“You have abandoned the fundamental principles of Conservatism. History will not judge you kindly.”

Nadine Dorries pulls no punches  in her resignation letter, to the Prime Minister, see the extract below. 

“Since you took office a year ago, the country is run by a zombie Parliament where nothing meaningful has happened. What exactly has been done or have you achieved? You hold the office of Prime Minister unelected, without a single vote, not even from your own MPs. You have no mandate from the people and the Government is adrift. You have squandered the goodwill of the nation, for what? 

And what a difference it is now since 2019, when Boris Johnson won an eighty-seat majority and a greater percentage of the vote share than Tony Blair in the Labour landslide victory of ’97. We were a mere five points behind on the day he was removed from office. Since you became Prime Minister, his manifesto has been completely abandoned. We cannot simply disregard the democratic choice of the electorate, remove both the Prime Minister and the manifesto commitments they voted for and then expect to return to the people in the hope that they will continue to unquestioningly support us. They have agency, they will use it. 

Levelling up has been discarded and with it, those deprived communities it sought to serve. Social care, ready to be launched, abandoned along with the hope of all of those who care for the elderly and the vulnerable. The Online Safety Bill has been watered down. BBC funding reform, the clock run down. The Mental Health Act, timed out. Defence spending, reduced. Our commitment to net zero, animal welfare and the green issues so relevant to the planet and voters under 40, squandered. As Lord Goldsmith wrote in his own resignation letter, because you simply do not care about the environment or the natural world. What exactly is it you do stand for?

You have increased Corporation tax to 25 per cent, taking us to the level of the highest tax take since World War two at 75 per cent of GDP, and you have completely failed in reducing illegal immigration or delivering on the benefits of Brexit. The bonfire of EU legislation, swerved. The Windsor framework agreement, a dead duck, brought into existence by shady promises of future preferment with grubby rewards and potential gongs to MPs. Stormont is still not sitting. 

Disregarding your own chancellor, last week you took credit for reducing inflation, citing your ‘plan’. There has been no budget, no new fiscal measures, no debate, there is no plan. Such statements take the British public for fools.  The decline in the price of commodities such as oil and gas, the eased pressure on the supply of wheat and the increase in interest rates by the Bank of England are what has taken the heat out of the economy and reduced inflation. For you to personally claim credit for this was disingenuous at the very least.

It is a fact that there is no affection for Keir Starmer out on the doorstep. He does not have the winning X factor qualities of a Thatcher, a Blair, or a Boris Johnson, and sadly, Prime Minister, neither do you. Your actions have left some 200 or more of my MP colleagues to face an electoral tsunami and the loss of their livelihoods, because in your impatience to become Prime Minister you put your personal ambition above the stability of the country and our economy. Bewildered, we look in vain for the grand political vision for the people of this great country to hold on to, that would make all this disruption and subsequent inertia worthwhile, and we find absolutely nothing.

I shall take some comfort from explaining to people exactly how you and your allies achieved this undemocratic upheaval in my book. I am a proud working-class Conservative which is why the Levelling Up agenda was so important to me. I know personally how effective a strong and helping hand can be to lift someone out of poverty and how vision, hope and opportunity can change lives. You have abandoned the fundamental principles of Conservatism. History will not judge you kindly.” 

Spot of rain during the night, Environment Agency advises against bathing today, as do Surfers against Sewage! – Owl

“Actually, today is really good news for families up and down the country with a reduction in the energy price cap that’s going to reduce, on average, a typical family’s energy bill by about £150, easing the burden on the cost of living.” Rishi Sunak yesterday commented on Ofgen’s announcement of the October price cap.

But did he check the bottom line of the spreadsheet? – Owl

Energy bills to rise for many despite reduction in price cap, experts warn

Millions of households are expected to pay more for their energy this winter than they did a year earlier, even though Ofgem reduced the price cap on bills.

August Graham www.independent.co.uk (Extract)

Experts said the reduction of Government support and a small increase in the standing charge would hike bills for some.

Energy regulator Ofgem said the new cap on a unit of gas and electricity would reduce the average bill to £1,923 from October 1, from £2,074 per year.

The average customer with a prepayment meter will see their bills fall to £1,949 per year.

This average is based on an estimate that the typical household uses 2,900 units of electricity and 12,000 units of gas.

The energy regulator said it was cutting the price of gas from 8p per kilowatt hour (kWh) today to 6.89p from October 1. The price of electricity will fall from 30.1p per kWh to 27.35p.

The standing charge on energy bills also rose from 82p to 83p per day for gas and electricity. Households pay this amount – around £303 per year – no matter how much gas or electricity they use.

The price cap applies to England, Wales and Scotland.

While this looks, on the face of it, like good news for millions of struggling households, the lack of Government support this winter will actually mean higher bills for many.

Last winter the typical household would have paid £2,500 per year due to the Government’s Energy Price Guarantee, which in practice superseded the then much higher price cap.

On top of that, each household’s bill was reduced by between £66 and £67 per month between October and March due to a separate Government grant.

Meanwhile, the standing charge has risen from 74p last winter to 83p this year, adding a little under £3 per month to bills.

Jonny Marshall, an expert at the Resolution Foundation, estimated about one in three households in England, or 7.2 million in total, will face higher bills between October and March.

These households will be those who consume less gas and electricity than a typical household.

The Resolution Foundation’s analysis suggested that among the poorest tenth of English households, nearly half (47%) would face higher bills this winter.

“The end of the £400 universal payments and rising standing charges mean that over one-in-three families across England will face higher bills this winter than last,” Mr Marshall said.

“With almost three million households set to see their bills rise by over £100 – at a time when inflation is still sky high – the Government must up its game in providing longer-term support for hard-pressed families with a new social tariff for energy bills.”….

Citizens Advice head of energy policy Gillian Cooper said targeted support for households would be desperately needed.

A record number of people who are behind on their energy bills are already turning to the charity for help, she said.

“The next few months will push households like these over the edge. Our data suggests it will be as bad, if not worse, than last winter,” she said…..

Mike Thornton, chief executive at the Energy Saving Trust, said: “A key priority must be to support individuals to use less energy in their homes and buildings to start with.

“A wrap-around national retrofit programme for households, underpinned by financial incentives and personalised advice, would reduce our demand for gas and bring bills down in both the short and long term.”

Connor Schwartz, warm homes campaigner at Friends of the Earth said:  “With winter fast approaching, the best time to start rapidly rolling out street-by-street insulation was yesterday, the next best time is now.”…..

Labour’s shadow energy and net zero secretary Ed Miliband said: “Higher energy bills are unfortunately here to stay under the Conservatives – even with this fall, bills are significantly higher than they were only three years ago.”

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told the BBC: “Actually, today is really good news for families up and down the country with a reduction in the energy price cap that’s going to reduce, on average, a typical family’s energy bill by about £150, easing the burden on the cost of living.”

Looking after their own, good news at last for Simon Jupp! – Owl

MPs who lose their seat at the next general election will receive double the financial support following a ruling from parliament’s expenses watchdog.

Alexandra Rogers news.sky.com

MPs who suffer an election defeat have previously been entitled to two months of financial assistance to help close their office and manage the departure of staff.

But the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA), which governs MPs’ pay and expenses, has ruled this should be increased to four months.

The so-called winding-down payments will now also be made available to those who choose to stand down at the next election.

However, payments will not be given to MPs who step aside outside the election period, such as former prime minister Boris Johnson, who stood down in June.

The rule change means the winding-up payment will be paid to all MPs who leave parliament at the next election – whether they lose their seat, stand unsuccessfully in a new or different seat or stand down.

As of April this year, MPs are paid an annual salary of £86,584.

IPSA’s ruling comes following the confirmation of 75 current MPs that they will not be standing at the next election – including 50 who were elected as Conservatives.

For Labour, 14 MPs are stepping down, while seven from the SNP will not seek re-election.

IPSA, which is an independent body, said it made the decision because the time to fully close down an MP’s parliamentary and financial affairs was longer than the time covered.

“Former MPs will continue to have access to their normal budgets [pro-rated] for that four-month period, and they will continue to employ staff as needed to assist them in winding up their affairs,” the ruling said.

As well as winding down payments, MPs who have served more than two years are also eligible for loss-of-office payments, with longer-serving MPs receiving larger amounts.

Bob Seely, the MP for the Isle of Wight, criticised the move.

“I don’t think people resigning should be getting a payout,” he told TalkTV.

“But this is an independent body, I’m afraid to say we don’t get to vote on it unless somebody tells us that we do, and frankly, I am more concerned about dealing with my constituency casework.

“So I’m not particularly happy about this either because it just shows us in a bad light and despite the fact it’s an independent body, everyone is going to blame us for it.

“It really winds me up, frankly.”

John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, echoed his concerns, saying: “Doubling golden goodbyes for MPs is a kick in the teeth for taxpayers.”

He added: “Hard-pressed Brits are already funding generous salaries, perks and pensions for elected officials.

“IPSA should be mindful of that when recommending more taxpayers’ money for politicians.”

A report by parliament’s Commons Administration Committee in February found that Westminster’s payouts to MPs compared poorly with comparable international democracies.

The median loss-of-office payment for MPs who were defeated in the 2019 general election was £5,250 – equivalent to less than one month of their then £84,144 salary – with the amount paid depending on the length of service.

By comparison, an ousted MP in Germany who has served for 18 years qualifies for £162,360 compensation, while outgoing Australian MPs can expect to receive either £31,455 or £62,909, depending on length of service.

The payments, similar to redundancy packages, will be available to all eligible MPs who leave parliament at the next election.

Separately, severance payments for outgoing prime ministers have been criticised recently after Liz Truss received £18,660 despite serving in office for just 49 days.

Her chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng, received £16,876 after he was forced to resign following his mini-budget, which caused turmoil in the financial markets.

A recently formed health trust in Devon has been told to make improvements following an inspection by regulators.

www.bbc.co.uk

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspected the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust in May.

The trust was formed last year and inspectors gave it an overall rating of “requires improvement”.

Issues raised included the slow pace of managers in dealing with issues when they arise and improvements needed to improve culture and diversity.

The Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust and Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust merged to form the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust in April 2022.

In November, inspectors found improvements were needed in medical care, surgical services and diagnostic services at North Devon District Hospital and the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital sites.

The latest inspection in May focused on how well-led the trust had been since the merger took place.

Problems identified

Following the inspection, the trust was rated as requires improvement overall and rated as good for being well-led and safe, effective and responsive.

Caring remains rated as outstanding and leaders were found to have the “skills, experience, and capacity to manage the trust”.

There were problems identified with a new electronic records system, and the handling of never events and serious incident investigations.

Cath Campbell, CQC deputy director of operations in the south, said: “As a newly integrated trust, culture and inclusivity was a key focus to support the organisations to merge successfully.

“The trust recognised there was work to be done to bring teams together and build a culture that is inclusive. Staff satisfaction was mixed, but the board had ensured a plan of improving the culture and staff satisfaction was seen as a priority.

“Following the inspections, we reported our findings to the trust. Its leaders know what they must do to improve services, and where there’s good practice on which they can build on.”

Inspectors also found most staff felt respected, supported, and valued and felt proud to work in the organisation.

MPs will force Rishi Sunak’s hand next month on whether to allow Parliament to oust Nadine Dorries after she refused to follow through on her promise to resign, i can reveal.

Richard Vaughan inews.co.uk 

The Prime Minister is facing growing calls to remove the former culture secretary by tabling a motion in the Commons that would give MPs the chance to vote in favour of her dismissal.

And in a drive to push Mr Sunak into making a decision, the Liberal Democrats will put forward a motion when Parliament returns from summer recess calling for Ms Dorries’s removal.

Deputy leader Daisy Cooper will table a motion on the first day that Parliament returns on Monday 4 September, demanding Ms Dorries returns to the Commons by Thursday 14 September or face a 10-day suspension, triggering a recall petition.

Ms Cooper said the decision has been taken because the Tory MP has “treated the people of Mid Bedfordshire with contempt and taken them for granted”.

“We need an end to this sorry saga, once and for all,” Ms Cooper said. “Nadine Dorries must resign, if not this Government must do the right thing and force her to.”

Such a device was last used to remove a member from the Commons in 1954, when MPs voted in favour of ousting Tory Peter Baker, who had been jailed for seven years for forgery.

The move presents a major headache for Mr Sunak who will now have to decide whether to give the motion the parliamentary time to be debated and voted upon in the Commons.

Ms Dorries has sparked a bitter backlash from all sides of the Commons after she announced in June – 77 days ago – that she would be resigning “with immediate effect” only to renege on the decision after it emerged she would not receive a peerage.

Tory MP Tom Hunt became the latest figure to call on the former Cabinet member to stand down, accusing her of showing “extraordinary” entitlement by refusing to step aside, having promised to do so.

Speaking to Times Radio, Mr Hunt said the situation was “dreadful”.

“The entitlement that seems to have driven the decision in the first place, ie she didn’t get a place in the House of Lords so she’s throwing the towel in, I think is pretty extraordinary.

“It will stick in the throat of the majority of her constituents, I imagine,” he said.

“I certainly don’t want to be associated with Nadine Dorries at all. I don’t know what she’s playing at,” Mr Hunt added.

Education minister Nick Gibb also questioned whether Ms Dorries is fulfilling her obligations to constituents.

Asked if he believes she is representing her constituents at the moment, he told the BBC: “Not if she’s not participating in the House of Commons events and speaking and so on. I just think people should do what they say they are going to do.”

Mr Sunak said at the beginning of the month that Ms Dorries’ constituents were not being properly represented, but although a number of Tory MPs have since spoken out against her, she retains the whip.

Two town councils in her constituency, Shefford and Flitwick, have called on her to go, as well as Labour and several Tory MPs.

Caroline Nokes, chairwoman of the Women and Equalities Committee, said earlier this week that Ms Dorries should not have the Tory whip if “she’s made it plain that she no longer wishes to be a Conservative MP”.

She was echoed by Tory MP Damian Green who accused Ms Dorries of “damaging Parliament” and said it would be “in everyone’s interest if she just went”.

Ms Dorries has been approached for comment, but she told the News Agents podcast earlier this week that “myself and my team of four caseworkers are working daily with constituents”.