Ukraine. Our land. Given by God. Kissed by the sun. Rocked by the winds. Tempered by fire. Defended by its sons and daughters.
It cannot be mistaken for anything else.
It can never be given away to anyone.
Happy Independence Day of Ukraine!
I can help Bridget out here. It's passengers, taxpayers, or both.
Being in government is about making choices.
Giving train drivers a bumper raise with nothing in return costs money. Money that could be spent not cutting winter fuel payments.
A ‘no strings’ deal means this will be paid for by passengers and tax payers.
We have to make our railways more efficient - instead Labour has caved to the unions.
Ditching working practice reforms leaves a hole in the finances that can only mean higher fares or higher taxes.
A lot happened in July.
But, one event went quietly unnoticed.
The result of largest American controlled experiment in Universal Basic Income (UBI) was released.
You haven’t heard about it because the findings are terrifyingly bad. (1/12)
They did nothing except
🔸Introduce 100% overflow monitoring
🔸Farming rules for water 2018
🔸Environment Act 2021
🔸Storm Overflows Reduction Act
🔸Plan for Water 2023
🔸Reduced dividends by half over Labour gov
🔸New powers for OFWAT and EA
🔸Forced £88b investment
Following statements made in the House, I have written to the Cabinet Secretary on the concerning contradiction between the Main Estimates put before Parliament last week and the document presented by the Chancellor today.
Just as we feared - looks like the unions already have the upper hand over Labour.
Passengers want affordable and reliable trains, and for that we need reformed working practices.
Sadly it looks like Labour have already caved.
NEW: Keir Starmer appears to have dropped election pledge to cut energy bills by £300. No 10 says push for renewable energy should make bills ‘lower’ in the long term but will not commit to the £300 figure
same criticism made by opponents of Australian scheme. Relevant comparison is not between the cost of the scheme Vs savings from not doing it. It is between the cost of the scheme Vs money saved from a huge reduction in arrivals...which is what Australia experienced
Labour says the Tories spent £700million on Rwanda but just four volunteers were sent
Yvette Cooper, Home Secretary, says it is the most shocking waste of taxpayer’s money she has ever seen
Latest in a series of announcements as Labour seeks to frame economic narrative ahead of
Darren Jones absurdly claims govt "inherited the worst economic circumstances since the Second World War"
Reality:
Unemployment (Mar-May)
2010 = 7.8%
2024 = 4.4%
Employment
2010 = 70.4%
2024 = 74.4%
PSNB
2009/10 = 10.3%
2024/25 = 3.1%
Inflation
2.8% (Jun)
Vs 25% in 70s!
This Labour government’s first King’s Speech has confirmed that they are already ignoring rural communities.
Having had just 87 words on farming in their manifesto, there is nothing for farming or fishing in their plans announced today.
Horrified by the attack in Pennsylvania.
In a democracy, you must be able to speak freely and stand for what you believe in. Violence and intimidation must never be allowed to prevail.
My thoughts and prayers are with President Trump and the victims of this appalling attack.
On Times Radio earlier this week I was asked by the excellent Stig Abell about water quality. The Conservatives are attacked for letting waterways deteriorate. The opposite is true. I promised to post the evidence - see below.