Update on the plan for growth

 The Conservative plan for Growth focuses on boosting Britain's economic growth 

In the face of Putin’s war in Ukraine and rising energy prices we need  a new approach focused exclusively on economic growth through supply side reforms and incentives for business. That is why the Conservatives have launched our Growth Plan for a new era in which Britain will focus on supply side reforms by liberating the private sector, boosting business opportunities, and slashing red-tape to increase investment, skilled employment, quality infrastructure, home ownership and enterprise across the UK. This will deliver the economic growth the UK needs – so we can afford  higher wages, better public services and greater opportunities for the British people without saddling families and businesses with tax rises.

Worked examples of family benefits from the Growth Plan Over 30 million people will see tax cuts as a result of our changes to income tax and National Insurance. For example, someone earning £30,000 will pay £400 less tax next year. This is on top of cuts to Stamp Duty for those looking to buy a house or get on the property ladder. Due to the Energy Price Guarantee a typical household will save around £1,000 and a business will pay less than half the wholesale prices anticipated this winter. A typical person living in a flat will save £800 on the household's energy bills – and if they are working full time on National Living Wage, over an additional £100 on tax. This is around £900 in total.   A typical person in a semi-detached property will save £1,150 on the household's energy bills – and if they are earning £30,000 almost an additional £400 on tax. This is around £1,550 in total.  A typical family moving into a semi-detached property will save £2,500 on Stamp Duty and £1,150 on energy bills – and if they have a combined income of £50,000 around an additional £560 on tax. This is around £4,200 in total.  A typical family moving into a semi-detached property will save £2,500 on Stamp Duty and £1,150 on energy bills – and if one worker earns £50,000, almost an additional £850 on tax. This is around £4,500 in total. A typical first time buyer in London moving into a representative terraced house will save £11,250 on Stamp Duty and £1,050 on the household’s energy bills – and if they earn £30,000 almost an additional £400 on tax. This is around £12,700 in total.

Quote of the day 30th September 2022

“The Charter is clear.  Any annexation of a State’s territory by another State resulting from the threat or use of force is a violation of the Principles of the UN Charter and international law.”

“Any decision to proceed with the annexation of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions of Ukraine would have no legal value and deserves to be condemned,”

UN Secretary-General António Guterres, condemning the proposed Russian annexation of Ukrainian territory.

The move “cannot be reconciled with the international legal framework" and “stands against everything the international community is meant to stand for,” he added. 

“It flouts the Purposes and Principles of the United Nations.   It is a dangerous escalation.   It has no place in the modern world.   It must not be accepted.” 

Mr. Guterres underlined the UN’s unequivocal commitment to the sovereignty, unity, independence, and territorial integrity of Ukraine.  

Britain's Medium Term Fiscal Plan

The government has announced plans to set out a Medium-Term Fiscal Plan on 23 November – fulfilling our commitment to cut taxes for people and businesses across the country and announcing further supply side policies.

• In the face of Putin’s war in Ukraine and rising energy prices we must adopt a new approach focused exclusively on economic growth – we will be bold and unashamed in this pursuit.

• That is why the government has announced that it will set out the Medium-Term Fiscal Plan on 23 November and announce further supply side growth measures in the coming weeks including on the planning system, business regulations, and immigration – and we have asked the OBR to set out a full forecast alongside the Fiscal Plan.

• Only the Conservatives can be trusted to deliver the economic growth the UK needs– delivering higher wages and greater opportunities for the British people, and more money for our public services without saddling families and businesses with tax rises.

Quote of the day 29th September 2022

 

Cumbria Health Scrutiny Committee - October meeting

Cumbria Health Scrutiny Committee will be meeting on Monday, 3rd October, 2022 at 10.30 am in the Council chamber at County Hall, Kendal.

The meeting will be open to the public.

The main items on the agenda are

• Lancashire and South Cumbria Pathology Service (To receive a presentation from Lancashire and South Cumbria Pathology Service)

• Lancashire and South Cumbria New Hospitals Programme Update 

• North Cumbria Integrated Care Digital Strategy - Where Are We Now? (To consider a report by North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust (copy enclosed).

The full agenda and supporting documents can be found by clicking on the following link:

Agenda for Cumbria Health Scrutiny Committee on Monday, 3rd October, 2022, 10.30 am | Cumbria County Council

Problems continue with Cumbria County Council email system

Cumbria County Council's email system continues to experience serious difficulties

I gather that a fair number of councillors and officers have email service back but I was told yesterday that there were 900 people who are still having trouble with their ICT servicce. I am one of them - I am unable to see any emails sent to my CCC email address since last week. My County Council phone also appears to be affected.

If you need to contact me by email use chris4copeland@btinternet.com - or you can ring my home landline which is in the directory

Labour MP suspended for racist attack on Chancellor

The Labour party has suspended one of it's own MPs, Rupa Huq, for comments about the Chancellor of the Exchequer which Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer agreed were "racist."

On hearing of the comments made by Rupa Huq about the chancellor at a fringe meeting at Labour conference, Conservative party chairman Jake Berry had written to the Labour leader, saying

'I trust you will join me in unequivocally condemning these comments as nothing less than racist and that the Labour whip will be withdrawn from Rupa Huq as a consequence.' 

The Labour leader did indeed agree that, 'She shouldn't have said it. She will be dealt with and I'll be absolutely clear it was racist.'

Quote of the day 28th September 2022

 

A new Start-up loan scheme

The government has announced the expansion of our Start Up Loan scheme, providing over 30,000 new loans for small businesses – helping new businesses to thrive, growing the economy and raising living standards.

• To deliver on our mission of growing the economy to boost wages, fund our public services and create better jobs, we must support new businesses to thrive. 

• That is why we have expanded our Start Up Loans programme, making 33,000 more loans of up to £25,000 available to businesses that have been trading for up to three years, up from two years, with new ‘second loans’ available for businesses that have been trading for up to five years.

• This funding provides much-needed support for our entrepreneurs and business owners through this challenging period and unlocks businesses’ potential to play a vital role in growing our economy

A Plan for Growth

On 23 September 2022 the Chancellor set out The Growth Plan.

For too long growth has not been as high as it needs to be, making it harder to pay for public services and requiring taxes to rise.

That is why the Conservative government is adopting a new approach for a new era focused on economic growth. We will be bold and unashamed in this pursuit. We will expand the supply side through tax cuts and reform, tackle the immediate energy crisis, remove barriers for business, and build the infrastructure we need to grow the British economy.

Only the Conservatives can be trusted to make the reforms we need to grow our economy – delivering higher wages, lower taxes and more money for our public services.

ENERGY

• Cutting everyone’s energy bills by £1,400 this year protecting the British people and reducing inflation by 5ppts. Energy Bills were due to rise by £6,500 but through the Energy Price Guarantee we will limit the unit price that consumers pay for electricity and gas. For the next two years the typical annual household bill will be £2,500. We will also keep the Energy Bill Support Scheme giving households £400 off their bills this winter. 
• Supporting businesses to get through this Winter. The Energy Bill Relief Scheme will discount wholesale gas and electricity prices for all businesses, charities, schools and hospitals. This will provide a price guarantee equivalent to what has been offered to households. 

A NEW APPROACH FOCUSED ON GROWTH

Achieve a trend growth rate of 2.5 per cent – measuring every policy decision against this defining test. Every government department will be in a sense a growth department and every policy initiative will be measured against a defining test of whether it helps or hinders growth – helping us to achieve a sustainable trend growth rate of 2.5 per cent.

Our Growth Plan will focus on:

• Maintaining responsible public finances
• Reforming the supply-side of the economy
• Cutting taxes to boost growth

PUBLIC FINANCES

• Publishing a Medium-Term Fiscal Plan setting out our responsible fiscal approach. We need a plan for the economy that recognises our focus on growth, and we will set it out in due course ensuring that we take a responsible approach to the public finances. 
• Asking the OBR to publish a full economic and fiscal forecast before the end of the year and one next year. We will publish the costings of all the measures the Government has taken today and include these in the next full OBR forecast.
• Using borrowing powers responsibly to fund our energy intervention just as we did in Covid-19. It is entirely appropriate for the government to use borrowing powers to fund temporary measures to support families and businesses it’s what we did in Covid-19, Second World War and the global financial crisis. 

SUPPLY SIDE REFORM

The government will launch 38 Investment Zones across England, unlocking housing and driving growth through tax incentives. 

• Our new Investment Zones will drive growth and unlock housing across England by liberalising planning, delivering tax incentives and wider support for local economies that have been left behind for too long. Investment Zones will be delivered in partnership with local leaders to secure the right zones across regions like Tees Valley, Norfolk and The Midlands. We will also work with Devolved Administrations to look to establish Investment Zones in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. 
• Stopping Labour-backed strike action from slowing down Britain. We will introduce Minimum Service Levels for transport services in Great Britain, ensuring militant strike action cannot derail economic growth, and union bosses cannot hold working people to ransom. 
• Publishing a list of infrastructure projects that will be accelerated. We will publish a list of infrastructure projects from transport to energy and telecoms that will help to grow our economy.
• Speeding up delivery through a new infrastructure bill to unpick the complex patchwork of restrictions and EU-derived laws. We will streamline a host of assessments, duplications and regulations whilst ensuring essential protections remain in place that will finally get the infrastructure we need built more quickly.
• Bringing forward legislation to implement new obligations on energy suppliers to help hundreds of thousands of people take action to reduce energy bills, delivering an average saving of around £200 a year. Since 2010, the number of EPC band E, F and G homes has fallen from almost 40 per cent of all homes to 10 per cent. Our proposal announced today will be worth £1 billion over the next three years starting from April 2023. 
• Removing the bankers’ bonus cap, making the City of London the global financial centre of the world ahead of Paris, Frankfurt and New York. The Bankers Bonus Cap did nothing to arrest increases in basic pay, it made the UK less competitive and saw talent and capital flee overseas. We want more investment in the UK not less. 
• Increasing housing supply to build a nation of homeowners. We will enable crucial planning reforms and increase the disposal of surplus government land to build new homes.
• Strengthening the Universal Credit sanctions regime, setting clear work expectations and giving more people the security of their own income. We are strengthening the sanctions regime to set clear work expectations for recipients of Universal Credit, including applying for jobs, attending interviews or increasing their hours – incentivising people to take up more work and have the security of their own income. 

SUPPLY SIDE REFORM

Cutting the basic rate of income tax to 19p for 31 million people. We will bring forward the income tax cut by one year to April 2023. That’s a tax cut for 31 million people in just a few month's time.

Cutting stamp duty permanently by:

• Doubling the nil-rate band to £250,000 (from £125,000).
• Increasing the nil-rate band for first time buyers to £425,000 (from £300,000).
• Increasing the value of the property which first-time buyers can claim relief to £625,000 from (£500,000).

These steps mean we have taken 200,000 more people out of paying stamp duty altogether – effective from today.

Abolishing the additional rate income tax altogether from April 2023. The 45p rate is higher than the top rate of G7 countries like the US and Italy, and higher than social democracies like Norway. Abolishing the rate will mean we have a much simpler more competitive economy. It will reward enterprise and work and incentivise growth for the benefit of the whole economy. 

Cutting National Insurance Tax contributions by 1.25 per cent, helping the average worker keep £330 a year more. We are scrapping the National Insurance levy a tax cut for 28 million people worth on average £330 a year – helping hard working people to keep more of the money they earn. We confirm that the additional funding for the NHS and social care services will be maintained at the same level. 

Keeping Corporation Tax at 19 per cent, driving economic growth by encouraging business in the UK. We are scrapping plans to increase the UK Corporation Tax rate from 19 per cent to 25 per cent. This move will allow us to maintain a competitive business tax regime – delivering an effective tax cut those ploughs almost £70 billion into the economy, giving businesses the freedom to reinvest, boost wages and create jobs. The lowest corporation tax rate than any major economy in the world.

Maintaining the Annual Investment Allowance at £1 million, supporting economic growth by encouraging businesses to invest. The Annual Investment Allowance gives businesses 100 per cent tax relief in plant and machinery and will not fall to £200,000 as planned – it will remain permanently at £1 million. 

Supporting businesses to raise money and attract talent, encouraging people to start and grow a business in the UK. From April 2023 qualifying companies will be able to raise up to £250,000 in Seed Enterprise Investment (SEIS), helping over 2,000 companies a year to grow thanks to tax reliefs. 

Winding-down the Office of Tax Simplification and charge every government department with simplifying our tax system. Instead of an arms-length body which is separate from the Treasury and HMRC we need to embed tax simplification into the heart of the government. Every tax official will focus on simplifying our tax code.  

Automatically sunset EU regulations by December 2023 requiring departments to review, replace or repeal retained EU Law. This will reduce burdens on business, improve growth and restore the primacy of UK legislation. 

Simplifying IR35 rules to make it easier to remove unnecessary administrative burdens for business. Reforms to off-payroll working have added unnecessary complexity and cost. We will repeal 2017 and 2021 reforms but keep compliance under close review. 

Introducing VAT-free shopping for overseas visitors. We will boost retail and hospitality, restoring a tax cut we have had for many years and supporting some of Britain’s best brands.

Freezing alcohol duty for beer, cider, wine and spirits next year and continue with important reforms which modernise our alcohol duty system. We will freeze alcohol saving 3p off a pint of beer and 12p on a glass of wine. We will also introduce an 18-month transitional measure for wine duty. We will extend draught relief to cover smaller kegs of 20 litres and above to help smaller breweries. 

Quote of the day 25th September 2022

The Plan for Patients

Our Plan for Patients

We know this winter will be tough for our NHS, but the Conservatives are taking action now so that patients can get the care they need. 

That is why, this week, the Conservative government announced our Plan for Patients, prioritising ambulances, backlogs, care and doctors and dentists. We will improve patients’ access to GP practices, recruit additional support staff, give pharmacies powers to prescribe more medicines and introduce cloud-based telephone systems to GP practices.

This is just the first step in our work to bolster our NHS and social care services, helping to cut Covid backlogs, deliver additional appointments and help patients can get the care they need.

We are doing this by: 

• Changing funding rules to recruit extra support staff, freeing up over one million appointments per year. By changing the funding rules, GP practices will be able to recruit additional support staff, such as GP assistants and advanced nurse practitioners – allowing GPs to focus on treating patients and freeing up over one million appointments per year.

• Publishing appointment data at practice level for the first time ever – helping patients to better understand the care they will receive. By publishing appointment data at practice level, we will support patients in getting better access to information about their treatments, allowing them to make decisions that best suit them. 

• Helping pharmacies to manage and supply more medicines, freeing up to two million GP appointments per year. By allowing pharmacies to manage and supply medicines, such as contraceptives, without a GP prescription, we will help to free up to two million GP appointments each year. 

• Allowing pharmacies to take referrals for minor illnesses from emergency care, helping to reduce NHS wait times for patients. By allowing pharmacies to take referrals from emergency care for illnesses such as coughs, headaches, and sore throats, we will free up valuable time and resources in emergency care departments, helping to reduce wait times.

• Accelerating the roll-out of new cloud-based telephone systems, making it easier for patients to get through to their local GP practice. This will make it easier for patients to arrange appointments and receive advice about their care.

• Calling on the one million volunteers who stepped up during the pandemic to support the NHS to come forward again. During the pandemic, over one million volunteers stepped up to support our NHS, and we are calling on them to come forward again in a national endeavour such as by becoming community first responders or Good Neighbour Scheme leaders. 

County Council email system down

Cumbria County Council's email system appears to be down at the moment. I am unable to see any emails sent to my CCC email address over the past few days and I understand that other county councillors are having similar issues. My County Council phone also appears to be affected.

If you need to contact me by email use chris4copeland@btinternet.com - or you can ring my home landline which is in the directory

Music to start the weekend: Gustav Holst: "Turn back, O man"

Cumbria and Lancashire Joint Health Scrutiny meeting

The next meeting of the Cumbria and Lancashire Joint Health Scrutiny committee will be held in County Hall, Kendal on next Tuesday, 27th September 2022 at 11 am. The meeting will be open to the public.

The main items on the agenda are 

• a Progress Report on the improvement plans for University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay, following reports from the Care Quality Commission (CQC), Niche and the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) Improvement Plans, and
• Winter Plans for the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust 

The full agenda and supporting papers can be found on the Cumbria County Council website by following this link:

Agenda for Cumbria and Lancashire Joint Health Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday, 27th September, 2022, 11.00 am | Cumbria County Council

Quote of the day 22nd October 2022

 "Putin is shouting at his own people, not us"

David Aaronovitch, title of an article in today's Times newspaper arguing that the bizarre speeches from the Russian Federation president and his outriders are aimed at trying to justify an extremely unpopular call-up to his own people, not because he expects anyone in the West to believe a word he says.

Dan Hannan on why there is no such thing as "Trickle-down economics"

The centrepiece of the present government's economic strategy is a £150 billion package to freeze energy prices. If there was such a thing as a "trickle-down" view of economics this government would clearly not be following it. 

Since Liz Truss's election we keep hearing from the Labour party that her government is following "Trickle down" economics: that is complete and utter nonsense. 

In fact I do not accept that there is any such thing. 

The idea of "Trickle down economics" originated, not from anyone who actually who believed in it, but from an American writer who was using it as a "straw man" to characterise and criticise the economic policies of the then US President Herbert Hoover. A similar straw man was subsequently used by US Democrats to attack the government of Ronald Reagan. 

It has since crossed the Atlantic and been used by British lefties to attack Conservatives. 

As Dan Hannan explains here, nobody actually believes in "Trickle-down" economics. If you hear the expression used, someone is trying to con you.

Ben Wallace on Putin's latest threats

 

Quote of the day 21st September 2022

 "If it wasn't so tragic, we'd laugh."

French President Emmanual Macron, referring to the announcement by Russian proxies in four occupied areas of Ukraine that they plan to stage plebiscites within three days - a period which would obviously be totally inadequate even if they were not in a war zones - on annexation by Russia.

Macron quite rightly said that the international community will not accept any such referendum, or any Russian claim to annex Ukrainian territory on the basis of any such clearly illegitimate referendum.

Thomas Sowell on the second edition of Intellectuals and Society

Anyone who reads this blog cannot be unaware that I have a great deal of respect for the American economist Thomas Sowell. 

This is a 2012 interview on "Uncommon knowledge" about his book "Intellectuals and society" which has aged quite well over the past ten years. 

He points out that most of us have some issues we know a lot about, but highly educated people and intellectuals need to watch out for the trap of thinking that knowledge of one area translates into knowledge about everything - and thus making dogmatic statements about things we do not in fact understand as well as we think we do. 

Includes the context for one of my favourite Thomas Sowell quotes - "There are no solutions, there are only trade-offs."

Graham Norton's entries for the "Most pathetic excuse of the year" competition

It's perfectly legitimate for a newspaper or magazine to mainly come at politics or culture from a particular perspective - everyone will know where that publication stands and nobody has to buy it. 

Though it is worth qualifying that by adding that the best and most successful even of the most partisan of publications make a point of including a few columnists who take the opposite point of view. You will find the occasional centre-right article in the Guardian and the Independent, and more than occasional left-wing articles in the Telegraph or the Spectator.

A national broadcaster funded by what amounts to a tax that everyone has to pay - like the BBC - is in a totally different position. It has a moral duty (and, as I understand it, a legal responsibility too) to ensure that every significant and legitimate viewpoint is represented and covered in its output.

Much of the time the BBC can clearly be seen to be making an effort to represent all views. The classic example would be the Brexit referendum, during which it was obvious to 99% of the population that the gut instincts of the overwhelming majority of BBC journalists and editors were pro-Remain (and I write that as someone who voted Remain myself) but they were trying so hard to be impartial in their coverage of the pro-and-anti Brexit debate that the other 1%, the likes of Lord Adonis and Emily Maitlis, accuse them of overdoing it and leaning the other way.

 Maitlis made an interesting point in her recent lecture about the challenges involved - how do you report on a debate when the vast majority of some community or group lean one way but there are figures on each side, as for example on the views of Economists about Brexit, on which the vast majority of Economists were Remain and they had great trouble finding a pro-leave economist and usually ended up with Professor Patrick Minford.

But surely the right thing to do was what the BBC almost always actually did: put up both one of the many pro-remain economists, and Minford, and make clear in the commentary that the former represented the views of most, but not quite all, of the profession.

One person who cannot be accused of bending over too far to represent the other point of view is the comedian Graham Norton, who has come out this week with two of the most pathetic excuses I have ever heard. 

Specifically, I refer to his excuses for the absence of "right-wing" voices on his BBC show - a term he appears to use in a very lazy way to mean anyone he disagrees with, because he mentions J.K. Rowling in this context. This is presumably because of her views on transgender issues which are actually shared by quite a few people on the feminist left and are not by any means shared by everyone on the right. On most issues Joanne Rowling describes herself, accurately, as left of centre and I don't mean that as a criticism, just a statement of fact.

Norton told the Sunday Times that cancel culture makes it “hard to find Right-wing guests” to come on his BBC talk show, and even when he finds one, “the audience probably don’t want to see them”.

Oh, pull the other one, it's got bells on.

There are plenty of people with centre-right or right-wing views - you only have to look at the results of the last four general elections to appreciate that those who could broadly describe as being on the "woke left" are nowhere near to being a majority of the population.

And there do exist modern comedians who are popular despite not fitting the stereotype of a "left-wing" comedian (Simon Evans, Andrew Lawrence) or actively rejecting it (Geoff Norcott.)

Of course, the best comedians take the mickey out of people on all sides of the political spectrum. If you're not doing that, both you and your audience are losing out.

Graham Norton's comments are reported and analysed on "The Daily Sceptic" website here. 

Dan Hodges on the next election

 As normal politics resumes today, here is a link to a piece written late last week about how the two main parties are trying to frame the debate at the next election.

Dan Hodges wrote an article entitled

"After Vladimir Putin's war and Covid, the next election will be won by anyone who offers us normality."

He argues

"Politicians love proselytising about their radicalism. Keir Starmer secured the Labour leadership by posing as Jeremy Corbyn in a sharper suit. Liz Truss became Prime Minister by framing herself as the Iron Lizzie. But this morning both are waking to a new reality. Victory at the next General Election won't be secured by the candidate who seizes the mantle of change. It'll be won by whoever convinces voters the hurricane of change that has torn at them for the past five years will finally abate."

You can read the full piece here.

Quote of the day 20th September 2022

 

Reflections on "The Queue"

So "The Queue" has finished: over the past few days many thousands of people, not just from every corner of the British Isles but some from far-flung corners of the globe, have travelled to London and waited in a queue for sometimes more than twelve hours to pay their respects by filing past the coffin of our late Queen.

The people who did this came from every walk of life, from celebrities like David Beckham to cleaners, from councillors to chemists, from nurses to naval architects. They were people of every race and creed, and from all over the UK, and beyond. (I know of at least one member of staff at West Cumberland Hospital who went through "The Queue," and who will have spent at least twelve hours travelling to London and back on top of more than twelve hours in the queue itself.)

One famous academic published a piece arguing that people had taken part in mourning her late majesty for a wide range of reasons - which is undoubtedly true - and from this reasonable premise somehow managed to derive the idea that in the queue and at all the other events which have been put on to commemorate the life of her late majesty "there are many whose presence in the Queen’s mourning crowds has precious little to do with the Queen."

To take a paraphrase of George Orwell's comments in "Notes on Nationalism," a paraphrase often wrongly described as a quote, "There are some ideas so stupid that only an intellectuals could believe them."

The queen was a rare example of something to which anyone in public life should aspire - someone who dedicated her whole life to her country and the people of her country.

The largest single reason for "The Queue" and the enormous wave of support for all the events which have been staged to mark her passing is that almost all of us understand this. 

The Funeral today

At 11am today, the State Funeral of Her Majesty The Queen will take place at Westminster Abbey.

Towards the end of the Service, at approximately 11:55am, the Last Post will sound followed by a national two minute’s silence.

Quotes of the day 19th September 2022

"The highest of distinctions is service to others."

King George VI

“I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.” 

Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) on her 21st birthday.

Second quote of the day for Battle of Britain Sunday

This evening I attended a very moving service at St Bees Priory to commemorate and give thanks for the life of her late majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

It was pointed out during the service that this is also Battle of Britain Sunday.

So here is a quote to remind us of those from all around the world who fought in that battle and helped keep Britain, and the World, free.

 

Know your Putin apologist

There are not many people in the West who are foolish enough to swallow Putin's propaganda and defend Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine.

But all of those on social media or anywhere else whose views I have seen fall into one of the categories described in this humorous (but largely accurate) chart:

National moment of Reflection - a minute's silence for her late majesty starts now.

 

Sunday music spot: "Lord Let Me Know Mine End" by Maurice Greene (Peterborough Cathedral)

Quote of the day 18th September 2022

 

Reminder: national moment of reflection at 8pm tomorrow

 

Even complete berks deserve freedom of speech within the law.

There have been a number of ironies about the manner in which freedom of speech has been exercised and constrained in the days since the death of Her Majesty. It is only fair to admit that there is a real tension between the essential right of free speech which is central to any democracy, and the duty of the police to protect society against potential genuine threats to the peace.

Some of the people who deny that "no platform" policies in Universities are a threat to free speech have gone all Voltaire and John Stuart Mill over the arrest of people who shouted obscenities or held up placards with them at national mourning events.

I believe in free speech within the law - and that the law should always be both written and applied as generously as possible to freedom of expression.

Some - and I repeat, some - of the people who have had their collars felt by the police in recent days, such as the gentleman who held up a blank piece of paper, appear to have been on the wrong end of an over-reaction from officers who, as an official of the Police Federation put it. do not appear to have been properly briefed on what powers they do and do not have or what sort of conduct falls within reasonable protest.

First of all, it has to be said, there is a time and a place for everything. The same comments which expressed in one time and place may be a perfectly reasonable expression of free speech might in another place and context be depriving other people of equally important freedoms. For example, if a "humanist" sets up a meeting to explain why he doesn't believe in God, or says it at Speaker's corner, or posts it on his website, that's exercising free speech. 

But if he marches into a church, synagogue or mosque during a service, grabs the microphone from the priest, rabbi or imam and subjects the congregation to a harangue featuring exactly the same words, then that is not a legitimate exercise of his own right to freedom of speech but a wholly illegitimate interference with the right to the freedom of worship of the congregation.

To avoid the charge of hypocrisy, let me admit that I have very strong political views, and I will admit that I have occasionally been heard to express them with the odd swear word. Possibly more often than I should have. But something I have never done and would never do when attending a funeral for a member of a political party other than my own, is speak disrespectfully of the deceased or of his or her views at the funeral, let alone in impolite language. An event to mourn someone who has died is just not the time and place for it. That is not exercising free speech, it would be acting like a complete berk.

If you set up a meeting to express the view that Britain (or part of Britain) should be a republic, or if you write that view in an article in a newspaper or on your website, that's free speech.

Shout it during a period of silence which has been set up as a mark of respect for a monarch - or anyone else - who has just died, and you are not exercising free speech but interfering with the right of other people to mourn the deceased.

There could be all manner of reasons why someone might wish to make a negative comment about the conduct of a member of the Royal Family, or anyone else, and lots of perfectly legitimate ways to do so. Shouting something rude at a son who is taking part in a ceremony to mourn his recently deceased mother, whoever he is, whoever she was, does not make you a romantic rebel, or a martyr for free speech, it makes you a berk.

In some instances, the police are justified in removing people who do things like this, and among other reasons, in removing them for their own safety.

But that should only be done as a last resort and only if absolutely necessary. Even complete berks deserve freedom of speech within the law, and the law should give even complete berks as much freedom of speech as possible.

To repeat again a quote which I used recently, first in the context of the attempted assassination of Sir Salman Rushdie (who I don't despise) and again in the context of the successful assassination of a supporter of Putin's illegal invasion of Ukraine (whose views I do despise) - 

There is an interesting piece on this subject on "The Article" website here. which gives one perspective, and an equally interesting discussion on the Spiked podcast which gives a rather different perspective in the YouTube clip below. I actually think both make good points.

Quote of the day 17th September 2022

"After the US, Russia is the main provider of vehicles to the Ukrainian Army."

(Oleksiy Arestovych, an adviser to President Zelenskyy of Ukraine, speaking about the large numbers of vehicles left behind by fleeing Russian forces and captured by the Ukrainians during their successful operation to liberate the whole of the Kharkiv region.)

National Moment of Reflection planned for 8pm on Sunday

 

Report on this morning's meeting of the NHS West Cumbria Community Forum

I have been attending online this morning's meeting of the West Cumbria Community Forum.

The forum has heard two presentations from Adrian Clements, the Trust's Medical director, who began by telling us that we might not like what he had to tell us but that he would tell us the truth. He kept his promise.

The first presentation was on A&E at West Cumberland Hospital (WCH,) he then reported on cancer treatment in West Cumbria where he was open about the fact that current performance is, quote "unacceptable."

In the past the local NHS has often been accused of wanting to asset strip hospital and health services in West Cumbria and move them to Carlisle or even further afield.

Having heard the presentation from Adrian, I am very grateful that he clearly does not share that approach and wants to keep our local NHS services in West Cumbria open. If he did not have a commitment to our local NHS services, I think we might have already lost more key aspects of healthcare on the West coast.

I am trying to word this in a manner which is not liable to be picked up in an alarmist way and make matters worse. It's clear that there are significant staffing challenges at West Cumberland Hospital, particularly on A&E and that we need to have the NHS, local government and the Community working together as we did to keep consultant-led maternity - we need to work the same way to improve recruitment and retention in Accident and Emergency, and to see what we can do to work together to improve Cancer Care. 

Another perspective on the Bankers' bonus issue

Further to last night's post, this was an extract from a piece by John Mcternan:

It's from a very interesting piece on Unherd called "Has Liz Truss trapped Labour?" which you can read in full here

Quote of the day 16th September 2022

"I am concerned about the stabbings of two Metropolitan Police Officers whilst on duty near Leicester Square and have spoken to the Commissioner about the situation. 

Everyday, we are safer thanks to the the bravery of our policemen & women. I wish the Police Officers a swift recovery and my thoughts are with their family, friends and colleagues."

Home secretary Suella Braverman today on Twitter

Quote of the day 23rd September 2022

 I must try to get hold of one of these mugs ...

The law of unintended consequences and the bankers bonus Cap

There have, not surprisingly, been howls of outrage at the suggestion that the cap on "Bankers's Bonuses" should be removed.

The optics are absolutely terrible. At a time when many people are struggling, the idea of removing a cap of 200% of base salary on the amount which can be paid in Performance Related Pay, which will be presented as enabling Bankers, not the most popular group in the country, to be paid even more, is going to go down like the proverbial lead balloon.

For that reason, it probably won't happen: the economic benefit from scrapping the law is likely to be much smaller than the political cost.

This will probably therefore not be a popular opinion, but this cap has been completely ineffective and, falling foul of the law of unintended consequences, had exactly the opposite impact to what was intended. This rule is a complete nonsense which far from curbing the remuneration paid to bankers has probably increased it and landed the banks with a more expensive cost structure.

The rule limits the ratio of the performance related element of remuneration, or "bonus" to no more than 200% of base salary. But it does not stop the employer increasing the base salary.

In consequence this rule, originally introduced by the EU about eight years ago, does not appear to have prevented the payment of a single penny to bankers or anyone else. Instead, the effect was that a higher proportion of the money the banks paid out in remuneration had to be included in the base salary to reach any given level of total expected payment.

Guess what that means. When the COVID recession hit, and therefore the banks made less money, they will have paid out less in bonuses - but because the proportion of remuneration which comes in bonus rather than salary is lower than it would have been without the cap, the banks will have ended up paying MORE because of the cap than they would have.

I suppose they may have made up for the difference by making more people redundant. Ah yes, I hear the cheers - fat cat bankers losing their jobs! But this means fewer people paying tax and more people claiming benefit. It's not a win for public services or for Great Britain PLC. 

I am tempted to say that Kwasi Kwarteng should go ahead and scrap the cap, not so that banks can pay higher bonuses, but so they can pay those bankers who don't earn their bonuses less in salary. 

However, you can bet your life that if the chancellor does scrap the cap, the media will have an easy hit. They'll find instances of people who were already getting an enormous package, and who then get a huge increase in their bonus after the cap comes off. Then they will run attack pieces contrasting the vast increases these bankers are getting with comparatively tiny increases paid to people in jobs essential to society who are on much lower incomes and are fighting to get even a wage increase which keeps up with inflation.

And it will look like a powerful point. But if you want to do something about that particular inequality, a cap on bonuses is still a daft piece of incoherent virtue-signaling stupidity which sounds good to many people but has done nothing at all to correct the inequality they want addressed. If you wanted to really do something about the inequality issue you would have to impose some sort of cap or control NOT on bonuses but on the total remuneration package. 

I will bet you that no mainstream political party will have the guts to propose that.

Quote of the day 15th September 2022

The Archbishop of Canterbury tweeted this quote from the bible today, and it seems particularly appropriate in a number of areas:

Quote of the day 14th September 2022

 

Unemployment drops

Unemployment in the UK has fallen to its lowest level since 1974, standing at 3.6% in the three months to July.

The Office for National Statistics said the number of people in employment grew by 40,000 in the May-July period.

One of the main drivers, if not the main driver, for the reduction in unemployment n appears to be that a substantial number of over-60's have decided to take early retirement. This will have major implications for the labour market and suggests we need to think even harder about how to improve productivity and about the manner in which people retire.

Quote of the day 13th Sept 2022

 

Latest news from Ukraine

The Ukrainian military claims it has forced Russian forces from more than 20 towns and villages in the past 24 hours, according to a Facebook post by the Ukraine general staff.

Ukraine also claimed that Russian forces were fleeing deep into the occupied areas of the Donbas or back into Russia itself.

The success of Ukrainian forces in pushing Russian troops out of the Kharkiv region “have significant implications for Russia’s overall operational design”, according to the UK Ministry of Defence, and for the morale of its soldiers on the ground.

“The majority of the force in Ukraine is highly likely being forced to prioritise emergency defensive actions,” said the MoD in a Twitter post on Monday morning.

“The already limited trust deployed troops have in Russia’s senior military leadership is likely to deteriorate further.”

The UK Ministry of Defence added that Russia has probably ordered the withdrawal of its troops from the whole of the occupied Kharkiv oblast region west of the Oskil river.

British military intelligence said in a Twitter post on Monday morning that “isolated pockets of resistance remain in this sector, but since Wednesday, Ukraine has recaptured territory at least twice the size of Greater London”, which would be the equivalent of 3,000 sq km.

In the south of Ukraine, near Kherson, the MoD says Russia could be struggling to bring sufficient reserves forward across the Dnipro river to the front line on the west bank of the river. “An improvised floating bridge Russia started over two weeks ago remains incomplete,” the MoD says. “Ukrainian long-range artillery is now probably hitting crossings of the Dnipro so frequently that Russia cannot carry out repairs to damaged road bridges.”

Source: The Guardian.

HM the late Queen's message to New York after the Twin Towers attack

Her late majesty's words "Grief is the price we pay for love" have been extensively quoted since her death, including on this blog where they were one of my quotes of the day on Saturday.

Those words are powerful even on their own with no other context, but it is perhaps worth quoting what that the full context in which they were originally written actually was. They were the concluding words of Her Majesty's message of condolences to the people of New York following the Twin Towers attacks on 9/11, twenty-one years ago on Friday.

 

Quote of the day 12th September 2022: Meanwhile, in Ukraine ...

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, addressing Russia last night:

Sunday music spot: "Turn, Turn, Turn." sung by the Seekers

The Copeland proclamation of his Majesty

 King Charles III was proclaimed King yesterday at an "Accession Council" meeting of the Privy Council, and the proclamation has been being read around the country.

Attended the proclamation in Copeland of King Charles III as monarch today, in St Nicholas' Gardens, read by the directly elected Mayor of Copeland in the presence of the MP. Royal British Legion, County, Borough and Town councillors, and the public.

Quote of the day 11th September 2022

 

Severe delays on the M6 Southbound near Lancaster today.

 I returned home a short while ago after attending a couple of meetings in various parts of the country yesterday and today.

On my way back to Cumbria on the Northbound M6, I was concerned to see that on the other side of the road there was an enormous tailback on the M6 Southbound - it looked like traffic was hardly moving on a stretch from near the Lancaster Forton service station, to a point almost as far North as Burton-in Kendal.

Earlier today National Highways said the following:

"The #M6 remains closed southbound J33 and J32 for essential maintenance works. There are severe delays of at least 2 hours above normal journey times on approach to the closure. Road users are advised to allow extra time for journeys. More info - https://nationalhighways.co.uk/travel-updates"/travel-alerts/

If you are planning to travel on the M6 Southbound in the near future and your route includes the stretch from Junctions 26 to 32, I would strongly advise you to check for advice about delays and possible alternative routes (the link in the statement above should help.)

Meanwhile in Ukraine ...

 

Cumbria Pensions Committee

Cumbria Pensions Committee will meet on Tuesday and Wednesday 13th and 14th September for a two-day workshop.

Most of the meeting and much of the inch-thick agenda is not available to the public for very good reasons, but the list of the issues being discussed and the reports which are in the public domain can be found on the County Council website by clicking on the link below.

I am glad that these include a review of cyber security, which is an issue I flagged when we discussed the risk register at our last meeting.

Agenda for Cumbria Pensions Committee on Tuesday, 13th September, 2022, 1.30 pm | Cumbria County Council

Quotes of the day 10th September 2022

"Grief is the price we pay for love"

(The words of Queen Elizabeth II after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, which now seem particularly appropriate as a reference to the shock felt by almost everyone in Britain at her own passing.)

"Better days will return: we will be with friends again, we will be with our families again: we will meet again."

(From her inspirational address to the nation at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic)

O Tempora! O Mores!

Like many people I am still a bit in shock about the passing of Her Majesty: I understand it intellectually but part of me cannot really start to grieve because it cannot understand that a towering figure who has had such a central place in our country's life for my entire life has finally gone.

I was at a social event this evening which included both the Loyal Toast and the singing of the national anthem for the first time I had experienced either since yesterday. And therefore the first time I or almost anyone else present had voiced them in the now appropriate form. which is different from the way we have all experienced them for the whole of my previous experience but which, barring quite extraordinary events, will be used for the rest of my life (and probably the rest of my children's lives.)

One friend asked me if I had been practicing "God save our gracious King."

I replied that I didn't think anyone would get it wrong tonight, but I would wager that just about every single one of us will make the slip of falling back into the old words at some point in the next couple of years.

I was right this evening but stand by the rest of my prediction.

Political campaigning suspended

As a gesture of respect for Her Majesty the Conservative party, and I understand also all the other political parties, have suspended active political campaigning during the ten days of national mourning following the death of Queen Elizabeth II up to and including the day of her funeral.

September meeting of the County Council's Copeland local committee

Cumbria County Council's Local Committee for Copeland will meet on Monday, 12th September, 2022 starting at 10.15 am at Cleator Moor Civic Centre.

The meeting will be open to the public.

The main items on the agenda will be a presentation from Active Cumbria, a traffic and highways delivery programme update, and a report on Investing in our Communities.

The full agenda with supporting documents and reports is available on the County Council website by clicking on the link below: 

Agenda for County Council Local Committee for Copeland on Monday, 12th September, 2022, 10.15 am | Cumbria County Council

Quote of the day 9th September 2022: Liz Truss's tribute to Queen Elizabeth II

"Queen Elizabeth the Second was the rock on which modern Britain was built."

"Britain is the great country it is today, because of her.

"Through thick and thin, Queen Elizabeth II provided us with the stability and the strength that we needed. She was the very spirit of Great Britain."

"It is a day of great loss, but Queen Elizabeth II leaves a great legacy."

"We usher in a new era in the history of our great country, exactly as Her Majesty would have wished, by saying the words, 'God Save the King.'"

Expressions of condolence pour in from around the world on the Queen's death

U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTONIO GUTERRES

"As the United Kingdom's longest-lived and longest-reigning Head of State, Queen Elizabeth II was widely admired for her grace, dignity, and dedication around the world. She was a reassuring presence throughout decades of sweeping change, including the decolonization of Africa and Asia and the evolution of the Commonwealth.

"Queen Elizabeth II was a good friend of the United Nations, and visited our New York Headquarters twice, more than fifty years apart. She was deeply committed to many charitable and environmental causes and spoke movingly to delegates at the COP26 climate talks in Glasgow.

"I would like to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II for her unwavering, lifelong dedication to serving her people. The world will long remember her devotion and leadership."

U.S. PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN AND JILL BIDEN

"In a world of constant change, she was a steadying presence and a source of comfort and pride for generations of Britons, including many who have never known their country without her," they said in a statement. "Her legacy will loom large in the pages of British history, and in the story of our world."

INDIAN PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI

"Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will be remembered as a stalwart of our times. She provided inspiring leadership to her nation and people. She personified dignity and decency in public life. Pained by her demise. My thoughts are with her family and people of UK in this sad hour."

SHEHBAZ SHARIF, PRIME MINISTER OF PAKISTAN

"Deeply grieved at the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Pakistan joins the UK & other Commonwealth nations in mourning her death. My heartfelt condolences to the royal family, people & government of the UK."

CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER JUSTIN TRUDEAU

"It was with the heaviest of hearts that we learned of the passing of Canada’s longest-reigning Sovereign, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. She was a constant presence in our lives – and her service to Canadians will forever remain an important part of our country’s history."

GHANAIAN PRESIDENT NANA AKUFO-ADDO

"The Ghanaian people have very fond memories of the two visits she made to Ghana during her reign, and, on both occasions, we remember the friendliness, elegance, style and sheer joy she brought to the performance of her duties."

NEW ZEALAND PRIME MINISTER JACINDA ARDERN

“I know that I speak for people across New Zealand in offering our deepest sympathy to members of the Royal Family at the passing of the Queen. To us she was a much admired and respected monarch, to them she was a mother and grandmother."

“The Queen was a much loved and admired monarch, whose record reign of 70 years is an absolute testament to her, and her commitment to us all. She was extraordinary."

AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER ANTHONY ALBANESE

"With the passing of Queen Elizabeth the Second, an historic reign and a long life devoted to duty, family, faith and service has come to an end."

"Australian hearts go out to the people of the United Kingdom who mourn today, knowing they will feel they have lost part of what makes their nation whole."

"There is comfort to be found in Her Majesty’s own words: 'Grief is the price we pay for love'."

JAMAICAN PRIME MINISTER ANDREW HOLNESS

"It was with great and profound sadness, that I learnt of the passing of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning British monarch, whose reign spanned seven decades. 

We join our brothers and sisters in the Commonwealth in mourning her passing, and pray for the comfort of the members of her family, and the people of the United Kingdom, as they grieve the loss of their beloved Queen and matriarch, "

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI

"Today, Americans join the people of the United Kingdom in mourning the sad passing of Queen Elizabeth II. Over her seven decades on the throne, Her Majesty was a pillar of leadership in the global arena and a devoted friend of freedom.

U.S. SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER MITCH MCCONNELL

“For 70 long years, from the aftermath of World War II well into the 21st century, across 15 different Prime Ministers, through great triumphs and great challenges, the Queen’s steady leadership safeguarded the land she loved. Despite spending nearly three quarters of a century as one of the most famous and admired individuals on the planet, the Queen made sure her reign was never really about herself — not her fame, not her feelings, not her personal wants or needs. She guided venerable institutions through modern times using timeless virtues like duty, dignity, and sacrifice. She offered our contemporary world a living master class it needed badly."

FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AND FORMER FIRST LADY MELANIA TRUMP

"Queen Elizabeth’s historic and remarkable reign left a tremendous legacy of peace and prosperity for Great Britain. Her leadership and enduring diplomacy secured and advanced alliances with the United States and countries around the world."

FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA

"Michelle and I were lucky enough to come to know Her Majesty, and she meant a great deal to us."

"Time and again, we were struck by her warmth, the way she put people at ease, and how she brought her considerable humor and charm to moments of great pomp and circumstance."

FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH

"Laura and I were honored to have known Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. She was a woman of great intellect, charm, and wit. Spending time at Buckingham Palace, and having tea with Her Majesty – and her Corgis – is among our fondest memories of the presidency. Queen Elizabeth ably led England through dark moments with her confidence in her people and her vision for a brighter tomorrow. Our world benefitted from her steady resolve, and we are grateful for her decades of service as sovereign. Americans in particular appreciate her strong and steadfast friendship."

FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON

"My thoughts and prayers are with the Royal Family and all the people Her Majesty inspired throughout her lifetime of service."

EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT URSULA VON DER LEYEN

"It is with deep sadness that I have learned of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. She was the world’s longest serving Head of State and one of the most respected personalities worldwide. I offer my heartfelt condolences to the Royal Family and the British people."

EUROPEAN COUNCIL PRESIDENT CHARLES MICHEL

"Once called Elizabeth the Steadfast, she never failed to show us the importance of lasting values in a modern world with her service and commitment.

IRISH PRIME MINISTER MICHEAL MARTIN

"On behalf of the Government of Ireland, I would like to convey my deepest sympathy to the British people on the loss of their beloved monarch, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth."

"Her State Visit to Ireland in 2011 marked a crucial step in the normalisation of relations with our nearest neighbour. That visit was a great success, largely because of the many gracious gestures and warm remarks made by the Queen."

DUTCH KING WILLEM-ALEXANDER

"We remember Queen Elizabeth II with deep respect and great affection. Steadfast and wise, she dedicated her long life to serving the British people. We feel a strong bond with the United Kingdom and its royal family, and we share their sorrow at this time."

THE ROYAL HOUSE OF NORWAY

"The Royal Family is deeply saddened to receive the news that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has passed away."

KING CARL XVI GUSTAF OF SWEDEN

“With sadness, my family and I have today received the news that my dear relative, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, has passed away.

"The Queen served Her countries and the Commonwealth with an outstanding devotion and sense of duty. She has been a constant presence, not only in British society but internationally. In addition, she has always been a good friend to my family and a link to our shared family history."

GERMAN CHANCELLOR OLAF SCHOLZ

"We mourn the death of Queen Elizabeth II. She was a role model and inspiration for millions, also here in Germany. Her commitment to German-British reconciliation after the horrors of World War II will remain unforgotten. She will be missed, not least her wonderful humour."

ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER MARIO DRAGHI

"Queen Elizabeth was a major player in world history over the last seventy years. She represented the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth with balance, wisdom, respect for institutions and democracy. She has been the most beloved symbol of her country and has garnered respect, affection and warm feelings everywhere. She ensured stability in times of crisis and kept the value of tradition alive in a society in constant and profound evolution."

FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON

"Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II embodied the British nation’s continuity and unity for over 70 years. I remember her as a friend of France, a kind-hearted queen who has left a lasting impression on her country and her century."

SPANISH PRIME MINISTER PEDRO SANCHEZ

"My condolences to the entire Royal Family, the government and the people of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth on the passing of Queen Elizabeth II."

"A figure of global significance, witness and author of British and European history."

CZECH PRIME MINISTER PETR FIALA

"I am deeply saddened by the death of Her Majesty the Queen, Elizabeth II. Sending heartfelt and sincere condolences to the Royal family and the British people and the people of the Commonwealth."

POLISH PRESIDENT ANDRZEJ DUDA

"My deepest condolences to the Royal Family and all the British people on passing of Her Majesty The Queen. For decades she has been an embodiment of everything that makes Britain truly Great. She will be missed and remembered in Poland and all over the world."

KAJA KALLAS, PRIME MINISTER OF ESTONIA

"Her sense of service and dedication to public duty were unparalleled. It's the end of an era but her legend will live on and inspire."

UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY

"It is with deep sadness that we learned of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. On behalf of the UA people, we extend sincere condolences to the @RoyalFamily, the entire United Kingdom and the Commonwealth over this irreparable loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you."

CHIEF MINISTER OF GIBRALTAR FABIAN PICARDO

"The People of Gibraltar will mourn Her Majesty as a monarch who has reigned wisely and with incomparable dedication throughout the period of our post-war emergence as a part of the British family of nations."

"The People of Gibraltar and the Government proclaim their loyalty to the Crown of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and to His Majesty The King."

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES VICE PRESIDENT SHEIKH MOHAMMED BIN RASHID AL MAKTOUM

"We join the world in mourning the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, a global icon who represented the finest qualities of her nation and people. Her incredible lifetime of service and duty to the United Kingdom is unparalleled in our modern world."

UAE'S PRESIDENT MOHAMED BIN ZAYED

"Her Majesty was a close friend of the UAE and a beloved & respected leader whose long reign was characterised by dignity, compassion & a tireless commitment to serving her country."

ABDULLAH BIN AL HUSSEIN, KING OF JORDAN

"Jordan mourns the passing of an iconic leader. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was a beacon of wisdom and principled leadership for seven decades. She was a partner for Jordan and a dear family friend. We stand with the people and leadership of the UK at this difficult time."

IRAQI PRESIDENT BARHAM SALIH

"I am deeply saddened by the passing of HM Queen Elizabeth II. I extend profound condolences to the royal family and to the people of the United Kingdom. Queen Elizabeth will be remembered as a great icon of history who served with grace, dignity and fortitude."

HONDURAN FOREIGN MINISTER EDUARDO ENRIQUE REINA

"Our sincere condolences to the people and government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on the passing of HM Queen Elizabeth II, a message of sympathy to her family."

ARGENTINE GOVERNMENT

Expressed its "sorrow" at the death of Queen Elizabeth II and said that it "stood by the British people and her family in this moment of pain".

VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT NICOLAS MADURO

"The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela mourns the passing of Queen Elizabeth II of England, British monarch. We express our condolences to the royal family, to the United Kingdom and to the British people. Peace to her Soul!".

ECUADORIAN PRESIDENT GUILLERMO LASSO

"Distraught at the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, whose long life and dedication to the service of her people go down in history as an exemplary reign."

PARAGUAYAN PRESIDENT MARIO ABDO BENÍTEZ

"From the Republic of Paraguay, we convey our condolences to the Royal Family, the Government and the people of the United Kingdom on the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, who will always be remembered for her great vocation of service, " said

MEXICAN FOREIGN MINISTER MARCELO EBRARD

"Our thoughts and condolences to the people and government of the United Kingdom."

COSTA RICA FOREIGN MINISTRY

"Costa Rica expresses its heartfelt condolences to the British government and people as well as to the Commonwealth of Nations on the sad passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II."

PANAMANIAN PRESIDENT LAURENTINO CORTIZO

"I send heartfelt condolences to the Royal Family, the British people and the Commonwealth on the physical passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who honored Panama on a historic State Visit six decades ago. Peace to her soul."

EL SALVADOR PRESIDENT NAYIB BUKELE

"I am deeply saddened by the passing of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. My wife Gabriela and I extend our deepest sympathies to the British people and the Royal Family. Her Majesty’s legacy will always remain a touchstone for our shared values of empathy, solidarity and service."

Purcell's March from the Music for the Funeral of Queen Mary

The Queen is dead - Long live the King.

Buckingham Palace confirms that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has died today at the age of 96. A statement from Buckingham Palace said, 

“The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon. The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow”.

We have lost the most dedicated servant our country has ever had.

Rest in Peace,

Quote of the day 8th September 2022

“Earlier this week I promised I would deal with the soaring energy prices faced by families and businesses across the UK,” 

“And today I am delivering on that promise.”

“This government is moving immediately to introduce a new energy price guarantee that will give people certainty on energy bills, it will curb inflation and boost growth.

“This guarantee, which includes a temporary suspension of green levies, means that from 1 October a typical household will pay no more than £2,500 per year for each of the next two years while we get the energy market back on track.

“This will save a typical household £1,000 a year. It comes in addition to the £400 energy bills support scheme. This guarantee supersedes the Ofgem price cap and has been agreed with energy retailers.”

“I’m acting immediately so people and businesses are supported over the next two years, with a new energy price guarantee, and tackling the root cause of issues by boosting domestic energy supply.”

(Extracts from the statement today by Prime Minister Liz Truss about the action she is taking to help people with their energy bills and the cost of living crisis.)

Liz Truss freezes energy prices for two years

Unusual times call for unusual measures.

Putin's illegal invasion of Ukraine has set the world price of gas to ridiculous levels: if no action were taken this would impose considerable economic suffering on most people and completely unacceptable suffering to the most vulnerable member of society.

Hence it would be necessary for any government to act, to think outside the box, and to be willing to embrace measures that they would not normally consider. That is the context for the £150 billion package that the Prime Minister has announced today.

This morning Liz Truss set out plans to help with the cost of energy bills and increase our energy security, delivering immediate support for people ahead of this winter.

• Covid and Putin’s war in Ukraine have caused immense challenges for our country, with energy prices rising and families facing significant cost of living pressures.

• That is why we will today announce immediate action to help people with the cost of their bills – giving people certainty to make sure they are able to get through the winter, while also maximising domestic energy production like North Sea oil and Gas, as well as nuclear and renewables to ensure we are never in this situation again. 

• This will ensure people get the support they need and provide certainty for them over the months ahead, whilst securing energy independence for our country in the long term.

Liz Truss has announced that the government will freeze energy prices so as to hold bills at an average of £2,500 a year for the next two years from 1 October, and she has also promise to tackle the root causes of the issues in the UK energy market through plans to increase supply, including the resumption of fracking.

The government will fund the scheme to reduce the unit cost of energy through increased borrowing. The cost is likely to be around £150bn, although Whitehall sources say precise estimates will be given in  a fiscal statement from the chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng, expected later this month.

The goverment's new Energy Price Guarantee will limit the price suppliers can charge customers for units of gas. The goverment will temporarily suspend and remove green levies worth around £150 a year on average from household bills. The scheme announced today covers England, Scotland and Wales: a similar plan will be announced soon for Northern Ireland.

The PM also announced schemes she said would increase energy resilience, including launching a new round of around 100 new oil and gas licences and lifting the moratorium on fracking for shale gas, as well as accelerating new sources of energy supply including nuclear, wind and solar.

The prime minister said the average household would save £1,000 in total from October because of the price reduction, added on top of the £400 discount previously announced under Boris Johnson.

For businesses and public sector bodies such as schools and charities, a sixth-month scheme will offer what was termed “equivalent support” to that for households, with a review in three months about how it could be better targeted.

The PM also announced a review of the government’s net zero strategy, under the “altered economic landscape”. However, this review appears to be an attempt to adapt climate change targets to the present economic situation rather than indicating that the government is planning to abandon it's COP26 commitments, since the review will be chaired by Chris Skidmore, who chairs the net zero group of Conservative MPs and is a key proponent of meeting the targets.

Liz Truss told the Commons that “decades of short-term thinking” had failed to secure energy supplies, something she said had been exposed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

She also promised that  that households who do not pay directly for mains gas and electricity, such as those living in park homes or on heat networks, would not be worse off and said they would receive personal support through a separate fund.