Minister defends Rachel Reeves’ China journey amid market turmoil – UK politics dwell | Politics
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Lisa Nandy says chancellor’s go to to China is ‘proper and correct’
Tradition secretary Lisa Nandy has defended chancellor Rachel Reeves’ resolution to go to China amid turbulence within the economic system as being “proper and correct”.
Talking on the BBC Radio 4 Right now programme, Nandy mentioned fluctuations affecting the bond market and the pound have been a part of “a world development that we’ve seen affecting economies everywhere in the world.”
“Charges rise and fall,” she mentioned. “We’ve seen it, most notably in the USA.”
Nandy continued:
We’re assured that we’re taking each the brief time period motion to stabilise the economic system, but additionally the long run motion that’s essential to get the economic system rising once more.
That’s why, from my standpoint, and I believe many others, it’s completely proper and correct that the chancellor is taking severely our relationship with the world’s second largest economic system, and is in China this weekend.
Key occasions
11 councils in England ask authorities to postpone native elections – studies
PA Media studies that it understands 11 councils in England have requested for his or her native elections to be postponed.
They embody Surrey, Oxfordshire, Devon and Norfolk county councils, which have all voted to push their elections again.
Worcestershire, Hampshire, Kent, Gloucestershire and Thurrock have additionally requested postponements.
Native authorities have till Friday to request permission from the federal government to postpone their elections, after plans to abolish two-tier council areas have been introduced in December, as a part of Labour’s proposals to devolve extra energy away from Westminster.
Liberal Democrat chief Ed Davey has been out on the Friday afternoon photograph path once more, this time with a go to to the Burwell Print Centre in Burwell, Cambridge, which describes itself as “a social enterprise that gives fulfilling work and social experiences for adults with extra wants”.
Davey has additionally spoken to PA Media about Elon Musk. He instructed the information company:
He has mentioned that America ought to substitute our authorities. I’m afraid it’s British individuals on the poll field that determine that, not the richest man on the planet who occurs to be near the following president of the US and who has this social media platform. I believe these highly effective individuals must be held to account.
The Liberal Democrats champion free speech. However when the richest man on the planet owns a platform that he distorts to advertise his views and prevents different individuals talking, he isn’t a champion of free speech, he’s an opponent of free speech.
Ellie Chowns, the Inexperienced Social gathering of England and Wales MP for North Herefordshire, has additionally responded to knowledge exhibiting 2024 was the world’s hottest 12 months, calling it a “wake-up name”.
Chowns mentioned “The brand new EU Copernicus report is a wake-up name: 2024 was the warmest 12 months ever, at 1.62°C above preindustrial ranges. We’re crossing harmful thresholds.
“We should part out fossil fuels, act urgently on decarbonisation, and spend money on adaptation. The time is now.”
Earlier get together co-leader Carla Denyer cautioned that world leaders have been “sleepwalking” right into a “lethal new future” and demanded that Keir Starmer revoke lately issued North Sea oil and gasoline drilling licences.
Swinney: ‘we’re all paying the worth’ of Labour’s insurance policies
First minister John Swinney has mentioned “we’re all paying the worth” of Labour’s insurance policies.
In a social media put up, the SNP chief mentioned:
Labour’s straitjacket on tax, their hike in employers’ nationwide insurance coverage, and their refusal to rejoin the EU single market have all stifled progress which we so badly want. They ignored each warning, and now we’re all paying the worth.
Prof Alexis Jay to look earlier than Commons Residence Affairs committee on 21 January
Prof Alexis Jay, who led the impartial inquiry into youngster sexual abuse, will seem earlier than the Commons Residence Affairs Committee on 21 January. The inquiry’s secretary, John O’Brien, may even seem.
PA Media studies committee chair Karen Bradley mentioned: “We now have a duty to make sure that the outcomes of complete public inquiries arrange by authorities are acted upon.”
The Conservative, who has been MP for Staffordshire Moorlands since 2010, continued:
For too lengthy, youngsters have been failed by those that ought to have been defending them.
We’re holding this session to know how the federal government and the completely different establishments inside the remit of the inquiry have responded to its findings.
We need to see if there was progress within the wide-ranging change wanted to implement a complete youngster security framework, and what extra must be achieved.
Prof Jay has beforehand expressed dissatisfaction on the failure to place the report’s suggestions into place. It was printed when Liz Truss was prime minister. The brand new Labour authorities has dedicated to implement them in full.
No 10 insists UK has ample power provide regardless of ‘concerningly low’ gasoline storage ranges
Jillian Ambrose
Jillian Ambrose is the Guardian’s power correspondent
The UK has sufficient gasoline and electrical energy to fulfill demand this winter, the federal government has insisted, after the corporate that owns the nation’s gasoline shops mentioned ranges had grow to be “concerningly low” amid the present chilly snap.
Centrica, which additionally owns British Fuel, mentioned on Friday that its inventories had fallen by half since early November, to 1 / 4 under the place gasoline storage ranges have been on the similar time final 12 months.
The corporate blamed the decline to lower than every week’s price of gasoline – it normally shops a fortnight’s price – on the early begin to a colder than regular winter throughout the UK and excessive costs within the world wholesale market.
A No 10 spokesperson mentioned: “We’re assured we could have a ample gasoline provide and electrical energy capability to fulfill demand this winter, because of our various and resilient power system.
“We converse recurrently with the nationwide power system operator to watch our power safety, and guarantee they’ve all instruments at their disposal if wanted to safe our provide.”
Learn extra right here: No 10 insists UK has ample power provide regardless of ‘concerningly low’ gasoline storage ranges
Denyer: ‘leaders are sleepwalking’ after knowledge reveals hottest 12 months on report
Carla Denyer, the co-leader of the Inexperienced Social gathering of England and Wales, has accused world leaders of “sleepwalking” right into a “lethal new future” and demanded that Keir Starmer revoke lately issued North Sea oil and gasoline drilling licences.
She issued the assertion after knowledge from the EU’s Copernicus Local weather Change Service (C3S) confirmed that the typical temperature in 2024 was 1.6C above preindustrial ranges, representing ranges of warmth by no means skilled by trendy people. She mentioned:
This information comes as uncontrollable wildfires rage in Los Angeles, and simply months after unprecedented flooding in Spain killed over 200 individuals.
The goal of limiting warming to under 1.5 levels was an try to forestall the deadliest results of the local weather disaster. Breaching that restrict is catastrophic for humanity – and but our leaders are sleepwalking into this lethal new future.
We have to massively pace up the transition away from fossil fuels – that’s the backside line. In a world of 1.5 diploma warming it’s unconscionable that the federal government remains to be letting some new North Sea oil and gasoline drilling go forward – Starmer should revoke these consents and licenses instantly.
However we additionally want to start out enthusiastic about how we make our communities extra resilient within the face of the acute climate that’s now unavoidable. From flooding to excessive warmth, our houses and neighbourhoods must be match for the longer term.
Labour’s MP for Mid & South Pembrokeshire, Henry Tufnell, has simply issued a protracted assertion saying he has been “deeply saddened” by what he referred to as “deceptive and inflammatory claims” about his participation within the parliamentary vote on Wednesday.
Conservatives tried to kill the federal government’s youngster wellbeing and faculties invoice by tabling an modification that will power a nationwide grooming and rape gangs inquiry, blocking the invoice on the similar time. The modification was defeated by 364 votes to 111, a majority of 253.
Tufnell, in a collection of posts to social media, mentioned:
Let me be completely clear: the protection of kids and making certain justice for victims of those appalling crimes is a trigger I maintain extremely near my coronary heart.
The latest vote was not about turning a blind eye or denying justice to victims of grooming gangs. It was about making certain that our efforts to deal with these heinous crimes are targeted and efficient.
Over the previous 10 years, a number of thorough investigations – together with the Alexis Jay Report into youngster exploitation in Rotherham and the impartial inquiry into youngster sexual abuse – have highlighted systemic failings and led to important reforms within the justice system.
If there’s consensus from victims or survivors calling for a brand new inquiry, we should pay attention fastidiously. Any resolution on additional investigations needs to be knowledgeable by their voices and wishes, making certain that it provides worth to the work already achieved and delivers significant outcomes.
What issues most is motion. Many suggestions from current inquiries stay unfulfilled, and it’s vital that we prioritise implementing these modifications to guard susceptible youngsters and convey perpetrators to justice. We can not permit delays or rhetoric to face in the way in which.
This isn’t about scoring factors; it’s about standing up for victims, holding establishments accountable, and making certain the load of the legislation is utilized to those that commit such horrific crimes. I stay dedicated to those ideas and can proceed to work for justice for all.
Let’s stay targeted on what actually issues: delivering justice for victims and survivors, and making certain that youngsters and ladies in our communities are protected from hurt.
Earlier this morning a brand new YouGov ballot, commissioned by the Girls’s Coverage Centre, reported that 76% of British individuals wish to see a brand new nationwide inquiry. That has been picked up on social media by the Reform UK chief Nigel Farage in addition to shadow house secretary Chris Philp.
Philp, who endured a torrid time when being interviewed by Cathy Newman on Channel 4 on Wednesday over his earlier silence on the difficulty in parliament, posted to social media to say “Victims, independent-minded Labour figures similar to Andy Burnham, and now the general public. All are saying the identical factor. Starmer and the Labour authorities ought to pay attention and maintain the correct nationwide Inquiry we’d like.”
Downing Road has issued read-outs of two diplomatic calls that prime minister Keir Starmer has had in the present day, with Kristen Michal the prime minister of Estonia and with president Alexander Stubb of Finland.
Each read-outs are broadly related, stating that Starmer mentioned with them the problems of undersea cable safety and help for Nato and Ukraine.
The read-outs additionally explicitly talked about Starmer’s want for a “reset” of relations with the EU, stating that with Stubb “the leaders mentioned the UK’s EU reset, and talked about ambitions for nearer financial and safety ties between the UK and the EU,” whereas with Michal the main target was “on ambitions for a fair stronger relationship via the UK’s reset with the EU.”
Plaid Cymru is constant its marketing campaign in the present day for cash it claims is owed to the Welsh funds over the HS2 railway.
Chief Rhun ap Iorwerth mentioned “Wales’ watch for HS2 money epitomises how Westminster ignores our wants. Labour used to agree that £4b is owed to us, however now in energy, they’re solely asking for £350m! The uplift should comprise each £ we’re owed, in any other case it’s additional proof that solely Plaid Cymru stands up for Wales.”
Wales is owed £4bn from HS2 – not the £350m that Labour now declare since gaining energy in Westminster.
Plaid Cymru will not settle for something much less for our communities. pic.twitter.com/uHQGiyj6QL
— Plaid Cymru 🏴 (@Plaid_Cymru) January 10, 2025
Regardless of not one of the deliberate HS2 route or work being in Wales, it was designated as an England and Wales undertaking, that means the Welsh authorities was excluded from further transport funding that was made out there to Scotland and Northern Eire.
Earlier in the present day Sky Information reported that first minister of Wales, Eluned Morgan, was anticipating to see “some uplift when it comes to rail infrastructure and financing” for Wales from the federal government in Westminster.
Sky quoted a authorities supply saying Labour is making efforts to “repair” the “historic underinvestment in rail in Wales, exacerbated by HS2”.
The prime minister’s official spokesperson has mentioned No 10 wouldn’t “mandate” postponement of native elections in England, however would work “collaboratively” with councils.
PA Media quotes them saying:
We now have set out earlier than that any postponed elections will solely be thought of on the request of the native authorities concerned, so this is not going to be mandated by the federal government. As a substitute we are going to work collaboratively with them to make sure any postponement is aligned to making sure that it suits with reorganisation and devolution in essentially the most bold timeframe.
Ministers introduced a serious redesign of native authorities in December, the place smaller district councils and bigger county councils may very well be merged to create unitary authorities that deal with all providers.
Deputy prime minister and native authorities minister Angela Rayner instructed a choose committee listening to this week that it might be “ludicrous” for councils to carry elections in the event that they have been planning mergers.
The Liberal Democrats have accused Conservative-held areas within the south of England regarded as contemplating election delays of working scared after the Lib Dems made important good points in these areas in final 12 months’s basic election. [See 10.45]
Jessica Murray
Jessica Murray, our Midlands correspondent, studies:
Public inquiries are seen because the “Rolls-Royce answer” to tackling the grooming gangs scandal however native critiques are simpler, the previous chair of the Telford youngster sexual exploitation (CSE) inquiry has mentioned.
Tom Crowther KC mentioned the “Telford mannequin” led to actual progress within the Shropshire city and may very well be utilized in cities throughout the nation wanting into related CSE scandals.
“Everybody desires a public inquiry. It’s seen because the Rolls-Royce answer. However we couldn’t have had the outcome that we’ve had in Telford via a public inquiry,” he mentioned.
“We noticed much more individuals in Telford than ever would have come ahead if that had been a proper inquiry.”
Crowther led a three-year impartial inquiry into the size of CSE in Telford, which concluded in 2022 that tons of of kids have been sexually exploited over many years with authorities failing to analyze and victims, somewhat than perpetrators, usually blamed.
The federal government has mentioned its most important precedence was implementing the suggestions of the nationwide impartial report into youngster sexual abuse printed in 2022, and MPs rejected requires a brand new nationwide inquiry in a Commons vote on Wednesday.
Learn extra from Jessica Murray’s report right here: ‘Telford mannequin’ is simpler for youngster abuse inquiries, says former chair
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