No dark sarcasm in the classrom
Jim calls for squabbling in the classroom to cease as the debate hots up over the return to lessons. He also focuses on the effects on the Merseyside economy of the virus crisis.
Does Debt Matter?
In his 400th blog for Downtown, Jim asks how the huge bill for Covid-19 is going to be paid for. Some experts say let the deficit take care of itself, but Jim thinks some tax rises are inevitable.
Forensic Keir versus Blusterer Boris
This week Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer came face to face at PMQs for the first time. The dual between the two men will define politics for the next four years. Jim gives his first assessment. He also reviews the appearance in the Downtown Den of the North West’s elected mayors.
Grimmer and grimmer
Could we be facing a year of Corvid crisis with all its implications for social and business disruption? That’s the fear that Jim expresses this week as he sees few lights at the end of the tunnel. He also speculates what might have happened if David Miliband had become Prime Minister 10 years ago.
Level with us… Don’t Lie
This week Jim calls for more plain speaking from the government and looks at the grim prospects facing our pubs and restaurants.
A Long Way Back
The government is unable to give business a clear back to work strategy because of the lack of testing, Jim claims in his latest blog. He also takes a close look at the North West Labour MPs in Keir Starmer’s new team.
Need for clarity
This week Jim fears the lock down is here to stay,and calls for proper rules to be in place when the Prime Minister is ill. He also looks at Labour’s new team.
Starmer: Sherpa or Prime Minister?
Keir Starmer is the hot favourite to win the Labour leadership race on what should have been Grand National day. Jim asks whether the new leader will be competitive in 2024 because of the changed world we are all facing.
Repeat performance by the banks?
This week Jim asks if the banks are going to be the bad boys in this crisis in the same way as they were in 2008? He also assesses the government’s handling of medical issues.
18 moths of virus suppression?
Jim argues that there is some wishful thinking about how long this virus emergency is going to last.He argues that firms and workers should be given cash not loans to avoid a spiral into a serious recesssion.
There is a magic money tree after all
The Tories have found the magic money tree that Theresa May said didn’t exist. But in his Budget review, Jim asks if there is underlying unease in the Tory Party about this dramatic switch from austerity to a bonanza of spending.
Budget might get the virus
Will “events” prevent the Chancellor from launching an ambitious Budget next week at the start of the Johnson era? Jim also reports on how the towns are fighting back.