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The Guardian
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Stephen Kinnock stares into the abyss as he carries can for welfare U-turn
You could have heard the cries of despair coming from Stephen Kinnock's house from the other end of the street. He had been safely tucked up in bed when he got the message from No 10 that the government was doing the mother of all U-turns on the welfare bill. The third U-turn in a month or so and by far the biggest yet. It was Kinnock's bad luck that he had been booked to do the government's morning media round. He had been told it would be a doddle. A chance to talk about better provision for people with poor mental health. The sort of good news slot a minister dreams about. Now he could forget it. No journalist would be interested in anything but the latest crisis. He would be the one left to carry the can. Even though it was really nothing to do with him. It was the price of being halfway up the food chain. Little power, but all the responsibility for the coming hours. This had better not become habit forming. He didn't want the No 10 communications team to get ideas. He wasn't about to become Labour's Mel Stride. On Radio 4's Today programme, Nick Robinson could barely contain his excitement. Nick lives for these days when everything a government tries to do comes crashing down around them. This was his idea of fun. The highlight of his Glastonbury weekend. Like headlining the Pyramid stage. He glanced into Stephen's eyes and only saw an abyss of human misery. Better and better. 'So,' said Nick, not bothering with any niceties. Like would you like some Valium? Or intravenous morphine? This late-night U-turn was a complete shitshow, wasn't it. The sign of a government in complete disarray. Stephen took a deep breath and mouthed the platitudes he had been coached to say by No 10. The U-turn wasn't a U-turn. Rather it was the sign of a positive and constructive debate. Even as the words escaped his lips, he could feel something inside him die a little. He felt grubby. Compromised. But he couldn't stop now. He was committed. His career depended on it. His ambition and self-worth on a fatal collision course. Here was the moment of weakness. Nick loved the smell of bullshit in the morning. Made it worth the 3am start. Time to go in hard. So let's think this one through, he continued. For months, No 10 had ignored the Labour backbenchers. Then they had panicked when they realised that 126 could kill off the welfare bill at second reading. First calling the backbenchers 'noises off'. Then caving in. How much worse could things get? There was a pause. Stephen was about to say: 'Hold my beer.' Instead he stared balefully at the miserable script he had been given and carried on. The chaos was a sign of order, he insisted. This was how grownup governments operated. Normally all the arguments took place at the committee stage. By having them now they were streamlining the process. Efficiency savings in action. A government delivering on its promises. Would that do? It wouldn't. Nick started to sound a little bored. This was all too easy. He had been hoping for more resistance. But Kinnock had all but caved in immediately. Still, there was more time on the clock so he might as well fill it. This wasn't about reform, it was about cost-saving. The changes in Personal Independence Payments had been inserted by the chancellor to balance the budget. 'This is about dignity and respect,' sobbed Stephen. Only just not for him. He had lost both at about the time the interview had started. So this was a pure Freudian slip. As if realising the hole he had dug for himself, he chose to throw Rachel Reeves into it as well. If he was going down, then she could go down with him. However much he was being paid to make himself look a halfwit, it wasn't nearly enough. Over to you, Rachel. You can explain where you're going to fund the £3bn the changes are going to cost. Nothing to do with me. By now the script that Kinnock had been given was drifting in and out of focus as his heart rate and blood pressure rocketed. Nothing to do but continue. The reforms would now be staggered. Another Freudian slip. He was losing control. The person doing the staggering was him. By now, only semi-conscious. Stephen Timms would be doing a review so why not ask him what he thought in a year's time. Nick went for the kill. This was the third U-turn after the winter fuel allowance and grooming gangs. Keir Starmer was more of a pushover than a leader. By now, Stephen was on autopilot. Keir was amazing. Had done great things. Was a fantastic listener. Positive and constructive. 'You're smiling,' said Nick. Sign up to Headlines UK Get the day's headlines and highlights emailed direct to you every morning after newsletter promotion 'I always smile when I come on your programme,' Kinnock replied. Especially when he had visions of doing unspeakable things to Nick. No hard feelings? Only a few … Earlier on Today, Meg Hillier had had her own mini-embarrassment as she tried to explain how she was now delighted with the changes the government had made. Meg is not one of parliament's natural troublemakers and had always been desperate for the government to meet her halfway. She had never wanted to cause a scene unless absolutely necessary and was thrilled a compromise had been found. Only halfway had turned out to be somewhat arbitrary. One rule for those already receiving benefits, another for those who may need it in a year or so. It all made sense to Meg. If no one else. In Megworld, the people with current disabilities are all that count. They should get the dosh. But it was quite right that future stroke victims should be made to suffer. The threat of less money would make them try that bit harder to dress themselves. Create aspiration in a demoralised nation. It all smacked a bit of desperation. The work and pensions secretary, Liz Kendall, sent a letter to all MPs, whose subtext was, 'Help! I don't know what I'm doing.' Meanwhile, No 10 declared it was a listening government. Everything was going entirely to plan. So that's alright then.
Powys County Times
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Isthmian League chairman honoured with Lifetime Achievement
Pitching In Isthmian League chairman Nick Robinson was thrilled and surprised in equal measure as he was honoured with the Non-League Paper Lifetime Achievement award at the National Game Awards in association with Isuzu. Robinson has had a long and storied career within non-league football, and before becoming Isthmian League chairman, he held the roles of Dulwich Hamlet general secretary between 1975 to 1982, and then Isthmian League secretary until 2005. The honour was kept secret from Robinson until the award ceremony and he expressed how humbled he was to be recognised by those who have also put many years of service into non-league football. 'I did not know anything until I heard, 'when your father was treasurer of a non-league club', that I thought, 'Oh hang on, that is me!',' he said. 'It is my 50th year in football this year, so it is amazing to receive such a recognition.' Amidst a career of dedicated service to non-league football, Robinson was quick to highlight what he believed was his biggest achievement during his time involved with the Isthmian League, which forms part of Step 3 & 4 of the National League System, alongside both the Northern Premier League and Southern League. 'It has been incredible to see the change in non-league football over those years,' he continued. 'In 1975, the Isthmian League had two divisions, now it has four divisions comprising of 88 clubs. 'We used to have elections to determine promotions, now it is all automatic, right from Step 6 up to Step 1. 'You win a league; you get a promotion. It does not depend on somebody liking you or not liking you. And I think that is the biggest achievement of all my 50 years. 'I am very proud of that. We have now got a perfect pyramid, and I am very proud that I have been a part of being able to put that in place.' The National Game Awards is a celebration of the non-league season - highlighting the community, fans, on-field, and off-field successes of the game outside of the English Football League. The ceremony is held each year by the Non-League Paper, the UK's number one selling football title and the best place for your non-league news, with this year's event held at Plough Lane - home of AFC Wimbledon And when asked whether he had any plans to step away from an active role within non-league football, Robinson was unequivocal in his response. 'No, no, no, absolutely not!' he said with a smile. 'I tried to see every club this year, and I think I failed by about three clubs, but I went to nearly 60 grounds. 'It is a commitment and sometimes you question it, but actually, I love it. 'You go along, you meet people, you shake hands with them, and you try and make a difference. 'It is all about talking to people and finding out what they want. It is not always achievable, but I will always try my best to help.'
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Isthmian League chairman honoured to receive Non-League Paper Lifetime Achievement award
By Phil Campbell, Sportsbeat Pitching In Isthmian League chairman Nick Robinson was thrilled and surprised in equal measure as he was honoured with the Non-League Paper Lifetime Achievement award at the National Game Awards in association with Isuzu. Robinson has had a long and storied career within non-league football, and before becoming Isthmian League chairman, he held the roles of Dulwich Hamlet general secretary between 1975 to 1982, and then Isthmian League secretary until 2005. The honour was kept secret from Robinson until the award ceremony and he expressed how humbled he was to be recognised by those who have also put many years of service into non-league football. 'I did not know anything until I heard, 'when your father was treasurer of a non-league club', that I thought, 'Oh hang on, that is me!',' he said. 'It is my 50th year in football this year, so it is amazing to receive such a recognition.' Amidst a career of dedicated service to non-league football, Robinson was quick to highlight what he believed was his biggest achievement during his time involved with the Isthmian League, which forms part of Step 3 & 4 of the National League System, alongside both the Northern Premier League and Southern League. 'It has been incredible to see the change in non-league football over those years,' he continued. 'In 1975, the Isthmian League had two divisions, now it has four divisions comprising of 88 clubs. 'We used to have elections to determine promotions, now it is all automatic, right from Step 6 up to Step 1. 'You win a league; you get a promotion. It does not depend on somebody liking you or not liking you. And I think that is the biggest achievement of all my 50 years. 'I am very proud of that. We have now got a perfect pyramid, and I am very proud that I have been a part of being able to put that in place.' The National Game Awards is a celebration of the non-league season - highlighting the community, fans, on-field, and off-field successes of the game outside of the English Football League. The ceremony is held each year by the Non-League Paper, the UK's number one selling football title and the best place for your non-league news, with this year's event held at Plough Lane - home of AFC Wimbledon And when asked whether he had any plans to step away from an active role within non-league football, Robinson was unequivocal in his response. 'No, no, no, absolutely not!' he said with a smile. 'I tried to see every club this year, and I think I failed by about three clubs, but I went to nearly 60 grounds. 'It is a commitment and sometimes you question it, but actually, I love it. 'You go along, you meet people, you shake hands with them, and you try and make a difference. 'It is all about talking to people and finding out what they want. It is not always achievable, but I will always try my best to help.'
The Guardian
14-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Israel's ‘no hunger in Gaza' narrative flies in face of obvious evidence
For many decades, Israel was proud of its officials' ability to defend and argue and convince around the world. The war in Gaza has seen the country's public diplomacy face its greatest test – as was made clear on Wednesday morning with a robust exchange between David Mencer, a spokesperson for the Israeli government, and Nick Robinson, a presenter of the BBC's flagship Today programme. Mencer stressed that he was speaking on behalf of the prime minister and made an uncompromising statement of Israel's arguments, including the accusation that Hamas – described as a 'genocidal death cult' – uses civilians as human shields. 'Israel faces a moral paradox right now. It's been created by Hamas. We have an opportunity to strike every military target, but when we do, we get condemned, you know, or we don't strike them, and we reward the use of human shields,' he told Robinson. But the core of the confrontation was Israel's blockade of Gaza. Here some listeners may have decided Mencer was involved in a deliberate attempt to obscure the reliably reported reality on the ground for political, ideological and strategic ends. Certainly, the key Israeli argument that there is 'no hunger in Gaza' is hard to sustain. The same goes for Mencer's accompanying claim that and there is food in Gaza, and that markets are open. It is true that there are some basics still available in the territory, even after 11 weeks of a total blockade by Israel, and that a few stalls and shops still offer some basics. But the vast majority of the 2.3 million Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip cannot afford to buy what they need to survive, and , if they could, stocks would suffice only for a tiny number. There is a limited amount of often spoiled flour, of which a standard 25kg sack costs hundreds of dollars, and of fresh food such as potatoes and tomatoes, a kilo of which costs between $10 and $15. There is no dairy and almost no meat. Free bakeries shut weeks ago for lack of fuel and flour, while community kitchens which once served 1m meals a day are closing fast. Almost all the main warehouses run by big international NGOs, such as the World Food Programme or Unrwa, are now empty. Many people are living on canned peas or dried beans, of which there is a finite supply. There are, however, thousands of tonnes of food, medicine, shelter, fuel and everything else necessary for survival ready to be sent into Gaza, but that can happen only when Israel opens the checkpoints it controls along its perimeter. It is true, as Mencer said, that a substantial amount of aid was brought in and stockpiled during the 10-week ceasefire that came into effect in mid-January, but this has all gone – and this influx did not offset the consequences of 19 months of war that has devastated agriculture, water supplies, sanitation systems and health services, leaving the population gravely weakened and vulnerable to disease. Essential medicines used to treat malnutrition are now being rationed, aid workers say, and medical supplies are running low. Then there is the obvious evidence of images of clearly malnourished people – often children. Mencer suggested that such cases may not be proof that thousands or tens of thousands of others are in the same dire condition, but a report on Monday from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a consortium of experts that has for decades advised the UN and governments, said that Palestinians living there faced 'a critical risk of famine'. The IPC, which has developed a five-level famine warning system, found that between 1 April and 10 May this year, 244,000 people in Gaza were in the most critical food security situation: level five, 'catastrophe/famine'. The IPC noted that there had been a 'major deterioration' in the food security situation in Gaza since its last assessment in October 2024. Mencer denied that Israel was using starvation as a deliberate strategy, asking why, if that was the case, would Israel have sent 'enough food aid to fill Wembley Stadium in London to the brim 80 times over' into Gaza during the conflict. But the aid allowed into Gaza through much of the 19-month conflict has been inadequate, unpredictable and subject to much-criticised bureaucratic procedures that blocked many shipments and slowed more. It was also hard to distribute given the widespread destruction and continuing violence. Almost 53,000 people have been killed since the Israeli offensive began. Sanitation systems, water supplies and health services are in ruins. Roads are choked with rubble, and bulldozers are systematically targeted by Israel, for example. Israeli officials argue that Hamas steals and sells aid to fund its military and other operations. Therefore, they say, the restriction of aid is necessary to defeat the militant Islamist organisation, which killed 1,200, mostly civilians, in its raid into Israel on 7 October 2023, and to secure the return of the 57 of the 251 hostages taken that day who are still held in Gaza. Instead, Israel has made its own plan to distribute aid from six major hubs in southern Gaza, which would be run by private contractors and defended by Israeli troops. Aid agencies say they have robust mechanisms to prevent leakage of aid, and that Hamas steals little, if any. They also say they believe the new Israeli scheme is impractical, inadequate, likely to be dangerous and is potentially unlawful as it wouyld displace hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza, forcing them into ever smaller parts if the territory. Given this, they cannot agree to cooperate with it.
BBC News
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Political Thinking with Nick Robinson comes to BBC Two as the series is extended
BBC Radio 4's Political Thinking with Nick Robinson will see its series run extended to 36 episodes, with the studio interviews airing on BBC Two regularly for the first time. The Political Thinking with Nick Robinson podcast, first established in 2017, will be broadcast in a regular lunchtime slot on BBC Two on Fridays during its run, as well as it being available on BBC iPlayer, and in its usual slot on BBC Radio 4. This a testament to the success of the podcast, most recently with former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, which was his first broadcast interview since leaving No 10. The first episode of the next series is out on Friday 9 May. In the last series, guests on Political Thinking ranged from Kim Leadbeater, the backbencher piloting Assisted Dying legislation through the Commons; the Chancellor Rachel Reeves; the president of the CBI Rupert Soames; the commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Mark Rowley to the chief inspector of prisons Charlie Taylor. Nick Robinson says: "Now more than ever there's a need to get beyond the soundbite and the shareable clip to understand what explains the views of those who shape our lives - their backgrounds, their stories, their values. I'm delighted the BBC has decided to extend my series of reflective conversations with those who influence our political thinking, now on TV as well as Radio 4 and BBC Sounds." Notes to Editors Episodes will air on BBC Two and be available on BBC Sounds and BBC iPlayer on Fridays. It will air on BBC Radio 4 on Saturdays. IA
