Conservative leadership frontrunner Liz Truss will be “empty chaired” by farmers after she refused to turn up at a hustings event on rural issues organised by union leaders.

Adam Forrest www.independent.co.uk

The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) is furious at Truss’s decision to snub the invitation to address members on Friday, at event which will be attended by her Tory rival Rishi Sunak.

It comes as Truss faces criticism from environment secretary George Eustice, who suggested that she did not protect animal welfare standards in post-Brexit trade deals.

Speaking about plans to “empty chair” Truss, the NFU president Minette Batters said she had “offered to meet her anywhere” saying she had offered to ask questions virtually.

“It’s disappointing as it’s not just about farming – food is such a critical subject, water is so critical to everybody, especially at the moment,” Batters told The Guardian.

Describing the snub as “a shame”, the farming union leader added: “It doesn’t bode well. George Eustice has made his comments – you would think she would want to put her marker down.”

The Truss campaign said she “cannot turn up to everything”, but the Sunak campaign said he would attend on Friday. A spokesperson said he would “support farmers in all future UK trade deals, taking time to get the trade deals right, rather than rushing them through”.

Eustice revealed on Wednesday that he faced “challenges” and tensions” with Truss in getting her to recognise animal welfare in trade deals she struck as trade secretary.

The Sunak supporter made the remarks at an environment-focused leadership hustings hosted by the Conservative Environment Network (CEN) – which boasts more than 100 Tory MPs as part of its parliamentary caucus.

“It is fair to say there were some challenges that I had getting Liz Truss to recognise the importance of animal welfare in particular,” he said.

The minister added: “It’s not a secret really – but there was often quite a bit of tension between us trying to get animal welfare in particular recognised during those trade agreements.”

Farming groups have accused the government of undercutting British producers by doing deals with countries which allow lower welfare standards hoping to boost cheap exports to the UK.

A recent report by the ResPublica think tank warned that domestic farmers will be undercut if the “soft” approach of the Australia and New Zealand negotiations continues in talks with countries with “less qualms” about quality.

But Zac Goldsmith, a Truss supporter, told the online hustings: “I think Liz is sound on animal welfare. She’s committed to seeing through the kept animals bill.”

The Tory peer, a close ally of Boris Johnson, described how he was a “Liz sceptic” when she became foreign secretary, but said he believed she had been an “enthusiastic driver” of the environmental agenda.

The NFU president said this week that neither Tory had set out a sufficient plan to deal with the water crisis.

Ms Batters said it was “immoral and unethical” to allow water to be wasted, as fears grow could be ruined crops because of widespread droughts.

Both Tory candidates will go head-to-head at a live Tory hustings event in Manchester evening hosted by GB News.

Sunak has insisted that he “definitely” still has a shot at becoming the next PM despite the latest YouGov poll of Tory members putting Truss as the frontrunner by 66 per cent to 34 per cent.

[One way of getting Exmouth featured on almost all BBC news channels – Owl] 

A pollution warning has been issued at six Devon beaches today as people are being advised not to swim in the sea. The alerts have been flagged due to a drop in water quality as well as a sewer overflow.

Lili Stebbings www.devonlive.com

The warnings in place on Thursday were published by the Safer Seas and Rivers Service from the campaign group Surfers Against Sewage. Its interactive map monitors 400 locations around the UK coast, issuing alerts based on real-time tracking of combined sewage overflows and pollution risk forecasts.

The updated warning comes after swimmers were advised to avoid five Devon beaches yesterday. The service gave details of the following Devon locations where warnings were in place:

Teignmouth Holcombe

Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours.

A small sand and rock beach located at the base of tall red cliffs, Holcombe is an isolated beach backed by cliffs and a railway line. A sewer overflow discharges into the Holcombe Stream 40m upstream of the beach.

Teignmouth Town

Pollution Risk Warning: Bathing not advised today due to the likelihood of reduced water quality.

Located NE of the Teign Estuary, Teignmouth Town beach is a 1km stretch of sand backed by a promenade and the town. A sewer overflow at the railway station discharges northeast of the beach.

Exmouth

Pollution Risk Warning: Bathing not advised today due to the likelihood of reduced water quality.

Exmouth is a large sandy resort beach at the mouth of the River Exe backed by a promenade and the town. A memento of its Victorian heyday fine gardens and parks also back the beach. There is a sewer overflow discharging through an outfall to the south east which may affect bathing water quality especially after heavy rainfall.

Sidmouth Town

Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours.

Rock pools to the west, overhanging cliffs to the east, Sidmouth Town beach compromises 900m of legally protected pebbles broken up by rock groynes and backed by a promenade and the town. Two sewer overflows are located at Sidmouth, one discharges through a long sea outfall some 600m out to sea while the other discharges into the River Sid, just under 400m to the east.

Beer

Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours.

A small seaside village built around a small cove, Beer is a pebble and sand beach, approximately 1.2km wide. It is backed by cliffs and sheltered from most winds. Three sewer overflows surround Beer with one discharging from Beer car park, one discharging 600m North East and one slightly further to the South.

Wembury

Pollution Risk Warning: Bathing not advised today due to the likelihood of reduced water quality.

Famous for its shore life and rock pools, Wembury is a very popular sand and rock beach resort, some 1.1km wide. A stream flows across the beach, many rock pools are exposed at low tide and cliffs back the beach. There is a sewer overflow from Wembury pumping station that discharges 50m upstream of the beach.

Shoalstone Beach in Brixham is also under maintenance meaning sewage alerts have been disabled.

South West Water, which provides water and sewerage services in Devon, said in a statement: “The alerts raised at Teignmouth and Exmouth today were from the Environment Agency’s Pollution Risk Forecast (PRF system) which triggers precautionary alerts when weather conditions pose a potential risk to water quality along with other factors, and were not related to SWW activity.

“Alerts have been raised for Sidmouth and Beer in relation to stormwater overflows which may temporarily impact bathing water quality – these are precautionary and we expect them to be removed soon.”

As recorded by Steve Bell

The Government has been accused of being “asleep at the wheel” after an Ofgem director quit, citing concerns the regulator is failing to effectively protect struggling households.

Ofgem director quits over price cap as Ed Miliband says Government is ‘asleep’

Dominic McGrath www.standard.co.uk 

Christine Farnish told The Times she resigned in the belief the watchdog has not “struck the right balance between the interests of consumers and the interests of suppliers”.

The energy regulator has faced criticism in recent months for not doing enough to protect families during the global energy crisis.

Ms Farnish, who served on the Ofgem board for several years, told the paper: “I resigned from the Ofgem board because I could not support a key decision to recover additional supplier costs from consumer bills this winter.”

She said she believes the move will “add several hundred pounds to everyone’s bill in order to support a number of suppliers in the coming months”.

It is understood her resignation is linked to Ofgem’s decision to change the methodology of the price cap to allow suppliers to recover some of the high energy “backwardation” costs sooner rather than later.

An Ofgem spokesman said: “We are thankful to Christine for her many years of devoted service to Ofgem.

“Due to this unprecedented energy crisis, Ofgem is having to make some incredibly difficult decisions where carefully balanced trade-offs are being weighed up all the time. But we always prioritise consumers’ needs both in the immediate and long term.

“The rest of the board decided a shorter recovery period for energy costs was in the best interest of consumers in the long term by reducing the very real risk of suppliers going bust, which would heap yet more costs on to bills and add unnecessary worry and concern at an already very difficult time.”

The resignation comes amid mounting pressure on the Government to bring forward extra measures to tackle surging inflation and rising energy bills.

The issue has overshadowed the race to replace Boris Johnson as Prime Minister, with both Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak being repeatedly pressed on their plans to help struggling households.

Ed Miliband, Labour’s shadow climate change secretary, said Ms Farnish’s resignation shows the Government is “asleep at the wheel”.

“For 12 years, the Conservatives have totally failed to regulate (the) energy market. In no other country has 32 energy suppliers gone bust.

“We simply cannot allow the British people to suffer a further increase in bills. It is intolerable that the Conservatives continue to offer no solutions to this crisis, and oppose Labour’s plan.”

A spokesman for the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy said: “We are aware of a resignation at the board of Ofgem, which has been accepted.”

Budleigh is now open but Exmouth, Sidmouth and Beer are still closed

Edward Oldfield www.devonlive.com 

People are being advised not to swim in the sea at five holiday beaches along the south Devon coast due to the risk of pollution. The alerts have been issued warning of possible contamination due to heavy rain, in some places causing storm overflows to discharge untreated sewage into the water.

The warnings were in place on Wednesday for the beaches at Wembury, near Plymouth, Teignmouth Town, Exmouth, Sidmouth Town and Beer. A notice for each location said: “Pollution Risk Warning: Bathing not advised today due to the likelihood of reduced water quality.” Exmouth, Sidmouth and Beer are on the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site and in the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Warnings were also in place for 11 beaches in Cornwall.

The warnings coming at the height of the tourism season were published by the Safer Seas and Rivers Service from the campaign group Surfers Against Sewage. It is also available as a mobile phone app and monitors 400 locations around the UK coast, issuing alerts based on real-time tracking of combined sewage overflows and pollution risk forecasts.

The service gave details of the following Devon locations where warnings were in place:

• Wembury: There is a sewer overflow from Wembury pumping station that discharges 50m upstream of the beach.
• Teignmouth: A sewer overflow at the railway station discharges northeast of the beach.
• Exmouth: There is a sewer overflow discharging through an outfall to the south east which may affect bathing water quality especially after heavy rainfall.
• Sidmouth: Two sewer overflows are located at Sidmouth, one discharges through a long sea outfall some 600m out to sea while the other discharges into the River Sid, just under 400m to the east.
• Beer: Three sewer overflows surround Beer with one discharging from Beer car park, one discharging 600m North East and one slightly further to the South.

The Envrionment Agency , which assesses water quality at designated bathing beaches, had precautionary alerts on Wednesday advising against swimming in the sea at Wembury, Teignmouth and Exmouth. The warnings followed alerts on Tuesday for Exmouth, Goodrington, Paignton and Budleigh Salterton, and at the weekend for Saunton in North Devon, where the water was contaminated by sheep manure.

Heavy rain can trigger legally allowed storm overflows to prevent pipes which carry a mixture of rainwater and sewage backing up to flood roads, homes and businesses. Downpours can also wash animal waste and fertiliser into rivers and seas, causing pollution.

South West Water, which provides water and sewerage services in Devon, said in a statement: “The alerts raised at Teignmouth and Exmouth today were from the Environment Agency’s Pollution Risk Forecast (PRF system) which triggers precautionary alerts when weather conditions pose a potential risk to water quality along with other factors, and were not related to SWW activity.

“Alerts have been raised for Sidmouth and Beer in relation to stormwater overflows which may temporarily impact bathing water quality – these are precautionary and we expect them to be removed soon.”

A South West Water spokesperson said: “In recent days we have seen heavy localised rainfall which followed the prolonged period of hot and dry weather. As a result, the rain hasn’t been able to permeate into the ground and a significant volume has run into our network, which can cause our storm overflows to trigger. We continue to invest in our network to reduce the use of storm overflows as part of our WaterFit plan.”

The company says its plan will “dramatically reduce our use of storm overflows, maintain our region’s excellent bathing water quality standards all year round and reduce and then remove our impact on river water quality by 2030.” It says storm overflows act as a legal safety valve to prevent sewers becoming overloaded and flooding homes, roads and businesses. South West Water achieved 100per cent coastal bathing water quality for the first across 860 miles of coastline earlier this year.

Surfers Against Sewage said: “Water companies discharged raw sewage into UK waters over 370,000 times in 2021 alone, demonstrating just how important real-time pollution alerts are in helping the public dodge poor water quality and have the cleanest and safest experience possible.”

It said a poll it commissioned found more than half the British public (52%) were scared of swimming outside due to not knowing if the water is clean or polluted. It said of the one in six Brits (17%) that have tried wild swimming in UK waters, more than half (55%) had fallen ill.

Pollution warnings are in place for almost 50 beaches in England and Wales after untreated sewage was discharged into the sea around the coast.

By Claire Marshall BBC Environment & Rural Affairs Correspondent www.bbc.co.uk

Official data shows discharges have taken place since Monday and Southern Water says they have been made to protect homes and businesses.

It follows a period of heavy rain across southern England, after a spell of extremely dry weather.

Data was provided by water companies to the Safer Seas and Rivers Service.

The service is run by the charity Surfers Against Sewage.

Many of the beaches contaminated are popular resorts, and include Bognor Regis, Lulworth Cove, Newquay, Seaford and Southend-on-Sea.

The majority are along England’s south coast.

Southern Water is one of the water companies responsible for those regions, along with Wessex Water and South West Water.

In a statement, Southern Water said: “There were thunderstorms accompanied by heavy rain the night before last and yesterday [Tuesday]. Storm releases were made to protect homes, schools and businesses from flooding. The release is 95-97% rainwater and so should not be described as raw sewage.

“We know customers do not like that the industry has to rely on these [discharges] to protect them, and we are pioneering a new approach.”

Last year Southern Water was fined a record £90m after admitting deliberately dumping vast amounts of sewage into sea across the south coast.

These kind of discharges – which are legal – mostly happen after heavy rain, when there is a risk that pipes, which carry storm-water along with sewage, may overflow.

This is only supposed to happen in exceptional circumstances. However, in 2020 and 2021, there were almost 400,000 spill events.

Protecting health

In a statement, the Environment Agency said that sewage pollution could be “devastating to human health, local biodiversity and our environment”. It said it would not “hesitate to act to eliminate the harm sewage discharges cause to the environment”.

It has previously called for the top executives of England’s water companies to face jail when serious incidents of pollution occur.

Hugo Tagholm, chief executive of Surfers Against Sewage, said: “Our rivers and beaches are once again being treated as open sewers. Years of underinvestment is now in plain sight.”

The government has said it intends to produce a plan to reduce storm overflows by 2022. This was made a legal requirement by the Environment Act 2021.

A decision on whether Ottery St Mary Town Council will contribute towards the legal fees for an action group to fight a planning appeal relating to Straitgate Quarry has been deferred.

Adam Manning www.sidmouthherald.co.uk

At a town council meeting, councillors agreed to refer the matter of paying a contribution to the  legal costs incurred by the Straitgates Action Group to its financial committee.

Last month the Herald reported that a hearing has been launched by quarry firm Aggregate Industries after Devon County Council and Ottery St Mary Town Council rejected plans for the 100-acre quarry near Ottery St Mary.  

Concerns have been raised about footing the legal bill but the council has reiterated it’s support for the fight to uphold the original decision.

After the last town council meeting in July, it was agreed  that the Council`s CEO should seek further advice regarding the council contributing towards  the action group`s legal costs, and, if appropriate, carry out an online poll to gauge public opinion 

A six-day hearing for the quarry is set to take place at Exeter City Football Club from Tuesday, October 4.

In December last year, Devon County Council’s development management committee voted against the plan for Straitgate Farm on Exeter Road, submitted by Aggregate Industries UK Ltd.  

The scheme would have seen up to 1.5 million tonnes of sand and gravel dug up on the site over the next 10 to 12 years, before being transported 23 miles by road to Hillhead Quarry in Mid Devon for processing. 

Councillor Roger Giles said: “The strait gate action group have the same views as us on this, we think the same things they are fighting it and will participate in the hearing with their barristers and a water expert etc in October.

“It’s important we give them the right funding and its completely correct that we help fund it.” 

The matter is now deferred to the finance committee of Ottery Town Council. 

In three weeks’ time, Boris Johnson will no longer be UK prime minister. But, as many have observed, you could be forgiven for thinking he had already left.

Rachel Hall www.theguardian.com 

Despite the country being beset by a series of crises, from the mounting cost of living crisis to war in Ukraine, he has been accused of leading a “zombie” government.

So what exactly has he been doing?

June: the ‘summer sausage offensive’

In late June, and in an effort to save his own bacon, Johnson embarked on a busy schedule of “barbecues and drinks” at his grace-and-favour residence, Chequers.

Described as a “summer sausage offensive”, the goal was to reward party loyalists who had promised to vote for him in the event of a no-confidence vote.

July: Sweet Caroline – and the Bamford wedding bash

Although that strategy failed, it didn’t deter him from hosting further parties. On July 25 he missed a Cobra meeting to discuss the heatwave to host a leaving bash attended by senior Tories including Nadine Dorries.

Labour accused Johnson of being “missing in action” as he “prepares to party while Britain boils”.

Johnson’s busy social calendar at Chequers was set to culminate in a “champagne-soaked soiree” in celebration of his one-year wedding anniversary – however he backed away from having it there amid rumours that the only reason he insisted on remaining in power over the summer was to keep access to the residence.

Recognising his travails, a major Tory donor, Lord Bamford, reportedly stepped in to offer up his 18th-century Cotswolds estate to host a lavish party.

The “festival-esque” celebration – said to have included a steel band, rum punch, Abba songs and a conga – on 30 July was intended to compensate for the scaled-back wedding Johnson and Carrie organised during the pandemic.

The guest list is understood to have presented a “headache” for the couple, with erstwhile allies having received save-the-date invitations a year before their subsequent betrayal.

A video of the Johnsons’ first dance – to the tune of Sweet Caroline – was leaked to the Tory-supporting political website Guido Fawkes.

“Some questionable dad dancing moves from Boris there,” was how the blog described the prime minister’s routine.

August: Mini-moon, ‘that’ meeting … and then to Greece

The wedding was followed by a “mini-moon”, a neologism coined to describe a second honeymoon usually taken immediately after a wedding and prior to a larger, more extravagant trip.

Johnson disappeared on 3 August, with the location undisclosed for security reasons, prompting speculation about where he was going and who was paying for it.

It later emerged he was staying at a five-star eco-hotel – Vila Planinka in the Slovenian mountains. It promises “healing energies” for its guests, with rooms costing between £242 and £541 a night. They have no electronic devices and wifi is available only upon request to enable people to “rest and unpack themselves from everyday worries” – possibly not the ideal setup for the leader of a country of 67 million people.

A Downing Street spokesperson refused to say if a Tory donor funded the trip, but insisted that no taxpayers’ money had been used.

After his return on 11 August, following pressure – including from the CBI chief executive – to introduce immediate support to households struggling with soaring energy bills, Johnson made headline-grabbing news: he turned up to a meeting.

However, hopes that one of his final appearances might produce a more compelling legacy than his ride in a Typhoon fighter jet to open Farnborough airshow on 18 July soon gave way to disappointment. Johnson declined to offer any new help on energy bills now, instead deferring responsibility to the new prime minister in September to provide extra financial support.

For those wondering whether Johnson had taken the ensuing backlash to heart, he was spotted on Sunday. Not in a Westminster backroom with his two potential successors thrashing out emergency relief, but rather on his second holiday in two weeks, filmed shopping for groceries in a supermarket in Greece.

Greek news websites reported that Johnson and his wife, Carrie, were in Nea Makri, a coastal town near Athens located a few hours away from where his father, Stanley, has a villa.

The son of a Tory donor who hosted the Prime Minister’s wedding party was given an £11.2 million grant by the UK government, it has been revealed.

April Curtin www.thelondoneconomic.com 

Jo Bamford, CEO of Wrightbus, was given the cash to build hydrogen buses for his company Wrightbus in March 2021.

His father, billionaire businessman Lord Bamford, hosted Johnson and Carries’ wedding do at his Cotswolds estate in late July.

Lord Bamford, who is chairman of construction equipment manufacturer JCB, has donated millions to the Conservative party, and is understood to have paid for some of the costs towards the PM’s wedding celebration.

Wrightbus provided the world’s first ‘zero-emission’, double-decker buses powered by hydrogen, and has won publicly-funded contracts – worth millions – to supply these vehicles across the UK.

Jo Bamford’s other company, Ryze Hydrogen, is facilitating a £45million hydrogen and infrastructure distribution hub for Lanarkshire, and has signed a deal to import tankers of hydrogen from Australia.

Speaking to the Daily Record, SNP Cabinet Office spokesman Brendan O’Hara MP said “Tory cronyism”  has been “endemic” under Johnson’s leadership, and that the public deserve transparency regarding the £11.2million payout.

“He may be going, but the legacy that will follow Boris Johnson is one of Tory sleaze,” O’Hara said.

Economy spokesman for the Lib Dems, Willie Rennie, agreed that transparency about how such contracts are “dished out” is needed, and described the relationship between Tory donors and Tory Ministers responsible for awarding multi-million-pound contracts as “unhealthy”.

A UK Government spokesperson told the publication: “All contracts are awarded in line with procurement regulations and transparency guidelines and there are robust rules and processes in place to prevent conflicts of interest.”

The head of the water regulator for England and Wales has defended water companies against criticism over not building new reservoirs despite high levels of executive bonuses and shareholder dividends.

Helena Horton www.theguardian.com 

David Black, the chief executive of Ofwat, also said old pipes were not to blame for leaks and that most companies were meeting their leakage targets.

Water companies have come under criticism as England faces water shortages. Some homes have run out of water, rivers have turned dry and farmers are facing crop failures. Many are outraged at the companies for failing to invest in reservoirs, fix leaks and stop sewage pollution from their pipes.

The bosses of England’s water companies have been criticised for banking £58m in pay and benefits over the last five years. Since privatisation, shareholders have been paid £72bn in dividends. The cash has come from big debts, with companies having borrowed £56bn, and big bills, with prices having risen 40%.

However, Black said critics were not giving companies enough credit for actions being taken to reduce leaks and improve water supply, and suggested they did not understand the “complex” issue.

He told the BBC’s Today programme: “There isn’t sufficient account given to what’s happening in the sector; we appreciate it’s complex and difficult to understand.”

Ofwat has the power to fine companies 10% of their turnover if they do not meet targets. Despite high levels of leakage, many companies are meeting these targets, which has led campaigners to question whether they are strict enough. For instance, Thames Water has 11,000 leaks across its system but is not falling below the regulator’s standards.

Black said: “Thames Water are not in breach of their performance, by my understanding. There are risks of leaks across the networks. Some of the biggest problems we face on networks are in modern infrastructure, it’s simply not the case that this is down to old pipes.”

Many have also criticised water companies as no new major reservoir has been built since privatisation in the 1980s, but Black said they were not needed. He said: “The reason there were no reservoirs is that demand had actually fallen over that period.”

He also defended the large pay water company bosses and shareholders have been given, saying it made them more competitive in the global market.

Campaigners said they did not agree with Black’s assessment and were shocked that he suggested they did not understand the issue.

Stuart Singleton-White, head of campaigns at the Angling Trust, said: “It is painful to hear Ofwat, who are complicit in our broken water sector, acting as apologists for that system and water companies. Ofwat have prevented a lot of the investment needed and allowed companies to take huge profits and screw our rivers.”

Christine Colvin, advocacy and engagement director at the Rivers Trust, said: “This drought highlights that the targets and timelines agreed with the water sector are not enough to ensure we are climate resilient for the long haul. Why are we now talking expensive inter-basin transfers when we’re leaking a fifth of our water supply?”

Some MPs also believe that Ofwat needs to take firmer action against water companies. Philip Dunne, the Conservative MP and chair of the environmental audit committee, said the regulator needed to do more to restore public trust in water companies.

He told the Guardian: “The performance of water companies is under the spotlight now more than ever before. Sewage pollution incidents and leaks wasting 20% of our mains water supply every day is eroding public trust. It is clear that there is much to do to make our water sector fit for purpose, particularly as the effects of climate change are likely to make water scarcity worse in the coming decades.

“To lead to meaningful improvements, the boards of water companies must be encouraged to develop plans to manage water resources and treatment, and work with the regulators to ensure that these can be delivered.”

Ofwat declined to comment further.

Critics of Conservative leadership candidate Liz Truss have accused her of suggesting British workers were “lazy” in comments made in a leaked recording.

[Raises the question: is failure to improve productivity just something to do with workers, as implied by Truss, or does it require a different economic model focusing on investment and the longer term? – Owl]

www.bbc.co.uk

In the audio, published by the Guardian newspaper, Ms Truss suggested British citizens lacked the “skill and application” of foreign nationals.

Labour said her comments were “offensive” and “effectively brand British workers as lazy”.

Asked about the remarks, the foreign secretary did not deny making them.

“I don’t know what you’re quoting there,” Ms Truss said under questioning at a Tory leadership event on Tuesday evening.

“But the point that I’ve always made is what we need in this country is more productivity across the country and we need more economic growth.”

The party’s roughly 200,000-strong membership are voting for their next leader, who will succeed Boris Johnson as prime minister in September.

The Guardian report said Ms Truss made the comments in the audio when she was chief secretary to the Treasury, a role she held between 2017 and 2019.

The report did not reveal the source of the audio recording, parts of which were redacted.

In the two-minute clip, Ms Truss said British workers’ “mindset and attitude” were partly to blame for them producing less per hour than their foreign counterparts, suggesting they needed “more graft”.

Ms Truss said in the recording: “Essentially it’s partly a mindset and attitude thing I think. Yeah, its working culture basically. If you go to China it’s quite different, I can assure you…

“There’s a fundamental issue of British working culture. Essentially if we’re going to be a richer country and a more prosperous country, that needs to change.

“But I don’t think people are that keen to change that.”

Speaking on difference in productivity in the UK, she said: “If you look at productivity, it’s very, very different in London from the rest of the country.”

A Truss campaign source said the comments were “half a decade old” and lacked “context”, while acknowledging the UK does “need to boost productivity”.

“As prime minister, Liz will deliver an economy that is high wage, high growth and low tax,” the source said.

The Office for National Statistics says every country has seen slower growth in output per worker since 2009 when compared with the pre-financial crisis period.

OECD figures show that in 2019, the UK came fourth highest in the rankings of GDP per hour worked among G7 countries.

Ms Truss, who has consistently led Mr Sunak in polls, has put her tax-cutting plan for boosting economic growth at the centre of her pitch to Conservative members.

The remarks by Ms Truss echo controversial arguments made in a 2012 book she co-authored, “Britannia Unchained”, in which British workers were described as among the “worst idlers in the world”.

Asked about it at a leadership debate last month, Ms Truss distanced herself from the contentious assessment, claiming co-author and Sunak supporter Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab, had written it.

Mr Raab has subsequently said the authors of the book, which also included several other senior Conservative ministers, had agreed “collective responsibility” over its contents.

Labour’s shadow work and pensions secretary Jonathan Ashworth said the “Britannia Unchained fiasco” seemed to be “the blueprint” for Ms Truss’s prospective government.

“Workers across the country are working all hours to keep a roof over their heads, put food on the table and provide for their families,” he said.

“Liz Truss should be helping working people to cope with this cost of living crises, as Labour this week outlined we would do, not peddling this offensive nonsense.”

The BBC approached Mr Sunak’s team for comment on the matter but received no response.

The Environment Agency has advised against swimming at four popular Devon beaches today. There is understood to be a risk of pollution following thunderstorms in the area this week.

Mary Stenson www.devonlive.com

Beautiful views across Exmouth beach (Image: Devon Live)

Four beaches on Devon’s south coast have warnings in place, advising people not to swim. Budleigh Salterton beach, Exmouth beach, Paignton Sands and Goodrington Sands are the areas that swimmers are being told to avoid.

The major concern at all four beaches is pollution as a result of heavy rain in Devon, with a yellow thunderstorm alert having been issued by the Met Office for today. However, there are also concerns over the impact the storm could have on the tides, particularly at Paignton Sands.

Budleigh Salterton and Exmouth beaches both received ‘Excellent’ bathing water quality based on water samples taken from 2017 to 2021, with Paignton Sands and Goodrington Sands having been ranked as ‘Good’. Today’s pollution risk warnings are only believed to be in place temporarily during the storms.

The yellow thunderstorm alert will remain in place for the rest of today and tomorrow. Parts of Devon have already seen flash flooding, lightning and thunder over the last two days.

Starmer defends London candidate for Exeter

Labour leader Keir Starmer has defended the decision to select a Londoner as the candidate to replace Exeter’s Ben Bradshaw at the next general election. 

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

Speaking during a visit to community group ParkLife Heavitree on Monday, Sir Keir insisted that Steve Race was chosen as someone who is familiar with the area and understands the constituency. 

“Steve Race is an excellent candidate who knows the area really well because he worked with Ben Bradshaw for a very, very long time,” said Sir Starmer.

“So he knows these communities. He knows the issues here. He’ll be an excellent candidate. 

“He’s got big shoes to fill. Obviously big boots to fill because Ben has been the MP here since 1997.

“But Steve will fill those boots and take us forward in Exeter. I’m really, really pleased that he’s our candidate.”

Mr Race is currently a councillor in the Hackney area of London, which neighbour’s Sir Keir’s Holborn and St Pancras seat. He stood for parliament in East Devon in 2015, where he lost his deposit in a campaign won by the Conservative incumbent, Hugo Swire.

Sir Keir was visiting Exeter to meet local people concerned about fuel costs and to outline Labour’s £29 billion policy of freezing the energy price cap to prevent average household bills from rising to over £3,600. 

He also argued the initiative would reduce currently soaring inflation by four percent.  

But critics, some within his own party, have said the measures do not go far enough and called for Labour to renationalise energy companies.

Sir Keir said that suggestion was unpractical.

“The Labour Party, under my leadership, is absolutely focused on helping those that need help most,” he said. 

“That’s why we’ve focused on the households who are going to face these crippling increases this October and January of next year, because if we don’t help those households, they are going to struggle even more than they did last winter. 

“The reason I’ve put forward the package I’ve put forward today is because every single penny that we’ve got under our costed scheme goes on reducing their household bills … Those energy bills. 

“If you go down the nationalisation route, then money is then used to compensate shareholders because you can’t just nationalise for free. You’ve got to pay off the shareholders. 

“I think when you’re in the middle of a crisis like this, a national crisis, every single penny should go towards reducing those prices of energy for so many households who are going to really struggle this winter.”   

Labour argues their plan could be funded by extending the scope of the windfall tax on energy companies.

It would involved scrapping the proposed £400 payments for all households and cutting government interest payments on debt when inflation rates go down.

A trial allowing motorhome users to sleep overnight in some car parks in the South Hams could be expanded after more than 1,400 stays were recorded in the first year.

By Johanna Carr www.bbc.co.uk

The district council set up the scheme in five of its car parks in June 2021 after an influx of visitors following the pandemic.

Councillors wanted to encourage people to visit and spend money in the area.

The council said the trial brought in £14,010 in additional income in a year.

Councillor Keith Baldry said: “It’s been very successful. We’re not doing it to make money, we just wanted to break even… but we have made a small amount of profit over the last 12 months and we’ve had a great deal of praise from users of the service.”

Self-contained motorhomes can stay for up to 48 hours in the car parks including in the Dartmouth park and ride

The five car parks included in the trial are Longmarsh in Totnes, the Dartmouth park and ride, Cattlemarket, Kingsbridge, Poundwell Meadow, Modbury and Leonards Road in Ivybridge, with the Totnes site on the banks of the River Dart being by far the most popular.

It costs £10 to stay the night, plus additional charges for daytime parking and all vehicles must be self-contained with washing and toilet facilities.

Mr Baldry, the executive member whose responsibilities include car parks, said business owners were “very happy” with the trial and the council had “no complaints from residents at all”.

He said some users of the service had complained about having to have their own toilet facilities on board, while others were keen to see the scheme expanded to include other car parks owned by the council.

The Liberal Democrat councillor added: “We decided we wanted to encourage visitors who have properly equipped motorhomes… but it also allows us to enforce stopping people who haven’t got those facilities who frankly were being very anti-social, using the hedges and so on as lavatory facilities.”

Arens Sorensen, a motorhome owner who has used the Totnes car park several times, said: “When you stay for a day or two of course you spend more than if you’re just here for a few hours so I guess it is good for the businesses.”

He said it was also cheaper than staying at a campsite, adding: “For us it’s ideal… I think it would be a great idea if there is more car parks like this.”

Other car park users had mixed views on the scheme.

One woman said she thought it was “amazing” and a Totnes resident added he hoped it would make a beautiful area more accessible.

A couple from the town said they thought motorhomes should go in a “proper caravan park” and were worried about the car parks become too busy.

Another man said: “If they are car parks rather than proper motorhome places then there is going to be a problem with hygiene.”

At the end of the summer, South Hams councillors will decide whether to carry on with the trial, make it permanent or even extend it to other car parks in the area.

Overnight stays – June 2021 to June 2022

Park and Ride, Dartmouth – 239

Cattlemarket, Kingsbridge – 129

Poundwell Meadow, Modbury – 51

Leonards Road, Ivybridge – 48

Total = 1,401 overnight stays

£14,010 in additional income for the council

Dear Owl,

I hope you have space to post this heartfelt thanks to the heroic street scene staff who have efficiently cleared the rubbish bins from Steamer Steps to the Lime Kiln carpark in Budleigh Salterton in this heat. A special mention for Neil who clears up at weekends.

Visitors have arrived at the beach laden with their beach kit: pump-up paddle boards, wind breaks, pop-up tents, and of course the disposable BBQs, bottles galore and their food, often using a collapsible trolley. AND after a lovely time, they head home leaving all their rubbish for EDDC to clear up. Mountains of it. An example last week was a broken pop-up tent just left to blow into the sea. 

If they are able to bring it all down why can’t they take it home? Why, if they drink the beer, don’t they  take the bottles home instead of filling the dog poo bin?

Many of us living in BS could give example after example. But I am sure it is not just our beautiful town which can look like a rubbish tip after a lovely evening. I have no experience but I am sure all our seaside towns suffer from this.

 It is also the expense that I object to. It is said that a large amount of money is spent in the town. I do not believe this. People park at the Lime Kiln car park and never set foot in the town. Most of the food and bottles are bought in their own locality. BS High Street can look very quiet on a hot day.  I gather EDDC gets no government help for all the street cleaning and loo provision. If visitors respected our town perhaps I and many others would not object to this additional expense and not wish for the day when the school term time starts again.

A Budleigh Correspondent.

PS A suggestion. Could EDDC put up notices asking visitors to take their rubbish home, (a few might), as The Lake District does?

One of North Devon’s most popular beaches, Saunton Sands, has been classified as unsafe to swim in due to pollution. A pollution warning has been issued by the Environment Agency today. [Sunday 14 August]

www.msn.com

The Environment Agency website reads: “Bathing is not advised, due to pollution from sewage. Incident started August 14 2022 10:43, affected water: Saunton Sands.”

Other no go swimming spots due to pollution include Wildersmouth at Ilfracombe and Instow.

It’s not the first time a sewage leak has impacted Devon swimmers. Earlier this year DevonLive reported on pollution warnings having been issued for two Devon beaches by an environmental charity. According to the Surfers’ Against Sewage water quality map, sewers had been emptied into the water at Salcombe North Sands and in Seaton.

Read more: Raw sewage pours into the sea at two Devon beaches

Saunton Sands, which lies on North Devon’s golden coast, has gained a reputation as Devon’s most famous beach for its popularity with residents, visitors, filmmakers and musicians. Its iconic 3 1/2 mile beach makes up a large part of North Devon’s World Surfing Reserve and is overlooked by Braunton Burrows, the core of the North Devon UNESCO Biosphere.

Our update on the hosepipe ban also known as a Temporary Use Ban

[You couldn’t make this up, could you? – Owl]

From 00:01am on 23 August 2022, customers who get their water from us in Cornwall and a small part of Devon will not be allowed to use a hosepipe.

[Looks like this may still not apply to Owl’s patch]

www.southwestwater.co.uk

It’s the first time in 26 years but we’ve been left with no other choice. We need to have a hosepipe ban now to protect our precious water.

We’ve done our best to avoid this ban. We’ve increased the amount of water we can store – doubling it since the last drought in 1976. We’ve opened reservoirs, installed a new borehole, and improved the way we can move water across the region to help keep everyone’s taps running. At the same time, we’ve reduced the amount of water lost through our own pipes. In the last two years we’ve doubled the amount of leak detection staff and now fix about 2,000 leaks a month. 30% of leaks happen on customer supply pipes, we’ve offered to fix these leaks for free. But all of this hasn’t been enough.

Updates will be regularly made to this page. Updated 07:00 on 15 August 2022.

Check if the ban is in your area

Use this tool to enter your postcode and check if the ban applies to your property.

Enter your postcode to see results:

You don’t live in an area with a hosepipe ban. You may use your hosepipe but please try to save water.

A hosepipe uses 1,000 litres an hour which is more than what a family of four uses in a week. Pick up a watering can and water your plants at the root. Together, let’s save water and keep the South West flowing this summer. For water-saving top tips and free water-saving goodies, click here.

Why is this happening?

We’ve had very little rain for the last eight months and we’ve had the driest July for nearly a century. In the South West we get most of our drinking water from surface water sources, that’s our rivers and reservoirs. Right now, those levels across the South West are much lower than usual for this time of year.

We’ve also seen demand for water rocket this summer. We plan for increases in demand over summer but in one day we treated over 70 million litres extra of water, which is the equivalent of supplying an extra three cities the size of Exeter. Although we’ve seen demand go down, it’s still much higher than normal for the time of year.

Looking ahead, the weather is forecast to remain warm throughout August and September. Combining that with high levels of demand and the risk of the increase in wildfires across the region means we must take action now.

A big thank you to everyone for taking action and saving water already. It’s a team effort and through small changes in water use we can make a big difference. Together, let’s save water and keep the South West flowing.

There’s no risk to drinking water supplies for customers. But having a hosepipe ban now will help save water in our rivers and reservoirs because we won’t need to take so much water from them. Protecting our water supply will also help safeguard the precious environment which relies on it. It also means our reservoirs will be able to fill up more over the winter months.

What can’t you do with a hosepipe….

This hasn’t happened for a long time. For some customers this will be the first time experiencing restrictions on water use. We know you might have questions for us so we’ve answered some key ones below.

• Side extension, new roof structure and erection of a new detached garage Hillside Venlake End Uplyme Devon DT7 3SFRef. No: 22/1721/FUL | Validated: Fri 05 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey side extension. Tanners Farmhouse Gribble Lane Rockbeare Devon EX5 2ERRef. No: 22/1713/FUL | Validated: Fri 05 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of solar panels on existing pool house/garage roof and erection of summer house Westgate Gittisham Devon EX14 3AURef. No: 22/1718/FUL | Validated: Fri 05 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed barn/portal frame structure Rosamondford Farm Perkins Village Exeter EX5 2JGRef. No: 22/1699/FUL | Validated: Thu 04 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Two storey rear extension with creation of an elevated rear entrance to include access stairs. Hill Barn The Bothy Gore Lane Uplyme DT7 3RJRef. No: 22/1698/FUL | Validated: Thu 04 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Demolition of existing conservatory and erection of a single storey extension onto existing garage including construction of a rear single storey hipped roof extension 209 Exeter Road Exmouth EX8 3DZRef. No: 22/1710/FUL | Validated: Thu 04 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Two storey side-rear extension to existing chapel. Holmdale Chapel Holmdale Sidmouth Devon EX10 8DQRef. No: 22/1703/FUL | Validated: Fri 05 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1, Oak : The tree is a mature specimen with historical large pruning wounds. A large limb snapped out in the winter and blocked the road the regrowth from the historic pruning now needs reducing to lessen the risk of future branches breaking out. Reduce the crown by up to 3 meters by reducing the longest regrowth to leave a Finnished height of approximately 10 meters. Cut size to no more than 75mm. Crown raise up to 5 meters above the highway and 4 meters over the garden. 49 Maple Drive Exmouth Devon EX8 5NRRef. No: 22/1705/TRE | Validated: Thu 04 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of two single storey extensions (side and rear) and for a new porch and alterations to the existing bay window roof. 3 Northview Road Budleigh Salterton Devon EX9 6BYRef. No: 22/1704/FUL | Validated: Thu 04 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of 2 x silage clamps. Curscombe Farm Feniton Honiton EX14 3EURef. No: 22/1701/FUL | Validated: Thu 04 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision

• Single storey rear extension. 108 Victoria Road Exmouth Devon EX8 1DRRef. No: 22/1702/FUL | Validated: Thu 04 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed single storey side extension (N.E.), front/side extension (S.E./S.W), revised roof including rear dormer (N.W.) to provide first floor accommodation, enlarged rear terrace and revised materials 2 Ryll Court Drive Exmouth Devon EX8 2JPRef. No: 22/1709/FUL | Validated: Fri 05 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T2, Western Red Cedar : To reduce weight on the lowest primary limb to the southern aspect via the reduction of the two extended secondary limbs back to upright growth points, pruning cuts of up to 100mm diameter. To reduce weight and balance crown. T3, Birch : To crown lift via removal of the lowest primary limb, pruning cut of 60mm diameter. To balance crown and improve light levels below. T4, Western Red Cedar : To reduce extended limb on the northern aspect growing toward adjacent Birch, removing branch end of approx 4 metres, 75mm pruning cut diameter. To remove extended primary limb interfering with overhead lines to the western aspect back to branch collar, pruning cut diameter of 150mm. To improve the aesthetic of the tree and remove risk of failure of limb interfering with the overhead line and to separate crowns of WRC and Birch. T5, Western Red Cedar : To reduce extended upright limbs on southern aspect by approx 4 metres, pruning cut of 75mm diameter. To improve form. Bickwell Lodge Bickwell Valley Sidmouth Devon EX10 8RFRef. No: 22/1707/TRE | Validated: Thu 04 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• To remove one limb from beech tree adjacent to the field gateway next to the junction to Woodhouse road/Scouse lane from Beech lane. This limb interferes with the farmers livestock holding area beneath same. Land West Of Amber Rock Wareham Road Hawkchurch Axminster EX13 5ULRef. No: 22/1694/TRE | Validated: Wed 03 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Certificate of Lawful Development for the installation of new rooflights and new double doors, and filling of existing windows4 Diamond Cottages Sandygate Exeter EX2 7JNRef. No: 22/1695/CPL | Validated: Wed 03 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T204a, Ash Tree : Fell. Street Record Sluggett Place Exeter Devon EX1 3WLRef. No: 22/1693/TRE | Validated: Wed 03 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Roofed silage clamp. Northams Farm Yarcombe Devon EX14 9LZRef. No: 22/1687/FUL | Validated: Tue 02 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Roofed silage clamp Northams Farm Yarcombe Devon EX14 9LZRef. No: 22/1688/FUL | Validated: Tue 02 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey front/side extension, single storey detached annex, new vehicular access and demolition of existing single garage. Pound Cottage Beacon Honiton EX14 4TTRef. No: 22/1690/FUL | Validated: Thu 04 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Variation of Condition no.2 (approved plans) on application 21/3160/FUL. Well Cottage Gorseway Convent Road Sidmouth EX10 8RJRef. No: 22/1682/VAR | Validated: Thu 04 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision

• Construction of two-storey and single storey front and rear extensions, with two rear balconies at first floor. Holly Tree House East Hill Ottery St Mary EX11 1QERef. No: 22/1680/FUL | Validated: Tue 02 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Conversion of roof space to habitable use to include a rear dormer, 2 x rooflights and 1 x window to front elevation. 57 Sandhill Street Ottery St Mary Devon EX11 1EGRef. No: 22/1681/FUL | Validated: Thu 04 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Roofed silage clamp Northams Farm Lane To Northams Farm Yarcombe Devon EX14 9LZRef. No: 22/1686/FUL | Validated: Tue 02 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Certificate of lawfulness for internal alterations to property.The Cottage Church Street Sidford Sidmouth EX10 9RLRef. No: 22/1676/CPL | Validated: Fri 05 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1, Oak : Dismantle in stages to ground level; significant decay has been found throughout the entirety of the main stem; the tree has been assessed using a probe, a sounding mallet and a micro-drill; all tests indicated the presence of decay, as well as showing a large cavity within the tree stem. 125 Parkside Drive Exmouth Devon EX8 4LXRef. No: 22/1689/TRE | Validated: Wed 03 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1 – Common Oak. Reduce in height by approximately 1.5m Reshape furthest extended lateral areas of growth by 1-1.5m 11 Oak Tree Close Broadclyst Devon EX5 3NBRef. No: 22/1670/TRE | Validated: Tue 02 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Two storey side extension, first floor rear extension, erection of detached single garage and revised access. Crammer Ash Kerswell Cullompton EX15 2EHRef. No: 22/1675/FUL | Validated: Wed 03 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey rear extension and upgrade of thermal elements to existing single storey rear extension. Osborne House Chapel Street Sidmouth Devon EX10 8NDRef. No: 22/1669/FUL | Validated: Mon 01 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Variation of condition 3 (hours of opening) of planning permission 13/1279/COU (Change of use from shop and part dwelling to combined tearoom and shop and tea garden and heritage centre). Merchants Tea Rooms Merchants House Market Place Colyton EX24 6JRRef. No: 22/1672/VAR | Validated: Mon 01 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Extension of existing slurry lagoons. Higher Uphay Farm Membury Road Axminster EX13 7JGRef. No: 22/1673/FUL | Validated: Mon 01 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision

• Change of use of agricultural building to mixed use agriculture, storage and office use; and associated works Land South Of Crowpits Covert Putts Corner SidburyRef. No: 22/1661/FUL | Validated: Tue 02 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Installation of ground mounted solar array with associated access track, electrical housing and underground cabling. Crealy Adventure Park Sidmouth Road Clyst St Mary Devon EX5 1DRRef. No: 22/1657/FUL | Validated: Wed 03 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Change of use from antiques E(a) to 3x 1 bed and 2 x 2 bed flats with alteration to fenestration and addition of a first floor terrace. 19 High Street Honiton Devon EX14 1PRRef. No: 22/1647/FUL | Validated: Mon 01 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Variation of condition 2 (approved plan) of application 21/1225/FUL (Demolition and replacement of two storey rear extension and one storey side conservatory, construction of one storey side extension, internal alterations, and raising of roof to allow for additional third storey for habitable use; construction of terrace to front and side of dwelling, side porch and creation of two parking spaces and turning area) for changes to height and elevations, internal layout and fenestration Broadhill River Front Exton Devon EX3 0PRRef. No: 22/1655/VAR | Validated: Tue 02 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Change of use from E(c)(i) to C3 to form 2 x 3 Bed Detached dwellings and construction 1 x 4 bed Detached, 2 x 3 Bed with associated amenity space and parking. 9 Mill Street Ottery St Mary Devon EX11 1AARef. No: 22/1645/FUL | Validated: Mon 01 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Removal of existing flat roof, replace with proposed pitched roof to front with alteration to fenestration. The Beeches Charmouth Road Axminster Devon EX13 5SZRef. No: 22/1649/FUL | Validated: Tue 02 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey side extension. 84 St Johns Road Exmouth Devon EX8 4EARef. No: 22/1630/FUL | Validated: Mon 01 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Change of use from agricultural barn to B2 light industryHigher Barn Sidmouth Road Aylesbeare Exeter EX5 2JJRef. No: 22/1618/CPL | Validated: Fri 05 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of a two storey 18-unit residential home for vulnerable people. Kings Arms Farm Nags Head Road Gittisham Devon EX14 3APRef. No: 22/1622/FUL | Validated: Wed 03 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Replacement of 8 windows A-H on south westerly elevation, south easterly elevation, north westerly elevation & north easterly elevation. 1 Castle Cottages Castle Lane Exmouth EX8 5BRRef. No: 22/1615/LBC | Validated: Fri 05 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision

• Proposed two storey side extension Courtyard Cottage Red Doors Beacon Honiton EX14 4TXRef. No: 22/1586/FUL | Validated: Thu 04 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of wooden store/workshop Kerswell Priory Kentisbeare Cullompton EX15 2EARef. No: 22/1559/FUL | Validated: Wed 03 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey rear extension The Longhouse Plymtree Cullompton EX15 2JWRef. No: 22/1564/FUL | Validated: Fri 05 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of single storey store/shed with footprint of 10 x 4 metres.Pinneywood Farm Lodge Lane Axminster EX13 5RTRef. No: 22/1545/CPL | Validated: Wed 03 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Non-illuminated building signage Alexander House Care Home Hillside Gardens Pinhoe Exeter EX1 3TGRef. No: 22/1524/ADV | Validated: Thu 04 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Retrospective application for enlarged field gate Perkins Village Pig Farm Perkins Village EX5 2JGRef. No: 22/1471/FUL | Validated: Tue 02 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision

Journalists at the Mirror, Express and dozens of regional newspapers have voted to go on strike in a dispute over pay.

Jim Waterson www.theguardian.com 

They will stop work for four days over the next month, severely disrupting production of the newspapers and their websites. Staff turned down bosses’ offer of a 3% pay rise, arguing it is not enough to cope with the cost of living crisis.

Local outlets that will be affected include the Manchester Evening News, Liverpool Echo, and many websites operating under the “Live” banner. All are owned by publishing group Reach, whose profits boomed in the pandemic but which recently warned of tougher trading conditions.

Its chief executive, Jim Mullen, who earned £4m last year, responded to the strike ballot by saying there would be no further increase on the existing pay offer and “industrial action will not change our position”.

In an email to staff, Mullen said he knew “pay is an important issue to our people” but could not offer more than a 3% increase without risking the company’s sustainability.

One journalist who voted to strike said pay levels were driving people out of the company: “I’m consistently in my overdraft working at Reach. I love my reporting role but if we are only going to get 3% it makes me question if I will move into comms instead.”

In addition to the strikes – which will start at the end of August – there will be a two-week period of work to rule, where staff refuse to take on additional tasks.

Many local journalists may struggle to picket their workplace as Reach has closed most of its regional newspaper offices. The shift to permanent working from home means staff face having to pick up extra heating costs this winter as prices rise.

Backing for the strike was overwhelming among members of the National Union of Journalists, with 79% voting in favour. Staff have complained that the enormous pay gap between Mullen and his journalists is the sort of “fat cat” behaviour the Mirror often campaigns against.

A strike at the Express also creates the prospect of a newspaper that has recently warned about the threat of “militant unions” itself being affected by industrial action. The Mirror is likely to be less affected, as many news journalists are members of the rival British Association of Journalists union, which has accepted the pay offer.

Three quarters of Tory voters back Sir Keir Starmer’s plan to freeze energy bills as ministers come under pressure to do more to address the “national emergency” of living costs.

Chris Smyth www.thetimes.co.uk

The Labour leader will set out a £29 billion plan today to prevent energy bills rising for six months, as polling indicates big majorities in favour of this idea and windfall taxes that Liz Truss’s team said would raise the risk of recession.

Dozens of charities also warned yesterday that children would go hungry if ministers did not double their existing support package to cover energy bills.

Greg Hands, the energy minister, said the government was “working up further options for this winter” to present to a new prime minister and acknowledged that “more is going to have to be done”. Both the Tory leadership contenders — Truss, the foreign secretary, and the former chancellor Rishi Sunak — have rejected freezing bills completely.

Hands criticised Labour’s “magical solution to just wish it all away”, saying price increases could not be “abolished” and that freezing bills would “inevitably lead to higher taxes”.

A winter freeze on bills is understood to be one of the measures being examined by officials but government sources said they would “be surprised if the Treasury recommend that” when options are given to Nadhim Zahawi, the chancellor, this week. He is understood to favour a plan to cut bills by £400 through government-backed loans replacing some extra charges to consumers.

Truss is prioritising tax cuts and has promised targeted help for the poorest, and Sunak is planning higher payments to pensioners and those on benefits as well as scrapping VAT on energy bills.

YouGov polling for The Times suggests a public appetite for more radical measures, with only one in eight people saying that they can afford rising energy bills without reducing their standard of living.

Seventy-five per cent support fixing the cap on energy bills even if it means more government borrowing, with 8 per cent opposing. This includes 75 per cent of those who voted Tory in 2019, with 12 per cent opposed. Big majorities in all parts of the country and all age groups back the plan, with little difference between Leavers and Remainers.

Starmer will promote a similar plan in media interviews today and a visit to the southwest of England designed to put pressure on Truss, Sunak and Boris Johnson. He is promising to cancel October’s price cap rise as well as one due in January, arguing it will save households £1,000 in the winter. At present bills are capped at an average of £1,971 a year but this has been forecast to exceed £4,000 over the colder months.

Starmer said people were “scared about how they’ll get through the winter” arguing that his plan was “a direct response to the national economic emergency that is leaving families fearing for the future”.

Labour says that it would pay for the plan by backdating the windfall tax imposed in May to January, closing loopholes in it and scrapping £400 payments to all households that would no longer be needed. The party also argues the freeze would save £7 billion in debt interest payments by reducing inflation driven by rising energy bills.

Critics say the proposals would mean big handouts to wealthy voters, but Labour sources argue that bills are rising so much there are now relatively few families who will not need help.

Voters are split on whether support should be means-tested, backed by 40 per cent, or applied equally to all households, favoured by 47 per cent, according to polling of 1,781 adults on Thursday and Friday.

Ranil Jayawardene, the trade minister who is backing Truss, told Times Radio: “If we don’t stop calls for windfall taxes . . . we will head for the recession that the current economic model is set out to deliver right now.”

Hands, who is backing Sunak, said that the former chancellor was “not afraid to commit big numbers”, but insisted he would not be “showering money around”.

Save the Children, Age UK and Macmillan Cancer Support are among 70 charities urging the next prime minister to increase the help available. In a letter to Truss and Sunak, they say that three quarters of those on benefits have already had to choose between heating and eating and that means-tested support “should be at least doubled” from the £1,200 pledged in May. The Institute for Fiscal Studies has estimated that rising bills mean another £12 billion will be needed to keep the promises made in the spring.