During a distinguished 68-year reign, the Queen has rarely if ever spoken so clearly for our nation as she did tonight.
In praising not only NHS workers, carers and others on the coronavirus front line but also those following the rules and staying at home she emphasised this is a collective effort.
In urging us to take pride in our self-discipline, quiet good-humoured resolve and fellow-feeling for others, the Queen captured many of our population’s best attributes.
And echoing Vera Lynn’s wartime song to hope, We’ll Meet Again, she held out the prospect of better days returning.
What impact, if any, her landmark address has on those flouting advice to keep at least two metres apart, to avoid crowding in parks during the sunshine, is difficult to assess.
But we hope the Queen’s rallying call shames her government into renewed action, they have failed to protect frontline NHS workers or secured enough tests and ventilators to save lives and hasten Britain’s return to normality.
Road to Power
New Labour leader Keir Starmer has wasted no time making radical changes to the party’s frontline team.
By dropping so many familiar faces from the Jeremy Corbyn era and elevating Labour’s younger talent Starmer has already shown that he has a ruthless side.
Whether you agree with who is in and who is out isn’t the real point. What Starmer is doing is demonstrating who is the boss. And after four straight general election defeats, including two under Corbyn, that is crucial if Labour is to regain power and avoid a fifth.
Puppy love
We’re proud to say Lucy’s Law comes into force tomorrow after the Daily Mirror campaigned hard to end the horrors of puppy farms.
Banning pet shops, online traders and other third parties selling young dogs hopefully means unscrupulous breeders will go out of business because their hidden routes to Britain’s families have been blocked.
