The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has proudly unveiled its board of commissioners for the “2030 Clean Power Mission.” Cue a long list of people with decades of experience “fighting climate change” in wind energy, technology, reducing emissions and preserving wildlife…

Given the song and dance Labour made about building nuclear power plants in their manifesto – literally under the section “Clean Power by 2030” – you’d think they’d at least have someone who knows a thing or two about nuclear energy on the board. Not so. In fact one of the board members, Juliet Davenport, even founded an energy service company that set out why it “doesn’t want nuclear power in the UK”  because it’s a “bad match for renewables” and “benefits the few, not the many”. Davenport was still CEO when that article was published… 

It’s taken Labour 13 weeks for their approval rating to sink even lower than Sunak’s record low of 19%. The latest YouGov polling shows that Labour’s approval rating is now at 18%, with 57% of Britons disapproving of the government. That’s a net approval rate of -39%…

It’s no surprise the public are realising that Labour isn’t delivering the sort of ‘change’ they were hoping for. The donations scandal with Lord Alli splashing the headlines as a divided Downing Street’s mismanage the fall-out probably doesn’t help. Doesn’t look like things can get only get better for Labour…

Our nanny state has been doing everything in its power to crack down on all things potentially harmful, even if enjoyable, to save Britons from themselves. The Tories kicked it off with the generational smoking ban, then moved on to banning disposable vapes, and Labour has gone further with reports of banning smoking outdoors and in pub gardens. Now it looks like nicotine pouches could be next…

Guido hears whispers that ministers are in talks with the Department of Health and Social Care to ban nicotine pouches like the brands Nordic Spirit and Zyn. These products not only help smokers wean off cigarettes and vapes but also represent an industry estimated to be worth around $268.4 million in the UK. Guido contacted the DHSC for a comment, to which a spokesman said:

“The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will be the biggest public health intervention in a generation, improving healthy life expectancy and reducing the number of lives lost to the biggest killers. Alongside introducing a progressive smoking ban to ensure the next generation can never legally be sold tobacco, the Bill will also stop vapes and other consumer nicotine products, including pouches, from being deliberately branded and advertised to appeal to children. Together these measures will help stop the next generation from becoming hooked on nicotine.”

A non-denial…

Nanny-state Labour can’t seem get enough of cracking down on the joys of life, all in the name of knowing what’s best for us. Reports now say Starmer is thinking of closing pubs early in order to avoid “harmful drinking”. Though in reality it will just cause harm to the hospitality sector, with pubs inevitably forced to shut up shop completely…

While the Department for Health says “This is categorically untrue,” Andrew Gwynne, the public health minister, said the Government was considering “tightening up the hours of operation” of bars and pubs. It’s just another U-turn from Labour. Before the election, they promised to do everything they could to “support pubs”. In their manifesto, they even rolled out a flashy “five-point plan” to stop closures and encourage pub ownership. Starmer himself was dropping hints about an alcohol duty freeze all in the aim of helping out the local boozers. Though with these new restrictions on the table, any chance of that support seems to have gone flat. A reminder of what our Chancellor Reeves once said (this June):

“Brits love our locals. Let’s back our landlords to keep our pubs going. We want to save the British pub because I know what an important institution they are in so many communities.”

This latest move will leave a bitter taste in Brits’ mouths…

Angela Rayner has made history – though not in the way taxpayers might have hoped. She’s the first Deputy Prime Minister to land herself a personal, taxpayer-funded ‘vanity’ photographer, costing £68,000 a year. LBC’s Nick Ferrari wasted no time this morning, tearing into Rachel Reeves over the glaring hypocrisy. Rayner, who once raged against Boris Johnson’s “coterie of vanity photographers,” is now indulging in the very same perk. Reeves floundered as she tried to justify the splurge while ordinary Brits are told to tighten their belts. Apparently, “difficult decisions” on public spending don’t apply when it comes to a luxury snapper for the Deputy PM…

Meanwhile, Downing Street’s new senior photographer will be on a modest salary of £48,000, while the Deputy Prime Minister’s personal photographer enjoys a salary that is 41% higher. As Guido reported last month, the Government Communication Service has quietly launched a massive hiring spree, adding 42 new roles across departments, costing an eye-watering £1,991,800 at the taxpayer’s expense. Quite the backdrop for Reeves’ black hole doom-and-gloom speech later today…

Labour’s been taking a beating in the court of public opinion, and the latest figures make grim reading for Sir Keir and his cronies. According to YouGov’s latest poll, nearly a quarter of Labour voters (23%) now admit they see their own party unfavourably. A whopping two-thirds (67%) think Labour couldn’t care less about older voters. No surprise there…

It’s a sharp shift since July’s General Election. Back then, 47% had a favourable view of Labour, with 46% against. Fast forward a few months, and the tables have turned: only 34% still think positively about the party, while a damning 57% now have a negative opinion. Meanwhile, Starmer’s approval rating is now down by 45 points since first becoming Prime Minister at -26% – lower than Nigel Farage‘s net approval rating. Labour’s shine is fading fast…