Thread by @swardley

X : Thoughts on Sajid Javid?
Me : Positive.
X : That he has left?
Me : No, at the level of scenario planning. Westminster was "shocked", No.10 certainly wasn't. It's quite encouraging to see this level of play and planning. That bodes well for the future.

X : You're making assumptions on what purposes such skills are used for.
Me : No, I'm thinking longer term. Upping the standard of play and planning is beneficial across the board. If that is going to be the main impact of Dominic Cummings then that's very welcome.

X : Do you think the Boris' conservatives will steer towards one nation?
Me : I'm old Labour which is a hair's breadth from One Nation. So, I'd be delighted to see this become a Disraeli style approach. But words are cheap, I've heard this before (Cameron etc) and I'm skeptical.

i.e. what I've tended to see is fiscal prudence (reducing waste) but extended into ideology (austerity) and the lack of any actual social investment. So rather than "more red than red, more blue than blue" (which aptly describes old Labour), it ends up "Blue, blue and more blue".

... in short, the social investment and rebalancing required ends up as lip service or fine words that butter no parsnips. The action instead is just endless cutting and misdirection.

Still, we shall see. I am very skeptical on the claims of One Nation. I'd love to be wrong.