.theguardian - 2 days ago

Fiscal crisis, corruption claims, shenanigans and legal threats. This feels like the week old-style politics sat on a grenade The worst-timed foreign visit by a politician this week was LA mayor Karen Bass deciding to attend the inauguration of the Ghana president. The second worst might be Rachel Reeves’s decision to push ahead with her China bridge-building trip against a backdrop of market turmoil, soaring UK borrowing costs and the inevitability of rising food prices. But look, maybe have no fear. The chancellor has apparently told all her cabinet colleagues to “cease anti-growth measures” – amazing – and also to come up with specific plans to boost economic activity. I am already picturing her opening the bits of paper from the hat. “Right, I’ve got 20 for ‘build an effing time machine’ and one that just says ‘Pass’. Sorry, Lammy – this isn’t Celebrity Mastermind.”As for auto-satirical lowlights further down the ministerial ladder, do keep your eye on anti-corruption minister Tulip Siddiq. The very regrettable lesson of the past few years in UK politics is that no matter how bad things seem, they can always take on a rosy glow in light of what comes after. The premiership of David Cameron seemed less foolhardy once we were living through the premiership of Theresa May. The premiership of Theresa May seemed less chaotic once we were living through the premiership of Boris Johnson. The premiership of Boris Johnson – well, lettuce not be too hasty. But contemplating the Siddiq situation, was it really so bad that Chris Grayling once gave a ferry contract to a firm with no ferries, considering that these days the anti-corruption minister could have three London properties she’s tied to investigated by the National Crime Agency’s international corruption unit? Siddiq has distanced herself from her deposed aunt’s authoritarian regime in Bangladesh – but not, it seems, from the properties given or made available to her by people with close links to that regime. Either way, we are asked to have full confidence in Keir Starmer’s assertion that he has full confidence in her.Marina Hyde is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...

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