Politicians and activists have brought about a new government.

The arguments reflected the loudest complaints rather than detailed solutions. So many promises contrasting the lack of trust! The BBC ran around regionally, but there didn't seem much enthusiasm. The peoples' mood was fed up with election news apart from an immediate need to resolve local problems. The desire for a choice on the ballot paper for "none of the above" was common!

The election has reviewed many problems that we all know only too well, choosing a government on the assumption that the world will continue the same for the next five years.

Oh dear!

We have had five years interjected by Covid, the lockdowns, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and energy crisis, the Hamas atrocity followed by Israeli crackdown in Gaza, none of which were foreseen at the last election. The next five years will include the US election, new governments in Germany and France, repeated volcanic eruptions in Iceland and who knows what else! Remember Eyjafjallajökull? Probably not, but air travel shut down after this Icelandic volcano erupted in 2010, which would wreck the travel industry!

Reading through the results we need to look for MPs whose leadership would be needed if world events undergo another seismic shift. Winston Churchill came from the backbenches to replace Neville Chamberlain in 1940; Clement Atlee took over from Churchill once peace was established. British history is full of exceptional people who pop up when a serious crisis occurs. It is a brave punter who bets that nothing extreme will happen in the next five years, whether world politics, wild weather, pandemic disease or earthquakes.

Our muddled British democracy could still be the best governmental option from a poor set of choices, with our parliamentary system able to react to sudden calamities when they occur. France now has a President totally at variance with its newly elected chamber of deputies. The US President and Congress are also from opposing parties.

There have been the chaotic problems in Africa, South America and Asia subdued by our election coverage which may well affect us. The cost of living depends on world trade, from basic foods through to chocolate. Other countries have problems as well as ours. There is not much our new government can do about troubles abroad, but the world is just one planet and what goes around comes around.

There are so many promises. Care in the Community has been highlighted in the local news, but not given such a high rating in national policy discussions. This will eventually affect a larger number of people than immigration, sewage in the sea or potholes in the roads because nearly all of us will experience care in the community, or the lack thereof, as we grow older! The biggest issues need attention to benefit the greatest number of people. The loudest voices need to join choral societies where their talents can be enjoyed.

But everything will now be all right, the politicians told us it would be, and we elected them! The Labour party was glued together by a mutual desire to get elected, now achieved. It will take strong leadership to keep together the alliance of left wing activists and right wing opportunists!

There will be yet more arguments, more promises, more clamour, more pitfalls, more potholes in our road to a better future. Heaven help us!