A police officer interrupted a Christmas party at Downing Street last year after revellers accidentally set off an alarm, Scotland Yard has confirmed.

“‘Ello, ‘Ello, ‘Ello… now what ‘ave we got ‘ere, eh?” – Owl

George Grylls, Fiona Hamilton www.thetimes.co.uk (Extract of salient new material)

Sir Stephen House, the deputy commissioner of the Met, said that an officer witnessed the gathering on December 18, 2020 attended by about 50 people and was speaking to detectives investigating Downing Street parties.

The revelation came after the Met sent questionnaires to 88 people, including the prime minister, accused of attending lockdown gatherings

House told City Hall’s police and crime committee that the officer had already given evidence to Sue Gray, the senior civil servant tasked with investigating lockdown gatherings.

House said: “One officer was involved in responding with a civilian custodian, who works for No 10, to a silent alarm which we believe had been pressed in error. That officer was spoken to by Sue Gray and will be spoken to by ourselves.”

House rejected criticisms, however, that officers turned a blind eye to gatherings in No 10 and said their duty was to prevent a terrorism attack.

“I think maybe people have the idea that there’s tipsy revellers walking down Whitehall with Christmas hats on and blowing poppers, carrying bottles of clanking wine,” he said.

“Many of the circumstances that we’re investigating were events that took place at the end of the working day or as an adjunct to the working day for people who were already in the building and had been there since 7am or 8am.

“Armed officers do not routinely walk through the Cabinet Office or No 10.”

However, he added that if officers knew what was happening and should have intervened “we will follow up on that”.

House said that the investigation was “operating at pace” and was still expected to take weeks rather than months.

He said that detectives could send out fresh questionnaires if new suspects emerged in the answers they received.

Some alleged partygoers have already sent their questionnaires back and their “reasonable excuse” is being reviewed. House said the Met would start issuing fines if the excuse did not stack up.

Boris Johnson has become the first British prime minister to be questioned under caution by the police, a leaked form appeared to confirm last night.

The Met is sending questionnaires to 88 people accused of attending lockdown gatherings as part of a criminal investigation into a dozen Downing Street parties in 2020 and last year.

In the forms, which are equivalent to a police interview, people are asked to explain and justify their presence at gatherings….

“If they think corrupt elites are threatening our national security they cannot just sweep this under the carpet.” Chris Bryant MP

Reds under the bed or in the bed? – Owl

Martin Williams www.opendemocracy.net

More than 200 Russian millionaires bought their way into the UK with controversial “golden visas” in the seven years since the government pledged to stop corrupt oligarchs exploiting the system, openDemocracy can reveal.

The scheme was finally closed altogether last week, as diplomatic relations with Russia reached breaking point. It had allowed 13,000 wealthy elites to jump the immigration queue if they promised to invest millions into British companies.

Home secretary Priti Patel said ending the golden visa scheme would help stop “corrupt elites who threaten our national security and push dirty money around our cities”.

But analysis by openDemocracy shows large numbers of Russian oligarchs continued to use the scheme even after the government claimed to have cleaned it up in April 2015.

Since then, only seven Russian applicants have been rejected, while golden visas have been handed out to 202 Russian elites, each with at least £2m of investments in UK companies.

More than 250 of their family members and dependents were also given visas and can now live in the UK.

Labour MP Chris Bryant, who chairs a parliamentary group on Russia, called on the government to review “each and every” visa issued under the scheme.

“If they think corrupt elites are threatening our national security they cannot just sweep this under the carpet,” he told openDemocracy.

“Exploitation” of the golden visa scheme has led the UK to become a “particularly favourable destination for Russian oligarchs and their money,” according to a landmark report on Russia by the Intelligence and Security Committee in 2020.

“The UK welcomed Russian money, and few questions – if any – were asked about the provenance of this considerable wealth,” it said.

A Chatham House report into kleptocracy also described the golden visas as a “national embarrassment”, adding that “serious flaws and loopholes” remained in the system after the 2015 reforms.

It warned: “The UK has a long road ahead to address the risks from its servicing of post-Soviet elites and the suspicious capital that flows into the country in its billions.”

Russian nationals are the second largest group to have benefited from the golden visa scheme, with about 900 Russian applicants and 1,700 of their dependents being successful. The largest group is Chinese nationals and their families, of whom 4,247 successfully applied for golden visas.

The scheme allows them to circumvent a punishing and tortuous immigration process, as they are seen as “high value” individuals.

In a statement last week, the government said the scheme had been “under constant review” because “some cases had given rise to security concerns, including people acquiring their wealth illegitimately and being associated with wider corruption”.

But more than 200 golden visas were issued last year alone – including 22 to Russian millionaires.

“We are still in the dark about the true extent of abuse of the golden visa scheme,” said Rachel Davies, head of advocacy at Transparency International. “Individuals and their families from high-corruption risk countries were welcomed with open arms and no checks on the source of their wealth, but only a handful of names have ever been made public.”

She added: “Media investigations have shown how some of the visa recipients funded their lavish lifestyles with the proceeds of corruption.”

A review of visas issued under the scheme is due to be published “in the near future”, but opposition MPs have criticised the government for not acting sooner.

Labour’s shadow home secretary, Yvette Cooper, said: “For years the Conservatives failed to stamp out the influence of Russian money in the UK” adding that it had “taken international condemnation of our failures… for the home secretary to act”.

A government spokesperson told openDemocracy: “We keep all visas under review and should any individual be found to have breached their conditions, then we will take action.”

South West construction giant Midas has left debts of more than £22m after going into administration – with dozens of creditors unlikely to be paid.

William Telford www.business-live.co.uk

A report by administrators at global business advisory firm Teneo Financial Advisory Ltd reveals a total of £22,091,980 is owed by companies in the Midas group.

And the administrators said: “We do not think that the companies have sufficient property to enable a distribution to be made to unsecured creditors.”

Exeter-headquartered Midas Group Ltd and its subsidiaries Midas Construction Ltd, Midas Retail Ltd, Mi-Space (UK) Ltd, Mi-Space Property Services Ltd, Midas Commercial Developments Ltd and Falmouth Developments Ltd all fell into administration in January 2022.

Work stopped at construction sites across the South West and 303 staff were made redundant. Teneo has now revealed that Midas Construction has left debts of £19,265,284, spread between dozens of creditors.

Mi-Space (UK) Ltd, the group’s housebuilding arm, owes £2,542,533, with Midas Retail owing £22,494 and the overall Midas Group Ltd owing £261,669.

Founded in Devon in 1976, the Midas Group was one of the UK’s largest independent construction and property services providers.

The group delivered a complete range of construction related services, from seven regional offices across the South West and Wales, across numerous sectors including residential, leisure, education, industrial and healthcare.

Midas was recently ranked as the ninth largest private sector firm in the South West, by the Western Morning News Annual Business Guide 2021, with a reported turnover of £291,267,008.

But rumours had been circulating in recent weeks that the company was in financial trouble, after it announced a £2m loss in 2021 – its first deficit in 40 years of trading.

In January, Midas staff were told by calls and emails that the business was going into administration and there would be job losses.

Steve Hindley, group chairman, put the blame on disruption and supply chain price hikes caused by the Covid pandemic, which, he said, caused contracts to be delayed or scrapped.

He said the disruption and supply chain inflation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in a number of critical contracts being postponed or cancelled and the resultant impact on the group’s working capital led to severe liquidity pressure and meant the group was no longer able to operate.

Mi-space’s property services arm was sold to the Bell Group in January, bolstering its already strong presence in the South West and Wales, and is therefore not part of the administration process. Airdrie-headquartered Bell is a market leader in the sector and already has offices across the South West in Plymouth, Taunton, Bristol, and South Wales, with plans to open up an office in Exeter in 2022.

Exmouth’s Queen’s Drive is to be spruced up over the next month with new picnic benches and lights as well as repair works to sun shelters. 

Owl understands that other communities have been offered benches or planters as part of this “Welcome Back Fund”.

Joe Ives, local democracy reporter www.radioexe.co.uk 

New bike racks and gates may also be put in if there is enough time to organise the works.

The investment will paid for by money East Devon District Council (EDDC) has left from the EU’s European Regional Development Fund

The UK government received £56 million from the kitty, some of which it paid to councils as part of a ‘Welcome Back Fund’ to help local authorities recover from the pandemic.

The Queen’s Drive updates must be paid by the end of March otherwise the council will lose the money.

It forms a continuation of work done last year which saw the boardwalks, staging and some badly rotten seating replaced.

The seating areas in better condition were left in, but a year on they are now in a poor state and need to be replaced. The new benches will be made of recycled composite which will last longer and require less maintenance than the old timber seating.

Speaking at a meeting of the Exmouth Queen’s Drive delivery group at EDDC, a council officer said the area’s light bulbs “are all full of water, basically” and need to be replaced. The new lights will be more energy efficient.

The sun shelters will be repaired and tidied up. Parts of Queen’s Drive will also receive a fresh lick of paint.

Downing Street staff have been asked by police to provide a “lawful exception” or “reasonable excuse” for parties which took place during lockdown, a partygate questionnaire leaked to ITV News has shown.

www.itv.com 

The questionnaires – sent to those suspected of breaking Covid regulations by attending gatherings at the height of the pandemic – form part of the evidence the Metropolitan Police is gathering as part of its investigation into potential law-breaking on Downing Street. The prime minister has already returned his copy and the document gives the first insight into the kind of questions he is likely to have been asked.

Police make clear to recipients that people are filling out the questionnaire under caution and Boris Johnson is understood to be the first prime minister subject to that level of police questioning.

The document states at the outset that those accused have an opportunity to provide “a written statement under caution”.

It then goes on to ask around a dozen questions, including:

• “Did you participate in a gathering on a specific date”
• “What was the purpose of your participation in that gathering”
• “Did you interact with, or undertake any activity with, other persons present at the gathering. If yes, please provide details”

The questionnaire asks for timings of the person’s attendance at the party and how many others were present.

Importantly, it also provides them with a chance to justify their actions, asking: “What, if any, lawful exception applied to the gathering and/or what reasonable excuse did you have for participating in the gathering?”

The Metropolitan Police says there are three ways to respond to the questionnaire:

• Remain silent and answer no questions
• Provide an answer to the written questions in the attached document
• Provide a prepared statement in your own words

The questionnaires were tailored to each individual being investigated, meaning they are likely to have been different for each person but this document gives a flavour of the questions Mr Johnson may have been asked.

A No 10 spokesperson said: “We have confirmed the prime minister has been contacted by the Metropolitan Police. We will not be commenting further while the investigation is ongoing.”

The leaked questionnaire.

Criminal law barrister Andrew Keogh told ITV News the questionnaire “suggests that this is not a thorough investigation”.

He said the questions posed are “as basic as you can possibly imagine them to be”.

“It just suggests that there’s no effort going into any real investigation of ascertaining who did what when and where and why.”

“This is anything but a rigorous investigation, it’s the direct opposite,” he said, “there’s just no effort gone into this at all”.

The prime minister is known to have taken legal advice before submitting his response last week, and is expected to argue that he did not violate the rules by attending several gatherings because Number 10 is both his place of work and his home.

More junior members of staff have told ITV News that they are concerned they won’t be able to afford the same standard of legal advice, potentially meaning that they are more likely to be fined than the prime minister.

Anyone who receives a questionnaire has seven days to respond, with the latest batch sent out yesterday, meaning the police investigation still has at least a week left to run.

Some of the questions visible in the leaked document. Credit: ITV News

Former Met Police Chief Superintendent Dal Babu told ITV News the questions were “pretty bland” and that a “lawyer would perhaps give you a ‘get out of jail card’ in response to all of those questions”.

“That’s why it doesn’t seem to be a particularly effective way of investigating the parties that have happened at Downing Street.”

“What you would expect is somebody to sit down with the individual, go through the questions,” he added.

Last week ITV News revealed that those under police investigation would be allowed to view the responses they gave in interviews with civil servant Sue Gray before they respond to the police questionnaire.

Ms Gray – who conducted the original internal investigation before passing police evidence which pushed them into announcing their own criminal probe – said people would only be able to view their own answers and no one else’s.

Among the package of evidence passed to police by Ms Gray was 300 photographs relevant to the partygate investigation – one of which allegedly shows the PM holding a beer.

But those photographs may never be made public after ITV News revealed the Cabinet Office had asked police to confirm that they would not be published.

The request emerged after ITV News was leaked a document sent by the Cabinet Office to the more than 50 staff being investigated, providing an update on the inquiry into 12 allegedly rule-breaking gatherings.

The document said: “The Met has said it has been handed more than 300 photographs as part of its investigation.

“Consistent with its indication that it will not publish the identities of anyone issued a FPN (fixed penalty notice), we would not expect the Met to publish photographs. The Liaison Unit has asked the Met to confirm this.”

The Met has confirmed that in line with policy it would not reveal the people who are issued with FPNs, however Number 10 has said it would be made public if the prime minister is fined.

Fines start at £100 for the first offence, growing to £200 for the second offence before doubling for each repeat offence before hitting the cap of £6,400.

Any individual is entitled to appeal their fine, which could see the appellant appear in court.

The prime minister has said he will have “a lot more to say” on the allegations against him after police conclude their investigation.

Boris Johnson has been a man in a hurry as he removed the remaining Covid restrictions in England. He is right about one thing: we do need to “learn to live with this virus”. Yet the prime minister’s haste has been driven not by a desire to set people “free” but to throw “red meat” to hungry Conservative backbenchers.

Editorial www.independent.co.uk 

Some of his critics are on the libertarian wing of the party and for them, lifting the curbs cannot come a moment too soon. His living with Covid plan is part of a ploy to persuade Tory MPs to live with Mr Johnson, whatever their verdict on the final outcome of the Partygate investigations by the Metropolitan Police and senior civil servant Sue Gray.

Mr Johnson gave the game away when he preannounced at Prime Minister’s Questions on 9 February that he intended to end restrictions a month earlier than the originally planned date of 24 March – before any real debate with his cabinet or scientific advisers.

Yet his attempt to exploit what he calls “this moment of pride” for the country, as it lifts curbs ahead of many of its European counterparts, has not gone according to plan. The unwelcome news that the Queen has Covid is a reminder that the virus is still very much with us and cannot be waved away by a magic prime ministerial wand.

Then a cabinet meeting on Monday which had been expected to rubber stamp the changes was delayed by a dispute between the chancellor Rishi Sunak and health secretary Sajid Javid over future funding for testing. As the cabinet struggled to agree on how we should “live with Covid”, it hardly inspired public confidence. In the event, Mr Javid appears to have failed to win the extra £5bn he requested and will have to find the money from his already stretched budget.

The provision of free universal tests to the public will end on 1 April after Mr Sunak baulked at the cost, which peaked at £2bn in January and will reach £15.7bn in the current financial year. This change is premature, at least while case numbers remain at their current level. An estimated 4 million people take regular Covid tests; those taking two a week could face a bill estimated at £500 a year.

The move might well prove a false economy because testing is one way of limiting the spread of the virus; the economy will hardly be helped if sick people pass on the disease to their work colleagues. Ministers might hope that employers pick up the tab for tests but many are struggling as we emerge from the pandemic and, like their employees, they will have higher national insurance contributions to pay from April. Maintaining widespread testing would also keep up the country’s guard against the new variants that are inevitable.

The decision to end from Thursday the legal requirement to self-isolate after testing positive is another worrying step. The absence of adequate statutory sick pay – at £96.35 a week, the UK’s level is amongst the lowest in Europe – means that many workers, already facing a cost-of-living crisis, will simply not be able to afford to stay at home.

Although Mr Johnson conceded in his Commons statement that “the pandemic is not over” and that “Covid will not suddenly disappear”, there is a real danger his triumphalist approach sends the wrong signal and, crucially, gives people a false sense of security.

The time when he could claim to be “following the science” or “the data” has long since passed; he is following his instincts on how to survive in his job and to appeal to the Tory MPs who will decide his fate.

Mr Johnson wants to move from “government restrictions to personal responsibility”. However, in prematurely sweeping away some of the vital measures that enable people to protect themselves and others, his government has failed to live up to its own responsibility to protect public health.

[From Boris’ lecture on exercising personal responsibility – Owl]

www.indy100.com 

Boris Johnson suggests Britons should learn from Germany and stay off work …

Boris Johnson had everyone shouting at their television screens during his coronavirus press briefing last night.

While discussing his new ‘Living with Covid’ strategy, the PM triggered raised eyebrows when discussing work culture and sick pay, encouraging people to not go into work when they are ill by praising the culture in Germany.

He said: “In this country, I’ve often heard it said over the last couple of years, we have a habit of going back to work or going into work when we’re not well. People contrast that with Germany, for instance, where I’m told, they are much more disciplined about not going to work if you’re sick.

“I am just suggesting that might be something we could learn.”

His comments came in response to a question from ITV’s Robert Peston about the government’s plan to stop people being automatically eligible to statutory sick pay in the event that they fall ill from Covid. From 24 March, people will only be able to claim pay from day four of being off work and the £500 self-isolation support payment will also end.

The cut has been criticised by trade unions and the Labour Party who said they will “hit the lowest paid and the most insecure workers”.

Meanwhile, statutory sick pay is £96.35 a week in the UK, while in Germany people receive 100 per cent of their wages during the first six weeks of sickness.

People were quick to point this out on Twitter:

Speaking about the cuts to pay, Starmer said: “These are decisions which will hit the lowest paid and the most insecure workers the hardest, including care workers who got us through the toughest parts of the pandemic.

“It’s all very well advising workers to self isolate, but that won’t work unless all workers have security of knowing that they can afford to do so.”

Dan Shears, the GMB union’s national health and safety director, said the “nonsensical announcement guarantees workers will attend the workplace with Covid”.

He added: “This will prolong the pandemic with more outbreaks. Asking people to exercise responsibility whilst taking away a key workplace provision for them to do that just shows how incompetent this Government is.

“The UK’s poverty Statutory Sick Pay rates, among the lowest in Europe, are a public health hazard as workers cannot afford to stay home when they are ill.

“The situation will be made even worse in April when SSP is cut in real terms against a backdrop of rampant inflation.

“Restoring the three day limit is an act of national self-sabotage. It’s time for wholesale reform of Statutory Sick Pay rate.”

Ofwat, the water regulator, has noticed that the industry it oversees in England and Wales has been in the news recently.

Nils Pratley www.theguardian.com 

So it has been. Discharges of raw sewage into rivers and coastal waters are a scandal happening in plain sight, and each set of data feels more shocking than the last. A highly critical report from MPs on the environmental audit committee in January made a strong case that Ofwat itself, plus the Environment Agency, should be more assertive.

And here comes a regulatory response of a sort to the “current high level of scrutiny” of the sector: a letter from David Black, Ofwat’s interim chief executive, to the chairs of remuneration committees of the water firms suggesting, in a roundabout way, that bosses’ bonuses should be cut if the pollution record is poor.

The letter is the first of its kind and acts on one of the MPs’ suggestions, but one cannot call it strongly worded. Performance-related pay should show “a substantial link” to delivery for customers, including on “environmental commitments and obligations”, wrote Black, which is hardly laying down the law. There was a reminder to boards that they are allowed to recognise shortfalls “whatever the initial framework for [pay] incentives”, which is just a statement of something the directors should know already: bonuses are always discretionary.

One could say, generously, that Ofwat is merely at the preliminary stage of issuing a high-level warning and that tougher tactics could follow. The problem with that interpretation, though, is that Black didn’t specify what penalties would be imposed if his appeal for good behaviour on pay and bonuses is ignored, which must be a possibility.

In recent press interviews, he has hinted at fines or changes to licence conditions, but the letter itself only said Ofwat would be “assessing your company’s approach” and did not describe possible sanctions.

Maybe the pay-setters will come cleanly, as it were. But Ofwat, which is under scrutiny as much as the companies, would help itself if it laid out specific examples of unacceptable pay practices. Curbing boardroom bonuses for polluters is a good idea. But the policy requires the regulator to be stronger than it currently sounds.

Water bosses’ pay and bonuses in 2020-21 from www.thetimes.co.uk 

• Susan Davy, chief executive of Pennon, the parent company of South West Water, was paid £1.7 million, including £1.2 million in bonuses

• Steve Mogford, the chief executive of United Utilities, was paid £2.9 million, including £2 million in bonuses.

• Liv Garfield, the chief executive of Severn Trent Water, was paid £2.8 million, including £1.9 million in bonuses

• Sarah Bentley, the chief executive of Thames Water, was paid £1.2 million, including a £273,000 bonus.

• Ian McAulay, the chief executive of Southern Water, was paid £1 million, including £550,000 in bonuses.

While Korea makes consumer electronics and Germany makes cars, Britain churns out buy-to-let landlords. There’s little to envy in such “success”.

Editorial www.theguardian.com 

The average wage of the top 1% in Britain rose to £13,770 a month in December. Jeevun Sandher, an economist at King’s College London, points out the very richest saw their incomes rise the fastest during the pandemic. This group were also likely to have been able to save the most while Covid raged. Where do the very wealthiest spend their cash? One place is housing, for which there is a low level of stock being released on to the market. The result is rising house prices. Over the past 12 months, asking prices have gone up by 9.5%.

This has a knock-on effect for renters. UK rents rose by 8.3% in the last three months of 2021. For would-be first-time buyers, the situation is as bad if not worse, with the current average price of £277,000 nearly £25,000 higher than just a year ago. Those looking to have a roof to live under will find little solace in official figures. These record an 11% drop in the number of total homes added in 2021 compared with the year before. The number of new affordable houses that began being built dropped 16% year-on-year. Shortages of labour and materials, as well as planning delays, will make it harder for the 11th Tory housing minister since 2010 to meet government targets for new homes.

Britain’s housing stock is being turned into an asset class as a consequence of the excessive financialisation of the UK economy. For those who own their homes, these buildings serve a dual purpose: they provide shelter, and function as investments. For around 2.5 million landlords, who between them accounted for 18% of all property purchases in 2019, they are only investments.

If the underlying problem is a lack of homes, then one solution may be to build more. But if the problem is landlords, and the fact that property owners are incentivised by rising prices, as well as their desire for more space (a desire that may have been augmented by the switch to home working), to buy as much of it as they can, then building more homes won’t help. It could even make matters worse, by creating more opportunities to extract exorbitant rents from those who have an income but lack the capital for a deposit, or the confidence to take on a huge debt.

Over recent decades, ballooning property prices have served home owners well, especially in the south of England. The form of inequality this has created currently appears to be generational. Older people are more likely to own their homes than younger ones. City firms are ploughing billions of pension savings in “build-to-rent” developments that could see a transfer of wealth as younger people end up paying the pensions of older people.

The Labour party could be bolder in dealing with the property haves and have-nots. Its housing policy is for first-time buyers to get priority in new housing developments and to ban foreign owners buying up new properties. But hoarding by commercial landlords that hurts young renters and many homeowners needs tackling. One suggestion by housing barrister David Renton is for “right to buy” to be extended to the private sector – say to where landlords own a minimum of five properties. There may be outrage from those who regard rent as economic growth. This surely must change. While Korea makes consumer electronics and Germany makes cars, Britain churns out buy-to-let landlords. There’s little to envy in such “success”.

Looks like this ban is getting closer, which will be bad news for Cranbrook – Owl

Chris Harper www.birminghammail.co.uk 

Drivers could be banned from parking on pavements under radical new change introduced by the Government. The consultation which took place in 2020 is expected to be published this year.

The original consultation, which ended on October 2020, has yet to published its results. However, the results of the consultation could come in the coming weeks.

According to the summary, the findings are expected to be coming out very soon. The new rules could mean drivers could face a fine for parking on pavements.

Current rules in the UK do not ban drivers from parking on pavements expect if they are obstructing access. New rules could see them banned out right from parking on pavements.

The consultations offered three proposals and the results will indicate what the Government will go towards. Option one and two would see improvements to the existing system or give local authorities extra powers to deal with obstructions.

Option three would introduce a nationwide pavement parking prohibition which would see the practice banned across the UK. Fines could also be introduced.

The Department for Transport (DfT) previously admitted a ban would be “the most significant change to English parking law in several decades.”

The Government agency also said local authorities would need to undertake a “substantial amount of work to prepare for it.” They warned a ban would require a “significant implementation period” which would be “time consuming and expensive.”

The DfT has also warned a national ban may be “inappropriate” in rural areas where some pavement parking “may be safer.” It also said , some local areas said they “depend on pavement parking to preserve traffic flow.”

In 2021, the Scottish Parliament passed a bill that will outlawed pavement parking across the country. Stuart Hay, director of lead campaign group Living Streets Scotland, said: “This is the first nationwide ban put in place in the UK and represents the culmination of over a decade of campaigning.

“People in wheelchairs, parents with pushchairs and older adults who are currently forced into oncoming traffic when faced with vehicles blocking their path will now be able to enjoy a new freedom.

“Practical plans and resources, including the proposed national publicity campaign, should now be put in place to ensure the bill is enacted efficiently. England and Wales should look to take a lead from today’s monumental decision.”

The DfT has been contacted for comment from BirminghamLive.

A planned month-long road closure in Sidbury for gas pipe work has been replaced with smaller and shorter closures. 

Philippa Davies www.sidmouthherald.co.uk

Cotford Road was due to close between Cotford Bridge and Chelsea Cottage from Monday, February 28 until Friday, March 25. 

But local residents and the district councillor for Sidmouth Rural Ward, John Loudoun, contacted Wales & West Utilities to raise concerns about the disruption this would cause, and the company has now changed its plans.  

Buckley Road will be closed at its junction with A375 Cotford Road with a diversion in place until Wednesday, February 23. 

From Friday, February 28 until  Friday, March 4, Cotford Road will be closed from Cotford Bridge to Roncombe Lane – including the first 100m of Roncombe Lane. A diversion route will be clearly signposted. Barring any engineering difficulties, Cotford Road will reopen on March 4. 

From Monday, March 7 until Monday 14, the first 100m of Roncombe Lane will remain closed. Access to Cotford Road will be maintained for homes on Roncombe Lane. 

From March 14, three-way traffic lights will be in place on Cotford Road at Cotford Bridge and Buckley Lane. Barring engineering difficulties, these lights are expected to be in place for one week.

The overall work is expected to finish by the end of March. 

Wales & West Utilities’ Jake Sami is managing the gas pipe upgrade work. He said: “We’re pleased that we’ve been able to update our plans to act on the views of the local community. We’re committed to working alongside local people to make sure we can do our essential work while keeping disruption to a minimum.” 

Cllr Loudoun said: “These are clearly essential works. I’m grateful to Wales & West Utilities for having reacted positively, and swiftly, to the concerns that I, and some residents, raised about the length of time and the impact on the flow of traffic along the A375, and through the village, that these works, as originally planned, would have had. 

“Residents will be pleased that the disruption that these works will bring has now been significantly reduced. I am pleased to have been able to work constructively with Wales & West Utilities on behalf of the village.” 

The company’s Customer Service Team can be contacted on freephone 0800 912 2999, via Twitter @WWUtilities or Facebook.com/WWUtilities. 

That is what Boris Johnson told everyone in his statement last night announcing the scrapping of all Covid legal restrictions from Thursday.

Since when has Boris Johnson, himself, exercised “personal responsibility”?

Another example of: “don’t do what I do, do what I say”? – Owl 

• Install replacement windows to property 5 Bowd Court Bowd Sidmouth EX10 0NDRef. No: 22/0325/FUL | Validated: Fri 11 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of a general purpose outbuilding to replace 2 no. existing polytunnels Little Thatch Monkton Honiton EX14 9NPRef. No: 22/0321/FUL | Validated: Fri 11 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Install replacement windows to property. 5 Bowd Court Bowd Sidmouth EX10 0NDRef. No: 22/0326/LBC | Validated: Fri 11 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of home office/annexe with alteration to fenestration and 2 roof lights. Brook Hayes Venn Ottery Road Newton Poppleford Sidmouth EX10 0BURef. No: 22/0305/FUL | Validated: Thu 10 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Retrospective permission for new driveway and associated landscaping. 14 School Lane Newton Poppleford Sidmouth EX10 0EJRef. No: 22/0304/FUL | Validated: Thu 10 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of single storey rear extension measuring 4.33m beyond original rear wall, 2.79m to the eaves and 3.16m in total height Broad Oaks Rockbeare Hill Rockbeare Exeter EX5 2EZRef. No: 22/0314/GPD | Validated: Thu 10 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of home office/annexe with alteration to fenestration and 2 roof lights. Brook Hayes Venn Ottery Road Newton Poppleford Sidmouth EX10 0BURef. No: 22/0306/LBC | Validated: Thu 10 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Conversion of roof space to habitable use to include a side dormer. 19 The Chase Honiton EX14 1QBRef. No: 22/0309/FUL | Validated: Thu 10 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Two storey side extension. 11 Coleridge Road Ottery St Mary EX11 1TDRef. No: 22/0312/FUL | Validated: Thu 10 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed canopy over outside animal holding area at Hogsbrook Farm. Hogsbrook Farm Woodbury Salterton Exeter EX5 1PYRef. No: 22/0303/FUL | Validated: Thu 10 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision

• Construction of single storey rear and side extensions 73 Thorne Farm Way Ottery St Mary EX11 1GURef. No: 22/0294/FUL | Validated: Wed 09 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey side extension, addition of north gable window, raising of chimney stacks, re-rendering and re-thatching. Middle Slewton Talaton Road Whimple Exeter EX5 2QLRef. No: 22/0289/FUL | Validated: Wed 09 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1, Magnolia grandiflora : prune side growth away from wall and neighbours’ house by approximately 2m to a suitable side branch; reduce height to leave an approximate height of 4 metres and a radial spread of 3 metres, with pruning cuts up to 50 mm in diameter. Watering Farm Fore Street Otterton Budleigh Salterton EX9 7HBRef. No: 22/0292/TCA | Validated: Wed 09 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey side extension, addition of north gable window, raising of chimney stacks, re-rendering and re-thatching. Middle Slewton Talaton Road Whimple Exeter EX5 2QLRef. No: 22/0290/LBC | Validated: Wed 09 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Conversion of roof space to habitable use to include a front dormer and two front roof lights. 2 Corefields Sidford Sidmouth EX10 9SGRef. No: 22/0293/FUL | Validated: Wed 09 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed extension to the front, east, elevation and a porch to the side, north, elevation. The Barn Churchill Axminster EX13 7LZRef. No: 22/0284/FUL | Validated: Wed 09 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1 Holm Oak, DBH 30inches Re-Pollard back to historic pruning points to gain more light to garden and lawn T2 Cork Oak DBH 30inches Re-Pollard back to historic pruning points to gain moren light to garden and lawn T3 Yew DBH 20inches Thin Crown by 10%,maximum pruning cuts of no more than 75mm, to gain more light to garden and lawn T4 Yew DBH 36inches Thin Crown by 10%,maximum pruning cuts of no more than 75mm, to gain more light to garden and lawn T5 Yew DBH 34inchesThin Crown by 10% Maximum pruning cuts of no more than 75mm, to gain more light to garden and lawn Balfour Manor Station Road Sidmouth EX10 8XWRef. No: 22/0288/TRE | Validated: Wed 09 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Application for the approval of reserved matters (landscaping) pursuant to outline planning permission 18/1681/MOUT (erection of 10no. dwellings and associated access, parking and bin cycle store) West Street Car Park AxminsterRef. No: 22/0268/MRES | Validated: Fri 11 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of front and side extensions, alterations to roof including provision of front and rear dormer windows, extended terrace and provision of cladding. 11 Mount Pleasant Avenue Exmouth EX8 4QDRef. No: 22/0278/FUL | Validated: Tue 08 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T2, Copper Beech : Fell. Reason: Extensive dieback on south-western aspect, open cavity at 5 metres. Due to the tree’s decline in vigour, decay has advanced to the point where the upper crown above the wound is at risk of failure, because of lack of sound wood Raleigh Manor Care Home 13 Drakes Avenue Exmouth EX8 4ABRef. No: 22/0275/TRE | Validated: Tue 08 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision

• Erection of a detached dwelling. Land Adjacent Crosslyn Exeter Road Honiton EX14 1AURef. No: 22/0269/FUL | Validated: Tue 08 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed demolition of existing rear single storey structure and construction of new rear single storey extension & alterations. 14 Armytage Road Budleigh Salterton EX9 6SDRef. No: 22/0266/FUL | Validated: Tue 08 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of a single-storey flat roof rear extension with alteration to fenestration. 10 Vision Hill Road Budleigh Salterton EX9 6EERef. No: 22/0267/FUL | Validated: Thu 10 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of oak framed 4 bay 3 open single storey garage on footprint of ruined building Langmoor Farm Hawkchurch Axminster EX13 5UDRef. No: 22/0263/FUL | Validated: Thu 10 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey side/front extension and infill porch extension. The Cottage Exmouth Road Exton EX3 0PLRef. No: 22/0260/FUL | Validated: Wed 09 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Conversion of workshop to dwelling. Single storey front extension and alterations. Orchard Barn Bushy Park Knowle Hill Budleigh Salterton EX9 7ALRef. No: 22/0257/FUL | Validated: Wed 09 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey rear extension, single storey side extension and creation of rear patio. Cranmere Musbury Road Axminster EX13 5JSRef. No: 22/0254/FUL | Validated: Wed 09 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Removal of conservatory and erection of lean-to sun room at rear of house with alteration to fenestration Cherrybrook Payhembury Honiton EX14 3EZRef. No: 22/0242/FUL | Validated: Tue 08 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Change of use of building for annexe and holiday accommodation purposes Heatherdale Cooks Lane Axminster EX13 5SQRef. No: 22/0261/FUL | Validated: Mon 07 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1 – Yew. Crown Reduce by approximately 1.5 metres. Cut size 30 – 40 mm. T2 – Yew. Crown Reduce by approximately 1 metre. Cut size 20 – 30mm. T3 – Holm Oak. Crown Reduce by 2 – 3 metres. Cut size 30 – 50mm. Reason: Appropriate arboricultural works to help reduce shading and in the interests of health and safety. Flat 1 Montpellier Court Montpellier Road Exmouth EX8 1JPRef. No: 22/0247/TRE | Validated: Mon 07 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision

• Use of the existing building and external yard area for steel fabrication and associated storage (Use Class B2). Yard is used for storage of materials, ancillary to the main use. Foxbeare Farm Southleigh Colyton EX24 6RYRef. No: 22/0246/CPE | Validated: Mon 07 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Creation of off road parking within existing front garden Stanzita King Edward Road Axminster EX13 5PPRef. No: 22/0262/FUL | Validated: Fri 11 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single Storey Side Extension Moonstone Exton Lane Exton Exeter EX3 0PNRef. No: 22/0259/FUL | Validated: Fri 11 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of agricultural barn. Great Trill Farm Musbury Axminster EX13 8TURef. No: 22/0258/AGR | Validated: Thu 10 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Demolition of single storey detached dwelling and erection of a two storey 3-bed detached dwelling. Ty Croeso Offwell Honiton EX14 9RYRef. No: 22/0253/FUL | Validated: Thu 10 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Raising of roof of kitchen and lean-to extension, creation of rear roof dormer with associated works and alterations to fenestration. Lower Tale Cottage Payhembury Honiton EX14 3HLRef. No: 22/0245/LBC | Validated: Thu 10 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Raising of roof of kitchen and lean-to extension, creation of rear roof dormer with associated works and alterations to fenestration. Lower Tale Cottage Payhembury Honiton EX14 3HLRef. No: 22/0244/FUL | Validated: Thu 10 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Reserved matters application seeking approval of appearance (pursuant to outline planning permission 18/1094/MOUT – Outline application accompanied by an Environmental Statement (with scale and appearance reserved) for the change of use of agricultural land to employment land (B1, B8 and D1 uses) to provide 8,445 sqm of new floorspace, new highway access, cycle and footway, improvements to flood attenuation, building layout and road layout, new hedgerow planting and associated infrastructure.) Land East Of Two Bridges Two Bridges Road SidfordRef. No: 22/0249/MRES | Validated: Tue 08 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1 (sycamore) T2 (cherry) T4 (Yew) – pruning of lower limbs to ensure 6m clearance from the road for HGVs etc. T3 Ash – removal due to signs of Ash die back and danger to road. T5 – (Alder) reduction by approximately 3 m leaving the tree approximately 12m tall pruning in accordance to BS 3998 to an inner crown removing extending limbs. Pruning cuts up to 80mm Coly House Swan Hill Road Colyford Colyton EX24 6HERef. No: 22/0237/TCA | Validated: Mon 07 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• 2 Holm Oaks along the boundary between Prospect House and Uplands. The reason for the work is that the trees are taking away substantial light from Uplands and causing much shading of the house. Prune the western canopies to upright growth close to the boundary. It may be necessary to make pruning cuts to either side of the boundary line to allow proper placement of target pruning cuts Uplands 2 Upper West Terrace Budleigh Salterton EX9 6NZRef. No: 22/0238/TCA | Validated: Mon 07 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision

• Variation of condition 2 (approved plans) of planning permission 20/2747/FUL (Demolition of existing bungalow and construction of replacement dwelling and detached garage and annexe building and associated external operations (revised scheme to planning permission ref. 16/2531/FUL)) to incorporate revisions to north elevation of replacement main dwelling and addition of photovoltaic panels to rear elevation of replacement main dwelling and detached garage and annexe building. Sunset Cottage East Hill Sidmouth EX10 0LRRef. No: 22/0222/VAR | Validated: Tue 08 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey side extension, single storey front extension with alteration to fenestration The Gables Ice House Lane Sidmouth EX10 9DSRef. No: 22/0219/FUL | Validated: Tue 08 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Demolition of garage, construction of two storey side extension and new roof over front door and bay window. 39 Sidford High Street Sidford Sidmouth EX10 9SHRef. No: 22/0218/FUL | Validated: Tue 08 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Certificate of Lawful development for a change of roof from pitch to flat roof with alteration to fenestration.21 George Street Exmouth EX8 1LLRef. No: 22/0212/CPL | Validated: Mon 07 Feb 2022 | Status: Withdrawn
• Proposed erection of single storey rear extension to dwellinghouse 4 Old Home Farm Rousdon Lyme Regis DT7 3YLRef. No: 22/0213/FUL | Validated: Mon 07 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Replacement of turnised roof slates with new natural slate to 4 roofs. Littlecourt House Seafield Road Sidmouth EX10 8HFRef. No: 22/0176/LBC | Validated: Fri 11 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of a replacement two storey 4-bed detached dwelling. Brake View Rockbeare Hill Rockbeare Exeter EX5 2EZRef. No: 22/0173/FUL | Validated: Fri 11 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of glamping pod Riverwood Farm Glamping Riverwood Farm Talaton Exeter EX5 2RURef. No: 22/0165/FUL | Validated: Fri 11 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of one shed for storage of dry wood and erection of second shed for storage of forestry equipment, a composting toilet and sink facility for beverages. Lower Coombe Wood Upper Seaway Lane Tipton St JohnRef. No: 22/0168/AGR | Validated: Thu 10 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Alteration to interior of listed building to include replacement staircase and installation of new ceiling in (double height) kitchen, dining/living space Flat Bridge Mill Cottage Bridge Hill Topsham Exeter EX3 0QQRef. No: 22/0123/LBC | Validated: Mon 07 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision

• Replace 1no. door and repair 4no. pillars and 2no. pilasters on front south elevation Old Toll House Salcombe Road Sidmouth EX10 8PRRef. No: 22/0105/LBC | Validated: Thu 10 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Additional access point to the property, Reinstatement of pedestrian gateway, Installation of summerhouse/office, Removal of existing greenhouse and installation of a new greenhouse. Cottles Farm Woodbury Exeter EX5 1EDRef. No: 22/0082/LBC | Validated: Fri 11 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Additional access point to the property, Reinstatement of pedestrian gateway, Installation of summerhouse/office, Removal of existing greenhouse and installation of a new greenhouse. Cottles Farm Woodbury Exeter EX5 1EDRef. No: 22/0081/FUL | Validated: Fri 11 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of agricultural building Paynes Place Farm Axminster EX13 5SERef. No: 21/3358/FUL | Validated: Thu 10 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Re-slate front and rear elevations, internal repairs and reinforcement to include replacing failing internal joists and install purlin(s) 3 – 4 Fortfield Terrace Sidmouth EX10 8NTRef. No: 21/3353/LBC | Validated: Mon 07 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Reserved matters application pursuant to 06/3300/MOUT for the approval of access, external appearance, landscaping, layout, and scale for the construction of 35 industrial units and a commercial unit; the discharge of conditions 2, 10, 14, 15, 29, 31, 34, 35, 36, 45 and 47 of planning permission 06/3300/MOUT relating to plot 16 Land East Of Spitfire Way Clyst Honiton Exeter EX5 2BDRef. No: 21/3125/MRES | Validated: Wed 09 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision

A further 18 companies were given so-called “VIP lane” access in the rush to supply the UK with an adequate amount of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the first Covid-19 wave, according to a campaign group.

www.thelondoneconomic.com

The Good Law Project said it had been leaked information which suggested the additional firms, which are on top of the 50 acknowledged by the Government, were awarded contracts worth almost £1 billion without competition.

Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner called for ministers to “come clean” and declare whether they had “misled Parliament” over the additional 18 contracts that Good Law says it has uncovered.

Advisory board

It comes as last summer the Financial Times revealed existence of the “advisory board” through which the most generous Tory donors gained access to ministers “a hitherto unknown group of elite donors who enjoy frequent and direct access to the most powerful people in government”

Now the Times, have gained access to leaked docs reveal Tory donors given access to Boris Johnson’s top team during pandemic as part of secret ‘advisory board’ They included ex-Putin minister’s wife, alleged rapist invited after police interview, four billionaires.

In return for a £250,000 donation to the Conservatives, multimillionaires are being ushered into the heart of government as part of a secret ‘advisory board’

The article by Gabrel Pogrund and Henry Zeffman will send shockwaves through Westminster.

The Sunday Times reports that property tycoons, hedge fund managers, and a Russian banker are among a secret club of donors to be given access to government.

The board has 14 regular members, most of whom have given at least £250,000 to the Tory Party as part of a supposedly “transactional arrangement”, the newspaper says.

The members of the board have a combined wealth of at least £30 billion when their companies and families are taken into account.

In total the group, which includes four billionaires, have donated £22 million to the Tory Party, £10 million of which came under Mr Johnson’s leadership.

Anneliese Dodds, chair of the Labour Party, said: “These revelations raise serious national security questions about the cash-for-access culture that Boris Johnson has created at the heart of government.

“Boris Johnson must explain what donors with links to Putin’s Russia got in return for their six-figure annual membership fee and clarify whether these meetings had any impact on government policy at the height of the pandemic.”

Pipa Crerar tweeted the article and wrote: “They suggest donors got more than ‘just’ access but contact details of ministers that some used to lobby directly on Covid strategy/ procurement help and advice applying for public appointments lucrative public contracts approved by ministers and honours signed off by PM.”

Boris Johnson has appointed six Tory donors to help run the country’s leading cultural institutions since entering Downing Street after an appeal to party backers to help “rebalance the representation” on public bodies.

Jon Ungoed-Thomas www.theguardian.com 

The donors, who have between them contributed more than £3m to party coffers, were appointed by the prime minister to the boards of the National Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery, the Tate and the British Museum.

One of the latest appointments to be announced is Howard Shore as a trustee of the Tate. The investment banker has contributed £1.75m to the party as an individual and through his firm Shore Capital. Former Tory culture secretary Lord Vaizey was also appointed a trustee at the same time.

The government says such appointments are made after an open selection process in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s governance code on public appointments, but faces scrutiny over roles for individuals with ties to the party. Under the current system, the names of all candidates must be submitted to ministers, who then make the final appointment.

Peter Riddell, the former commissioner for public appointments, has warned of a “more intensive effort” to appoint political figures to public institutions.

It has emerged that Tory officials have been keen for donors to apply for public roles, circulating openings on public bodies to its donors. An email from party headquarters to donors in August 2019, the month after Johnson became PM, said: “We thought you may be interested in the latest list of public appointments. It is important Conservatives rebalance the representation at the head of these important public bodies.”

The Tory donors appointed by Johnson to leading cultural institutions include John Booth, who was made a trustee of the National Gallery in August last year. Booth has donated more than £200,000 to the Tory party.

In September businessman David Ross was reappointed as chair of the National Portrait Gallery. Ross helped arrange accommodation for a holiday in Mustique for Johnsonin December 2019 and has given more than £1m to the party. Ross sits on the gallery’s board with Tory MP Chris Grayling, whom Johnson appointed the previous year.

Other Tory donors appointed by Johnson to cultural institutions are: Lord Marland, a Tory peer who has donated more than £300,000 to the party, appointed as trustee of the British Museum; James Lambert, a businessman whose firm has donated more than £80,000 to the party, appointed as trustee of the National Gallery; and Dounia Nadar, a philanthropist who has donated more than £66,000 to the party. All three were appointed in December.

The government says the selection process for public bodies is open and rigorous, but Tory officials have been keen to support its financial backers seeking public roles. The Observer revealed this month how officials were keen to help one of its biggest donors Mohamed Amersi in his ultimately unsuccessful bid to become chair of the National Lottery Community Fund.

One email stated: “I know you work with the public appointments team. Can we see that he is at least considered for the role.” Amersi has told the Observer he was shortlisted on his merits for the job and was not aware of any help from the Conservative party.

The committee on standards in public life has called for stronger powers for the commissioner for public appointments to ensure the right balance between ministerial patronage and appointments on merit. There are concerns about appointments which are unregulated or don’t go through a rigorous and transparent selection process. The high court ruled last week that the government acted unlawfully and breached equality rules in appointing Baroness Dido Harding as interim chair of the National Institute for Health Protection in August 2020 during the pandemic.

The role of non-executive directors in government departments is unregulated and is overseen by the lead non-executive director Lord Nash, a Tory peer who, with his wife, has contributed more than £500,000 to the Conservative party. Tory donors who are non-executive directors include Dominic Johnson, a Tory donor and chief executive of Somerset Capital Management, a firm co-founded by the Brexit minister Jacob Rees-Mogg, at the Department for International Trade; Ben Goldsmith, brother of Lord Goldsmith, the international environment minister, at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; and Ranjit Baxi, a businessman in the recycling industry, at the Department for Transport.

Chris Bryant, the Labour MP and chair of the parliamentary committee on standards, said sweeping reforms were required across several areas of public life to restore public confidence, including appointments.

He said: “We need root and branch reform of the public appointments system and also the revolving door between government and industry, the governance of all party parliamentary groups and lobbying.”

A government spokesperson said: “The government encourages applications to public appointments from talented individuals from a wide range of backgrounds across the UK. All public appointments are made objectively based on merit.

“The governance code is clear that ‘political activity should not affect any judgment of merit nor be a bar to appointment’ and must be declared.”

In an excruciating BBC interview with Sophie Raworth on Sunday morning, the prime minister refused to answer questions on rule-breaking Downing Street parties a whopping 17 times in just 11 minutes.

Meanwhile expect more “diversionary” policy announcements – Owl

Editor’s Letter: www.independent.co.uk 

Johnson was asked what happened, whether parties took place at his flat, whether he was ashamed of his actions and whether he was burying his head in the sand about the issue. He dodged the questions, oscillating between attempting several subject changes and simply refusing to answer.

The PM also wouldn’t commit to resigning if he is found to have broken lockdown laws by the police.

Politicians are known for obfuscating in interviews and avoiding tough topics – often by answering something that they wish they’d been asked instead – but the prime minister’s squirming and swerving of Raworth’s questions looks particularly shifty at a time when he desperately needs to restore some trust in his leadership.

The Partygate saga has dragged on for months, spun out by a lack of responsibility taken by implicated parties, delays in the release of Sue Gray’s abbreviated report, outright lies and attempts to minimise, dismiss and distract. There have been very few resignations from people involved – notable examples include Allegra Stratton, moving from laughter at the mock press conference to tears in front of the TV cameras, and former mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey.

Nine out of 10 Independent readers told us at the end of January they think Boris Johnson should resign, after he admitted to attending a gathering in the garden of Downing Street during the first lockdown in May 2020. The excuse that he thought it was a work event went down like a concrete pool float at the time, and is unlikely to have aged any better since.

As Sunday’s disastrous interview shows, Johnson is still on the ropes. His evasive interview probably won’t endear him to the public, many of whom already feel that they’ve been gaslit over Partygate. Voters haven’t forgotten – or forgiven – and behaving as though they will is a serious miscalculation.

🎶Oh the Grand old Duke of York, he had 12 million quid, he gave it to someone he didn’t know for something he never did🎵

“Once upon a time, Britons would have been astonished and appalled to find scandal simultaneously bespoiling their royal family, prime minister and largest police force. We are less shockable now. There’s a good reason, which is that there is much less naive reverence for institutions than there was in the past. There’s also a bad reason for our diminished capacity to be scandalised by scandal. We have become wearily accustomed to seeing the public trust betrayed. Where once jaws would have dropped, grotesque misconduct in public life often provokes no more than a fleeting furore or a resigned shrug. That makes us part of the problem, too. When we expect to be let down, we settle for further decay. The British won’t get better service from their institutions until they start demanding it and so insistently that they can’t be ignored.” [Concluding paragraph : Britain has had royal, political and policing scandals before, but never all three at once – Andrew Rawnsley]

One of Owl’s not so myopic Moles has a sense of déjà vu.

Moley recalls that in 2010 Budleigh Salterton, for a year, became a French Commune. This was when Malcolm Florey, Conservative District Councillor for the Town, retired to live in France and continue his reign of governance from there. Budleigh Salterton sur Mer.

Rivals send moving card

Philip Churm, local democracy reporter www.radioexe.co.uk 

Cllrs Sue Dann, Tudor Evans and Bill Stevens prepare a moving card

In a light-hearted sneer at two Plymouth councillors who no longer live in the city, the Labour group is sending them a card wishing them well in their new home – more than hundred miles away.  

Cllr Dan Collins (Plympton Chaddlewood) and his partner Cllr Shannon Burden (Moor View) were both elected as Conservative councillors in May 2021.

Cllr Burden left the Conservative group five months later and now sits as an independent. 

The couple have now moved out of the city and are believed to be living in Gloucestershire but some councillors have been critical, suggesting they should not be representing residents of Plymouth if they live so far away. 

As councillors, they are entitled to claim allowance from Plymouth City Council of more than £11,000 each. 

Deputy leader of Plymouth Labour, Cllr Sue Dann (Sutton & Mount Gould) said:  “We thought a card would be a nice gesture to mark the occasion because no-one begrudges them pursuing their careers and their life together.”

While some Labour members maybe unhappy at Cllr Collins and Burden living away from the areas they represent, the rules don’t prevent it. 

The Local Government Act 1972 states: “If a member of a local authority fails throughout a period of six consecutive months from the date of his/her last attendance to attend any meeting of the authority, he/she shall, unless the failure was due to some reason approved by the authority before the expiry of that period, cease to be a member of the authority.”

Cllr Collins and Burden have both attended enough meetings to stay within the rules. 

Out of a possible six meetings in the past six months, Cllr Burden has been at three and Cllr Collins has been at all 10 of the meetings he could attend.  

Last October Cllr Burden strengthened the power of independents on Plymouth City Council which now stands at nine after several Tories left.  

Cllr Collins, who sits on the performance, finance and customer focus overview and scrutiny committee was criticised shortly before being elected for politicising traveller and gypsy communities by placing an advertisement saying: “Travellers on the playing field – Conservatives would have taken action to prevent this. Remember the Labour council did nothing, when you vote at the local elections.”

The large card, sent by to Cllrs Collins and Burden has a picture of a cow on the front with the words: “You’ve Moooo-ved.”  

Inside, the message reads: “Good luck in your new home. From the Labour Group in Plymouth.” 

Several attempts have been made to contact the two councillors but neither have replied. 

Leading East Devon politicians have been battling it out over proposals to double parking fees in parts of the district with Tory MP Simon Jupp accused of trying to be an opportunistic “populist” for criticising the plans.

Joe Ives, local democracy reporter www.radioexe.co.uk 

East Devon District Council (EDDC) will soon vote on proposals to increase car parking charges for nine ‘prime’ tourist hot spot car parks to increase revenue for council services. 

Councillors will also be asked to consider a 50 per cent price hike in 10 other prime location car parks, taking their fees to £1.50 an hour. Those in favour say inflation and the introduction of VAT on parking have eaten into income it generates. 

EDDC’s cabinet, which put forward the proposals, said that the £1.1 million it expects to raise from the price increase is necessary to balance the council’s budget and provide urgently needed funding elsewhere.

The raise, the council’s first for almost 12 years, has drawn Mr Jupp’s ire. He says the fees risk drawing business away from high streets.

In a recent article, Mr Jupp wrote: “These new increases will make East Devon’s town and high streets some of the most expensive to park in coastal Devon, Dorset and Cornwall.

“I am really concerned by the impact on local shops, jobs, and tourism. So are my Conservative colleagues on the council.

“I have heard from businesses who fear shoppers will drive to out-of-town supermarkets or shop online even more, with visitors choosing to go elsewhere.”

Mr Jupp also tweeted: “We need to encourage people back into our towns and high streets, not drive them away.”

Responding to the comments, leader of East Devon District Council (EDDC) Paul Arnott (Independent East Devon Alliance and Democratic Alliance Group, Coly Valley) said: “Mr Jupp’s comments parallel his party’s disarray nationally.

“At the key overview committee which passed the car park recommendations up to cabinet, all but one of the Conservative councillors backed the necessary increases.

“They, and all overview members, are to be applauded for their mature good judgement.

“It is sad to see Mr Jupp disrespecting his fellow Conservatives in this opportunistic way. The sooner young MPs such as him release themselves from the populist grip of Mr Johnson, the better for the integrity of both local and national affairs.”

EDDC says parking charges have been benchmarked with other providers around Devon and Dorset with a maximum tariff of £8 per day agreed by cross-party group of councillors on the overview and scrutiny committee. 

For local residents, a monthly payment option of £10 per month will be introduced for parking permits. The £2 winter parking offer will continue between October and March each year.

The proposals have alarmed some members of the public. A petition by Sidmouth Chamber of Commerce calling for a smaller rise of 20 per cent has received more than 350 signatures.

The change.org petition says EDDC has not expressed “any concern for the impact upon residents who shop in our town centres, or for the beleaguered traders, who have suffered a lot recently and did so much to support their customers during the pandemic.”

The council says it intends to introduce a monthly option for parking permits of £10 per month which works out at £2.31 a week “which we believe is a very competitive option to park in our car parks.”

Speaking at a recent EDDC cabinet meeting councillor Paul Millar (Labour, Democratic Alliance Group, Exmouth Halsdon) said he was originally against the rise but decided it was justified and would take parking prices in prime locations to levels seen in many other parts of Devon. 

Cllr Millar said: “We’re faced with a very difficult decision but one I think we have to take. It’s a decision about whether this council wants to be an austerity council or whether it wants to be a council that invests in its services for its residents.

“If Exeter, Teignbridge and Mid Devon are doing that by increasing their charges then why aren’t we?”

The move would allow the council to restructure its revenue budget, putting an extra £737,000 into staffing.  

This includes money for its contractor Streetscene, which cleans and maintains public spaces in East Devon including parks, public gardens and council-owned toilets. 

The revenue boost also allows the council to put £50,000 into a ‘tree strategy,’ without eating into its climate change budget. A further £159,000 will go into funding the council’s recycling and refuse service.

Additional funds will also go into hiring more staff for ‘development management,’ which is struggling to stay on top of record numbers of planning requests. Under the plans, two new members of staff will be hired at Manor Pavilion, Sidmouth. 

The council’s chief executive, Mark Williams, said: “There’s no logic why we should be so behind the curve in terms of the way we approach our charging policy for car parks compared to our neighbours.”

He said that with the increase “the council will be on a much better footing to achieve what it wants to achieve.”

The matter will go before full council for a final decision. If the budget is approved, the increases would come into effect at the start of the next financial year, beginning in April. 

The nine tourist hot-spot car parks to see a rise to £2 per hour rise are: 

Beer Central

Exmouth Queen’s Drive, Queens Drive Echelon, Foxholes, Beach Gardens

Budleigh Salterton: Lime Kiln

Sidmouth: Ham (East and West)

The other ‘prime location’ car parks set to see a rise to £1.50 per hour are: 

Sidmouth Roxburgh, Ham (East and West), Manor Road, Mill Street

Exmouth: Manor Pavilion, Imperial Road, Imperial Recreation Ground, London Inn

Honiton: Lace Walk, King Street and New Street (North and South), Fore Street

Budleigh Salterton: Rolle Mews.

What’s happening to one of our regional “Golden Opportunities”? – Owl

Electricite de France SA’s U.K. division reported millions of pounds in lost earnings as nuclear plant outages and the impact of the pandemic added to the burgeoning woes of France’s largest utility.

Todd Gillespie www.bloomberg.com 

EDF Energy Ltd. posted a 21 million-pound ($29 million) loss in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization for 2021, a major drop from its 712 million-pound gain the year before. EDF blamed the reversal on the “ongoing impact of Covid-19, high global gas prices, and unplanned outages at U.K. nuclear power stations.”

The company’s parent has come under increasing strain from repeated outages and strikes at its plants in France, where the state plans to inject about 2.1 billion euros ($2.4 billion) into EDF to bolster its finances. French nuclear stations are the backbone of the European power system, and the outages have contributed to higher power prices across the continent along with the wider gas supply crisis.

France to Pump $2.4 Billion Into EDF as Profit Set to Slump

In the U.K., EDF’s nuclear fleet produced 41.7 terawatt-hours of power in 2021, down by 4 TWh on the previous year. EDF plans to start electricity generation at its Hinkley Point C nuclear plant in southwest England in 2026. The company said on Friday that the pandemic “continues to have an impact on the project.” 

EDF Energy was compelled to help out as a swathe of energy suppliers collapsed in the U.K., getting paid 168 million pounds to take on more than 200,000 domestic customers from failed providers. In total, the company added more than 650,000 residential accounts last year, it said.