Alastair Stewart on 'bonkers' Budget decision, his grandsons, and fond Barbara Windsor memory
Alastair Stewart discussed the Budget on GB News this week
GB NEWS
It has been a week dominated by one of the most fascinating events of the political calendar, the Budget.
It was Labour’s first in nearly two decades and the first ever from a woman Chancellor, Rachel Reeves. I think that’s less important than seeing what Labour do fiscally with their big majority. But she seems to think it matters and goes on about it a bit.
She opened by comparing this Government with those of Atlee and Wilson which I thought was pushing it a bit. Most of my Labour friends say it has been a very shaky start and the Budget didn’t solve that. In fact you could say it made it worse, not least due to the fact there was no obvious big vision.
Budgets are interesting and important at various levels, especially with regard to what we used to call the ‘sin taxes’ - beer and cigarettes.
They are also important signposts to how poorer or richer you will be in the near and middle future.
In the old days I’d struggle into the TV studio with folders and reams of notes.
At one rehearsal, Alastair Burnet said to me: "One day you’ll just take in a Post-it note."
He’d also tell me to just read lots and search your memory because it is all there. With dementia that proves especially wise.
If you keep going to Google, your memory gets even flabbier. You end up head scratching.
So I did two hours for GB News' Budget coverage without so much as a Post-it note and many friends were kind enough to say and comment on social media I was on top form.
Alastair Stewart reflects on his week in the fourth instalment of his weekly diary, Living With Dementia
GB NEWSI bumped into Christopher Hope, our political editor and one of the top political reporters and commentators in broadcasting and in print. I also saw the former Labour MP Gloria De Piero, of whom I have been a friend and admirer for years.
I also bumped into Lord Ross Kempsell who I’d first met at Talk Radio before he went to No 10 Downing Street in the Tory years, as a communications man.
He had lobbied for an exemption on VAT on school fees for the children of service personnel and had won.
That would have been my brother and me sixty years ago. So I say, well done Ross!
Budgets also give you a glimpse into the political and philosophical heart of a governing party.
Reeves raised taxes by £40billion mainly on business. That’s bonkers if you want growth.
Employing folk became sharply more expensive at the stroke of her pen. Not only recruiting new workers, but also retaining those already in work.
Our daughter works for a private sector group of schools, so the imposition of VAT on private school fees was something I had a keen interest in.
She says her well run and well funded group will survive, but she fears many smaller single schools will fold. Private education is also about freedom of choice and aspiration which in my experience Labour don’t like.
How the Labour benches howled with delight when the VAT move was confirmed.
They did the same at the news that there was to be a rise in air passenger duty on the tiny number of people using private jets.
It was petty student politics stuff.
In the real, grown-up world of work and enterprise, a nephew of ours and one of my godsons, who owns and runs a couple of pub restaurants, messaged me to say it was a dreadful Budget.
Raising capital gains tax also makes share ownership and business creation less attractive. If we don’t create wealth there’s nothing to redistribute anyway.
Taking £40billion out of aggregate demand and hoping for growth is counter to all accepted economic theory.
READ PREVIOUS 'LIVING WITH DEMENTIA' ENTRIES:
Dementia is upsetting, challenging and difficult - but it's not the end of the world- If you’ve got dementia remember, you've pretty much always got friends
- Alastair Stewart: I'll be back on GB News next week - and I can't wait!
Another Labour peer, Dr John Reed, a close friend from student days, has invited me to lunch with our mutual friend Charles Clarke. Charles took me out for lunch shortly after my dementia diagnosis and jokingly said: "Are you and they sure?!’
He then pointed out my “mind and memory were as sharp as ever.” I don’t think he was just being kind.
They are two giants of modern Labour so I can’t wait to see them.
Away from work, our grandsons attended a local Halloween showjumping event and they both looked great.
Their parents are all for winning but also for just having a good time and they keep things in balance nicely.
In this week's instalment of Living with Dementia, Alastair Stewart reflects on boarding a Route-master with members of the Royal Family and Dame Barbara Windsor for the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal in 2013
GETTY
It was also the week of the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal. I am a keen supporter, and my mother was on the national committee of the now defunct Women’s Section.
The Legion does tireless work for our veterans and for the families of the dead and seriously injured.
This year’s events reminded me of 2013 when TFL gave the Legion a Route-master for the launch. The late Barbara Winsdor and I were on board and the then Prince of Wales greeted us at St James’ Palace.
Later, the former PM David Cameron welcomed us to Downing Street. Barbara had dementia but she engaged the Prince and PM with wit and wisdom. She was in wonderful form.
Sod dementia I say, I’ll never forget any of it.
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