Labour’s ‘Council of the Nations and Regions’ has only met twice since its creation after the 2024 general election. At the time, the government claimed it would be “a central driving forum that brings together governments and authorities… on a structured and sustained basis“. In reality this meant two perfunctory meetings in the first year, and then nothing. They last met in May 2025…
Co-conspirators with long memories might recall that Sue Gray was offered the nonsense title of ‘envoy to the nations and regions‘ after she was dumped as Starmer’s Chief of Staff. She rejected it and sulked off to the Lords instead. Labour never bothered to appoint a replacement.
UPDATE: A Tory source said: “We all knew Sue Gray’s job was a sham, and now we know the council she was meant to sit on is a sham too. Another waste of time and money courtesy of Labour.”
The Fair Work Agency – set up to police employers and enforce the Employment Rights Act – has been instructed by Labour to expand itself outside of its current remit. Two foundational documents published yesterday have snuck the provisions in…
The ‘strategic steer’ document from DBT contains a “thought leadership” section. In it the FWA is told it should focus on:
Later it is instructed to “prepare to commence holiday pay enforcement in 2027 and set out a clear plan to extend enforcement to other rights.” In addition it will have police-style powers to raid employers. The Enforcement Policy Statement additionally states that “the need to consult lawyers prior to compliance” is not considered reasonable cause for withholding information during an inspection. Nor is the absence of a senior member of staff, nor “inconvenience.” No lawyering up when the inspectors arrive…
The FWA also has the ability to obtain authorisations to intercept and acquire communications data under the Investigatory Powers Act 2016. Rayner’s troops can check your phone messages…
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Iranians agreed to a ceasefire under “overwhelming pressure” and that “President Trump had the power to cripple Iran’s entire economy in minutes, but he chose mercy.” Calm down everyone – Starmer’s there now…
The BBC’s executive complaints unit (ECU) has upheld complaints against the corporation for breaching editorial standards in the wake of the BAFTAs Tourette’s slur debacle. A new mess for incoming director-general Matt Brittin to try mopping up when he starts next month…
BBC chief content officer Kate Phillips said the ECU “found this should not have made it to air and it was a clear breach of our editorial standards… [but] found the breach was not intentional”. The broadcast remained on iPlayer in full until the following morning…
The ECU report itself said “This delay was a serious mistake. The fact that the unedited recording remained available for so long aggravated the offence caused by the inadvertent inclusion of the N-word in the broadcast”. Days since the BBC has reported on the BBC: zero…
Ian Cheshire has been selected by the government as its preferred candidate to chair Ofcom. Can someone pass Margaret Hodge a tissue…
Cheshire will replace Lord Grade, whose term ends this month. Cheshire is former chairman of Channel 4 and CEO of retail group Kingfisher. He has also had stints as chairman of of Barclays UK, Debenhams plc, Maisons du Monde and Menhaden…
His quote:
“Across my career in e-commerce, telecoms and broadcasting I have seen first-hand how much effective regulation matters – for consumers, for businesses and for the wider economy. Ofcom has a critical job to do at a time of rapid change in how people communicate, access information and stay safe online. I look forward to setting out my vision for how Ofcom can meet those challenges when I appear before the Select Committee.”
Ofcom is responsible for enforcing the hated Online Safety Act and has attracted severe criticism for its two-tier treatment of GB News. The regulator’s reputation is in tatters…
Lucy Powell on LBC, asked by Tom Swarbrick for her reaction to Labour MP Samantha Niblett’s call for a ‘summer of sex’ debate in Parliament: “I personally don’t own any sex toys, but each to their own… I’m not really sure that’s the right place for it, no.”