Robbing England’s cricket team of Ben Stokes’ talent isn’t the right punishment
Ben Stokes was rightly suspended after we revealed the punch-up video, but do not punish every English fan as well
THERE are suitable punishments for Ben Stokes.
Leaving him out of the Ashes, and robbing England of his talent, isn’t one.
He was rightly suspended after the punch-up video we had a duty to reveal.He must lose the vice-captaincy and be fined heavily.
He should also now be urged to give to a disabled charity.
But it will punish every English fan too, and compromise the series in Oz, to lose our most gifted match-winner.
If possible, Stokes must be given a last chance to grow up.
Latest on Ben Stokes
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Capital ideas
THE Tories must start convincing an increasingly sceptical public of the merits of the capitalist system we take for granted.
It won’t be enough to point out that the relative affluence, easy commerce and modern conveniences
Britain assumes are constants wouldn’t exist without it and could vanish if it is overthrown.
The Government must also set out radical action to fix its failings and give hope to the generation beguiled by Jeremy Corbyn’s socialist snake-oil: A vast house-building programme.
A huge effort to increase productivity and, with it, wages. Forcing dodgy corporations to pay their taxes. Stopping privatised utilities fleecing customers.
Surveys show voters already want the lot nationalised, railways too. But anyone old enough knows where that leads: nationwide shutdowns by emboldened unions. What will the surveys say then?
London’s Uber ban is the first small taste of the Left wielding its power.
Young people should get used to it. Corbyn and John McDonnell aren’t promising a gentle leftwards shift. They intend to smash the system, with an economic disaster they EXPECT to unleash, and start again. No one’s job, savings, home, business or pension will be safe.
Capitalism is history’s greatest wealth-creator but is failing too many people. The Tories have to start making it work for all.
Cap bills now
THE Government can begin by acting immediately against the Big Six.
So we applaud the 76 Tories aiming to force its hand over capping energy bills.
The PM should draw up legislation now and challenge Labour to oppose it.
We’ll soon see how committed they are to cutting the cost of living.
Private cops
NO ONE should be nicked by a private firm.
Security contractors like G4S already act like a private police force.
A Justice Ministry proposal would also give them powers of arrest which only the State, accountable to its citizens, should have.
G4S’s record is patchy. Who would trust their staff, or anyone’s, not to abuse their ability to take someone’s liberty?
