As the weather turns warm, a grimly predictable violence is rearing its head. In the last few days, two young men have had their lives cruelly stolen. Rene Graham, just 15 years of age, was shot dead on Sunday in a west London park packed with families. And yesterday, another 15-year-old was stabbed to death on a visit to his former primary school in Hackney.
For the family and friends of the two victims, their worlds will never be whole again. And for all Londoners, there will once again be the creeping fear that the streets and parks are not safe for their children. When we say we cannot go on like this, it is more than mere words.
When campaigning for an unprecedented third term, Sadiq Khan made great play of the fact that a Labour Mayor working with a Labour Government would be able to achieve far more. Now is the time to demonstrate the difference. As summer rolls on and more people congregate outside, it is more urgent than ever to take the actions necessary to stop the bloodshed.
It was announced in the King’s Speech that so-called ninja swords are set to be banned, as part of a crackdown on knife crime. These sorts of weapons were left out of laws prohibiting the sale of machetes and zombie knives under the previous government. A Crime and Policing Bill will also put in place measures to help “halve serious violence over a decade”. But families in London will want reassurance that action is being taken now, before more young lives, with so much potential and hopes for the future, are pointlessly extinguished.
Starmer’s gamble
All new prime ministers want to stamp their authority on recalcitrant backbenchers. Yet in withdrawing the whip from seven Labour MPs who voted for an SNP amendment to scrap the two-child benefit cap, Sir Keir Starmer has created something of a rod for his own back.
While no majority is totally rebellion-proof, Sir Keir and his inner circle must learn not to confuse short-term tactics with a long-term strategy. Such harsh punishment meted out so early in a parliament is likely only to alienate more moderate and amenable MPs. This is certainly one to watch.
Swift’s V&A era
Didn’t secure a ticket to the Eras tour? Fear not, the Victoria and Albert Museum has you covered. A new exhibition displaying outfits from Taylor Swift’s personal archive — including those worn on her record-breaking world tour — is set to open at the V&A.
With dresses from her eponymous debut album to 2024’s The Tortured Poets Department, Swifties and non-Swifties alike are in for a treat.
