Welcome to my weekly update no.356
Another seismic week in Westminster with the resignation of Keir Starmer this morning. It is not, of course, a surprise. Nor, whatever you think of him, is it great for Britain’s global reputation to get through our leaders at Italian speed. It may also just eclipse the big local story which is that Dave, the Godalming Sainsbury's Magpie, has been safely captured!
WESTMINSTER WHISPERS
KEIR OUT After Andy Burnham’s by-election victory last week Sir Keir Starmer has this morning bowed to the inevitable and resigned. It is tempting for political opponents to relish the chaos but it is actually terrible for the country to get through Prime Ministers at this rate. Long term decision-making (such as biting the bullet on welfare reform) becomes infinitely harder with a constant churn of leaders and ministers. I am also worried that Labour is making the same mistake we made in office, namely thinking the issue is about ‘communication.’ Keir Starmer’s problem was not communication or even particular issues like the Winter Fuel Payment or Peter Mandelson. It was that he couldn’t take tough and difficult decisions. If Andy Burnham spends the next three years obsessing about turning round the polls rather than turning round the country, it will be no different.
BURNHAM BACK I always like to be glass half-full though. When Andy Burnham becomes PM he will be the first to have been health secretary in the history of the NHS. How might he improve it in a world with no money? There are actually some things he could do for both the NHS and social care which I consider in detail in my next Substack essay, coming out later in the week. It’s a new fortnightly email I am doing which does a deep dive into a different national issue, always with a solution and a positive outlook. So far we have done tax and welfare reform. Please sign up here to get them – and tell your friends…there is too much doom and gloom right now!
CRISIS WHAT CRISIS? Today is a day when we are reminded that politics feels like a perma-crisis. How do politicians actually cope with the stress of the job? Someone who knows this better than anyone is Andy Coulson, David Cameron’s communications chief who ended up going to prison following the phone-hacking scandal. He has started an excellent podcast series in which he interviews people about how they cope with personal challenges and you can see my interview here. Worth a watch if you want to listen to something different!
LOCAL LIFE
EXTREME HEAT WARNING Just announced: this week Surrey is under a rare extreme heat warning with temperatures expected to peak at 38 degrees Wednesday-Thursday. A quick note to take extra care and follow official guidance, check in on neighbours and family and keep animals as cool as possible.
FRIMLEY PARK NEW HOSPITAL SITE Big announcement last week - particularly for residents in Ash - as Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust laid out plans for a total rebuild at the Pine Ridge Golf Club site. The current hospital is approaching 60 years old and was built in large part using RAAC (reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete), which can fail when exposed to moisture - so the rebuild needs to happen ASAP. Under the proposals, emergency, inpatient and maternity services would move to the new site, while most outpatient, diagnostic and community appointments would remain at the existing Portsmouth Road site to minimise travel disruption. The news has generated both support and concern - those opposed have raised issues around traffic impacts in the immediate vicinity alongside wider concerns about infrastructure capacity and the environmental impacts. Next steps are a consultation process with a target planning application submission at the end of next year.
PHONES (NOT) FOR U Many thanks to Rodborough Headteacher Emma Hunston and the inimitable Gemma Taylor from Smartphone Free Childhood, who I met with on Friday for a catch up following the government’s announcement it will introduce a ban on social media for under-16s. Rodborough is introducing a smartphone ban for Year 7 students from this September and the school is now working through the practicalities of implementing the new guidance which does not differentiate between smartphones and traditional “brick phones”. Fantastic to see this excellent school taking the lead on such an important issue for children’s welfare.
BUSBRIDGE OPEN GARDENS On the weekend of 27 & 28 June (2-5pm), why not go along and explore some of the beautiful gardens across Busbridge - from small courtyards to colourful cottage gardens and productive vegetable plots. Tickets are £5.00 (children under 14 are free) with contactless payment or cash available on both days at any garden on the route - no advance booking required. All proceeds support two fantastic local charities, Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice Care and Skillway. Further details and to pre-book: https://busbridge-open-gardens.sumupstore.com/
JOIN THE HYDON HOBBLE The 17th annual Hydon Hobble will take place again this year on Friday evening 3 July. The weather is finally looking up and the course is beginning to dry out. For more details on how to register click hereor email [email protected].
AND FINALLY - DAVE THE MAGPIE SAFELY CAPTURED! 🐦 After months of residence inside Sainsbury’s Godalming, the now-famous Dave the Magpie has been safely captured and taken into care for observation ahead of release. The operation apparently followed several attempts to catch him - including, somewhat brilliantly, the use of decoy magpies. Glad to hear Dave is safe and well… not many local stories manage to combine wildlife rescue, supermarket shopping and undercover bird operations quite so successfully!
PHOTO CREDIT: SAINSBURYS MAGPIE
Useful Links Register to vote - Register to vote - GOV.UK
Report a pothole - Surrey County Council FixMyStreet
Report an issue WBC - Report Issues or Problems | Waverley Borough Council
Report an issue GBC - Report an issue - Guildford Borough Council
Surrey police non-emergency - Contact us | Surrey Police
Citizens Advice Surrey - Home - Citizens Advice South West Surrey
Priority Services Register - https://www.thepsr.co.uk/
