Latest news with #LabourGovernment
Telegraph
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Stop panicking about asylum hotels, Sir Keir. I've got the perfect solution
Three years ago, Ron DeSantis – the Republican governor of Florida – decided that he was sick of his state being deluged by asylum seekers. And he was even more sick of being lectured by rich liberals who were always loudly supportive of mass immigration, while living in neighbourhoods that were largely untouched by its downsides. So he came up with a little idea. He assembled a group of asylum seekers who'd arrived in Florida, and kindly arranged for them all to receive one-way flights to Martha's Vineyard: a fashionable part of New England that is home to lots of rich liberal celebrities. You may be astonished to learn that, in liberal circles, Mr DeSantis's plan was met with horrified fury. Not, of course, because these liberals don't like asylum seekers, and were appalled by the prospect of having to share their beautiful neighbourhoods with them. It was merely because they felt it was callous and inhumane of Mr DeSantis to use vulnerable people as pawns in a cynical political game. That was all. Important to make that clear. Anyway, there's a reason I bring this story up. Here in Britain, our Labour Government has got itself into a bit of bother. Earlier this month, it pledged to end the use of asylum hotels by 2029. But now David Bolt, the chief inspector of borders and immigration, has said: 'I don't think it will be achieved, frankly.' Luckily for Labour, I'm here to save the day. As we know, asylum hotels are, for some mysterious reason, almost always found in areas that are home to people who are not very well-off, and unhappy about mass immigration. Yet strangely few are found in areas that are home to people who are well-off, and love mass immigration. So why not take a leaf from Mr DeSantis's book? Remove all the asylum seekers from their hotels – and instead put them up in places that are full of rich liberals. Branches of Soho House, say, or BBC headquarters. Admittedly this might take some time to arrange. So, for this weekend at least, the Government could just bus them all into the Glastonbury festival. A perfect solution that will please everyone. It's just a wonder that Labour didn't think of it sooner. Nigel versus the Nats I don't know how many Telegraph readers also take The National, the newspaper that, in the proud words of its masthead, 'supports an independent Scotland'. But for those who weren't lucky enough to get hold of yesterday's extraordinary edition, here's what you missed. On its front page were two stories. And both were about Nigel Farage's Reform UK. The main story was headlined: 'BBC Called Out Over Question Time Slot for Reform Man.' And its opening sentence was: 'The BBC's decision to platform Reform UK in Scotland when the Right-wing party has no elected members has been branded 'bizarre'.' The other story, however, was headed: 'Poll Suggests Farage's Party Would Gain First Scottish MPs.' This was followed by the alarmed subhead: 'Our analysis finds Reform would also take second place in 16 constituencies and third in a staggering 37.' So, to summarise: Reform is an overhyped electoral irrelevance that doesn't deserve any airtime in Scotland, because it's so pathetically unpopular there. Yet it's also an existential threat to everything Scotland holds dear, because it's so terrifyingly popular there. This presents us with a profound philosophical conundrum. Because it would seem that Mr Farage has created the political equivalent of Schrödinger's cat. A party that's simultaneously both dead and alive. He's achieved some remarkable things in his career, but this surely trumps the lot.
South Wales Argus
12 hours ago
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
MS says government should support Monmouthshire farmers
Bluetongue, a disease spread by midges, affects sheep and cattle but poses no risk to humans. The new regulations put in place by the Welsh Government will prevent livestock from England from entering Wales. This move is expected to impact normal trading practices. Peter Fox, Member of the Senedd for Monmouth, voiced his worries regarding these restrictions. He said: "These new regulations will cause huge financial problems for farmers, but they will not keep Bluetongue out of Wales. "We should align with England's restricted zone policy with increased vaccinations to avoid unnecessarily harming the farming community further." Mr Fox also highlighted the resultant decline in livestock at the Royal Welsh Agricultural Show, an event hailed as one of Europe's leading agricultural exhibitions. Further criticism was directed at the Labour Government, with Mr Fox stating: "I am disappointed that once again, Welsh Labour are abandoning our farmers, we need to support farmers in Monmouthshire." Huw Irranca-Davies, deputy First Minister with responsibility for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, addressed the situation with the disease. He said: "My goal at this stage remains to keep Bluetongue out of Wales for the benefit of our animals and those who keep them. "The economic and farmer well-being concerns caused by dealing with severe Bluetongue are first and foremost in my mind." He also expressed his willingness to review and adapt the current policies, should the situation change. "Our shared priority over the coming weeks is to promote vaccine take-up," he added.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
'Britain has gone to hell': Norwegian shipping tycoon who is one of Britain's richest men says he's moving his businesses out of London after Labour's non-dom tax raid
The UK's ninth richest billionaire John Fredriksen has moved his business out of London following Labour's controversial non-dom tax raid. The Norwegian-born shipping tycoon said 'Britain had gone to hell' after it emerged he had closed the Sloane Square headquarters of one of his private businesses -Seatankers Management. It is the latest worrying sign of the huge exodus of wealth from the capital and comes after the UK suffered its biggest ever fall in billionaires on record. The Labour Government abolished the non-dom tax status in April, which is where UK residents whose permanent home or domicile for tax purposes is outside the country. Mr Fredriksen, 81, who has an estimated wealth of around £13.7 billion, has been critical of Britain's poor economic prospects. He is now said to be spending most of his time running his business empire from the United Arab Emirates. Mr Fredriksen told Norwegian title E24 at a shipping event in Oslo earlier this month: 'It's starting to remind me more and more of Norway. 'Britain has gone to hell, like Norway.' He added: 'The entire Western world is on its way down.' 'People should get up and work even more, and go to the office instead of having a home office.' The oil tanker magnate, who owns one of London's most prestigious private homes in Chelsea, left Norway in 1978. He first got into oil trading in the 1960s in Beirut, before buying his first tankers in the 1970s. Mr Fredriksen made his fortune during the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s, and in 2001 bought up the Grade II listed riverside Chelsea mansion for £37million. Then in 2004, he reportedly turned down former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich's £100million offer for the house. It is now estimated to be worth a whopping £250million. Last month, it was revealed that the UK has suffered the biggest fall in billionaires on record. The number dropped to 156 this year from 165 in 2024, representing the sharpest decline in the Sunday Times Rich List's 37-year-history. It came after the Autumn Budget last year included several controversial tax changes. Since April, employers have had to start paying higher National Insurance contributions for their staff. Rachel Reeves, backed by Sir Keir Starmer, also made changes to capital gains tax and inheritance tax. 'Our billionaire count is down and the combined wealth of those who feature in our research is falling,' Robert Watts, compiler of the Rich List, said when it was published last month. 'We are also finding fewer of the world's super rich are coming to live in the UK.' He said he was also 'struck by the strength of criticism for Rachel Reeves's Treasury' when speaking to wealthy individuals for the publication. Mr Watts said: 'We expected the abolition of non-dom status would anger affluent people from overseas. 'But homegrown young tech entrepreneurs and those running centuries-old family firms are also warning of serious consequences to a range of tax changes unveiled in last October's budget.'
North Wales Chronicle
2 days ago
- Politics
- North Wales Chronicle
Police's disposal of miners' strike documents ‘deeply worrying'
Information related to the so-called Battle of Orgreave is said to be among the two boxes which were disposed of by the force in April 2024. Lucy Powell said anyone involved in the strikes 'must retain the records' and come forward with information when asked to, after Labour MP Ian Lavery raised concerns in the Commons. In its manifesto, the Labour Party pledged to ensure, through an investigation or inquiry, 'that the truth about the events at Orgreave comes to light'. The violent confrontation in June 1984 outside a coking plant in Orgreave, South Yorkshire, led to many miners being injured and arrested, although their trials later collapsed. Speaking during business questions, Mr Lavery said it was 'extremely disturbing news that Northumbria Police has destroyed all documents relating to the miners' strike, including Orgreave'. The MP for Blyth and Ashington said: 'It is absolutely alarming. 'The Labour Government have pledged an inquiry through investigation into these events, yet the wanton destruction of this vital and critical evidence has been allowed to happen. 'Is this a sinister attempt to obscure justice? I'm not sure if anybody is prepared to answer that question. 'Who gave the permission to destroy these documents and what's behind it? 'Can we have an urgent debate into how the Government can instruct all police forces, all authorities, everyone that holds any detail on the miners' strike and on Orgreave (to) make sure that they retain and maintain that evidence, for when the Labour Government maintains its pledge for an inquiry into the events that happened in 1984. 'Because justice cannot be served if the evidence is systematically and deliberately destroyed.' Ms Powell replied: 'This sounds like a deeply, deeply worrying development in this case, and I am sure the whole House will be shocked to hear it. 'He has campaigned for justice and for answers in relation to what happened at Orgreave, 41 years ago, raised it with me last week. I will continue to raise that with ministers on his behalf. 'And I would join him in saying to people, anyone involved, that they must retain the records and they must come forward, as they would be expected to do when those questions are asked, with every bit of information they've got on what happened.' News of the destroyed boxes came to light following a freedom of information request from Joe Diviney, a PhD researcher at the University of Sheffield, the Guardian reports. A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: 'We can confirm two boxes containing data in relation to the miners' strike were disposed of in April 2024 following a formal review, retain or disposal process in line with force policy and the Data Protection Act 2018.'
Leader Live
2 days ago
- Politics
- Leader Live
Police's disposal of miners' strike documents ‘deeply worrying'
Information related to the so-called Battle of Orgreave is said to be among the two boxes which were disposed of by the force in April 2024. Lucy Powell said anyone involved in the strikes 'must retain the records' and come forward with information when asked to, after Labour MP Ian Lavery raised concerns in the Commons. In its manifesto, the Labour Party pledged to ensure, through an investigation or inquiry, 'that the truth about the events at Orgreave comes to light'. The violent confrontation in June 1984 outside a coking plant in Orgreave, South Yorkshire, led to many miners being injured and arrested, although their trials later collapsed. Speaking during business questions, Mr Lavery said it was 'extremely disturbing news that Northumbria Police has destroyed all documents relating to the miners' strike, including Orgreave'. The MP for Blyth and Ashington said: 'It is absolutely alarming. 'The Labour Government have pledged an inquiry through investigation into these events, yet the wanton destruction of this vital and critical evidence has been allowed to happen. 'Is this a sinister attempt to obscure justice? I'm not sure if anybody is prepared to answer that question. 'Who gave the permission to destroy these documents and what's behind it? 'Can we have an urgent debate into how the Government can instruct all police forces, all authorities, everyone that holds any detail on the miners' strike and on Orgreave (to) make sure that they retain and maintain that evidence, for when the Labour Government maintains its pledge for an inquiry into the events that happened in 1984. 'Because justice cannot be served if the evidence is systematically and deliberately destroyed.' Ms Powell replied: 'This sounds like a deeply, deeply worrying development in this case, and I am sure the whole House will be shocked to hear it. 'He has campaigned for justice and for answers in relation to what happened at Orgreave, 41 years ago, raised it with me last week. I will continue to raise that with ministers on his behalf. 'And I would join him in saying to people, anyone involved, that they must retain the records and they must come forward, as they would be expected to do when those questions are asked, with every bit of information they've got on what happened.' News of the destroyed boxes came to light following a freedom of information request from Joe Diviney, a PhD researcher at the University of Sheffield, the Guardian reports. A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: 'We can confirm two boxes containing data in relation to the miners' strike were disposed of in April 2024 following a formal review, retain or disposal process in line with force policy and the Data Protection Act 2018.'
