In entirely expected news the Treasury has already underestimated the number of children to be taken out of private education as a result of Labour’s school tax. Over 3,000 private school students have applied to join state schools between June and September this year, while 2,500 more will leave in January according to the Independent Schools Council. The Treasury’s costings said that only 3,000 would leave over the entire 2024/2025 period…
So 183% of Labour’s estimate have already said they will go. The actual figures are set to be far higher. Maybe they shouldn’t have relied solely on a report written by the minister’s best man…
Meanwhile every new primary school pupil in the state system will cost the taxpayer £4,265 and every new secondary pupil £5,525 – provided they can get a place at all in overrun state schools. Here comes the bill…
Members of the Church of England’s General Synod have started a petition backed by some top priests calling on Justin Welby to resign for failing to stop serial abuser John Smyth. Bishop of Newcastle Helen-Ann Hartley has just now called for Welby to go:
“I think rightly people are asking the question ‘Can we really trust the Church of England to keep us safe?’ And I think the answer at the moment is ‘no’.”
Westminster-watchers will be aware of Welby’s distinguished record making a fool of himself when it comes to politics. He:
Hartley, the most senior figure to speak out so far, says Welby’s resignation is required to prevent the CofE “losing complete credibility.” If you ask SW1 Welby achieved that years ago…
Hacks have enquired once again at the government’s Lobby briefing about Sue Gray. Nada…
After Gudio published photos of Gray and Labour donor Lord Alli scheming in the Dean Street Townhouse last week journalists are pushing Downing Street – will she be paid this year, is she being paid currently? Crickets from No 10…
Politico said last Friday that “multiple figures” who were supposed to work with Gray in her new position “now strongly suspect she’ll never take up the role.” As Guido reported a full month ago…
Gray’s “short break” has already gone on for six weeks. At least she’s expecting to score a seat with Waheed in the Lords…
Tory shadow ministers are plodding along without any personal advisers while CCHQ “sorts the money” and looks to hire within two months. They’re being aided by central staff from CCHQ and CRD in their briefs – though Guido hears many of them aren’t long for this world either, especially with an eye on the lack of funds. There will be a shakeup before too long…
The expectation in central office was that a Jenrick win would facilitate rapid sackings over a night-of-the-long-knives weekend or two. Guido hears from staff that it was “all happy families in the office” when Kemi came in. That moment having passed, senior Tories are now eyeing a date to push through more extensive personnel changes. If they can find the talent or the cash to replace them…
The Welsh Government is ploughing on with its taxpayer-funded “Anti-racist Wales Action Plan,” which it says is a “transformational path toward creating an anti-racist Wales by 2030.” Whatever that means…
To reach this goal the government has produced a new report on “racism relating to climate change, environment, and rural affairs.” The conclusion of which is – you guessed it – that people “of ethnic minority background in Wales face barriers created by exclusions and racism preventing them from fully participating in ‘environmental’ activities.” The trees are racist…
The report says that based on a “spatial analysis” ethnic minority groups visit green spaces less – while quietly admitting that “there is difficulty in disentangling ethnicity from a range of other demographic determinants.” I.e. people living in urban areas go to the countryside less…
The rest of the report is made up of complaints about the “lack of representation and diversity in leadership roles in environmental organisations and government” which “speaks of systemic inequalities” and the results from commissioning five “community groups” to “undertake dialogues” with ethnic minority communities. Quite some scientific analysis there…
Apart from vague platitudes the document actually fails to establish much evidence at all for green spaces being racist and blames existing material for not “fully capturing the experiences” of ethnic minorities. In the end the anti-racism planners pat themselves on the back by saying their “report highlights the need for concerted action by all people working in the environment sector (in its broadest terms) to heed the voices of ethnic minorities in Wales, championing inclusive approaches that foster environmental justice and equitable access to green spaces for all.” Translation: As you were…
UPDATE: Welsh Tory leader Andrew RT Davies tells Guido:
“This kind of outdated virtue signalling nonsense is completely out of touch with the needs of the people of Wales. Labour is stuck on yesterday’s thinking, the kind that is being roundly rejected globally. Time to turf them out.”
After Biden’s dignified post-election speech some headlines gushed:
“‘He regained youth,’ internet startled as ‘super sharp’ Biden delivers powerful speech”
Meanwhile the President and First Lady went for a stroll on Rehoboth Beach in Delaware. In case you forgot what Sleepy Joe’s actually like…
Kemi Badenoch at the 1922-ConHome bash last night:
“I did praise [Burnham] for his stamina, it was amazing. All I had to do was sit back and lie there. I didn’t have to do anything at all…”