The Culture Secretary deserves a gold-plated edition of the Bluffers’ Guide to Politics, and must feel this morning like the proverbial dog with two cocks.
[Editor’s warning: as the author of the famous originals pointed out, “there is wishful thinking in Hell as well as on Earth”.]
The recent bias in Downing Street against putting the Work and Pensions Secretary up for press conferences and big media shows is inexplicable.
Until Ministers have a clear direction in which to steer the ship of anti-poverty policy, they will be at the mercy of the passengers.
The questions are posed with a ponderousness that recalls Polonius as his most sententious: too much evidence, too little wit.
August’s debacle has won this category – although other U-turns are not much further behind.
The second in our mini-series of pieces from the Centre for Social Justice on the virus – and helping those in deep poverty.
The recent debate on free school meals has shown, among many things, the impact of local civil society non-state organisations.
We are allowing others to create a narrative for us, and in the absence of an agreed poverty measure and subsequent strategy, we always will.
Johnson’s troops are issuing declarations of intent in public. His success will depend on his ability to learn from mistakes.
Together with tax cuts and less regulation, higher or more extensive benefits look like better support for hungry children than vouchers.
Ministers could not have handled the matter worse if they’d tried. But Paul Maynard, pictured, is championing a solution.
Plus: Free school meals, Pointless Celebrities, Bower’s book And: “Did the honourable lady just call me scum?” Your chance to drink to that.
The Government’s own calculations of welfare payments do not cost in the provision of a healthy diet.
Clearly the Government’s model is flawed. But there is no perfect formula for solving this crisis.