Read the Beforeitsnews.com story here. Advertise at Before It's News here.

By A K Haart blog
Contributor profile | More stories

Story Views
Now:
Last hour:
Last 24 hours:
Total:

Grinning into the abyss

Thursday, January 8, 2026 12:01

% of readers think this story is Fact. Add your two cents.

Joseph Dinnage has an interesting CAPX piece on the way Britain trundles on in spite of having to endure ludicrous levels of political incompetence.

Britain’s leaders are grinning into the abyss

Britain is succeeding only in how well it is faring under the weight of its own incompetence
From migration to driving tests, our decision makers get nothing right
We can only avert political and economic implosion for so long

‘Britain doesn’t need to become great again – it already is.’ That’s the flattering verdict of the former Polish ambassador to both the UK and USA, Piotr Wilczek, writing in the Spectator.

After the year-long gloom fest that was 2025, Wilczek’s positivity will come as a surprise to many. Descriptions of Britain as ‘one of the most astonishing places in the world’ and reminders that we are in fact ‘the sixth-largest economy on earth’ and home to some world’s best universities don’t chime with the experience of 82% of Britons who think the country is in a bad state.

The whole piece is well worth reading because the political incompetence, mendacity and chicanery are so obvious, yet predicting some kind of immanent collapse seems unwise. Daily life still goes on and the private sector held up well during the pandemic debacle in spite of the monumental mess it created.

As if things keep trundling along in spite of grossly incompetent political actors because they don’t matter too much. They are merely actors, we know that, but perhaps when things become too embarrassing they are told to change the script or they are simply ignored.

It isn’t competent political oversight and serious decline is impossible to miss, but it is also slow enough to be corrected by honest, energetic and determined competence. Unfortunately we don’t have that, but it could be done. Not by the major political parties though.

Zooming in with the microscope, our culture of political avoidance worsens even the smallest of issues. Take driving tests. We have a backlog of 1.1 million tests that were not taken in the 2020/21 financial year due to Covid pandemic, and around 360,000 of these have still not been booked. Last September, the average waiting time for a test was 22 weeks, but 70% of test centres reported waiting times of 24 weeks. Fixes have been suggested. Ellen Pasternack advocates rolling out Approved Driving Instructors to get through the backlog, in much the same way as volunteers were quickly trained to administer Covid vaccines. This is clearly too much like hard work for the Government, which is instead consulting on enshrining the delay into law by requiring learner drivers to wait six months before taking their test.

Source: https://akhaart.blogspot.com/2026/01/grinning-into-abyss.html

Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world.

Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.

"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.

Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world. Anyone can join. Anyone can contribute. Anyone can become informed about their world. "United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.

LION'S MANE PRODUCT

Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules

Mushrooms are having a moment. One fabulous fungus in particular, lion’s mane, may help improve memory, depression and anxiety symptoms. They are also an excellent source of nutrients that show promise as a therapy for dementia, and other neurodegenerative diseases. If you’re living with anxiety or depression, you may be curious about all the therapy options out there — including the natural ones.Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend has been formulated to utilize the potency of Lion’s mane but also include the benefits of four other Highly Beneficial Mushrooms. Synergistically, they work together to Build your health through improving cognitive function and immunity regardless of your age. Our Nootropic not only improves your Cognitive Function and Activates your Immune System, but it benefits growth of Essential Gut Flora, further enhancing your Vitality.

Our Formula includes: Lion’s Mane Mushrooms which Increase Brain Power through nerve growth, lessen anxiety, reduce depression, and improve concentration. Its an excellent adaptogen, promotes sleep and improves immunity. Shiitake Mushrooms which Fight cancer cells and infectious disease, boost the immune system, promotes brain function, and serves as a source of B vitamins. Maitake Mushrooms which regulate blood sugar levels of diabetics, reduce hypertension and boosts the immune system. Reishi Mushrooms which Fight inflammation, liver disease, fatigue, tumor growth and cancer. They Improve skin disorders and soothes digestive problems, stomach ulcers and leaky gut syndrome. Chaga Mushrooms which have anti-aging effects, boost immune function, improve stamina and athletic performance, even act as a natural aphrodisiac, fighting diabetes and improving liver function. Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules Today. Be 100% Satisfied or Receive a Full Money Back Guarantee. Order Yours Today by Following This Link.

Comments

Visits:	1,766,324,804
Stories:	8,562,430