conservativehome--2020-08-05--Izzi Seccombe: Conservative councils are working hard to safely return to normal life

Cllr Izzi Seccombe is the Leader of Warwickshire County Council and the Leader of the Conservative Group of the Local Government Association .
The recent lockdowns in Leicester and much of Northern England are a timely reminder that Cornavirus has not gone away , that for all of us many restrictions still remain in place , and that unfortunately it is unlikely that life will return to normal for some time .
However , since my last article for Conservative Home , at the end of May , the nation as a whole has experienced a significant relaxation in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restaurants , pubs , cinemas , hairdressers , hotels , and campsites and various other types of businesses on July 4th .
In the run-up to what became known as ‘ Super Saturday ’ councils played a crucial role in supporting businesses , venues , and high streets , as well as some of our own civic amenities and services , to prepare for the re-opening and in communicating to residents the changes that were being put in place .
However , in order for our high streets to re-open the businesses that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be in existence .
The fact that many of them were was in large part due to the decisive action that the Government and councils took during the preceding months .
As Conservative Home readers will be aware , the Government has provided an extensive package of support to workers and businesses throughout the crisis , including the furlough scheme , business rates relief , the Small Business Grants Fund , the Hospitality and Leisure Grants Fund , and the Discretionary Grants Fund .
Local government was the delivery mechanism for much of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to distribute almost £11 billion to more than 800,000 eligible businesses .
For many councils this has involved responding proactively and flexibly to the unprecedented circumstances ; for example , by setting up dedicated teams and redeploying staff to process applications as well as using websites , social media , and traditional media to reach businesses that were eligible for funding but for whom they did not have the relevant information .
This provided a lifeline to struggling businesses worried about their future and I am extremely proud of the work that Conservative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preceding the easing of the restrictions .
For example , Medway Council has processed and issued more than £35 million in financial support to businesses overall , and more than £1.6 million on top of that to small businesses specifically as part of the Government Discretionary Grants Fund .
To highlight just one example from my own county , Warwick District Council has issued 2,395 payments totalling £31,080,000 to local businesses , representing a 93.8 per cent payment rate .
Meanwhile , elsewhere in the Midlands , Walsall Council has a 94.6 per @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top with Dudley Council , also Conservative-led , in the ‘ league table ’ of councils in Birmingham and the Black Country for the number of grants paid .
Of course , whilst keeping businesses afloat so that there was a functioning high street to return to in July was essential it was also critical that people were confident enough to return to their old shopping habits when they were permitted to do so .
Again , we in Conservative local government were grateful for the additional funding that we received from central @ @ @ @ @ @ @ example , the £50 million ‘ Reopening High Streets Safely Fund ’ was used by councils to introduce a range of practical measures ahead of July 4th , including new signs , street markings and temporary barriers , and by businesses to adapt their services , for example by introducing contactless payment facilities .
Marketing campaigns were also launched in councils across the country to explain the changes to the public and reassure them that their high streets were safe places to visit .
For example , in Harborough the district council sought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proactive measures , including deploying council officers in high visibility jackets to provide information and advice , setting up hand sanitiser stations and using street stencilling to indicate where people should queue .
In addition , in collaboration with Leicestershire County Council , road closures were introduced to facilitate social distancing and safe queuing , thus giving people greater confidence to return .
Meanwhile , Warwick District Council has worked with its market operators to put in place a phased return of the popular weekly markets in Warwick and Kenilworth whilst also introducing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cark parks .
However , whilst many suburban shopping centres are seeing increasing numbers of people returning each week , concern has been expressed about city centres and larger shopping areas .
Again , Conservative councils are doing all that they can to ensure that these are safe places which people feel confident visiting .
Over 80,000 jobs in Westminster depend directly on the hospitality industry and the city council has worked with landowners , businesses and residents to develop more than 50 separate street-wide schemes that deliver outdoor dining areas .
These @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chairs in former parking spaces , and , in some cases , timed pedestrianisation of streets .
Furthermore , whilst the Business and Planning Bill was going through Parliament , the council introduced its own interim scheme that allowed businesses to trade outdoors .
For example , a fast track tables and chairs licensing scheme , which costs businesses just £100 , and temporary events notices , allowed businesses to get up-and-running outdoors within a week .
As we enter August , with the advent of the Government ’ s ‘ Eat Out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of us enjoying a staycation , it is to be hoped that domestic tourism will give a much-needed boost to the economy and Conservative councils have led the way in highlighting the many great things that there are to do in the UK .
For example , in Medway , the council is actively promoting its own heritage attractions , such as Rochester Castle , The Guildhall Museum , and Historic Dockyard Chatham , all of which have reopened and are welcoming visitors again .
Clearly , the battle against Coronavirus is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the months ahead , Conservative councils will continue to do all that they can to support their communities and get their local economies going again as part of the national recovery effort .

Cllr Izzi Seccombe is the Leader of Warwickshire County Council and the Leader of the Conservative Group of the Local Government Association.
The recent lockdowns in Leicester and much of Northern England are a timely reminder that Cornavirus has not gone away, that for all of us many restrictions still remain in place, and that unfortunately it is unlikely that life will return to normal for some time.
However, since my last article for Conservative Home, at the end of May, the nation as a whole has experienced a significant relaxation in the Covid-related restrictions, including the re-opening of restaurants, pubs, cinemas, hairdressers, hotels, and campsites and various other types of businesses on July 4th.
In the run-up to what became known as ‘Super Saturday’ councils played a crucial role in supporting businesses, venues, and high streets, as well as some of our own civic amenities and services, to prepare for the re-opening and in communicating to residents the changes that were being put in place.
However, in order for our high streets to re-open the businesses that had previously operated there had to still be in existence. The fact that many of them were was in large part due to the decisive action that the Government and councils took during the preceding months.
As Conservative Home readers will be aware, the Government has provided an extensive package of support to workers and businesses throughout the crisis, including the furlough scheme, business rates relief, the Small Business Grants Fund, the Hospitality and Leisure Grants Fund, and the Discretionary Grants Fund.
Local government was the delivery mechanism for much of this support and councils have worked hard to distribute almost £11 billion to more than 800,000 eligible businesses.
For many councils this has involved responding proactively and flexibly to the unprecedented circumstances; for example, by setting up dedicated teams and redeploying staff to process applications as well as using websites, social media, and traditional media to reach businesses that were eligible for funding but for whom they did not have the relevant information.
This provided a lifeline to struggling businesses worried about their future and I am extremely proud of the work that Conservative councils undertook in the months and weeks preceding the easing of the restrictions.
For example, Medway Council has processed and issued more than £35 million in financial support to businesses overall, and more than £1.6 million on top of that to small businesses specifically as part of the Government Discretionary Grants Fund.
To highlight just one example from my own county, Warwick District Council has issued 2,395 payments totalling £31,080,000 to local businesses, representing a 93.8 per cent payment rate.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the Midlands, Walsall Council has a 94.6 per cent payment rate and it is joint top with Dudley Council, also Conservative-led, in the ‘league table’ of councils in Birmingham and the Black Country for the number of grants paid.
Of course, whilst keeping businesses afloat so that there was a functioning high street to return to in July was essential it was also critical that people were confident enough to return to their old shopping habits when they were permitted to do so.
Again, we in Conservative local government were grateful for the additional funding that we received from central government to help facilitate this.
For example, the £50 million ‘Reopening High Streets Safely Fund’ was used by councils to introduce a range of practical measures ahead of July 4th, including new signs, street markings and temporary barriers, and by businesses to adapt their services, for example by introducing contactless payment facilities.
Marketing campaigns were also launched in councils across the country to explain the changes to the public and reassure them that their high streets were safe places to visit.
For example, in Harborough the district council sought to reassure shoppers with a number of proactive measures, including deploying council officers in high visibility jackets to provide information and advice, setting up hand sanitiser stations and using street stencilling to indicate where people should queue.
In addition, in collaboration with Leicestershire County Council, road closures were introduced to facilitate social distancing and safe queuing, thus giving people greater confidence to return.
Meanwhile, Warwick District Council has worked with its market operators to put in place a phased return of the popular weekly markets in Warwick and Kenilworth whilst also introducing free parking in all of its off-street cark parks.
However, whilst many suburban shopping centres are seeing increasing numbers of people returning each week, concern has been expressed about city centres and larger shopping areas.
Again, Conservative councils are doing all that they can to ensure that these are safe places which people feel confident visiting.
Over 80,000 jobs in Westminster depend directly on the hospitality industry and the city council has worked with landowners, businesses and residents to develop more than 50 separate street-wide schemes that deliver outdoor dining areas. These include footway widening, providing tables and chairs in former parking spaces, and, in some cases, timed pedestrianisation of streets.
Furthermore, whilst the Business and Planning Bill was going through Parliament, the council introduced its own interim scheme that allowed businesses to trade outdoors. For example, a fast track tables and chairs licensing scheme, which costs businesses just £100, and temporary events notices, allowed businesses to get up-and-running outdoors within a week.
As we enter August, with the advent of the Government’s ‘Eat Out To Help Out’ scheme and many of us enjoying a staycation, it is to be hoped that domestic tourism will give a much-needed boost to the economy and Conservative councils have led the way in highlighting the many great things that there are to do in the UK.
For example, in Medway, the council is actively promoting its own heritage attractions, such as Rochester Castle, The Guildhall Museum, and Historic Dockyard Chatham, all of which have reopened and are welcoming visitors again.
Clearly, the battle against Coronavirus is not yet won, but I know that in the months ahead, Conservative councils will continue to do all that they can to support their communities and get their local economies going again as part of the national recovery effort.


conservativehome--2020-08-05--The Prime Minister being ‘frustrated, angry and upset’ is no basis for Lords reform

Although eclipsed by the decision to delay the latest round of lockdown easing , last Friday ’ s Daily Telegraph carried a troubling story about the Prime Minister and the House of Lords .
No , not his proposals to move them to York – although these remain the height of folly – but the claim that he is considering an overhaul of how new peers are appointed after getting several of his nominations knocked back at the last minute .
From the start , this Government has expressed a keen interest in constitutional issues , although following the shelving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rights Commission it isn ’ t clear what shape that interest will take .
But this story highlights the dangers of an uncoordinated , unsystematic approach .
This is how the Telegraph describes it : “ Boris Johnson is understood to be furious after he was blocked from giving peerages to some of the Conservative Party ’ s financial backers , and is threatening to reform the House of Lords in retaliation .
“ The Prime Minister is said to be “ very frustrated , angry and upset ” after a Lords watchdog @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his business supporters this summer.
” Surely Downing Street can see the danger here .
There may well be grounds for reforming the way we appoint peers , or other aspects of the Upper House .
There may also be a case for bolstering the ranks of the Conservative benches , although this is less pressing with a large Commons majority and in any event only hastens the day when someone will have to confront the unsustainable pattern of parties having to bid up the number of peers after every change of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attain widespread legitimacy if it looks as if they have been imposed purely to aid Boris Johnson in appointing Tory donors to the red benches ( although these are still better than some of his successful choices ) .
If the Government really is going to mount a serious push on the constitutional front – and it is past time that it did – then ministers must take pains to ensure that their proposals can not be fairly painted as straightforward partisan game-playing .
When listing the reasons for altering the arrangements in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ‘ the Prime Minister is upset ’ should not even feature .

Although eclipsed by the decision to delay the latest round of lockdown easing, last Friday’s Daily Telegraph carried a troubling story about the Prime Minister and the House of Lords.
No, not his proposals to move them to York – although these remain the height of folly – but the claim that he is considering an overhaul of how new peers are appointed after getting several of his nominations knocked back at the last minute.
From the start, this Government has expressed a keen interest in constitutional issues, although following the shelving of their mooted Constitution, Democracy and Rights Commission it isn’t clear what shape that interest will take. But this story highlights the dangers of an uncoordinated, unsystematic approach. This is how the Telegraph describes it:
“Boris Johnson is understood to be furious after he was blocked from giving peerages to some of the Conservative Party’s financial backers, and is threatening to reform the House of Lords in retaliation.
“The Prime Minister is said to be “very frustrated, angry and upset” after a Lords watchdog refused to sign off peerages for some of his business supporters this summer.”
Surely Downing Street can see the danger here. There may well be grounds for reforming the way we appoint peers, or other aspects of the Upper House. There may also be a case for bolstering the ranks of the Conservative benches, although this is less pressing with a large Commons majority and in any event only hastens the day when someone will have to confront the unsustainable pattern of parties having to bid up the number of peers after every change of government.
But such changes will never attain widespread legitimacy if it looks as if they have been imposed purely to aid Boris Johnson in appointing Tory donors to the red benches (although these are still better than some of his successful choices).
If the Government really is going to mount a serious push on the constitutional front – and it is past time that it did – then ministers must take pains to ensure that their proposals cannot be fairly painted as straightforward partisan game-playing. When listing the reasons for altering the arrangements in Parliament, the courts, or elsewhere, ‘the Prime Minister is upset’ should not even feature.


conservativehome--2020-08-06--Calling Conservatives: New public appointments announced. Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of the CPS –

Calling Conservatives: New public appointments announced. Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of the CPS – and more

Eight years ago , the TaxPayers ’ Alliance reported that “ in the last year , five times more Labour people were appointed to public bodies than Tories ” .
It currently reports that almost half of avowedly political appointees last year owed their allegiance to Labour Party , compared to less than a third for the Conservatives .
Despite the selection of some Party members or supporters to fill important posts , over time , the Conservatives have punched beneath their weight when it comes to public appointments .
One of the reasons seems to be that Tories simply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number as Labour supporters .
To help remedy this , each week we put up links to some of the main public appointments vacancies , so that qualified Conservatives can be aware of the opportunities presented .
“ The Secretary of State for International Trade and Minister for Women and Equalities is seeking a strong , strategic leader who will continue to develop the Equality and Human Rights Commission ( EHRC ) and set the Commission ’ s overall direction to reflect its crucial role as an equality body and National Human Rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Equality Act 2006 that the Secretary of State should appoint a Chair to the Commission .
Although the Commission is an independent organisation , the Chair is accountable to the above sponsoring Minister .
You will develop and maintain high-value relationships with Ministers , influential partners , governments at home and abroad , opinion formers , industry and others , demonstrating judgment , integrity and resilience in the face of challenge.
” “ National Citizen Service ( NCS ) is a youth programme that runs across England and Northern Ireland .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ empower young people , building their confidence so they can go out there and achieve their dreams , no matter where they ’ re from or what their background is .
Our programme is managed and supported by NCS Trust , our central team who are constantly working to make sure we deliver the most impactful experience we can to as many young people as possible .
National Citizen Service is seeking three Trustees with experience and skills at a senior level in the following areas : experience and demonstrable senior leadership in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; human resources specialist with commercial experience and a particular focus on people strategy , culture and coaching high performance teams ( 1 Trustee ) ; [ and ] an education leader with strong links to schools and young people ( 1 Trustee ) .
” “ The Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner role aims to promote police compliance with the rules on the collection and retention of DNA , fingerprints and surveillance cameras respectively .
The roles were created by the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 ( POFA ) , which set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DNA , fingerprints and the regulation of surveillance cameras .
We have decided to appoint a single person to both roles because of the confluence of existing and emerging regulatory issues around police use of automated facial recognition .
The post will cover the duties of the Biometrics Commissioner and the Surveillance Camera Commissioner , while the Government is considering reforms in this area.
” Home Office – Her Majesty ’ s Inspectorate of Constabulary and of Fire & Rescue Authorities “ HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services ( HMICFRS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and reports to the public on the efficiency and effectiveness of police forces in England and Wales , fire and rescue authorities in England and national law enforcement agencies .
It aims to ensure that the public and their elected representatives can hold inspected organisations to account by monitoring trends , challenging practice and identifying areas for improvement , and making performance information accessible .
The principal role of HMICFRS is undertaking the all-force inspections of policing in England and Wales , and of all fire & rescue authorities in England ; providing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and independent view of the quality of services in their local area.
” “ Joint Nature Conservation Committee ( JNCC ) Framework Document provides the legal , administrative and financial framework within which the Joint Committee operates and the specific functions of the Committee and the Chair .
As Chair you will be responsible to the Defra Secretary of State for the leadership , direction and effectiveness of JNCC in line with strategies and plans agreed with Defra and the Devolved Administrations .
You will be the primary contact with Ministers for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and vision for JNCC , setting strategic and operational direction , ensuring good governance and , together with the Joint Committee , holding the executive to account.
” “ Environmental Standards Scotland will be established , initially , on a non-statutory basis from January 2021 .
It will transition to a statutory , independent body over the course of 2021 .
The Board will initially comprise of the Chair and two other members .
Once Environmental Standards Scotland becomes established as a statutory organisation , further board appointments are expected .
Members of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shape how the Board performs its role , including by exercising judgement on what information to monitor ; selecting environmental concerns for initial review and for detailed investigation ; resolving these through agreement with public authorities , where possible ; and , highlighting any significant issues to Ministers.
” Time : 8-10 days per month initially , ~4 per month thereafter .
“ Her Majesty ’ s Chief Inspector of the Crown Prosecution Service is supported by an inspectorate : Her Majesty ’ s Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate ( HMCPSI ) .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operation , efficiency , and effectiveness of the public prosecutors ( the Crown Prosecution Service ( CPS ) and the Serious Fraud Office ( SFO ) ) .
The purpose of this is to provide the evidence needed to allow the public prosecutors to be held to account and to improve , thereby strengthening the public ’ s trust in the prosecution process .
Her Majesty ’ s Chief Inspector and the inspectorate may inspect other prosecuting authorities by invitation.
” “ The Commissioner operates as a corporation sole , sponsored by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Secretary of State for Education .
The Commissioner ’ s primary function is promoting and protecting the rights of children in England .
The legislative basis for the office of Children ’ s Commissioner is in Part 1 and Schedule 1 of the Children Act 2004 .
This establishes the independence of the office and the six year tenure of the post holder .
The legislation relating to the Children ’ s Commissioner is permissive , allowing significant flexibility for the Commissioner to determine how best to carry out his or her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s rights .
The Commissioner is not an Ombudsman and , in general , can not conduct investigations into the case of an individual child .
”

Eight years ago, the TaxPayers’ Alliance reported that “in the last year, five times more Labour people were appointed to public bodies than Tories”.
It currently reports that almost half of avowedly political appointees last year owed their allegiance to Labour Party, compared to less than a third for the Conservatives.
Despite the selection of some Party members or supporters to fill important posts, over time, the Conservatives have punched beneath their weight when it comes to public appointments. One of the reasons seems to be that Tories simply don’t apply in the same number as Labour supporters.
To help remedy this, each week we put up links to some of the main public appointments vacancies, so that qualified Conservatives can be aware of the opportunities presented.
– – – – – – – – – –
Equality & Human Rights Commission – Chair
“The Secretary of State for International Trade and Minister for Women and Equalities is seeking a strong, strategic leader who will continue to develop the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and set the Commission’s overall direction to reflect its crucial role as an equality body and National Human Rights Institution. This appointment fulfils the requirement of the Equality Act 2006 that the Secretary of State should appoint a Chair to the Commission. Although the Commission is an independent organisation, the Chair is accountable to the above sponsoring Minister. You will develop and maintain high-value relationships with Ministers, influential partners, governments at home and abroad, opinion formers, industry and others, demonstrating judgment, integrity and resilience in the face of challenge.”
Time: 1-2 days per week.
Remuneration: £500 per diem.
Closes: 03 August
– – – – – – – – – –
Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport – National Citizen Service Trustees
“National Citizen Service (NCS) is a youth programme that runs across England and Northern Ireland. We exist to engage, unite and empower young people, building their confidence so they can go out there and achieve their dreams, no matter where they’re from or what their background is. Our programme is managed and supported by NCS Trust, our central team who are constantly working to make sure we deliver the most impactful experience we can to as many young people as possible. National Citizen Service is seeking three Trustees with experience and skills at a senior level in the following areas: experience and demonstrable senior leadership in the parliamentary/public sector (1 Trustee); human resources specialist with commercial experience and a particular focus on people strategy, culture and coaching high performance teams (1 Trustee); [and] an education leader with strong links to schools and young people (1 Trustee).”
Time: 5-10 days per year.
Remuneration: “Reasonable expenses”.
Closes: 09 August
– – – – – – – – – –
Home Office – Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner
“The Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner role aims to promote police compliance with the rules on the collection and retention of DNA, fingerprints and surveillance cameras respectively. The roles were created by the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (POFA), which set out the regime for police use of DNA, fingerprints and the regulation of surveillance cameras. We have decided to appoint a single person to both roles because of the confluence of existing and emerging regulatory issues around police use of automated facial recognition. The post will cover the duties of the Biometrics Commissioner and the Surveillance Camera Commissioner, while the Government is considering reforms in this area.”
Time: Full-time.
Remuneration: £125,000 per annum.
Closes: 09 August
– – – – – – – – – –
Home Office – Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and of Fire & Rescue Authorities
“HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) is an independent body that inspects and reports to the public on the efficiency and effectiveness of police forces in England and Wales, fire and rescue authorities in England and national law enforcement agencies. It aims to ensure that the public and their elected representatives can hold inspected organisations to account by monitoring trends, challenging practice and identifying areas for improvement, and making performance information accessible. The principal role of HMICFRS is undertaking the all-force inspections of policing in England and Wales, and of all fire & rescue authorities in England; providing the public with a clear, consistent and independent view of the quality of services in their local area.”
Time: Full-time.
Remuneration: £175,000 per annum.
Closes: 17 August
– – – – – – – – – –
Joint Nature Conservation Committee – Chair
“Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) Framework Document provides the legal, administrative and financial framework within which the Joint Committee operates and the specific functions of the Committee and the Chair. As Chair you will be responsible to the Defra Secretary of State for the leadership, direction and effectiveness of JNCC in line with strategies and plans agreed with Defra and the Devolved Administrations. You will be the primary contact with Ministers for the Committee. You will provide visible leadership and vision for JNCC, setting strategic and operational direction, ensuring good governance and, together with the Joint Committee, holding the executive to account.”
Time: 2.5 days per week.
Remuneration: £40,059 per annum.
Closes: 03 September
– – – – – – – – – –
Environmental Standards Scotland – Chair/Members
“Environmental Standards Scotland will be established, initially, on a non-statutory basis from January 2021. It will transition to a statutory, independent body over the course of 2021. The Board will initially comprise of the Chair and two other members. Once Environmental Standards Scotland becomes established as a statutory organisation, further board appointments are expected. Members of the Board of Environmental Standards Scotland will shape how the Board performs its role, including by exercising judgement on what information to monitor; selecting environmental concerns for initial review and for detailed investigation; resolving these through agreement with public authorities, where possible; and, highlighting any significant issues to Ministers.”
Time: 8-10 days per month initially, ~4 per month thereafter.
Remuneration: £300/£200 per diem.
Closes: 03 September
– – – – – – – – – –
Her Majesty’s Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate – Chief Inspector
“Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of the Crown Prosecution Service is supported by an inspectorate: Her Majesty’s Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI). The inspectorate provides independently assessed evidence about the operation, efficiency, and effectiveness of the public prosecutors (the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the Serious Fraud Office (SFO)). The purpose of this is to provide the evidence needed to allow the public prosecutors to be held to account and to improve, thereby strengthening the public’s trust in the prosecution process. Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector and the inspectorate may inspect other prosecuting authorities by invitation.”
Time: Full time.
Remuneration: £125,000 per annum.
Closes: 14 September
– – – – – – – – – –
Department for Education – Children’s Commissioner for England
“The Commissioner operates as a corporation sole, sponsored by the Department for Education and is appointed by the Secretary of State for Education. The Commissioner’s primary function is promoting and protecting the rights of children in England. The legislative basis for the office of Children’s Commissioner is in Part 1 and Schedule 1 of the Children Act 2004. This establishes the independence of the office and the six year tenure of the post holder. The legislation relating to the Children’s Commissioner is permissive, allowing significant flexibility for the Commissioner to determine how best to carry out his or her primary function of promoting and protecting children’s rights. The Commissioner is not an Ombudsman and, in general, cannot conduct investigations into the case of an individual child.”
Time: Full time.
Remuneration: £120-130,000 per annum.
Closes: 18 September


conservativehome--2020-08-06--Waves of media foreboding

Waves of media foreboding

Turn on the TV or pick up a newspaper , and it seems that almost everyone is talking about the dreaded “ second wave ” .
Two days ago Keir Starmer could be found pontificating on the subject in an article for The Guardian .
He warned that the “ government must up its game ” to prepare for one .
At the same time The Lancet published a study which modelled a worst case scenario of what might happen following the re-opening of schools given the capabilities of the UK ’ s current track and trace regime .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risks triggering a devastating second wave of Covid-19 unless test and trace improves ” , read The Sun .
Hardly reassuring stuff .
Much of the other newspaper coverage also focussed on doom and gloom , never mind the fact that many schools in Europe have reopened successfully ( the media only ever compares us when it undermines the Government , of course ) , and that even the ever-cautious World Health Organization says that “ [ t ] o date , few outbreaks involving children or schools have been reported ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in this crisis , and clearly the Government has to prepare for the worst .
But the expectation of a second wave around the corner has become almost gospel , so much so that more promising data about the UK ’ s Covid-19 situation now seems to be ignored .
Question the imminent arrival of the second wave and people stare as if you ’ ve blasphemed or forgotten your own name .
Forecasts around a second wave arriving have been first , spurred by spikes in Leicester and elsewhere ( even though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as well as based on new figures from the Office for National Statistics .
These showed that daily cases had gone up .
“ Coronavirus infections rising in England ” , ran one BBC headline .
Time to raise the alarm , one might think , but the data was based on just 24 positive cases among nearly 30,000 people over two weeks .
Today there is already coverage about the fact that France has reached a “ two-month high in virus cases ” .
And yet , it is rarely explained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of increased testing , not a worsening situation .
If a country boosts the amount of tests it has for something by hundreds of thousands , don ’ t be surprised when it finds more of that something .
The media likes to focus on cases as a metric of the Covid-19 outlook , as this is the main statistic going up ( perfect for dramatic headlines ) , whereas other data presents a more hopeful outlook .
In the UK , hospitalisations continue to decline dramatically even after lockdown easing .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 183 – a big fall from 3,483 on March 31 .
Deaths also appear to continue on a downward trend , something which seems to be the case even with the very old , according to the latest review of ONS data by Professor Heneghan of Oxford University .
That the UK can detect more cases is a testament to enormous improvements in its testing regime , which is now one of the best in the world , with a total of 12,571,991 tests processed .
We should be feeling reassured about this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system becomes , the more nuanced any lockdowns will be – meaning that less people have to stay at home .
Sure , there have been hiccups in putting it all in place ( a massively complex project to roll out , incidentally ) but our Covid response tools are undoubtedly getting much better .
One would never get this impression , though , from reading all the news .
Some papers seem to constantly examine what ’ s happening through a pessimistic lens , as if stuck a “ worst case scenario @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yes this crisis has been extremely bleak ; people have died in terrible , painful ways , and there are elements that the Government could have done better .
Yes , we have to be as ready as possible in case there is a second wave .
A winter one would be dreadful , and so forth .
Even so , there is reason to be positive about our situation .
Boris Johnson hit the nail on the head when he said the Government was “ hoping for the best , but planning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the worst is inevitable and panic ” , is what many commentators would rather have us do , and that will never get us anywhere .

Turn on the TV or pick up a newspaper, and it seems that almost everyone is talking about the dreaded “second wave”. Two days ago Keir Starmer could be found pontificating on the subject in an article for The Guardian. He warned that the “government must up its game” to prepare for one.
At the same time The Lancet published a study which modelled a worst case scenario of what might happen following the re-opening of schools given the capabilities of the UK’s current track and trace regime. “School children returning to class in September risks triggering a devastating second wave of Covid-19 unless test and trace improves”, read The Sun. Hardly reassuring stuff.
Much of the other newspaper coverage also focussed on doom and gloom, never mind the fact that many schools in Europe have reopened successfully (the media only ever compares us when it undermines the Government, of course), and that even the ever-cautious World Health Organization says that “[t]o date, few outbreaks involving children or schools have been reported”.
No one can be certain about anything in this crisis, and clearly the Government has to prepare for the worst. But the expectation of a second wave around the corner has become almost gospel, so much so that more promising data about the UK’s Covid-19 situation now seems to be ignored. Question the imminent arrival of the second wave and people stare as if you’ve blasphemed or forgotten your own name.
Forecasts around a second wave arriving have been first, spurred by spikes in Leicester and elsewhere (even though spikes are much smaller than waves), as well as based on new figures from the Office for National Statistics. These showed that daily cases had gone up. “Coronavirus infections rising in England”, ran one BBC headline. Time to raise the alarm, one might think, but the data was based on just 24 positive cases among nearly 30,000 people over two weeks.
Today there is already coverage about the fact that France has reached a “two-month high in virus cases”. And yet, it is rarely explained that some of statistics are a result of increased testing, not a worsening situation. If a country boosts the amount of tests it has for something by hundreds of thousands, don’t be surprised when it finds more of that something.
The media likes to focus on cases as a metric of the Covid-19 outlook, as this is the main statistic going up (perfect for dramatic headlines), whereas other data presents a more hopeful outlook.
In the UK, hospitalisations continue to decline dramatically even after lockdown easing. The daily number of admissions reported yesterday was 183 – a big fall from 3,483 on March 31. Deaths also appear to continue on a downward trend, something which seems to be the case even with the very old, according to the latest review of ONS data by Professor Heneghan of Oxford University.
That the UK can detect more cases is a testament to enormous improvements in its testing regime, which is now one of the best in the world, with a total of 12,571,991 tests processed. We should be feeling reassured about this, especially as the more sophisticated the system becomes, the more nuanced any lockdowns will be – meaning that less people have to stay at home. Sure, there have been hiccups in putting it all in place (a massively complex project to roll out, incidentally) but our Covid response tools are undoubtedly getting much better.
One would never get this impression, though, from reading all the news. Some papers seem to constantly examine what’s happening through a pessimistic lens, as if stuck a “worst case scenario” algorithm from the Lancet study.
Yes this crisis has been extremely bleak; people have died in terrible, painful ways, and there are elements that the Government could have done better. Yes, we have to be as ready as possible in case there is a second wave. A winter one would be dreadful, and so forth. Even so, there is reason to be positive about our situation.
Boris Johnson hit the nail on the head when he said the Government was “hoping for the best, but planning for the worst”. “Assume the worst is inevitable and panic”, is what many commentators would rather have us do, and that will never get us anywhere.


conservativehome--2020-08-06--Stephen Booth: The UK’s parallel trade negotiations are of unprecedented ambition

Stephen Booth is Head of the Britain in the World Project at Policy Exchange .
Brexit is necessarily reshaping Britain ’ s trade relationship with the EU .
Meanwhile , the UK is simultaneously trying to ensure continuity of , or build upon , existing trade agreements with non-EU countries , such as Japan , and reach entirely new deals with partners including the United States , Australia and New Zealand .
The UK also intends to accede to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership ( CPTPP ) , which currently includes 11 countries on the Pacific rim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Canada .
Predictably , the EU negotiations are set to go down to the wire .
Since Boris Johnson became Prime Minister all signs have pointed to a so-called “ skinny ” free trade agreement ( FTA ) or none at all .
For this Government , Brexit is primarily about establishing sovereign independence , while the EU has sought to underline and assert its role as the dominant regulatory and economic power .
It is no wonder that politics has trumped economics throughout the Brexit process .
The EU is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The €750bn economic recovery plan agreed by EU leaders last month illustrates the extent to which the UK ’ s preference for confining deeper political and economic integration to the Eurozone faced an uphill struggle had it remained in the bloc .
It is impossible to imagine any British government agreeing to such a dramatic expansion of the EU ’ s financial firepower or the precedent it has set for further moves towards a common EU fiscal policy .
Nevertheless , there are reasons to be cautiously optimistic about a UK-EU deal being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to mark a breakthrough on governance issues .
David Frost ’ s statement welcomed the EU ’ s “ more pragmatic approach ” on the Court of Justice and suggested the UK was ready to consider the EU ’ s preference for one set of governance arrangements , rather than a suite of separate arrangements .
The remaining sticking points are fishing and state aid .
Fishing is not significant in terms of GDP but is politically totemic in the UK and certain EU member states .
Therefore , a deal must be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a “ level-playing field ” on state aid is proving to be the biggest substantive issue to resolve .
The EU is moving away from its request for dynamic alignment and the issue now is what domestic regime the UK will propose .
Negotiations with the US appear to have got off to a good start .
However , both sides accept that a deal can not now be reached until after the US elections in November .
Therefore , the most difficult areas , such as agriculture , will not be addressed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earliest .
The most pressing issue Liz Truss , the Trade Secretary , discussed on her trip to Washington earlier this week is the removal of US retaliatory tariffs as part of the ongoing Airbus/Boeing dispute , which sits outside the FTA negotiations .
The US has levied tariffs on whisky and further tariffs could be extended to gin and other products if the dispute is not resolved .
The prospect of delay with the US has made UK engagement with the Asia-Pacific countries all the more important and pushed accession to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Japanese Foreign Minister , is in London this week in an attempt to finalise talks on the UK-Japan FTA .
The Japan deal is an important stepping stone towards CPTPP accession , since Japan is the biggest economy within the agreement .
The Japan negotiations are working to a condensed timetable because the parties are aiming to ensure a successor to the EU-Japan FTA is in place before the end of the Brexit transition period on January 1 , 2021 .
The time constraints mean that a UK-Japan deal will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ However , media reports have suggested Japan might be prepared to accelerate tariff cuts for British pork , and Japan is seeking the immediate elimination of car tariffs .
The major opportunities for innovation in UK-Japan trade relations is on regulatory cooperation in the services and digital sectors .
The FTA can provide the architecture but domestic regulators will need to work together to realise long-term gains .
Another reason why the CPTPP may become increasingly important is that Joe Biden has indicated that he might be prepared to ( re- ) join @ @ @ @ @ @ @ successful .
President Trump pulled out of its previous iteration , the Trans-Pacific Partnership , spearheaded by President Obama .
However , this could be a slow process , since Biden ’ s campaign has also emphasised that his primary focus will be on domestic investment and he has previously suggested he would seek to renegotiate CPTPP if the US were to re-join .
Some have suggested that engaging with the US via the CPTPP rather than bilaterally would defuse some of the thorniest issues , such as agricultural standards on chlorine-washed chicken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reality is that while the optics might be different , the UK will face many of the same substantive trade-offs whoever is president .
The CPTPP rulebook is much closer to the US approach – indeed the World Trade Organisation ’ s ( WTO ) approach – to regulating agriculture than we have inherited from the EU .
Blanket bans on agricultural imports , not supported by scientific evidence , will not only be viewed as a protectionist move by the US but potentially by other members of the CPTPP .
The question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for much longer .
Equally , as we noted in the recent Policy Exchange paper , The art of the UK-US trade deal , the issue need not be as stark as some of the hyperbole has suggested .
The starting points should be to promote consumer choice , while ensuring consumer safety .
The UK already has the right , under WTO rules , to prohibit the import of unsafe food .
Labelling , either via domestic legislation or voluntary certifications , can be used to inform consumers of food production methods @ @ @ @ @ @ @ international policies must also work in tandem .
UK tariff liberalisation can be phased in gradually , giving UK producers time to adjust to new trading conditions .
This would reflect the gradual introduction of the UK ’ s Environmental Land Management scheme , replacing the EU ’ s Common Agricultural Policy .
Meanwhile , it should also be remembered that agricultural liberalisation is an export opportunity for high quality UK products , particularly beef and lamb .
In today ’ s world , trade agreements do not merely set tariffs or regulate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ particular , they are important building blocks for wider political relationships and alliances .
However , in order to unlock these relationships , the UK must be willing to live up to its rhetoric on free trade .

Stephen Booth is Head of the Britain in the World Project at Policy Exchange.
Brexit is necessarily reshaping Britain’s trade relationship with the EU. Meanwhile, the UK is simultaneously trying to ensure continuity of, or build upon, existing trade agreements with non-EU countries, such as Japan, and reach entirely new deals with partners including the United States, Australia and New Zealand.
The UK also intends to accede to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which currently includes 11 countries on the Pacific rim including Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
Predictably, the EU negotiations are set to go down to the wire. Since Boris Johnson became Prime Minister all signs have pointed to a so-called “skinny” free trade agreement (FTA) or none at all. For this Government, Brexit is primarily about establishing sovereign independence, while the EU has sought to underline and assert its role as the dominant regulatory and economic power.
It is no wonder that politics has trumped economics throughout the Brexit process. The EU is a political endeavour pursued by economic means. The €750bn economic recovery plan agreed by EU leaders last month illustrates the extent to which the UK’s preference for confining deeper political and economic integration to the Eurozone faced an uphill struggle had it remained in the bloc. It is impossible to imagine any British government agreeing to such a dramatic expansion of the EU’s financial firepower or the precedent it has set for further moves towards a common EU fiscal policy.
Nevertheless, there are reasons to be cautiously optimistic about a UK-EU deal being reached. The latest negotiating round appeared to mark a breakthrough on governance issues. David Frost’s statement welcomed the EU’s “more pragmatic approach” on the Court of Justice and suggested the UK was ready to consider the EU’s preference for one set of governance arrangements, rather than a suite of separate arrangements.
The remaining sticking points are fishing and state aid. Fishing is not significant in terms of GDP but is politically totemic in the UK and certain EU member states. Therefore, a deal must be left to the last minute. Establishing a “level-playing field” on state aid is proving to be the biggest substantive issue to resolve. The EU is moving away from its request for dynamic alignment and the issue now is what domestic regime the UK will propose.
Negotiations with the US appear to have got off to a good start. However, both sides accept that a deal cannot now be reached until after the US elections in November. Therefore, the most difficult areas, such as agriculture, will not be addressed until later in the year at the earliest.
The most pressing issue Liz Truss, the Trade Secretary, discussed on her trip to Washington earlier this week is the removal of US retaliatory tariffs as part of the ongoing Airbus/Boeing dispute, which sits outside the FTA negotiations. The US has levied tariffs on whisky and further tariffs could be extended to gin and other products if the dispute is not resolved.
The prospect of delay with the US has made UK engagement with the Asia-Pacific countries all the more important and pushed accession to the CPTPP up the agenda. Toshimitsu Motegi, the Japanese Foreign Minister, is in London this week in an attempt to finalise talks on the UK-Japan FTA.
The Japan deal is an important stepping stone towards CPTPP accession, since Japan is the biggest economy within the agreement. The Japan negotiations are working to a condensed timetable because the parties are aiming to ensure a successor to the EU-Japan FTA is in place before the end of the Brexit transition period on January 1, 2021.
The time constraints mean that a UK-Japan deal will be largely modelled on the EU precedent. However, media reports have suggested Japan might be prepared to accelerate tariff cuts for British pork, and Japan is seeking the immediate elimination of car tariffs. The major opportunities for innovation in UK-Japan trade relations is on regulatory cooperation in the services and digital sectors. The FTA can provide the architecture but domestic regulators will need to work together to realise long-term gains.
Another reason why the CPTPP may become increasingly important is that Joe Biden has indicated that he might be prepared to (re-)join the CPTPP if his presidential bid is successful. President Trump pulled out of its previous iteration, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, spearheaded by President Obama. However, this could be a slow process, since Biden’s campaign has also emphasised that his primary focus will be on domestic investment and he has previously suggested he would seek to renegotiate CPTPP if the US were to re-join.
Some have suggested that engaging with the US via the CPTPP rather than bilaterally would defuse some of the thorniest issues, such as agricultural standards on chlorine-washed chicken or hormone-treated beef. However, the reality is that while the optics might be different, the UK will face many of the same substantive trade-offs whoever is president.
The CPTPP rulebook is much closer to the US approach – indeed the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) approach – to regulating agriculture than we have inherited from the EU. Blanket bans on agricultural imports, not supported by scientific evidence, will not only be viewed as a protectionist move by the US but potentially by other members of the CPTPP.
The question of agricultural liberalisation cannot be ducked for much longer. Equally, as we noted in the recent Policy Exchange paper, The art of the UK-US trade deal, the issue need not be as stark as some of the hyperbole has suggested. The starting points should be to promote consumer choice, while ensuring consumer safety. The UK already has the right, under WTO rules, to prohibit the import of unsafe food. Labelling, either via domestic legislation or voluntary certifications, can be used to inform consumers of food production methods.
The UK’s domestic and international policies must also work in tandem. UK tariff liberalisation can be phased in gradually, giving UK producers time to adjust to new trading conditions. This would reflect the gradual introduction of the UK’s Environmental Land Management scheme, replacing the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy. Meanwhile, it should also be remembered that agricultural liberalisation is an export opportunity for high quality UK products, particularly beef and lamb.
In today’s world, trade agreements do not merely set tariffs or regulate cross-border investment. For medium-sized powers in particular, they are important building blocks for wider political relationships and alliances. However, in order to unlock these relationships, the UK must be willing to live up to its rhetoric on free trade.


conservativehome--2020-08-06--Archie Hill: Strong devolution must mean giving more counties unitary status

Archie Hill is a researcher at Henham Strategy .
He also works in the research team at the Centre for Policy Studies .
Just over a year ago , during his very first week as Prime Minister , Boris Johnson made a speech in Manchester , warming to a familiar theme : “ We are going to give greater powers to council leaders and to communities .
We are going to give more communities a greater say over changes to transport , housing , public services , and infrastructure that will benefit their areas and drive local growth.
” Familiar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government has promised greater devolution of powers at a local level .
A new wave of decentralisation is always on the horizon .
But this Prime Minister ’ s commitment to devolution rings true .
Decentralisation may be a common refrain , but it is a long time since it has assumed so central a role in a government ’ s platform : the ‘ levelling up ’ agenda upon which the Conservatives fought and won so handsomely is rooted in local devolution .
Not for nothing did the Prime Minister describe himself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ideology , as “ basically a Brexity Hezza.
” As well as a flamboyant hairstyle , he shares with Lord Heseltine a belief that reforming local government , and setting out more coherent efficient structures which work properly , can help unleash growth around the country .
It was Heseltine , after all , whose report No Stone Unturned demonstrated the disjointed state of local government in England , with different tiers of councils operating at different levels and overlapping responsibilities ; as wasteful as it is confusing .
At a local level @ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting a pothole or a sign fixed can involve negotiating county , district , and parish councils , each with their own separate remit .
Small wonder , then , that we found that fewer than one in five of those surveyed in our polling thought it was easy to understand who was responsible for what , across local government .
This confusion leads very quickly to apathy .
In recent months , as part of a team at Henham Strategy , I have been working on a report , commissioned by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , setting out where the current system is failing and how powers can be devolved more effectively at a local level .
A more effective – and accountable – means of local decision-making is vital .
Fortunately , the government has an opportunity to make lasting changes , in the form of the upcoming , much-trumpeted Devolution White Paper from the Ministry of Housing , Communities and Local Government .
Even before the Covid-19 pandemic , ours was the most centralised state in the western world .
As the Centre for Policy Studies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , locally determined taxes make up just 1.7 per cent of GDP in the UK , compared to 15.9 per cent in Sweden , or 10.9 per cent in Germany .
But during the current crisis , the government has felt compelled to take further control of large segments of the economy and manage it from the commanding heights of Whitehall .
This ignores the real lesson of Covid , which is that it is at the local level where the most effective response has occurred .
County authorities have made some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ranging from shielding the vulnerable and protecting the NHS , putting in place infection control plans for care homes , sourcing hundreds of thousands of pieces of PPE , and helping secure local businesses ’ futures .
When previous governments talked about local devolution , too often what they had in mind was the creation of new mayoral bodies covering a large urban area , in London , Greater Manchester , or the West Midlands .
This focus on metropolitan areas has been to the cost of counties and those who live in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ located in England ’ s counties ; half of our overall economic output is created there too .
They already provide accountable local leadership – in the form of elected councillors – that is readily recognisable by people who live there .
Indeed , our commissioned polling found that only nine per cent of those surveyed thought that mayors should have more powers than county council leaders .
A number of county councils have become unitary authorities , and many other councils we spoke to are keen to follow suit .
The opportunities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that can speak with a unified voice for the whole county are enormous , both in terms of cost savings and more effective decision-making at scale .
Where district councils too often act as a brake on development and strategic planning , unitary authorities provide a more responsive , joined-up form of local leadership across a larger population .
Cornwall Council demonstrates this , bringing together representatives from health , business , transport , and local town/parish councils all round one table : the result is that Cornwall has seen the highest annual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since it became a unitary authority , all whilst saving £15.5m per year through reduced running costs .
It has also been able to distribute grants during Covid faster than anywhere else .
The government must make it easier for more counties to follow this path , setting out a consistent approach to unitarisation for local leaders rather than relying on a ‘ deal-by-deal ’ basis .
To embrace levelling up , they must start by giving local areas the means to pursue this agenda themselves – from housing and planning to infrastructure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and social care .
Instead of the current patchwork system , a new , more effective form of local governance is necessary to unlock regional growth and drive our economic recovery .
If , where previously there have been only promises , the Prime Minister wants action on local devolution , then it is time to make counties count .

Archie Hill is a researcher at Henham Strategy. He also works in the research team at the Centre for Policy Studies.
Just over a year ago, during his very first week as Prime Minister, Boris Johnson made a speech in Manchester, warming to a familiar theme:
“We are going to give greater powers to council leaders and to communities. We are going to give more communities a greater say over changes to transport, housing, public services, and infrastructure that will benefit their areas and drive local growth.”
Familiar, in the sense that every recent government has promised greater devolution of powers at a local level. A new wave of decentralisation is always on the horizon.
But this Prime Minister’s commitment to devolution rings true. Decentralisation may be a common refrain, but it is a long time since it has assumed so central a role in a government’s platform: the ‘levelling up’ agenda upon which the Conservatives fought and won so handsomely is rooted in local devolution. Not for nothing did the Prime Minister describe himself, grappling when pressed for a definable ideology, as “basically a Brexity Hezza.” As well as a flamboyant hairstyle, he shares with Lord Heseltine a belief that reforming local government, and setting out more coherent efficient structures which work properly, can help unleash growth around the country.
It was Heseltine, after all, whose report No Stone Unturned demonstrated the disjointed state of local government in England, with different tiers of councils operating at different levels and overlapping responsibilities; as wasteful as it is confusing. At a local level, this confusion reaches absurdity: just getting a pothole or a sign fixed can involve negotiating county, district, and parish councils, each with their own separate remit. Small wonder, then, that we found that fewer than one in five of those surveyed in our polling thought it was easy to understand who was responsible for what, across local government. This confusion leads very quickly to apathy.
In recent months, as part of a team at Henham Strategy, I have been working on a report, commissioned by the County Councils Network and published this week, setting out where the current system is failing and how powers can be devolved more effectively at a local level.
A more effective – and accountable – means of local decision-making is vital. Fortunately, the government has an opportunity to make lasting changes, in the form of the upcoming, much-trumpeted Devolution White Paper from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, ours was the most centralised state in the western world. As the Centre for Policy Studies found in their report A Rising Tide, locally determined taxes make up just 1.7 per cent of GDP in the UK, compared to 15.9 per cent in Sweden, or 10.9 per cent in Germany. But during the current crisis, the government has felt compelled to take further control of large segments of the economy and manage it from the commanding heights of Whitehall. This ignores the real lesson of Covid, which is that it is at the local level where the most effective response has occurred.
County authorities have made some of largest contributions to the national effort, ranging from shielding the vulnerable and protecting the NHS, putting in place infection control plans for care homes, sourcing hundreds of thousands of pieces of PPE, and helping secure local businesses’ futures. When previous governments talked about local devolution, too often what they had in mind was the creation of new mayoral bodies covering a large urban area, in London, Greater Manchester, or the West Midlands. This focus on metropolitan areas has been to the cost of counties and those who live in them.
Half of our population is located in England’s counties; half of our overall economic output is created there too. They already provide accountable local leadership – in the form of elected councillors – that is readily recognisable by people who live there. Indeed, our commissioned polling found that only nine per cent of those surveyed thought that mayors should have more powers than county council leaders.
A number of county councils have become unitary authorities, and many other councils we spoke to are keen to follow suit. The opportunities of a single, more streamlined body that can speak with a unified voice for the whole county are enormous, both in terms of cost savings and more effective decision-making at scale. Where district councils too often act as a brake on development and strategic planning, unitary authorities provide a more responsive, joined-up form of local leadership across a larger population. Cornwall Council demonstrates this, bringing together representatives from health, business, transport, and local town/parish councils all round one table: the result is that Cornwall has seen the highest annual average increase in new homes in England since it became a unitary authority, all whilst saving £15.5m per year through reduced running costs. It has also been able to distribute grants during Covid faster than anywhere else.
The government must make it easier for more counties to follow this path, setting out a consistent approach to unitarisation for local leaders rather than relying on a ‘deal-by-deal’ basis. To embrace levelling up, they must start by giving local areas the means to pursue this agenda themselves – from housing and planning to infrastructure, from skills and employment to health and social care. Instead of the current patchwork system, a new, more effective form of local governance is necessary to unlock regional growth and drive our economic recovery. If, where previously there have been only promises, the Prime Minister wants action on local devolution, then it is time to make counties count.


conservativehome--2020-08-06--Henry Hill: With less than a year to go, Ross sets out his vision for the Scottish Tories

Ross is unopposed as new leader of the Scottish Conservatives Douglas Ross has said he “ won ’ t be pushed around ” by the Government has he takes the helm of the Scottish Conservatives , according to the Times , as he says its time to “ turn the page on over a decade of division “ .
The Moray MP has been returned unopposed to succeed Jackson Carlaw , who stepped down last week .
His is expected to seek a seat in the Scottish Parliament at next year ’ s devolved elections , until which time Ruth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minister ’ s Questions .
He has already given an indication of his priorities , promising a ‘ jobs plan ’ within 30 days of taking up his new position .
Ross has also pledged to “ strip powers from Holyrood ” and pass them to “ regions , cities , and towns ” , an interesting echo of the Welsh Conservatives ’ changing rhetoric on devolution .
Ross has been endorsed by Murdo Fraser , one of the only MSPs viewed as a realistic challenger , and profiled in the Courier , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Meanwhile opponents are suggesting that he and Davidson ‘ plotted ’ to oust Carlaw , pointing to a ‘ secret ’ meeting between the two of them in his constituency days before the latter ’ s resignation .
Davidson insists Ross only asked her to join his team after he had announced his decision to run .
The change in leadership has clearly got some in the SNP rattled : the usually-slick Nationalist media operation tweeted out a claim that Ross had a “ history of racist views ” before hurriedly deleting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a furious backlash over exam results , with opponents suggesting that John Swinney , the Education Secretary , should have his career on the line .
With Covid-19 rendering exams unsafe , teachers were instead asked to submit predicted grades for their pupils .
But the Scottish Qualifications Authority ( SQA ) believed a lot of the grades to be over-estimates , and ended up downgrading results in 124,000 cases .
Controversially , the SQA measured the predictions against the past performance of the area in question – meaning that bright pupils in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on their postcode , and resulting in sharper reductions in disadvantaged areas .
For her part , Nicola Sturgeon has said that teachers ’ assessments were “ not credible ” – and as Tom Harris has pointed out , she may have a point .
But whilst statistical moderation may be fair in aggregate , it doesn ’ t feel like it when you ’ re on the receiving end .
A “ deluge of appeals ” is anticipated – and there are already warnings that even this stopgap might not be available @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Wales .
The Scottish Government has also been accused of imposing a ‘ whack-a-mole ’ lockdown on Aberdeen in part to distract from the row .
On the subject of statistics , Sturgeon has also been criticised by the statistics authority for misleading comparisons between England and Scotland – see this report from These Islands for more .
The current and former leaders of the SNP are set for a furious clash which , Alex Massie argues , yet provide a get-out clause for the Union ahead of next year ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compiled a cache of documents evidencing a ‘ conspiracy ’ against him by the current Nationalist leadership , according to the Times .
This comes as Sturgeon , his successor and one-time close ally , prepares to testify under oath about her administration ’ s botched investigation into allegations against him .
Salmond ’ s supporters are already angry that the Scottish Government has missed a deadline for handing over its own documents to the inquiry , as we mentioned last week .
And the Herald reports that it has also confirmed that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she had not previously declared to MSPs .
The battle between these two camps is being waged on multiple fronts .
Elsewhere this week , Joanna Cherry MP – a prominent Salmondite – attacked Sturgeon ’ s fixation on Brexit .
For their part the SNP changed the party ’ s rules to make it effectively impossible for her to contest Edinburgh Central at Holyrood next year , clearing the way for Sturgeon ally Angus Robertson – not the only controversy over Nationalist selections this week .
• Mystery and suspicion on one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ?
– Sam McBride , News Letter • Is the end for Arlene Foster ?
– Owen Polley , The Article • Hume ’ s legitimisation of Sinn Fein was an appalling misjudgement – Ruth Dudley Edwards , Website • Embracing the compromises of political giants – Tom McTague , The Atlantic • London must act to protect the Union , and fast – Ben Lowry , News Letter • Presentation is key to beating the SNP – Adam Tomkins MSP , The Scotsman • A new Act of Union is needed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Daisley , Scottish Daily Mail

Ross is unopposed as new leader of the Scottish Conservatives
Douglas Ross has said he “won’t be pushed around” by the Government has he takes the helm of the Scottish Conservatives, according to the Times, as he says its time to “turn the page on over a decade of division“.
The Moray MP has been returned unopposed to succeed Jackson Carlaw, who stepped down last week. His is expected to seek a seat in the Scottish Parliament at next year’s devolved elections, until which time Ruth Davidson will deputise for him at First Minister’s Questions.
He has already given an indication of his priorities, promising a ‘jobs plan’ within 30 days of taking up his new position. Ross has also pledged to “strip powers from Holyrood” and pass them to “regions, cities, and towns”, an interesting echo of the Welsh Conservatives’ changing rhetoric on devolution.
Ross has been endorsed by Murdo Fraser, one of the only MSPs viewed as a realistic challenger, and profiled in the Courier, as well as speaking to Michael Crick.
Meanwhile opponents are suggesting that he and Davidson ‘plotted’ to oust Carlaw, pointing to a ‘secret’ meeting between the two of them in his constituency days before the latter’s resignation. Davidson insists Ross only asked her to join his team after he had announced his decision to run.
The change in leadership has clearly got some in the SNP rattled: the usually-slick Nationalist media operation tweeted out a claim that Ross had a “history of racist views” before hurriedly deleting it.
SNP under ‘mounting pressure’ over exam debacle…
The Scottish Government is facing a furious backlash over exam results, with opponents suggesting that John Swinney, the Education Secretary, should have his career on the line.
With Covid-19 rendering exams unsafe, teachers were instead asked to submit predicted grades for their pupils. But the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) believed a lot of the grades to be over-estimates, and ended up downgrading results in 124,000 cases.
Controversially, the SQA measured the predictions against the past performance of the area in question – meaning that bright pupils in poorly performing schools risked being effectively assessed on their postcode, and resulting in sharper reductions in disadvantaged areas.
For her part, Nicola Sturgeon has said that teachers’ assessments were “not credible” – and as Tom Harris has pointed out, she may have a point. But whilst statistical moderation may be fair in aggregate, it doesn’t feel like it when you’re on the receiving end.
A “deluge of appeals” is anticipated – and there are already warnings that even this stopgap might not be available if the same thing happens in England and Wales. The Scottish Government has also been accused of imposing a ‘whack-a-mole’ lockdown on Aberdeen in part to distract from the row.
On the subject of statistics, Sturgeon has also been criticised by the statistics authority for misleading comparisons between England and Scotland – see this report from These Islands for more.
…as Salmond and Sturgeon set for showdown
The current and former leaders of the SNP are set for a furious clash which, Alex Massie argues, yet provide a get-out clause for the Union ahead of next year’s Holyrood elections.
Alex Salmond has reportedly compiled a cache of documents evidencing a ‘conspiracy’ against him by the current Nationalist leadership, according to the Times. This comes as Sturgeon, his successor and one-time close ally, prepares to testify under oath about her administration’s botched investigation into allegations against him.
Salmond’s supporters are already angry that the Scottish Government has missed a deadline for handing over its own documents to the inquiry, as we mentioned last week. And the Herald reports that it has also confirmed that Sturgeon had a meeting with Salmond which she had not previously declared to MSPs.
The battle between these two camps is being waged on multiple fronts. Elsewhere this week, Joanna Cherry MP – a prominent Salmondite – attacked Sturgeon’s fixation on Brexit.
For their part the SNP changed the party’s rules to make it effectively impossible for her to contest Edinburgh Central at Holyrood next year, clearing the way for Sturgeon ally Angus Robertson – not the only controversy over Nationalist selections this week.
Op-eds and Reports:


conservativehome--2020-08-07--Calling Conservatives: New public appointments announced. Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of the CPS –


conservativehome--2020-08-07--Iain Dale: In the aftermath of the Beirut disaster, my memory of Lebanon.

Iain Dale presents the evening show on LBC Radio and the For the Many podcast with Jacqui Smith .
This week ’ s terrible events in Beirut brought back a lot of memories for me .
The dust filled streets were reminiscent of the aftermath of 9/11 , in which I feared a friend of mine had been killed .
My friend , Jacqui Smith , the former Labour Home Secretary , is a regular visitor to Beirut , and she told me the hotel she stays in has been totally destroyed .
I am glad the UK government is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with medical equipment and supplies .
It ’ s good to see that the Israeli government has offered aid too , although it remains to be seen whether it will be accepted .
But the main memory it brought back was a trip I made to Beirut in the early 1990s , not long after the British hostages had been freed .
Indeed , I was told I was the first Brit to have ventured there following John McCarthy ’ s release , a bit of a coincidence as John McCarthy lived in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Had I known this before my trip I suspect I might well have chickened out of going .
The reason for my trip was equally bizarre .
I was working as transport lobbyist at the time , specialising in various forms of transport privatisation .
I got a call from the Foreign Office asking if I would be interested in speaking at a conference on the subject in the Middle East as no one in the Department of Transport could go .
Never having been to that part of the world before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ Where is it being held ?
’ I asked .
‘ Er , Beirut , ’ came the response .
I began to understand why Department for Transport diaries were curiously full .
But my own curiosity and sense of adventure got the better of me and a few weeks later I was travelling to the Lebanese capital courtesy of a first class ticket of Middle Eastern Airlines .
‘ This is the life , ’ I thought to myself .
I had been told by the Foreign Office that when I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ met by officials from the British Embassy and that I wasn ’ t to talk to , or go off with , anyone but them .
When I started descending the rather rickety steps , all I could see were Lebanese army soldiers surrounding the plane toting AK47s .
It was at that point I did wonder to myself if this had been such a good idea .
When I got to the bottom of the steps a black Mercedes with darkened windows pulled up .
A man wearing dark glasses got out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr Dale ?
You come with me.
’ ‘ No , ’ I said .
‘ I ’ m being collected by the British Embassy ’ .
‘ Mr Dale , you come with me , ’ he repeated in a manner which seemed rather determined .
Being a complete coward , I got in the car and travelled a couple of hundred yards to a shed where he demanded my passport .
Eventually I gave up asking where the British embassy officials were and decided that doing what I was told was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passport formalities were complete , he told me he would take me to my hotel , which was about half an hour ’ s drive away .
I knew that the airport road was not exactly the safest part of Beirut , but I wasn ’ t in much of a position to argue .
On the way to the hotel I had a running commentary of all the people who had been killed or kidnapped on this road .
Just what I needed .
The whole area seemed to resemble Dresden after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people nowhere .
As we approached Beirut itself it was quite clear that this had once been a truly beautiful place .
The hotel was comfortable , if not luxurious .
But looking out of the reception window it was impossible to ignore the armed guards who surrounded its perimeter .
At last I heard the sound of British voices .
I turned round and saw four khaki dressed soldiers approaching .
They apologised for missing me at the airport and asked if I was ready .
‘ Ready for what ?
’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guest of honour at a dinner at the British Embassy in an hour , ’ they informed me .
‘ Nice of someone to tell me , ’ I thought .
I have to admit I am not the kind of person who is used to Embassy dinners or cocktail parties .
Indeed , I had never been to one before , and haven ’ t been to another one since .
But it ’ s not the dinner that sticks in my mind from that memorable day .
It was the 45 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Embassy .
We were in a convoy of two armed land rovers , each with soldiers almost hanging out of the windows , carrying guns .
We drove at breakneck speed through down Beirut , up into the hills .
I did wonder if it was such a good idea to have a Union Jack flying from the front of each Land Rover but didn ’ t like to say anything .
We got to the embassy and negotiated the 200 yard long chicane of concrete blocks which was supposed to protect the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and I arrived to be greeted by the Ambassador and his wife who had invited a selection of local businesspeople and journalists to meet me .
Not only that , it turned out they were expecting a speech .
Nowadays , that wouldn ’ t particularly phase me , but it did then !
Somehow I got through it .
The next day I spoke at the Transport Privatisation conference , which was being shown live on TV throughout the Middle East , therefore telling every terrorist organisation in the region that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Thankfully I wasn ’ t told that until I was about to leave .
The speech went well and I then had the best part of a day to myself .
I had been told I wasn ’ t to set foot outside the hotel without ringing the embassy and getting their permission and a guard .
They provided me with a driver for a visit I wanted to make to the port area .
I was shown round by the port manager whose English was only slightly worse than my French @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the harbour area of wreckage so the port could start to function again properly .
I suspect the explosion has meant they will have to start all over again .
Given Lebanon is a country that relies entirely in imports , they will need to get the port up and running pretty quickly .
On the way back I tried to ask my driver where I could buy some souvenirs .
Feeling quite proud of myself for making myself understood in French I was horrified when I found him driving off the main @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I needed to change some dollars but the first place we went to couldn ’ t do it .
I then found myself walking down the main shopping street in Beirut behind this man feeling rather conspicuous in my western suit .
All eyes were on me – well at least I thought they were .
I changed some money and bought a few vases and then scarpered back to the hotel .
But the best part of the trip was about to happen .
A man from the organisers of the conference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the countryside surrounding Beirut .
I said I didn ’ t think the Embassy would allow me to , but I let myself be persuaded ( the follies of youth ) and spent the next two hours in his company being drive round the mountains and valleys that surround Beirut , including the famous Bekaa valley .
He even took me to meet his family .
It really was a trip that will be forever etched into my memory .
I was utterly stupid and irresponsible to go .
But I wouldn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world .

Iain Dale presents the evening show on LBC Radio and the For the Many podcast with Jacqui Smith.
This week’s terrible events in Beirut brought back a lot of memories for me. The dust filled streets were reminiscent of the aftermath of 9/11, in which I feared a friend of mine had been killed. My friend, Jacqui Smith, the former Labour Home Secretary, is a regular visitor to Beirut, and she told me the hotel she stays in has been totally destroyed.
I am glad the UK government is sending £5 million in aid, along with medical equipment and supplies. It’s good to see that the Israeli government has offered aid too, although it remains to be seen whether it will be accepted.
But the main memory it brought back was a trip I made to Beirut in the early 1990s, not long after the British hostages had been freed. Indeed, I was told I was the first Brit to have ventured there following John McCarthy’s release, a bit of a coincidence as John McCarthy lived in the next village to me in Essex. Had I known this before my trip I suspect I might well have chickened out of going.
The reason for my trip was equally bizarre. I was working as transport lobbyist at the time, specialising in various forms of transport privatisation. I got a call from the Foreign Office asking if I would be interested in speaking at a conference on the subject in the Middle East as no one in the Department of Transport could go. Never having been to that part of the world before, I was naturally rather keen.
‘Where is it being held?’ I asked. ‘Er, Beirut,’ came the response. I began to understand why Department for Transport diaries were curiously full. But my own curiosity and sense of adventure got the better of me and a few weeks later I was travelling to the Lebanese capital courtesy of a first class ticket of Middle Eastern Airlines. ‘This is the life,’ I thought to myself.
I had been told by the Foreign Office that when I got off the plane I would be met by officials from the British Embassy and that I wasn’t to talk to, or go off with, anyone but them. When I started descending the rather rickety steps, all I could see were Lebanese army soldiers surrounding the plane toting AK47s. It was at that point I did wonder to myself if this had been such a good idea.
When I got to the bottom of the steps a black Mercedes with darkened windows pulled up. A man wearing dark glasses got out, approached me and said: ‘Mr Dale? You come with me.’ ‘No,’ I said. ‘I’m being collected by the British Embassy’. ‘Mr Dale, you come with me,’ he repeated in a manner which seemed rather determined. Being a complete coward, I got in the car and travelled a couple of hundred yards to a shed where he demanded my passport.
Eventually I gave up asking where the British embassy officials were and decided that doing what I was told was the best way forward. Once the passport formalities were complete, he told me he would take me to my hotel, which was about half an hour’s drive away. I knew that the airport road was not exactly the safest part of Beirut, but I wasn’t in much of a position to argue.
On the way to the hotel I had a running commentary of all the people who had been killed or kidnapped on this road. Just what I needed. The whole area seemed to resemble Dresden after a bombing raid. Rubble everywhere, people nowhere. As we approached Beirut itself it was quite clear that this had once been a truly beautiful place.
The hotel was comfortable, if not luxurious. But looking out of the reception window it was impossible to ignore the armed guards who surrounded its perimeter.
At last I heard the sound of British voices. I turned round and saw four khaki dressed soldiers approaching. They apologised for missing me at the airport and asked if I was ready. ‘Ready for what?’ I asked. ‘You’re guest of honour at a dinner at the British Embassy in an hour,’ they informed me. ‘Nice of someone to tell me,’ I thought.
I have to admit I am not the kind of person who is used to Embassy dinners or cocktail parties. Indeed, I had never been to one before, and haven’t been to another one since. But it’s not the dinner that sticks in my mind from that memorable day. It was the 45 minute drive from the hotel to the Embassy.
We were in a convoy of two armed land rovers, each with soldiers almost hanging out of the windows, carrying guns. We drove at breakneck speed through down Beirut, up into the hills. I did wonder if it was such a good idea to have a Union Jack flying from the front of each Land Rover but didn’t like to say anything. We got to the embassy and negotiated the 200 yard long chicane of concrete blocks which was supposed to protect the building from suicide bombers, I imagine, and I arrived to be greeted by the Ambassador and his wife who had invited a selection of local businesspeople and journalists to meet me. Not only that, it turned out they were expecting a speech. Nowadays, that wouldn’t particularly phase me, but it did then! Somehow I got through it.
The next day I spoke at the Transport Privatisation conference, which was being shown live on TV throughout the Middle East, therefore telling every terrorist organisation in the region that a new Brit was in their midst. Thankfully I wasn’t told that until I was about to leave. The speech went well and I then had the best part of a day to myself. I had been told I wasn’t to set foot outside the hotel without ringing the embassy and getting their permission and a guard.
They provided me with a driver for a visit I wanted to make to the port area. I was shown round by the port manager whose English was only slightly worse than my French. They were still trying to clear the harbour area of wreckage so the port could start to function again properly. I suspect the explosion has meant they will have to start all over again. Given Lebanon is a country that relies entirely in imports, they will need to get the port up and running pretty quickly.
On the way back I tried to ask my driver where I could buy some souvenirs. Feeling quite proud of myself for making myself understood in French I was horrified when I found him driving off the main road through some backstreets. He understood I needed to change some dollars but the first place we went to couldn’t do it. I then found myself walking down the main shopping street in Beirut behind this man feeling rather conspicuous in my western suit. All eyes were on me – well at least I thought they were. I changed some money and bought a few vases and then scarpered back to the hotel.
But the best part of the trip was about to happen. A man from the organisers of the conference asked if I would like a tour of the countryside surrounding Beirut. I said I didn’t think the Embassy would allow me to, but I let myself be persuaded (the follies of youth) and spent the next two hours in his company being drive round the mountains and valleys that surround Beirut, including the famous Bekaa valley. He even took me to meet his family.
It really was a trip that will be forever etched into my memory. I was utterly stupid and irresponsible to go. But I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.