Yes it was an earthquake, so prepare for another one soon

So was the General Election the sixth earthquake? Oh yes. On top of all the previous quakes, we experienced another as the Conservatives lost their majority in the election that Theresa May never needed to call. Remember Brenda from Bristol on the day the election was called: “Another one? Why does she need to do it?” Why was Brenda not employed as a special adviser at Number 10?

Will this election be the sixth political earthquake in 10 years?

Gradually over the last few weeks of campaigning an apparently foregone conclusion has translated into the most uncertain of outcomes. It feels as if the political earth is moving under our feet. Why? Well, during the last decade no fewer than five political earthquakes have struck the United Kingdom. So unsteadiness is not exactly surprising... but what were these five seismic events?

Election 2017 – What’s going to happen?

Theresa May’s decision to call a snap General Election has taken everyone by surprise, not least because she had repeatedly said that under the 2011 Fixed Term Parliaments Act the next election would not be until 2020. She is not one to consult widely but plays her cards very close to her chest, which signally prevented even the tiniest of leaks in advance of her announcement of the 8 June poll.

2017 – Another Tumultuous Political Year

January

·         Donald Trump is inaugurated as President of the USA. In his inauguration speech he announces the end of White House press briefings. In future all new policies will be revealed on Twitter.

·         The British Supreme Court rules that Parliament must be consulted before Article 50 is triggered.

·         Paul Nuttall steps down as leader of UKIP “for personal and professional reasons”. Nigel Farage becomes interim leader again, so he is now leading UKIP for the fifth time.

An Open Letter to the President-elect of the USA

Dear Mr Trump

I do not expect that you will ever see, let alone read, this letter from an interested observer in the United Kingdom, but that has not stopped me from writing it.

Congratulations upon your election as the 45^th President of the United States of America. Your victory was a truly extraordinary one, contrary to the expectations of pundits and pollsters. You will stand on the shoulders of some truly great predecessors such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt, all of whom had either been military or political leaders before they took office. You alone come from neither of these backgrounds, a disadvantage perhaps but on the other hand allowing you to bring a fresh perspective to the task that lies before you.

Yes Minister was pretty spot on about Europe all those years ago. Watch 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkpS-yBj7gY and

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvYuoWyk8iU

And the scriptwriters, Jonathan Lynn and Anthony Jay, are still quite sharp. Read this:

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2016/aug/07/yes-minister-brexit-eu-jonathan-lynn-sir-humphrey

Since I posted this, Sir Anthony Jay died, so perhaps this was the last piece he wrote.

Leaders of Britain, what did you do?

Leaders of Britain, what did you do

When the EU referendum was lost and won?
Oh that your counsel had been honest and true.
Leaders of Britain, what have you done?