The Government and Faith

 Colin Bloom has been appointed, as the Faith Engagement Adviser at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, to lead an on-line review into how best the government should engage with faith groups in England.

This seems to be a rare but valuable opportunity to let the government know how we feel about their current and on-going ways of engagement.

The review closes on 11th December 2020.

More details about how to respond to the review can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/independent-faith-engagement-review-call-for-evidence <https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/independent-faith-engagement-review-call-for-evidence>

Cornwall and deprivation in the UK

 Purely by chance this morning I watched "Cornwall with Simon Reeve" (Thursday 26 November). If you get a chance do watch it. This episode was focussed on the job market in Cornwall; amid the many second homes and upmarket restaurants it has some of the most deprived parts of the UK.

The major issues are that there are very few "career jobs" most are part-time summer jobs and so young people are leaving the county. The major industries such as mining (tin, copper and china clay) and fishing have either closed or require far fewer staff thanks to mechanisation. So many of the towns built on these industries are in rapid decline and nothing has replaced them.

It showed a group of young people who collectively ran some mobile catering outlets on the beach did manage to make a go of it this year despite the pandemic. They have made enough money to take an eight year lease on some premises and start a new restaurant - but not in Cornwall as there are no affordable sites.

Ironically the growth in working from home may be part of the salvation of this part of the country as some of the second homes (in some small towns and villages more than 50% of the dwelling are second homes) may become year round homes which will help sustain holiday towns in teh bleak mid-winter months.

There are no quick and easy answers to the problems of Cornwall and I am sure that there are other areas that have similar problems. I am not posting this to start a "social media debate" as they generally end up in hurling slogans at one another. Rather do watch this programme and think about how we can solve these major structural problems that we have in the UK.

We need a grown up intelligent debate, sadly they are few and far between these days. How we start one is the big question.

Is it me or Mr Johnson that is Bonkers?

 Am I going totally bonkers? (please don't answer that rhetorical question as I know you will say yes, those that don't will say that I am already bonkers). But what is the government (or rather the governments of the four nations that make up the UK) trying to achieve by all the lockdowns?

If you stay indoors and don't ever meet anyone else you will not get Covid-19 - but the economy falls apart. This is what is happening right now. 

If you get Covid-19 the vast majority of people in good health and who are under 70 have no lasting ill effects and the symptoms for the majority do not cause too much discomfort. Some do have long-Covid and some (thankfully very few die). Those with underlying health issues and  those over 70 are more likely to suffer complications and/or die. 

So I am coming round to the thinking that would not the best solution be to let business etc carry on as normal and put special measures, both preventative and financial, to protect those at risk? In multi-generational households those normally at work are paid not to work and stay at home so that those at risk are protected. It would be mandatory to wear face masks properly and observe social distancing when out and about. If those at risk decide that they would rather go out and about and take the risk of an early death that should be up to them not the state. Right now we seem to be taking the worst course of action with no end in sight.

I am one of the lucky ones, I have a pension, house paid for and a large garden so I am "All right Jack". For those renting/with a mortgage and have just lost your job life is hell to put it mildly. If things were opened up the consequential effects of the lockdown would dissipate. The vulnerable would have to take steps to protect themselves and shield themselves from those going out and about. They are at liberty not to do this.

I will end on the happy thought that no matter what we do we will, one day, end up in a graveyard!