Newspaper Column – The Voice – 22/04/26

• It’s an indictment that so many families need help with food and provisions. Though last week I was delighted to catch up with one of several local charitable projects which do just this. I met the wonderful volunteers who run Penzance based Food for Families CIC. I saw and heard about the great work they do. However, they and I would be happier if they could wind-up and that there was no need for such charitable organisations.  

They’re not alone of course. I’ve also met, worked with and support the wonderful teams at Penzance Food Bank, Trelya, Whole Again Communities (WAC), and Growing Links – Street Food Project & Community Garden does incredible work too. I served for many years as a volunteer for the Penzance Street Food Project, as a member of the great Friday night team. Each of these and the many other support projects in Helston, Hayle, St Ives and elsewhere provide a safety net, where the government safety net fails, as far too often it does.   

  

• We had another big turnout for my most recent public meeting – People’s Parliament – in Penzance. With special guest and my good friend and former Trade Secretary, (Rt Hon Dr Sir) Vince Cable. We were pleased there was a full range of political opinions and engagement – from left, right and non-tribal.  

Even Vince and I don’t always agree, as was illustrated on the evening. But it is clear the audience recognised as I admire that Vince has an outstanding grasp of global markets and geo-politics and a remarkable recall of the range of evidence and justification for his considered and rational policy solutions. He warns us that the ill-considered Trump-Netanyahu (illegal) war on Iran will add further to the succession of “shocks” (2008 Financial crisis; Brexit; Ukraine war) which seems destined to again set back the UK economy, probably into recession. The actions of those two – the petulant narcissist and his genocidal sidekick – will prove counterproductive; enhancing the opportunities for the emerging China super-power, strengthen Putin’s hand, and spawn a new generation of jihadists determined to revenge.   

A theme which resonated through the audience was captured by a plea from the floor: for grown-up, rational, and calm political leadership. In other words, the opposite of the images portrayed in the media. Except for PM Starmer’s cautious diplomacy on the world stage, there appears very little. I reflected that the media finds responsible and diplomatic leaders boring and are more likely to report those who offer controversy, outrageous comment, simplistic solutions or who stoke division.   

We covered a wide range of concerns, from very local to global.  Vince was impressed and said he wouldn’t expect the same level of attendance and engagement in his home of Twickenham.