First China, now India. The latest visit from a foreign leader, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, has also not been without its controversy. But, as with the visit of President Xi Jinping, the visits have allowed major investment deals to be announced. David Cameron and George Osborne have been able to show the rest of the world that the UK is serious about doing business and wants to reach out well beyond Europe.
That may be just as well if the European negotiations do not go quite as planned. Cameron’s letter to the European Council President, Donald Tusk, setting out the four areas where he wants changes to the UK’s membership of the European Union, has variously been described is either ‘thin gruel’ or a sign of his determination to get a better deal.
So what can we learn from the political news this week?
- Peace in our time? Cameron’s letter soon ran into trouble, It was widely agreed that his point centred on welfare would be critical. However, he has already had to admit some flexibility on the suggestion that benefits for those coming to Britain be stopped for four years and Philip Hammond has said privately that it won’t apply to the Irish in any case. Agreement looks a fairly distant prospect as things stand.
- Corbyn back on the ballot. It has been suggested that Jeremy Corbyn will be back on the ballot paper should the knife be waved in the direction of his back (or front). This will ensure that there will be a bitter fight should he be challenged and may put off potential assassins or stalking horses. With membership expanding, it is likely that the party is now looking more like its leader, not less. That is especially the case if those that have left the party are factored in as well.
- I want my Sky TV (and other subscription services). Tracey Crouch, the sports minister, has caused outrage by suggesting that those feeling the pinch from tax credit cuts should go without luxuries such as subscription TV services. It just shows that politicians who ‘advise’ on how people should live their lives need to be very careful.
- Boris and international diplomacy. Mayor of London Boris Johnson has shown this week that his ‘shoot from the hip’ style may not work as well internationally as it does domestically. The Mayor appeared surprised that having given very strong pro-Israel statements for the previous days during his trip to the Middle East, his visit to the West Bank was cancelled.
- Local campaigns. The PM this week actively complained about the cuts being imposed on services by his local council, Oxfordshire County Council. The leader of the Council pointed out that the cuts were being made as a result of the funding reductions being imposed by Mr Cameron’s government. Shadow Chancellor, John McDonnell, welcomed Mr Cameron’s efforts to campaign against George Osborne’s cuts.