-lancasterhouse-viaOGL-w750-230x230.png 230w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/staircase-lancasterhouse-viaOGL-w750-50x50.png 50w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />In an article, on Best for Britain’s sub stack, Joshua Edwicker reviews the personnel responsible for EU relations in Burnham’s new cabinet. On first glance it would appear that this team is more likely to support closer relationships with the
encoded: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/staircase-lancasterhouse-viaOGL-w750-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="the staircase at Lancaster House" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/staircase-lancasterhouse-viaOGL-w750-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/staircase-lancasterhouse-viaOGL-w750-270x270.png 270w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/staircase-lancasterhouse-viaOGL-w750-230x230.png 230w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/staircase-lancasterhouse-viaOGL-w750-50x50.png 50w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /> In an article, on Best for Britain’s sub stack, Joshua Edwicker reviews the personnel responsible for EU relations in Burnham’s new cabinet. On first glance it would appear that this team is more likely to support closer relationships with the EU without putting roadblocks in the way and will at least have more ambition, although he doesn’t talk about Shabana Mahmood staying at the Home Office. My fear is that relationships with the EU we’ll take a back seat in the priorities of the Burnham administration. New policy needs to start from the fact that the “Reset” has failed, yet most of the PLP don’t realise it. Not a single initiative announced in May 25 has been closed. It would be too easy for this team to continue to try for incremental changes to the trading rules with the EU. The EU will survive without the UK and it is changing up, most significantly for the UK via its Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA). People, mainly convinced Brexiters, have been saying the EU has changed too much, it hasn’t yet, but it will, The IAA is likely to increase the UK’s barriers to entry EU markets, harm the UK economy, and thus the living standards of the UK people. We must put more on the table and act with speed. I believe that membership of the EEA, is a mini…

A new 5 point plan on Europe
type: item
creator: Dave
date: 2026-07-23T15:27:05Z
subject: Politics
subject: thoughts
subject: european movement
subject: europeanunion
subject: politics
subject: rejoineu
description: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/passports-dfl-cc0-2022-w650-crpd-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/passports-dfl-cc0-2022-w650-crpd-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/passports-dfl-cc0-2022-w650-crpd-50x50.png 50w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />The European Movement write to Andy Burnham on his arrival at Downing St.. They call for the Government and Labour Party to, They now have a petition to support their demands, I have signed it, it would be great if
encoded: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/passports-dfl-cc0-2022-w650-crpd-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/passports-dfl-cc0-2022-w650-crpd-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/passports-dfl-cc0-2022-w650-crpd-50x50.png 50w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /> The European Movement write to Andy Burnham on his arrival at Downing St.. They call for the Government and Labour Party to, Drop the red lines on Europe, By the end of 2026, publish a strategy for cementing the UK’s place in Europe Make the UK Europe’s closest security partner Launch a national conversation on the UK’s European future Put a route to EU membership in Labour’s next manifesto They now have a petition to support their demands, I have signed it, it would be great if you did too. Image Credit: By me! CC 2022 BY-SA 2.0 or via flickr.

A time for reflection by London Labour, or not.
type: item
creator: Dave
date: 2026-07-20T18:29:39Z
subject: Politics
subject: labour
subject: London
subject: London Labour Party
subject: politics
description: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/ashkan-forouzani-rosegarden-unsplash-w750-cropped-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="a red rose" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/ashkan-forouzani-rosegarden-unsplash-w750-cropped-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/ashkan-forouzani-rosegarden-unsplash-w750-cropped-50x50.png 50w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />London Labour held its annual conference on 18th and 19th of July, a month and half after disastrous local election results, and in the shadow of Keir Starmer’s resignation as leader of the Labour Party. These two events shaped the
encoded: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/ashkan-forouzani-rosegarden-unsplash-w750-cropped-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="a red rose" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/ashkan-forouzani-rosegarden-unsplash-w750-cropped-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/ashkan-forouzani-rosegarden-unsplash-w750-cropped-50x50.png 50w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /> London Labour held its annual conference on 18th and 19th of July, a month and half after disastrous local election results, and in the shadow of Keir Starmer’s resignation as leader of the Labour Party. These two events shaped the debates that took place and in the tradition of the current leadership faction, the vast amount of time was given over to speakers from the platform, either as panel speakers, or just guest speeches. There were two MP guest speakers, David Lammy and Wes Streeting who were occasionally joined on the platform by the outgoing regional director, Aline Delawa and regional chair Maggi Ferncombe of Unison. They all repeated what’s becoming a line about what a good leader and Prime Minister Keir Starmer was, how he’d delivered a working majority after Labour’s greatest post-war election loss, and a successful government, even though and unmentioned, the number of votes won was amongst the lowest. This story is not true, and repeating this nonsense will make it harder to recover our vote share; it leaves the question, that if he was so good, “why did he have to resign?”, unanswered. It’s a retread of Mandelson’s strategy, “they have nowhere else to go”, which has been proven to be false, most dramatically in 2019, and I am reminded, that in Scotland, there is now a generation that has never voted Labour and that in 2024, the hero voter strategy failed. There is reticence to recognise that Palestine cut through and t…

Prime Ministers and their fates ’26
type: item
creator: Dave
date: 2026-07-20T12:07:05Z
subject: Politics
subject: history
subject: politics
subject: prime ministers
description: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/burnham-swearingin-cc-hcommons-2026-by-nc-nd-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="Andy Burnham in the House of Commons being sworn in" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/burnham-swearingin-cc-hcommons-2026-by-nc-nd-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/burnham-swearingin-cc-hcommons-2026-by-nc-nd-230x230.png 230w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />We have a new Prime Minister and so I have updated my infographic. Featured Image Credit: CC House of Commons 2026 BY-NC-ND
encoded: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/burnham-swearingin-cc-hcommons-2026-by-nc-nd-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="Andy Burnham in the House of Commons being sworn in" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/burnham-swearingin-cc-hcommons-2026-by-nc-nd-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/burnham-swearingin-cc-hcommons-2026-by-nc-nd-230x230.png 230w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /> We have a new Prime Minister and so I have updated my infographic. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="629" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Prime-Ministers-and-their-fates-2026-1024x629.png" alt="" class="wp-image-13912" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Prime-Ministers-and-their-fates-2026-1024x629.png 1024w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Prime-Ministers-and-their-fates-2026-300x184.png 300w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Prime-Ministers-and-their-fates-2026-768x472.png 768w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Prime-Ministers-and-their-fates-2026.png 1110w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> Featured Image Credit: CC House of Commons 2026 BY-NC-ND

On the Euro
type: item
creator: Dave
date: 2026-07-15T14:48:21Z
subject: Politics
subject: euro
subject: europeanunion
subject: politics
subject: rejoineu
description: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/ecb-frankfurt-cc-dfl1955-2011-BY-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="the ECB building in Frankfurt" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/ecb-frankfurt-cc-dfl1955-2011-BY-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/ecb-frankfurt-cc-dfl1955-2011-BY-270x270.png 270w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/ecb-frankfurt-cc-dfl1955-2011-BY-230x230.png 230w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />Niall Ó Conghaille and Mike Galsworthy discuss the Euro and its role in the rejoin process. This is what I think. While I agree, that for the UK to rejoin the European Union it is necessary for them to agree,
encoded: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/ecb-frankfurt-cc-dfl1955-2011-BY-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="the ECB building in Frankfurt" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/ecb-frankfurt-cc-dfl1955-2011-BY-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/ecb-frankfurt-cc-dfl1955-2011-BY-270x270.png 270w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/ecb-frankfurt-cc-dfl1955-2011-BY-230x230.png 230w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /> Niall Ó Conghaille and Mike Galsworthy discuss the Euro and its role in the rejoin process. This is what I think. While I agree, that for the UK to rejoin the European Union it is necessary for them to agree, in good faith, to join the euro. … Your arguments in favour of the EU insisting that the UK agree to join the Euro do not address the embedded macroeconomic theory within the stability and growth pact. The ECB has a mandate to pursue price stability before growth or employment. That is a choice, and one that should be taken democratically, not embedded in an almost impossible to change treaty. The financial tests of the Euro are deflationary and currently many of the large countries inc. Euro members fail to meet the criteria because they, i..e the criteria are bonkers or to use a more professional term, the democratically elected governments, with time-limited terms have decided that it is not in the interests of, nor supported by their voters. It would be useful if advocates of the Euro spoke of these disadvantages; you ask us to support the Euro, in fact suggest that negotiations will fail unless we agree to join, but austerity economics is high price to pay. It would help if those who agree said so and held out a prospect for change.

Working rights
type: item
creator: Dave
date: 2026-07-09T11:57:50Z
subject: Politics
subject: eire
subject: employeeprotection
subject: european commission
subject: politics
subject: RTE
description: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/euflag-markusspiske-wIUxLHndcLw-unsplash-w750-cropped-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="the eu flag in front of a sand tone coloured building" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/euflag-markusspiske-wIUxLHndcLw-unsplash-w750-cropped-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/euflag-markusspiske-wIUxLHndcLw-unsplash-w750-cropped-230x230.png 230w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />RTE report that the EU Commission, has issued a warning to Ireland, and seven other countries, for failing to fully adopt an EU directive on transparent and predictable working conditions. The Commission statement states they have “… adopted two new
encoded: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/euflag-markusspiske-wIUxLHndcLw-unsplash-w750-cropped-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="the eu flag in front of a sand tone coloured building" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/euflag-markusspiske-wIUxLHndcLw-unsplash-w750-cropped-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/euflag-markusspiske-wIUxLHndcLw-unsplash-w750-cropped-230x230.png 230w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /> RTE report that the EU Commission, has issued a warning to Ireland, and seven other countries, for failing to fully adopt an EU directive on transparent and predictable working conditions. The Commission statement states they have “… adopted two new reports on the Employers Sanctions Directive and the Seasonal Workers Directive , assessing efforts to ensure fair working conditions for third-country nationals, prevent migrant exploitation and tackle illegal employment. RTE continues, “The European Commission said it has decided to open infringement procedures by sending a letter of formal notice to Ireland, Czechia, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, the Netherlands, Portugal and Finland. I wonder if the Commission has considered writing to HMG to see of the UK is infringing on the “level playing field” clauses of the TCA. The UK’s employee protection rights remain amongst the weakest in the OECD. I expect the Commission is currently too busy to pursue the UK on this issue.

Burnham’s speech on Manchesterism
type: item
creator: Dave
date: 2026-07-08T08:05:45Z
subject: Politics
subject: politics
description: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/burnham-cc-2018-eu-by-nc-sa-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="andy burnham" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/burnham-cc-2018-eu-by-nc-sa-150x150.jpg 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/burnham-cc-2018-eu-by-nc-sa-270x270.jpg 270w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/burnham-cc-2018-eu-by-nc-sa-230x230.jpg 230w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />Andy Burnham, the likely next leader of the Labour Party made a speech on Monday 29th June, from the People’s History Museum in Salford. I have linked to the Sky News video of the speech. I have captured the transcript
encoded: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/burnham-cc-2018-eu-by-nc-sa-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="andy burnham" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/burnham-cc-2018-eu-by-nc-sa-150x150.jpg 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/burnham-cc-2018-eu-by-nc-sa-270x270.jpg 270w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/burnham-cc-2018-eu-by-nc-sa-230x230.jpg 230w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /> Andy Burnham, the likely next leader of the Labour Party made a speech on Monday 29th June, from the People’s History Museum in Salford. I have linked to the Sky News video of the speech. I have captured the transcript and posted it on my wiki. See below, overleaf for my comments. Is that it? Moving part of No 10 to Manchester. What is he moving and how will that change things? We should note that this has already been tried once, when Sunak, then PM, moved part of the Treasury to Darlington. Devolution needs more than relocating civil servants from London. The proposal is an oblique criticism of Starmer’s failure to act on the Brown Commission report which proposed both a limited devolution in England and a legal entrenchment of local government rights. In my article, “New Britain, New Britcon”, (or on Medium), I argued that such plans would fail unless funded and funded in such a way that the axiom that poor areas need more services, and generate lower tax revenues is addressed. Devolution for a progressive government needs both money and a means of equitable sharing. Many will ask “why Manchester?” It is the second economic centre in Britain but is it the best place to locate a flagship to devolution. Having said that, he namechecks other parts of the UK, including even London but it just leaves me asking the question, “Does location of the Civil Service really make a difference?”, surely it needs …

Changing up
type: item
creator: Dave
date: 2026-07-06T08:35:43Z
subject: Politics
subject: brexit
subject: politics
subject: rejoineu
description: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/berlaymont-dfl-2023-cropped-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/berlaymont-dfl-2023-cropped-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/berlaymont-dfl-2023-cropped-270x270.png 270w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/berlaymont-dfl-2023-cropped-230x230.png 230w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/berlaymont-dfl-2023-cropped-50x50.png 50w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />A nasty little piece by Mujtaba Rahman which contains the unstated assumption that the UK’s political direction and relations with the EU, are fixed and desirable. The other side of the coin is that the EU is about to change
encoded: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/berlaymont-dfl-2023-cropped-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/berlaymont-dfl-2023-cropped-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/berlaymont-dfl-2023-cropped-270x270.png 270w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/berlaymont-dfl-2023-cropped-230x230.png 230w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/berlaymont-dfl-2023-cropped-50x50.png 50w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /> A nasty little piece by Mujtaba Rahman which contains the unstated assumption that the UK’s political direction and relations with the EU, are fixed and desirable. The other side of the coin is that the EU is about to change up; missing the boat would leave the UK isolated and poorer. The UK shouldn’t apply to rejoin until its ready to be a good citizen and sees the EU as more than a trade club. Rahman says, The EU of 2026 is an organisation built increasingly on common borrowing, an assertive joint industrial policy and a growing role in security and defence I ask who wouldn’t want that. The changing nature of the world’s international relations means we need reliable friends. Let’s see what changes Burnham makes to the Labour Party, or what space he gives to its eu-phile majority.

Happy Birthday USA
type: item
creator: Dave
date: 2026-07-05T09:44:01Z
subject: Politics
subject: history
subject: politics
subject: US Consitution
description: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/starsstripes-karlcallwood-i8tfXAiwM1Q-unsplash-w750-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="the stars and strips" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/starsstripes-karlcallwood-i8tfXAiwM1Q-unsplash-w750-150x150.jpg 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/starsstripes-karlcallwood-i8tfXAiwM1Q-unsplash-w750-270x270.jpg 270w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/starsstripes-karlcallwood-i8tfXAiwM1Q-unsplash-w750-230x230.jpg 230w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />Congratulations USA, on your 250th birthday except, the constitution of the republic was ratified 4th March 1789 making it the 237th birthday; it entrenched slavery and excluded native Americans and women, blacks couldn’t vote until 1870 and women until 1920,
encoded: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/starsstripes-karlcallwood-i8tfXAiwM1Q-unsplash-w750-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="the stars and strips" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/starsstripes-karlcallwood-i8tfXAiwM1Q-unsplash-w750-150x150.jpg 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/starsstripes-karlcallwood-i8tfXAiwM1Q-unsplash-w750-270x270.jpg 270w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/starsstripes-karlcallwood-i8tfXAiwM1Q-unsplash-w750-230x230.jpg 230w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /> Congratulations USA, on your 250th birthday except, the constitution of the republic was ratified 4th March 1789 making it the 237th birthday; it entrenched slavery and excluded native Americans and women, blacks couldn’t vote until 1870 and women until 1920, although this was before the UK permitted women to vote. They adopted what they saw as the results of the English Civil War albeit with an explicit separation of powers, and guaranteed local democratic powers invested in the constituent states and the people by the 10th Amendment. The growth of political parties, and the designed unaccountability of the Senate and Supreme Court can be seen today as critical weaknesses which one hopes are not copied by Europe’s constitutional reformers and that democrats in the US are able to fix.

The Cruel Sea
type: item
creator: Dave
date: 2026-07-02T13:15:38Z
subject: culture
subject: thoughts
subject: fiction
subject: history
description: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/cruel-sea-1-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="a warship in a rough sea" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/cruel-sea-1-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/cruel-sea-1-230x230.png 230w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/cruel-sea-1-50x50.png 50w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />I went to watch the cruel sea on HMS Belfast on 13th June; the show consisted of the film followed by two selections from the Imperial War museums film archive. There was a question and answer session, chaired by James
encoded: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/cruel-sea-1-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="a warship in a rough sea" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/cruel-sea-1-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/cruel-sea-1-230x230.png 230w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/cruel-sea-1-50x50.png 50w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /> I went to watch the cruel sea on HMS Belfast on 13th June; the show consisted of the film followed by two selections from the Imperial War museums film archive. There was a question and answer session, chaired by James Taylor and Charlotte Ross of the IWM. During the Q&A, I made a contribution, and have transcribed my notes as a comment on the original article. The featured image is cropped from a graphic on this page, advertising the book as an audiofile. I have cropped it and justify my use as “fair use”.

There’s no useful half way house
type: item
creator: Dave
date: 2026-06-30T10:13:47Z
subject: Politics
subject: thoughts
subject: brexit
subject: michelbarnier
subject: politics
subject: rejoineu
description: Earlier this month, Michel Barnier made a speech in which he suggested that the European Union would welcome the United Kingdom rejoining the EU even with some of the opt-outs previously negotiated. Barnier is very clear that he is only
encoded: Earlier this month, Michel Barnier made a speech in which he suggested that the European Union would welcome the United Kingdom rejoining the EU even with some of the opt-outs previously negotiated. Barnier is very clear that he is only talking about Schengen and the Euro. The huge problem with the speech and the suggestion that opt-outs remain on the table is this will be interpreted by lukewarm supporters and political weathercocks as permission to haggle on the terms of re-entry. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="750" height="299" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Barnier-flickr-EP-CC-2019-BY-w750-letterbox.png" alt="" class="wp-image-13880" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Barnier-flickr-EP-CC-2019-BY-w750-letterbox.png 750w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Barnier-flickr-EP-CC-2019-BY-w750-letterbox-300x120.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" /> Michel Barnier – European Parliament cc 2019 BY The unacceptability of UK opt-outs within the EU, specifically, staying out of Schengen and the Euro, is illustrated in a recent You Gov poll. Unfortunately, for rejoiners, the French and Germans will only accept a UK application if it includes Schengen and the Euro, while support in the UK falls if we do not rejoin on the terms we had. It would be interesting to note what people believe those terms to be, as apart from Schengen and the Euro, they include a partial opt-out from the justice pillar, together with the famous rebate. I am concerned that while a number of campaigners have been trying to prove their cleverness by suggesting there’s ways to rejoin without agreeing to the Copenhagen Criteria, others have been encouraged to consider EU membership as an a-la-carte process. It is not. On the question of opt-outs, we, i.e. rejoiners need to show some leadership. Schengen comes with the right to freedom of movement. This is a popular and positive benefit of full membership of the…

After Makerfield, what next?
type: item
creator: Dave
date: 2026-06-25T09:16:23Z
subject: Politics
subject: andyburnham
subject: keir starmer
subject: labour
subject: labour leadership
subject: politics
description: Is winning in Makerfield a new dawn for Labour, or just that this time, voters chose Labour as the “Not Farage” candidate. Since they won in Runcorn & Helsby, Reform have failed in Caerphilly, Gorton and Denton, and now Makerfield,
encoded: Is winning in Makerfield a new dawn for Labour, or just that this time, voters chose Labour as the “Not Farage” candidate. Since they won in Runcorn & Helsby, Reform have failed in Caerphilly, Gorton and Denton, and now Makerfield, losing to Plaid Cymru, the Greens and now to Labour. It was a great victory for Burnham and Labour, but the question has to be asked together with has Labour learnt the lesson that to fight Reform, you need to fight it. (I think not!) <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/55326778434_91f26b41af_b.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-13873" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/55326778434_91f26b41af_b.jpg 1024w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/55326778434_91f26b41af_b-300x200.jpg 300w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/55326778434_91f26b41af_b-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> Source: No10@flickr 10th June 2026 CC 2026 BY-ND-NC Having returned to the House of Commons, Burnham has forced Keir Starmer to resign and a time table for a Party leadership election has been declared. Much has been written about why he had to go; I have been calling for it since February when the likely defeats in Scotland and Wales became obvious. On the day, Labour also lost three more London Councils. Starmer’s resignation speech starts in the same way as his election campaign to be leader of the Labour Party, with lies. When Starmer inherited the Labour Party, it was in the strongest financial position it had been for decades and anyone who has closely read the Forde report and the EHRC report knows there is still work to do to eliminate racism from the Labour Party. The focus on macroeconomic statistics repeats the mistakes that Biden made. While I do not subscribe to the meme that “perception is reality”, perhaps it is truer in politics than in engineering. Claiming the credit for growth doesn’t work if i…

On “Stop killing video” games
type: item
creator: Dave
date: 2026-06-22T11:18:13Z
subject: Politics
subject: thoughts
subject: computer games
subject: democracy
subject: european union
subject: petitions
subject: politics
description: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/ep-windowcleaner-w200-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/ep-windowcleaner-w200-150x150.jpg 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/ep-windowcleaner-w200.jpg 200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />The ECI “Stop killing video games” was accepted as having reached its one million signature threshold earlier this year. The initiative seeks to prevent the remote disabling of videogames by their publishers. They also say, this prohibition can be met
encoded: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/ep-windowcleaner-w200-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/ep-windowcleaner-w200-150x150.jpg 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/ep-windowcleaner-w200.jpg 200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /> The ECI “Stop killing video games” was accepted as having reached its one million signature threshold earlier this year. The initiative seeks to prevent the remote disabling of videogames by their publishers. They also say, this prohibition can be met by providing means for the game to continue functioning independent of publisher. This article looks at the Commission response, the campaign’s next steps and questions the Commission’s strategy in responding to ECIs. The Commission and Parliament’s engagement with the campaign is reported on their web site. EU law requires that the Commission react to successfully ECIs. This Commission have decided that the goals of the ECI cannot be legislated for but propose to develop a code of conduct in conjunction with the industry. They also seem to think that current consumer rights are helpful; personally I don’t see it. How has this response been received, in the words of Captain Rum, “Opinion be divided”. This seems disappointing for those for whom the central claim for justice is that people think they have bought the game just to find that it can be taken away. Some in the campaign argue that this response is better than might have been expected. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="768" height="576" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/PjUS4Biv.jpg" alt="a box of CD/DVD's with a target on them, made by AI" class="wp-image-13867" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/PjUS4Biv.jpg 768w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/PjUS4Biv-30…

Bye Bye Healey and Cairns
type: item
creator: Dave
date: 2026-06-16T19:51:00Z
subject: Politics
subject: defence
subject: john healey
subject: kier starmer
subject: labour
subject: politics
description: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/parliamnent-hansardsociety-w750-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/parliamnent-hansardsociety-w750-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/parliamnent-hansardsociety-w750-270x270.png 270w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/parliamnent-hansardsociety-w750-230x230.png 230w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/parliamnent-hansardsociety-w750-50x50.png 50w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />Here is Sky’s video copy of Healey and Cairns’ resignation speeches. My comments at the time, is that Healey is focusing on financial targets, while Cairns focuses on capability. I am convinced that focusing on finance is foolish; we need
encoded: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/parliamnent-hansardsociety-w750-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/parliamnent-hansardsociety-w750-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/parliamnent-hansardsociety-w750-270x270.png 270w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/parliamnent-hansardsociety-w750-230x230.png 230w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/parliamnent-hansardsociety-w750-50x50.png 50w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /> Here is Sky’s video copy of Healey and Cairns’ resignation speeches. My comments at the time, is that Healey is focusing on financial targets, while Cairns focuses on capability. I am convinced that focusing on finance is foolish; we need to say what we need and who we think the threats are. They both avoid the threats and Healey even what we need. In On defence sovereignty I explained why I think they’re both wrong. The quiet part is that they want to buy some more warplanes from the USA together with nuclear bombs.