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Tuesday, September 23, 2025

Why Liberal Democrats must oppose ID cards

We have been here before of course, when Tony Blair tried to introduce ID cards back in 2004 or thereabouts, arguing that they would assist in the war on terror, an assertion that was subsequently debunked by, amongst others, the government's own anti terror law reviewer, a Home Office Minister and the former head of MI5, Dame Stella Rimington. All these are referenced in blogs I wrote at the time that can be read here.

Liberal Democrats were, of course, at the forefront of opposition to Tony Blair's plans, but has there been a change of heart at the top of the party? The BBC certainly seems to think so and judging by Ed Davey's remarks at his Q and A session, it does look as if his visit to Estonia has caused him to consider supporting a digital version.

The BBC quotes Davey as saying that "times have changed" and the party should look at the issue again and not be "knee-jerk" in its opposition:

He said he had been impressed by a visit to Estonia, where a liberal government had brought in digital ID that he said was "very different" to the scheme proposed by Tony Blair when he was prime minister.

If a UK system was about "giving individuals power to access public services" Sir Ed said he could be in favour because "that could increase people's freedom and rights", but he warned against a model that could be abused by an "authoritarian" government.
Fortunately, he does not have the full Parliamentary party behind him or the Party's Home Affairs Spokesperson, Lisa Smart:

On Sunday morning, Smart chaired a packed fringe meeting to test the party's mood on the issue.

The majority of those present argued against digital ID cards, over civil liberties and data security concerns, among other things.

Veteran MP Alistair Carmichael told the meeting: "It seems to me if we are going to go along with the Labour Party on this then we are saying 'we are quite happy to trust the government on this'.

"And I think the day we start saying we trust the government is the day that we stop being a liberal party."

He added: "I think it is ocean-going nonsense to change our mind at that this stage."

Bridget Fox, from Islington in North London, who like many of those present is a veteran of the No2ID campaign 20 years ago, said: "I shouldn't have to prove who I am, going about my own business in the place where I live."

She warned about the impact on "digitally excluded" people, such as the elderly and disabled - and voiced concern about digital ID being abused to intimidate vulnerable and marginalised people.

"I can only too easily see some vigilante patriots stopping people and demanding to see their ID and saying 'I am not carrying it or I don't have it' would no longer be an excuse."

Like others at the meeting, she expressed concern about the "massive" government database that would be needed and the potential impact on the environment.

"This stuff is coming but we should be the constructive critics, we should be the guardians of freedom in this," she told the meeting.

"Just because we can do something doesn't mean we should."
In the Q and A session, Davey appeared to be arguing that ID cards would be acceptable if they empowered people and presumably if they were voluntary. However, just because they may be digital does not make them better than a piece of plastic, in fact, as Bridget Fox argued, that would exclude people from participating in the scheme. And we all know that ID cards would only work if they were compulsory, anathema to Liberals.

And as for the argument that digital ID cards would enable people to better access public services, well, in whose world? Aren't people accessing them perfectly well now? More importantly the reverse is also true. Somebody who does not have an ID card for one reason or another, could be denied access to services they are entitled to.

Our MPs should not sign up to anything unless the party has had a chance to debate the issue and take a position. But if they do want to consider it, here are 24 questions posed by Stand.org.uk back in 2004 that they should answer first, most of which are still relevant to the present proposals:

1. the actual reason for the introduction of ID cards;
2. what ID cards can and cannot do;
3. who will be able to demand an ID card and under what circumstances;
4. if ownership of ID cards will be compulsory;
5. if the carrying of ID cards will be compulsory;
6. whether all parties asking for ID cards will be able to see all of the information held on the card;
7. the security of the ID cards and the centralised database;
8. the form of any biometric data to be held on ID cards;
9. how any biometric data might be collected and how much time and effort would be required of that process;
10. the ability of the cardholding citizen to view personal data held on ID cards;
11. the accessibility of such information to people using minority computer systems, to those without computers and those requiring assistive technologies;
12. the ability of the citizen to demand the correction of misleading data held on the ID card;
13. the supervision of the centralised database necessary to operate the ID card system;
14. whether there will be data on the ID card to which the citizen does not have access;
15. the ability of a citizen to track the usage of their ID card and by whom;
16. the ability of the government to track ID card usage;
17. if centralised data will be shared between government departments, researchers or commercial organisations;
18. if personal data will be exported from the country and hence out of the remit of the Data Protection Acts;
19. what protections will be put in place to prevent "function creep";
20. what protections will be put in place to prevent abuse of the ID card system by future administrations;
21. what protections will be put in place to prevent official abuse of the ID card system;
22. how the ID card system will not discriminate against ethnic minorities;
23. if the ID card scheme violates the Data Protection Acts;
24. if the ID card scheme violates the European Convention on Human Rights (as incorporated into UK law by the Human Rights Act 1998), especially as legal opinions suggest it will

I look forward to Ed Davey and Lisa Smart posing these questions to government ministers.
# posted by Peter Black : 6:00 AM  0 comments

Monday, September 22, 2025

Time for the Lib Dems to acquire a harder edge

I have never been one to embrace flags, the nation state or easy patriotism, so the display of flags at Saturday's Lib Dem conference rally was unsettling, not least as the Welsh, Scottish and Cornish flags were absent, while the claim by Tim Farron that the union flag represents all four nations was clearly mistaken. Wales is not represented on the union flag. Nevertheless, the message that patriotism is about embracing our country while nationalism is about hating our neighbours struck home.

During Sunday's Q and A session, Ed Davey, who had inexplicably arrived the day before at the head of a marching band, told us that he was going to continue with the stunts that have divided both the country and the party. Are we a serious party of government, or are we a circus? So I was pleased to read this article in the Independent that suggested a new approach is needed.

The paper says that the sight of Ed Davey with a red sash twirling a mace does not so much suggest “pride in one’s liberal country” to most viewers, but instead, the combination of Lib Dem orange and a marching band conjured up associations with the more aggressive end of the unionist marching season in Northern Ireland.

They add that during the 2024 campaign, Ed fell off paddle boards and bungee-jumped off a high platform, coming across as a good-natured bloke who was enjoying himself:

The water-based stunts were usually intended to make a point about the politics of sewage, but the main effect was probably to remind some voters that they had seen him give a moving interview about caring for his son, who has severe disabilities.

The results seemed a vindication of Sir Ed’s refusal to advocate an early attempt to rejoin the European Union, which many of his activists wanted him to do. Social care, sewage and a bland alternative to the two main parties was enough to sweep up Tory seats across the south and east of England.

There are advisers around the leader who urge a repeat of that strategy at the next election. Social care is still a big issue. The water companies have not been fixed. Do not suggest that the Lib Dems want to reopen the whole Brexit negotiation deadlock circus, they say – just present an image of niceness and wait this time for disillusioned Labour voters to fall into the Lib Dem lap.

Others urge a more targeted approach to Labour defectors, and Sir Ed seems to be following their advice. He has adopted a notable tone of opposition to Donald Trump, refusing the King’s invitation to the banquet at Windsor Castle for the US president’s state visit. And he has taken a sharper pro-Palestinian line, in recent days even using the word “genocide” to describe the Israeli government’s policy.

Those positions are rather too transparently aimed at wooing disaffected Labour voters. While The Independent disagrees as strongly with President Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu as Sir Ed purports to do, these are not necessarily the positions that a responsible party of government should adopt – not least because neither Mr Trump nor Mr Netanyahu is likely to be in power by the time of the next UK election.

We agree that the Liberal Democrats do need a harder edge to their policies, but they should focus on issues on which they could influence a government in a hung parliament, which ought to be the only point of people voting for them. Social care and sewage are important, but they should not be the limit of Lib Dem ambition.

A more forward policy on integration with the EU, a more compassionate approach to immigration and a more genuinely liberal attitude to the cause of equal rights could all be issues on which a large Lib Dem parliamentary party could hope to bring about change after the next election. Let us hear more about them from the party over the next few days in Bournemouth.
I agree. It is time to move on and start talking about our liberalism, our internationalism and our approach to the economy, health and the environment. Getting heard is hard and maybe the stunts have a place, but if the next election is really going to be between the Liberal Democrats and Reform, we need more.

Ed Davey's attacks on Trump and Elon Musk, his condemnation of the genocide in Gaza and his steady and constructive questioning of Starmer at PMQs is a start, so let's kick on and show that we really mean business as a serious party of government.
# posted by Peter Black : 6:00 AM  0 comments

Sunday, September 21, 2025

Government failing the charity sector

As the chair of a charity mysef, I am very conscious of the impact that recent government measures have had on the sector. Costs have increased due to rises in the minimum wage and the employers' national insurance levy, while the financial pressures felt by families have reduced contributions and even hit turnover in charity shops.

The Independent reports that the upshot of all this is that the number of UK charities that have been forced to shut their doors for good has jumped by 74 per cent this year.

The paper adds that the sector has raised fears that people in need will be left without vital support, with Oxfam warning that charities are being “asked to do more with less, at the very moment people need us most”:

There are also concerns that the government’s Employment Rights Bill, which would require charities to guarantee hours for zero-hours staff and pay compensation for cancelled shifts, could further strain charities’ budgets, driving more insolvencies.

Oxfam, which in April said it took the “difficult decision” to put 265 of its 2,100 staff at risk of redundancy, has now warned that charities are being “asked to do more with less, at the very moment people need us most”.

The number of major UK charities, defined as those that recorded revenues of over £50k, shutting down jumped to 151 in 2024/25, up from 87 in 2023/24, according to charity commission data analysed by chartered accountants and business advisers Lubbock Fine.

The firm said the increase in insolvencies reflects a “triple hit” of rising employment costs, stalling donations and reduced government funding.

The surge in closures comes as demand for services such as food banks and counselling programmes is rising, leaving more vulnerable people without essential support.

Earlier this year, Macmillan Cancer Support announced it had axed a quarter of its staff, downgraded its helpline and scrapped its flagship
Data from the Charities Aid Foundation indicated that there are four million fewer individual donors since 2019, while cash donations from British businesses have fallen by around £300m this year compared to last, equating to around 5,455 small charities going unfunded.
This is a very serious trend that needs to be addressed. So much of the work carried out by charities would have to be done by government if they didn't exist. We cannnot afford to lose them.
# posted by Peter Black : 6:00 AM  0 comments

Saturday, September 20, 2025

The myths of Pennard Castle

Because of its location, perched above Gower's Three Cliffs Bay, Pennard Castle is by far the most spectacular of Swansea's fortifications, as illustrated by the painting above. It is perhaps, because of that location, that so many stories have grown up about its fate.

The history points website records that the ruins of castle have attracted more than their fair share of myths over the centuries:

The castle itself was ill-fated. It soon became unusable because exceptionally stormy weather in the 13th and 14th centuries blew large amounts of sand into and around it. See our page about the castle for more of its history.

According to some legends, the castle magically took shape on the clifftop in a single night.

It’s said that the castle was wrecked in one night too, because the lord of castle had reacted nastily to fair folk (fairies) making merry within the walls. The fairies cursed the castle, and it was quickly assailed by sand.

That same night, Ireland’s beaches were stripped of their sand.
My photo shows the castle from the valley leading down to Three Cliffs Bay.
It is possible to walk up to the ruins from the valley, though if you would prefer a gentler stroll then drive to Southgate and walk across the golf course which abuts the castle. Pennard Golf Club actually own the site.

The castle was built in the early 12th century as a timber ringwork following the Norman invasion of Wales. The walls were rebuilt in stone by the Braose family at the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries, including a stone gatehouse.

Soon afterwards, however, encroaching sand dunes caused the site to be abandoned and it fell into ruin. Restoration work was carried out during the course of the 20th century and the remains of the castle are now protected under UK law as a Grade II listed building.

The history points website concludes with a warning:

If you’re of a superstitious nature, you probably won’t want to spend a night at the castle. The hag is said to jump on anyone who dares to sleep near the structure at night, although some versions of the story say the gwrach only takes offence if the person sleeping is from one of Gower’s old families.

Another old belief was that anyone who dared to sleep within the ruins would die that night, go mad or wake up as a poet.

The sound of a weeping woman is sometimes heard at the castle, it’s said. Some myths say the castle is haunted by the spirit of a tragic bride, others that the weeping maiden is the hag in another guise.
Well worth a visit, if only for the views.
# posted by Peter Black : 6:00 AM  0 comments

Friday, September 19, 2025

Welsh Labour accused of manipulating NHS waiting figures

The BBC report that the Welsh government has been accused of "manipulation" and "electioneering" by rival parties over changes to how NHS waiting times statistics are published.

The broadcaster says that the Welsh government has started to publish provisional data a month sooner than "official data", which has a seven-week lag. 

They add that without the change, the Welsh Labour government could have gone into next year's Senedd election unable to show whether it had hit its targets of bringing the overall waiting list down by 200,000 and reducing two-year waits to zero:

Both the Conservatives and Plaid Cymru said this was a tactic to ensure the party looked good ahead of the poll in May, but the Welsh government rejected those claims.

New figures released on Thursday showed total numbers waiting for treatment on the NHS in July fell to just under 793,100, but the numbers waiting longer than two years rose to just over 8,000, an increase of 7.5% on the previous month.

In April, Health Secretary Jeremy Miles set his targets for the end of March 2026, but it would not have been possible to officially report on whether those targets had been met under the old health system before the Senedd election.

This is because the Senedd election is set for 7 May, just over five weeks after the end of March, with full data not confirmed for seven weeks.

If the provisional stats suggest the waiting list targets have been met it would be a powerful message to present to voters.

But there is also an inherent risk the figures could show the targets have been missed, creating political risk for the Welsh Labour government.
Welsh Labour's record on the health service has been abysmal. They are constantly playing catch-up with England and letting down those who rely on the service. Whether this little gambit will help with the voters has to be seen. I suspect people expect more.

Update: the promise to reduce waiting lists has already come off the rails. Wales on Line reports that the latest NHS waiting times figures have been released and show the number of patient pathways - which aren't the same as patients - waiting two years is 8,005 for July 2025, up from 7,447 the month before. In England, there are 244 patients, according to NHS England, waiting more than 104 weeks for treatment.
# posted by Peter Black : 6:00 AM  0 comments

Thursday, September 18, 2025

The politics of UK policing

The Guardian reports that four people have been arrested after images of Donald Trump alongside deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were projected on to Windsor Castle, where the US president is set to be hosted by King Charles during his state visit to Britain.

The paper says that prior to Trump's arrival at the castle on Tuesday, protesters unfurled a massive banner featuring a photograph of Trump and Epstein near Windsor Castle, and later projected several images of the two on to one of the castle’s towers.

As a result, according to the police statement, four adults were arrested on suspicion of malicious communications after an “unauthorised projection” at Windsor Castle, which they described as a “public stunt” and remain in custody:

Democrats in the US House of Representatives last week made public a birthday letter Trump allegedly wrote to Epstein more than 20 years ago, though the White House has denied its authenticity.

The letter was also projected on to the castle, along with pictures of Epstein’s victims, news clips about the case and police reports.

The release of the letter has brought renewed attention to an issue that has become a political thorn in the president’s side.

Though he has urged his supporters to move on from the topic, appetite for details about Epstein’s crimes and who else may have known about them or been involved with him has remained high.

Trump was friends with Epstein before becoming president but had a falling out with the former financier years before his 2019 death in prison.

The birthday letter contained text of a purported dialogue between Trump and Epstein in which Trump calls him a “pal” and says, “May every day be another wonderful secret.” The text sits within a crude sketch of the silhouette of a naked woman.
Astonishingly, the police have also confiscated a poster van sporting a picture of Donald Trump with Epstein. That could hardly be classed as a malicious communication, so on what grounds did they act?

The latest arrests come after hundreds of people were taken into custody for holding up a placard showing their opposition to the proscription of Palestine Action, and are part of disturbing trend where we are seeing the politicisation of policing in this country.

If expressing a view, albeit one that might offend others, is a criminal offence, then where does it end? Will the government use the police to suppress views that they don't agree with or find offensive? Is this the end of non-state-sponsored free speech in this country?

# posted by Peter Black : 6:00 AM  0 comments

Wednesday, September 17, 2025

A gamble too far

The Independent reports that speculation about Andy Burnham lining himself to replace Keir Starmer may be premature and a gamble too far for the Labour Party.

They say that the Greater Manchester mayor is a former cabinet minister, articulate and charismatic – and would certainly represent a fresh start for this Labour government, but getting him into a position whereby he would be able to challenge for the leadership may be just too difficult:

Unfortunately, though, his route back to parliament to enable him to be prime minister represents a massive opportunity for Reform.

The fact is that a Labour MP, preferably in the Manchester area, would need to stand down and enable a by-election.

Graham Stringer, 75, may vacate Blackley and Middleton South, or there is speculation over suspended MP Andrew Gwynne, 51, regarding his Gorton and Denton constituency.

In both seats, Reform is the favourite to win and – after taking the Labour safe seat of Runcorn and Helsby in a huge by-election victory earlier this year – there is no doubt they could add to the seats they’ve won from Starmer’s party.

Arguably, Reform is in better shape to win a by-election now than when Sarah Pochin won by six votes in May.

Added to the problem is that whichever by-election Burnham stood in, he would be billed as the next prime minister – which would put an even bigger target on his back. Voters generally do not like being taken for granted in that way.

If this were to happen and Reform was to defeat Burnham in a by-election, it would not just be a terrible humiliation for the Manchester mayor but for Labour as a whole – while giving Farage and Reform an almighty boost.

However, after Starmer’s latest failed attempt at a fresh start, it is perhaps no surprise that Labour MPs are now panicking.

With Angela Rayner, the obvious candidate to replace him, now licking her wounds after resigning over her tax affairs, there are few valid options in parliament.

Supporters of health secretary Wes Streeting will push for him if and when it comes to it, but he would represent a rightward move for a party which wants to make a hard turn left.

This explains why somehow getting Burnham back into parliament is such an attractive option – despite him losing Labour leadership elections in 2010 and 2015.

But the harsh reality is that there is no realistic route for him to become leader. If he tries, all he and Labour will do is hand Farage a huge opportunity in a genuine showdown.

Even if the Labour Party needs saving, trying to bring back Andy Burnham would be a gamble too far.
The inevitable disastrous showing for Labour in next May's elections could prove fatal for Starmer's premiership but with no credible candidate in place to take over, Labour may have to limp on with him in charge anyway.
# posted by Peter Black : 6:00 AM  0 comments

Tuesday, September 16, 2025

Cap on donations needed after Gething row

Nation Cymru reports that campaigners have called for a £10,000 cap on political donations following controversy over a £200,000 donation that led to the downfall of former first minister Vaughan Gething.

The website says that Gething, who broke no rules, was forced to stand down after accepting the donation from a convicted polluter’s company during the 2024 Welsh Labour leadership race:

Before resigning, the former first minister – who outspent rival Jeremy Miles by £254,600 to £61,800 – urged the Senedd’s standards committee to look into reforming donation rules.

Now, in evidence to the committee’s resulting inquiry, witnesses have warned a lack of limits on donations, and a high threshold for reporting, risk damaging public confidence.

Transparency International UK, an anti-corruption nonprofit organisation, said the row over the £200,000 donation has correlated with low levels of trust in the Welsh Government.

The group called for a £10,000 cap on contributions to candidates standing in internal elections from any individual or organisation, with limits on how much can be spent.

Transparency International told members of the standards committee: “The Vaughan Gething case also raised questions about the legitimacy of the donations received.

“Some were linked to criminal investigations and convictions. When a politician is seen to receive contributions from those connected with wrongdoing, it undermines public trust.

“Candidates and parties should do more to ensure the legitimacy of donations they receive.”

Only 24% of people believe party funding is transparent, according to a 2023 Electoral Commission survey on public perception of political campaign finances.

Transparency International and the Electoral Reform Society (ERS) Cymru criticised the £2,230 threshold for reporting donations, arguing it is too high by international standards.

ERS Cymru warned: “Whilst there are limits on spending, there are currently no limits on donations. This creates a space for individual, corporate or other interests to have an outsized impact on the financial flows to parties and candidates.

“Both the total amount of political donations and the size of donations has been increasing.”

The UK’s committee on standards in public life recommended a donation limit of £10,000 in an effort to “end the big donor culture” in 2011.

In its evidence, ERS Cymru said: “Whether it’s parties or candidates, reliance on a small number of wealthy donations can distort politics and open up the potential for corruption. “A donations limit is not only better for preventing undue influence but protects political parties and representatives from risky fundraising behaviours.”
It is important that Welsh politics is both transparent and accountable, that donors of whatever ilk, cannot give the impression of buying influence and that there is a level playing field for candidates. If that means a cap on donations then that is what should happen. 

# posted by Peter Black : 6:00 AM  0 comments

Monday, September 15, 2025

Gen Z may never be able to afford a home

The Independent reports on warnings by campaigners that Gen-Z are being “locked out” of home ownership as first-time buyers now face paying up to six times more for a home than their parents.

The paper says that an analysis of rental, property and salary data reveals that the average homebuyer in 1995 had to save just a third of their salary – £5,000 – to put down a deposit, while today’s first-time buyers are forking out average deposits nearly twice as high as the average salary:

Gen-Z are being “locked out” of home ownership, campaigners have warned, as first-time buyers now face paying up to six times more for a home than their parents.

An analysis of rental, property and salary data by The Independent reveals that the average homebuyer in 1995 had to save just a third of their salary – £5,000 – to put down a deposit, while today’s first-time buyers are forking out average deposits nearly twice as high as the average salary.

Land registry data in England shows that the average house price now costs £286,594 – nearly six times higher (£50,679) than three decades ago.

But the average salary has barely more than doubled in that time, from £15,034 to £37,430, while the upfront cash needed for a deposit is more than 10 times greater on average.

Rents are also soaring, with average monthly rates going from £1,025 to £1,343 in the past five years alone – a 31 per cent jump, according to the UK-wide private renters index.

“If the government does not slam the brakes on soaring rents, many may never be able to buy their own home,” Ben Twomey, chief executive of the campaign group Generation Rent warned.

“Generation Z is Generation Rent. They are locked out of home ownership because they face higher rent costs than any other generation before them. Trying to save for a deposit to buy a home while rents soar is like pushing a boulder up a hill that keeps getting steeper and steeper.”

Young people who have managed to save for deposits say they feel they have had to “sacrifice” a lot to do it.
It is little wonder that homelessness is also increasing.
# posted by Peter Black : 6:00 AM  0 comments

Sunday, September 14, 2025

Farage accused of Hypocrisy over house purchase

The Independent reports that Nigel Farage is facing mounting questions about his £885,000 constituency home after an investigation called into question how the property was paid for.

The paper says that the Reform UK leader has denied avoiding more than £44,000 of stamp duty on the four-bedroom house in Clacton, which includes a heated swimming pool, after it emerged it had in fact been purchased by his partner:

Mr Farage said his partner, Laure Ferrari, had paid for the home with her own funds, and was able to do so as she comes from a wealthy French family.

But a BBC investigation cast doubt on the claim, suggesting that her parents do not have the means to have made a significant contribution towards the purchase.

If Mr Farage had given Ms Ferrari the money to purchase the house, he would not have done anything illegal. But it would raise questions of hypocrisy, given that the Reform leader criticised Angela Rayner for her own failure to pay enough stamp duty when purchasing a flat in Hove – something she eventually resigned over.

“I haven’t lent money to anybody. I didn’t give her money,” he told the Mirror.

“She comes from a very successful French family and she can afford it herself. It’s convenient, it works, and she loves it there.”

Labour Party chair Anna Turley said: “There are now far too many unanswered questions about the house he stays in while in Clacton. He must urgently come clean with the public as to whether he financially contributed towards the purchase of this property.

“Misleading the public for political gain about buying a constituency home is appalling in itself. But if he deliberately put in place this arrangement to avoid paying his fair share of tax, that would be even worse.”

Liberal Democrat Cabinet Office spokesperson Sarah Olney said: “Nigel Farage has serious questions to answer over this. After spending days attacking others over their tax arrangements, he now needs to be frank and honest about his own.”

The Clacton house was purchased last November amid questions about how much time Mr Farage was spending in his constituency. Days before, he told Sky News: “I’ve just exchanged contracts on the house that I’ll be living in there – is that good enough? … I’ve bought a house in Clacton. What more do you want me to do?”

He has since admitted he was wrong to say he had bought the house, as it is owned by his partner.

Mr Farage reportedly owns four properties, including three in Kent and one in Surrey, meaning he would have paid a higher rate of stamp duty if he purchased the Clacton home.

The BBC’s investigation cast doubt on Ms Ferrari’s wealth, reporting that her father ran a haulage business in Strasbourg for many years, but the company was liquidated in 2020 and had more assets than liabilities at the time.

The flat her parents live in, in a suburb of the northeastern city, is reportedly worth around £300,000.

A consultancy set up by Ms Ferrari, meanwhile, has just £1,000 in assets, according to its latest set of accounts.
There are many questions that Farage needs to answer about this house purchase. After all, he is quick enough to demand answers from Angela Raynor, why should he be different?
# posted by Peter Black : 6:00 AM  1 comments

Saturday, September 13, 2025

Ann of Swansea

Looking through the blue plaques in Swansea often throws up some interesting characters. Not least amongst these is Ann of Swansea, a popular novelist in Britain in the early 19th century and author of Tammany, the first known libretto by a woman, whose memorial adorns the sea facing side of Swansea civic centre. Her portrait here is by William John Watkeys, who, I believe, was a Carmarthenshire artist. The council's website recalls her life:

Ann Hatton, also known as 'Ann of Swansea', began life as Ann Julia Kemble, born in Worcester in 1764 to the family of famous theatrical actors known across England; one of the most famous of these was her sister, Sarah Siddons. Ann began spending time on the stage, following her family's profession until a marriage that turned out to be bigamous left her poor and much of her early life was colourful and scandalous as she tried to survive in London - a press report of 1789 indicates that she was working in a bagnio when she was accidentally shot in the eye! It was during that time that Ann, as Ann Curtis, published her first collection of poetry.

She later married William Hatton and the couple moved to America where Ann had success on the Broadway stage, writing the first known libretto by a woman.

In 1799, Ann left America and moved to Swansea with William, where they took out a lease on the Swansea bathing house (it was situated where the west end of Swansea Civic Centre now stands), and the pair ran the house and lodgings together. This was at a time when Swansea was known as the "Brighton of Wales" and Swansea was turning itself as a fashionable resort to attract wealthy people looking to improve their health, spend time with friends, and potentially relocate to the town. Bathing was a desirable preoccupation, and the bathing house was in the perfect location on the seafront.

From 1810, after the death of her husband and moving to Kidwelly to run a dance school, Ann adopted the pseudonym "Ann of Swansea", and wrote a series of poetry and 16 popular gothic and romantic novels, including "Lovers and Friends", and "Guily or Not Guilty, or A Lesson for Husbands"

Ann died in Swansea on Boxing Day 1838 and is buried in St. John's churchyard (now St. Matthew's church) in High Street.
# posted by Peter Black : 6:00 AM  0 comments

Friday, September 12, 2025

Mandelson sacked, but why was he appointed in the first place?

There was a certain inevitability about Peter Mandelson being sacked from his role as UK ambassador to the US following mounting pressure over his newly revealed links to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

The Independent reports that the sacking came after it was revealed that Mandelson had maintained ties with Epstein after the disgraced former banker was jailed for a child sex offence:

Responding to an urgent question in the House of Commons, foreign minister Stephen Doughty said Lord Mandelson had been sacked after leaked emails showed that his relationship with Epstein, who died in 2019, was “materially different from that known at the time of his appointment” as UK ambassador to the US last year.

The Tories said it showed an “extraordinary error of judgement by this prime minister” and that it raised “massive questions” about what he knew about the pair’s relationship and when.

Announcing Lord Mandelson’s sacking, Mr Doughty said: “In light of additional information in the emails written by Peter Mandelson, the prime minister has asked the foreign secretary to withdraw him as ambassador to the United States.

“The emails show that the depth and extent of Lord Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein is materially different from that known at the time of his appointment. In particular, Lord Mandelson’s suggestion that Jeffrey Epstein’s first conviction was wrongful and should be challenged is new information.”

While there were cheers at the news in the Commons, Tory shadow minister Neil O’Brien was not satisfied with the explanation after prime minister Sir Keir Starmer made a robust defence of Lord Mandelson just 24 hours ago.

He said: “This is yet another extraordinary error of judgement by this prime minister. It raises massive questions.

“It is not just that Peter Mandelson said that Epstein was his best pal and that he loved him. It wasn’t just that he brokered a deal for him while he was business secretary. We now, of course, know that he was working for Epstein’s early release after he was convicted.

“And the simple question is this: is the minister now saying that the prime minister did not know about any of this at the point where [Lord Mandelson] was appointed? What did the prime minister know at the point of his appointment?”
The paper adds that while Lord Mandelson has insisted he regrets ever having met Epstein, an investigation by The Telegraph has detailed a two-decade friendship between the pair, which continued even after Epstein was jailed for a child sex offence in 2008:

Its report includes claims that Epstein brokered a deal involving the then Mr Mandelson, who was the Labour business secretary at the time, in relation to the sale of a taxpayer-owned business, after Epstein had been convicted of child sex offences.
Mandelson was a controversial appointment in the first place, he had resigned in disgrace twice before, had a longstanding relationship with Epstein and widespread, complicated, and opaque commercial interests. He was a significant reputational risk.

In retrospect, making him our ambassador to the US was a huge risk, and must bring into question Starmer's judgement. What did he know and when did he know it? Why did he go ahead with this appointment?
# posted by Peter Black : 6:00 AM  0 comments

Thursday, September 11, 2025

Tory donations under question

The Guardian reports that the Conservative party is facing questions over a possible breach of electoral law involving one of its largest benefactors, after leaked files cast doubt on official declarations of donations worth £2.6m.

The paper say that more than 40 donations to the Tories over 23 years have been registered in the name of Rosemary Saïd, a British woman, but leaked documents marked “official – sensitive” renew long-running questions about whether it is her husband, the billionaire businessman Wafic Saïd, who is the real source of the money even though he is barred by electoral law from donating:

One of the documents, an official government log from Boris Johnson’s time in Downing Street, contains the entry: “Political meeting with Wafic Said (donor) and Rosemary Said.”

Wafic also had two separate phone calls with Johnson and senior aides without his wife, according to other logs.

A Canadian citizen resident in Monaco, Wafic, 85, is barred by law from donating because he is not eligible to vote in the UK. Rosemary, 79, is allowed to give money and the Conservative party has declared donations in her name between 2001 and 2024. Johnson declared a £10,000 contribution from her during his leadership campaign.

When contacted for comment, Wafic Saïd said: “My wife is an independently wealthy woman who has been a strong supporter of the Conservative party her entire life.”

He added: “I have not made donations to the Conservative party for at least 25 years, and any suggestion otherwise would be clearly untrue and would be a very serious matter for me, as I always respect the law.”
Whatever the truth, we have yet another news story on donations. It is time to address the inadquacy of electoral law in allowing large donations and associated questions around influence.
# posted by Peter Black : 6:00 AM  0 comments

Tuesday, September 09, 2025

Boris Johnson raking in the money

The Guardian reports that a trove of leaked data from Boris Johnson’s private office reveals how the former prime minister has been profiting from contacts and influence he gained in office in a possible breach of ethics and lobbying rules.

The paper says that the Boris Files contain emails, letters, invoices, speeches and business contracts, which shine a spotlight on the inner workings of a publicly subsidised company Johnson established after leaving Downing Street in September 2022:

The trove reveals how Johnson has used the company to manage an array of highly paid jobs and business ventures. They raise questions for the former Conservative leader about whether he has breached “revolving door” rules governing post-ministerial careers.

The revelations have echoes of the Greensill Capital lobbying scandal that embroiled one of Johnson’s predecessors, David Cameron. They may also spark questions about the taxpayer-funded allowance that former prime ministers get to run their private offices.

There are more than 1,800 files in the cache, including some that date back to Johnson’s tenure in Downing Street. The Guardian is the only UK media organisation known to have viewed the trove.

The files reveal:

* Johnson lobbied a senior Saudi official he had met while in office, asking him to share a pitch with the petrostate’s autocratic crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, for a firm he co-chairs.

* The ex-PM received more than £200,000 from a hedge fund after meeting Venezuela’s president Nicolás Maduro – contrary to statements he was not paid.

* While in office, Johnson appears to have held a secret meeting with Peter Thiel, the billionaire who founded the controversial US data firm Palantir, months before it was given a role managing NHS data.

* In an apparent breach of Covid pandemic rules, Johnson hosted a dinner for a Tory peer who financed a lavish refurbishment of his Downing Street flat, a day after the second national Covid-19 lockdown came into force.

Johnson did not respond to multiple requests for comment. After publication, Johnson emailed a statement to the Guardian denying his office had misused a subsidy scheme intended to support an ex-PM’s public duties. The public duty costs allowance (PDCA) should not be used for private or commercial purposes.
The paper says that the files raise questions about whether Johnson has blurred these lines while running the Office of Boris Johnson, a limited company established a month after he left Downing Street and funded by an annual six-figure sum from the taxpayer:

A senior Cabinet Office source confirmed that Johnson has claimed funds under the scheme to pay for staff salaries in his private office. Official data shows he has claimed £182,000 in PDCA payments since leaving government.

Johnson’s office, the leak reveals, has played a central role in managing his commercial endeavours. These include deals with Daily Mail and GB News, and a globe-trotting career giving speeches for deep-pocketed clients.

The cache of files suggest that between October 2022 and May 2024, Johnson was paid approximately £5.1m for 34 speeches. The engagements typically earn him hundreds of thousands of pounds, as well as generous expenses to cover first-class flights and stays in five-star hotels for him and his staff.

It is not unusual or against any rules for former prime ministers to travel the world delivering paid speeches, but there are restrictions on business activities they can undertake after leaving government.

These include prohibitions on lobbying contacts developed while in office in foreign governments and commercial organisations. Johnson was reminded of these rules by an official watchdog on the day he left Downing Street.

Revelations from the Boris Files will place pressure on Johnson to explain how some of his recent contacts with foreign governments on behalf of commercial interest fall within the rules.
There are many questions for Boris Johnson arising from these files. I'm just not expecting him to answer them.
# posted by Peter Black : 6:00 AM  0 comments

Brexit to hit tourists from next month

The Mirror reports that from next month British citizens travelling into Europe will have to provide fingerprints and photos as a new Entry/Exit System (EES) is brought in for non-EU nationals.

The paper says that as a result there will be long delays for British travellers getting into Europe as a result of the new post-Brexit checks:

New Entry/Exit System (EES) measures at the EU borders mean people have to have their fingerprints and photograph taken as well as scanning passports. The move, replacing passport stamping, will come into effect from October 12 for UK and non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay.

A UK government spokesperson said: “While EES checks will be a significant change to the EU border, we are in constant and close dialogue with our European partners to try and minimise the impact on the British public.

“While we have done everything we can to ensure the required infrastructure is in place, anyone who is planning a trip to the European mainland once these checks are introduced will still need to allow more time for their journey as the new EU systems bed in."

EES will be a requirement when entering Schengen area countries including Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. But it will not be required when travelling to Ireland and Cyprus.

It means Brits will have to register on their first visit to a participating country after EES is introduced. Each registration will be valid for a rolling three-year period, or until the passport expires.

All travellers, including babies, will be photographed - but children under 12 will not have to give their fingerprints. Digital records will be created for everyone who goes through the process.

People will need to scan their passports and provide either their fingerprints or a photo at the border. EES is being phased in by European countries over six months - meaning some airports, ports and train terminals will have different requirements until April next year.

For travellers using the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel at Folkestone or Eurostar at St Pancras International, the process will take place at the border before they leave the UK.

The Government has ploughed £10.5million of funding to help pay for the new scanners and equipment needed for checks.

The EU believes the EES system will help track people who enter using the 90-day visa-free travel rule. British citizens covered by Withdrawal Agreement residence

The Government said: "Whilst checks should only take 1-2 minutes for each person, they may lead to longer wait times at Border Control upon arrival in the Schengen area. At the juxtaposed ports, where checks are completed in the UK, prior to departure, there may be longer waits at busy times. Eurotunnel, Eurostar and the Port of Dover have plans in place to minimise disruption as much as possible."
It has taken time, but this is when leaving the EU gets real for many holidaymakers.
# posted by Peter Black : 6:00 AM  0 comments

Monday, September 08, 2025

Is Starmer listening?

The Independent reports that Keir Starmer has been warned Labour’s deputy leadership contest is a make or break moment for the government, with the party facing “the fight of its life” amid the rise of Reform.

The paper says that with Nigel Farage comfortably leading in the polls, Dame Emily Thornberry and Andy Burnham said the PM must listen more to his backbenchers to stop Reform UK from winning the next general election:

Dame Emily said she was considering running for the deputy leadership after Angela Rayner was forced to resign over her failure to pay £40,000 in stamp duty on the purchase of a flat in Hove.

And she said Labour faces “the fight of our lives” at the next election against Mr Farage. “The last thing we want is to go from a position where we thought we would be in for two terms, to hand our country over to Farage,” she told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg.

She said Sir Keir has restored Britain’s status on the world stage and praised domestic reforms including the strengthening of workers’ rights. “But nobody seems to be hearing about that,” she warned. “They hear about the mistakes, and the question is, why are we making these mistakes?” she added.

Asked why, she said: “I think it's not listening to people of goodwill who want the party to succeed. I think we need to do more of that, because I think that the answers are out there, but I think that we need to continue to listen and learn from the public.”

Meanwhile Mr Burnham, one of Labour’s most powerful figures outside of Westminster, said that Labour MPs must be respected more going forward. “That is the debate we should have during the deputy leadership contest,” he said. “I would say more broadly that it also needs to be a bit of a reset for the government,” he added.

Mr Burnham said he was “concerned about the balance” of Sir Keir’s cabinet following the weekend’s emergency reshuffle, and that “we need to use the contest to discuss some of those things”.

He said: “It is right to have a discussion about the internal management of the Labour Party. And in a time where the scale and the nature of the challenge we face is such as it is, you need everybody pulling together, all parts of the party pulling together.

“And that points to a party management style that is less factional and more pluralistic. Labour MPs need to listen to them more and respect them more.”
Both Thornberry and Burnham are right that the Labour leadership are not very good at listening. This is an election that the prime minister doesn't need. 

The fact that senior members are already using the contest to raise concerns about Starmer's leadership suggests that the election of a new deputy leader could well get spicy, and leave the PM with a headache if the 'wrong' candidate is elected.

# posted by Peter Black : 6:00 AM  0 comments

Sunday, September 07, 2025

Farage plays system to minimise his tax burden

As Angela Rayner resigns due to underpaying stamp duty on a second home, isn't it time that the media on Farage's tax affairs?

The Guardian, at least, have started to focus in on the issue. They reveal that the Reform leader is using a private company to reduce his tax bill on his GB News media appearances and other outside employment in a television star-style arrangement that has in recent years become frowned on by major broadcasters.

The effect of this is that Farage diverts money from his prime-time TV show into his company, which means that he paid only 25% corporation tax on profits, instead of 40% income tax, and could offset some expenses:

The Clacton MP, who is also paid a £94,000-a-year MP’s salary, has in the past criticised people who try to avoid tax as the “common enemy” and has previously come under fire for setting up a trust fund in an offshore tax haven.

He has also claimed that some tax avoidance schemes were acceptable. “Most forms of legal tax avoidance are OK, but clearly some are not,” he said in 2014, adding that nobody voluntarily paid anything to HMRC while defending reducing a tax bill within the law.

Farage claimed last year to have “bought a house” in his constituency, but the property is actually owned in the name of his partner, meaning he legally avoided higher-rate stamp duty on the purchase of an additional home – given that he already owns other properties.

The use of personal service companies is not illegal, but it has been criticised across the political spectrum as a way to reduce tax bills. Farage has declined to publish his tax returns for 2023/24.

Several broadcasters including the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 have cracked down on the practice in recent years. HMRC has repeatedly tightened the rules around off-payroll working (IR35) to stop this kind of tax avoidance.

The parliamentary register of interests shows that Farage has made nearly £400,000 from GB News since August 2024, for about 190 hours’ work. This suggests he is being paid more than £2,000 an hour by the news channel.

All payments for his GB News work are paid directly to his company, Thorn in the Side Ltd, of which he is the director and only shareholder. He has other paid roles including as a brand ambassador for gold bullion firms, speaking on the international circuit, and a Daily Telegraph column.

The latest accounts show that as of 31 May 2024, the company had £1.7m in cash, up over £1m in a year. It also owns two investment properties.

As Farage’s profile has soared with the rise of Reform UK, so has the value of the company, which is now worth £2.6m, up £2m from 2021.
Having just returned from talking the UK down in another country and encouraging President Trump to disrupt our trade by imposing tariffs, Farage is once more demonstrating that he couldn't be further removed from the man in the street when it comes to his background and lifestyle.
# posted by Peter Black : 6:00 AM  1 comments

Saturday, September 06, 2025

Captain Robert Falcon Scott's link to Swansea

No, not even Swansea can claim a direct link to the Antarctoc explorer, but the area does have a connection with one of his team and with Scott's ship in the news, it is worth recalling it.

As Swansea Council's website records, Edgar Evans was born in 1876 in Middleton Hall Cottage at Middleton on Gower and brought up nearby:

He lived in Middleton until he was 6 and then the family moved to Swansea. He joined the Royal Navy at 15 and later served under Captain Scott undertaking two expeditions to the Antarctic in the years between 1901 - 03.

He died on 17th February 1912 whilst returning from the South Pole with the Southern Party of the British Antarctic Expedition under the command of Captain Robert Falcon Scott. The latter once described Edgar Evans memorably as ..."a giant worker he is responsible for every sledge, every sledge-fitting, tents, sleeping bags, harness and when one cannot recall a single expression of dissatisfaction with any one of these items, it shows what an invaluable assistant he has been".

His body was never recovered and still rests somewhere near the Beardmore Glacier in Antarctica.
A blue plaque commemorating the explorer has been placed on Middleton Hall Cottage, which is situated just off the road to Rhossili. The cottage is private but the plaque can be viewed from the public footpath. Use What3words reference bowhead.rave.soap.
# posted by Peter Black : 6:00 AM  0 comments

Friday, September 05, 2025

Are Welsh council tax payers getting a raw deal?

Nation Cymru reports on new analysis that shows that Welsh Government’s failure to reform Council Tax has put the people of Wales at a serious disadvantage compared with those in England and Scotland.

The website says that researchers at Cardiff University’s Wales Governance Centre have concluded that the impact on poorer households in particular makes the current situation unsustainable:

Comparing the increases in Wales with those in England and Scotland, the researchers state: “Looking just at the very recent history of council tax increases, this is the second consecutive year in which Welsh council tax increases exceed those in England, where increases over 5% typically require a local referendum. Wales’ increases this year are below Scotland, where councils raised taxes by an average of 8.8% this year. But taking a longer-term view, the pattern in council tax increases since devolution is much more one-sided and can be starkly and simply shown.

“Since the advent of devolution in 1999, Wales has seen average annual council tax increases of 5%, compared with 4% in England (with increases constrained by caps and referendum requirements since 2010) and 2% in Scotland (due to the Scottish Government’s council tax freeze policy since 2007-08).

“This means that Welsh council tax bills have effectively tripled since devolution, with notably faster increases than England and Scotland since the start of UK austerity measures in 2010. In 2025-26, council tax revenues are now £440m higher than they would have been had they increased in line with England since 2010-11, and £750m higher than if we had followed Scotland’s trajectory of council tax increases. These are serious sums of money in Wales.

“Over the Sixth Senedd term as a whole (2021-22 to 2025-26), council tax revenues will have increased by over £600m – £233m higher than if bill increases had followed Scotland.

“The Welsh Government would have a straightforward explanation for these increases. By allowing higher council tax rises, Wales has avoided council bankruptcies and has kept vital services like adult and children’s social care and ALN (Additional Learning Needs) provision in a stronger state than across the border.

“This extra resource does of course help fund local services. But the problem is that by choosing Council Tax as the vehicle for providing this extra resource, tax increases have hit Welsh households very unequally.

“Unlike income tax, council tax does not tax households based on their income, nor on the current value of their property. Instead, council tax bills are based on the valuation bands which are roughly based on how much a given property was worth in April 2003 (when the last revaluation was undertaken in Wales). There are nine bands, with A representing the lowest value properties and I the highest. But even though they cover every type and size of property imaginable, rates for bands A-C and E-I vary only quite narrowly around the central band D rate, regulated by a Welsh Government-set formula.

 The really big issue of course is, as they say, the limited variation around the B and D rate set by the council means households living in Band A-C properties pay a much higher proportion of the value of their house in council tax than households living in a Band H-I property. This heightens the unfairness of the tax.

The next Welsh government needs to get to grips with this problem quickly.
# posted by Peter Black : 6:00 AM  0 comments

Thursday, September 04, 2025

A ‘Putin-loving free speech imposter’

You have to love Democrat Party congress members.

The Guardian reports that Nigel Farage went to Washington at the invitation of Republicans to testify on what the Reform leader calls the “awful authoritarian” situation for free speech in the UK. as if it's any of their business.(Photograph: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

In other words, he once more neglected to represent his constituents in Parliament so he could go to a foreign country to talk the UK down. However, he got a bit more than he bargained for.

The paper says that during the sometimes difficult appearance before the US congressional hearing on censorship, Farage was accused of being a “Putin-loving free speech impostor” whose main motivation is ingratiating himself with Donald Trump and tech companies.

The Reform UK leader, missed prime minister’s questions to appear as a witness before the House judiciary committee, but he faced openly hostile questioning from Democrat members, who questioned whether he really backed free speech, with one asking why journalists from hostile publications have been banned from Reform events:

In an opening statement, the Maryland Democrat Jamie Raskin said that if Farage was, as he said, worried about the implications of the UK’s Online Safety Act, he might have done better to make the case as an MP rather than in the US.

“He should go and advance the positions he’s taking here in Congress today in parliament, which is meeting today, if he’s serious about it,” Raskin said.

“To the people of the UK who think this Putin-loving free speech impostor and Trump sycophant will protect freedom in this country, come on over to America and see what Trump and Maga are doing to destroy our freedom. You might … think twice before you let Mr Farage make Britain great again.”

Some other Democrat members were equally scathing. Jerrold Nadler asked why the committee had sought evidence from “a fringe politician from the United Kingdom”, while another, Hank Johnson, asked Farage to confirm that Reform currently has four MPs.

Johnson accused Farage of advocating for free speech so as to solicit donations from Elon Musk, the owner of X, saying: “You’re trying to ingratiate yourself with the tech bros.” He added: “You need money from Elon Musk in order to get elected prime minister of Great Britain. That’s the bottom line.”

Farage responded by pointing out that Musk did not support him: “Elon Musk is abusive about me virtually every single week, but it’s a free country.”

Raskin asked the Reform leader why he had called for a ban on a pro-Gaza protest, with Farage saying this was because it would have happened close to Remembrance Sunday, calling this a “sensitive” time.

Raskin replied: “I thought that’s what the freedom of speech was about. You have a right to engage in speech that other people consider offensive or insensitive.”

Raskin also asked why Reform often prevents journalists from critical organisations from attending its events. Farage said this did not happen with his knowledge: “If I go back the last 25 years, I can’t think of banning anybody. But I mean, maybe somebody else did.”
Wouldn't it be nice if UK journalists, especially the BBC, dropped the kid gloves and took a similar robust approach to scrutinise Farage and his cronies.
# posted by Peter Black : 6:00 AM  0 comments

Wednesday, September 03, 2025

No evidence to support claims linking sexual violence with refugees


The Independent reports that leading female politicians, campaigners and cultural figures have signed an open letter criticising attempts from the right to link sexual violence in Britain to the arrival of asylum seekers.

The paper says that the letter - signed by musicians Paloma Faith, Charlotte Church and Anoushka Shankar, as well as Labour, Green and independent MPs including Kim Johnson, Ellie Chowns, Diane Abbott and Zarah Sultana – says they “reject the far right’s racist lies about ‘protecting’ women and girls”:

“They are not defenders of women – they exploit violence against women to fuel hate and division,” reads the letter, coordinated by Stand Up to Racism and titled ‘Women Against the Far Right’.

The letter, seen by The Guardian, warns: “Violence against women and girls is a serious and urgent issue. But it will never be solved by the likes of Nigel Farage and Robert Jenrick targeting refugees, Muslims and migrants.

“There is no evidence that people seeking refuge are more likely to commit acts of sexual violence. Many are themselves survivors of violence, war, and persecution. Blaming them distracts from tackling the deep-rooted causes of abuse and from holding those truly responsible to account.”

It also accuses the far right of spreading misinformation to whip up protests and unrest outside hotels housing asylum seekers, which include women and children. The letter argues that this does nothing to make women in Britain feel safer.
...

Reform UK leader Mr Farage has repeatedly tried to link illegal immigration with levels of violence against women and girls, claiming that an “Afghan male has a 22 times more likely chance of being convicted of rape than somebody born in this country”.
In fact as the Guardian reported a few years ago, the majority of child sexual abuse gangs are made up of white men under the age of 30.

According to an official report, which covers England, Scotland and Wales and summarises a range of studies on the issue of group-based child sexual exploitation (CSE), also known as grooming gangs, there is not enough evidence to conclude that child sexual abuse gangs were disproportionately made up of Asian offenders. 

It said: “Research has found that group-based child sexual exploitation offenders are most commonly white:

Nazir Afzal, the former chief crown prosecutor in the north-west, who brought prosecutions over the Rochdale grooming gangs, welcomed the report. “It confirms that white men remain the most common offenders, which is something rarely mentioned by rightwing commentators,” he said.

“However, it is not shy in reflecting that south Asian and British Pakistani men are disproportionately found in high-profile cases.

“The danger is that by focusing entirely on the ethnicity of the offender, we miss the bigger picture, which is how the unheard, the left-behind women and girls, are invariably the victims. That’s where the government’s attention and action should be primarily focused.”
The point is that this is not clear cut by any stretch of the imagination, despite the rhetoric being utilised by Farage, Jenrick and their acolytes, misleading rhetoric that has been used to fuel protests and hatred.

# posted by Peter Black : 6:00 AM  0 comments

Tuesday, September 02, 2025

Even Reform voters are now questioning Brexit

The Indeoendent reports that a shock new poll has revealed that even a majority of Reform UK supporters now want to unpick parts of Brexit and move the UK closer to the EU.

The paper says that a major YouGov survey of 2,224 voters has underlined a significant shift in attitudes to the Brexit debate and suggests that Nigel Farage’s continued hostility towards the EU is not even landing with his own party’s supporters:

According to the findings, 55 per cent of Reform UK (previously the Brexit Party) voters want a permanent youth mobility scheme for young people in the UK and Europe to be put in place with just 34 per cent opposing.

The scheme is being looked at following the Brexit reset by Sir Keir Starmer earlier this year, which the prime minister described as an ongoing process.

Overall, 76 per cent of those asked support the scheme, compared to only 13 per cent who are opposed.

Meanwhile, 62 per cent of Tory voters support the youth mobility scheme despite the party’s hard line in favour of Brexit, while 90 per cent of Sir Keir’s Labour voters back it.

In a further telling result, Reform voters also back closer trading with the EU by 41 per cent to 19 per cent.

Among the options presented to them, only 35 per cent want to be “more distant” from the EU, with 23 per cent wanting closer relations and 32 per cent preferring no change.

Pro-EU campaign group Best for Britain described the support for measures such as youth mobility among Reform voters as “highly significant”.

Tom Brufatto, director of policy, said: “A deal on youth mobility would create new opportunities for young UK and EU citizens alike, as first proposed by the UK Trade and Business Commission in 2021, and, as Best for Britain’s polling found earlier this year, is favoured in every constituency in Great Britain.

“The government must now use this welcome momentum to work at speed with the EU to finalise a deal so Brits can feel the economic benefits – no more time should be wasted.”
Surely, it is now time we moved more quickly towards integrating with the EU and in particular rejoining the single market.
# posted by Peter Black : 8:27 AM  0 comments

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