The “invasion” of immigrants does not mask our real woes: climate change and a tanking economy

“Integrity, professionalism and accountability at every level”

There is no suggestion the Prime Minister did anything wrong in accepting the donations, which were in line with the ministerial code. But it will raise fresh questions over his political judgement

(He accepted at least £60,000 from seven companies and individuals with links to the Cayman Islands, Luxembourg, Jersey, Bermuda and the British Virgin Islands, records show.)

Extract from www.mirror.co.uk 

The state we’re in! – Owl

The biggest nursing strike in NHS history will take place before Christmas in a dispute about pay that is raging across the health service.

Joe Middleton www.independent.co.uk

It would be the first national strike in the history of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), which is campaigning for a pay rise of 5 per cent above inflation, as reported by The Observer.

A union source told the newspaper: “This will see the majority of services taken out, and picket lines across the country.”

Although counting is still under way, it is understood that RCN officials believe enough members have voted for winter industrial action which is set to take place within a few weeks, possibly before Christmas.

The exact nature of the strike action is yet to be determined, but it will probably see patients face disruption to operations and appointments while already facing record NHS waiting lists.

Nurses topped a YouGov poll this year of professions who make the biggest contribution to society and made significant sacrifices during the Covid pandemic.

It comes amid difficult economic circumstances with sky-high inflation not seen since the 1980s and a warning just days ago from the Bank of England that the UK faces being plunged into its longest recession in 100 years.

The RCN ballot was carried out at an employer rather than a national level, meaning the thresholds required for strike action to be lawful in each country will be used to determine at which workplaces strike action could be held.

RCN general secretary Pat Cullen said: “I want to thank members for taking the time to vote in this historic ballot. There has never been a more crucial time to fight for safe staffing and fair pay.

“Our NHS is on the precipice due to chronic staff shortages. Our profession is being pushed to the edge, with patient safety paying the price.

“None of us wants to take industrial action but we’ve been forced into this position after a decade of real-terms pay cuts. We can’t stand by and watch our colleagues and patients suffer anymore. Enough is enough.”

The RCN said there are record nursing vacancies and in the last year 25,000 nursing staff around the UK left the Nursing and Midwifery Council register.

It said recent analysis showed an experienced nurse‘s salary has fallen by 20 per cent in real terms since 2010, saying the goodwill and expertise of nursing staff is being “exploited” by the government.

“Integrity, professionalism and accountability at every level”. – Rishi Sunak

We’ve had “Leaky” Sue, Chatty “liz” and now “Bully” Gavin

Gavin Williamson sent expletive-laden messages to chief whip

Gavin Williamson, the cabinet office minister, warned the Conservative chief whip that “there is a price for everything” in a string of angry messages being investigated by the party, it has emerged.

Michael Savage www.theguardian.com 

Williamson, who attends cabinet after being handed a senior position by the prime minister, Rishi Sunak, is accused of sending abusive messages to Wendy Morton, who served as chief whip during Liz Truss’s premiership. He sent a series of messages complaining that he had not been invited to the Queen’s funeral.

Jake Berry, until recently the Conservative party chairman, has now claimed that he told Sunak about the complaint made against Williamson before he was appointed to his current ministerial job. Sunak has previously stated that his government would be characterised by “integrity, professionalism and accountability at every level”.

According to the messages published by the Sunday Times, Williamson accused Morton of exploiting the Queen’s death for political purposes. He told her that it was “very poor and sends a very clear message” that members of the privy council, including him, who were not “favoured” by Truss, were being deliberately excluded.

When Morton insisted it was “not the case” that political opponents were being excluded, Williamson replied that it looked “very shit”.

He added: “Also don’t forget I know how this works so don’t puss [sic] me about.” Williamson served as chief whip himself under Theresa May’s premiership.

“It’s very clear how you are going to treat a number of us which is very stupid and you are showing fuck all interest in pulling things together,” the messages read. “Don’t bother asking anything from me.”

Another read: “Well let’s see how many more times you fuck us all over. There is a price for everything.”

Morton is said to have cited the messages from Williamson in an email to the party on the day before Sunak was elected leader. She is also said to have informed the cabinet office and accused Williamson of “bullying and intimidation”.

Berry said in a statement to the Sunday Times: “In compliance with protocol, in my capacity as party chairman, I informed both the new prime minister and his incoming chief of staff about the complaint on the same day.”

Williamson stated last night: “I, of course, regret getting frustrated about the way colleagues and I felt we were being treated. I am happy to speak with Wendy and I hope to work positively with her in the future as I have in the past.”