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The National
12 hours ago
- The National
'Spineless': Quarter of Keir Starmer's Cabinet blasted Donald Trump's last UK trip
A total of seven Cabinet ministers – including the current Foreign Secretary and Scottish Secretary – accused the US president of 'misogynism, racism and xenophobia' on the eve of his 2019 visit. A motion signed by 106 MPs before Trump's last visit poured scorn on the commander in chief, highlighting his climate-denying extremism and called on the then-prime minister Theresa May to cancel his invitation. Put forward by Stephen Doughty, now a Foreign Office minister, it also slammed Trump's comments about Sadiq Khan – who was at the time and remains Mayor of London. Trump had previously called Khan a 'stone-cold loser who should focus on crime in London' and in 2016 challenged him to take an IQ test. It comes as Trump continues his trip to Scotland, visiting his golf courses in Aberdeen and [[Aberdeen]]shire and having meetings with [[Keir Starmer]] and John Swinney. His second state visit is expected in September. Doughty's motion was sponsored by Alison McGovern, Angela Eagle and Catherine West, who are now ministers in the Department for Work and Pensions, the Home Office and the Foreign Office, respectively. Cabinet ministers who backed the scathing Trump take-down include Health Secretary Wes Streeting, Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Scottish Secretary Ian Murray and Labour Party chair Ellie Reeves (above). Also from the current Cabinet are Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens, Environment Secretary Steve Reed and Lucy Powell, the leader of the House of Commons. Additionally, 13 current ministers and Government whips signed the motion and two former ministers: Tulip Siddiq and Anneliese Dodds. The motion said the Commons 'deplores the record of US president Donald Trump, including his misogyny, racism and xenophobia'. It went on to condemn 'his previous comments on women, refugees and torture' and his 'lack of action on climate change and failure to support the Paris Climate Change Deal'. The motion concluded by noting the 'historical significance and honour that comes with the choice to offer a full state visit to an individual' and demanded that May revoke Trump's invitation. Trump's first state visit to the UK was met with immense controversy, with then-Commons speaker John Bercow making an unprecedented intervention on the matter, telling MPs: 'Before the imposition of the migrant ban, I would myself have been strongly opposed to an address by president Trump in Westminster Hall. 'After the imposition of the migrant ban, I am even more strongly opposed to an address by president Trump in Westminster Hall.' His comments were applauded by the opposition benches after saying that Parliament should demonstrate its 'opposition to racism and sexism'. The Scottish Secretary (above) last week claimed that Trump could expect a 'warm welcome' in Scotland – despite the police saying they would be managing their biggest operation, due in part to major protests, since the Queen's death. Murray said: 'The office of the president of the United States and the office of the Prime Minister are ones that work very, very closely together, and should do, because it's in our national interest to do so.' Lammy has also changed his tune dramatically on Trump since his first presidency. In 2018, the then-backbencher called Trump a 'tyrant' and 'a woman-hating, neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath'. Confronted about his past comments, following Trump's re-election, Lammy dismissed them as 'old news', claiming one would 'struggle to find any politician" who had not said some "pretty ripe things" about Trump in the past. He added: 'I think that what you say as a backbencher and what you do wearing the real duty of public office are two different things. 'And I am Foreign Secretary. There are things I know now that I didn't know back then.' Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie (above) told the Sunday National: 'Labour's capitulation to [[Donald Trump]] is spineless, unprincipled, immoral and dangerous. '[[Donald Trump]] is a dangerous authoritarian who is actively trying to dismantle democratic institutions, has threatened to invade our allies in Canada and Greenland, is advocating ethnic cleansing in Gaza, and is abducting innocent people off the street to send to foreign torture camps. 'But instead of standing up for those who are under attack, Labour have chosen to give him, in the words of Scottish Secretary Ian Murray, a 'warm welcome'. In doing so, they lend his agenda international credibility, helping him to expand it at home and abroad. 'If Labour can't even stand up against Trump, they don't stand for anything at all.' Labour were approached for comment.


North Wales Live
a day ago
- North Wales Live
Protestors demonstrate against 'shocking' solar farm proposals which could 'rip out' countryside
More than 100 protestors demonstrated against proposed, vast solar energy farms on Anglesey today. They are concerned about two plans - the Alaw Môn projects - which would reportedly produce 160MW of energy - and Maen Hir - which could produce over 350MW. The proposals by Enso Energy and Lightsource BP on Anglesey, could cover up to 3,700 acres of mostly farmland on about two per cent of the island. It is understood that Lightsource BP, who are responsible for the Maen Hir scheme, say they are still consulting with local communities, and that they appreciate the feedback they have received so far. North Wales Live has asked Enso Energy - the developers of the Alaw Môn scheme - for a statement. Today one resident Sarah Pye, a mother-of-two from Rhos-Goch in the north of the island, addressed the demonstrators in Llangefni in Welsh and English. She told them: "We live in the area of the Lightsource BP solar development known as Maen Hir. "Not only will our view be turned from green to black but they want to rip out our land and put a cable through it. My partner and I have spent the last four years rewilding our land and planting over 4,000 trees to create a mini-forest in Rhos-Goch. "Additionally, we have put all of our life savings into creating a tourism business to make our dream of living in a smallholding a reality. (But) out of the blue we received letters from Lightsource BP wanting to survey our land. "They decided that they may want to use our land for a solar development. You can imagine what a shock that was to us. We had no idea that four years ago this was a development plan not just for Rhos-Goch but for Anglesey too." Ms Pye also warned that if proposals are approved tourists could stay away, "Would you go on holiday to an island covered in black solar panels?" she asked. Ms Pye said she learned through Plaid Cymru members and others that in fact two solar farms were proposed which was a "shock". But she met some amazing people and formed the "No More Solar Farms Ynys Mon Group". Also today Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth said he is worried about the plans to "exploit" Anglesey. "We are very concerned here on Anglesey about the exploitation that is being planned by companies that are going to make a profit of millions of pounds from stealing our fertile agricultural land," said Mr Iorwerth, who is also MS for Ynys Mon. "There are other more innovative ways of producing solar energy - on our terms here in Anglesey. There is a recent example of using a solar cover in the county council car park, for example." Others to address the protestors today included Plaid Cymru MP for Ynys Mon Llinos Medi and Gareth Winston Roberts, who lives near the proposed site of the Maen Hir scheme. He said he wasn't against solar energy but added: "We are losing our young people from Anglesey, and so we want to secure work in Anglesey - we are talking about Dryweryn here on the Anglesey of Mother Wales." Get the best island stories from our Anglesey newsletter - sent every Friday On the Alaw Mon proposal, Enso Energy claim on their website the park would power 33,935 homes and create 160MW of solar generation, providing renewable electricity for distribution to the National Grid. An underground cable would connect the solar farm and battery energy storage facility to the substation at Wylfa Power Station. Enso Energy has said: "We will use existing farm access points at Nantanog, Chwaen Gach, Chwaen Bach and Tan Rallt to access the site during construction, which we anticipate will take 12 months, and operation." According to Enso Energy, the 160MW plan would produce enough electricity to meet the needs of all the homes on the island. Lightsource BP's intention is to erect the solar panels across three sites, which would produce enough green energy to support over 130,000 homes. The Maen Hir development would reportedly be almost five times larger than the largest active solar farm in the UK.

South Wales Argus
a day ago
- South Wales Argus
£5m investment secured for Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal
The Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal which runs from Brecon to Cwmbran has sparked tonnes of debate. Concerns the canal was going to 'dry up' after a period of extreme hot weather experienced this year and new charges surrounding water licensing regulations led to campaigners 'upping the ante.' Campaigners took their message of 'Save The Mon and Brec' to the Senedd where a debate was held on July 9. Now, the Welsh Government have pledged to help preserve the canal. Protesters outside the Senedd campaigning to save the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal (Image: NQ) £5 million is being invested to upgrade a pumping station in Brecon to help support the current water supply arrangement and possibly extend it. A formal statement made on July 17 by Huw Irranca-Davies, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs reads: 'I intend to prioritise capital funding of up to £5m within my budget to upgrade the pumping station, which is supporting the current temporary agreement. 'I have asked my officials to engage immediately with Dŵr Cymru to progress the necessary works this year. I hope this will provide the basis for the arrangement to be put on a longer-term footing. This is a significant indication of Welsh Government commitment to the future of the canal.' Protesters outside the Senedd campaigning to save the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal (Image: NQ) Campaigners are overwhelmed by the news and reaction has been strong. Activist group Preserve and Protect issued the following statement: 'The Welsh Government announced that "it intends to prioritise capital funding of up to £5m within its budget to upgrade the pumping station, which is supporting the current temporary agreement. 'This is great news for the Mon & Brec canal and is as a direct result of everyone's campaigning, the petition, and the Senedd rally.' Inland Waterways Wales said: 'IWA hugely welcomes Huw Irranca-Davies's statement yesterday on the future of the Mon & Brec. Our campaign along with Preserve & Protect The Mon & Brec Canal & others has seen results. 'This emergency Welsh Gov funding is a first piece of the puzzle. The Task & Finish Group must act faster now for a fair, lasting solution. 'The Mon & Brec is vital to communities, boaters, businesses & wildlife. It deserves a future as rich as its past.' Protesters outside the Senedd campaigning to save the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal (Image: NQ) The Canal and Rivers Trust argued that more long-term solution surrounding water licensing should be introduced. It said: 'The Canal & River Trust notes that the upgrade of this asset will not address the cost and operational issues for the Trust itself that are the consequence of the new licence conditions. These issues must be addressed to secure the future of the canal. 'The Deputy First Minister has, however, also acknowledged that the group working on longer-term solutions must 'identify how any capital works and ongoing costs of the water supplied will be met', noting that this will require a collective endeavour. 'The Trust welcomes this commitment. The Trust will continue to champion the beautiful 'Mon & Brec' and everything it offers, and urges all those involved to work together to secure its long-term future.' Since 2017, the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal has been required to hold a water abstraction licence to draw water from the River Usk — a resource it had used freely for over two centuries. Now, under new licensing rules, the Canal and River Trust Wales must liaise with Natural Resources Wales to extract water. The charity is struggling with water charges reportedly reaching tens of thousands of pounds per week. In April, an emergency water supply agreement was reached between the Canal and River Trust and Welsh Water, but it was made clear that this solution is only temporary. The future of the canal remains uncertain.