Archive for: Blog Posts

A round-up of the latest political headlines, including Michael Gove’s farm subsidy U-turn, the Government has been accused of failing to stop the NHS crisis, Labour’s minimum wage increase could lead to job losses and money from dormant bank accounts being spent on good causes.  

Michael Gove in farm subsidies U-turn
The Times reports that Michael Gove, the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary, will announce a U-turn, maintaining farm subsidies until March 2024. Gove has criticised the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy for paying farmers according to the amount of land they own, but is expected to admit that reforms, such as linking subsidies to wildlife protection, will be delayed. However, the largest landowners may see payments capped before 2024.

Government accused of failing to stop NHS crisis
The Guardian reports on claims that the Government is failing to stop a growing crisis in the NHS, with at least 21 hospital trusts on black alert. John Kell, the Patients Association’s head of policy, said: ‘The policy decisions that have left the NHS in this position are taken by the government’. The Daily Telegraph adds that some hospitals have called on families to look after elderly patients at home, and that Prime Minister Theresa May said, ‘The NHS has been better prepared for this winter than ever before, we have put extra funding in.’

Labour’s minimum wage increase could lead to job losses
The Institute for Fiscal Studies has concluded that Labour’s minimum wage increase could put jobs at risk, The Daily Telegraph says. As workers become more expensive to employ, low-paid jobs could be replaced by robots and automation, but it is not clear where the tipping point is. However, the analysis also says there is a case for a higher minimum wage, but that it should be based on evidence rather than a ‘political bidding war’.

Money from dormant bank accounts to be spent on good causes
The Financial Times reports that up to £330m from dormant bank and building society accounts will be spent on ‘a fairer society’. Money from accounts that have been unused for 15 years will be spent by the Big Lottery Fund, Big Society Capital, and local charities.

Government defends appointment of Toby Young
The Department for Education has defended the appointment of Toby Young to the board of the new Office for Students. The appointment had been criticised over comments he has made about women, working class people and eugenics, according to The Guardian. Young has deleted tens of thousands of his old tweets, whilst a departmental spokesman said that he had ‘expressed his regrets’.

Tony Blair: Labour will become ‘the handmaiden of Brexit’
Tony Blair has warned that Labour risks becoming ‘the handmaiden of Brexit’ if it continues to be timid over the issue, in an article on his own website. He argues that the party should ‘be on the high ground of progressive politics, explaining why membership of the European Union is right as a matter of principle, for profound political as well as economic reasons.’ Separately, The Times reports that Blair warned Donald Trump’s aides that British intelligence may have spied on them during the election.

Research on political party members published
Queen Mary University of London has published research on the members of different political parties. The Guardian claims that Conservative members are ‘a breed apart’, with stronger tendencies towards socially illiberal and authoritarian attitudes, and different views on Brexit.

Anti-slavery tsar under investigation
The Times reports that Kevin Hyland, appointed as anti-slavery commissioner when Theresa May was Home Secretary, is under investigation after Unseen, the charity that runs the modern slavery helpline, raised ‘serious concerns’ about his conduct.

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A round-up of the latest political headlines, including the UK’s talks to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership, Chris Grayling defending his Qatar trip and only minor changes to Theresa May’s Cabinet.  

UK takes part in talks to join a trans-Pacific trade group
As reported today in the Guardian, the Department for International Trade is believed to be taking part in talks on the UK’s potential membership of the Trans-Pacific Partnership after its departure from the European Union. The partnership currently consists of 11 members, including Australia, Mexico, Singapore and Canada. It lost its largest member, the US, last year.

Chris Grayling defends himself following criticism over his trip to Qatar
Chris Grayling has reportedly defended his trade mission in Qatar, telling The Times that he was negotiating two big contracts for British companies, including the construction of a new airport. Grayling became the focus of criticism as his trip to Qatar coincided with the biggest rail fare rise in five years.

Theresa May plans few Cabinet changes in minister re-shuffle
The Sun has reported that despite planning big changes to junior ministers, Theresa May plans to make only minor changes to the Cabinet. These plans come as a result of pressure to introduce new talent into the Government following the disappointing election result and the poor performance at the party conference. The Sun reports that several 2015 Conservative MPs could be offered promotions.

The US threatens to stop aid to Palestine over Jerusalem row
The BBC has published a story following Donald Trump’s comments on Twitter that the US may put a stop to aid payments to the Palestinian Authority until it is willing to recommence peace talks. The President’s comments came following US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley’s statement that the US would cut funding to the UN’s agency for Palestinian refugees unless the Palestinian Authority resumed negotiations.

Non-urgent NHS operations to be delayed
The BBC has reported on the planned delays to non-urgent operations and procedures. Due to a ‘winter crisis’, hospitals have been ordered to postpone delay routine outpatient appointments in order to concentrate on emergency care.

DfE’s defence of Toby Young’s suitability for watchdog job put into question
New questions have been asked over whether Toby Young should be allowed to sit on the board of the Office for Students, the Guardian reported. It recently emerged that the Government had exaggerated Young’s qualifications, casting doubts on Young’s suitability to sit on the board of the universities regulator.

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A round-up of the latest political headlines, including May’s cabinet reshuffle, David Davis saying the EU cannot cherry pick terms and rail fares.  

May plans new cabinet reshuffle with Boris Johnson leading a new Brexit ‘super-ministry’
Following reports over the last few days that the Foreign Secretary will now take on a new Brexit delivery role, The Independent reports David Davis’s role in the Cabinet will be further weakened if a looming reshuffle hands Boris Johnson a new job directly involved in the Brexit negotiations. The Telegraph reports that Mr Johnson could be asked to replace Greg Clark, the Business Secretary.

David Davis says EU cannot ‘cherry pick’ terms of free trade deal
As The Guardian reports, the Brexit Secretary has used the phrase of EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier to say UK wants ‘full sweep of economic cooperation’. The Daily Mail reports that David Davis warned of more ‘thunder and lightning’ to come in Brexit talks today – as he vowed that financial services must be covered by any deal with the EU.

Whitehall warned there can be no ‘excuses’ for going slow on Brexit preparations
The Telegraph have reported that Ministers have warned Whitehall that there can be no more ‘excuses’ for going slow on Brexit preparations, including readying the UK for the prospect of leaving the EU without a deal. The Times have reported that Senior government officials have accused Brussels of trying to undermine David Davis before the next round of Brexit negotiations.

Rail fares: unions and Labour condemn ‘staggering’ increase
Sky News are reporting commuters are being ‘priced out of going to work’ by the largest rail fare increase in five years, according to a campaign group. The Guardian reports that Labour and trade unions have condemned ‘staggering’ annual increases to rail fares, which come into force today, triggering protests at dozens of stations in England.

Theresa May is preparing to take international students out of immigration figures
The Independent reports that the Prime Minister is facing a humiliating climb down on including international students in official immigration figures. A new Immigration Bill to be brought forward this year will allow MPs to force – and almost certainly win – a vote on the controversy.

Priti Patel demands investigation of Remain campaign spending
The Times reports that former International Development Secretary Priti Patel is calling for an investigation into claims of unlawful co-ordination between the campaigns pushing Britain to stay in the EU in the 2016 referendum campaign. She is writing to the Electoral Commission to urge an investigation into Britain Stronger in Europe (BSE), now Open Britain, over whether it breached the rules to get round strict spending limits.

Timewasting patients are costing NHS £1bn a year
The Times have reported that missed hospital appointments cost the NHS almost £1 billion a year and deprive patients of vital care. The article cites claims made by Jane Cummings, the chief nursing officer for England, who has called for the public to be more responsible about wasting time and resources.

300,000 jobless Britons not claiming benefits
The Guardian reports that many people are not claiming support they are entitled to, with about 300,000 people without jobs or on very low wages missing out on at least £73 a week.

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A round-up of the latest political headlines, including the former police officers criticised over Damian Green leaks, Boris Johnson delivering a warning to Russia, Passports returning to the colour blue and Diane Abbott’s turned down requests to visit Yarl’s Wood.  

Former police officers criticised over Damian Green leaks
The Times reports that Ken Marsh, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, has joined forces with Tory MPs to condemn the actions of former police officers Bob Quick and Neil Lewis in leaking details of the pornography found when Damian Green’s office was raided nine years ago. The leaks are now the subject of a criminal inquiry. The paper also says that Lewis has liked anti-Tory posts on Facebook.

Boris Johnson to deliver warning to Russia
According to the Guardian, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson is to deliver a warning to Russia that the UK will retaliate if Russia continues to use cyber-attacks. He is the first Foreign Secretary to visit Russia for five years. The paper adds that ‘neither side expects any major breakthrough’.

Passports to turn blue post-Brexit
In an exclusive, The Sun broke the news that from October 2019 the Government is to produce passports in what it calls ‘the dark blue colour that was once famous across the globe.’ People will have the option of requesting that their existing burgundy passport is replaced by a blue one.

Diane Abbott request explanation over being denied access to Yarl’s Wood
Diane Abbott has written to the Home Secretary, Amber Rudd, after more than a dozen requests to visit Yarl’s Wood immigration detention centre were turned down, the Guardian reports. In a statement, she said ‘It is of critical importance that we are able to scrutinise the conditions in which people are held, especially given the allegations of appalling treatment, abuse, and a lack of legal advice and medical support in this centre.’

Brexit sector reports released amidst criticism
The Guardian says that the Brexit sector reports, published in redacted form yesterday, have been ‘criticised for containing little more than padding, repetition and plagiarism’. Lord Jay, former Foreign Office head and acting chair of the Lords Brexit Committee described the reports as containing ‘little overarching analysis’ and being ‘inconsistent in approach and in the use of statistics’.

Mark Garnier cleared of wrongdoing
International trade minister Mark Garnier has been cleared of wrongdoing, as The Times reports. He had been accused of calling his secretary ‘sugar tits’ and asking her to buy him sex toys, but an inquiry by the Cabinet Office concluded that ‘that there was no evidence to suggest that Mr Garnier’s conduct as a minister since 2016 had breached the expected standards of behaviour’, Number 10 said.

EU preparing Canada-style deal for the UK
The Financial Times claims that the EU is preparing to present the UK with a Canada-style deal in early summer unless the UK is able to clarify its demands. As the paper reports, this would fall short of what Britain hopes for, as it will give only limited access for services.

Puppy farmers to be cracked down on
According to the Daily Mail, Theresa May has promised to ‘eradicate animal cruelty from our society’ by cracking down on puppy farmers. Proposals include forcing breeders to show puppies alongside their mother before selling them, ensuring sales are completed in the new owners’ presence, banning licensed breeders from selling puppies they haven’t bred, and regulation of adverts.

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A round-up of the latest political headlines, including Damian Green’s ‘resignation’, the movable EU Withdrawal date, unfair leasehold practices and how Brexit is damaging the UK economy.  

Damian Green ordered to resign after Cabinet Office investigation
As The Times reports, Damian Green was ordered to resign as First Secretary of State last night, after a Cabinet Office investigation found that he had made ‘misleading and inaccurate’ statements about his knowledge of pornography found on an office computer during a police raid in 2008, while allegations of inappropriate behaviour made by Conservative activist and journalist Kate Maltby were ‘plausible’.

Government backs down on Brexit date amendment
The Guardian says the Government has accepted a compromise over its plans to set the Brexit date in the EU (Withdrawal) Bill. The Government had tabled an amendment setting the Brexit date (29 March 2019), but climbed down by also backing an amendment tabled by Oliver Letwin allowing this date to be changed by MPs with EU agreement. As a result, the Bill passed committee stage, and will move onto report stage in the new year.

Government goes further than expected in leasehold crackdown
The Government has gone further than expected in its plans to crackdown on unfair leasehold practices, The Times claims. Ground rents will be outlawed on newly built flats, it will be made easier and cheaper for leaseholders to buy out their freeholds and better information will be made available on redress for those facing the most onerous terms.

IMF: Brexit vote damaging UK economy
The International Monetary Fund has said that the UK’s vote to leave the EU is damaging the economy. As the Financial Times reports, the IMF’s report shows that economic growth rates have declined in the UK while they have grown in Europe, the US and Japan. The IMF’s UK growth forecast for the next year has been cut from 1.7% to 1.6%.

Gove: UK will not compromise with US food standards and will support hill farmers
The Guardian reports that Michael Gove told the Environment Select Committee that the UK will not compromise on ‘high animal welfare and environmental standards’, for example chlorine-washed chicken or use of neonicotinoid pesticides, when seeking to reach a trade deal with the US. The Times adds that Gove confirmed that hill farmers will continue to receive subsidies after 2022.

Barnier: Brexit transition must end in December 2020
EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has said that it would be ‘logical’ for the Brexit transition period to end on December 31 2017, according to the Financial Times. The European Commission has published its directives for the negotiation. A spokesperson for No 10 said that the UK was looking at a period of around two years, adding that ‘The commission have said just over 21 months, but it’s a negotiation.’

UK building cyber deterrent
The annual report of Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee reveals that the UK is building a cyber deterrent to ward off attacks from countries such as China, Iran and Russia. As The Daily Telegraph says, the report also raises concerns about so-called Islamic State’s ability to hack infrastructure using cyber weapons available for sale online.

Zac Goldsmith wished ‘cancerous new year’
Zac Goldsmith posted an image on Twitter of what he dubbed a ‘sweet Christmas message from a local Remain group’, The Daily Telegraph reports. The card carried a variety of abusive messages, including one wishing him a ‘cancerous new year’.

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