RuamRudy

Read about the Mountbatten plan.

Or it could spin off the smaller stuff from Westminster to allow it to work at a national / International level with an English assembly focusing on domestic English issues. 100% of the time in the Northern Irish, Welsh and Scottish parliaments is spent on those countries' affairs. England is not afforded the same level of focus from Westminster.

The partition of India in 1947.

Replace pope with potus and the paragraph still stands true.

You have made your opinion clear - that he should not espouse what you consider to be 'progressive' views. In fact you have only writtten about the possibility of him adopting a progressive tone. Personally ihope that the man has backbone, integrity and courage, and that he speaks out against injustice wherever he sees it. You know, like leaders are supposed to do.

The support of his followers? I guess there is a general set of rules and tenets set by the church, but that is also evolving over time so it's his job to lead it in what he considers to be the right direction. The support of world leaders? I would hope he will be less inclined to keep silent - and there's not much any of them could do if he spoke out against any in particular

Although I am not Catholic, I certainly would prefer a pope who's views were aligned to my own, much as you would yours, I assume. Would you be critical of him if he turned up on the balcony of St Peter's wearing a maga hat?

Your sentiments are clear but your understanding of his role both as a leader in general and as the head of the Catholic church is flawed. Leadership requires the courage to stand up and challenge inequity wherever it lies. It sounds like you want a pliant, supine figurehead who simply accepts the status quo.

Again you say 'if he has any sense' - what do you mean? It would sound sinister if someone with power made such a statement but from you it just seems churlish without context. What do you think might befall him should he comment on politics?

But as leader of the church he has to leadership and direction. To do so without political comment not feasible. And, of course, we need to consider his freedom of speech, what with it being such a hot topic these days.

Why would his most sensible option be to remain silent on political matters?

His roles include providing moral guidance to his followers and standing up to injustice. I doubt either would be possible without passing political commentary.

English voters who do not have a devolved national parliament face a “democratic deficit”, a Conservative MP has warned. Andrew Rosindell... told the Commons that English people suffer with a “rather diminished democratic voice”. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/andrew-rosindell-northern-ireland-edward-leigh-english-scotland-b1226643.html

You never needed therapy or you never had therapy? They are two very different positions.

REM - So Central Rain

I don't think her intention is for you to have concerns about her per se. She has spoken out on several occasions in the past about mental health issues, and she has been open and honest about her own struggles on that front. I believe her objective has always been to help remove the stigma mental health issues, and encourage people to talk more about it. Imagine how much better the world might be if there were fewer people beset with crippling anxiety or depression. She is doing her bit to encourage people to seek help without shame.

Although the objective of therapy is to improve one's self...

What a fantastic piece of MAGA doublespeak - a country is revolted by the antics of a corrupt and incompetent US president therefore said US president must be credited with fomenting an overwhelming rejection of the one-dimensional thinking of that president! You have been watching too many White House press conferences.

Don't hit yourself too hard; I understand that medical services in the US are incredibly expensive.

Well, for starters, acknowledge that the war on drugs has been a failure, and try to work on the causes of addiction. But that would involve recognising that poverty and inequality are major contributors to the drugs epidemics blighting the world, and, of course, no major government has a strong interest in resolving those issues.

Agreed, same for his brother, father, aunts and uncles. Let them, for once, pay their own way in life.

There are lots of puce faced men on this thread who will disagree with you. Any time his name is mentioned their blood pressure will testify to that.

So what are you suggesting? That Russia walks away scot free and Ukraine bears the cost of Russia's actions?

I am not sure that he is your man to make England great again, but I would support you aspirations all the way. The first thing you need to do, though, is grow a pair and have the courage to stand on your own two feet. Only then you can think about reclaiming past glories.

I think that the term 'woke' was applied to the article - that is not what is written on the judge's business card. When your only tool is a hammer, every issue looks like a nail.