Johann Hari in The Independent

I never thought I would write this, but there was an excellent article by Johann Hari in The Independent yesterday. Normally I don't bother with his column - his writing has a spiteful quality that undermines any more serious points he is making. But yesterday's "manifesto" on care for the elderly was important, cogent and full of intelligent ideas. He is obviously writing from the heart. You can read it on-line here: http://johannhari.com/2011/01/26/how-to-end-the-crisis-in-our-old-peoples-homes-and-make-sure-nobody-suffers-like-my-grandmother-again I absolutely endorse all ten points in the article, and would like to see them adopted as government policy. Ironically economic and demographic pressures may help to ensure elderly people are supported in their own homes by their own families. If first time buyers are unable to afford a house of their own many of them will be obliged to stay in the parental home until they ultimately inherit. This may not be ideal in every case, but it seems to be a reasonable generational trade-off - care for elderly relatives in return for a £450 weekly payment and ultimate ownership of the family property (perhaps with a presumption in law that children who look after their parents are entitled to inherit their property, whatever the Will may say). As most couples have only two children this should be an economically elegant solution to the housing shortage and the issue of long-term care for the elderly. It will not suit the current "lifestyle" preferences, but lifestyles are just a matter of marketing (and we know how malleable marketing can be).

Government

Out of all the fine writing that has accompanied the general election I think this is my favourite piece.

As for the election result itself, I was hoping for a clear Conservative win.

Since the smoking ban no-one mentions "smoke-filled rooms" anymore, but metaphorically this is where the next government will be decided.

Sex smear scandal

Above: during the bank holiday weekend there has been no Newsnight, no Andrew Neil, no Politics Show. And yet one of the biggest "sex smear" scandals of parliamentary history has broken out. Surely there should be some mechanism for recalling political interviewers during crises of this kind?

"Downing Street" staff were behind the invention of salacious sex stories about Conservative politicians and their wives, which were to be published on a supposedly independent "front" blog. One of the main people implicated in this campaign was actually a civil servant, paid for by our taxes (and although he has resigned over the scandal presumably he is hoping to keep his comfortable public sector pension). One of the main targets of this false sexual innuendo was David Cameron, and although as a senior politician he should expect ruthless attacks he is also (with his wife) still grieving the death of his infant son - to publish false material designed to damage or break up his marriage seems to have shocked many people.

Am I alone in thinking that now we have caught one of these political spin merchants red-handed we should put him in a court and see if a gaol sentence can be imposed? Surely he is guilty (with Derek Draper) of conspiracy to commit a crime? Can we at least take his pension away?



Above: as the scandal has unfolded there are suggestions that it could bring down the government. On PM (Radio 4) today senior Labour politicians were turning on their own leadership, suggesting that confidence in the administration is ebbing away. Strategically it might be better for Labour to ditch Gordon Brown now rather than wait for the electorate to do it in a year's time.

You can see above the front cover of yesterday's Guardian. I like the way they have positioned Armando Iannucci in a prime adjacent position next to the sex smear scandal headline. Armando Iannucci satirised the outrageous behaviour of Downing Street special advisors in his comedy series The Thick Of It (at the time some critics thought it was exaggerated, but it now seems Armando Iannucci was a master of understatement).

Life imitating art imitating life (in this clip the Conservatives are the target of sexual innuendo that seems to have originated from Downing Street): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQoem1717X4&feature=related



Above: no Paxman, no Andrew Neil, no Politics Show. But Today (BBC Radio 4) has covered the scandal brilliantly, and today's World At One was excellent. Also enjoyed Carole Cadwalladr in Sunday's Observer, Jackie Ashley in yesterday's Guardian and Dominic Lawson in today's Independent (note added Wednesday - also John Harris's article in the Guardian).

Skegness

There was an evocative article in yesterday's Guardian about Skegness. It made me long to go there again and walk along the promenade by the pier. Even when the wind is blowing it's a happy place.

Laura Barton's article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2009/apr/07/bartons-britain-skegness-laura