Policing – who broke it, is it being fixed?
Category Archives: Tories
Tory slogan says you deserve better! People point out the obvious!
Tories pretend to try to solve problems they caused!
Er, who caused these problems?
“The housing secretary has warned that developers building poor-quality homes will have to “change their practices”.
Robert Jenrick called for a “systemic change” in Britain’s approach to planning and design, saying: “For too long there has been a misconception in the housebuilding industry that quality is the enemy of supply.
“In fact, experience shows us that it is those developments of the highest quality and the most attractive designs which are approved faster, sell faster and which are the most enduringly popular.”
Speaking at an event hosted by the Policy Exchange think tank and Create Streets, a research institute, he said: “Design now matters in this country and developers who bring forward poor-quality designs are going to have to change their practices.”
The government issued a national design guide this month setting out ten principles of good building. There was previously no accepted standard for new homes. The guide will be followed by a more detailed “national model design code” early next year. Local authorities will be encouraged to create their own versions of the code, giving communities a legal right to hold developers to account.
James Brokenshire, the former housing secretary, warned housebuilders in March that they must end “unacceptable” punitive costs and “nightmare” snagging problems in new homes if they wanted to continue to benefit from Help to Buy — the government-backed equity loan scheme that has supported home ownership. Some of its biggest housebuilder beneficiaries, such as Persimmon, have been criticised about the quality of their homes.
Mr Jenrick, 37, said that he would give “careful consideration” to how his department could use a revised version of the scheme in 2021 to stipulate improved build quality.
He also announced a “heritage preservation campaign” under which the government will commit £700,000 of funding for a campaign to encourage people to nominate buildings and assets in their local areas to be protected with listed status.”
Source: The Times
“UK to use £1bn meant for green energy to support fracking in Argentina”
“The UK is planning to invest in Argentina’s controversial oil shale industry using a £1bn export finance deal intended to support green energy, according to government documents seen by the Guardian.
UK Export Finance, the government’s foreign credit agency, promised in 2017 to offer loans totalling £1bn to help UK companies export their expertise in “infrastructure, green energy and healthcare” to invest in Argentina’s economy.
Instead official records, released through a freedom of information request, have revealed the government’s plan to prioritise support for major oil companies, including Shell and BP, which are fracking in Argentina’s vast Vaca Muerta shale heartlands.
One government memo, uncovered by Friends of the Earth, said that while Argentina’s clean energy sector was growing, it was “Argentina’s huge shale resources that offer the greatest potential” for the UK. …”
Surely not?
“£14 Billion ‘wasted’ by the government on ‘botched’ outsourcing”
“The government has wasted at least £14 billion between 2016 and 2019 on poorly managed outsourcing contracts finds a report from the Reform Think Tank.
The report is based on an analysis of investigations by the National Audit Office NAO), Parliamentary Select Committees and other statutory bodies. The total value of the contracts investigated was £71.1 billion.
The Ministry of Defence accounts for 27 per cent of this waste. This includes a 17 year delay in the full decommissioning of nuclear submarines and a poorly planned army recruitment programme. This saw soldiers forced into backoffice jobs to clear an IT backlog created by an untested IT system created in partnership between the army and Capita.
Other examples include the vastly expensive liquidation of Carrillion, which cost the government at least £148 million as well as involving the time and resources of 14 government departments and public bodies.
Also the Department for Education continued to give Learndirect £105 million after the programme was rated ‘inadequate’ by Ofsted. This should have led to the funding being withdrawn.
A third of the government’s annual budget is spent on outsourced services, at a total of ££292 Billion.
Reform is now calling for an independent regulator of the outsourcing sector which – unlike the NAO or Select Committees would have the power to enforce change and impose sanctions on failing providers.
Senior Researcher and Reform procurement lead, Dr Joshua Pritchard said “Our public services cannot function without outsourcing. But when it goes wrong, it’s taxpayers who end up footing the bill
“The £14.3 billion wasted as a result of poorly drawn up and managed government contracts is inexcusable.
“We need a new regulator with the power to prevent public money being squandered because of totally avoidable mistakes.”
£14 Billion ‘wasted’ by the government on ‘botched’ outsourcing
Government has to concede rail privatisation not working
“Northern rail could be renationalised, says transport secretary.
The Northern rail network could be renationalised after years of late and cancelled trains, according to the transport secretary, who said the current franchise cannot continue as it is.
Grant Shapps told the Commons transport select committee that first steps had been taken towards taking the Northern rail network back into public hands. He said he had asked the Northern franchisee, the German-owned Arriva, and the government’s operator of last resort to draw up proposals to improve the service.
Highlighting that barely one in two Northern trains ran on time, Shapps said: “I consider that it cannot continue delivering in the current delivery method.”
He added: “I entirely believe we cannot carry on thinking it is OK for trains not to arrive, or Sunday services not to be in place – that simply has to change.”
His remarks were welcomed by politicians who have criticised the service, whose vast network runs from Newcastle to Leeds, Liverpool, Hull, Manchester and Stoke. Greater Manchester’s mayor, Andy Burnham, said: “After months of misery it is a relief for us to hear government finally accept what we’ve been saying repeatedly, that things can’t carry on as they are.
“Northern passengers will agree with the transport secretary that the current situation of unreliable, overcrowded trains cannot continue. …
Labour said all rail franchises should come under the state’s wing, joining Network Rail. Andy McDonald, the shadow transport secretary, said: “Northern Rail’s incompetent operator should have been stripped of its contract years ago over its abysmal performance record. The government’s refusal to do so has meant massive inconvenience for rail passengers and damage to the region’s economy. …”
Voter ID: Johnson in his own words
Tory donors can, and do, control Prime Ministers
“Two former Conservative prime ministers lobbied a Middle Eastern royal family to award a multi-billion dollar oil contract to a company headed by a major Tory donor, the Guardian has established.
In March 2017, while in Downing Street, Theresa May wrote to the Bahraini prime minister to support the oil firm Petrofac while it was bidding to win the contract from the Gulf state.
Two months earlier, and just six months after stepping down as prime minister, David Cameron promoted the company during a two-day visit to Bahrain where he met the state’s crown prince.
Cameron was flown back to Britain on a plane belonging to Ayman Asfari, Petrofac’s co-founder, chief executive and largest shareholder. Petrofac did not ultimately win the contract.
Asfari and his wife, Sawsan, have donated almost £800,000 to the Conservative party since 2009. The donations were made in a personal capacity.
Documents obtained by the Guardian raise questions about how governments should best manage the perceived potential conflicts of interest generated by donations from business figures to political parties.
The government said it was routine for ministers to support British businesses bidding for major foreign contracts. Petrofac said official support had been obtained through entirely proper channels.
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has been investigating Petrofac over suspected bribery, corruption and money laundering for at least two years. …”
Young and old people, poor people, disabled people: Boris Johnson is trying to deprive you of your vote
He wants anyone who votes to produce a driving licence or passport in order to vote.
If you have never had a passport and don’t drive, or if you would like a passport or driving licence but can’t afford it, if you HAD a passport or driving licence in the past but gave them up because you no longer travel or drive due to ill-health
BORIS JOHNSON DOESN’T WANT YOU TO VOTE BECAUSE YOU MIGHT NOT VOTE TORY
That’s the kind of world we are living in now.
“UK refuses to join France, Germany and Netherlands in halting arms sales to Turkey”
What a disgraceful vassal state of the USA we have become.
“The British government has refused to join its allies in halting arms sales to Turkey over the country’s military operation against Kurdish forces in Syria.
EU foreign ministers unanimously agreed on Monday to “condemn” Turkey’s military action, arguing that it “seriously undermines the stability and the security of the whole region” and was harming civilians.
But the bloc stopped short of agreeing to an EU-wide arms embargo against Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government, instead issuing a relatively toothless pledge for “strong” arms export control on a country-by-country basis.
A number of major European powers have unilaterally pledged to halt arms sales to Mr Erdoğan’s government, including Germany, France, and Finland.
But the UK, one of the world’s largest arms exporters, is notably absent from the list, and raised further eyebrows by initially arguing against condemning Turkey during a Monday meeting of foreign ministers to draw up a common EU position. …”
The Queen’s Speech: a summary
A tiny little bit of the money we took off you might come back to you one day in the future , perhaps, maybe, sort-of …
Even the Queen doesn’t trust Boris Johnson!
It seems she insisted in getting the Queen’s Speech (always written by her Prime Minister) delivered to her a week in advance so that he couldn’t spring any last-minute surprises!
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/palace-demands-copy-boris-johnsons-20574086
AveragecUK earnings increase 2p per hour in two years – top 1% earnings go up £7 per hour in same period
“The top 1% of high earners in the UK have enjoyed a 7.6% real terms pay increase over the last two years, while the average worker’s pay rose by just 2p an hour.
A TUC analysis of government hourly pay data between 2016 and 2018 shows thatpay among the very top earners increased at a faster rate than any other group.
People in the top bracket saw their pay increase by an average of 7.6% from £58.73 in 2016 to £63.18 in 2018, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) annual survey of hours and earnings. Over the same period, the real terms pay of average workers rose by just 0.1% or 2p to from £12.71 to £12.73.
The TUC said that average pay in real terms, when adjusted for inflation, was still worth less in real terms than before the financial crisis continuing the biggest squeeze on wages since the end of the Napoleonic Wars.
Frances O’Grady, general secretary of the TUC, warned that the gap between the richest and everyone else will continue to widen under the prime minister, Boris Johnson’s planned tax cut for high earners, which will cost the Treasury £9.6bn a year, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS).
“While millions struggle with Britain’s cost of living crisis, pay for those at top is back in the fast lane,” O’Grady said. “We need an economy that works for everyone, not just the richest 1%. Boris Johnson’s promised tax giveaway to high earners would only make things worse. The prime minister is focused on helping his wealthy mates and donors, not working people.” …
“Doctors fear winter crisis chaos is looming in Devon”
“Fears of a winter crisis chaos across hospitals have been raised after new figures have shown A&E waiting times in parts of Devon are already worse than would be expected during the hardest months of the year.
NHS figures show 72.8 per cent of people arriving at Royal Devon and Exeter NHS trust’s major A&Es waited less than four hours before being admitted, discharged or transferred.
It is the trust’s worst performance since A&E waiting times began to be measured on a monthly basis in June 2015. Performance has been deteriorating at the trust since March this year. The target is 95 per cent.
The RD&E says the reason is due to ‘very high’ patient demand, staffing pressures and shortages in the care sector.
The British Medical Association (BMA) has warned poor A&E performance in September meant the NHS was on a “collision course” for what is likely to be the worst winter ever.
Overall, 81.9 per cent of patients waited less than four hours at all A&Es and minor injury units run by the RD&E in September.
Across England, 77 per cent of people waited less than four hours in major A&Es in September before being admitted, discharged or transferred.
BMA council chair Dr Chaand Nagpaul said: “The NHS has just experienced its worst-ever summer. This is incredibly alarming and should be taken as a serious warning sign of the chaos that is likely to unfold in the NHS this coming winter.
“With summer performance now as bad as recent winters, we have reached a point of year-round crisis and the Government cannot continue to let this happen.
“September A&E waits were the worst performance record outside of winter since 2010 and trolley waits and referrals to treatment are worse than we have seen in the last decade.
“Patient care is suffering, NHS staff working tirelessly around the clock are suffering, and with Brexit on the horizon and early indicators of an extremely cold winter, we are on a collision course for what is likely to be the worst winter ever.
“This is a serious plea – we need to see investment across the board including community and social care, and resources such as more beds, reaching the frontline now.”
https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/doctors-fear-winter-crisis-chaos-3419929
Naughty Waterstones!
A window-dresser at Waterstones in Piccadilly let his or her feelings be known …
“Tory MPs five times more likely to vote against climate action”
Neil Parish scored 17%: was present for 12 votes and voted positively in 2
Hugo Swire scored 25%: Swire was present for 12 votes and voted positively in 3
Boris Johnson score 0% (yes, that’s right zero), Jacob Rees-Mogg scored 17%, Jeremy Corbyn 92%, Caroline Lucas 92%, Exeter’s Ben Bradshaw 75%, Jo Swinson 50%, Oliver Letwin 17%.
MORAL OF THIS TALE: If you believe in climate change and want to see something done about it, don’t vote Tory, be wary of Lib Dems and vote Labour or Green (or Independent in East Devon)!
“Conservative MPs are almost five times more likely to vote against climate action than legislators from other parties, a Guardian analysis of 16 indicative parliamentary divisions over the past decade has revealed.
The Tories also registered many more donations, shares, salaries, gifts and tickets to sporting events from fossil fuel companies, petrostates, aviation companies and climate sceptics, according to declarations made in the parliamentary record of MPs’ interests between 2008 and 2019.
The Guardian, in collaboration with the investigative environmental journalism group DeSmog UK, rated MPs from 0% to 100% based on 16 parliamentary votes since 2008. The selection sought to cover a range of measures that would affect the UK’s carbon emissions, with an emphasis on votes where MPs were willing to break ranks and put the climate before their party.
The analysis shows that although most politicians publicly express support for ambitious long-term climate targets, when it comes to short-term measures to reduce the UK’s carbon footprint, those in power are less likely to make this a priority.
The scores are not intended to be a definitive evaluation of an MP’s green credentials – both the Conservatives and Liberal Democrat parties complained they had been hard done by.
But experts said the scores were an important tool for voters to make a choice through a climate prism with a potential general election looming. …”
New Statesman: Tories very worried about Claire Wright in East Devon
“… Very few surprises in terms of the Labour-Conservative battlegrounds. But noteworthy is that – as is echoed privately by many Conservatives from the area – the government regards Claire Wright, of the independent campaign in East Devon, as a serious challenger for the seat. …”
Such good timing: “Decision on whether fire stations will be axed delayed until just before Christmas”
“Devon residents [and firefighters Owl adds] could get an unwanted early Christmas present in the form of cuts to their fire service.
The Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service has been consulting with the public on its Safer Together programme, which looks at how fire stations, engines and crews can be best deployed for the future needs of the two counties.
Among the proposed changes include Appledore, Ashburton, Budleigh Salterton, Colyton, Kingston, Porlock, Topsham, and Woolacombe fire stations closing.
A decision on which savings proposals would be taken forward and implemented was originally due to be taken by the fire authority in early-November.
The fire service confirmed that around 3,300 surveys had been completed during the 12-week consultation window, and it also received 700 written submissions and five petitions on the subject.
The responses are now being independently analysed by the Swansea-based firm Opinion Research Services, with formal proposals coming to the fire authority on December 18, rather than November 8 as originally hoped. ….”
https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/decision-whether-fire-stations-axed-3410173
Nurse shortage now a serious Health and Safety issue for patients and nurses
“The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has published a report today, called ‘Standing up for patient and public safety’, outlining the serious staffing crisis and its potential causes.
The report warns of the need for legal responsibilities regarding the supply and planning of the health and care workforce. It says they need ‘Investment, long-term solutions and legislation to futureproof the workforce’.
This comes after current NHS figures show that there are now a record 43,671 empty nursing positions in the NHS in England alone, with 12% of posts are now without a full time Registered Nurse (RN).
RCN have stated in the report that there must be clearer roles, responsibility and accountability with workforce planning and supply, clearly defined in law.
Since 2017, the number of nurses in England joining the professional register for the first time has consistently been lower than the number of people leaving the register,
Recent polling for the RCN pointed out that 80% of the public agrees that the Government should have a legal responsibility for ensuring there are enough nursing staff.
This issue is having a knock-on effect on patient care, with new analysis showing that wards working with less than 50% of the expected registered nurses were twice as likely to admit they had to compromise on care.
This is why RCN have said, it is no longer the time to be discussing whether we need law, but rather how we secure these vital changes in legislation.
Despite the fact that The Health and Social Care Act (2012) devolved many of the roles and responsibilities on this issue, the RCN report shows that the subsequent poor clarity across all parts of the health system has left parts of it in ‘limbo’ and limited any potential progress on the staffing the crisis.
Dame Donna Kinnair, chief executive and general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing said:
“Nurses are working harder than ever to deliver safe patient care but are being held back by a system that is legally lacking teeth. Despite the public, patients and nurses all agreeing that clarity is needed on responsibilities for delivering enough nurses, we have yet to see any government pledge anything of the like, and as a result are staring down the barrel at a record 43k empty nursing posts.
“We know how dangerous it can be when there aren’t enough nurses to provide care, but at present, almost all accountability rests with the frontline nurse working on the understaffed ward, rather than those responsible for the system they work in. We believe the time has come for change and that patient care was future-proofed by law, and that from the government down, decision makers are held to account.
“Without these bold changes, the public and staff within health and care services cannot be confident that safe and effective care can be delivered, risking the health of patients now and in the future.”
In September, after pressure from RCN members, NHS England and NHS Improvement stated that the issue of accountability for workforce planning and supply remains an area that needs be resolved.
The alarming new report indicates clearly why action is needed to tackle the current workforce crisis but also to ensure there is a sustained investment in the future workforce, at least £1bn per year, according to the RCN.”
East Devon Watch 