Monday, November 03, 2025
Tory-Reform pact on ECHR won't stop the boats
Now, they're at it again, claiming that the answer to all of our problems lie in us joining Putin's Russia outside the European Convention on Human Rights, as if further isolation from the rest of the World is going to make us stronger.
This has not stopped Badenoch's Tories casting one last desperate throw of the dice by joining Farage's Reform in wanting to ditch Winston Churchill's great legacy, which he designed to form a bulwark to future dictatorships. History is not a strong suit for the political right wing.
The Independent has news for these popularist wannabes. They report that nearly 300 organisations have issued a rallying cry for a “full-throated defence” of the European Convention on Human Rights, accusing politicians of using it as a scapegoat with devastating effects.
They say that groups ranging from Liberty to Refuge, health charity Parkinson's UK and the Centre for Military Justice have warned that the ECHR protects “the rights of ordinary people every day up and down the country from victims of sexual violence to LGBT+ service personnel, public interest journalists to mental health patients”:
They have accused politicians of “using our human rights as a scapegoat…. [and] escalating, irresponsible rhetoric targeting migrant and minoritised communities, which has devastating real-world consequences”.
Sam Grant, director of external affairs at Liberty, which organised the statement from 292 organisations, said: “There are people in powerful positions who want us to believe that we would be better off without the ECHR – don’t believe them.
“For decades our human rights laws have underpinned all of our daily lives by giving us the ability to speak freely, love who we want, and live in peace. These rights were hard-won and we must not allow governments now or in the future to take them away.”
The statement, which has been signed by organisations including Ben and Jerry's, Shelter, Mind, Disability Action and the Centre for Women's Justice, argues the ECHR “is fundamental to our democracy and enables ordinary people, of all backgrounds, to hold the state and public bodies accountable”.
Developed after the Second World War, with the UK playing a leading role, the ECHR and the Human Rights Act (HRA), which incorporates it into British law, “have protected the rights of ordinary people every day up and down the country; from victims of sexual violence to LGBT+ service personnel, public interest journalists to mental health patients and victims of serious injustice (from Hillsborough to Windrush)”, the groups said.
“The ECHR helped bring peace finally in Northern Ireland, through the Good Friday Agreement, and has improved the quality of public services. We reject the narrative that human rights are not in the interests of the public – everyone in our society would be much worse off without these key protections”.
Attacks on the ECHR, they say, have “often been based on myths, over-simplifications, inaccuracies, and scaremongering, particularly around migration.”
Leaving the convention would not solve problems like the backlog of asylum cases or migrants taking dangerous small boats across the Channel, they said, “but would bring about years of legal uncertainty, undermine our international position, and cause harm to the rights of both migrants in the UK and our wider communities”.
They called on politicians to stop “using our human rights as a scapegoat, level with the British public about the significant costs of ECHR withdrawal (such as the impact on the Good Friday Agreement) and end the escalating, irresponsible rhetoric targeting migrant and minoritised communities, which has devastating real-world consequences for people who are often already made vulnerable by wider social and economic marginalisation and stigmatisation.”
They also call on Sir Keir Starmer and the Labour government “to make the positive case for our human rights protections and how they empower ordinary people across the UK” adding “Now is the time for a full-throated defence of the ECHR and HRA.”
It took votes by the Liberal Democrats to block Nigel Farage's Ten Minute Rule bill to leave the ECHR, after the Labour front bench abstained, a shocking decision that defines the spinelessness of this government. It is time all parties of the centre and left stood up to this disgraceful Tory-Reform alliance to tell them that enough is enough.
This has not stopped Badenoch's Tories casting one last desperate throw of the dice by joining Farage's Reform in wanting to ditch Winston Churchill's great legacy, which he designed to form a bulwark to future dictatorships. History is not a strong suit for the political right wing.
The Independent has news for these popularist wannabes. They report that nearly 300 organisations have issued a rallying cry for a “full-throated defence” of the European Convention on Human Rights, accusing politicians of using it as a scapegoat with devastating effects.
They say that groups ranging from Liberty to Refuge, health charity Parkinson's UK and the Centre for Military Justice have warned that the ECHR protects “the rights of ordinary people every day up and down the country from victims of sexual violence to LGBT+ service personnel, public interest journalists to mental health patients”:
They have accused politicians of “using our human rights as a scapegoat…. [and] escalating, irresponsible rhetoric targeting migrant and minoritised communities, which has devastating real-world consequences”.
Sam Grant, director of external affairs at Liberty, which organised the statement from 292 organisations, said: “There are people in powerful positions who want us to believe that we would be better off without the ECHR – don’t believe them.
“For decades our human rights laws have underpinned all of our daily lives by giving us the ability to speak freely, love who we want, and live in peace. These rights were hard-won and we must not allow governments now or in the future to take them away.”
The statement, which has been signed by organisations including Ben and Jerry's, Shelter, Mind, Disability Action and the Centre for Women's Justice, argues the ECHR “is fundamental to our democracy and enables ordinary people, of all backgrounds, to hold the state and public bodies accountable”.
Developed after the Second World War, with the UK playing a leading role, the ECHR and the Human Rights Act (HRA), which incorporates it into British law, “have protected the rights of ordinary people every day up and down the country; from victims of sexual violence to LGBT+ service personnel, public interest journalists to mental health patients and victims of serious injustice (from Hillsborough to Windrush)”, the groups said.
“The ECHR helped bring peace finally in Northern Ireland, through the Good Friday Agreement, and has improved the quality of public services. We reject the narrative that human rights are not in the interests of the public – everyone in our society would be much worse off without these key protections”.
Attacks on the ECHR, they say, have “often been based on myths, over-simplifications, inaccuracies, and scaremongering, particularly around migration.”
Leaving the convention would not solve problems like the backlog of asylum cases or migrants taking dangerous small boats across the Channel, they said, “but would bring about years of legal uncertainty, undermine our international position, and cause harm to the rights of both migrants in the UK and our wider communities”.
They called on politicians to stop “using our human rights as a scapegoat, level with the British public about the significant costs of ECHR withdrawal (such as the impact on the Good Friday Agreement) and end the escalating, irresponsible rhetoric targeting migrant and minoritised communities, which has devastating real-world consequences for people who are often already made vulnerable by wider social and economic marginalisation and stigmatisation.”
They also call on Sir Keir Starmer and the Labour government “to make the positive case for our human rights protections and how they empower ordinary people across the UK” adding “Now is the time for a full-throated defence of the ECHR and HRA.”
It took votes by the Liberal Democrats to block Nigel Farage's Ten Minute Rule bill to leave the ECHR, after the Labour front bench abstained, a shocking decision that defines the spinelessness of this government. It is time all parties of the centre and left stood up to this disgraceful Tory-Reform alliance to tell them that enough is enough.
Sunday, November 02, 2025
'Most sane people would run a mile' from politics
The BBC quotes Kirsty as saying that the online abuse she and other politicians had received was "unforgivable", and it was this level of trolling that forced her to leave politics:
Speaking to politician Lee Waters - who has said he will step down next year - on the Fifth Floor podcast, she said the way she was targeted "badly" affected her children.
She added that when she told them about her new role as chairwoman of the Cardiff and Vale health board, her daughters told her "don't do it, we can't go through this again".
"I didn't realise how badly it affected my family," she said, adding that once news of her new role was made public the "pack" were back online "telling everybody what a terrible person I am".
Williams said that being a politician was "no worse or better than many other jobs that people do".
"Most sane people would run a mile from putting themselves into that environment," she said, referring to the level of criticism received.
"I'm worried that it's baked in now. People who go for that job accept that this is how they're going to have to live their lives.
"It's not pleasant."
She was speaking to Waters, who was Welsh Labour's former deputy minister for climate change and who previously received "insults and abuse" for the introduction of the 20mph law.
Kirsty Williams was speaking to politician Lee Waters, who said he received "insults and abuse" for the introduction of the 20mph law
Williams feared the wrong type of person would be able to sustain a life in politics because "you have to have a certain kind of personality" to put up with abuse.
"And I'm not convinced that the people who can put up with that, and ignore it, are perhaps not the people that you need in the political environment getting things done," she said.
She described that as "probably the greatest threat to liberal democracy".
As somebody who served with Kirsty in the Welsh Assembly for seventeen years, I know what a talented and capable politician she was. We are fortunate that she continues to serve the public in other roles since standing down in 2021, but she is absolutely right, this level of abuse is unacceptable and undermines the whole democratic process. It is sad and deeply regrettable that it continues to this day.
Saturday, November 01, 2025
Remembering a disaster
The entire crew of The Mumbles Lifeboat, Edward, Prince of Wales, lost their lives in attempting to rescue the crew of the SS Samptampa which came to grief on rocks close to Sker Point, Porthcawl. There is also a memorial in Rest Bay, Porthcawl, pictured below, which was unveiled almost exactly a year ago.
In hurricane-force winds, in a powerful tidal surge, just 30 miles from its destination, the vessel broke apart on Sker Point. All 39 crew members were stranded, with no hope of rescue from land due to the ferocious conditions.
The Mumbles Lifeboat Edward Prince of Wales launched, battling extreme winds, tidal spray, and oil slicks. Despite their efforts, all eight volunteer lifeboat crew and the crew of the Samtampa were lost.
The Samtampa was a 'Liberty ship' built in America in 1943 and was on her way to Newport from Middlesborough when she ran aground on the rocky ledges of the Sker Point near Porthcawl. The total death toll for the disaster was 47.
Friday, October 31, 2025
Will Labour's planning bill put EU trade deal at risk?
The Guardian reports that EU ambassador Pedro Serrano is said by the Guardian’s sources to have visited the environment secretary, Emma Reynolds this week and warned her that the planning and infrastructure bill going through the House of Lords could jeopardise the trade deal currently being negotiated between the UK and the European Commission:
Access to the EU’s energy markets is also imperilled by the bill, representatives of the EU warned the government. This would be very difficult for the UK, which imports 16% of its electricity from Europe. The UK government estimates the deal will add £9bn to the UK economy by 2040.
The bill, which the government hopes will boost economic growth, removes EU-derived nature protections and instead allows developers to build on wildlife areas if they pay money into a “nature recovery fund” and commit to improve the environment within 10 years.
The EU believes its protections, which the UK used to follow, are stronger as they involve not harming habitats in the first place, and quickly replacing what is lost rather than making a vague long-term commitment.
EU negotiators have also noticed there are provisions in the bill for the Treasury to claw back the money from the nature recovery fund in some instances, meaning it is not fully ringfenced to protect wildlife.
The ambassador is understood to have warned Reynolds that the bill as it stands could flout the “level playing field” rules that underpin the free trade agreement. These rules state that the UK cannot regress on its environmental rules in a way that would give it a competitive advantage over the EU. The bloc believes this bill does exactly that.
EU representatives also raised this concern at a meeting with government officials earlier this month.
It has been noted by the EU that all the ministerial speeches about the bill have been about removing red tape to boost economic growth. EU officials say it will be hard for the government to argue the bill does not give it a competitive advantage in light of this.
When contacted for comment, the EU Delegation said that it does not comment on ongoing discussions with the UK. The European Union remains fully committed to strengthening its close partnership with the United Kingdom, in accordance with the agreements reached at the EU-UK Summit of 19 May.
The issue for the government is whether they want to get some economic growth by compromising their commitment to tackling climate change and protecting nature, or whether they want to do a deal with the EU and get some real growth, something that has been missing in our economy as a result of Brexit.
Thursday, October 30, 2025
Are Labour's housebuilding targets in ruins?
Back then, I said 'If Labour are serious about providing homes where they are most needed then they will need to provide significant amounts of public subsidy and ensure that local councils and housing associations are sufficiently resourced to build the social housing that is required. They will also need to invest in infrastructure. This target cannot be met on the cheap.'
I repeated that view in October 2024, and in December, I suggested that there a feeling is developing that the government has bitten off more than it can chew with an overly ambitious target.
The Independent reports that the warning by housebuilders was conveyed in a letter to the budget watchdog and is a fresh blow to Rachel Reeves ahead of what is expected to be a difficult budget in November. The HBF say that the government's forecasts for economic growth from house building are too optimistic:
The organisation’s chief executive, Neil Jefferson, said the OBR’s numbers would only be achievable if ministers gave more help to first-time buyers to stimulate demand and slashed planned taxes on new homes, which he said were making many sites “unviable”.
The private warning, seen by The Times, is likely to harm prospects for the watchdog upgrading its forecast for economic growth from construction. In a worst case scenario, it could even result in a downgrade.
In its manifesto, Labour pledged to begin work on 1.5 million new homes over the course of the Parliament, to expand homeownership to more Britons. But house builders have repeatedly sounded the alarm over the pledge, arguing it is too ambitious.
MP Chris Curtis, chair of the Labour Growth Group, said his party is “at risk of not hitting our targets because reform has been too slow”.
“The House of Lords has been holding up legislation, and the government hasn’t been strong enough in standing up to opposition,” he told The Times.
“That’s why we now need to go further, by reforming the building safety regulator, fixing the broken approach to nature regulation, and swiftly getting on with the New Towns programme.”
My hunch is that they will make significant progress, but the target is too high. We won't know of course until the end of the decade.
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
Major tells Tories they are on the wrong side of history
The paper says that Major warned that despite the existential threat posed by Reform’s surge in popularity, far more than the future of the Tory party was at stake with autocracies on the march across the world:
“Frustration with democracy should not blind us to the toxic nature of nationalism, or any and every form of populist or authoritarian government,” he said.
Addressing a Conservative party lunch on Tuesday, he urged the party not to reject the centre ground of British politics, saying they were “seriously alienating” voters by coming down on the wrong side of public opinion on Europe, climate change and overseas aid.
The Tory leader, Kemi Badenoch, supported Brexit, and has committed to scrapping the UK’s net zero by 2050 target and cutting the overseas aid budget by another £7bn, while moderates fear the direction the party is taking under the influence of rightwingers such as Robert Jenrick sounds the death knell for one-nation Conservatism.
In a wide-ranging criticism of the current direction, Major accused the Tories of a loss of pragmatism, tolerance and nuance, and of ignoring the 43% of the nation’s voters in the political centre. The party must “change or cease to be relevant”, he said.
“To embrace such a narrow philosophy shrinks the party from being a broad-based national movement to resembling a petty and mean-minded cult.
“The party needs its right wing, its centre, and centre-left Conservatives back together in the fold. If that can be done, then we may once again widen our appeal and be a power in the land. The alternative is bleak.”
Major also urged scepticism over the archetypal “strongman leader” who promised voters a shiny new world. “For such figures lead no one to utopia. Instead, to gain and keep power they sweep away the compromises and decencies of democracy.”
He said Reform was trying to be “all things to all people” and as a result was making promises that could never be kept, such as nationalising the water industry. “This is amateur populism let loose. Such foolish promises illustrate their unsuitability for power,” he said.
He acknowledged, however, that “we, as a party, are ourselves in part to blame” after a tumultuous few years in power for “anxious people … turning to populist politicians”.
Meanwhile, Theresa May has also got into the act, in a speech to peers on Monday, she took issue with her party’s approach to net zero, the judiciary and human rights as she urged the Tories to show leadership instead. It's just that nobody in the Conservative Party leadership is listening.
Tuesday, October 28, 2025
Farage's half-apology is not good enough
The Reform leader was responding to an appearance on TalkTV over the weekend, when Sarah Pochin, the MP for Runcorn and Helsby, responded to a viewer who complained about the demographics of advertising, saying she thought the viewer was “absolutely right”, adding that “It drives me mad when I see adverts full of Black people, full of Asian people."
Farage told a press conference in London on Monday: “I understand the basic point, but the way she put it, the way she worded it, was wrong and was ugly, and if I thought that the intention behind it was racist, I would have taken a lot more action than I have."
Mr Farage said he was “unhappy” with what his MP had said, but that her remarks had been made in the context of “DEI madness” – a reference to measures taken by governments to ensure diversity, equity and inclusion.
It came as Sir Keir Starmer described Ms Pochin’s comments as amounting to “shocking racism”.
Asked whether the comments made by the MP were racist, the prime minister said: “It’s shocking racism, and it’s the sort of thing that will tear our country apart – and it tells you everything about Reform.”
He said that Mr Farage has to face questions about it “because either he doesn’t consider it racist, which in my view is shocking in itself, or he does think it’s racist and he’s shown absolutely no leadership”.
Meanwhile, shadow home secretary Chris Philp said the way Ms Pochin had expressed herself was “racist”.
Speaking to LBC, he said: “She should absolutely not have said that. It was completely wrong. She has apologised. I think the way she put it was racist, she shouldn’t have said it, and it’s right she’s apologised.”
Earlier on Monday, Labour wrote to Mr Farage asking him to “urgently clarify” whether he endorsed her comments and whether they were welcome in Reform, while the Liberal Democrats have sought a censure motion in parliament to formally condemn Ms Pochin’s words.
These remarks were clearly racist, the fact that Farage is effectively making excuses for Pochin and is happy for her to continue to serve as a Reform MP, says a great deal about him and his party.
Monday, October 27, 2025
Concern about political donors getting government contracts
The paper says that a report by the thinktank Autonomy Institute has identified more than 100 companies that have given money to political parties and then won government contracts, under both Conservative and Labour administrations:
The study follows a previous investigation by the Guardian that revealed how companies linked to Tory donors had been given billions in public funds since 2016.
The new analysis shows the pattern has continued under Labour, with eight companies that donated more than £580,000 to the party receiving government contracts worth nearly £138m within two years of their donation (between July 2024 and June 2025).
Looking beyond a two-year window, the thinktank found 25 Labour-linked companies had won contracts worth £796.43m since 2001.
Dr Susan Hawley, the executive director of Spotlight on Corruption said: “There is nothing more damaging to public trust than the perception that those with privileged access to those in power get privileged access to taxpayer-funded contracts.
“These findings show a systemic problem with the UK’s absurdly weak handling of conflicts of interest. It must lead to systemic solutions which include screening out political donors and their companies from the procurement process, and real consideration of a ban on company directors or their companies that receive public contracts from making political donations.”
The Autonomy Institute identified a total of 125 companies that were awarded central government contracts worth £28.8bn after previously making £30.15m of donations to a political party. About £2.5bn worth of those contracts were awarded within two years of the donation.
They include the consultancy firm Baringa Partners, which donated £30,061.50 to Labour in January 2024 and received £35,196,719 worth of government contracts between July 2024 and March this year. Grant Thornton donated £81,658.37 between March 2023 and July 2024 and has since been awarded £6,541,819 in contracts.
However, the vast bulk of the contracts – £25.4bn – were awarded under previous Conservative governments to Conservative donors. They include Randox Laboratories and Globus Shetland, both of which were offered contracts during the Covid pandemic.
A Conservative spokesperson said the party was funded by membership, fundraising and donations declared to the Electoral Commission and fully compliant with the law. They said the alternative “would be more taxpayer funding or being in the pocket of union barons like the current government”.
They added: “As the National Audit Office and Cabinet Office internal audit made clear, ministers properly declared their interest and had no involvement in procurement decisions. Donations have never had any bearing on government contracts.”
A government spokesperson said: “All government contracts are awarded fairly and transparently, in line with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. All decisions on contracts are rigorously scrutinised to deliver the best value for the taxpayer.”
There is no suggestion of anything untoward here, but appearances are important and if we are not going to replace political donationsw with public funding then the proposals being put forward by Dr Susan Hawley should at least be given serious consideration.
Sunday, October 26, 2025
Flagging Reform waste
The Independent reports that Reform UK-led Nottinghamshire County Council is splurging £75,000 on new flag installations, prompting criticism the money could be better spent on services for local people.
The paper says that the 164 flags are set to be displayed across 82 locations, costing the council £475 each, which will include brackets, traffic management and utilising cherry pickers:
The decision has been criticised by others in the council, who feel it contradicts Reform UK’s promise that it would slash wasteful spending if elected.
Labour councillor Helen Faccio, who represents Toton, Chilwell and Attenborough, told the BBC she was “shocked but not surprised” by the announcement.
She said: “We heard when Reform came to power, that they would make council services more efficient and cut wasteful spending.
“Then we hear about huge spending on flags. My residents would say we should spend money filling potholes or investing in youth clubs.”
Meanwhile, all the Reform-led councils are planning large council tax increases next year, completely contrary to their election promises. So much for claims that they are any different to other parties.
Saturday, October 25, 2025
A lone refuge from the rat race
During World War II, it served as a base for radar workers. More recently, it gained fame as a filming location for the TV shows Torchwood and BBC's The Guest. Today, the National Trust manages the site as a popular holiday cottage, blending its historical character with modern comforts.
The current rectory was built around 1850 on the site of an earlier, less substantial rectory. It was home to Reverend John Ponsonby Lucas and his family from 1855 to 1898. During this time, it was a family home for the rector, his wife, six children, and a maid.
The rectory became a base for radar personnel working at the station on nearby Rhossili Down, which provided early warnings for incoming enemy aircraft. This period led to its reputation for being haunted, with some visitors reporting strange sightings and sounds.
For anybody wanting to escape the rat race it is an ideal refuge. As the National Trust website says: 'the spacious, four-bedroom house is full of coastal charm with light-flooded rooms, sea views from many of the rooms and woodburners in both the sitting room and snug. Watch the sun set over the beach from the window seat or the garden.'
Bookings can be made here.
The current rectory was built around 1850 on the site of an earlier, less substantial rectory. It was home to Reverend John Ponsonby Lucas and his family from 1855 to 1898. During this time, it was a family home for the rector, his wife, six children, and a maid.
The rectory became a base for radar personnel working at the station on nearby Rhossili Down, which provided early warnings for incoming enemy aircraft. This period led to its reputation for being haunted, with some visitors reporting strange sightings and sounds.
For anybody wanting to escape the rat race it is an ideal refuge. As the National Trust website says: 'the spacious, four-bedroom house is full of coastal charm with light-flooded rooms, sea views from many of the rooms and woodburners in both the sitting room and snug. Watch the sun set over the beach from the window seat or the garden.'
Bookings can be made here.
