UK Politics - General News & Discussion

[dmereifield]

the fact that Sedwill, as Head of the Civil Service

and Cabinet Secretary and National Defence Adviser... is a busy man, as the PM said
- he can't be bothered with another messy personnel matter as he needs to get on with bigger things; also uttered by the PM

But regardless, I do hear what you say. But without this going to "court" ie. to IT we would never hear anything at all
... how much did they offer him, btw, to keep his mouth shut and to focus on gardening

Still waiting for D to express if he/she dismisses all three cases in the sin bin
- btw, it isn't referring to prison, but to the box where naughty ones are waiting to be allowed into the game
- I have a nasty feeling that all of these will disappear 'without a trace'... somehow

If D refers to me, which 3 cases are you referring to?

[Caribbean]

how much did they offer him, btw, to keep his mouth shut and to focus on gardening

I heard £10k, which is in the "piss off, you haven't got a hope in hell" category of offer, being less than the cost of briefing for a first hearing (then a junior barrister will charge £1-2k a day for Court and a Silk will charge anything up to £5-10k per day - lower for personal cases, higher for corporate). If they thought he had a case, it would have been much higher (better to spend the money on settling than to argue, give it to a lawyer, THEN have to settle).

[ArmChairCivvy]

which 3 cases are you referring to?

Use of paragraphs wasn't ideal for the clarity of my list - this 1,2,3

The Financial Times reports that Prime Minister Boris Johnson has put the idea of an inquiry into Dominic Cumming's actions to bed, despite the mounting pressure in the Conservative Party to take action."

One more addition to this sin bin:

Where's the Intelligence Committee report on Russian influence?
Priti Patel bullying cases have been buried - luckily there is (still) labour laws for the workplace in this country, so on this one we haven't heard the last of it

[ArmChairCivvy]

I heard £10k

The case will be an interesting juxtaposition for the underlying law's requirement that the employer's representative(s) have acted reasonably and what ministerial code says in the way of X, Y and Z about limits to (un)reasonable conduct.
- to test the latter in public... worth 10k? If you could sell tickets to the sessions, the takings would be more
- since this started we have had the warm up act on what is reasonable and what is unreasonable behaviour by a certain Mr. Cummings

[ArmChairCivvy]

The leader of the opposition had an interesting comment to make " “I don’t think he’s going to do anything [about Cummings] because he cannot, it seems, continue without his adviser.”

Paul Waugh's take on it: "The idea that this is a duumvirate government, with the PM and his adviser (not even the PM and his Chancellor) sharing power, is pretty damning."
- this is a partial view as the Gvmnt faces two tests: Covid and what is called 'Governance Project' for which combo the above holds

However, the other test is not to make a dog's breakfast of Brexit (the likeliest outcome), and for that one there was a triumvirate in place, and that has not changed: Boris, Gove and Frost
- everyone else is the gvmnt (in Cabinet or not) has been given the tasks of a tea boy (and, btw, not all of them like it as such, nor the concentration of power that is the underlying cause)

[dmereifield]

which 3 cases are you referring to?

Use of paragraphs wasn't ideal for the clarity of my list - this 1,2,3

The Financial Times reports that Prime Minister Boris Johnson has put the idea of an inquiry into Dominic Cumming's actions to bed, despite the mounting pressure in the Conservative Party to take action."

One more addition to this sin bin:

Where's the Intelligence Committee report on Russian influence?
Priti Patel bullying cases have been buried - luckily there is (still) labour laws for the workplace in this country, so on this one we haven't heard the last of it

Thanks for clarifying.
From.what I've read on 1 and 3, I'm satisfied with the current situation. I've not read enough on 2, but happy to give benefit of doubt.

Like any Givernment, the current Government have made mistakes, and will continue to do so. I've no blind loyalty nor inability to see it's flaws. I'm reassured that we will have the chance to fire or re-hire them, as we see fit, at the end of their term

[SW1]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52842303

The UK could offer British National (Overseas) passport holders in Hong Kong a path to UK citizenship if China does not suspend plans for a security law in the territory, UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab says.
There are 300,000 BNO passport holders in Hong Kong.
They have the right to visit the UK for up to six months without a visa.
Mr Raab's statement came after the UK, US, Australia and Canada issued joint condemnation of Beijing's plan.

I hope the offer it made and I hope those from Hong Kong don’t have to move. There change of status from uk to China should never have happened without those in Hong Kong being allowed a final say thru the ballot box.

[ArmChairCivvy]

should never have happened without those in Hong Kong being allowed a final say thru the ballot box

wasn't the one person - one vote a fairly last minute introduction to the system that had been used in HK for a long while?
- not protesting the thought; just trying to avoid rewriting history

[Scimitar54]

If China did not honour the terms of the transfer, then surely the transfer did not legally take place. Consequently China are on Hong Kong Island (Not the New Territories, which were only leased to the UK) illegally and as an aggressor. Much more sanctions are required (i.e. NO TRADE Whatsoever with the West) until the Hong Kong actions are reversed AND the artificial “Islands” are removed from the South China Sea. The dissatisfaction of the Chinese population with their “Government” might finally lead to the downfall of this despotic regime. Thank goodness the 5G decision is being re-evaluated.

[SW1]

should never have happened without those in Hong Kong being allowed a final say thru the ballot box

wasn't the one person - one vote a fairly last minute introduction to the system that had been used in HK for a long while?
- not protesting the thought; just trying to avoid rewriting history

I think it was for an elected parliament late 80s possibly but I’m not wanting to rewrite history, just think that for such a profound change they should of been asked like anyone should when there changing from being part of one country to another.

[ArmChairCivvy]

Agree; just like with Gib.

When the Japanese captured the New Territories... that was it.
When the New Territories were due to be handed back to China, the same thing (with supply of water).
- ohh, all those practicalities. Sometimes 99 years sounds like a long time

BTW, have the last Governor's memoirs, Not Quite the Diplomat: Home Truths About World Affairs on the shelf and would recommend to anybody (see the subtitle)

[ArmChairCivvy]

On Conservativehome.com Paul Goodman writes in similar vein, about Cabinet Office and Covid... and next steps in the 'Governance Project'. Let's see what similarities emerge:

Gvmnt faces two tests: Covid and what is called 'Governance Project' [for which combo the above holds]

However, the other test is not to make a dog's breakfast of Brexit (the likeliest outcome), and for that one there was a triumvirate in place, and that has not changed: Boris, Gove and Frost
- everyone else is the gvmnt (in Cabinet or not) has been given the tasks of a tea boy

AND, from Paul Goodman (Editor, ConservativeHome):

" ...Coronavirus crisis.

Evidently, the inquiry, when it comes, will see politicians, scientists and civil servants passing the parcel of blame – each hoping that the music doesn’t stop when they are holding it. “Two big parts of the state have failed to deliver on Covid,” one source said. “The first is Public Health England. The second is the Cabinet Office.” Andrew Murrison’s article on this site earlier this week was an early roll of the tumbrils for the first.

Some in government would like the guillotine to lop the head off the second. This seems already to be happening: Number Ten is preparing to absorb the implementation function in the Cabinet Office.[ Err, Brexit still needs to be implemented, and though Gove is in charge of it, just like for the Governance Project, Boris has brought in 'special forces':Frost for the former and Cummings for the latter] The Vote Leave faction preference would be to carry on where this leaves off, mirroring the post-Sajid Javid absorption of the top of the Treasury into Number Ten. Others think that moving functions to Number Ten is merely a Titanic deckchair shuffle.

“There are three main centres of power in Government,” another source told ConHome. “The Prime Minister, the Treasury and, sitting between them, the Cabinet Office. "
- that listing in itself is revealing as to why the 'special forces' are indispensable for the PM (and by implication, others less so)

[SW1]

Some reporting that the PM will give a speech on “Global Britain” later this afternoon where it’s expected DFID and FCO will be merged.

[ArmChairCivvy]

it’s expected DFID and FCO will be merged.

The integrated review probably had that in its premises, but may be some confirming was done at the early stages, before announcing.

[SW1]

it’s expected DFID and FCO will be merged.

The integrated review probably had that in its premises, but may be some confirming was done at the early stages, before announcing.

Possible i think it’s a sensible move to be honest as uk aid should be directed by it foreign policy and thru the relevant ambassadors in countries around the world who are engaged with the relevant authorities

I have thought dfids main problem is it has attempted to appear to be a sort NGO organisation rather than necessarily its function of what it does.

[Scimitar54]

Should have been abolished as a Department, with funding going 66%/34% to Defence/Foreign Office.

[Pseudo]

I hope the offer it made and I hope those from Hong Kong don’t have to move. There change of status from uk to China should never have happened without those in Hong Kong being allowed a final say thru the ballot box.

The 1981 British Nationality Act that was introduced in order to deny the right of residency in the UK to ethnic-Chinese Hong Kongers was also a contributory factor in the Argentine Junta's belief that the UK wouldn't attempt to reclaim the Falklands if they invaded.

[ArmChairCivvy]

As for how this country is being governed, esp. as for The ISC that the BBC says
" is one of Parliament's most important committees, overseeing the seven agencies and departments which make up the UK intelligence community. It sets its own agenda and can call ministers, intelligence chiefs and others to give evidence."

the best pick - BBC of course could not attach a rating, with their impartiality rqrmnt - of other than governing parties' comments goes to LibDems:

" Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael said the government "should be doing everything it possibly can to maintain public confidence", especially during the coronavirus pandemic, adding: "Behind the scenes of 10 Downing Street, it is increasingly clear that is not a priority.

"Given the prime minister has for nine months[calls for a caesarean by now ] sat on the intelligence committee report into Russian interference of our democracy, his decision to delay nominations to the committee raises serious ethical questions[err, what? Do we have an Exec Ethics Committee, to give the Parliament some leverage over the executive branch? Ohh - none such - because we don't have a constitution]."

"This unprecedented underhand behaviour is utterly reprehensible."

[ArmChairCivvy]

Quite a few parties had been asked about the 'state of affairs'. A pity that BBC omitted you and me.. the quotes might have been more colourful in language
... what do you actually think about the delay? Indeed, about the non-existence of a v important committee?

[Pseudo]

As for how this country is being governed, esp. as for The ISC that the BBC says
" is one of Parliament's most important committees, overseeing the seven agencies and departments which make up the UK intelligence community. It sets its own agenda and can call ministers, intelligence chiefs and others to give evidence."

the best pick - BBC of course could not attach a rating, with their impartiality rqrmnt - of other than governing parties' comments goes to LibDems:

" Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael said the government "should be doing everything it possibly can to maintain public confidence", especially during the coronavirus pandemic, adding: "Behind the scenes of 10 Downing Street, it is increasingly clear that is not a priority.

"Given the prime minister has for nine months[calls for a caesarean by now ] sat on the intelligence committee report into Russian interference of our democracy, his decision to delay nominations to the committee raises serious ethical questions[err, what? Do we have an Exec Ethics Committee, to give the Parliament some leverage over the executive branch? Ohh - none such - because we don't have a constitution]."

"This unprecedented underhand behaviour is utterly reprehensible."

Given Grayling's history of outright incompetence the best hope for ever seeing the Russian interference report is probably him accidentally publishing it.

[ArmChairCivvy]

Sky News has a good piece on why exporting/ importing cancer across the Atlantic gets a "free pass" when real people are restricted fro travelling: https://news.sky.com/story/nigel-farage ... e-12012928

[ArmChairCivvy]

Ohh, no-hh, more Scotland trouble:
"According to the BBC, auditors found that Lady Scotland had waived procurement rules 50 times in three years."
- it's only the Baroness, though

Lady Scotland strikes again https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-53157370
- not a good start for promoting global Britain
- if you go on manoeuvres ('Global Britain') the first thing to do is to make sure that the base from where you start is 'stable', and this episode achieves nothing of the sort

[ArmChairCivvy]

Home Office, Foreign Office and now: Cabinet Office... who will be next?

At least something constructive came out of this latest
" Sir Mark will be made a peer while he will also chair a new panel on global economic security when the UK assumes the presidency of the G7 economic group of nations."
- if post-Covid there will be a restructuring (and higher dispersion, as opposed to all ending in the same place, at the other end) of supply chains, as is desirable, then there will need to be some coordination at the policy level between the big players to avoid chaos and even further disruption
- if we going to be "he force for good" on this front, may be someone else could organise the climate meeting (which, I hear, is going nowhere. Do it by Zoom?)

[ArmChairCivvy]

Picked these two up from the BBC website, and it sort of shows that being bombastic all along makes people put a filter on.

Namely mega-projects in infrastucture were already in the manifesto (perfectly in line with what the IMF was recommending, at the time).
- but not doing adjustments would leave the wheels spinning as such big projects take years to have an impact
- so chopping the same money up, into smaller chunks, widely dispersed and more quickly started... is a good idea

"The Financial Times is sceptical about such a comparison. It says FDR's New Deal spawned mega-projects such as the Hoover Dam - while the prime minister's list of priority projects includes repairing a bridge in Sandwell."

"Paul Waugh - on the HuffPost UK website - suspects many people will be left cold by the American phrase"

[SKB]

Well, if you choose to read such leftist anti-Conservative, anti-Boris, anti-Brexit claptrap as the FT and the BBC...