Confidence man

When Britain's new government needed to establish its credibility, it called Mark Carney

The UK’s new Chancellor Rachel Reeves (r) with Mark Carney and another guy, Wednesday. Photo: Getty Images.

One reason this is becoming the most exciting political summer in years is that it’s letting us glimpse the basic humanity in our (and our neighbours’) leaders, very much for better and worse. I’ve been struggling for something to write about these historic elections in Britain and France, and about — well, about the Biden thing… for days now. I keep coming back to how all the professional packaging in the world can’t long mask the strengths and foibles of very human beings.

So yes, I’m going to take the long way around to talking about Mark Carney, the guy in today’s headline and photo. We’ll get there. Enjoy the scenic route. The headline is a play on words, incidentally, so calm down, everyone.