The NHS and Social Care are in crisis. Winter pressures merely highlight the problems. A growing elderly population requires ever increasing levels of care. Professionals are at breaking point and are leaving in droves. EU nationals have been made to feel unwelcome so they are leaving too and there is nobody to replace them. Care homes are closing down every week and domiciliary carers are also leaving creating what could be termed as a 'Perfect Storm'. Its not just about the money, though the Health Service does need more to do its job. Training new doctors and nurses and replacing retiring General Practitioners is now critical.
Homelessness and poverty are increasing. We simply aren't building enough social housing and affordable homes for young people. Food banks are struggling to support more and more people, and changes and cuts to the Benefit system are also increasing hardship amongst the more vulnerable groups in society.
Defence is another area in trouble. The MOD now has a huge deficit, not helped by building two huge Aircraft Carriers which the Russians have described as making great targets. Cuts to the armed services are biting and even some Tory MP's are resisting and speaking out. How effective would the British Army be if put to the test in the future? Cyber warfare is one thing but we will always need 'boots on the ground'.
Terrorism threatens us all, and for far too long hate preachers have been allowed to spread their poison in the Muslim community, radicalising young people to go off and fight for ISIS, and hate crimes against Muslims, Jews and EU nationals are on the rise.
We need real leaders, heroes to get behind, men and women with the courage and charisma to put things right. Not of the 'Make Britain (America) great again' variety, like Donald Trump, probably the biggest disaster ever to hit the United States, but outward looking servant leaders working with overseas partners to make a better world. Britain, like the US is divided right down the middle, and who was it that said, "A house divided against itself will Fall?" President Putin is rubbing his hands in glee at the weakness and troubles of Europe and the US and is emboldened by it. Already Russia is dominating the situation in Syria, and thwarting every attempt by the UN to act. He annexed the Crimea with hardly a whimper in response, and his forces remain in action against the Government of Ukraine. Even now Putin has his eyes on the Baltic States and other former Soviet Union Countries and there is a growing sense of Cold War whilst Russian military forces practice their arts in the proxy war in Syria.
Returning to the currently still United Kingdom, Since David Cameron lit the blue touch paper and retired, Mrs May has not been doing well. Granted that she faces one of the biggest challenges any Prime Minister would have to face, short of going to war, she is clearly not up to the job, and her party knows it. But who would want the likes of Johnson, Gove, Leadsom or heaven forbid, Jacob Rees-Mogg to take over from her? The centre ground of British politics has been squeezed in all parties and seems unable to mount a substantial challenge. That leaves us with the prospect of Coalition. Probably the best we can expect under the circumstances, with a minor party moderating the excesses of its senior partner, as Clegg did with Cameron last time. As far as individuals are concerned, the 'other' Miliband would do, if he decided to return to UK politics. Or, dare I say it, the much discredited Tony Blair! There's a thought! Whether it comes from a leadership challenge in the Tory party, or a vote of no confidence triggering a fresh general election, something has to change.
