Politics!

I don’t do politics – but …. I am neither a capitalist or a communist, I’m not even a liberal or a nationalist. I’m just one of the majority of British taxpayers living, working and paying a variety of taxes in this country and wondering what the term ‘democracy’ actually means. Recent governments have boasted about their efforts to create jobs, and they must be congratulated on their achievements. There is however one tiny wee thing wrong with their ambitions. They are creating more jobs in China than here in the UK.

Whilst we are shutting down coal fired power stations and oil wells, and closing car manufacturing plants in England, France and Germany, China is building more such power plants to cope with increasing car manufacturing demands.

Once upon a time Great Britain was the workshop of the world, sadly no longer, as those who govern have frittered away our heritage and reputation.

China started developing and manufacturing electric motor cars long before Europe so they have a head start in the technology and the manufacturing process. Last year (2024), the UK car market accounted for around 2 million car sales during that 12 month period. In November last year the Chinese market accounted for almost two and a half million car sales in ONE month.

And so with their economies of scale and technological advancement they can now afford to ship cheap EVs across the world. Just as Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki in Japan virtually destroyed the UK motor cycle industry so the likes of Leapmotor, BYD, Ora, Omoda, Skywell and MG are likely to do the same to our car industry, and not just here in the UK, right across Europe.

Our response? Windfarms and solar panels, and ever higher energy prices for the public consumers and businesses while the ban on new petrol and diesel car sales has been brought forward from 2035 to 2030.  

In July last year (2024), the number of public charging points stood at 64,632 while the current roll-out speeds suggest 100,000 by summer 2025 with the government setting a target of 300,000 by 2030. From over 46,000 service stations across the UK, we are down to just over 8,000. The only thing increasing faster is the number of pot-holes.

Is it our fault we have elected and are paying for 650 MPs, 129 MSPs, 60 SENEDD members and 90 members of the Northern Ireland Assembly who apparently have very little of experience of running a business, let alone a country, before being elected to their positions of power and responsibility? Admittedly once in office they get advice, help and support from the Civil Service. But again what knowledge of administration and business experience do these individuals bring to their roles – all half million and more of them?

To those of us on the outside of these gilded palaces, it does seem that once their feet cross the thresholds of their respective offices and departments all sense of responsibility to those who put them there desert us in our hour of need.

What we need is rather more intelligence and common sense from those who purport to lead our country. Yes, we ALL need to be much more creative about power generation and emissions control – but a nation of some 68 million can’t do it on its own.

Welcome to 2025, happy new year, eh?