It was a week dominated by one of the most fascinating events on the political calendar, the Budget.
It was Labor’s first in almost two decades and the first by a female chancellor, Rachel Reeves. I think that’s less important than seeing what Labor does fiscally with its vast majority. But she seems to think it’s important and talks about it a little.
She began by comparing this government with those of Atlee and Wilson, which I thought was a bit of an exaggeration. Most of my Labor friends say it was a very difficult start and the budget did not solve that problem. In fact, you could say it made the situation worse, not least because there was no obvious big vision.
Budgets are interesting and important on different levels, especially when it comes to what we used to call “sin taxes” – beer and cigarettes.
They are also important indicators of how much poorer or richer you will be in the near to medium future.
It used to be difficult for me to enter the television studio with files and tons of notes.
During rehearsal, Alastair Burnet said to me: “One day you’ll just take a Post-it. »
He would also tell me to read a lot and search my memory because everything is there. With dementia, this is particularly wise.
If you keep checking Google, your memory becomes even more flabby. We end up scratching our heads.
So I devoted two hours to GB News’ budget coverage without even a post-it and many friends were kind enough to say and comment on social media that I was in great shape.
Alastair Stewart reflects on his week in the fourth installment of his weekly diary, Living With Dementia
NEWS FROM GB
I met Christopher Hope, our political editor and one of the best journalists and political commentators in broadcast and print. I also saw former Labor MP Gloria De Piero, who I have been a friend and admirer of for years.
I also met Lord Ross Kempsell who I had first met at Talk Radio before joining 10 Downing Street during the Conservative years, as a communications specialist.
He had lobbied for an exemption from VAT on the school fees of military children and was successful.
That would have been my brother and I sixty years ago. So I say, well done Ross!
Budgets also give you insight into the political and philosophical heart of a ruling party.
Reeves raised taxes by £40 billion, mainly on businesses. This is crazy if you want growth.
Hiring people has become significantly more expensive with the stroke of a pen. Not only recruit new workers, but also retain those already on the job.
Our daughter works for a group of private sector schools, so the imposition of VAT on private school fees was something I was keenly interested in.
She says her well-run and well-funded group will survive, but she fears many smaller schools will close. Private education is also about freedom of choice and aspiration which, in my experience, Labor does not like.
How the Labor benches roared with joy when the VAT change was confirmed.
They did the same when an increase in air passenger taxes was announced for the small number of people using private jets.
It was small matters of student politics.
In the real, adult world of work and business, one of our nephews and one of my godchildren, who owns and runs a few pub restaurants, messaged me to say it was a budget terrible.
The increase in capital gains tax also makes shareholding and starting businesses less attractive. If we do not create wealth, there is nothing to redistribute anyway.
Removing £40 billion from overall demand and expecting growth goes against all accepted economic theories.
READ PREVIOUS “LIVING WITH DEMENTIA” ENTRIES:
Another Labor colleague, Dr John Reed, a close friend from my student days, invited me to lunch with our mutual friend Charles Clarke. Charles took me out to lunch shortly after my dementia diagnosis and jokingly said, “Are you and them sure?!”
He then emphasized that “my mind and my memory were as sharp as ever.” I don’t think he was just being nice.
They are two giants of modern Labor, so I look forward to seeing them.
Outside of work, our grandsons attended a local Halloween show jumping event and they both looked great.
Their parents are all about winning but also just having a good time and they keep things in balance.
In this week’s edition of Living with Dementia, Alastair Stewart reflects on boarding a Route-master with members of the Royal Family and Dame Barbara Windsor for the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal in 2013.
GETTY
It was also the week of the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal. I am a strong supporter and my mother was on the national committee of the now defunct women’s section.
The Legion works tirelessly for our veterans and for the families of the fallen and seriously injured.
The events of this year reminded me of 2013, when TFL gifted the Legion with a Route-master for launch. The late Barbara Winsdor and I were on board and the then Prince of Wales welcomed us at St James’s Palace.
Later, former Prime Minister David Cameron welcomed us to Downing Street. Barbara suffered from dementia, but she engaged the prince and prime minister with wit and wisdom. She was in wonderful shape.
Fucking insanity, I said, I’ll never forget any of this.