Guido’s just come across this clip of Tory MP Jonathan Gullis – then known simply as Mr Gullis – explaining the ins and outs of politics, philosophy and enterprise to his outgoing students at Blackfen School for Girls in 2015…

Beyond just providing tampons in male toilets, Welsh Labour seem intent on further strengthening the Senedd’s safe space credentials. Jenny Rathbone yesterday called for a ban on GB News from the estate:

“On a wider issue, GB News, which has been found in breach of Ofcom guidelines around COVID vaccines, has many items broadcasting disinformation or hateful views, and it’s currently broadcast on our internal televisions. I just wondered if any thought had been given to whether it was appropriate for an organisation that might continue to disseminate disinformation to be broadcast through our systems to our staff and Members.”

If Jenny really wanted to stamp out harmful language, perhaps she should start closer to home…

Speaking to Beth Rigby on Sky News, David Lammy got defensive when pressed about his outside earnings. The Shadow Foreign Secretary is Labour’s top earner, and had a robust response when pressed by Beth over a potential crackdown:

“I don’t think- no-one’s complaining about those hours. No-one is suggesting I’m in the pocket or LBC or anyone else”.

Lammy then begrudgingly accepted that, if parliament does rule against MPs having second jobs, “I will have to live with that like everyone else”. His £243,800 outside earnings would be a tough hole to plug amidst a cost of living crisis…

In the interview, Lammy also defended outside earnings on the basis they went to fund his staffing costs. If Lammy has also received donations for this he would have to declare it on his register of interests. There is no record of any such donations…

Rishi has poured cold water on reports the UK is on the brink of joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), amid growing reports in the last few days that the government is set to put ink to paper.

Speaking during a visit to the UK Atomic Energy Authority, the PM said:

 “We’ve made fantastic progress in the negotiations about CPTPP but we’re not there yet. But taking a step back, this is a great benefit of Brexit, our ability to go and sign exciting trade deals around the world. 

“If we are able to accede to the CPTPP trade deal, that will be an exciting moment for the UK, great opportunity for all our businesses to export to a massive and fast-growing market and again just demonstrates the Government getting on with things that are going to make life better, create jobs across the country and deliver the benefits of Brexit.”

Not quite over the line yet…

With Labour’s latest announcement that they plan to freeze council tax for a year – funded by a “proper windfall tax on oil and gas giants” – it’s hard to keep up with all of the “fully-costed” spending commitments funded by the same policy. Guido has taken the liberty of collating them for co-conspirator’s benefit:

1. Labour would freeze energy bills at September 2022 level of £2,500 funded by a windfall tax on oil and gas companies. Revenue required from windfall tax: £13 billion.
2. Labour would freeze energy bills at April 2022 level of £1,971 funded by a windfall tax on oil and gas companies. Revenue required from windfall tax: £8 billion.
3. Labour would cut VAT on energy bills, funded by a windfall tax on oil and gas companies. Estimated revenue required from windfall tax: £3.8 billion.
4. Labour would create an energy-intensive industry fund of £1 billion funded by a windfall tax on oil and gas companies.
5. Labour would give small businesses vouchers to ‘go green’, funded by a windfall tax on oil and gas companies. Revenue required from windfall tax: £700 million.
6. Labour would extend small business rates relief, funded by a windfall tax on oil and gas companies. Estimated revenue required from windfall tax: £2 billion.
7. Labour would freeze council tax for one year, funded by a windfall tax on oil and gas companies. Revenue required from windfall tax: £2.7 billion.
8. Labour would end the penalty imposed on prepayment meter customers, funded by a windfall tax on oil and gas companies. Estimated revenue required from windfall tax: £200 million.
9. Labour would ‘supercharge home insulation’, funded by a windfall tax on oil and gas companies. Estimated revenue required from windfall tax: £5 billion.
10. Labour would freeze fuel duty, funded by a windfall tax on oil and gas companies. Revenue required from windfall tax: £4.8 billion.

Labour now claims a backdated windfall tax, at an astronomical 78%, would raise £10.4 billion – back in August they were saying it was worth £8 billion and in January they briefed it would raise £13 billion. Even the most charitable reading doesn’t scratch the surface of Guido’s estimate of £43 billion total spending.

Energy giants have already reduced investment with the government’s own initiative. Guido can only imagine the blowback Labour’s plans would have.

The Treasury are on the lookout for a new Head of Cyber Security to tackle to the growing threats the country faces online. Candidates will be expected to “lead and drive a team providing critical services to the organisation” as foreign actors attempt to undermine our security through clandestine means. Seriously important work. 

The job ad outlines the responsibilities:

“The Head of Cyber Security identifies, understands and mitigates cyber-related risks. They provide risk or service owners with advice to help them make well informed risk-based decisions. 

HM Treasury are seeking a candidate that has a consistent track record of managing cyber risk management services and people. The ability to empower, lead and drive a team providing critical services to the organisation will be key… This is a crucial and influential role requiring excellent negotiating and analysis skills, with the ability to collaborate with all key partners at all levels of seniority.” 

The chosen candidate, if hired outside the capital, can expect a salary of around £50,550. A good salary for important government work… although potentially not as important to the Treasury as the Government Internal Audit Agency’s “Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Advisor“, who was offered £53,324 late last year. The House of Lords’ Head of Inclusion and Diversity was offered even more, at a generous £66,440 per annum.

Conor Holohan, media campaign manager of the TaxPayers’ Alliance said:

“Taxpayers are tired of Whitehall’s misplaced priorities, with bureaucrats favouring diversity non-jobs over positions of critical importance”

In the civil service diversity is more valued than security…