UK needs to get back confidence and control

The recent upheaval in government that saw an un-costed mini-budget foisted on the country has exposed the limitations of democracy in the UK. Leaving aside for a moment the lack of an electoral mandate for the measures, never approved by the British people, enacted by a leader elected by 81,000 Tory members. The reaction of the markets effectively led to the reversal of the measures. The un-costed package lacked any evidential back up to suggest it would work. The much talked of analysis of the Office for Budget Responsibility was not there. Indeed, it seems the Bank of England was hardly informed as to what was going on. The result was government borrowing shot up, forcing a Bank of England intervention to reassure the markets. The Alice in Wonderland economics of the government foresaw all the measures being proposed, such as reversing the National Insurance charge to fund health and social care, being funded by borrowing. Not anymore said the markets. The whole package of cutting taxes for the rich, whilst penalising everyone else was a step too far. The mini-budget was scrapped, with a whole new era of austerity now beckoning due to these reckless actions. The Prime Minister (PM) has resigned. Market confidence though has been eroding in the UK for some time. The mini-budget was probably just the final straw. Investors like stability, something that used to be one of the attractions of the UK. Enter Brexit and Boris Johnson. A PM that signed agreements, then failed to abide by them. A PM who illegally prorogued Parliament. A leader who got rid of experienced MPs who wouldn't back his Brexit line. An individual who said do as I say not as I do in relation to partying during Covid. Then, along came Liz Truss, a logical extension in many ways of the mayhem of the Johnson years. The Tory government seems now to have lost the confidence of the markets and the people. It is time for a general election. Whoever forms the next government, though, would be wise to acknowledge that we live in an interconnected globalised world. There are limitations on what can and can't be done according to an international consensus. The markets are an important part of this equation and need to be heeded. The challenge today is not just to take back control but earn international confidence for competence, something wantonly squandered over the past decade.

Good news on Climate Action Plan

There has been a 16.2% cut in carbon emissions from council sources over the past year. This is as a result of the Climate Action Plan drawn up as a result of the Climate Emergency declared in 2019. Some of the major gains have resulted from switching to green energy sources for different council functions. Other positive developments have come from schemes like the Go Green Grants that have provided funding for retrofitting to improve energy efficiency for households on low incomes. Work is underway to reduce emissions from the council's vehicle fleet - using electric where possible, adding solar panels and exploring alternative fuels. Electric Charging Points are rolling out in streets across the borough with 600 due for installation in 2023. Recycling levels have increased by around 10% as a result of the wheelie bin roll out as well as the expansion in range of recycling that can be accepted - to include plastic pots, tubs and trays and foil. Active travel measures are important to shift people away from a reliance on cars which can be beneficial for the environment as well as people’s health. Some 9 km of segregated cycle lanes are encouraging cyclists. School streets schemes which restrict traffic around schools are being introduced to more school to make the area around schools safer for children and encourage walking and cycling. This can help reduce emissions and also improve air quality. The west of the borough is now covered by the London Mayor's Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) which is also having a significant impact on air quality. So there has been good progress in combatting climate change, within the council sphere. There is, though, much more to be done. Funding is key. And that’s where central government needs to step up. Though the agreement of the funding settlement with TFL was welcome it offers much less to boroughs than in previous years. Reducing the number of schemes that can be delivered. More funds are needed to really scale up the response to the climate emergency including for more retrofitted buildings, cycle lanes and electrification of travel. Then there is the biodiversity crisis to address, which links to the climate emergency. The grow zones, extension of community garden and allotments and the net gain in biodiversity that will come, with new developments under the Environment Act, from next year. The council though also has to be a catalyst to bring about change in the wider society, encouraging people to live more sustainably. Everyone can do something. Save energy, drive and fly less The key word to go back to the original motion is emergency. The original Climate Emergency motion came about, partly due to the dire 12 year warning sounded by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report in 2018. That was the time frame to act. A third of the way into that period and the warning signs flash ever brighter. The fires over the summer of drought and heatwave are a recent reminder. So much more has to be done quickly at all levels, if a devastating crisis is to be avoided. Otherwise floods, fires and more devastation beckon.

Well deserved recognition for Councillor Rosa Gomez

Fantastic news last week that Redbridge Labour Councillor Rosa Gomez has been shortlisted for a prestigious local government award. Rosa is in the running to win the Resilience and Recovery category in the national awards run by the Local Government Information Unit and charity investment managers CCLA. Labour councillor for Churchfields since 2018, Rosa truly deserves this recognition. A human rights campaigner, Rosa was shot in Colombia in 2010, which resulted in the loss of her eyesight and use of her hands. A mother of two, difficult times beckoned, as she found herself marooned in Woodford. Rosa gradually started getting involved in the local community. She joined Activeyes Redbridge, a group that provided support. Rosa's community activism then led to her standing as a local Labour councillor in Churchfields in 2018. A strongly Conservative ward up to that point, Rosa took one of the seats, the other two remaining Conservative. Over the next four years, Rosa provided a strong voice on equality, women's safety and disability rights. She has fiercely stood up for her local community, something recognised by the electorate last May, with Rosa increasing her majority. She was also joined by fellow Labour councillors Guy Williams and Lloyd Duddridge to give Labour a clean sweep in the ward. Life has not been easy for Rosa, as a disabled person trying to serve her constituents on the council but she has done a brilliant job. Something that the local residents clearly recognise. What Rosa's story also illustrates is the importance of providing the support and nurturing in order that people from all walks of life can come forward to represent their communities. This means making facilities accessible to everyone and providing adequate financial support in order that it is possible to play a part. Rosa has been a shining example of how it is possible to overcome adversity, let's hope she wins that award, when it is announced on 20 October - no one would deserve it more.

West Ham on the up with victory over Fulham at the London Stadium

West Ham's steady climb up the table continued, with this hard fought victory over Fulham at the London Stadium. It was Fulham, though, who struck first, after just four minutes, with Neeskens Kebano breaking down the left to put Andreas Pereira away to fire home into the roof of the net. Pereira then almost made it two, as Lukasz Fabianski punched out his swerving free kick. Then, Daniel James saw his shot rock back off the bar. Gianluca Scamacca almost levelled, seeing his downward header from a Lucas Paqueta cross, saved low down by Bernd Leno. Scamacca, then. repeated the header routine, with this time Bowen failing to put away the bounce back from the keeper. West Ham though drew level on the half hour, when Pereira wrestled Craig Dawson to the ground as a corner came over. Jarrod Bowen duly converted the resulting penalty. West Ham pressure in the second half eventually paid off, when a ball form Declan Rice was controlled and fed through by Paqueta to Scammaca in the penalty area. The big striker controlled the ball and lobbed over Leno. After a lengthy VAR investigation, first for offside, then handball, the goal was allowed. Fulham's best second half effort came from Tom Cairney, who saw his effort from the edge of the penalty area blocked by Aaron Cresswell. The game was finally made safe for the Hammers in injury time, as substitute Michail Antonio ran in behind the Fulham defense, first seeing his effort saved by Leno but then when the ball fell for him again, he made space to fire home. West Ham manager David Moyes only felt his side came alive, after James hit the bar. And it is those margins that can be vital, said Moyes, who was full of praise for Scammaca. "We've got a young centre forward, who is doing really well. His finishing and composure on the ball are very good,"said Moyes, who is excited by the partnership developing with Paqueta Fulham manager Marco Silva felt his team were on top until the West Ham penalty. He believes his team needs to show greater maturity. "It won't be an easy journey for us, "said Silva.

Why no general election?

What sort of democracy is it that operates on these islands? The Conservative Party were elected in 2019 on a manifesto to get Brexit done. They certainly got it partially done – Northern Ireland Protocol exempted. But there were other things, like a moratorium on fracking and some positive green measures. Wind forward, Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who did most to win that election is deposed. His successor Liz Truss is elected by 81,000 Tory party members. Campaigning to become leader and Prime Minister, Truss makes it very clear that she has markedly different ideas to her predecessor, not least on public finances. The levelling up agenda appears to have taken on a new meaning, more in line with further enriching the already very rich in our society. The Johnsonian version was to try to improve the lot of some of the less well off, particularly in the traditional Northern red wall seats that the Tories won from Labour in 2019. Fracking and fossil fuels are back in under Truss. Cue the mini-budget, reversing tax measures brought in by Johnson’s government, of which she was a part as Foreign Secretary. Huge tax cuts for the rich, little for the poor. The consequences are likely to be more billionaires and more attendees at foodbanks. The consequences thus far have been disastrous, with the pound and the markets crashing. The cost at which the UK government can borrow has virtually doubled because lenders have no confidence in the new Prime Minister and her Chancellor. The Bank of England has had to step in with a £65 billion package to ensure liquidity in the market, so pension funds don't start collapsing. The mortgage market has been ceasing up, as lenders withdraw offers. U-turn anyone? The reality is that Truss has brought in a whole program for government that the country has never had the chance to assess and vote on. Effectively 81,000 Tory members (who voted for Truss) have decided the fate of 67 million plus people. This cannot be right in a democracy – such a radical departure from what was on offer in the Tory manifesto of 2019 needs to go back to the country. If Truss secures a mandate for her crazy trickle-down economics and climate sceptic policies so be it but the people must have a say. There needs to be a general election now.

Free speech at risk in Royal Britain

Free speech at risk on Royal Britain The recent public mourning period for the death of Queen Elizabeth II threw into sharp focus the question of freedom of speech in the UK. Some were stirred to ask is there any? The arrest and charging of a woman in Edinburgh for holding up an Abolish the Monarchy poster brought the whole question into sharp focus. Beyond this incident, there was a strange simmering attitude of intolerance to anyone who might choose to disagree, with the establishment narrative about the monarchy. There was at times an overbearing sense of coercive compassion. No dissident views it seemed could be heard. The mourning and celebration of the Queen's reign was understandable. She did give a great life of service to the nation, people wanted to pay their respects. I would have liked to see something far more respectful to her memory and that of her family, giving them some time for their own quiet peaceful personal grief. But those who have other views should also have been allowed to express them. There is a view that the monarchy represents the class riven society that is Britain. The Monarchy sits at the top of a system that ensures everyone has their place in a hierarchy dominated by the wealthy and privileged – all are subjects. The monotonous over the top coverage on BBC, ITV and many other channels offered no other voices. The famous BBC balance should have meant they sort out such voices but not anymore it would seem. There was almost a desperation to get people to conform. There was a more nuanced story to be told. On Ireland, the late Queen did much to promote reconciliation, after the years of war. The historic visit in 2011, with the visit to the National War Memorial Gardens, honouring fallen Irish republicans. Then, the state dinner – with her speech, where there was acknowledgement of the wrongs done by Britain to Ireland in the past. Then, a year later, the famous hand-shake with Sinn Fein deputy first minister, Martin McGuiness. A move difficult for both sides, with the Queen lets not forget losing her uncle, Lord Louis Mountbatten, to an IRA bomb in 1979. She visited Ireland a number of times to help the peace. But the Queen also stands as the Commander in Chief of the British armed forces, whose true role in Ireland over the years of the Troubles has yet to be acknowledged. The media has been the main leader in promoting this coercive compassion, with its one size fits all coverage of the succession from Elizabeth Il to Charles III. Britain claims to be a mature democracy. Democracy, though, only prospers when important elements like free speech flourish. What this recent episode shows is that free speech is very much under threat. Successive governments have legislated to restrict freedoms of speech and assembly. This has in turn led to groups like environmental protesters, Extinction Rebellion, taking direct action. Removing the valves of democratic accountability, like free speech, does not resolve problems but sees protest move into other forms. Let’s not forget, in the north of Ireland meeting the peaceful protests of the civil rights movement with violence led in the end to 30 years of war. Democracy thrives when there are educated and informed citizens who are treated with respect, heard and taken notice of when they have a point to make. Majority and minority views should be respected. On recent evidence, Britain seems to have drifted a long way from this ideal. In fact, the lack of tolerance of other views, suggests an insular country on the road to an increasingly authoritarian existence, where only the ruling elites version of events can be heard. The desperate need to seemingly make people conform indicates a democracy in trouble, not at ease with itself but feeling under threat and challenged. A dangerous time for all. Northern Ireland secretaries come and go Who is Chris Heaton Harris, the new Northern Ireland Secretary? The question will have crossed many minds in Ireland - the third person to hold the role in the last three months. A former chief whip, Harris, also chaired the Eurosceptic European Research Group of MPs. Who better to deal with the thorny issue of the Norther Ireland Protocol? The Protocol negotiation has seen the role of Northern Ireland Secretary come back to prominence in the political lexicon. Many would have hoped that almost a quarter of a century into the peace process, that the role might have become redundant. The first Northern Ireland Secretary was William Whitelaw. He was put in post when Ted Heath's government established direct role from Westminster in 1972. In those early years there was a pattern that saw Northern Ireland Secretaries move onto the Home Office. Whitelaw later became Margaret Thatcher's Home Secretary. Douglas Hurd followed a similar path. On the Labour side, Merlyn Reece moved from Northern Ireland to the Home Office. Later, in the noughties, John Reid followed the same path. Some believed the route significant, with law and order tactics trialled in the north of Ireland then being brought to the rest of the UK via the Home Office. The period of the hunger strikes saw Humphrey Atkins and Jim Prior in the role. It was seen as a demotion for Prior from Trade and Industry. All major decisions at this time were micro-managed from Downing Street. The most high-profile MP to hold the role was Mo Mowlem, who played a crucial role in helping broker the Good Friday Agreement. In fact, it was felt Mo's star shone too brightly, putting PM Tony Blair in the shade. Peter Mandelson replaced her. As the peace process spluttered along Northern Ireland Secretaries came and went at regular intervals. Theresa Villers held the post from 2012 to 2016, then James Brokenshaw (2016 - 2018), Karen Bradley (2018 - 2019), Julian Smith (2019- 2020) and Brandon Lewis (2020 -2022). Shailesh Vara occupied the post from July to September. The Northern Ireland Executive (NIE) failed to sit for much of this period. If the NIE had sat more consistently then the role of Northern Ireland Secretary might have slipped further into obscurity. Now, with the NIE still suspended, this time due to the Protocol, Heaton Harris will be expected to get things moving. The peace process has always been brittle but survived. However, the thorny issue of the Protocol could have severe consequences for Ireland and peace going forward. Heaton Harris will need all the diplomatic skills of his predecessors and maybe a bit of that Mowlem magic, if he is going to succeed, where others have failed.

Life under the lens

When visiting the north of Ireland in the days of the Troubles, one of the most striking things was the surveillance towers in cities like Belfast and Derry. They were part of the surveillance state, constructed at the time, as part of the ongoing war. These installations were often dressed up in Orwellian terms, suggesting that they were there to protect the population from terrorism etc. The people though knew better. They were well aware that these surveillance structures were about watching them. In Derry, people would say how at army checkpoints, soldiers would tell them what they had been doing in their own houses. It was straightforward intimidation. The people responded, running campaigns against the towers and intimidation. I remember thinking at the time, how people would react in England to such blatant surveillance and invasion of privacy. What if some sort of surveillance structure were sold on the basis of cutting crime? Fast forward to today. The UK is one of the most watched populations in the world. The CCTV led surveillance world abounds. Over 6 million cameras - one per 11 people. It is estimated an individual maybe caught 300 times in a day on camera in London. CCTV has become the equivalent of the surveillance tower. CCTV has been sold as a panacea in stopping crime. People clamour for CCTV in their streets, when crime occurs. The evidence of crime prevention is scarce. Areas that have CCTV often have marginally less crime but whether that is due to stopping crime or simply displacing it to other areas, without cameras, seems a mute point. The spread of the surveillance society in this way has resonation more with dictators down the ages, who always offered security in exchange for liberty. The people of the north of Ireland had the right idea. When the peace process came, the towers came down as part of the settlement - stick your security, we'll have back our liberties. How long before people here wake up to what is going on? Irish Post .