NOT looking good, is it – Theresa May's premiership?

Though adamant that "Brexit means Brexit", she still has it on hold. And while there might have been a case for not immediately putting in our formal notice to quit – providing time to draw up a strategy – it's becoming increasingly clear that the delay is enabling opponents of Brexit to argue that "uncertainty" is harming Britain's prospects. To lance this boil, the departure process needs to be launched now.

But Mrs May prefers to propose bringing back grammar schools. Short of scrapping the NHS or the state pension, it's hard to think of anything worse. I benefited from a grammar school education, but I've always supposed myself lucky to have scraped in – passed the 11-plus. How different would my life have been had I failed!

Besides, my kids received just as good an education at their local comprehensive school. My two grand-daughters had an even better one at their comprehensive. A return to a divisive system of education shouldn't be in anyone's mind.

But worst of all in these early days of Mrs May's premiership is her concept of what she called, in her inaugural speech as Prime Minister, "a democracy that works for everyone". She sees this expressed in the offer of cash to people affected by fracking.

Introducing the idea, she reiterated the pledge given outside No 10: "The Government I lead will always be driven by the interests of the many – ordinary families… This announcement is an example of putting those principles into practice. It is about making sure that people personally benefit from economic decisions that are taken."

What it's really about is bribing people to accept developments that most don't want. For "economic decisions that are taken" read: "Economic decisions imposed by others – Government or councils." But an aide of Mrs May says: "This scheme could be a model for putting more control into the hands of local households."

If really given control, those threatened with fracking would ban it. But Mrs May probably also has housing, another local difficulty, in mind with her bribe-led reverse control. She hasn't got where she is today without mastering the fundamental art of politics: say one thing, mean the opposite.

PERFECT Test Match at Edgbaston. Won by England after being 103 adrift on the first innings, it didn't need fireworks, music or coloured clothing to hold the attention for five full days. It was real cricket – always absorbing, thrilling in parts and lovely to look at. Now let's take a peek again at the vulgarised format T20, whose limited character and visual ghastliness I lamented last week.

An aim is to attract families. And it seems England is trailing Australia where, according to a top cricket writer, the Big Bash league offers "more activities away from the cricket for children." The entire match can last only 40 overs – yet it seems non-cricket attractions are necessary to hold these new cricket fans.

AROUND the byways of Northumberland scores of tandem riders are pedalling through a week-long Tandem Tour. Should you encounter it look out for a sight rarer than a golden eagle: a woman up front. The day that occurs will be the day equality of the sexes has finally arrived.