Government

  • National debt is and will be a top priority

    The state of the UK government’s finances is a top priority for any interested in the fortunes and future of the Union.

    It’s not possible to plan for a life of work that upholds a lifestyle without looking at it.

    The fact is the majority of us need the State to function properly so that we can have an economic environment to use in the first place.

    This is the context of our businesses and our jobs. It upholds everything else.

    The national debt is therefore not just a ratio to GDP but a roadblock to our own activity.

    The lack of care and attention paid by Treasury economists is laid bare after years of speeches and campaigns for it to be reduced.

    They haven’t listened. It’s we who pay the taxes, we who use public services, and we who work hard. They need to change course.

  • Energy shouldn’t be run by criminals

    The drive for green energy is really a push for energy security and for lower prices overall. We don’t want oil from rich Arab states or gas from Russia, for instance. This is the practical reality also of being shifted out because such states are moving on. We’re going to be out of the game at some point anyway, and we’re not in big league politics anymore.

    “The government is investing in renewable and nuclear energy to get the UK off the rollercoaster of fossil fuel prices and onto clean, homegrown power it controls, protecting the British people and building a system that can bring down bills for good.”

    However, the homegrown industry being developed principally by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is a jobs growth initiative and an infrastructure bonanza. It’s not the supermarket sweep for cheaper pricing structures that we so desperately need. It’s not just a lack of focus, it’s a lack of direction. If the Secretary of State doesn’t pick it up, we’ll all be the poorer for it.

  • Gov. approval struggling

    The government has an uphill struggle ahead of itself. In its latest poll to gauge the public’s mood, YouGov has found that 69% disapprove against 14% that approve. It’s now become a stubbornly negative set of results for an overly optimistic and battle-weary government.

  • Starmer is fighting hard

  • We need to hear more than promises

    The Covid-19 pandemic gave us a look at government we hadn’t had before. It was mostly a daily insight into how important people work. It wasn’t a frenetic episode of cursory looks at how stuff works. It revealed how people think under pressure in centres of power.

    Now, we’re left hanging on near daily boat numbers and random announcements. The fulfilment of even simple promises are set into the far flung future. The frantic search for answers has replaced a vital need to state facts to the public as they are on the ground.

    Border Force, the NCA, and other bodies have not communicated effectively to the public. In fact, it’s left to those in obvious posts to fill a void. The worry is many feel abandoned in a situation that’s getting worse. The omission is virtually a public relations offence.

  • Starmer’s government is stumbling

  • Exclusive: Labour dissent on Dover Crossings

    It has emerged that Labour figures are at odds over the importance of the Dover Crossings.

    It’s alleged a member of the Cabinet has said “it strengthens ‘the economy’,” meaning the activity of a criminal fraternity.

    The Prime Minister is under pressure to order Border Force to resume normal operations to meet levels of criminal activity.

  • Gov. approval tanks

    Now into its second year and with the Dover Crossings crisis getting worse and worse, the government is clearly struggling.

    According to YouGov, a September 1 poll suggests 11% of the public approve, against 70% that disapprove.

    It’s clear now the path to change is on a different route.

  • Starmer has a new front at the top

    The exit of Angela Rayner MP (Ashton-under-Lyne/Labour) has led to a huge upheaval at the top table by the Prime Minister. He’s made some key changes to his top team.

    His new Deputy is David Lammy MP (Tottenham/Labour), also Justice Secretary. This brings closer another heavyweight as he navigates a difficult Parliament.

    Yvette Cooper MP (Pontefract, Castleford, and Knottingley/Labour) is now Foreign Secretary. It’s not immediately obvious why, considering her previous brief as Home Secretary.

    Shabana Mahmood MP (Birmingham Ladywood/Labour) is now Home Secretary, taking over the Home Office during the Dover Crossings crisis. This is a short straw for her.

  • Exclusive: FCDO staff doubt outreach

    It’s a torrid time for the Foreign, Commonwealth, & Development Office. According to disgruntled staff, the policies spun around about outreach to other states aren’t sufficient.

    The hacks that work in research for the Department have cited poor rationales and lack of detail in its approach to work.

    It’s alleged the particular issue is over small states, such as Belgium and Portugal, that receive little to no attention at times.

    It’s not clear if any staff are thinking of throwing in the towel, but many think the UK needs to work harder to do better. Otherwise, it’s thought, the UK will suffer a sharp drop in overall respect.

  • A nice new GOV.UK app is here

    The GOV.UK website has come on leaps and bounds since its launch in 2012 as a new service to deliver Government benefits into our hands.

    The old days of phone calls and endless combined forms are nearly behind us. As more gets updated it should be plain sailing from there.

    A set of screenshots of the new GOV.UK app.

    The latest iteration is a smartphone app for the public user – handily titled GOV.UK. It’s available for free download on both major app stores.

    It’s a basic, almost featureless experience that helps users to navigate the website better. It’s said it will improve – or expand – in time to come.

    *A change was made to add a graphic.

  • Gov. disapproval creeps up

    The PM is facing a public relations disaster of his own. His government’s disapproval rating amongst the public is riding high at 67% over 13% approval on 4 August. This trends at the limit of his governments tenure so far.

  • Gov. ramps up boats response

    The Government is spending big to go large to fight traffickers.

    It’s said £100 million will go to enforcement bodies across the UK to boost response.

    It includes Border Security Command, the National Crime Agency, and the Police.

    It also said criminals placing ads online will be prosecuted with an amendment to the Border Security, Asylum, and Immigration Bill.

  • Lammy’s policy on Syria is strange

    The UK is in a feckless state at times. The news we’re going to process Syrian asylum claims is just indicative of it.

    Syria is a sponsor of global terrorism. Its citizens have supported the presence of it in the UK.

    The Foreign Secretary has criticised Israel’s offensive. He’s befriended Syria’s revolutionary head.

    There’s little to no realistic prospect of real democracy emerging in such a divided, riddled country.

    The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has been accused of looking like amateurs before.

    The bigger risk is the UK will begin to look unserious. It’s not helpful for the UK post-Brexit.

    Our overseas relations won’t make sense until facts are included in every conversation.

    It can’t be driven by public sentiment, or business-driven pipe dreams. It needs to be realistic in future.

  • Starmer’s Cabinet is in a war

    Labour believe it’s a battle. They see adversaries in every part of UK life. The strongest are in businesses. There’s concern over salaries but also employee rights and future stakes.

    MP’s in Starmer’s top team.

    Starmer made up his Cabinet to answer some of these problems. It’s a key choice a Prime Minister makes. It starts their term. It helps set the terms. It also helps to do some of the heavy lifting.

    MP’s in Starmer’s top team.

    His Cabinet is largely holding together. In spite of the introduction of a hugely unpopular farm inheritance tax, most of his closest MP’s are still at his top table. His Plan for Change is on.