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5 Nov 2019

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Accountability, Claire Wright, General Election, Hugo Swire

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Swire insults Claire Wright, tries to sabotage her vote and says good riddance to East Devon

Hugo Swire where he belongs

Hugo Swire where he belongs

If you want to read the article, find it yourself.

Owl will just offer a few quotes (with Owl comments) from it so you can see that Swire is sucking sour, sour grapes and is so happy to be quitting East Devon – where, in the last few years, he hasn’t even lived:

“Voting for an independent would not achieve anything.”

(he then goes on to suggest splitting Claire Wright’s vote between other parties to ensure she is not successful).

“Crucially, when Parliament is more important than ever, we do need people of quality.”

(Indeed, Hugo, pity we have had to wait so long for you to stand down to get within spitting distance of this).

“I will not interfere in the politics of East Devon because that would be unfair on the next MP but I will return to see friends and colleagues.”

(Well, to be fair you only came to East Devon to shake hands, schmooze and see friends so nothing changes there).

“It’s been a huge chunk of my life but, at the end of the day, I only did it because residents continued to return me.”

(Yep, he only did it so he could swan around the Middle East on the back of our votes).

Goodbye and good riddance. We await with bated breath the announcement of your replacement …

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5 Nov 2019

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Accountability, Affordable and Social Housing, Developers/ Development, Fake news, General Election, Tories

“None of pledged [200,000] starter homes built, says watchdog”

ANSWER: THERE ISN’T ONE!

The comments by developers at the end of this post, in BOLD, defy comment!

“A government plan to create 200,000 new homes in England for first-time buyers has resulted in no homes being built, the National Audit Office has found.

Announced in 2014, “starter homes” were meant to be aimed at those under the age of 40 and sold at a 20% discount.

But legislation to take the project forward was never passed.
Labour called the policy a total failure, but the government said it had a “great track record” for house building.
Former prime minister David Cameron committed to the scheme in the 2015 Conservative Party manifesto as a way of tackling the affordable housing crisis.

The project was also supposed to support the wider growth and regeneration of local areas, and some town centres.

The homes were meant to be built across the country by the end of the decade and more than £2bn was set aside for the first tranche of 60,000 dwellings.

According to the National Audit Office (NAO), between 2015-16 and 2017-18, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) spent almost £174m on acquiring and preparing sites originally intended for building starter homes.

These were in places such as Plymouth, Bury, Basildon, Stockport, Bridgwater, Cinderford and Bristol.

But the spending watchdog said the sites were all now being used for housing more generally, only some of which was affordable.

‘Dashed expectations’

It said the scheme had faltered because the necessary legislation and planning guidance had never been put through Parliament, despite expectations it would happen in 2019.

As a result, even new homes conforming to the intended specifications cannot be marketed as starter homes, which has made getting developers on board challenging.

The NAO said the government also no longer had a budget dedicated to the starter homes project. …

… David O’Leary, policy director at Home Builders Federation, said that even though starter homes had not got off the ground, the scheme had not been a total failure.
He said the engagement it had generated between local government, builders, mortgage lenders and valuers was positive.

“The difficulty in creating a workable set of rules demonstrates the importance of ensuring that proper consideration is given to the practical implementation of interventions and their market impacts as early as possible.”

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-50296672

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5 Nov 2019

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Accountability, Fake news, General Election, NHS (local), Tories

“Boris Johnson criticised for selective quotes about NHS in letter to voters”

“Boris Johnson has been criticised for misleading voters over the Tories’ record on the NHS, after he sent letters to voters in swing seats that selectively quoted a charity.

The letter, sent out across marginal seats such as High Peak and Reading West, highlighted comments from various media sources and charities praising the long-term plan for the NHS, which was set out before Johnson took office.

One of the highlighted quotes, from Sarb Bajwa, the chief executive of the British Psychological Society, lauded the plan for a “clear commitment to mental health through increased spending and introducing access standards”.

But Johnson’s letter missed off subsequent parts of the quote saying that there was “still a long way to go”, though the plan showed the NHS was listening to concerns about mental health provision. It also highlighted the need for “immediate action for children and young people’s services as they have become woefully underfunded and overstretched” and for mental health provision outside the NHS to be resourced effectively. …”

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/nov/04/boris-johnson-criticised-for-selective-quotes-about-nhs-in-letter-to-voters?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

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5 Nov 2019

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East Devon economy, Post-Brexit Adjustments, Tourism

“UK tourism industry set to struggle under post-Brexit immigration plans”

“… Set to come into force in 2021, the proposed immigration plans feature a minimum-salary requirement of £30,000 a year. At present, the average salary of tourism workers is estimated at £17,000. A large number of UK tourism businesses, surveyed by UKinbound, believe they will be unable to operate should the cap come into play – this amounts to 65% of businesses nationally, , rising to 73% in London and 88% in Northern Ireland. …”

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2019/nov/04/uk-tourism-industry-struggle-post-brexit-immigration-plans?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

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5 Nov 2019

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Accountability, Fake news, General Election, Tories

“Health Secretary Matt Hancock deletes ‘1,000 more GPs’ claim after statistics watchdog censure” – real number 41

“The health secretary has deleted claims of a “terrific” increase of 1,000 GPs joining the NHS in just three months, after being censured by the government statistics watchdog.

Matt Hancock made the claim in a tweet last week and was widely criticised by doctors and health groups who said he was misleading the public, as the actual figures showed qualified doctor numbers fell.

Those figures were also drastically inflated by the new intake of junior doctors who started GP specialty training in August.

Even counting these doctors, who work under supervision but by third year are seeing patients largely unsupported, there were only an additional 41 doctors when compared to September 20 …”

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/health-secretary-matt-hancock-gps-statistics-uksa-censure-false-facts-a8655961.html

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5 Nov 2019

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Accountability, General Election

Election snippets

Record 1.6m food bank parcels given to people in past year as the Trussell Trust calls for end to Universal Credit five week wait.

Record 1.6m food bank parcels given to people in past year as the Trussell Trust calls for end to Universal Credit five week wait

Third of promised police funds to be kept back for recruitment
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/nov/04/third-of-promised-police-funds-to-be-kept-back-for-recruitment?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Cuadrilla vows new data to overturn UK fracking moratorium
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/nov/04/cuadrilla-vows-new-data-to-overturn-uk-fracking-moratorium?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

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4 Nov 2019

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Accountability, Brexit Party, General Election

Brexit Party raising the dead?

The Brexit Party candidates are having their photos taken in what looks like the lobby of the Houses of Parliament.

For their first photo, they had to stand with a card with their name and constituency on it, rather like criminals having their details recorded ….probably because most of the higher-ups in the party have no idea who they are.

But far funnier is the saying behind the photographer’s white background:

HEAL THE SICK, CLEANSE THE LEPER,
RAISE THE DEAD, CAST OUT THE DEVIL

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4 Nov 2019

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Accountability, East Devon economy, EDDC, Local Government Finance

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EDDC a “casino council”?

“East Devon’s attempts to ‘actively assess commercial investment opportunities’ could make them look like a ‘Casino Council’, it has been claimed.

Cllr Paul Arnott, leader of the East Devon Alliance, questioned the way the council’s careful choices consultation made it look like they were ‘punting an idea about the council being a development corporation’.

The survey, due to be sent out at random to 3,000 residents, asks for their views on services that East Devon District Council run and what is important to them as the council has to tackle a £2.7m funding gap over the next four years. …

Cllr Arnott though raised concerned about the wording in the document. Speaking at Wednesday night’s cabinet meeting, he said: “I worry that this will make us look like a casino council. We need to be informed and hear what services people want, but this looks like us punting an idea about us being a development corporation.

“I am not sure it is what people voted for or what they want, but in the survey, we have to be clear it is borrowed money that is being invested and have to detail it.”

Cllr Ben Ingham, leader of the council, replied and said that he wouldn’t use the same words to describe what the council is doing.” …

https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/casino-council-claims-made-over-3498678

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4 Nov 2019

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Accountability, Developers/ Development, Persimmon

Persimmon in trouble for unsafe junction in Newton Abbot

“Persimmon Homes have been ordered to close an unsafe junction at a new Newton Abbot housing estate.

From next Monday, bollards will be installed blocking access to Larkspur Drive from and from Mile End Road at the new Hele Park estate.

The junction has been left with a substantially obstructed by a nearby garden wall and as a result is not considered safe. Revised plans to improve the traffic situation between the junctions of Ashburton Road and Applegarth Avenue were approved but never implemented so the planning permission lapsed. …”

https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/persimmon-ordered-shut-unsafe-junction-3499209

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4 Nov 2019

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Accountability, Scrutiny

“BBC asks private sector to subsidise local reporters scheme”

In his dreams!

NB: East Devon watch does not solicit or receive any money from anyone. It costs approximately £80 per year to maintain the site and 100% of this comes from the Owls’ own pockets.

“The BBC is asking private companies to pay the salaries of reporters who will scrutinise local councils in another sign that there is currently no commercial business model that can support much of traditional regional journalism.

While the US has a culture of wealthy philanthropists funding not-for-profit public interest journalism, the UK has been slow to adopt a similar model. The BBC’s director general, Tony Hall, is now calling on private companies and civic-minded individuals to pay the salaries of reporters who will “hold those in power to account” by covering local government and institutions such as the NHS.

His plans are part of a major expansion of the Local Democracy Reporter scheme, through which the BBC pays the salaries of about 150 journalists across the UK who share their work with commercial news outlets. Under the proposal, unveiled earlier this year, the BBC would give responsibility for the scheme to a not-for-profit charity, which would be able to seek external funding.

But Hall said the ambitious expansion would only work if companies start providing hard cash and challenged them to cough up: “I want businesses and other institutions to join with us so we can get even more reporters into communities – and give people the local journalism they deserve.”

There are already plans to allow publications aimed at minority ethnic audiences to employ reporters through the scheme, on the basis that they provide news to underserved communities. …”

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2019/nov/04/bbc-asks-private-sector-to-subsidise-local-reporters-scheme?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

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4 Nov 2019

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Accountability, General Election, Post-Brexit Adjustments, Tories

Trunp tells Johnson he is wrong – for the second time this week

Who is running this country?

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/donald-trump-defies-boris-johnson-20806886

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4 Nov 2019

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Misc

Former Indie MP Martin Bell on prospective Indie MP Claire Wright

“… What you need is a champion, a person of integrity, a person in the community and my goodness you have that – Claire I think you are going to win.

“It’s always difficult as an independent, to be up against the party machines, but it’s do-able.

“I think she is a remarkable candidate with a strong local presence. She’s well-known. I think it’s within her reach.

“Contrary to popular misconception, independents do have a strong voice in Parliament and, such is the current mass disillusion with mainstream parties, their voice will only become louder.

“I think for the people of East Devon to vote for this particular candidate is the very reverse of a wasted vote.

“It is a useful vote. It is a vote to put into Parliament someone who can genuinely represent you for the whole of a four or five-year term.” …”

Ex-BBC reporter and MP Martin Bell launches campaign of Independent East Devon parliamentary candidate Claire Wright

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4 Nov 2019

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Accountability, Austerity cuts, Economy, General Election, Labour ( Devon), Lib Dem (local), NHS (local), Tories

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If you don’t want the NHS to be a political weapon – depoliticise it!

NHS bosses have said that the NHS should not be used as a political weapon in the forthcoming general election:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2019-50282333

But it will ALWAYS be used as a political weapon if it is given annual sums of money or has very short-term plans made by the political party currently in power, as is the case now.

The solution is to make the NHS independent of politics, have a long-term funding plan and have it run by non-politically appointed staff.

You can’t have it both ways.

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4 Nov 2019

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Accountability, Economy, Fake news, General Election, Tories, Voting

Pensioners being bribed to vote Tory?

Ask yourself where the money is supposed to be coming from … and why!

https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1199594/State-pension-news-benefits-increase-tory-government-universal-credit

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3 Nov 2019

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Accountability, Economy, General Election

Tax cuts

Just remember every tax cut costs. It costs public services (health, education, police, social services, young people’s services, environmental schemes).

They benefit the rich and make the poor poorer – the little bit you gain will be offset (and more) by what you and your family will lose. Indirect taxes (VAT, excise duty, fuel duty) are where the gain may be outstripped by bigger losses.

Tax cuts sound good but think twice before voting for them.

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3 Nov 2019

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Accountability, East Devon economy, EDDC, Inequality

East Devon a benefits hot-spot?

Sunday Times article on new unemployment areas – high street decline, business rate penalties, jobs moving abroad and reduced demand for labour due to automation are some reasons given. Owl would like to see the breakdown per town – oldies in some towns, unemployed youngsters in others …