I spend a lot of time being critical of the United States, and it seems only right to point out that when is comes to lousy policies, pathetic leadership (and alleged corruption into the bargain) there is, at the present time, little to choose between the US and the UK – the issues are strikingly similar.

After the recent disastrous tower block fire the officials of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea have hidden away in the most cowardly way. All that was needed was a short speech from the Mayor showing sympathy with the bereaved, a promise to put things right and some practical steps to look after the suddenly homeless. What did we get? Silence, just silence. Why can’t we find real men or women who will stand for election?  Where were the “leaders”, if you can call them that? These people are Conservatives who have seats so safe they could put up a one-armed retired gorilla for election, just for fun, and get him elected.

It is the Council who are responsible for choosing flammable cladding for the burnt-out building, having initially ordered the safe version, in order to save money so that Russian oligarchs and other shady cleptomaniacs and money launderers can pay one of the lowest property taxes (called the Council Tax) in the Western world.

The good news is that the leader of the Council,  Nicholas Paget-Brown, resigned yesterday, apparently under huge pressure, ungracefully, and referring to “perceived” failures on his part.

I feel ashamed of the country and the lazy-minded, detached and money-mad politicians. I never thought I would see such a non-stop stream of world- beating stupid, careless and incompetent events in such a short period of time (including Brexit, the election, now the fire and its mishandling).  Does anyone know of a nice quiet island without any politicians?