The Direction of Traffic.

Being at the Christian hub of Empire- sanitised and rehashed- the UK would fight 'tooth and nail' to defend its colonial right to drive on the left. Blue passports unto death! and all that sort of guff. 'Royal Blue,' blue as blue as Great Britannia's ruled and wavy oceans- excepting the rather murkier coastal bits. Taking back control!

In all other regards, the nation's traffic has been herded rabid-dogmatically ever rightwards. So much so, that it rather risks disappearing up its own Royal opening- perhaps it all begins with being able to lick one's own.

On a more practical level- that where 'left' or 'right' is merely a matter of convenience- it has been noticed that more elderly city pedestrians are increasingly shunning such distinctions, increasingly opting for the shortest, straightest route, shunning imposed 'rules. Could it be argued that there is actually an unspoken 'underground' trend away from more authoritarian diktat and towards the tiniest smidgen of- whisper it- liberty? Taking back control!

To hone it down more specifically, take 'liberty' here to equate to freedom. That is 'liberty' as fundamentally opposed to 'libertarian,' which is entirely a different, most objectionable kettle of reactionary fish! Discredited in the Truss-Kwarteng manner, crash and burn! Both of whom are still raking in the full MP salary, plus perks!

Those of certain age may recall- 'halcyon' days prior to alternating gambling cartels with sleeping bags in empty-shop doorways- that much of the city centre was securely trussed up behind anti-pedestrian rails. Councils would have it that they were erected for the purpose of safety, valuing the welfare of the spending pedestrian against the consequences of vehicular mishap! Her Majesty's officers were known to veer towards tetchy should one chance one's arm and 'hurdle.' Jolly frustrating it was too, very sheep dog trials-ish, ensuring intimate proximity betwixt pedestrian and commercialism.

I cannot recall which came first, the removal of rails or the straightening and shortening of lines. Perhaps it is but a minor readjustment, but perhaps it is also evidence of a greater thirst for liberty. Or more, the reclaiming of tiny freedoms? Thatcher's rancid drips of 'trickle-down' arriving thirty years too late.

Notice, or don't- either way- that many of the older generations no longer bother with pedestrian controls- excepting always that metal in transit is still best avoided. Maybe there is an age, or state of body and mind, whereupon it becomes even more tiresome to bother with the ritualistic 'pressing of buttons,' excepting where there are children on hand to witness.

There are 'rules' and there are issues of timing:
1. At pedestrian-moderated crossroads pressing the button will not interfere with the flow of taxed traffic, it merely lights up the pressed button. Pedestrians cross when counter-traffic flow is prioritised. Pedestrians may scuttle back and forth whilst adjacent traffic is stationary.
2. Buses do not stop immediately a red stoplight shows, routinely snatching a second or so before the green pedestrian lights up. Stepping out under the auspices of a red stop sign could, and will at some point, prove injurious or fatal (thus the child consideration).
3. Pedestrian crossings upon straight roads without junction are often timed (seemingly) to test pedestrian resolve. Press the button by all means but do not feel obligated to await 'permission,' unless one enjoys counting vehicles (or there are children present).
4. The Direction of (taxed) Traffic (flow) will undergo minimal, or no, modification.
5. Traffic drives on the left, policy drives to the right.

Where 'furniture' has been retained at crossing points- a kind of zigzag corralling affair- there is a growing counter-trend for older pedestrians to cut out the railings, instead to cut the straightest line, more so where layout is familiar. Public view favours greater pedestrianisation but then they're not nestled in the pockets of petro-chemical giants as are the rule-makers. Although concessionary access to busy bus lanes has been afforded the cyclist, many instead opt for the narrow pavement, frequently riders who really should know better. Ongoingly unlegislated scooters continue to operate along variable libertarian lines. (1)
Beware! The Direction of Traffic remains geographically to the left, fundamentally to the right!

Sir Keir Starmer, former Head of the Crown Prosecution Service (net worth £37.7 millions [2a]) chuckles to script, pressed upon nothing by Sir Anthony Charles Lynton Blair KG, current War Criminal (net worth £50.3 millions [2b]). 'Forensic' Guardian Journalist, Mary Louisa "Polly" Toynbee, Villa in Tuscany (£3110,000 per annum), endorses former Head of the crown Prosecution Service, Sir Keir Starmer's chuckled dismissal of the removal of austerity's two child benefit limit, in his drive to "grow the economy" ad nauseam. Conjuring economic growth from the Jaws of Austerity 3.0. Andrew Bailey (£575,338 per annum) urges restraint to those who already cannot feed their children. Eugenics through stealth?

Those fleeing persecution from Rwandan human rights abuses- adjudged legal refugees under international law- who are granted refugee status, still to be deported to Rwanda. Both in reality and in the dreams of the current UK Home Secretary. Apartheid State granted protected status against those protesting state racism. The Direction of Traffic!

David Lammy (LBC platform and [New] New Labour MP), opposing Corbyn, interviews Mike Katz (Jewish Labour Movement [4]), also opposing Corbyn, on 'Corbyn as a continued member of the Labour Party.' David Lammy interviews Ed Balls (LBC platform and ex New Labour MP), also opposing Corbyn, on the same subject. Andrew Neil (Channel 4 platform, Chairman of Spectator, Sunday Times and other Rupert Murdoch outlets, former Chairman GB News), also opposing Corbyn, interviews Ed Balls on the same subject. Frenemies, (3) Ed Balls and George Osborne (former chancellor whose austerity program is calculated to have caused approximately 300,000 excess deaths, former Evening Standard editor and platform), both opposing Corbyn, team up to 'produce' economics podcast.
Informing the public on our behalf? Building a better tomorrow, a future for all? The roundabout to damnation rotates eternally to the right.

The UK reserves its Empirical right to drive on the left but the Direction of Traffic continues to veer ever further to the right. Taking back control!
But on whose behalf?

We're going to need another couple of lanes here! And that's just for starters.



(1) Scooters (frequently hired) continue to pay into the stuttering economy. Pedestrians and bikes (frequently) do not.
(2) Consider 'worth' as a purly numerical label. Conversely, calculated 'value' is likely to fall into negative territory.
(3) 'Frenemies,' don't you just hate it? Such frenemies, so 'fundamentally opposed' was Balls that he was invited to the wedding.
(4) The Jewish Labour Movement mysteriously re-founded in 2015, under curious circumstances but with highly questionable and undemocratic motives ('Weaponising Anti-Semitism,' Asa Winstanley, from page 54). Sir Keir Starmer, former Head of the Crown Prosecution Service, has maintained something of a hot-line relationship with the Board of Deputies of British Jews since his dishonest rise to Head of the (New) New Labour Party. Alongside this, the sudden rise of the Jewish Labour Movement and the 'operations' of Labour Friends of Israel, one could easily be forgiven for wondering just how little genuine democracy remains within the Party. Where indeed is the real steering committee?