Can Anyone in Britain Run a Government?
The recent farce over welfare reform was another demonstration that Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves aren't particularly good at their jobs. Yet, shortly before them, we had two of the worst prime ministers in our long history: Liz Truss and Boris Johnson. Only 12% of Britons believe that the government consistently prioritizes the nation's interests over party politics, according to a June 25 report by the National Centre for Social Research on public attitudes following last year's general election. Some 58% said that they 'almost never' trust politicians of any party to tell the truth when they're 'in a tight corner.'
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Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Talks to finalise US steel tariff exemption ongoing as deadline due to pass
Government talks to finalise the deal to spare the UK from US steel tariffs are ongoing, Downing Street has said, as the deadline for the levies to come into force is due to pass and the steel industry called for a 'swift' resolution. President Donald Trump has said he plans to start implementing tariffs on the US's trade partners on July 9. The UK has already managed to negotiate a deal with the US which eliminates the threat of tariffs for British car and aeroplane manufacturers. But a reprieve for the steel industry is yet to be finalised, leaving open the threat that the current 25% tariff rate could rise to 50% after the deadline. Mr Trump is reportedly stepping up pressure on countries who could soon be subject to the tariffs, urging them to negotiate trade deals with the US. But amid signs of confusion within the US administration, trade secretary Howard Lutnick has suggested America's trade partners will see the levies begin on August 9, after receiving a letter outlining them on July 9. Mr Trump told his cabinet that negotiating trade deals was 'too time-consuming' so he was sending out letters to countries detailing tariff rates. In a post on Truth Social on Tuesday night, he said letters to 'a minimum of 7 Countries' would be released on Wednesday morning with more in the afternoon, although he gave no indication of which countries would be receiving the letters. Gareth Stace, director general at industry body UK Steel, said: 'A swift and positive resolution is needed to safeguard jobs, unlock growth, and restore confidence in the UK steel sector.' Downing Street said on Tuesday that discussions are ongoing between UK and US officials to secure 0% tariffs on core steel imports to the US. A Number 10 spokesman said: 'As we've said before, this is something that we continue to discuss with the US, just as we did with aero and auto, and those discussions will continue.' Asked if the Government understands the frustration of British steel workers, he said they want to see the deal in force 'as soon as possible'. The spokesman added: 'We obviously want to see this deal in force as soon as possible. That remains our priority. 'But as we've said before and set out, the Government remains relentlessly focused on making sure British businesses can feel the benefits of the deal as soon as possible.' Sign in to access your portfolio
Forbes
3 hours ago
- Forbes
Campaign Group Hopes Wimbledon Expansion Plans Are Called Out
As Great Britain's Cameron Norrie prepared to be a huge underdog against the heavy favorite Carlos Alcaraz on Centre Court today, a group of 100 or so campaigners from the Save Wimbledon Park group made their presence felt outside the High Court in London to protest against the All England Club's $270 million expansion plans for the Wimbled site. The campaigners have raised over £200,000 ( $253,000) to bring a judicial review of t of The Greater London Authority's decision to rubberstamp AELTC plans to build 39 courts, including an 8,000 seater show court. The hearing takes places on July 8 and 9, just as the business end of the Championships begins to take shape. The last four days of the tournament are taking place in temperatures touching 30 degrees as the latest stage of the battle over the expansion heat up in the Royal Courts of Justice. Most of the park lies within Merton but a small triangle falls into neighboring borough Wandsworth whose councillors rejected the expansion plans. This meant the umpire's chair on decision-making was referred to the London mayoral office. The plan was given the go-ahead by the Greater London Authority last September (GLA) whose deputy major, Jules Pipe, pronounced it would bring 'significant benefits.' Although the GLA acknowledged there would be harm to open metropolitan land and a loss of green space, the estimated $450 million in annual and economic benefits, mostly centred within London, was a huge factor in pushing it through. Save Wimbledon Park's challenge is not based around the permission of the project, but rather centers on 'errors of law and planning policy' in giving it approval. Metropolitan open land is subject to the same protection as green belt and campaigners argue that to give the green light would pave the way for more private commercial developments to trample over other vulnerable spaces. The sitting judge will also make a decision on whether neglect of the Grade II* registered Park and Garden, a significant heritage site, should have been considered when making the planning decision. It will evaluate whether the proposed private tennis development falls short in offering an 'alternative sports and recreational' space for public use. The AELTC originally submitted the plans in 2021, having finalizing the purchase of the $80,000 leasehold of the former Wimbledon Park Golf Club. It aims to increase ground capacity to 50,000 and bring the qualifying week (currently played at a leased ground in Roehampton three miles away) onsite to give the tournament continuity and quality in terms of player and spectator experience for the whole three weeks. Wimbledon is the only major that doesn't hold qualifying within the same complex. The All England Club has always maintained that the greater benefits of the project outweigh the environmental impacts. The club has held numerous walkthroughs of the site with the general public and maintain feedback from forums have been hugely positive about the prospect of a new accessible boardwalk around Wimbledon Park Lake, and community use of the proposed new courts and facilities. Speaking to me about the overall picture, Corporate Communications Director of the AELTC Dominic Foster reiterated what he told me last year: 'Our plans to transform what has been a private members golf course for more than 100 years will maintain Wimbledon's position at the pinnacle of sport and create year round benefits for local people. The proposals will deliver very significant biodiversity benefits which are endorsed by the London Wildlife Trust.' During the first week of Wimbledon, campaigners were handing out leaflets that were entitled 'Love Tennis. Hate Concrete'. SWP claim that the entire area of expansion would be heavily excavated, leading to a 36 per cent loss of biodiversity, a destruction of wildlife and air pollution from construction lorries. 'You could not have a more protected piece of land in London,' said Sascha White KC, representing Save Wimbledon Park. When it acquired the freehold of Wimbledon Park Golf Course in 1993, the AELTC entered into an agreement with Merton Council 'preventing the use of the land otherwise than for leisure or recreation purposes or as an open space.' SWP believe that the land should be held in some kind of public trust 'requiring it to be kept available for (public) recreational use' in line with the whole of the Park and lake Russell Harris KC, representing the All England Club, countered by arguing that planning officers acknowledged the trust and covenants, but decided they were not material to the application. He said the GLA could legally grant permission "even if the development is incompatible with a different, non-planning restriction on the use of the land". A written decision on is expected some time in the next few weeks as this latest saga on Wimbledon's expansion moves towards match point or a deadlock. If SWP's action is successful on any of its main points, the planning application will be sent back for reconsideration. The campaign has called it a 'David and Goliath' battle. Alcaraz was the giant on the tennis court today with Norrie resigned to his fate. The AELTC are confident of victory but Save Wimbledon Park.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Starmer and Macron to meet at No 10 amid push for French help on small boats
Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron will hold talks at No 10 as the UK pushes for France to do more to stop migrant crossings. The French president arrived on Tuesday for the first state visit by an EU head of state since Brexit. It comes as the UK has been pressing for tougher action from the French authorities on the beaches along the Channel coast. The Prime Minister hopes to strike a 'one in, one out' deal to send small boat migrants back to the continent, in exchange for the UK accepting asylum seekers in Europe who have a British link. Alongside Downing Street talks, Sir Keir and Mr Macron are also expected to attend a reception with UK and French businesses and an event at the British Museum on Wednesday. Their spouses, Brigitte Macron and Lady Victoria Starmer, will have tea and a tour of Downing Street together, followed by all four having lunch. While they are being hosted by the King at Windsor, the Macrons will lay flowers on the tomb of Queen Elizabeth II and see Fabuleu de Maucour, a horse the French president gave Elizabeth in 2022 to mark her Platinum Jubilee. In a speech to MPs and peers on Tuesday, Mr Macron promised to deliver on measures to cut the number of migrants crossing the English Channel, describing the issue as a 'burden' to both countries. He said France and the UK have a 'shared responsibility to address irregular migration with humanity, solidarity and fairness'. Decisions at a Franco-British summit on Thursday will respond to 'our aims for co-operation and tangible results on these major issues', Mr Macron added. Last week, the total number of people crossing the Channel in small boats this year passed 20,000. The total now stands at more than 21,000, a record for this point in the year. Sir Keir and the French president are also expected to co-host a meeting of the 'coalition of the willing', the peacekeeping mission proposed to be deployed to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire with Russia.
