Chris Whiteside's Blog

Yesterday good news came from a land down under as leading Australian businesses announced a £28.5 billion investment in a major economic boost for UK infrastructure projects .  Trade between Global Britain and the rest of the world will bring jobs and growth to every part of the country.  We can and must strike out as Global Britain – using the UK’s dynamic economy and workforce to attract foreign investment from around the world. That is why yesterday top Australian investors announced £28.5 billion for clean energy, technology and infrastructure projects across the UK – supporting major developments from Orkney to Southampton to improve and upgrade the quality of our infrastructure. This investment will create thousands of jobs and put the UK at the cutting edge of the green industrial revolution whilst building new partnerships with allies from across the globe.

Today the government   announced a £35 million boost for 340 organisations across England from our Cultural Recovery Fund , ensuring cultural organisations and the jobs they support can survive beyond the pandemic. Since 2020, the Culture Recovery Fund has distributed £1.57 billion to around 5,000 organisations and sites across the country, giving a lifeline to cultural venues and organisations. Today’s final boost of £35 million will support 340 organisations across England and safeguard hundreds of jobs – helping venues such as music venues, theatres and museums to make a full economic recovery from the pandemic.  This lifeline for cultural organisations protects the vital role that culture plays in our communities up and down the country – allowing cherished organisations to remain open in every part of the country.   

Because of the rise in energy prices and a general increase in the cost of living, this is going to be a difficult year for everyone Living standards are likely to take a hit for all of us: to ensure that wages recover from this and that there is enough money to protect our public services, we need to get productivity up and ensure the economy grows. So it is encouraging that figures released this morning   show that the UK economy grew by 1.3 per cent from October to December 2021 , indicting that showing that our economy is recovering. Thanks to the hard work of many people in our wealth-creating firms and businesses, the government's £400 billion package of support, Britain's historic vaccination programme, and the government making the right calls at the right time, the economy continues to bounce back from the pandemic. New figures released this morning demonstrate the benefits of our approach, with the UK’s GDP growing by 1.3 per cent in Q4 of 2021 – upwardly revised from...

I understand why Lincoln Football club have decided to review the practice of playing the March of the Dambusters at their matches while the war in Ukraine lasts and of sounding Air Raid sirens when they score.  In my humble opinion, suspending the air raid sirens was on balance probably the correct decision but to cease playing the Dambusters march was the wrong one, and I am posting it as my music spot this evening to make a point. Air raid sirens were designed to warn people when they are under imminent attack and I can see why using them to denote a goal could be seen as being in bad taste during a conflict - if there were Ukranian refugees at a match why it might even be traumatic for them. However, without ever downplaying the cost of war or suggesting that war can ever by anything other than a terrible thing, it is right that we should celebrate the heroism of brave men and women who risked and sometimes lost their lives defending their country.  The Lancaster crews of...

 

The government has   announced further details of our next steps for living with covid   – setting out plans to manage the virus like other respiratory infections. Following our world-leading vaccination programme, Britain has been able to lift legal restrictions and reopen our society as we learn to live with covid. Yesterday details were announced of guidance on learning to live with covid – including the continued offer of free testing to help protect specific groups and forward planning for rapid testing response should a new health threat emerge.   As we open up the UK economy and return to a much more normal life, vaccines remain our best defence and we urge everyone eligible to get their spring booster.   From 1 April, free covid testing will be available for people with symptoms if they are patients in hospital, eligible for treatments because they are at higher risk of getting seriously ill or living or working in high-risk settings such as care homes o...

Today the UK government   announced a pledge to provide £286 million of UK aid to the Afghan people   - providing life-saving food and emergency health support to those in need. The Afghan people are facing shocking deprivation following the fall of Kabul, with the UN estimating around 10 million children across Afghanistan urgently need humanitarian assistance to survive.  That is why the government has announced a further £286 million of humanitarian aid today to provide life-saving food and emergency health support, building on our ongoing support which has already helped to build 60 hospitals and supported the World Food Programme, giving emergency food to 4.47 million people. We are rallying countries in support of the Afghan people and helping lead the way in providing essential, life-saving support. 

The government has   announced our new Tackling Domestic Abuse Plan - investing £230 million over three years to support victims   and tackle the perpetrators of these crimes. Domestic abuse is a devastating crime that ruins lives. For far too long the focus has been on what the victim might have done differently, rather than on the behaviour of perpetrators.  That is why the government have announced ao Tackling Domestic Abuse Plan to address this. Our plan includes the creation of a new register of offenders, an expansion of the ‘Ask for Ani’ Scheme, £140 million for supporting victims, and over £81 million to tackle perpetrators. These plans will establish a whole society approach - taking the onus off victims and making it easier for them to access the support they need, while taking tough action against perpetrators.

 

Today the government announced   a green paper to consult on a stronger national system for children with special educational needs and disabilities   – ending the postcode lottery of uncertainty and accountability as we level up opportunities. Every child, regardless of their background, should be able to access the education they need and deserve.  That is why we have announced a green paper to consult on a new national framework for children with SEND – including setting new national standards, simplifying the Education, Health and Care Plan, changing the culture and practice of mainstream education, and improving workforce training for staff in educational settings.  These plans will end the postcode lottery of uncertainty and poor accountability that exists for too many families, boosting confidence in the system and improving both mainstream and specialist education as we continue to level up opportunities. 

 

I posted the version of "In the Navy" which was used as the end credits for the film "Down Periscope" a couple of days ago.  Here is another video of the song.

The UK government has   appointed a leading British lawyer as an independent adviser to the Ukrainian Prosecutor General , helping Ukraine hold Russia accountable for the war crimes it is committing against innocent civilians. Russia’s use of indiscriminate force against innocent civilians, in its illegal and unprovoked assault on Ukraine, amounts to war crimes for which the Putin regime must be held accountable. That is why the Attorney General appointed Sir Howard Morrison QC KCMG as an Independent Adviser to the Ukrainian Prosecutor General, Iryna Venediktova, providing independent and expert legal advice to Ukraine to support their investigation and prosecution of war crimes committed by Russia. The international community is united in our resolve to hold Putin to account for the evil actions of his regime and we will continue to do all we can to support Ukraine’s fight for justice against Russia.

Today the government   sets out a Schools White Paper , designed to make sure every child can reach their full potential and use education to futureproof the mission to level up the country. Literacy and numeracy unlock the learning, knowledge and skills that every child needs to succeed – and we must focus on improving them as we build on the reforms which have seen a significant increase in the number of good and outstanding schools. That is why the government has set out plans to dramatically improve English and maths in a new Schools White Paper today, supporting children who fall behind in those key subjects and getting them back on track – and getting all schools to offer a minimum 32.5 hour school week by September 2023. By making sure every child receives excellent teaching which helps them reach their full potential, we will spread opportunity and futureproof our mission to level up the country

The UK government has   launched negotiations for a new free trade deal with Canada , strengthening our £19 billion trading relationship which supports jobs and businesses across the UK. The UK and Canada are close friends with a trading relationship that was worth over £19 billion last year thanks to our UK-Canada Trade Continuity agreement – but there is huge potential to strengthen and grow trade between our two countries. That is why the International Trade Secretary visited Ottawa last week, where she launched negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement that will boost our £19 billion trading relationship with Canada by making it easier for British services and exports to reach Canadian markets. The new agreement will boost our thriving services sector, promote higher standards of living, reduce barriers for exporters and stimulate Canadian investment – supporting jobs and growth up and down the country as we level up and unite the UK.

The UK government has announced   £2 million of aid for vital food supplies in areas of Ukraine being cut off by Russian forces , supporting the innocent people caught up in Putin’s illegal invasion.  The encirclement of towns and cities by Russian forces is restricting the supply of vital resources to those inside, so it is essential that we provide support before the window of opportunity closes.  That is why the UK government announced at the weekend a further £2 million of aid for vital resources – including dried food, tinned goods, and water – to towns and cities encircled by Russian forces, and around 25 truckloads will be transported to these areas from early next week.  This vital donation of food and supplies will help support the brave Ukrainian people remaining in their towns and cities following Russia’s barbaric invasion.

 “I thought what the boss of P&O said yesterday about knowingly breaking the law was brazen, breathtaking, showed incredible arrogance and I cannot believe that he can stay in that role." “What they did was they flagged their ships through Cyprus, avoided having to tell anybody about this - or they felt they did - and even though they know they’ve broken the law, what they’ve done is to pay people off in such a way to try and buy their silence. “It’s unacceptable. So what I’m going to do about it is come to parliament this coming week with a package of measures which will both close every possible loophole that exists and force them to U-turn on this." (Transport secretary Grant Shapps confirming his view that the chair of P&O Ferries should resign for his cavalier attitude to breaking the law and that the government will act against this unacceptable behaviour)

The UK government has today announced   new sanctions on Russian research and innovation   – ramping up the pressure on the Putin regime by withholding vital funds. Britain is continuing to support the brave people of Ukraine as they stand up to tyranny by placing severe sanctions on Putin’s regime – making clear that unprovoked aggression will never pay. That is why today the UK government has announced new sanctions that tackle Russian research and innovation – all payments for Russian-linked projects delivered through UK public funds have been paused and we will no longer provide new funding for collaborative projects, and we are providing a £3 million package of support for at-risk Ukrainian researchers. These sanctions ensure that our response to Putin’s illegal invasion is far-reaching and comprehensive, and the UK continues to stand with our Ukrainian friends in their hour of need.

  " To My Mother ," You too, my mother, read my rhymes For love of unforgotten times, And you may chance to hear once more The little feet along the floor ( Robert Louis Stevenson ) " To My Mother ,"  To-day's your natal day; Sweet flowers I bring: Mother, accept, I pray My offering. And may you happy live, And long us bless: Receiving as you give Great happiness. (Christina Rossetti ) Roses are red , Violets are blue. Happy Mother's Day Mom! Sorry you didn't give birth to a poet who could rhyme! ( Anonymous )

"The anti-anti-Putin Left are most usefully described as “campists”, whose geopolitical philosophy is summed up by the phrase “the enemy of my enemy is my friend”. America is the font of all evil, therefore its opponents must have something going for them." "The British-Syrian writer Leila Al-Shami calls this “the anti-imperialism of idiots”:  “This pro-fascist Left seems blind to any form of imperialism that is non-western in origin. It combines identity politics with egoism. Everything that happens is viewed through the prism of what it means for westerners — only white men have the power to make history.”   Russia’s unprovoked war of imperialist aggression is as inconvenient to campists as China’s oppression of the Uyghurs. Either they must find a way to blame America after all or they must downplay the issue." "They do not know what they stand for, only what they oppose. This is how you end up making excuses for dictators who bomb hospitals while demonising...

There is a very powerful piece by Giles Fraser on the Unherd site about the Putin regime's co-option of the story of the Holocaust to provide an utterly fraudulent justification for his attack on Ukraine. It is particularly sick for the present Russian regime to present their unjustified and illegal war in Ukraine as an attempt to protect people from largely imaginary Nazis given that they are using this narrative to excuse an attack on a country whose elected president is Jewish and whose grandfather's brothers were murdered by real Nazis. As Giles Frazer writes,   “I won’t dignify Putin’s narrative of liberation by arguing with it. You don’t rain down bombs upon innocent civilians if you want to liberate them. And you don’t bomb the holocaust memorial site at Babi Yar if you are intent on freeing the country from “Nazis”.” You can read the article here .

In a very real sense the Secretary-General of the United Nations was absolutely right when he said last week that Russia's invasion of Ukraine set off a war in which there are no winners, only losers. Even if President Putin had a sudden attack of sanity tomorrow and ordered all his troops to cease fire and withdraw from Ukraine, that country would still have lost dozens of cities devastated and thousands of troops and civilians dead. Even in the even more unlikely event that President Zelenskiyy unconditionally surrendered tomorrow the cost in terms of blood, treasure and prestige already suffered by Russia looks to be greater than any possible benefit which Russia could gain if they did "win" the war. This war is a disaster, not just for both Russia and Ukraine but for the world. In a year when even without the war living standards would have been under pressure around the world as a result of energy prices, the war has both made energy even more expensive and created f...

Remember that we lose an hour tonight. Britain moves from Grenwich Mean Time to British Summer Time in the early hours of tomorrow morning and the hour from 2am to 2.59am will not exist: we will go straight from 1.59am GMT to 3am BST.  So put any clocks in your house forward an hour or follow this guide to resetting your various devices:

"Critiques of Western cancel culture are possibly not best made by those currently slaughtering civilians for the crime of resistance, or who jail and poison their critics. #IStandWithUkraine" ( J.K. Rowling responds on Twitter to Vladimir Putin's references to her in a speech about "cancel culture.")

I see from the blog's traffic counters that over the last two days quite a few people have been watching and listening to an old music post with the end credits from "Down Periscope" featuring Kelsey Grammer and the cast of the film, with the group Village People performing their hit "In the Navy."  As it happens there is an updated version of that video so here it is!

The Conservative government has launched a £1.6 billion plan to deliver   a ten-fold increase in electric-vehicle charging points by 2030 , making journeys across the country easier and cheaper. Clean transport is not only better for the environment, it will help to drive down our dependence on external energy supplies and offer a cheaper alternative. That is why the Conservatives are putting £1.6 billion behind our new Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy, which will see a ten-fold increase in EV charge points to 300,000 by 2030 – almost five times the number of fuel pumps on our roads today and will make using charge points easier than ever before. This massive boost will make the entire country EV-fit for future generations, with charging easier and cheaper than refuelling a petrol or diesel car, all while putting the consumer first.

Today the government set out the first stage of   plans to improve social care, with a massive £1.36 billion funding boost   to help local authorities pay fairer rates for care, so that everyone who needs support gets the best possible quality of care. We all want to know our loved ones are receiving the best care possible – but for this to happen we need a thriving care market where providers receive a fairer cost for care. That is why the government has set out plans to support local authorities with an additional £1.36 billion to pay a fairer rate of care to adult social care providers – alongside guidance to ensure the money is spent sustainably – helping to close the funding gap between people paying privately and those funded by local authorities. This huge boost for social care is funded by our Health and Social Care Levy and will help address the problems in social care that have been ducked for decades – so that everyone can receive the highest possible quality of car...

A few weeks ago when the Kremlin responded to Western sanctions by imposing some rather cack-handed retaliatory sanctions on Western figures - among other things they accidentally sanctioned President Biden's late father  - one of the targets, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton responded by tweeting “ I want to thank the Russian Academy for this Lifetime Achievement Award ,” In the same sense the Kremlin appears to have UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson a similar "Lifetime Achievement Award" by making him the number one non-Ukranian target of their propaganda, calling him  “the most active anti-Russian leader.” There is a good piece on "The Article" website by Daniel Johnson on the subject which you can read by clicking on this link: Why is Boris being demonised by the Kremlin? | TheArticle

"Pro bono publico. No bloody panico" Rear Admiral Sir Rear-Admiral Sir Morgan Charles Morgan-Giles , DSO, OBE, GM, DL (1914 – 2013) - said while serving as a member of parliament. Memorable because the gruff humour as a way of telling people not to panic got the message over without coming over as Corporal Jones.

Yesterday it was confirmed that Britain has delivered over four million medical items to Ukraine , as we continue supporting the Ukrainian Government in the face of the health emergency caused by Russia’s invasion. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is causing a medical emergency, disrupting supply chains, and denying Ukrainians access to vital treatment– causing untold suffering. So the UK has provided an extra 175,000 doses of crucial medicines for diabetics and people with chronic conditions who are unable to access treatment. This builds on over 4 million medical items we have donated, including wound packs and intensive care equipment on 11 delivery flights. Britain will continue doing everything we can to provide humanitarian aid to the people of Ukraine, to help them access the treatments they deserve and the equipment they need to save lives.

The Prime Minister has announced   a major military support package for Ukraine at the NATO and G7 Leaders’ meeting , providing defensive weapons to help Ukrainians in response to Russia’s brutal tactics. Putin is already failing in Ukraine but continues to subject the Ukrainian people to increasingly brutal tactics as they defend their homeland against his unprovoked assault. That is why, at the NATO and G7 Leaders’ meeting today, the Prime Minister announced that Britain is providing an additional 6,000 anti-tank missiles and £25 million for the Ukrainian military – more than doubling the defensive lethal aid we have provided to more than 10,000 missiles, on top of our £400 million in humanitarian and economic aid to Ukraine. We will continue to urge our allies to join us in strengthening Ukraine’s defence capabilities – to keep the flame of freedom alive in Ukraine as we stand shoulder to shoulder against tyranny.

 

Some of the music from Haydn's Creation, with the correct words. Nine times out of ten when the chorus and trio "The Heavens are telling the glory of God" is performed,  the second line is sung with completely nonsensical words. It was originally written in English and subsequently translated into German for Haydn by an amateur translator the quality of whose work could politely be described as controversial,  I do not claim to be qualified to comment on the quality of the German version, but I don't need any vast expertise in German to be to understand that during the process of translation from English to German and back again, to give the version most often performed, the first line of Psalm 19 (In the King James bible, " The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. ") has been mangled and  the subject and object of the second half of the verse swapped round.  The YouTube clip below is one of the comparatively rare perfor...

The United Kingdom’s security and ability to be a force for good in the world is in large part based on the strength of our economy. Thanks to the hard work of British workers and businesses, and the support packages provided by the government, Britain's economy has been recovering well, with record job vacancies and unemployment back at pre-crisis levels. However, even before Putin's illegal invasion of Ukraine, which would have had dire consequences around the world for energy and food prices even without sanctions, a variety of world factors including the impact of COVID was already causing leading to energy cost rises and presenting many households and businesses with serious challenges through rising costs of living and doing business. The steps Britain and other nations are taking to sanction Russia will not be cost-free for us at home: the biggest impact will be on the cost of living for working families. But as the PM said at the weekend, the cost of doing nothing in th...

Yesterday the government launched a new government compensation scheme for postmasters , ensuring the postmasters who were unfairly accused of fraud to to inexcusable failures by the Post Office are compensated fully and fairly.  Whilst no such scheme can take away the years of distress, the postmasters who have suffered over the post office horizon scandal deserve to be fairly compensated.  So the government has announced a further compensation scheme targeted at the postmasters who brought and won the landmark High Court case against the Post Office, ensuring those who uncovered the miscarriage of justice receive the compensation they deserve. This will delivering compensation to victims of a terrible injustice, righting a historic wrong and giving people confidence that the UK will always act to ensure people are treated fairly.

Yesterday it was announced that the UK and US governments   have agreed a resolution which puts an end to the ongoing issue around steel and aluminium tariffs , giving the UK steel and aluminium industries a vital boost.  Since UK steel and aluminium export tariffs were imposed by the US in 2018, we have been working towards an agreement with the US to support the industry which employs 80,000 people. Yesterday the UK government announced a resolution with the US to end the ongoing issue around steel and aluminium tariffs, securing a high level of tariff free access to the US market. In response, the UK will suspend rebalancing measures on US products including whiskey and motorcycles.  This will boost businesses on both sides of the Atlantic and give workers greater security, as well as clearing the way for us to focus on the next steps for the UK-US trade relationship.

  Last week the government   announced an extra £150 million for our Safer Streets Fund   – helping to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour as we build back safer. Our local communities are the beating hearts of the United Kingdom – we all want our streets to be safe for everyone to go about their daily lives without fear inflicted on them by criminals. That is why, in round four of our Safer Streets Fund, the Conservative government is  making an extra £150 million available across England and Wales to areas most affected by crime. This latest round of funding targets neighbourhood crime, violence against women and girls, and – for the first time – anti-social behaviour. This will help to prevent potential perpetrators committing crimes in the first place, improving the safety and safety of our streets and helping our communities to flourish as we build back safer.

 "All statements are true if you are free to redefine their terms" ( Thomas Sowel l, American economist.)

Bookings are now open for   hundreds of thousands of people to get their Spring Covid booster , topping up the protection of the most vulnerable against Covid. (The Chairman of the CCC Copeland local committee, who is in an eligible category, has set an example by booking his immediately as he explained at Local Committee today). Britain's phenomenal vaccination programme has saved countless lives and built a wall of defence which has allowed us to learn to live with Covid – but we must protect this success and top up people’s protection.  That is why, from Monday, bookings opened for Spring boosters, and this week around 600,000 people will be invited to book, with eligible groups including care home residents, the over 75s, and those who are immunosuppressed aged 12 and over. In all, around five million people will be able to get a Spring booster dose.  This will give the most vulnerable additional top up protection as we continue to learn to live with Covid. Everyone w...

The government has announced that  people fleeing Ukraine and arriving in the United Kingdom will be able to immediately access benefits  from day one.  Following Putin’s abhorrent and illegal invasion of Ukraine, many of the British people have said how much they want to help as many Ukrainians as possible to come to the United Kingdom, and tens of thousands have backed their words with actions by offering space in their homes. We need to make this process as simple as possible for those arriving here.   That is why the government has laid emergency regulations before parliament so those arriving can access Universal Credit and support from Work Coaches to find jobs from day one. We are also providing translation services and face-to-face assistance to those who need it.  This will allow those fleeing the unimaginable horrors in Ukraine to rapidly get the support and help they need and move forward with their lives immediately. 

Today   the Prime Minister hosted a roundtable of leaders in the nuclear industry   – as we continue to take action to boost our domestic energy security.    Nuclear energy, which currently accounts for around 15 per cent of our electricity generation, is critical to boosting our energy security as we move away from volatile fossil fuels. That is why I very much welcome that today the PM hosted a roundtable of leaders in the nuclear industry to discuss domestic energy security and future nuclear projects ahead of our of our British Energy Security Strategy this month - rebuilding the industry destroyed by the Labour Party. This will help to remove barriers and progress future nuclear projects, and could lead to vital steps to boost our energy security and independence – as well as bringing more jobs across the United Kingdom.  

"There is nothing so bad that politics cannot make it worse" ( Thomas Sowell , American economist)

There has been some discussion today about the Prime Minister's speech yesterday. I heard it in person: and found what he had to say about how Putin's illegal and disastrous invasion would probably never have been launched if he faced a free press and a genuine parliament very powerful. Here is the full transcript of his speech. " Good morning, everybody.  It's absolutely fantastic to be back here in Blackpool. I first spoke here 25 years ago, 1997. I was the freshly defeated candidate for Clwyd South. And I did the appeal. But I didn't think they could get Jeffrey Archer that day. Because we, as you recall, we'd been more or less wiped out. And what a joy it is to come back here today, quarter of a century on and find that we have more Conservative MPs than at any time since the 1980s. And that we not only hold Clwyd South, we hold Blackpool South, my friends. As we meet today, a tragedy continues to unfold in our European continent, a vicious and a barbarian ...

  The war which the generation of my grandfather (who fought in it) called the Great War is normally referred to today as the first world war, but that is not strictly an accurate name, The first true global conflicts took place in the 18th century and there is a strong argument that the first real world was that known in Europe as The War of the Austrian Succession, in Britain as the war of Jenkins' ear, in India as the first Carnatic War, and in the USA as the Third French and Indian war. It had different names in different theatres but it was a genuinely global series of confrontations. And it was the first of those wars which led the British historian Thomas Babington MacAulay Macaulay, analyzing the successive wars of annexation waged by Frederick II of Prussia, (called by some "Frederick the Great,") to write that "his selfish rapacity gave the signal to his neighbours  . . . .  His example quieted their sense of shame."   The historian proceeds: "On ...