Integrity in public life

What the papers said in the week ending 16 July 2022

From our perspective the story of the Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast of July 7^th was the most powerful source for hope 2022 Programme – Christians in Parliament

• (81) National Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast 2022 Livestream – YouTube
• That sermon! – Churches Together in England (cte.org.uk)

Later that day, in his resignation speech in Parliament, Sajid Javid said “this House broke bread together at the Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast and listened to the words of Rev Les Isaac who spoke about the responsibility that comes with leadership the responsibility to serve the interests of others above your own and to seek the common good.”

“I was listening to the sermon by this amazing man, Rev Les Isaac…he started Street Pastors. I was listening to him talking about the importance of integrity in public life & just focusing on that, I made up my mind.”

Boris Johnson’s resignation has been followed by a week reporting on the views and plans of Conservative MPs who would like to be Prime Minister. None are suggesting that we need to make changes which will achieve equality and pay for the services which are needed to cope with the several crises which beset us. Were they there? Did they listen to Reverend Isaac? Tory hopefuls face bruising week of scrambling for support | Conservatives | The Guardian

• What cost of living crisis? Tory hopefuls’ fuss over tax cuts is devoid of reality | Richard Partington | The Guardian

The Guardian devoted most column inches day after day to revelations of international greed and corruption by one company which had decided it would take over the world: The Uber files: firm knew it launched illegally in Australia, then leaned on governments to change the law | Business | The Guardian

Can all this be believed? It seems to be the truth

The environment has become less conducive to life – and we know that we are, in part at least, to blame and can take action to reduce the danger: UK weather: amber warning for extreme heat extended into next week | UK weather | The Guardian

• England braces for 40C temperatures as experts warn thousands could die | UK weather | The Guardian
• Why is it so hot in the UK and elsewhere in Europe and what are the dangers? | Climate crisis | The Guardian
• Thousands evacuated as wildfires sweep across western Europe | Wildfires | The Guardian

People of all ages, but especially the frail and old and the very young, must avoid exposure to the extreme heat and the sun

• Skin cancer death rates for men in UK have tripled since 1970s | Skin cancer | The Guardian

Warnings that the covid pandemic is not over, are more powerful – and sesnsible precautions are recommended: Calls for return of Covid controls after UK death toll passes 200,000 | Coronavirus | The Guardian

• UK Covid infections rise by almost 30% in a week | Coronavirus | The Guardian
• EU recommends second Covid booster for vulnerable and over-60s | Coronavirus | The Guardian

We must learn and not forget: The East End care home where Covid stole the lives of 21 people | Coronavirus | The Guardian

The cost of living crisis is worsening – affecting those who are already poor the most: ‘Worse than the pandemic’: price rises push more people into financial trouble | UK cost of living crisis | The Guardian

• North-east England overtakes London as UK’s child poverty hotspot | Poverty | The Guardian
• Children in England in deep poverty ‘stealing food from schools’ | Schools | The Guardian
• Average UK household £8,800 a year worse off than those in France or Germany | Economic growth (GDP) | The Guardian
• Private rents in UK reach record highs, with 20% rises in Manchester | Real estate | The Guardian

The Health and Social Care services are not coping: People with depression ‘stagnating’ in UK healthcare system | Depression | The Guardian

• Doctors forced to work overnight shifts at last minute in NHS staffing crisis | NHS | The Guardian
• Patients less satisfied with GPs as NHS waiting lists hit new high in England | NHS | The Guardian

Other health

Adaption of principles from a juice dispenser gives hope of improved home dialysis for people with kidney failure: Dialysis machine inspired by juice dispenser wins UK engineering prize | Engineering | The Guardian

Alcohol is confirmed as hazardous across the life span – but less so for the old than the young: Alcohol is never good for people under 40, global study finds | Alcohol | The Guardian

• Health risks of alcohol (thelancet.com)

 

David Jolley         Chair of Christians on Ageing, in a personal capacity.