UK Politics

[reohn2]

Munira Wilson, MP for the Liberal Democrats says it well

'It's the sign of a bully when they blame the victims and everybody else around them, but themselves'

Ian

She's spot on!

[Jdsk]

"Rishi Sunak’s wife’s stake in childcare firm not mentioned in six ministerial registers":
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... -registers

When I read his claim about it being recorded in the very very very overdue register of ministerial interests I thought he'd probably get away with it even though I assume that publishing that register is also his responsibility (or he delegates or appoints). Were that the case it just highlights yet another shortcoming in our governance (when there are significant delays in establishing vested interests).

But, as you point out, that none of his wife's interests are listed even in the old register means nobody stands any chance of finding his vested interests which makes me think he'll probably be "apologising".

Something has just been published, but I'm lost on the overlaps (and possible gaps) between the declarations of his interests as an MP, of his past interests as a Minister, and of his current interests as a Minister.

LIST OF MINISTERS’ INTERESTS, CABINET OFFICE, April 2023
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... l_2023.pdf

Inquiry extended:

Possible explanations:
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/li ... 31d3ccca96

Jonathan

[Psamathe]

From reports it appears Labour have created a good "trap" for the Conservative and with good timing prior to the local elections.

Labour to use tactic that finished off Truss to force Tories into sewage vote
If Tory MPs vote down opposition day motion, Labour can accuse them of thwarting attempts to clean up rivers, beaches and chalk streams
...
The party plans to use its regular opposition day motion on Tuesday to push a binding motion, which would oblige the government to set aside Commons time next week for a debate and vote on a Labour bill to impose tougher penalties for sewage spills.

While the motion will fail if the government, as expected, whips its MPs to vote it down, this outcome would allow Labour to say Tory MPs had opposed plans to clean up rivers, beaches and chalk streams, a potentially potent attack before local elections, also next week.
...

Undoubtedly the Conservatives will try and declare that it's poor legislation or "the wrong approach" but as the vote is not for legislation but to compel the Conservatives to set aside Gov. time to debate a motion (not for the motion itself) and as it's about tougher penalties rather than major changes to rules - if the Conservatives vote against them Labour have a really strong argument for local elections and if Conservative should support them they will have been forced to by Labour under Labour's agenda.

Catch 22?

Ian

[francovendee]

They'll just claim Labour are just playing politics!

[reohn2]

Whatever,the UK won't have clean rivers and beaches anytime soon and the cause of it is privatisation of the water companies,companies who pay out dividends to their investors whilst the infrastructure to deal with a tragic environmental problem gets worse as regulators are evermore toothless.

[Jdsk]

"Integrity, professionalism and accountability", part 367:

"Scottish Tory conference: Inside the media lockout furore":
https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics ... ut-furore/

Jonathan

[Jdsk]

"On 6 March 2023, Minister for the Cabinet Office and HM Paymaster General announced in reply to an Urgent Question that the Cabinet Office had been asked to look into the circumstances leading to the resignation of Sue Gray, the former Permanent Secretary for the Union and the Constitution and committed to update Parliament as appropriate."
https://questions-statements.parliament ... 02/hcws757

I can't make out the significance of this,

Guardian coverage:
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... re-on-hold

Jonathan

[Jdsk]

Big call for Sunak: does he stop or "review" the The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill?
...

Yes, but very quietly:
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... of-eu-laws

The official U-turn:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/smar ... he-economy

Jonathan

[Stradageek]

Brilliant quote from Liz Truss:

“The sad truth is what I think we’ve seen over the past few years is a new kind of economic model taking hold in our countries, one that’s focused on redistributionism, on stagnation and on the imbuing of woke culture into our businesses. I call these people the anti-growth movement.”

Needs only minor changes to make it the centre pin of a political ideology to tackle inequality and save the planet:

“The happy truth is what I think we’ve seen over the past few years is a new kind of economic model taking hold in our countries, one that’s focused on redistributionism, on stagnation and on the imbuing of woke culture into our businesses. I call these people the anti-growth movement.”

[Jdsk]

Big call for Sunak: does he stop or "review" the The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill?
...

Yes, but very quietly:
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... of-eu-laws

The official U-turn:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/smar ... he-economy

Today's competition: guess the speaker:

Politicians have not delivered. And this comes back to the prime minister’s promise in his video during his leadership campaign when he said he would do this.
Bear in mind, at that time, he had already given write-round consent to the retained EU law bill. I had briefed him on it. He knew that it wasn’t easy. He knew that it was going to be an effort to get it done, but a slightly longer deadline at that point. He accepted the deadline of 2023. And then he has broken his word. And this is very serious in my view.
Politicians needs to stick to what they say they will do …
I think it is an important issue for the party that when Rishi Sunak resigned he said in his resignation letter to Boris Johnson that he believed the public are ready to hear the truth, ‘Our people know that if something is too good to be true, then it is not true.’
He then said something that people like me wanted to hear and has failed to deliver it. And I’m afraid it is no good being holier than thou if you then end up behaving like a Borgia.

Jonathan

[Psamathe]

It is increasingly concerning me about Sunak's love of high-carbon travel. Only the other day he took a helicopter from South Coast back to London. Train would have cost £30 and been a lot less polluting than the helicopter he took!

Tory MPs voice unease over Sunak’s flying pharmacy visit
Rishi Sunak flew to the south coast and back by helicopter to announce a new government health policy on Tuesday as he tried to calm Conservative jitters after a disastrous set of local election results.

In the latest example of the prime minister’s fondness for short-distance air travel, the prime minister visited Southampton to set out plans for pharmacists to provide prescriptions for millions of patients in England to help ease the GP crisis.

However, instead of getting the train from Waterloo station for the 160-mile round trip, which would have taken one hour 15 minutes and cost about £30 return, he opted to travel by air, at a cost to the taxpayer in the region of £6,000.

Far from the 1st time he's made such high-carbon domestic trips. e.g.

Sunak took £500,000 worth of private jet trips in less than a fortnight
Rishi Sunak took private jet trips costing almost £500,000 in just over a week last year, government data has shown, prompting opposition claims that he is out of touch and unable to lead on green issues.

Has he not heard of "Climate Change" or does he just not care about it?

Ian

[pete75]

Yes, but very quietly:
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... of-eu-laws

The official U-turn:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/smar ... he-economy

Today's competition: guess the speaker:

Politicians have not delivered. And this comes back to the prime minister’s promise in his video during his leadership campaign when he said he would do this.
Bear in mind, at that time, he had already given write-round consent to the retained EU law bill. I had briefed him on it. He knew that it wasn’t easy. He knew that it was going to be an effort to get it done, but a slightly longer deadline at that point. He accepted the deadline of 2023. And then he has broken his word. And this is very serious in my view.
Politicians needs to stick to what they say they will do …
I think it is an important issue for the party that when Rishi Sunak resigned he said in his resignation letter to Boris Johnson that he believed the public are ready to hear the truth, ‘Our people know that if something is too good to be true, then it is not true.’
He then said something that people like me wanted to hear and has failed to deliver it. And I’m afraid it is no good being holier than thou if you then end up behaving like a Borgia.

Jonathan

Some sort of swivel eyed loon, Christopher Chope, Jacob Really-Smug, Steve Baker, Mark Francois etc - take your pick.

[Jdsk]

Yes, but very quietly:
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... of-eu-laws

The official U-turn:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/smar ... he-economy

Today's competition: guess the speaker:

Politicians have not delivered. And this comes back to the prime minister’s promise in his video during his leadership campaign when he said he would do this.
Bear in mind, at that time, he had already given write-round consent to the retained EU law bill. I had briefed him on it. He knew that it wasn’t easy. He knew that it was going to be an effort to get it done, but a slightly longer deadline at that point. He accepted the deadline of 2023. And then he has broken his word. And this is very serious in my view.
Politicians needs to stick to what they say they will do …
I think it is an important issue for the party that when Rishi Sunak resigned he said in his resignation letter to Boris Johnson that he believed the public are ready to hear the truth, ‘Our people know that if something is too good to be true, then it is not true.’
He then said something that people like me wanted to hear and has failed to deliver it. And I’m afraid it is no good being holier than thou if you then end up behaving like a Borgia.

Rees-Mogg.

And the "Conservative Democratic Organisation" is starting its next onanistic challenge:

"Tory anarchy breaks out as revolt looms on Brexit laws":
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... rexit-laws

It's an interesting test for Sunak...

Jonathan

[reohn2]

Interesting article in the Guardian(sorry again) about the lack of a UK industial plan:- https://www.theguardian.com/business/20 ... l-strategy

[Jdsk]

Big call for Sunak: does he stop or "review" the The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill?
...

Yes, but very quietly:
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... of-eu-laws

The official U-turn:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/smar ... he-economy

And the list:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... ned-eu-law

And some of the implications:
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... -published

Jonathan