A Minister is appointed to office. He or she has to work out how to exercise the powers available in that position. Some fail to do so, just signing the documents and attending the meetings their officials place before them. It takes energy, persistence and understanding for a Minister to impose a new agenda, change things or improve the ways government works.
In a democracy Ministers are rightly circumscribed to prevent potential power going to their ahead and to avoid abuses. There are three main controls on Ministerial actions. Firstly, they must not break UK law. Secondly they have to stick by collective responsibility, requiring other Ministers support within a department or the wider government to pursue the path they wish. Thirdly, everything they do is subject to the court of public opinion. If they and their policies become too unpopular they may be changed.
Ministers nonetheless can exercise considerable power for the good. They have powers by virtue of collective control of the massive public sector purse, calling up resources and investments nationally. They have stated powers in extensive Statutes requiring or enabling Ministers to do things, regulate things and supervise the public sector. They appoint a large number of people to run vast areas of the public services.
All too often Ministers who lack clarity and understanding about what would be a good direction for the department they are in are buffeted by events and dependent on inconsistent or unreliable civil service advice. From day one the new Minister is held responsible for everything that goes wrong in their department or section of a department, though often the first they knew of the problem was when it was reported to them as a problem. It is often not the result of their actions and may be a case of officials not carrying out the general aim of their stated policy or even worse breaking the clearly stated intention of a Minister. There are also, of course, occasions where Ministers make poor choices or announce things that are not going to work, where they are rightly held to blame.
This government needs to review where it wishes to exercise powers and where it wants to make a difference. With a majority of 80 it can change the law where it thinks the law impedes progress. It needs to move on from policy dominated by responding to the pandemic, and being about decarbonisation alone. Levelling up, a faster and stronger recovery and making and growing more of what we need at home should be priorities that shape public policy in helpful ways.
December 3, 2021
One of the biggest areas needing reform is immigration. If Australia can find a successful way of dealing with the problem so can we. If Priti is serious then she needs to ensure that the civil servants do their part in delivering what the majority of the electorate voted the party in for. Control of our borders. It can be done as others have proved. This problem is not going away and can only get worse to the detriment of society. Someone has to take control.
December 3, 2021
Boris likes immigration he says it’s not a problem.
11 years in power and still numbers through the roof. 6 million from EU countries when we were told less than half.
We have a lying sleazy government who need teaching a lesson.
December 3, 2021
Indeed we do. 11.5 years to have changed recruitment and selection processes away from Bliars left of centre picks, woke/PC beliefs to right of centre to match with the public’s view of the world. When are the consocialists catching up with the English? Perhaps it’s now time for real conservatives in the Reform Party to sort out the civil serpents as the Torys cant.
December 3, 2021
It isn’t “the Tories can’t.”
It’s “the Tories don’t want to.”
December 3, 2021
Like the Promised answer to the Lothian question. Meagre sham offering now totally taken back by Gove!! Like the promised right to recall, then reneged on, cut immigration, take back control, no more of our money to EU, no Irish Sea border, no tax rises! Freeze community charge! They label Labour policies Marxist then implement the Marxist policies and build on it! Carrie giving a key note speech to Stonewall! Where is the conservatism? JR and his mates have done nothing to stop their party marching forcefully left. Nothing. Lots of propaganda, excuses and weak opposition to it.
When will readers and voters here realise you cannot believe a word these Fake Tories say? It always changes after election. How many times do you have to be lied to?
December 3, 2021
The Tories get called black and blue that they are anti-immigration yet they have been in charge for many years now and migration/immigration has exploded with no brake. People here seven years having failed their application thrice and not been removed, getting college and lodgings and sufficient money to live in one of our Cities. British people left on the streets whilst all newcomers get accommodated.
December 3, 2021
Clearly zero political will beyond huffing and puffing and lots of worthless hot air from Patel.
December 3, 2021
There must be some political will behind the substitution of Raab for Buckland. The latter was never going to let us out of any of the outdated legislation and treaties, and Raab is an expert on international law and human rights.
December 3, 2021
Right, like his weak intervention with Harry Dunne and got frustrated when someone trying to question him about it. Or Julian Assange? Raab took on the role of Brexit minister knowing it was a mouthpiece job only for May who wanted to firmly remain in EU. Raab.. a career man looking after his career and ambition no more no less. No use to our country.
Donât call me on serious international matters like evacuation of Afghanistan I am on holiday! Civil service working at home not being able to access critical information, so some people will be tortured or die, but as long as it does not impact on their work/ life balance eh!
Get shot of him.
December 3, 2021
The first thing they should have done was to change the human rights legislation. Without doing this they have no hope of controlling immigration faced with the army of lawyers using legal aid to throw a spanner into the works all the time.
December 3, 2021
Well, Aus, NZ and Canada all have human rights acts identical to the UK’s in all important regards, so we clearly don’t need to get rid of that then, do we?
December 3, 2021
Well, having got a good pass in O-level Geography, I can reasonably assert that it would be a lot more difficult to physically get to Australia, New Zealand and Canada from the Middle East or North Africa, so your comparison is pointless.
December 3, 2021
Ever heard of aviation?
They – Aus – have quite a few ME settlers, from such as Lebanon.
Most people here unlawfully arrive the same way too, and overstay their visas. Their numbers dwarf those coming in dinghies.
December 3, 2021
But they don’t allow any foreign court to have power over them NHL.
December 3, 2021
They follow the same UN rules as does the UK.
December 3, 2021
Come on NHL the UN has no real legal powers.
You know this yet come out with this ridiculous nonsense.
December 3, 2021
Nothing can be done against illegal migration whilst we remain in the ECHR and the Human Rights Act. Even Dominic Cummings has said that.
December 3, 2021
You are putty, well, not even as firm as that, in their hands.
December 3, 2021
You want to be ruled by others you don’t even vote for.
Yet you call yourself a democrat NHL
Hilarious.
December 3, 2021
This is relevant every day, FES. Today we are told, yet again, that there are 80,000 children in care; and that this might have contributed to the death of the latest little victim of cruelty. We were told some years ago that native children in the South were being sent into care hundreds of miles North because their local councils were overwhelmed by the numbers of “child refugees”. Another fearless question for Sir John: how many “child refugees” are there in care?
December 3, 2021
NB Being a “child refugee” is said to arise from wishing to join family in the UK.
December 3, 2021
We were also told by govt. child killers would be singled out for severe punishment. Then again, it does not fit in with the left wing liberalisation of the criminal justice system since the 60âs.
Where are all those hundreds of thousands lost to the system illegal criminals the HO claimed who entered our country? Could they be contributing to crime by any chance or modern slave trade? Oh well, brush it under the carpet Downing Street needs wallpapering!
December 3, 2021
Contrast how many police officers and social workers will be sacked over the murder of a child and how many had to walk the plank in cricket.
Clown world.
F***ing clown world.
December 3, 2021
The âproblemâ is predominantly in the heads of old people. Not sure how to fix your heads.
December 3, 2021
Equalities Act 2010 states that it is an offence to disparage someone because of age.
https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/advice-and-guidance/age-discrimination
December 3, 2021
Talking about Equalities I saw this on order order
”âDirector of Equality and Inclusionâ at Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, whoâll start early next year on a minimum wage of ÂŁ93,735”
December 3, 2021
No, it states that it is a civil wrong for e.g. an employer to do so in such a way that an employee feels victimised on that basis.
I’ve just read all of the page that you linked.
December 3, 2021
I feel victimised NHL
Therefore I have a claim.
December 3, 2021
Is Andy your employer then?
December 4, 2021
Do you think he would even interview old people?
December 4, 2021
How does one complain about the violation of that law by the entity posting as Andy?
JF
December 5, 2021
What law has he violated – I see none.
You appear not to understand it.
December 3, 2021
“…. there he goes again….”
December 3, 2021
I know how to fix your entries, but Sir John strangely seems to believe they are fair comment.
December 3, 2021
When something is screwed on cross-threaded, you need a great deal of force to unscrew it, and after that the thread often has to be completely recut.
December 3, 2021
No that’s not how cross threading is repaired NHL
What you do is realise it is not working then you gently unscrew the thread.
Then you start again and do it right.
Any engineer knows this.
Basic stuff.
December 3, 2021
Any ‘successful way’ is not necessarily a good way – that’s the problem – note historical practices.
December 3, 2021
@Fedupsoutherner
What you’ll get
You can ask for somewhere to live, a cash allowance or both as an asylum seeker.
Housing
Youâll be given somewhere to live if you need it. This could be in a flat, house, hostel or bed and breakfast.
You cannot choose where you live. Itâs unlikely youâll get to live in London or south-east England.
Cash support
Youâll get ÂŁ39.63 for each person in your household. This will help you pay for things you need like food, clothing and toiletries.
Your allowance will be loaded onto a debit card (ASPEN card) each week. Youâll be able to use the card to get cash from a cash machine.
If youâve been refused asylum
Youâll be given:
â somewhere to live
â ÂŁ39.63 per person on a payment card for food, clothing and toiletries
You will not be given:
â the payment card if you do not take the offer of somewhere to live
â any money
Extra money for mothers and young children
Youâll get extra money to buy healthy food if youâre pregnant or a mother of a child under 3. The amount you get will depend on your situation.
Your situation / Extra payment per week
â Pregnant mother /ÂŁ3
â Baby under 1 year old /ÂŁ5
â Child aged 1 to 3 / ÂŁ3
Maternity payment
You can apply for a one-off ÂŁ300 maternity payment if your baby is due in 8 weeks or less, or if your baby is under 6 weeks old.
If youâve been refused asylum
You can apply for a one-off ÂŁ250 maternity payment if your baby is due in 8 weeks or less, or if your baby is under 6 weeks old.
Applying for the maternity grant
You apply for the maternity grant in the same way whether youâre still an asylum seeker or youâve been refused asylum.
Youâll need to request form MAT B1 from your doctor to apply for the payment. You can apply for the maternity payment at the same time you apply for asylum support.
If you get pregnant after youâve applied for asylum support, you can apply to the support team that dealt with your application for asylum support.
Healthcare
You may get free National Health Service (NHS) healthcare, such as to see a doctor or get hospital treatment.
Youâll also get:
â free prescriptions for medicine
â free dental care for your teeth
â free eyesight tests
â help paying for glasses
Education
Your children must attend school if they are aged 5 to 17. All state schools are free and your children may be able to get free school meals.
December 3, 2021
Above is from the government website under “Asylum Support”.
I can’t imagine why people are risking their lives to escape from the EU to get into Brexit Britain, can you?
December 3, 2021
Are you being sarcastic? I would hope so.
December 3, 2021
With all thatâs on offer Iâm sure thereâs a few citizens of france pretending to be from the middle-east and refugee
December 3, 2021
@geln cullen
Many a true word…
December 3, 2021
You lot keep telling us that the dinghy people are mostly 20 and 30 something single men.
And then you post a list of mostly maternity help and schooling to try to demonstrate your point that asylum seekers get loads of benefits.
How many pregnant men do you think are coming here?
December 3, 2021
You keep telling us there is nothing on offer here.
Well there certainly isn’t in France or the wider EU. The French treat these people like shit and let them fester in fields with nothing at all.
And then you lie about your own countrymen.
December 4, 2021
Where do I apply ? Because as a tax paying UK citizen, even I do not get that !
December 3, 2021
A good friend of mine decided to enter politics in his middle age. He came from a poor background, was employed in the commercial and charity world, went to night-school to get a business management degree and after working hard as a Party volunteer, became a local Councillor.
In the first year of his Local Govt career, he visited a Planning Officer in the Town Hall to ask why an action the Council had recommended had not been carried out, and was told by a clerk that “it was against the rules”. My friend politely asked the clerk to show him the paperwork where this was stated – oddly enough, the recommended plan was then duly and promptly enacted!
December 3, 2021
Reply to SM
This is because these public servant bodies are so busy regulating others no one regulates them. There should be opportunities for more professional oversight. So sad to hear this befitting a banana republic outfit full of bureaucracy…
December 3, 2021
SM great story, what a shame there aren’t more people like that.
December 3, 2021
This is a very common response amongst subordinate staff everywhere. Asked to do something they will say ‘Yes Minister’. Then, three weeks later the Minister asks why nothing has happened and the subordinate explains that it couldn’t be done because… Explanations later are much easier than saying ‘No’ to a Minister or senior colleague.
December 3, 2021
The case of Arthur Labinjo Hughes is heartbreaking. If any service needs looking into its social services and the police who failed this child and many others. Any intelligent parent could not fail to see the obvious abuse this poor child suffered. (Comment on sentencing deleted as sentence pending)
December 3, 2021
It appears that lockdown had a lot to do with the mistakes made.
December 3, 2021
Fedup
Indeed, part of the problem is Social workers being recruited straight out of University, without knowing much about being responsible for any element of family life, or life in general.
The best people for social services would be the over 50’s and Andy’s elderly, at least they would have known what a bruise looked like, would have asked pertinent questions, and would have picked up on some body language.
December 3, 2021
When these type of cases go to court it is amazing how many warnings social services and the police have and yet nothing substantive happens. They they say lessons will be learnt, then we get the next tragedy a few months later.
December 3, 2021
They have been sentenced now. Life for her with min of 27 years and 21 years for him. Not long enough. Still if prison is as we have heard then hopefully it won’t be a pleasant stay.
December 3, 2021
Good morning.
Unless that is it is HS2. There the court of public opinion can be damned.
And there lay the problem (see above for an example). When a project that is politically, ‘too big to fail’ gets government cash it takes on a life of its own with cost and delays getting quickly out of hand.
Not just unreliable, downright dishonest – Mrs. T was lead astray over the Single Market.
This principle I disagree with. The CS in charge should be held accountable for their department and the Minister for whatever government policies that are on the agenda. Get that right and we might get better all round.
Eg The Climate Change Act. But I have wasted enough pixel space on that already.
December 3, 2021
It seems that too often change in policy would mean admitting they were wrong. We are also too concerned with minority group thinking and what the rest of the world thinks of us.
December 3, 2021
Indeed and this government are wrong on almost everything with an “opposition” that is even more wrong.
December 3, 2021
+1
Mind you, with the Tony Blair Institute advising governments, what could possibly go wrong?
December 3, 2021
Well he has all the âpeace envoyâ experience!
December 3, 2021
I agree.
Frankly, I don’t give a damn what the rest of the World thinks of us. Many Countries will condemn us, whatever we do. I care about the health and welfare of our own citizens. Also about our Heritage and Culture , which is being eroded by the day.
In my opinion, our Politicians need to grow a backbone, and put the interests of this Country first!
December 3, 2021
Ches. Girl – I understand migrants coming here for a better life but are they making a better life for those here?
December 3, 2021
+1
December 3, 2021
Agree wholeheartedly. Everyone still talks and trades with Australia. Nobody judges them.
December 3, 2021
F U S
Totally correct.
December 3, 2021
You elderly Brexitists are a minority. And most of the problems in this country appear to have been caused by us trying to pander to you all.
December 3, 2021
Incitement to hatred. An offence as per the 2010 Equalities Act.
December 3, 2021
But Andy is so childish with it that it’s probably not an offence.
December 3, 2021
No it isn’t, and I’m old.
There’s no incitement to any crime, nor any misrepresentation either.
December 3, 2021
He is encouraging hatred of a specific group NHL
That you write that you agree also makes you a potential hate crime person.
December 3, 2021
Whimpering, wet-lettuce, tripe as usual.
December 3, 2021
NLH – Dare he say similar about any other group ?
BTW – had the numbers been reversed in order to Remain Andy would have been perfectly happy with the process.
Vote the *wrong* way and he spits bile and lies and lies and lies.
December 4, 2021
Not your most incisive response NHL
But I notice how you revert to abusive remarks when your argument fails.
December 3, 2021
Time they thought of the abused English not the growing out of control others. We just fund it but have no representation.
December 3, 2021
So deluded, group thinking and lacking in science are our MPs that only a handful did not vote for the insane climate change act. Boris/Carrie seem to have fallen for this insanity hook, line and sinker. How can sanity return given this?
December 3, 2021
LL
Trouble is, as PM, if you are shown duff, or out of date data, and youâre not the type of person to check or do any of your own research, and your wife is TOTALLY on board and is reinforcing the agenda⊠itâs easy to be fooled.
December 3, 2021
Perhaps he will learn from todayâs by-election result?
December 3, 2021
Insanity has consequences
BBC reporting that Shell pulling out of Cambo Oil Field is going to lose thousands of jobs
Thanks Boris
Thanks this government
Thanks the Tory Party
and a special thanks to all Tory MPs for allowing it to happen
December 3, 2021
What so you expect? They’re a bunch of thickos with Arts degrees. I see that the US is trying to prevent a monopoly situation arising out of the thicko Tory decision to allow the sale of ARM Holdings to a Japanese private equity business which is now trying to sell it on to maximize its profit which is what private equity does but obviously unknown to thicko Tories who believed the Japanese private equity was a technology company.
Unpatriotic and thick, the Tory Party in action.
December 3, 2021
We can only hope that they get the kicking they deserve in the two remaining by-elections.
December 3, 2021
Not quite – all that is done is subject to what the popular press *claim* public opinion to be, which is a different thing entirely.
Like these headlines which claim that there is a “fury” over such-and-such, when in fact all that’s happened is that some touchy half-dozen have posted a few tweets somewhere in the country.
December 3, 2021
Totally agree â in the court of public opinion, every man and his dog wants HS2 cancelled (apart from our dear leader and his wife)
But like the old ‘poll-tax’ of the 80’s they’ll just plough on with a doomed project – too save face
December 3, 2021
Mayors were not wanted and voted against. Tories still forced them on us! Nothing like a layer of bureaucracy and jobs for the boys! Like the Lords filled with donors!
December 4, 2021
How does one complain about the violation of that law by the entity posting as Andy?
JF
December 3, 2021
This is whistling in the wind. Most Ministers today are careerists. Indeed since 1997 most of them couldn’t care less just as long as their incomes and careers are protected. If pandering to Mandarins, bureaucrats, activists and union leaders makes life easy then so be it. They have no moral mission ala Thatcher. They have no firm moral principles. They believe in nothing and do anything to self promote.
I believe 1997 rang the death knell for accountability and democratic politics in Britain.
Professional politicians are destroying our democracy
December 3, 2021
+1
And destroying our country physically and morally.
They have created a disgusting swamp and are happy to see us all flounder and drown in it.
As long as we finance the whole shebang by handing over the Danegeld.
December 3, 2021
+1
December 3, 2021
This party and govt are literally committing economical suicide and taking everyone with them!
December 3, 2021
Much truth in this but surely this started well before 1997. The election result in 1997 was Labour 418 seats Tories 165. Well done John ERM Major and all the half witted Tory MPs who retained him in office so as to bury the party for 3+ terms.
December 3, 2021
History repeating itself
December 3, 2021
LL
It probably started when the first ancient shaman convinced his potential followers that he could act as an intermediary with some great spirit.
âDo as I say. Do not question. And I will protect you.But I must have first dibs with the reindeer meat, or the dealâs off!â
Hasnât changed really!
December 3, 2021
and you shoot down any naysayers
December 3, 2021
+1
Ah yes!
Forgot that!
December 3, 2021
May still an MP and voicing her bile. You can bet she is still spreading her views around her party. Unbelievable after all she did to harm our nation, to thwart the will of the people and democracy.
December 3, 2021
We are in a dark place indeed and itâs getting darker. There is no sign of change on any main policy front. Shell now withdrawing its interest from the North Sea oil field exploration opportunity, surely because of government attitude, and thereâs no way Johnson will climb down from his quasi religious energy policy beliefs overall. A continuing naive approach of cooperation onlywith the French to solve the migration crisis. Could it really be that much worse under Labour?
December 3, 2021
At least you’d know with Labour when they stab you in the front…the Tories have made an art of stabbing you in the back
December 3, 2021
+1
Agree but I think it possibly could be worse under Labour in terms of wokery.
December 3, 2021
+10
My local constituent MP no longer replies to any concerns raised by constituents. She does however, send out ‘newsletters’ to local councils every month, that look and read more like an advertisement, complete with photo, about how wonderful she is.
December 3, 2021
Mine’s very good, with every email being answered – usually by letter, less often by email.
December 3, 2021
Agreed. The rot well and truly set in with the insidious Blair government.
December 3, 2021
Agreed, it has become a sort of ‘spin the bottle’ to decide who gets a new ‘career’ at a Ministry. Keep your head down, create no waves, dutifully vote for whatever No 10 wants…..wait your time.
Independent thinking? Whatever became of that?
A Government in name only, the reality being dictatorship and usually they fall when the dictator loses his/her marbles. That fall well over due…
December 3, 2021
Youâre describing a sad reality present in our entire system of national, regional and local government.
Even, Plaid Cymru after statement after statement saying theyâd never, in a month of Sundays, get in bed with LabourâŠ..are now getting in bed with Labour
What of honour & integrity
December 3, 2021
Lord Hailsham made the right call in his book,Dilemma of Democracy, over 40 years ago.
âMost ministers are amateursâ.
Now, can be added self-enriching.
He also made other controversial statements that two-party politics is effectively âelective dictatorshipâ. However, north of the border, with control exerted on the judiciary, his other term, âelective tyrannyâ, is more apt.
December 3, 2021
@Old person
I once was in the position to spend a couple of hours over lunch with him. One of the most interesting one-to-one conversation I have had – a very interesting man
December 3, 2021
Well done Johnson.
Bloody nose in Bexley.
Thanks a bunch for bringing us nearer to an even crazier government.
WHY couldnât you just have made the most of your majority and been NORMAL?
December 3, 2021
What do you mean bloody nose? The Tories still won the seat.
Those gunning for Reform saw their candidate getting little more than 10% of the votes the winner got.
Still, even that was 10 times more than Rejoin EU. So much for their campaign.
December 3, 2021
It meant nothing.
The turnout was a mere 34% – 66% stayed away.
The incumbent died young under sad circumstances, and so the seat was not representative at all.
The Tories were re-elected with only about 18% of the possible vote.
December 3, 2021
You and andy must be so pleased with Greens and Lib Dems result
Mid term.
Just after COP26.
Pathetic result for them
December 3, 2021
A small injury?Rather than a death blow.
December 3, 2021
Bexley was a stonking win for NOTA. Very few politicians of any party command much respect at the moment. I would count Sir John as being among the honourable exceptions.
December 3, 2021
Reform is on the way up and the Tories on their way out.
December 3, 2021
+1 and this is not merely a protest vote that will disappear at the next general election.
Boris has out-Laboured Labour so the only thing that made me (and millions of others) vote Tory at the last general election has gone. The true and unofficial Tory slogan in the Blue Wall wasn’t “Get Brexit Done” it was “If you don’t vote for us Labour will get in.”
I’m actually voting Labour at the next GE.
I never want to see a fake Conservative government again.
December 3, 2021
Vote Reform, NLA.
December 3, 2021
+1 we need a real Conservative government and this broken compass, green crap pushing, tax borrow and piss down the drain socialist one.
December 3, 2021
Bloody nose in Bexley â Its a total disaster, from a majority of 19,000 to 4,478
I agree this government needs to stop all its social engineering and green experimentsâŠjust return to a normal government with conservative views
December 3, 2021
Climate Change, nick our cars, boilers and lie to us repeatedly over…. everything. Does it every time. John Major springs to mind.
December 3, 2021
+1 history repeating itself, head in the sand, the polls look okay silly party
December 3, 2021
Indeed Boris/Sunak are destroying the Tories reputation for being a bit more competent with the economy than labour just as when John Major destroyed the party with his ERM fiasco and dire EU treaties.
December 3, 2021
When a minister is appointed to office should not the first thing to determine is expectations of his department, his colleagues and the people he is there to serve? The minister then can announce his expectations of being in that position. The saying, a new broom sweeps clean,seldom appears to apply when new appointments are made.
History is littered with the failure of people not totally focused and committed to the task in hand and did not change the people who they supposedly governed to meet the demands of the task required of them.
Lean, mean and fit for purpose comes to mind.
December 3, 2021
I disagree. A newly appointed minister is there to implement the policies on which he or she was elected. Some have the personality, drive, guile and intellectual capacity to do so. Others do not and they are captured by their department. This duel was once explained to me by a rising Assistant Secretary many years ago who I got to know very well. He said they quickly sussed out who was up to the job and who was not. I get the impression that this government has now been captured. The problem starts at the top with the slipshod slap dash operation in No 10 Downing Street.
December 3, 2021
While, to quote DOM, pandering to Mandarins, bureaucrats, activists and union leaders.
December 3, 2021
Bernard Woolley’s description of most ministers being like office chairs still rings true. The seat either goes round and round, or the chair folds completely.
December 3, 2021
In everything mentioned in JRâs article this govt. is one big FAIL.
Read the arrogant responses to those stupid petitions.
So many of the MPs etc. have not the slightest idea what life is like for the average person.
But then, I imagine it is difficult governing when your electorateâs well being is not your primary concern.
@constant appeasement.
December 3, 2021
Everhopeful
So many of the MPs etc……
Not once do they ever think about the consequences of their actions.
Levelling, greening up, one of the consequences is, talking to our local farmer today in our area two 1000 head of livestock farms are selling all their herds. Oâ°ne farm is being sold the other planted with trees. Over another 1800 acres of land is being taken out of production for more trees. The cost of feed is such he is sending livestock to slaughter earlier than normal. Free range chicken farmers with 32k birds giving up as the cost of feed skyrockets and the price of eggs drop. He is getting notifications by mail and email up to eight a day all talking about the same thing. Drowning under paperwork and legislation. Wasting hours on trying to talk to anybody. This is what farming is about today. This country will never be able to feed itself let alone the existing population before you add the thousands being taxied in by Border Force.
December 3, 2021
All these problems are self-inflicted, you canât blame world conditions, economic downturn, the virus, or ChinaâŠ.its all due to the green policies of this government
December 3, 2021
Turbo
Indeed many industries now simply giving up, in some part due to government policy and regulations continually increasing their overheads and non productive workload, to such a degree they cannot compete with lower cost overheads businesses any more.
Government is fast killing the entrepreneurial spirit of thousands, who are now learning that the financial risk and long hours, is simply not worth the small reward any more.
High Taxes and subsidies are unbalancing our economy.
December 3, 2021
turboterrier: I saw the BBC’s programme The Lakes ( Cumbria ) some weeks ago which covered what two farmers, one a high fell farmer, of several generations, on the verge of tears at one point, and the other an 18year old having lost both parents & left running the family farm with young friends of similar age helping him out. It highlighted their day to day lives, their uncertainties about the future outside their control, their utter dedication to their businesses and survival against the odds. I found it all very emotional. Nothing new in such reports, we’ve seen & heard it all before but what are we doing for people like THESE individuals, to help us as a country, and those individuals, to thrive.
December 3, 2021
It is too terrifying for words.
I read a dreadful article ( WEF maybe) re farms. The idea is to rely on CITY FARMS.
Like that one we saw in Detroit.
They have other plans for the countryside ( what they leave as countryside that is) and the plans do not include us!
We are to be herded into cities I imagine.
December 3, 2021
And thinking about it âŠit is ENCLOSURE by stealth.
There is nothing ânovelâ about what is being done.
Just a rehash of historic elitist greed and cruelty.
December 3, 2021
Spot On EverHopeful
December 3, 2021
+thanks đž
December 3, 2021
Consider this.
According to newspaper reports that poor little boy who was murdered by his stepmother and father was abandoned to his appalling death by the mad, cruel, disgusting bloody stupid covid policy.
Others in his family tried to rescue him but were threatened with arrest for breaking covid rules!!!
Apart from the fact that the govt is responsible for what is no doubt a truly dreadful social service ( ( Oh sorreee Sandra is working from home! FFS) dept. it now has the blood of that child on its hands.
And Baby P DIED!
And no one in authority cared one teeny twig.
December 3, 2021
Well said. That poor child is just another piece of the “collateral damage” SAGE and this appalling Government decided would be acceptable when it imposed lockdowns – over a virus which they knew approximately 99% would recover from.
December 3, 2021
Everhopeful. Yes the whole thing is shocking that the evidence of abuse was plain to see and yet it would seem ignored. I have also posted on this very early this morning but John has held it back so far as is his right.
December 3, 2021
Responsibility for this murder lies with the stepmother and father.
The real tragedy is not so much the local authority didn’t pick up on the problem, but that such people blend into the communities they live in, rather than stick out like sore thumbs.
December 3, 2021
Rubbish Dave. The police and social workers were shown photos of his back which was covered in bruises. NOT the sort children get playing. The police and social workers should have insisted on a full examination of the child. It doesn’t take a genius to see when somethings not right. This isn’t the first time a child has slipped through the net and every time we hear lessons will be learnt. Are they? Like hell they are.
December 3, 2021
Referendum on compulsory vaccination NOW!
“Yes” would walk it, and surely you wouldn’t defy the Will Of The People?
December 3, 2021
Surely an appalling judgement by the Court of Appeal for press freedom – Meghan Markle hails “Precedent Setting” verdict as Court of Appeal rules in her favour. How on earth could they come to this hugely damaging conclusion?
December 3, 2021
O/T, I see shares in major COVID vaccine makers surged recently amid the fears stoked up over the Omicron variant. Moderna soared more than 20% last Friday and increased by an additional 10% on Monday. BioNTech shares climbed 14% last Friday and were up again 3% on Monday, while Pfizer gained 6% on Friday. Another successful media psy-op….
December 3, 2021
It is probably more due to the recent very good news that for these vaccines, a third shot, a booster, can increase antibody counts by up to thirty-two-fold.
December 3, 2021
I don’t think so. Investors go on things like profit announcements and price-earnings ratios, not media puff-pieces making health claims that turn out to be wishful thinking. As recently as this July, the government’s Covid web page ‘How long will vaccines continue to protect against COVID-19?’ said: ‘Current studies are only planned to continue for 12-18 months’, and ‘waning may be important in the time frame of 2-5 years’. Two to five years!
December 3, 2021
Most ministers are woefully Ill-prepared for the role.
For example, many have never worked in a large organisation, have no idea how principles and policies can be converted into processes and practices, have a very shallow appreciation of ministerial powers and responsibilities, and only a vague understanding of the scope and functions of individual ministries.
Yet they have spent several years on the back-benches fulfilling a role that going forward they still have to perform in addition to ministerial duties. Surely they should invest several hours each week on learning âHow to be a Ministerâ. The Houses of Parliament should provide the education and support.
Executives from business, public sector, and NGOs find it worthwhile to take an Executive MBA in mid-career to prepare for responsibilities in top positions. Why donât politicians recognise that they need the same?
December 3, 2021
Nothing about implementing their manifesto promises then.
December 3, 2021
Boris manifesto pledge and guarantee (still on the website)
1. Extra funding for the NHS
2. 20,000 more police
3. Australian points-based immigration.
4. Millions in science, schools, apprenticeships and infrastructure
5. Controlling debt.
6. Reaching Net Zero by 2050.
7. No raise the rate of income tax, VAT or National Insurance.
Those pledges went in the bin the day after he entered No10
December 3, 2021
We have a points-based immigration system, and have had one for many years. Our fellow Europeans are now subject to that too, as are we in most cases if we wish to move to the Mainland.
But being white, and speaking English as a first language are not sine qua non, I must inform you.
December 3, 2021
‘if we wish to move to the mainland’….I thought you lived in Cardiff not Isle of Wight.
December 3, 2021
The final destruction of the economy is now scheduled for 2035 and we do not need a points based immigration system as we have zero requirement for third worlders with or without qualifications.
December 3, 2021
How can any company ( a government department) be run efficiently when the MD (MOS and ministers) have almost zero prior knowledge and experience, especially the latter in terms of running a large organisation, are appointed not particularly for their acumen and move on every couple of years or so?
The answer is it canât leaving us in the hands of senior civil servants who swan through life until they get their K and a boiler plated pension. Kate Bingham who can talk from a position of authority recently highlighted their frightening shortcomings. What did this pathetical government do, take it as a call to arms.
Of course not they hid like they always do or fob MPs off with meaningless answers.
As an example we have recently seen the failure of another green scheme to install heat pumps. ÂŁ350 million ish wasted (50 million on admin/and ÂŁ1000 per household). Guess what? poorly designed, poorly thought through and poorly implemented. One of the main problems? Ministers and civil servants had failed to check that there were enough skilled people and product to deliver the scale up programme.
These people are institutionally inept, sensible questions like yours are wasted.
December 3, 2021
+1
December 3, 2021
And where is the leadership on this from the PM? If he demonstrated the ability to make decisions, to defend our nation and our culture and identity maybe we would get somewhere. But he doesn’t, he just postures, shows off but when we are insulted, threatened and endangered he goes into hiding.
December 3, 2021
Seems to me John that too many Ministers are being guided by events, rather than by management foresight.
With the constant merry go round of appointments and re shuffles, for usually political reasons/wishes of the PM, few ministers ever seem to get the chance to firstly get to grips with their department, and then if they have the ability and do so, to oversee change through to its completion.
The Civil Service seems to work in a very specific and slow manner, to rather fixed outdated practices and procedures and time scales.
From the outside it looked like a certain Mr Cummins was desperately trying to change the system of working and reporting in some areas, but failed probably because he was trying rather too hard to get rapid change and results.
It would seem to me as a simple outsider, that the Civil service is in charge of the Government, not the other way around.
December 3, 2021
This Government could have made a difference by delivering a genuine Conservative Agenda and by carrying out the governmental reforms which are desperately needed:
1. Reform of the Civil Service
2. Reform of the House of Lords
3. Reforming the BBC. Either make it compete with the other broadcasters on a financially level playing field or downsize it massively so it becomes just a simple public service broadcaster with none of the “entertainment” rubbish it pumps out
4. De-politicise the charity sector
5. Light the bonfire of the Quangos
Instead, Johnson has morphed into a left-wing Eco Warrior ….. and wasted the best opportunity the Conservative Party has had for 30 year. A 19,000 majority in Bexley/Sidcup slashed to 4,000 ….. low turnout because people couldn’t be bothered ……. and 6.6% for Reform UK. A lot of Conservative MPs will be checking their majorities this morning.
Labour won’t win the next election. But Johnson may lose it.
December 3, 2021
@ Donna “5. Light the bonfire of the Quangos” – yet when Sir John has asked here which quangos should face the flames answer comes there not. The functions performed by quangos seem to be needed and/or desired.
December 3, 2021
A huge proportion of what the Quangos do is basically ensuring and monitoring compliance with EU Regulations, by-passing Parliament.
We’re out of the EU. Scrap the Regulations and scrap the Quangos.
December 3, 2021
Donna
Johnson may lose it?
No way, he is giving it away at every opportunity, the decisions he makes are beyond belief at times.
December 3, 2021
‘There are also, of course, occasions where Ministers make poor choices or announce things that are not going to work, where they are rightly held to blame.’ Like deciding to feminise, further, the Army in response to a small number of court-martial findings, or sticking with the policy that every police officer has a degree, even though graduates appear unwilling to work at night, or at the weekends, or if violent criminals are around. Are there problems with the Civil Service? Yes – but the weak performance of ministers is the greater problem.
P.S. Listened to R5L’s coverage of the power outage in Scotland. Some of those affected were fortunate to have had some coal to hand.
December 3, 2021
and I hear that log burning stoves are being banned next year…those poor plebs without heating – not to worry, thing will be better after the green revolution
December 3, 2021
Burning coal? – they should be more responsible and get cold rather than pollute the planet.
December 3, 2021
Indeed, the heavily subsidised fossil fuel industry continues its Great British Rip-off by refusing to reduce the price of fuel at the pumps. Having forced the price of Brent crude up to a peak of $86.7/barrel on October 25th, it has now fallen back to $66/barrel yesterday – a 24% drop. So why are we still paying 152.9p/litre for diesel at the pumps?
Similarly, gas hit a high of $3.38 on October 23rd and was $2.81 yesterday – a 17% drop. Why isn’t Kwarteng forcing the oil/gas majors to reduce prices for the British consumer, which would also save a few energy suppliers?
Reply They are currently supplying from recent purchases of oil at high prices. Pump prices will go down as their incoming supplies are cheaper
December 3, 2021
ÂŁ1.50 per litre on my high streetâŠbet you it doesnât come down until next year
Inflation be damned
December 3, 2021
NBP gas has been oscillating around 240p/therm. The OFGEM price cap assumed 70p/therm, so sales are being made at a massive loss currently. Bills will soar when the cap is revised.
Those of us with diesel vehicles can hold off from filling up while prices remain high. Unlike EV owners, who have to pay the going rate if they want to go anywhere.
December 4, 2021
Those of you with diesel vehicles can hold off from filling up until you absolutely have to, just like EV owners. Except many EV owners have PV panels and so can charge for free or less than the going rate with a PC-Grid mix.
And what makes you think the price of diesel/petrol will reduce significantly or to previous levels when you need to fill up? You are completely at the whim of oil companies, fuel retailers, UK and foreign governments when it comes to the price of your fuel.
December 3, 2021
I rather think they will keep prices high on government pushing so that gas and oil reach prices similar to electricity, so as to enforce their loony zero carbon nonsense. We’ll see. My small electricity supplier gone bust and now with one of the ‘big six. Result – price increased by 50 percent overnight and will be even more next April. I’m willing to bet the new ‘standard price’ will be higher not lower then for the same reason I suggested earlier. Sir John, you are ever the optimist, I must say.
December 3, 2021
I don’t believe you, or them.
December 3, 2021
Why are you complaining about higher fossil fuel prices SG?
Presumably this is exactly what you desire.
December 3, 2021
Bearing in mind how ministers have problems in getting their officials to comply with their policies, it struck me that the minister should have a certain amount of distance between himself and his mandarins.
I wouldn’t normally suggest an extra layer of bureaucracy as a solution, but what ministers need is an enforcer – someone who can put all of his attention on making sure the commands of the minister get done, with powers to penalise those that do not do as they are told or are disruptive.
That way, ministers could concentrate on policy, the enforcer would concentrate on getting policies implemented, leaving the minister at some distance from those carrying out the orders.
Something has to change to ensure the tail is not wagging the dog constantly!
Reply You are describing the role of the Ministers Principal private secretary and his Ministerial office. Itâs all there to be used.
December 3, 2021
But that doesn’t seem to be working – How could the minister be given some space between him and those doing the work?
December 3, 2021
Reply to reply,
In France, in 1914, at the end of August, General Lanrezac, the commander of the French northern army, was continuing to retreat before the immense German armies, waiting perhaps for the ideal moment to counter-attack them, which of course never came. Papa Joffre, the commander in chief, ordered him to attack and inserted an enforcer into the office or room of General Lanrezac at his headquarters. The enforcer was a physically very powerful man, built like the side of a brick outhouse (a term used in England, Johnson), and what was his rank? a major! Are there any such men, capable, experienced, determined, but above all men of principle in the Conservative Parliamentary Party? Such attributes appear to be non-existent at the Secretary of State level. Incidentally, yesterday’s description of the prime minister was ‘the current pest’.
December 3, 2021
So, Sir John, everything ministers do ‘is subject to the court of public opinion’. Really? I hear one of them saying ‘So what?’
December 3, 2021
+1
December 3, 2021
*Warning* Controversial idea trying to surface – But still a serious question.
Two facts:
– The UK (England primarily) has not suffered the outright oppression a lot of other countries have suffered;
– Boris is taking an exceptionally large number of attacks, from all angles.
Could these be related?
Could it possibly be that Boris is being put under pressure from the swamp because he seems to be dragging his feet on covid related mandates and human rights?
We should not expect for things to get better if Boris does depart as PM, for it is most certain his replacement would succumb to the pressure immediately, given the statesman-like quality of those that would line up to be chosen.
December 3, 2021
Over half the Tories couldn’t bring themselves to vote. 15,000 are witnessing reality of this Party, even in the bluest of constituencies, Stay Home, Keep Warm, Avoid Voting Tory — the new mantra.
December 3, 2021
The Cabinet Office has been fined ÂŁ500,000 for releasing Honours recipient names etc. Am I right in that it is taxpayers’ money that will be used to pay the fine? And, if so, what is the point?
Should not somebody in the Cabinet Office now be looking for another job?
December 3, 2021
Beecee :
I agree.
We never read of any civil servant or quango employees being sacked for incompetence, malfeasance, corruption or misbehaviour.
The swamp are in charge.
December 3, 2021
Indeed – somebody should have been held personally liable for such mal-administration.
news.sky.com/story/cabinet-office-fined-500-000-for-publishing-new-year-honours-addresses-including-elton-john-and-senior-police-12484461
December 3, 2021
No point at all. Just shuffling money from one government department to another, which can immediately be shuffled back again by the relevant minister.
December 3, 2021
Beecee, who gets the money the ÂŁ500,000? this is just a game to them!
December 3, 2021
Here’s a suggestion how many people in The Cabinet Office? They get a pay reduction to fund it repayable over 2 years.
December 3, 2021
Quite – government departments should not be fined but heads should roll (and not into another department).
December 3, 2021
time for “Eeny, meeny, miny, moe” – does it matter which one gets picked?
December 3, 2021
Senior civil servants and government advisers of course are far less constrained, they are not bound by collective responsibility and are immune to public opinion as they are unelected – and it seems they can leak to the media with impunity to undermine the government and get their own way. Out of the many leak enquiries that have started during the last 5 years has a single one identified a culprit who has been punished ? Why are SAGE not bound by collective responsibility ?
December 3, 2021
Getting back to your last sentence reference growing more at home. First what do we import food wise that we could grow at home. Once you have the list and the volumes, those that might do the growing can assess whether it could be profitable. If there are farmers that are interested then government can lobby the supermarket operators which I admit would be novel as the lobbying is normally the other way round.
We still await the great tax reform, involving simplification and reduction, that turns the UK into one of the Worlds great manufacturing countries once more. Do not write off Bexley as a mid term crisis, it runs much deeper than that. Until this government is seen to be turning Brexit into a win win situation, they are heading for terminal eclipse.
Fruit, vegetables, salads, flowers etc all the things we used to grow at home before CAP grants to grub up our orchards and import
December 3, 2021
Nothing to do with the CAP, its all about rewilding to save the planet now; farms exist to capture carbon dioxide not to grow food for which they were originally created at the start of the Neolithic era. Conclusion: the Tory Party are Palaeolithic throwbacks.
December 3, 2021
The Blob rules, Sir John.
I’m sure Priti Patel is frustrated and has best intentions.
I wish she would just resign and blow the whistle. Easy for me to say – it’s not my pension on the line.
I think the government link I posted says it all about pull factors for men in boats. That even a failed asylum seeker (also known as a court-identified illegal) will get board and lodging and that they can self-determine whether they leave the country or not – I’m sure savvy lawyers will be briefing them on what “… showing a reason why you cannot leave.” can mean.
Here is that (unbelievable but true) link again.
https://www.gov.uk/asylum-support/eligibility
Perhaps the next question in the house should be “How many failed asylum seekers are returned forcefully and/or leave of their own accord ?” (I suppose “How many return ?” would be too many questions in one sitting.)
December 3, 2021
Completely off topic…
Sir John what do you think of Wokingham Council doing this?
Council lifted parked cars and painted yellow lines underneath then fined drivers
https://metro.co.uk/2021/12/02/council-lifted-cars-and-painted-yellow-lines-under-then-fined-people-15703937/
December 3, 2021
“Vote Leave for an end to this madness”
December 4, 2021
Two separate council contractors did the deed, but the utter lack of communication was the council’s responsibility – no prior warning the lines would be painted, no warning that cars would be craned off the ground, no restraint of the ticketing contractor. Did they run out of traffic cones?
I would be very concerned as a vehicle owner if they lifted my vehicle in such a way and demand the contractor and/or council pay for a full structural assessment.
It turns out the council cannot legally waive the fine but the owners have to go through an appeals process for this to happen.
The whole episode stinks of incompetence.
December 4, 2021
Dixie,
Certainly the council is responsible regardless of whether the work was done by council workers or sub-contractors.
There is something wrong with the law if a council can’t unilaterally cancel a fine notice without the recipient appealing it.
December 3, 2021
ââThirdly, everything they do is subject to the court of public opinionââ
Your current policies cost you 10,000 votes at the by-election yesterday
The Green Party only got 830 votes, came 4th and lost their deposit
So message is clear the voters donât want a green revolution
I suggest SirJ that you have a word with the policy makers before the next election, otherwise the Labour Party or even the Reform Party might winâŠ.on current trends it looks likely that another coalition will be formed
December 3, 2021
not 10,000 should read 15,000 votes lost
December 3, 2021
@glen cullen
Like almost everything that you post here, your comment is so full of obvious mistakes that you have to correct yourself. Why do you bother?
December 3, 2021
Sakara. Get you, miss perfect. Do you never make mistakes?
December 3, 2021
Thats a very woke reply….are you cancelling me
December 3, 2021
Ministers can exercise considerable power for the good.
They can also exercise considerable power for the bad.
Which is the problem with this corrupt mob of charlatans.
December 3, 2021
@Andy
Exactly. +1
December 3, 2021
Goes for Labour too and we’ve had plenty of experience of that thank you.
December 3, 2021
And in other news we see the collective failure to foresee risk resulting in the worst night of football shame in 55 years.
When are you lot finally going to pull your fingers out and hold people to account.
December 3, 2021
Let the first stone be cast by those who want themselves held to account.
December 3, 2021
And even more news. The government have targeted recovering six million of the 5 billion lost through covid fraud with the recovery team massively underfunded. Thatâs pathetic.
How much more rubbish are MPs allegedly voted to represent us going to put up,with before they speak out?
If they were running even a whelk stall they would be bankrupt in weeks, let alone the equivalent of a large PLC.
December 3, 2021
I agree John, all stuff Dom Cummings has said repeatedly. All the stuff he wrote about the interface between political and civil service power, from when he was an education SPAD, are still there unchanged. At least he did try to do something about it when he was working for Boris. But sadly Carrie is in charge now, so we must all listen to those who have never generated a single penny of wealth for this country, or solved any problem bigger than getting out of bed.
December 3, 2021
Off topic, for those who missed this epochal event yesterday:
https://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2021/12/02/government-information/#comment-1280479
the report has now crept into the press in the Irish Republic:
https://www.irishexaminer.com/business/economy/arid-40758405.html
“Protecting Good Friday Agreement not a factor in US-UK trade deal delay, official says”
“A US administration official said the country’s failure to remove tariffs on UK steel and aluminium has no connection to concerns about post-Brexit trade rules affecting Northern Ireland, rejecting a recent report.”
I’ve emailed congratulations to Penny Mordaunt for being the first ever UK government minister to publicly rebut any item of anti-Brexit propaganda, to the best of my knowledge.
Others have preferred to provide the media with more grist for their anti-Brexit mill:
https://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2021/11/21/who-is-in-charge/#comment-1277735
“This morning I could ask, specifically, who is in charge of rebutting this kind of hostile propaganda?”
December 3, 2021
County Durham without power for 7 days is the picture of the new tory green revolution
December 3, 2021
Good job some of these people have open fires, older gas fires (without electronic controls) or wood burners Glen, otherwise things would be even worse for many.
I wonder how long it will be before a government official visits them to tell them off for polluting the skies.
December 4, 2021
Do you really thinking a Government official is going to leave the comfort of office, travel in bad weather, trek to the snowed in to deliver the instruction ‘put that wood burner out’.?
Dream on!
December 3, 2021
@Glen Cullen
The “tory green revolution” has absolutely nothing to do with it. County Durham is without power because the power company have retained insufficient resources to repair the transmission lines swiftly. The army has had to be called in.
Crap and bullshit from you as usual
December 3, 2021
No. The damage has been so extensive it has been a mammoth task. Where is the council with help? Just volunteers as usual. These men are working very long shifts to get the power back on. I’d like to see you try.
December 3, 2021
Sakara Gold :
County Durham without power for 7 days WILL BE the picture of the new tory green revolution when we have installed many tens of thousands of windmills using unreliable and intermittent wind instead of reliable, weather independent nuclear power, the safest fuel of all by deaths per TWhr including wind.
December 3, 2021
+1
December 3, 2021
Your debating skills lack panacheâŠand dignity
December 3, 2021
Love your caring, sharing, cuddly, lefty post SG
Can’t wait to vote for people like you.
December 3, 2021
Yes, that’s privatisation.
The Only-For-Profit boys pocket more money by not having to pay for standby maintenance and repair facilities.
It’s the same with gas storage, and with stormwater disposal.
December 3, 2021
With regard to the national grid I agree with you
December 3, 2021
John, just give us something to be cheerful about. This relentless bickering is really what turns people off politics.
Please tell us that one or even five Ministers leading departments have used their position to good and have “exercised the powers available in that position” to actually benefit the people and when and how.
Surely an 80 conservative majority should be able to get most things conservatives would agree with through in a quick time frame.
December 3, 2021
Just a reminder of some of the key points in Boris’ election speech.
“No ifs, no buts, no maybes – leaving the European Union as one United Kingdom, taking back control of our laws, borders, money, our trade, immigration system, delivering on the democratic mandate of the people.”
“Conservative government will massively increase our investment in the NHS….We will deliver a long-term NHS budget enshrined in law, ÂŁ650m extra every week.” I understand that your government has done this with real-time increases but the NHS is never grateful and we don’t know where the investment has gone specifically so why doesn’t Boris tell us.
“Record spending on schools.
An Australian-style points-based immigration system.
More police” (yet today we’re told the Police aren’t happy because they’re going to be all brains and no brawn.
“Colossal new investments in infrastructure and science, using our technological advantages to make this country the cleanest, greenest on earth, with the most far-reaching environmental programme…. Carbon neutral by 2050.”
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2019-50777071
December 3, 2021
I absolutely disagree with the calls for the resignation of a Minister when things go wrong in the department they have been assigned responsibility for. For every Minister deposed in that way at least one senior civil servant from the failing department should be sacked before that, and if it is repeated the head of the civil service should go.
I would prefer if each new government had the power to appoint heads of departments from people they know and trust, even if currently employed in the private sector, then it would be correct to point the blame entirely at the government for their failures. No more yes minister avoidance of blame for failure.
One major problem I found is the tactic of civil service senior staff being moved between responsibilities on a rota basis ” to give them a broad experience”. All that happens is that the heads of departments hide their failure behind the excuse that the people directly involved have been moved !!
December 3, 2021
I wonder if this is what an MP referred to the other day when our liberties were again snatched?
C.S. Lewis
âOf all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience. They may be more likely to go to Heaven yet at the same time likelier to make a Hell of earth. This very kindness stings with intolerable insult. To be “cured” against one’s will and cured of states which we may not regard as disease is to be put on a level of those who have not yet reached the age of reason or those who never will; to be classed with infants, imbeciles, and domestic animals.â
December 3, 2021
Aye, vanity has some interesting manifestations.
December 3, 2021
Ah! The good old days when we had at least a few Ministers capable of holding their Permanent Secretary to account!
As the Tories in Heathâs old seat who sat in their hands have indicated, we have no faith now – oh and the Green Party vote indicated our love of Green Borisâ unilaterally banning all known vehicles and all knows heating (I live in the north and neighbours are just loving living without power through a mildly cold spell for a week with no end in sight).
We also really appreciate having our businesses decimated, our Christmases decimated while the State sector is in line for pay rises (not enough of course!) and Parties at Nr 10 have just never stopped.
Sir John, Iâm afraid unless you backbenchers get rid of the Johnson Government – in toto – many of us will be sitting on our hands. At least that way we can blame admitted Socialists for Socialism.
December 3, 2021
Oh Yeah
December 3, 2021
Your first post gets –
Oops! That page canât be found
Tries many times.
December 3, 2021
The first paragraph brought clearly to mind Sir Humphrey and Jim Hacker.
December 3, 2021
You say that ministers must not break the law, but as you subsequently admit, with a majority of 80, ministers can CHANGE the law. One of the most frustrating aspects of this government is its reluctance to do so. How many laws has it changed so far? Long, all-encompassing bills are not required. Just a series of short, quick, one-paragraph bills that can be pushed through parliament in 48 hours to tackle problems the instant they arise and remove legal obstacles that restrict ministers from doing what they want. Take the difficulties deporting people. All that is needed is a bill that says: “Notwithstanding all other UK laws and international treaties, foreign nationals have no right of appeal against a decision by the secretary of state to deport them. This act is not subject to judicial review”. That’s it. That’s all that is needed.
You also talk of “the court of public opinion.” But as we all know you can’t please everyone, so a government must focus on pleasing its supporters alone. Please them and they’ll vote for you again, and you’ll therefore win again. The opinion of your opponents is of no interest and no importance; they need to be totally ignored. The problem is that the government seems too stupid to understand this, and is desperate to please the Guardian-reading enemies of Britain (who will NEVER in a million years vote Conservative, no matter what the government does) rather than pleasing the average Tory voter. No wonder a recent poll showed that 11% of 2019 Tory voters now support Reform UK!
December 3, 2021
âThirdly, everything they do is subject to the court of public opinion. If they and their policies become too unpopular they may be changed.â
Really ?
I hadnât noticed this in the case of both legal and illegal immigration where at least 70% of voters want to see large reductions.
Or the way over budget HS2 which is no longer required, is environmentally unfriendly and will only be affordable by those travelling at the taxpayerâs expense.
Or the unilateral dash for total electrification by 2050 using 9th century technology – unreliable and intermittent windmills. I see the Green Party in Old Bexley & Sidcup lost their deposit.
December 3, 2021
Richard Tice confirmed on Talk Radio this morning that never, under any circumstances, would Reform UK impose a vaccine mandate on the British people.
Oliver Dowden, on behalf of the CON Party, said that the Government didn’t want to do it and he hoped it would never have to do it.
So there you are folks …… the CON Government won’t unequivocally, on a point of principle, rule out imposing compulsory “vaccines” in the UK. In other words ….. they might.
December 3, 2021
Boris is in government and in power but someone is keen to help to show him up all the time. Who organised the Xmas Party in 2020 – if you don’t want to name them that person needs investigating, were all the people at the party already in no.10 that day working all day together or not or did people come in through the evening? I’m sure hospitals, fire stations, etc where staff work together all day long had their own little pizza and cake workplace parties but this drinking into the early hours of the morning is just taking the Mickey and the people doing this need to apologise.
Your government is not going to just sweep this under the carpet, keep your heads down and hope it will blow over, Labour sniffs a Cummings moment.
December 3, 2021
I struggle to think of one competent Minister, taking their public appearances as a guide, not one of them has the ability to marshal a half decent argument to defend their policies. If they can’t put forward a cogent case for their policies to the public, what chance is there of them being able to clearly define what they want the Civil Service to do?
December 3, 2021
It seems most MP s today don’t rock the boat and speak out as SJRs commentators do otherwise they will be cold shouldered by bureaucrats and MSM plus those in the party otherwise they will miss out on promotion etc.
So we witness govt by television, sound bites, slogans, shallow group think, lost bearings, lost backbone, lost soul. The daily pantomime carries on.
Sir John is a rare therapeutic silver lining for all this thankfully.
December 3, 2021
The thing that I genuinely don’t undestand is that this government clearly DOES NOT WANT POWER. Why on earth not??? A great example is the Subsidy Control Bill currently going through parliament. This will set the UK’s rules on state aid. One of the best reasons for leaving the EU was to be free of their state aid restricttons which discriminated against the UK (and in favour of Germany and the Eastern European countries). Now that we are out of the EU we can hand out whatever state aids we want. Except that the government is setting restrictions upon itself. WHY??? Why not have complete freedom of action?
It’s true that there are WTO rules on state aids, but these are very difficult to enforce, so we can effectively ignore them. There are very few countries which would want to start a trade war with us. Also, the government stupidly agreed to some restrictions in its EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, but again, I would ignore these restrictions and let the EU try and challenge us. A conflict would allow us broaden the dispute by retaliating in other areas, such as fisheries, which would allow us to reclaim control of all our freedoms. Instead we seem to have a government of gutless morons who are happy to limit their freedom of action, and hence their power.