For frankness, it is hard to beat Liz Truss’s admission that it will take years to secure a trade deal with the USA, the biggest economy in the West. So much for the benefits of Brexit, which was meant to release us from the shackles of the European Union and set buccaneering Britain on the high seas of free market deals.
Now Prime Minister Truss looks as hapless as her predecessor, Boris Johnson, who boasted that while his pal Donald Trump was in office we would be in the front of the queue for a deal. Now it is no deal.
Brexit has cost billions in lost trade with the EU, endangered the peace process in Northern Ireland and left Britain adrift from what should be its closest economic ally, the US. To top it all, President Joe Biden has expressed his hatred of the trickle down theory of economics.
The idea that if the rich get richer then eventually some of the wealth will find its way down to make the poor a bit better off has always been complete rubbish. The president said so in so many words in a tweet.
Yet Truss has flown into New York to meet Biden while spouting her belief in growing the economy by making the rich richer. She is going for tax cuts that will benefit the rich more than the poor and corporation tax cuts that will make for bigger profits for shareholders.
The new Prime Minister couldn’t look any more out of step with our biggest ally if she tried.
Sa fety first
Many Scots will go through life without ever needing to call the fire service in an emergency. But it’s a reassurance to know that a team of expert lifesavers is there if we need it.
Firefighting is a job that cannot be done in half-measures. So it’s alarming to learn the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has lost almost 15 per cent of its staff over the last 10 years.
The merger of the old regional fire departments was controversial. Many critics at the time argued it would lead to cutbacks.
SFRS bosses insist the reduction is caused by a reduction in duplicated roles inherited from the old regime. But that rings hollow given the number of years that have passed.
Unions warn response times are growing longer and crewing levels reduced. The Scottish Government must ensure our fire service is properly resourced. It’s a safety net we could all one day require.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
