As if his newfound commitment to low taxes wasn’t enough, Sir Keir’s now doubling down on his efforts to infuriate the far left ahead of conference. According to BFAWU union president, Ian Hodson, Labour has banned Socialist Appeal from reporting from the Brighton conference this weekend – yet to the annoyance of some comrades accrediting The Sun and offering a double hall stand to GB News:
“Hearing the s@# will be in the @UKLabour conference but they have banned #SocalistAppeal from being able to report on the conference. How did we get here Trade unionists Anti racists should be absolutely livid, that the hate filled rag is attending conference #JFT97“
Skwawkbox insists the party is “fundamentally diseased” if it allows the “the foul rag” (“The S*n”) to show up, and is calling the decision an act of “moral cowardice and bankruptcy”. Socialist Appeal will always be able to keep up with Labour conference’s goings-on via Guido, who will certainly be attending…
And our parliamentarians can’t even wear t-shirts with slogans on them…
Downing Street says of the suggestion that the UK joins the United States Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA), “That’s not an approach we are currently taking.” According to The Sun’s political editor, Harry Cole, a proposal was raised with Secretary of State Blinken in New York this week. Before Trump’s tinkering the USMCA deal was known as NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement. The NAFTA acronym could return if Britain signed up to the trade agreement, this time standing for the “North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement”.
The advantages of signing up to the existing agreement versus negotiating a bespoke agreement are;
- It is off the shelf and ready to go, vital national interests have been incorporated already and little changes would need to be incorporated
- The UK would be joining a sovereignty-respecting free trade agreement, not an ever closer union with pretensions to nationhood
- The new bloc would be the richest free trading bloc in the world
There is also another reason it might appeal to Joe Biden to expedite a deal in this form. A North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement between Britain and the nations of North America would see exports going literally over Ireland, which would be geographically smack bang in the middle of the zone. The Republic of Ireland carries out more trade in dollars and sterling than it does in euros, the Irish are far more pro-American than they are pro-European, the ties of kinship with cousins in the US are very strong. Not least with Joe Biden himself…
The EU’s negatives are increasing for Ireland, tax harmonisation, the Commission’s habit of punishing US multinational corporations based in the low tax, high tech economy. Relatively rich Ireland is now a net contributor to the EU to the tune of billions. Also the militarisation of the EU, something that the Irish people were promised at the time of the treaty referendum would never happen, presents a constitutional challenge to Ireland’s neutrality. Ireland was afforded guarantees under the Lisbon Treaty which would maintain the country’s traditional policy of military neutrality – the EU is set on becoming a military power, arguably Dublin could trigger a referendum. That could lead to Ireland leaving the EU and joining the bigger trading bloc along with Britain. Which would also solve the Northern Ireland border problems…
While Nadine Dorries was an excellent pick for the new DCMS secretary, her SpAd choices are just as interesting. Who else would hire a senior SpAd – in the form of Rob Oxley – who Kevin Maguire reminds us this morning wrote an op-ed in 2012 calling for his now-boss to get the sack for going on I’m A Celebrity?
“What does matter is that Ms Dorries’ constituents should be represented in Parliament by the individual they elect, and pay for…
I’ve outlined before why this is a good idea here, but the I’m a Celebrity debacle reminds us why local residents must have the ability to throw out politicians who fall well short of the standards expected of our elected representatives.”
Nadine is clearly a benevolent and forgiving boss…
Roxley isn’t the only DCMS SpAd who was vocal during Nadine’s I’m A Celebrity! saga. Dorries has hired her long-time parliamentary assistant, William Joce, to join her departmental advisory team. In 2012 Joce appeared on BBC Three Counties Radio to defend his boss, under fire from constituents wanting replies to casework. The exchange was toe-curling:
Jonathan Vernon-Smith: “What do you think of the fact that she’s left you to do her job?”
Joce: “I would certainly not say she’s left me doing her job. I’m doing my job…”
JVS: “So nobody’s doing her job?”
Joce: “I’m… doing… my job…”
JVS: “who’s doing her job?”
Joce: “You’d have to put that to her.”
JVS: “But we can’t put that to her, that’s the point, she’s in the jungle…”
Guido looks forward to approaching Joce for story comments over the next few months…
The long-awaited report into Keith Vaz’s behaviour has found that his misconduct “represented sustained and unpleasant bullying, with a real and enduring psychological impact”, concluding:
“The Respondent’s conduct deserves a clear and formal reprimand, which we now pronounce. The Respondent’s conduct to the complainant was hostile, sustained, harmful and unworthy of a Member of Parliament. He should be ashamed of his behaviour.”
The investigation finds Vaz engaged in a number of behaviour breaches, including:
- Inappropriate anger
- Inappropriately loud and aggressive speech to the Complainant
- Using foul language
- Demeaning references to the Complainant in front of others
- Inappropriate instructions (such as requiring her to perform like a “tour guide” in front of the visiting party in a bus in Washington)
- Overly demanding behaviour, such as requiring the Complainant to attend breakfast with the Respondent whilst away on trips
- Requiring the Complainant to take photographs of landmarks for the private use of the Respondent.
No doubt Keith won’t be deterred in his efforts to return as Leicester East’s MP…
As the Tories become the party of tax and spend it’s noticeable that Starmer’s essay references a newfound emphasis on keeping taxes low for workers and being careful when spending taxpayers’ money. Here’s a flavour of some extracts:
Why when government departments are funded by taxpayer money are we so lax about ensuring that money is spent appropriately? …
There can surely be no greater example of the misplaced priorities and hubris of this government than the fact it is currently spending hundreds of millions of pounds of taxpayer money on a vanity yacht when that money could be spent on tackling anti-social behaviour.
The government should treat taxpayer money as if it were its own. The current levels of waste are unacceptable.
Starmer seems to have even come to appreciate capitalism:
The role of government is to be a partner to private enterprise, not stifle it.
All very encouraging. Guido asked the wonks at the Taxpayers’ Alliance to have a read of Starmer’s 12,300 word-long Fabian essay and tell him what they thought:
Looking at the report, the comments on waste, transparency and efficiency in the public sector through technology are welcome. One line also mentions that Labour wants the low-paid to keep more of the money they earn.
On the other hand:
Our concerns would include the commitment to increasing the minimum wage, emphasis on significantly more public spending to tackle climate change and increased role of the government in business. He also promises to buy, make and sell in Britain – a fundamentally a protectionist policy and means taxpayers don’t get best value for money.
They have, however, decided that on balance Starmer’s newfound commitment to low taxes means he would be welcome to join the thousands of members of the Taxpayers’ Alliance. Starmer can register his support here!
