Self-confidence and refusal to change one's mind, can be praiseworthy virtues. Margaret Thatcher was admired by many for her declaration that 'the lady's not for turning'. (Not a candidate for 'Strictly'). However her refusal to make a U-turn only worked when she was right - trade union reform and battling inflation - but not when she was wrong - the poll tax.
Recent proliferation of u-turns is categorised by the media as showing uncertainty and poor judgement.
These included Christmas during the pandemic, ignorance as to re-appointment of Pincher, return of Suella Braverman and Gavin Williamson or most significantly the sacking of Kwasi Kwarteng and the resignation of PM Liz Truss. Some words always have a required epithet – ‘diabolical liberty’ or ‘absolute travesty’. In journalism u-turns are always headlined as ’embarrassing’ or ‘humiliating’.
In Liz Truss’s case her self-confident certainty and determination to cling to her original ideas regardless of counter-argument, consequences and circumstances, showed how dangerous this can be.
However, there should be greater acceptance of politicians willing to change their minds and being amenable to argument and sensible reconsideration – in Rishi Sunak’s case the eventual determination not to fear criticism of a political u-turn by deciding to attend Cop 27.
Speculation as to the outcome of the 2022 Football World Cup was obscured by a plethora of other World Cups – women’s Rugby League, Rugby Union, T20 Cricket, wheelchair Rugby League.
Only two days before the first game in Qatar, there was the major u-turn by FIFA in response to an order from Sheikh Jasmin bin Khalifa al-Thani, brother of Qatar’s ruler. No beer to be served in any of the football stadia (Latin education) but only in hospitality areas, a major blow to Budweiser which pays £63m as a sponsor. Marketing of the World Cup stated Qatar would indeed allow alcohol in each stadium.
Quite why the ban was imposed so late is unclear. It could be a late reminder that Qatar won the vote, has spent handsomely to hold the competition and remains confident about its values and way of life; and regards criticism outside the Middle East as hypocrisy. Qatar is locked into the West in terms of economic and security infrastructure. For months Qatar has been pouring liquefied natural gas into tankers to keep us all warm over Christmas. Distaste for Russia did not stop us enjoying its World Cup just after the first invasion of Ukraine and the killing of people on British soil.
For the first time there will be some women referees officiating in the World Cup finals! We are reminded that when the World Cup Finals were last played in England in 1966, homosexuality was still illegal. Who determines the moral high ground? David Beckham?
Just Stop Oil is conducting a war of attrition against the ‘criminal government and their genocidal death project’. The pressure groups think the media may tire of stunts such as stopping traffic, closures of the M25, blockading newspaper print works, throwing soup at historic works of art in public galleries and spraying government buildings with orange paint and therefore they now aim to be even more disruptive.
Their campaign and tactics are factually wrong. Currently the world relies on fossil fuels for 80% of its energy needs, and has done so for the last 50 years. Activists ignore the costs of moving to environmental sustainability. Wind and solar power are subject to intermittency of weather. With the reduction in fossil fuel, richer economies’ security of energy relies on gas. This is been rendered short-sighted by relying on supply from Russia.
Achieving net zero emissions is expensive and will cost jobs during a long transition, during which we must aim to avoid importing carbon-intensive goods.
Taxpayers will need to make sacrifices not shared by apparently well-heeled activists and intellectuals blocking roads and bridges and wasting soup. Just Stop Oil should not be treated with the type of exaggerated deference it does not deserve. Naive extremism and self martyrdom are dangerous.
A tip for an Oscar is Bill Nighy in the excellent British film ‘Living’. The screenplay is written by Kazuo Ishiguro (author of Remains of the Day) and adapted from the 1952 Japanese film Ikiru. ‘Living’ is set in 1953 and depicts a bureaucrat played by Nighy facing a terminal illness. Nighy has never received an Oscar nomination but this may be his time. The atmosphere of 1953 Britain is well captured. In the USA they may think it shows the UK of today.
The John Lewis Christmas advert marks a change from recent years featuring Lily Allen, Tom Odell and Vaults aimed at encouraging a sales boost. This year’s offering entitled ‘The Beginner’ shows a middle-aged man repeatedly trying and failing to learn how to skate-board. The reason – that he is about to become a foster parent to a teenage girl who is a keen skate-boarder. The message is that over 108,000 children in the UK in the care system.
Surely as compassionate as last year’s lonely old man stuck on the moon. To the background of a Blink 182 ballad this Christmas message is about care for the disadvantaged. Consistent with the Jeremy Hunt message to protect the vulnerable, preserve funding for the NHS, education and defence as well as the pensions triple lock. Low taxes are an aspiration for the future but for this Christmas we feel as stable as a middle-aged skate-boarder.
Good luck to Stuart and Sue Young with their new venture, Lovage in the former premises of Salle Pepe in St George’s Terrace, Jesmond. Superb food and ambiance.
Merry Christmas to you all.
