Number 10 says Sir Keir has “no plans” to meet the Taliban at the COP29 Conference in Baku, which kicks off today. Speaking in the daily Lobby briefing this afternoon, the spokesperson said the Taliban’s invitation to the summit was “a matter for the organisers.” Presumably the UN thinks they may provide some valuable contributions on the matter of climate change. You’d think the Prime Minister would at least raise some concerns…
The spokesperson added:
“I think attendance is a matter for the organisers, but more broadly the summit I think is bringing together 96 different delegations from across the world and the objective is obviously to strengthen global climate action and engagement on that issue…
It is obviously vital that we approach the talks and the event with that common purpose [at the] forefront of our mind.”
Hosts Azerbaijan claim the Taliban will “potentially participate in periphery discussion and potentially hold bilateral meetings,” according to The Independent. Don’t worry about them, they’re just here for a few peripheral meetings…
Ministers James Murray and Daniel Zeichner penned a piece in the Times last week defending Labour’s new farm tax. Incensed farmers are due to descend on Westminster next week in a protest attended by Jeremy Clarkson…
They brandish an intellectual foundation for their new tax:
“As tax and economics experts from the IFS and the Tax Policy Centre have suggested, these changes are reasonable and fair. These changes strike a balanced approach that will ensure we can continue to protect family farms while also allowing us to ensure stability in the public finances and fix the public services that those same farming families rely on.”
Guido didn’t recognise the Tax Policy Centre and asked the Treasury to clarify, which it did, that the ministers are referring to the Centre for the Analysis of Taxation (CenTax). That “think tank” is run by Arun Advani and Andy Summers, two of the three “wealth tax commissioners” who consistently push for huge tax hikes…
A 2023 IFS report called for the scrappage of Agricultural Property Relief and other “loopholes” on farms. It was written by Arun Advani.
Analysis calling for APR to be capped was produced by the IFS before the election this year. It was written by Arun Advani.
CenTax’s recent report calling for APR to be capped was written by Arun Advani. The think tank has, in fact, led the charge in calling for taxes on carried interest, the removal of the non-dom regime, and hikes in Capital Gains Tax. Reeves has contracted out her tax policymaking to far-left academics Advani and Summers…
Advani, who also sits on the advisory board of the OBR, himself said at Labour Conference that he was “optimistic” because the Labour government is “genuinely listening” to his ideas. The groundswell of support for Labour’s tax hikes is being entirely manufactured…
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…
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…”