[have asolution to the nurses’ strike that could make all the difference

If we're not honest about the cycle of decline in which the country is trapped, how will we ever break out of it?

- Andy Burnham

IT was about this time last year that I recall saying cheerfully to colleagues at work: “Well at least 2022 can’t be any worse!” This year, I am not repeating that mistake. This year, 2022, has turned out worse than we could have imagined 12 months ago. And, as things stand, I have a strong sense of foreboding about 2023.

In an end-of-year column like this, my natural instinct would normally be to put an optimistic slant on things. Not this time. If we’re not honest about the cycle of dysfunction and decline in which the country is currently trapped, how will we ever break out of it?

To be fair, any Government would have struggled with the enormity of events of recent years. But Britain is suffering more than most. This is partly because we were more exposed going into them; and partly because of a modern trend to play the politics of situations, rather than fixing them. This needs to end with 2022. It is an indulgence we can’t afford.