Oink, Oink, Oink

The clown with the stage name Boris Johnson, who is treating the position of the Prime Minister of the UK as the world’s greatest improv gig, seems to be having a self-inflicted rough time at the moment. The fall out from his disastrously self serving decision to rip up independent oversight of Conservative MPs’ sleazebag side gigs had not abated when he compounded backbench anger with his toe curling, well let’s call it a speech, to the CBI, which contained more hums and haws and vroom vroom noises than actual words in the English language.

To make matters worse for Johnson, who got the position of leader of the Tory party in part because of his supposed skills as an orator, the meaningful words which the – are we still calling it a speech? – did contain were not strung together in any coherent fashion, and appeared to be mostly concerned with a visit to Peppa Pig land, which Johnson claimed was his kind of place. This must come as a surprise to those who have seen the programme in the company of some under fives and had failed to realise it was actually about a compulsively lying serial adulterer who tries to get a journalist beaten up and who would privatise the NHS if he thought he could get away with it.

Still it’s nice to know that even the supine jellyfish on the Conservative benches in the Commons do, in fact, have a limit to their toleration of Johnson’s appalling behaviour and manifest unsuitability for public office. However it speaks volumes about the lack of morality, or indeed basic human decency in the Parliamentary Conservative party that the limit was reached, not with a callous incompetence in handling the pandemic which has left the UK with one of the highest per capita death tolls in the world, not with one lie after another. It was not even reached with Johnson’s naked assault on the democratic norms of the UK which the Conservatives effect to be so proud of – up to and including lying to the Queen in order to unlawfully prorogue Parliament in an effort to evade Parliamentary scrutiny of his Brexit deal. The Tories have been just fine with all of this, just as they have been fine with the corruption, the sleaze and the flouting of the lockdown rules which the rest of us must adhere to. Johnson once again flouted official requests to wear a mask as he watched a performance of Macbeth at a busy theatre in North London just days after he refused to wear a mask on a visit to a hospital in the north of England.

No, what finally did it for the Tories was a stumbling and shambolic speech about Peppa Pig. The Tories knew exactly what they were getting with Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson. They knew all about his total lack of concern for anyone other than himself, the fact that he occupies a principle and moral vacuum, his rank opportunism, and his laziness. But despite all that, they chose him as leader anyway, because they cynically calculated that his carefully contrived shambolic “Boris” alter-ego with his deliberately rumpled appearance and purposely unkempt hair would appeal to a certain type of voter in England who would be swayed by the alleged charms of an upper class patrician type whose persona is based upon not giving a shit. A significant minority in class obsessed England confuse this act with authenticity, enough to give Johnson and the Conservatives the victory they craved in the General Election of December 2019.

Now however the novelty has well and truly worn off and the public in England are starting to show signs of tiring of the Boris performance. Even the bland Keir Starmer is starting to make inroads into the Conservatives’ lead in the UK-wide opinion polls. As Leader of the Opposition, Starmer is assiduous and energetic in attacking his political opponents. Luckily for Johnson and the Tories, the great political opponents of the Parliamentary Labour party are other parts of the Labour party.

There is now widespread disquiet on the Conservative benches as Tory MPs fear for their second jobs and start to doubt Johnson’s ability to get them re-elected. There are rumours of moves being made against him and even that some Tory MPs are sounding out their colleagues about a potential leadership challenge. Downing Street has been forced to go on the defensive, with Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab, himself a selfish incompetent who owes his position entirely to Johnson’s patronage, asserting that Johnson’s speech to the CBI was an example of the prime minister being “ebullient”, in the process giving us yet another example of senior Conservatives using words in entirely novel and unexpected ways.

It is unlikely that Johnson will be unseated by his party in the short term, the anonymous briefings to the press from unhappy Tory MPs and the rumours of leadership challenges are more likely an attempt from within the party to deliver a shot across the bows of the Johnson ship of state in the hope of getting a few concessions. However what recent developments within the Conservative party do signify is that for the time being we will not be hearing any more talk from the Conservatives and their allies about a snap General Election in the Spring in order to take advantage of the ineffectiveness of the Labour party. The Conservatives know that they need to get their own house in order first. Their problem is that what they are getting with Johnson is precisely what they should have expected they were going to get. He’s incapable of change and as such is a perfect figurehead for a corrupt and shambolic Westminster which is incapable of reform. How did we get into this mess? And don't blame Jeremy Corbyn.

Septuagenarians on Bodmin Moor - Bolventor and beyond

We've driven across Bodmin Moor on the A30 many, many times. And occasionally we have stopped at Jamaica Inn, which most people associate with this part of the moor. But we've never been there with the intention of taking a walk in the surrounding countryside. Last week we did and here's a post to prove it. It was great walking in a new area and along tracks and footpaths that were obviously not well-trodden.

A 6.3 mile circular route that took us over the River Fowey twice, onto Codda Down, Webbs Down and Palmersbridge before returning to our starting point. Which was just opposite Jamaica Inn on the north side of the A30. Not the best of days weatherwise and I'd grade this walk as 'moderate' with a fairly difficult stretch across a few fields of tufty grass. Oh, I should mention the rather poor signposting - and probably equally poor map reading - that lead to a few moments (!) of confusion.

Our starting point, showing the mizzly hazy conditions that accompanied us for a great part of our walk. There were, however, some periods of blue skies and clear views. Typical Cornish weather really.

It's a good year for all sort of berries.

Looking up the valley towards Leskernick Hill in the centre distance. Keen eyes might be able to make out the isolated Leskernick Cottage, nestling at the base of the hill. An almost blue sky.

For lovers of sheep creeps, here's a good one for you to admire. Made to look even more attractive by the brown of the bracken.

The River Fowey is formed from the drainage of Fowey Marsh, which is probably a mile or so from this point. Luckily there was a rather handy footbridge to get us over this bit without having to wade.

Browngelly in the distance.

Move 45 degrees from the above and we can see Brown Willy. Most of the farm land in this area has been reclaimed from the open moor since the early 1800s. When the reclamation first started, Bolventor was known as 'Bold Venture' which gives a good indication of how difficult farming was thought to be.

Brown Willy in the mist. We really must make an effort to get up there.

I've already mentioned the questionable signposting and here's a good example. Spot the finger post.

Our second crossing of the Fowey - Palmersbridge. One of those places that are so quiet that it seems a pity to intrude. But intrude we had to to get to the other side..............

....and have the joy of negotiating this steep, leaf-bestrewn cattle track. This lead from Dryworks Farm, over the ford by the bridge and then up to grazing on the moor. I doubt whether it's done that often nowadays.

A short break on the Lizard

 We were recently treated to a two-night break at a cliff top hotel on the Lizard - the Polurrian, just outside of Mullion. We've already walked all of the Lizard coastline but it was absolutely no hardship to repeat a couple of walks. It's one of our favourite parts of Cornwall, especially out of the tourist season when there are far fewer people around.

Our first walk was a 5.5 mile circular route, starting and ending in the Square in St Keverne. We dropped down to the coast at Porthallow, followed the coastal footpath through Porthkerris to Porthoustock and then back inland to our starting point. A delightful walk that the few showers did not spoil and, as the elevation profile shows, there were a few ups and downs.

W

We saw a lot of this style of stiles on the walk, with varying gaps between the ‘rungs’. The wet, slippery surfaces demanded extra care as a broken ankle would not have been much fun. And, as I’ve said on previous walks, I just love these natural windows into what is to come next.

How on earth they got this dumper truck in this position is a mystery. Perhaps they were going somewhere else and got stuck? Not the sort of thing we normally encounter on one of our walks. The biggest bit of litter we've ever come across.

Advertised as a holiday let with a sun roof and close to the beach at Porthoustock.

A terrace of cottages just up from the beach at Porthoustock. As far as I can find out, these are unusual in that they are not holiday lets but are actually lived in all year round. Long may it continue this way.

One of the few fishing boats still working off the beach at Porthallow.

Mrs P leads the way up the rather steep footpath leading out of Porthallow.

Looking eastwards, with St Mawes and Anthony’s Head being visible. A little further away are the Gribbin and Rame Head. A nice clear day and I'd estimate the visibility at around 25 miles.

Looking down on the beach at Porthkerris. Not a place for swimming but is a well known centre for diving.

No comment.

Why not commune with nature in this holiday let in a rustic position? It's at Trenoweth Mill if you are interested. Glamping it's not.

Part of the path from Porthoustock to St Keverne. At one time, it must have been a major route between the two, maybe even used by packhorses bringing goods inland from the beach. Or, perhaps, a track used by smugglers as they brought their contraband for distribution to the locals?

The rather pathetic dribble at the holy well dedicated to St Prostatus, the patron saint of elderly men. At the neighbouring well of St Viagra, the outflow is much more impressive.

I forgot the photographers' mantra - don't take a shot into the sun. Oh well, you can still make out the size and style of St Keverne Parish Church.

A fine trio of mature trees in the graveyard. I must say that the graveyard was obviously very well looked after.

After St Keverne, we headed off to visit the church of St Anthony in Meneage. This part of the Lizard, a combination of five parishes, has long been known as the Meneage - Land of the Monks. A Norman church built on the site of a Celtic original. It's relatively isolated and its location on the edge of an estuary adds to its charm.

A modern etched window to the memory of a past vicar, Willie Jenkin. I do like etched glass but it's a shame that this photograph does not do it justice. Exposure bracketing is what I should have used.

Some traditional stained glass - St Mary.

It's a small church but very well looked after. I would imagine its spirit of place would add to any service here - provided, of course, that it was traditional and not one of the more modern variants.

St John from the East Window above the altar.

Everybody likes the sound of running water.

The following day we thought we'd walk around Loe Pool by Helston. An anticipated 6 miler that actually came in at 7.5miles because of a closed footpath. The longest we've walked for a while but a good one.

Quite a large part of the walk was through wooded areas alongside the water of Loe Pool. The Pool is the largest freshwater lake in Cornwall, excluding reservoirs like Siblyback etc.

Looking down on Loe Bar, an area of shingle that separates the freshwater Loe Pool from the sea. The bar itself is formed by the tide and first blocked off the entrance to the Pool in mediaeval times. Before then, the Pool was a river and Helston had its own port.

Looking up the Pool from the Bar. This is the view that sailors would have seen when there was access to the sea.

The view from the Bar looking eastwards towards the Lizard. Looks can be deceptive - this beach is one of the most dangerous in Cornwall.

The Bar with the thin line of the sea above it.

The tranquil water of  Loe Pool. Look closely and you might make out the shower dappling the surface.

Sleaze, corruption and the Tories

As the Conservative sleaze scandal and the controversy surrounding second jobs for MPs, or in the case of Douglas Ross, third and fourth jobs, rumbles on, it has come to light that the Conservative MP for Moray, list MSP for the Highlands and Islands, leader of the Scottish Tories, and linesman for the Scottish Football Association managed to “forget” annual extracurricular earnings of over £28,000 a year which he failed to declare to the Westminster register of financial interests. In total his annual additional earnings on top of his MP’s salary of £81,932 before expenses is £32,835.

This would be the Douglas Ross who recently claimed that he and his party were more authentic and in touch voices for working class people in Scotland than the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, and the SNP. There are not many working class people in Scotland who manage to forget about annual earnings of over £28,000. Those are people who struggle to do without the £20 a week in Universal Credit that Douglas Ross voted to take away from them while he was forgetting about an extra £540 per week that he receives on top of his weekly income of £1575 from his MP’s salary.

There certainly are not many working class people who bring home well over £100,000 a year. However when you represent a party led by a man who once described the £250,000 a year he earned on his side gig as “chicken feed”, your understanding of the financial constraints that working class people are under is probably as warped as a Conservative MP’s grasp of what constitutes moral and financial probity in public office.

The real issue isn’t the fact that Douglas Ross has a side line as a football linesman, it’s that many of his colleagues in the Conservative party have extremely well paid side jobs representing financial and commercial interests which potentially conflict with their duties and privileges as legislators who are supposed to be speaking up for the interests of their constituents. Public confidence in the institutions of the British state is not helped by the fact that the Conservative party is far more assiduous in taking steps to neuter independent oversight of MPs’ outside financial interests than it is in ensuring that MPs are kept to the high standards that the public has the right to expect of people who make our laws and shape public policy. And all the while the allegations keep piling up.

Over the weekend there were fresh allegations that Jacob Rees-Mogg failed to declare director’s loans totalling £6 million that he received from his company Saliston Limited between 2018 and 2020. Additionally Labour is demanding that new information from American businesswoman Jennifer Arcuri about her relationship with Boris Johnson while he was mayor of London should be investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct. Earlier this year Johnson avoided a criminal investigation into his relationship with Arcuri after the IOP ruled there was no evidence Johnson had influenced the payment of thousands of pounds of public money to Arcuri or secured her participation in foreign trade trips he led.

The disquiet created by Boris Johnson’s attempts in the wake of the Owen Paterson lobbying scandal to abolish the independent Parliamentary Commissioner’s role in investigating allegations of wrong doing made against MPs in order to replace it with a sham committee of his chums is compounded by the many recent scandals about alleged wrong doing in the awarding of lucrative government contracts. A number of senior government figures including former Health Secretary Matt Hancock, Home Secretary Priti Patel, and Michael Gove have been found to have been in breach of the ministerial code or to have acted unlawfully. None of them have faced any consequences as a result.

There is now a widespread and entirely accurate perception that members of the British Government and the Conservative party operate in a moral vacuum where they will never have to answer for their actions and behaviour. Their belief in their own privilege and exceptionalism must surely be be found out by the electorate? Or perhaps not? Do they really care enough to call them out on it?