Chris Whiteside's Blog

The Conservatives are helping more people keep more of the money they earn – by giving 32 million people across Britain a tax cut. The average basic rate taxpayer will pay £1,205 less tax than someone on equivalent income would have paid in 2010. Most of this tax cut has come through raising the personal allowance so it has taken many people on low incomes out of the income tax net altogether.

The UK continues to outstrip all other EU nations as the top investment destination in Europe, which is crucial for creating jobs, putting more money into our communities and enhancing prosperity across the country. Key facts :  New data from the OECD shows more than £1,400 billion of investment stock flowed into the UK from abroad during 2018 – the highest level in Europe, and the third highest in the world, behind the USA and China.  Total inward investment in the UK was more than Germany, Spain and Poland combined. International investors continue to recognise the fundamental strengths of our economy – the UK has great companies, great talent, great tech and great investment potential.  This comes as new ONS data released yesterday shows that the employment rate is at its highest in 50 years.  Why this matters :  The Conservatives' balanced approach to the economy attracts investors from around the world, showing yet again that Britain is open for...

Today, the Health Secretary announced an ambition that all hospitals and GP practices should have the fastest broadband available, supporting the long-term plan for the NHS which aims to deliver dramatic improvements for patients and their families. All hospitals and GP practices should have the fastest fibre-optic broadband to support radical improvements to digital healthcare services.  Almost 40 per cent of NHS organisations are using slow and unreliable internet, which restricts the ability to offer digital services to patients.  These new plans will allow doctors to offer more services, such as video consultations, to patients as part of a new ‘digital first’ offer across NHS – meaning that more of the patient consultations with GPs and outpatient clinics will be offered online.  Cloud-based patient records will help clinicians access crucial information, including high resolution images, improving patient safety and speeding up appointments.  Why this ...

The government is bringing together social media companies with suicide prevention experts from the Samaritans to better protect vulnerable people from harmful content online. Key facts :  During this week's summit with tech giants such as Google, Facebook and Snapchat, the Health Secretary asked that these companies:  Commit to working with suicide and self-harm prevention experts from the Samaritans so together, they can develop new ways of identifying and tackling harmful online content.  Take a stronger approach to preventing the spread anti-vaccination messages online, following recent statistics which show measles cases have quadrupled in the UK in just one year.  Use the most cutting-edge technology available to protect vulnerable users.  Why this matters :  We are building on our efforts to tackle Online Harms, making the UK the safest place in the world to be online – which is why we have sent a loud and clear message to social media c...

Two closely related quotes from the American economist Thomas Sowell:

I have little love for Donald Trump, who in 2016 became the first Republican candidate for the US presidency in my adult lifetime who caused me to conclude that, had I been a citizen of the United States, I would have had to vote Democrat. But I do respect whoever holds the office of President of the United States of America, Britain's most important ally. I believe it is right to invite the President of the USA to Britain to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings when troops from Britain, the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and many other free countries fought side by side to liberate Europe from the most oppressive, murderous ad dangerous regime in modern history. British and Americans soldiers, sailors and airmen fought and died side by side, with our other allies to keep the world free and save innocent people from dying in Nazi gas chambers, and that relationship is far more important to me than my opinion of the personal merits of one US presiden...

Things I have learned today: A Survation opinion poll last month in Scotland found that 35% of those who responded never want Britain or Scotland to hold any another referendum. Ever. Stephen Daisley has written a superb article here called " There’s more than one way to be a proud Scot ," which responds to the latest round of calls by the First Minister of Scorland for a debate leading to another referendum on independence. I happen to believe that you should only put something to a referendum if you are prepared to accept the result. The site which I hoped would win in the Scottish Indepenednce referendum did so: the side I voted for in the EU membership referendum lost. As a democrat I think it is essential that both those results are respected and implemented and failure to do so will cause all kinds of damage to Britain's democracy. Those who refuse to accept either or both results do not seem to be aware of how their intransigence appears to those w...

Today is the first Sunday after Easter, usually known as Low Sunday because it is often characterised by low attendance at church, particularly by comparison with the previous week, and as many people are away ...

When the Blair government set up the arrangements for directly-elected mayors and for council executives, they got some things right and others wrong. One of the things they got right was to keep the decisions on individual planning applications away from Mayors and Executives and require that they be determined by a committee consisting largely or entirely of backbench councillors, meeting in public and not subject to a party whip. (And yes, at least everywhere I have lived, anyone who has been to a reasonable number of such meetings will have seen councillors from all the main parties voting different ways often enough to tell you that the parties do respect that rule.) Serving on those committees, whether they are called the Planning Committee, the Development control and regulation committee (as on CCC) the Planning Panel (as on Copeland BC) or anything else is the most thankless job in local government. The councillors on it will be unpopular whether they do an excellent job...

The Home Secretary is awarding £4 million to international anti-slavery projects, protecting some of the world’s most vulnerable people.  Key facts :  Today the government is are announcing projects that will benefit from £4 million of funding from our Modern Slavery Innovation Fund, which supports international projects to trial innovative ways of stopping modern slavery.  Projects to protect vulnerable girls from trafficking in Ethiopia and improve care standards for victims of modern slavery in Nepal are among those receiving funding.  The government has committed a total of £200 million to combat the evils of human trafficking, forced labour and exploitation, and today’s announcement builds on the action we have already taken which includes passing the first Modern Slavery Act in Europe, giving law enforcement agencies the tools they need, toughening up sentences and providing more support for victims.  Why this matters :  Human trafficking, ...

Exports by British companies rose by £16.5 billion in 2018, as we are leading the way in creating jobs, growing our economy and ensuring prosperity across the country. Key facts :  Newly released ONS statistics show that in 2018, exports totalled £634.1 billion – a rise from £617.5 billion in the 2017.  Exports to non-EU countries rose by £6.5 billion last year and have risen by £116.5 billion since 2010.  Conservatives want to build on these successes, which is why the government has launched an Export Strategy to support and connect businesses so that they can create more, better-paid jobs.  Why this matters : As our economy continues to grow we are expanding our horizons, building trade relationships around the world and providing a solid foundation on which to build Britain’s economic future.

Government borrowing fell to its lowest in 17 years as our balanced approach to the economy means we are getting the deficit under control – while continuing to invest in our vital public services.  Key facts :  Figures from the ONS show that borrowing in 2018-19 was £24.7 billion, a reduction of £17.2 billion compared to the previous year.  Britain's public finances are on the way back to good health, while the Conservative government continues to invest in our vital public services like the NHS.  Why this matters :  Thanks to our balanced approach we’ve got borrowing and debt down, while setting out further investments in infrastructure, technology, housing, skills, and clean growth – building a Britain fit for the future.

I am totally opposed to Anti-Semitism, homophobia, and stirring up hatred against Muslims. These things should be strongly discouraged, and when those who seek to hold public office appear to be promoting hatred, it is not surprising that people should ask whether they are the right people for the job. The fact that Anti-Semitism, Homophobia or prejudice against Muslims are rightly regarded as very harmful makes it all the more important that when people are accused of any of these things we take a good hard look at the evidence. In too many cases, alas,  such accusations have been backed up by evidence and where this is the case appropriate action must be taken - there can be no place in the Conservative party, for instance, for the promotion of hatred against Jews, Muslims, or gay people. It is equally important that we do not rush to judgement and assume everyone accused is guilty, or allow social media to become a kangaroo court which can hound innocent people out of the...

New research confirms that the UK is a leading global hub for technology companies tackling challenges in healthcare, education, finance and sustainability – making a positive impact on our society and economy.  Key facts :  Research by Tech Nation shows that the UK is a leading hub for technology companies tackling challenges in healthcare, education, finance and sustainability.  ‘Tech for social good’ companies were worth £2.3 billion in 2018, with a turnover of £732 million – larger than the amount generated by the manufacture of consumer electronics in the UK.  The government is working hard to support those in the field by improving charities’ digital skills, boosting access to finance, and celebrating up-and-coming entrepreneurs.  Today the Digital Secretary hosted a roundtable at Downing Street to discuss how we can maintain the UK’s unique position.  Why this matters:  The presence of these companies has a significant positive...

There is a very good article on the "Unherd" site by Matthew Goodwin called " Have Remainers lost perspective? " and although the title of the piece may give the impression that he is having a go at one particular side in the referendum, it is actually an appeal to people on all sides - left and right, leave and remain supporters alike not to demonise the other. Goodwin does say that "The irony is that liberal catastrophisers engage in exactly the same behaviour that they associate with populists and Right-wing extremists; they overgeneralise; they label others; they engage in Manichean ‘good-versus-bad’ dichotomous thinking; they lose perspective; and they become obsessed with apocalyptic-style scenarios. Rather than assessing things rationally, and engaging with those who hold different points of view, they cling to comfort blankets, such as catastrophising, distancing and emotional reasoning." But he makes clear that "Such irrationali...

“We mustn't make permitted development synonymous with poor quality as it can have really positive outcomes. In recent years, permitted development rules governing domestic properties have been relaxed, which has made it easier for home owners to extend their homes without having to go through the rigmarole of a full planning application.  "These permissions have proved popular among builders and home owners alike. The reason being is that they give even more people the opportunity to add a bit more space – eight metres for a detached house and six metres for an attached house – to their home."  "In short, let’s not damn all permitted development."  "There are 300,000 to 400,000 new homes which could be created by making use of empty spaces above shops on our high streets. Surely we make use of permitted development regulations in a way that utilises these spaces without bringing to market tiny uninhabitable homes. This would have the added benefit of ...

On the subject of climate change - and the real efforts been made to reduce the risk of it - over the Easter weekend Britain notched up our longest spell without coal power since the Industrial Revolution .   Key facts:   Between 2010 and 2018, due to steps taken by the government, total greenhouse gases fell by 25 per cent.  Our investment has meant there are almost 400,000 people working in low carbon businesses and their supply chains across the country.  Since 2010, with our support, businesses have invested £92 billion in renewable energy, meaning renewables now make up a record amount of our electricity and enabling the UK to become a world-leader in clean technology. The  National Grid has announced that using a combination of gas, nuclear, wind, solar, imports, biomass and hydro, the UK was powered for a total of 90 hours and 45 minutes from Thursday until yesterday without burning a single ounce of coal to generate el...

I am all in favour of young people taking an interest in the future of the planet - or indeed of anyone else doing so. And the balance of evidence suggests that human activity is contributing to climate change - note that I didn't say "global warming" because that is too simplistic an expression - and that under the precautionary principle we should be looking to see how we can reduce our impact on the world's environment. But the issues are far too complex, and the record of climate change prediction models too patchy, to allow any orthodox view about the world's climate to be given a quasi-religious status free from any challenge. Note that when I say we should allow challenge and debate I mean exactly that, and am absolutely not in any way shape or form endorsing those who try to dismiss the very serious evidence that we need to worry about our environment as the product of some kind of hoax or conspiracy. Between those to whom "anthropogenic"...

Ordinarily St George's Day falls on the 23rd of April which is today. And accordingly the Cross of St George has been flying over Downing Street. However, the Church of England says that when the Saints' day is too close to Easter, they put it back to the week after Easter week, and therefore that this year St George's day will be next Monday, the 29th of April, instead. Apparently, "When St George’s Day or St Mark’s Day falls between Palm Sunday and the Second Sunday of Easter inclusive, it is transferred to the Monday after the Second Sunday of Easter, in this case the week beginning April 29.'' Everyone got that now? Anyway, Happy St George's Day whenever it comes.

The annual inflation rate in the United Kingdom was 1.9 percent in the year to March 2019, unchanged from the previous month and below market expectations of 2 percent. Key facts :  With wages rising at their fastest pace in over a decade, above inflation, and taxes cut for millions we are helping people to keep more money in their pockets.  On top of this we are helping people with the cost of living by boosting the earnings of the lowest paid with an increase in the National Living Wage and freezing fuel duty for the ninth year in a row – saving the average car driver £1,000 by 2020.  Labour don’t know how to handle the economy and offer only bogus solutions that will hurt the people they claim to help. More debt, higher taxes and fewer jobs would hit ordinary working people just as they did when Labour were last in power.

The Universities Minister and the Defence Minister have urged universities to sign up to the Armed Forces Covenant, so that our brave veterans and their families can better access further education. Key facts :  The Armed Forces Covenant, introduced by this Government, helps to remove barriers that veterans may face in their return to civilian life.  Although thousands of businesses and organisations have already signed up, we are going further to urge all UK universities to do the same.  This could lead to universities ensuring admissions policies better reflect the needs of veterans with greater prowess attributed to military experience and qualifications.  In addition, the government is contributing £5 million in continued funding for the Service Leavers Scheme and Forces Bereavement Scheme, which provide funding and scholarships for ex-service personnel and their families.  Why this matters :  No veteran of our armed forces or their family s...

I had intended to concentrate on Easter messages on this blog today but cannot avoid comment on the terrible news of the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka: six nearly simultaneous explosions at three churches and three hotels for which the death toll at the time of posting is at least 207 innocent victims and in which at least 400 people have been injured. It is too early to say for certain which group of vile terrorist savages were responsible for this wicked attack. But we can say with absolute confidence that whatever cause they were trying to promote, their sick actions will only have damaged it. All murders are among the most evil things a human being can do to others, but whether the attack is on Jewish people worshipping in a synagogue, Muslims at a Mosque, or Christians at church on Easter Sunday, there are few things which more emphatically reject our common humanity than to go to a place of worship on a holy day for the faith concerned and there indiscriminate...

At around 9.30 am this morning - Easter Sunday - someone attempted to drive an extremely long  articulated vehicle transporter, the sort of machine big enough to carry a main battle tank or a large earth-mover, through residential streets in the Calder Valley area of Whitehaven. It will not have been a surprise to any resident of that area of Whitehaven that it got trapped. Murphy's law ensured that it became trapped in Esk Avenue, completely blocking the road at the very pinch point where anyone trying to get to or from large areas of Corkickle or Mirehouse East by car would have to take detours of several miles to get round it. My Easter Sunday journey to church  involved a detour of close to four miles. By the standard of some of the other news today this is a "first world problem." However, if anyone reading this should ever consider taking a vehicle larger than a bus or a seven-ton removal van through roads like Foxhouses Road, Esk Avenue or Calder Avenue in ...

A longer version of the same quote:

I raised an eyebrow when I read the " statement of persons nominated " issued by Copeland Borough Council (CBC); for the election of a councillor to serve on that authority for the new Corkickle ward and for Town Councillors for the " Corkickle North " and " Corkickle South " wards of Whitehaven Town council. I imagine that there will have been a few more electors in "Corkickle South" who raised a similar eyebrow on receiving their postal votes. It's not every day you see members of the Labour party (or any other organised party) standing against one another in a public election. However that in itself would not have been worth calling out. As I wrote on this blog a few days ago, the Conservative party nationally does not insist that local Conservative associations the same policy of putting up a party candidate for every seat on Town and Parish councils in the way we do try to contest all seats on district and county councils, and th...

And now for something completely different ... A second music spot for today, but this time a spoof one. "The Rye or the Kaiser" is a parody by Al Yankovic of "The Eye of the Tiger" and so well performed that if you don't pay attention to the words that's what you can imagine you are listening to.

"just because we're not at war any more doesn't mean the shadow of the gunman has left the room." ( Lyra McKee 1990-2019 who lost her life to one of those gunmen on Thursday.)

"With free speech comes responsibility and accountability." "Rape is a heinous crime - often used as a weapon against its victims - that destroys the lives of the men and women who suffer it. "It is not something that should ever be satirised or joked about, and it is certainly not in my concept of free speech to do so. "I would like to see those involved drop the pretence, take responsibility which comes with free speech, and admit they were wrong." ( Mike Hookem MEP, deputy leader of UKIP and one of just FOUR out of 24 UKIP candidates elected at the 2014 Euro-elections who is still a UKIP MEP , explaining why he was "greatly disturbed" at the UKIP leader and his dwindling band of followers defending UKIP candidate Carl Benjamin's remarks that it is "100%" acceptable to make jokes about whether he would rape a woman. In his online personal at "Sargon of Akkad," Benjamin had posted that he "wouldn't e...

One has to wonder how the people who have been disrupting everyone else's travel plans travelled to their protest events. There has already been much comment in one case where we know the answer: actress Emma Thompson flew 5,400 miles from Los Angeles to Heathrow to attend the Extinction Rebellion protest by people who among other things have called for limits on how often people can fly. (A typical flight from LA to Heathrow produces about 1.67 tons of CO2 - roughly equivalent to the average UK person's carbon footprint for fifty days and much of it released directly to the upper atmosphere where the greenhouse gas effect is maximised.) Some of them may also have come to the protest by car: the typical passenger car emits something like a pound of carbon dioxide per mile travelled. There are exceptions to this as is explained here , but in general it would have been more environmentally friendly for them to travel by train, particularly using electric trains like thos...

Today is Good Friday and millions of people around the world are remembering a man who was put to death on a cross two thousand years ago. Christians believe that Jesus was the son of God and that he gave his life for the sins of the world. Whether you accept the Christian Gospel or not, and of this there is not much doubt that he was am exceptional man who was put to death by the authorities in a savage and brutal way because he refused to abandon the religious mission which was his purpose in life. Sadly on this day when we remember the death of Jesus we learn of the murder of another innocent person, a journalist who was shot deal last night in what the police believe to have been a terrorist incident while reporting on riots in Londonderry. Lyra McKee, killed last night at the age of 29, was described as a gifted investigative reporter with “courage, style and integrity” and a “kind, gentle, witty and stubborn soul”. In an extreme irony, if the police statement that they su...

There is no definitive answer which will be correct in all circumstances to the question of whether candidates affiliated to a political party will, other things being equal, be preferable to independent ones. For example, the position of the Conservative party nationally is to contest all district/borough/city, county and parliamentary elections but to leave it to the discretion of local constituency parties whether to put up slates for town and parish council elections. In most of Copeland, as much of the rest of the country that decision has been, this year and usually in the past, not to put up Conservative slates for Town and Parish elections or ask people to vote on party lines in those elections. That's because the very local decisions which these community councils take, parochial ones in the positive sense of that word, are generally not amenable to being taken on national party lines. There are those who argue that the same applies to other levels of government, r...

The Exchequer Secretary has announced that a new fund will provide £200 million for British businesses, as the Conservatives; balanced approach to the economy means that we can support innovative companies, ensuring they can access the finance they need to grow. Key facts :  We are fully committed to supporting small businesses to succeed as part of our modern Industrial Strategy.  As the UK leaves the EU and our relationship with the European Investment Fund changes, we remain committed to ensuring that innovative firms can access the finance they need to grow.  The funding – made available through the British Business Bank – will provide loans to small companies looking to increase in size.  Venture capital and investment firms will be able to approach the British Business Bank to bid for a share of the £200 million to invest in small UK firms.  Why this matters : We are creating more start-ups and attracting more venture capital funding than any o...

"As a 54-year-old Jew, when hear the word 'Nazi', I listen. I pay close attention because, like every other Jew, I know the meaning of the word and its special resonance. If the Nazis had not been defeated, I wouldn't be here. I would never have been born because, had Adolf Hitler successfully invaded Britain and won the war, my parents — both born in London — would have joined the millions of Jews murdered by the Nazis. So I have a message for David Lammy, the Labour MP who at the weekend likened members of the hard-Brexit European Research Group (ERG) of Conservative MPs to the Nazis. It's a message that comes from my heart: How dare you? How dare you compare people with whom you disagree on Brexit with the men and women who committed genocide — who planned in meticulous detail the most efficient mechanism for murdering an entire people? You ignorant, hate-mongering fool." "There is, however, another aspect to this sorry story which shows t...

An annual survey by top accountancy firm EY has found the UK is now the world’s top investment destination , overtaking the United States. Key facts :  It is the first time the UK has taken the top spot in the survey’s 10-year history.  The UK displaced the US as the top investment destination globally, a position the US had held since 2014. The US was followed by Germany, China, France, Canada, India, Australia, Brazil and the United Arab Emirates in the rankings.  For this year's survey EY interviewed 2,900 senior executives from 47 countries in February and March 2019. 

New figures show that the number of people in work is at a record high while wages have risen at their fastest pace in a decade – continuing to rise ahead of prices. This means pay packets can go further, and more people have the security of a regular wage and can provide for their families. We are helping people into work by reforming welfare so work always pays, while backing businesses to create more, better paying jobs across the whole country through our careful economic management and modern Industrial Strategy. With the unemployment rate at a record low of 3.9 per cent, more people have the economic independence that a job brings and can reach their full potential. Behind every employment number is a person whose self-esteem, mental wellbeing, economic circumstances and life chances are all vastly improved by being in the workplace. Key statistics :  Wages: Average weekly earnings for employees increased by 3.4 per cent compared with a year earlier, while prices r...

Matthew d'Ancona has a piece in a prominent national newspaper with the subtitle " As the political temperature soars, those who seek to govern Britain have a responsibility to speak with care " Why, you may ask, did I introduce this piece by the subtitle rather than the title, and refrain from naming the paper concerned? The answer is, because too many people on both sides of the political spectrum and both sides of the Brexit debate are guilty of failing to choose their language with care, and I wanted to make the point in a way which did not make it obvious which side of the aisle the article was coming from,. The basic point of d'Ancona's article, that people who hold or aspire to political office are wise to choose their words carefully, and that you can believe in and exercise "free speech" while wording your comments in a measured way which avoids the "civic recklessness" of language which will further inflame passions and anger...

I was horrified to learn of the fire at the cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris, an iconic church which is a huge part of the history of French culture. One can only with the firefighters well and hope that as much as possible of the building and its' priceless store of artwork can be saved.

New statistics have shown a boost for Britain’s pubs, restaurants and shops with more people eating out and shopping.   Key facts:   Like-for-like sales in restaurants and pubs are up by nearly four per cent in March on the same time last year.   The number of shoppers climbed by 1.4 per cent year-on-year last month with more shoppers hitting the high street.

The government is to consult on proposals to end unfair evictions. This will form part of the biggest change to the private rental sector for a generation, giving tenants the peace of mind they deserve. Key facts :  As part of a complete overhaul of the rented housing sector, the government will consult on proposals to remove the ability of landlords to use ‘no fault’ evictions under Section 21 of the 1988 Housing Act.  Private landlords will no longer be able to evict tenants from their homes at short notice using Section 21 – so called ‘no-fault’ evictions – and without good reason.  This will bring greater peace of mind to millions of families who live in rented accommodation. Many tenants live with the worry of being evicted at short notice or continue to live in poor accommodation for fear they will be asked to leave if they complain about problems with their home. We want to give them the reassurance that they will not suddenly be forced to leave their home f...

"Brussels has taught us a lesson in how not to deal with a member state that wants to leave. The problem is not on the British side. The problem is on the EU side.” This quote is from Günter Verheugen , former German EU commissioner, as reported here . He told ARD’s Anne Will show in Berlin that the EU’s negotiating team had made a strategic misjudgement, missed the larger issues at stake and should not try to dictate terms fundamentally unacceptable to London:   “We’re not losing a member state, we’re losing the weight of 20 member states. We therefore have an interest that we remain the closest possible allies.” I am not holding my breath waiting for the EU to change it's negotiating strategy because I don't think they will, but the same article reports that a number of influential German economists are concerned that the EU's negotiating strategy for Brexit as " gone off the rails " in the words of Professor Gabriel Felbermayr, head of the Kiel In...

The Secretary of State for Scotland, David Mundell MP, led the annual March of the Living in Hungary, a Holocaust memorial march which this year honours Jane Haining, a Scottish missionary who died because she protected and helped Jewish orphans in her care. He also spoke at the event. (Above: Jane Haining, a missionary from Dumfriesshire who died at the Auchwitz death camp in 1944 where she had been sent by the Nazis for caring for Jewish children.) Key facts : The torchlit memorial march, called the March of the Living, is an annual event in Hungary which commemorates the more than 500,000 Jews from the country killed by the Nazis.  This year’s march honoured Jane Haining, a teacher originally from Dumfriesshire who ignored countless warnings to return home to safety, believing it her duty to stay with her pupils and care for them. For doing so she was arrested by the Gestapo and sent to the Auchwitz death camp, where she died. Research suggests that Jane Haining also ...

In the Hebrew calendar today is the Sunday immediately before the feast of the Passover - a moveable feast which is extremely late this year -and in the Christian calendar that make is Palm Sunday. So Christians today are remembering the day when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, welcomed by cheering crowds who laid palm branches and items of clothing before him in tribute, and shouting "Hosanna!" And yet six days later, with no apparent reason to justify the change in attitude, those who had welcomed Jesus were silent or joined in as crowds screamed "Crucify Him" and he was put to death. An American writer once wrote that this was like giving someone a ticker-tape parade and then hanging them: and yet the approval of the mob can be as fickle as the approval of a church hierarchy or an authoritarian government, whether or not the former is prompted by one of the latter. Both the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany, particularly at the time of Stalin's...

It is a great pity that an extension to Article 50 has been necessary. However, one of the very few things which parliament has manged to agree on in relation to Brexit in the last few months was to vote to instruct the PM to seek an extension to delay the Brexit date if no deal to leave had been agreed and she has obeyed that instruction. In discussions with the rest of the EU the Prime Minister has agreed an extension to Article 50 until the end of October – but crucially, if a deal is passed, the UK can still leave the European Union by the end of May, before the European Elections. Key facts :  Britain needs to leave the EU with a deal as soon as possible; this extension will end once the Withdrawal Agreement has been ratified, and the UK can leave the EU in an orderly manner.  If the UK parliament is able to pass a deal in the first three weeks of May, we will not have to take part in European elections, and can leave on 31 May.  During the course of the e...

I did a #Torycanvass "mini-tour" of Lancs and Cumbria in glorious sunshine today, if the wind was a bit cold: started the morning with @CopelandTories in Millom backing Ged McGrath for Mayor and spent the afternoon with Rossendale and Darwen Conservatives in Darwen South.

From this week the Voyeurism Act has come into force in England and Wales  and ‘upskirting’ offenders can be arrested and sent to prison, ensuring more people are protected from this degrading and humiliating behaviour. Key facts :  Upskirting is a gross invasion of privacy, but previously not all instances were covered by criminal law.  From Friday, offenders will feel the full force of the law with up to two years in jail. The most serious offenders will be placed on the sex offenders’ register.  After a previous attempt to ban the practice through a private members' bill fell foul of a rogue MP, the government made parliamentary time available for the Voyeurism Act which received Royal Assent in February and is now law.  Why this matters :  There is no excuse for this disgusting behaviour, and making ‘upskirting’ an offence is another step forward in challenging sexist attitudes and behaviours in our society.