A week is a long time in politics...
I PROBABLY owe readers an apology.
For the first time in the years I have been writing this column, the subject matter was out of date before you even had chance to read it.
They say (here I go again) that a week is a long time in politics.
Our MP Jake Berry learnt that the hard way last week.
On the Sunday he was filmed hanging out with prime minister elect Boris Johnson, and by Thursday Mr Berry was snapped with head in hands after Mr Johnson had been ‘stabbed in the front’ by justice secretary Michael Gove, who had opted to stand for the party leadership instead.
Mr Berry’s tweets on the subject were eyeopening – offering a special place in hell for Mr Gove and then suggesting even Judas couldn’t match Mr Gove for treachery.
Do you get the impression Mr Berry was cross? What did strike me as interesting was Mr Berry arguing that he felt Mr Johnson would have been a good PM for Rossendale and Darwen.
Listening to the arguments put forward by those that the Tory MPs did get to choose from before they voted, I rather felt Theresa May would be the best PM for Rossendale. One simple reason: She wasn’t going to commit to the austerity targets the current government has.
Those austerity targets have done so much damage to our council services in recent years, and to deliver the current Tory targets for 2020 could result in our councils essentially being bankrupt.
Anyone who offers to do things at a more sensible pace should surely stand a chance of becoming PM.