Simon Jenkins's Blog, page 39

Cameron predicted lobbying would be the next big scandal – now he's part of it | Simon Jenkins

The former leader should be scrutinised as part of an investigation into Covid contracts blighted by cronyism allegations

One of David Cameron’s sternest predictions was that “the far-too-cosy relationship between politics and money” was “the next big scandal waiting to happen”. He was right. It has happened – and he is part of it.

When the Covid-19 pandemic is over, there will be cause for many inquiries. While some decisions had to be made at speed, balancing horrific risks against appalling cos...

Covid bank holidays would be the shot in the arm the UK economy so badly needs | Simon Jenkins

During the pandemic, Britons have saved £250bn. Four extra days off this summer would encourage them to spend it

Ending lockdown, Boris Johnson once said, would be far harder than starting it. Governments prefer imposing controls to lifting them. Now he is set on what he calls “a one-way road to freedom”, he should do so with panache.

The most bizarre gesture of last summer’s brief lockdown respite was the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, halving the price of a restaurant meal in his “eat out to help out”...

The amount the UK spends on defence can't be justified – so we rely on piffle | Simon Jenkins

Vague concepts like ‘punching above our weight’ trump ‘value for money’ at the MoD. In fact this is money largely wasted

Toughen the sinews, gird up the loins. Tomorrow arrives another defence review heralded by what Boris Johnson would once have called a piffle fest. This is a concoction of abstract nouns and cliches drawn from Downing Street’s tired Archie Rice self-image as a “player on the world stage”.’ Johnson says he wants to be “match fit” against competitors, a “force for good” and a “gl...

Britain’s royal family is an accident waiting to happen. Prince Charles should dismantle it | Simon Jenkins

Any controversy reveals the shaky foundations of a hereditary monarchy. A wise ruler would set ‘minor royals’ free

Hereditary monarchy is always an accident waiting to happen. A wise monarch reduces the risk of accident. Britain’s Queen has been wise beyond endurance over her long reign in obeying the sole obligation of a non-political head of state, which is to avoid controversy. But she made one big mistake.

Back in 1969, the Queen gave in to pressure from her husband, Prince Philip, and her dyn...

Boris Johnson's Brexit shenanigans have met their reckoning in Northern Ireland | Simon Jenkins

The PM’s greatest ‘untruth’ was about the Northern Irish border – the honest route now is to let voters choose where it should be

It was only Achilles’ heel that was vulnerable, but it still killed him. The Northern Ireland border was Boris Johnson’s greatest Brexit “untruth”. He told the taoiseach there would be no border in Ireland. He told Northern Ireland’s unionists there would be none in the Irish Sea. He told everyone he would leave Europe’s customs union. Johnson was, as the saying goes, ...

Scottish independence isn't going away. Will the Tories be its curators – or victims? | Simon Jenkins

Boris Johnson cannot deny the Scots the government they want – and helping them achieve it will save him much trouble

Passionate unionist Boris Johnson must be thanking his lucky stars for the spat between the SNP leader, Nicola Sturgeon, and her predecessor, Alex Salmond. There was a sudden dip to 50-50 this week in poll support for Scottish independence.

But I doubt if it will last. Whatever happens in the coming May elections to the Scottish parliament, the issue of independence is not going a...

The horrific abuse of sports stars exposes social media's mob rule | Simon Jenkins

Sonja McLaughlan is just the latest innocent victim. Platforms such as Facebook and Twitter must do more to stop the hate

After covering last Saturday’s Wales-England rugby match, the BBC’s reporter Sonja McLaughlan found herself sitting in her car in tears. She had received a torrent of sexist obscenities and abuse on social media. “Toxic, embarrassing, disgraceful, appalling,” she said.

She was not alone. After apparently being glimpsed on video absent-mindedly not applauding the Welsh team aft...

Parks have been a lifeline during the pandemic. Let's make Buckingham Palace a public space | Simon Jenkins

In lockdown, Britain’s open spaces have been relied upon as never before. It’s time for the royals to lead by example

Parks are the nation’s wellness clinics. This past year they have been, after hospitals, the unsung, unclapped heroes of the pandemic. They are therapies for isolated and lonely people, places of exercise and relaxation, havens of nature and reflection. Millions of people have found in them refuge and comfort. This coming year, with staycationing a national necessity, millions mor...

The billions spent by the UK government on fighting Covid need proper scrutiny | Simon Jenkins

When ministers use emergency powers, they rely on public sympathy. But their crony bonanza is rapidly eroding it

The point of Brexit, according to its champions, was to liberate Britain from intolerable EU rules. One of these was that government contracts should always go out to transparent competitive tender. This was supposed to aid efficiency and avert the endemic corruption of certain European states. One such state now appears to be Britain.

Last November the National Audit Office estimated t...

Covid has shown that England's schools are desperate for reform | Simon Jenkins

Exams have been cancelled again, and if Gavin Williamson had any sense he wouldn’t bring them back

England’s health service apparently needs a “radical overhaul” due to Covid. That may be so, but then what about England’s education service? If the NHS has a structural cough, secondary schools have the plague. Yet nothing seems to shift them from a structure and a content barely altered in a hundred years. Even now as Whitehall’s cult of only-exams-matter collapses for a second year running, the e...