conservativehome--2020-07-01--Calling Conservatives: New public appointments announced. Non-Executive Directors at the Scottish Na

Calling Conservatives: New public appointments announced. Non-Executive Directors at the Scottish National Investment Bank – 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 .
“ IE : UK is a joint industry and government partnership , strategically targeting major infrastructure export opportunities around the world .
It is supported by DIT ’ s network of local staff in 116 markets , with the objective of identifying , pursuing , and delivering major strategic infrastructure projects through a consortium-led approach .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to increase UK infrastructure exports and identify gaps in the UK supply chain for FDI to fill .
The IE : UK Board is co-chaired by DIT ‘ s Minister for Exports and a senior industry leader .
The Industry sector co-Chair will benefit from working closely with the Minister for Exports and leading UK based infrastructure companies to help shape the direction of UK export policy and support within the infrastructure sector.
” “ The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care is looking to make two Non-Executive Director ( NED @ @ @ @ @ @ @ England leads the National Health Service in England and sets its priorities and direction .
It is responsible for arranging the provision of health services and for more than £150 billion of funds .
The primary role of Non-Executive Directors is , as a team , to lead in developing the strategy for , and overseeing the work of NHS England by participating fully in the work of the board , both in the context of the board meetings themselves , and more widely .
Non-Executive Directors also play a part in representing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Executive , the Chair and the wider Executive team.
” “ Do you want to play a key role in helping to shape the future of migration issues and support the interests of UK residents ?
If so , you can do this by becoming a Member of the Migration Advisory Committee ( MAC ) .
The MAC advises the government on a range of migration policy issues , offering independent evidence-based advice , and its core statement of purpose is to : deliver high quality evidence-based , economics focused , reports and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan set by the Government ; and help ensure that Government policy and strategy in relation to migration and employment is based on the best possible evidence and analysis .
To date the advice of the Committee has included impacts of migration ; annual limits on , and the design of , Tiers 1 and 2 of the Points-Based System ; and transitional labour market access for nationals of new EU member states.
” “ Non-Executive Directors provide a key role in the strategic and operational leadership of the Northern Ireland Office .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ experience of Government Ministers and officials by bringing independent advice , support , constructive challenge and a fresh external perspective to help shape a department ’ s work .
To complement the existing balance of skills on the Northern Ireland Office Departmental Board and to ensure that it can provide expert advice to Ministers on a wide range of issues and challenges , we would particularly welcome applications from people with experience in the business and commercial sector.
” “ The Scottish National Investment Bank Act ( ‘ the Act ’ ) received @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the way to establish the Bank as a public limited company and public body accountable to Scottish Ministers who own and set its strategic missions .
The Act sets out how the Bank should operate in order to meet missions which will be set by Scottish Ministers as the sole-shareholder .
In response to these missions the Bank is required to develop an Investment Strategy which will help create and shape future markets , spark innovation and tackle socio-economic challenges in Scotland .
Additionally , the Bank will have a key role to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ post Covid-19.
” Time : Up to 25 days per annum .
“ The chair is responsible for leading and managing the Panel .
They must lead development and implementation of a strategic vision for the Panel and ensure the reviews under their supervision identify improvements safeguarding partners or others should make to better safeguard and promote the welfare of children…Successful applicants will demonstrate the ability to : provide strong strategic leadership ; chair high level meetings ; effectively manage team dynamics and maintain the confidence of others , including child safeguarding professionals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right candidate will also demonstrate a strong understanding of multi-agency child safeguarding arrangements , policy and frontline delivery .
”

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.
– – – – – – – – – –
Infrastructure Exports:UK – Board co-Chair
“IE:UK is a joint industry and government partnership, strategically targeting major infrastructure export opportunities around the world. It is supported by DIT’s network of local staff in 116 markets, with the objective of identifying, pursuing, and delivering major strategic infrastructure projects through a consortium-led approach. The objective of IE:UK is to increase UK infrastructure exports and identify gaps in the UK supply chain for FDI to fill. The IE:UK Board is co-chaired by DIT‘s Minister for Exports and a senior industry leader. The Industry sector co-Chair will benefit from working closely with the Minister for Exports and leading UK based infrastructure companies to help shape the direction of UK export policy and support within the infrastructure sector.”
Time: 3-4 meetings a year.
Remuneration: None.
Closes: 29 June
– – – – – – – – – –
NHS England – Non-Executive Directors
“The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care is looking to make two Non-Executive Director (NED) appointments to NHS England. NHS England leads the National Health Service in England and sets its priorities and direction. It is responsible for arranging the provision of health services and for more than £150 billion of funds. The primary role of Non-Executive Directors is, as a team, to lead in developing the strategy for, and overseeing the work of NHS England by participating fully in the work of the board, both in the context of the board meetings themselves, and more widely. Non-Executive Directors also play a part in representing NHS England externally, alongside the Chief Executive, the Chair and the wider Executive team.”
Time: 2-3 days per month.
Remuneration: £7,883 (£13,137) per annum.
Closes: 02 July
– – – – – – – – – –
Migration Advisory Committee – Members
“Do you want to play a key role in helping to shape the future of migration issues and support the interests of UK residents? If so, you can do this by becoming a Member of the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC). The MAC advises the government on a range of migration policy issues, offering independent evidence-based advice, and its core statement of purpose is to: deliver high quality evidence-based, economics focused, reports and policy advice in accordance with the work plan set by the Government; and help ensure that Government policy and strategy in relation to migration and employment is based on the best possible evidence and analysis. To date the advice of the Committee has included impacts of migration; annual limits on, and the design of, Tiers 1 and 2 of the Points-Based System; and transitional labour market access for nationals of new EU member states.”
Time: “An initial term of three years.”
Remuneration: £275 per diem.
Closes: 06 July
– – – – – – – – – –
Northern Ireland Office – Non-Executive Director
“Non-Executive Directors provide a key role in the strategic and operational leadership of the Northern Ireland Office. They complement the balance of skills and experience of Government Ministers and officials by bringing independent advice, support, constructive challenge and a fresh external perspective to help shape a department’s work. To complement the existing balance of skills on the Northern Ireland Office Departmental Board and to ensure that it can provide expert advice to Ministers on a wide range of issues and challenges, we would particularly welcome applications from people with experience in the business and commercial sector.”
Time: Approx. 10 days per annum.
Remuneration: £7,500 per annum plus expenses.
Closes: 10 July
– – – – – – – – – –
Scottish National Investment Bank – Non-Executive Directors
“The Scottish National Investment Bank Act (‘the Act’) received Royal Assent in February 2020, paving the way to establish the Bank as a public limited company and public body accountable to Scottish Ministers who own and set its strategic missions. The Act sets out how the Bank should operate in order to meet missions which will be set by Scottish Ministers as the sole-shareholder. In response to these missions the Bank is required to develop an Investment Strategy which will help create and shape future markets, spark innovation and tackle socio-economic challenges in Scotland. Additionally, the Bank will have a key role to play in Scotland’s emerging economy post Covid-19.”
Time: Up to 25 days per annum.
Remuneration: £21,250 per annum.
Closes: 24 July
– – – – – – – – – –
Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel – Chair
“The chair is responsible for leading and managing the Panel. They must lead development and implementation of a strategic vision for the Panel and ensure the reviews under their supervision identify improvements safeguarding partners or others should make to better safeguard and promote the welfare of children…Successful applicants will demonstrate the ability to: provide strong strategic leadership; chair high level meetings; effectively manage team dynamics and maintain the confidence of others, including child safeguarding professionals, Ministers and the public. The right candidate will also demonstrate a strong understanding of multi-agency child safeguarding arrangements, policy and frontline delivery.”
Time: 6-8 days per month.
Remuneration: £500 per diem.
Closes: 31 July


conservativehome--2020-07-01--There’s no good reason why Frost shouldn’t serve as National Security Adviser

It is a thoroughly good thing when ex-Prime Ministers stay in the Commons , as Theresa May has , to give their fellow MPs the benefit of their views , knowledge and experience – that last being , as Oscar Wilde once put it , “ the name we give our mistakes ” .
Parliament is the poorer for not having John Major , Tony Blair , Gordon Brown and David Cameron in place – perhaps because they are unwilling , understandably enough , to declare their interests , and then see them prodded and poked by a not always @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Theresa May should be praised for following in the footsteps of Edward Heath , who stayed an MP after leaving Downing Street in 1974 , remaining in the Commons for the best part of 25 years .
Though in the course of that time he was sometimes described as “ the incredible sulk ” , a fate she will doubtless avoid .
On which point , her intervention in the Commons yesterday , about David Frost ’ s appointment as National Security Adviser , was explosive but not necessarily right .
Let me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Director of Policy Exchange , for reminding me of part of my own story .
During the run-up to the 2010 general election , I served on Cameron ’ s front bench as part of the pantomine horse tasked with integration and security policy .
Eric Pickles led the integration end , assisted by Sayeeda Warsi in the Lords and me in a more junior role in the Commons .
The security end was led by David Davis .
Which was the front end of the horse and which the back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was supported by no less a person than the redoubtable Pauline Neville-Jones , who had been appointed as David Cameron ’ s National Security Adviser .
Neville Jones had been a civil servant , but was one no longer – obviously , or she wouldn ’ t have been able to serve an Opposition Party .
In other words , she was , like Frost , a political appointment .
And she was set to take up the post in government on the same basis .
That didn ’ t happen for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had little if anything to do with her no longer being a civil servant .
This slice of history is a reminder that the American-style title of National Security Adviser is relatively new .
And in the United States , of course , political appointments are the rule rather than the exception .
There ’ s no reason why it should necessarily be different here .
The wall between political and diplomact appointments is sometimes vaulted – as when Jim Callaghan sent Peter Jay to Washington as Ambassador or , more recently , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Staff , Ed Llewellyn , was dispatched in the same capacity to Paris .
I don ’ t remember Llewellyn ’ s appointment creating waves .
Then again , he was a Remainer before and during the EU referendum whereas Frost was not .
Could this explain why some of the protests about the latter ’ s appointment are made so passionately ?
May would say not – claiming yesterday that Frost has “ no proven expertise in national security ” .
And , certainly , he has less experience in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minister ’ s former Permanent Secretary at the Home Office , who eventually followed her to Downing Street , and to whom she is clearly committed .
Sedwill was Ambassador in Afghanistan , then NATO ’ s Senior Civilian Representative there , then the Foreign Office ’ s Director-General for Afghanistan and Pakistan and also its the Director-General , Political .
But hang on a moment .
Sedwill has three predecessors as National Security Adviser .
What about them ?
Peter Ricketts , the first holder of the post , was the Permanent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Joint Intelligence Committee .
Fair enough .
But Kim Darroch , the second , was essentially an EU specialist – eventually serving as Permanent Representative , i.e Ambassador , to the European Union .
Mark Lyall Grant , the third , was the Foreign Office ’ s Director General for Political Affairs before becoming Ambassador to the United Nations .
That former post will have left him familiar with the world of spookdom .
But so will Frost ’ s experience as Director of the Foreign Office ’ s Policy Planning Staff .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ across security issues as Boris Johnson ’ s leading policy SpAd when the latter was Foreign Secretary .
Did Darroch really have more “ proven security expertise ” on appointment as National Security Adviser than Frost ?
Britain is not the only country to be restructuring its national security system in response to what is proving not to be “ the end of history ” but the revival of ideology – be it communist in China or Islamist elsewhere ( including , in case anyone had forgotten , here ) .
Then there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as part of Global Britain – foreshadowed by his speech on the EU earlier this year – Frost is going to be much the most high profile holder of the National Security Adviser post .
He is going to be a super Ambassador , a direct emissary for the Prime Minister ” .
But perhaps we should all take a step backwards from comparing CVs , and simply ask ourselves who has a record of delivering for Britain .
With all due respect to the former Prime Minister , her version of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the lead , failed to pass the Commons three times .
The variant negotiated with Frost in place actually won MPs ’ support before last December ’ s election .
The EU Withdrawal Bill of which it was the centrepiece gained Second Reading , though the Government lost the timetable motion which came with it .
And of course Brexit itself , with the Johnson/Frost Withdrawal Agreement in place , has now happened .
Is it really so bad to appoint a National Security who actually believes in it – and who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minister elected by a thumping majority only last December ?

It is a thoroughly good thing when ex-Prime Ministers stay in the Commons, as Theresa May has, to give their fellow MPs the benefit of their views, knowledge and experience – that last being, as Oscar Wilde once put it, “the name we give our mistakes”.
Parliament is the poorer for not having John Major, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and David Cameron in place – perhaps because they are unwilling, understandably enough, to declare their interests, and then see them prodded and poked by a not always kindly media.
At any rate, Theresa May should be praised for following in the footsteps of Edward Heath, who stayed an MP after leaving Downing Street in 1974, remaining in the Commons for the best part of 25 years. Though in the course of that time he was sometimes described as “the incredible sulk”, a fate she will doubtless avoid.
On which point, her intervention in the Commons yesterday, about David Frost’s appointment as National Security Adviser, was explosive but not necessarily right. Let me begin explaining why by thanking Dean Godson, the Director of Policy Exchange, for reminding me of part of my own story.
During the run-up to the 2010 general election, I served on Cameron’s front bench as part of the pantomine horse tasked with integration and security policy. Eric Pickles led the integration end, assisted by Sayeeda Warsi in the Lords and me in a more junior role in the Commons.
The security end was led by David Davis. Which was the front end of the horse and which the back you must judge for yourself, but he was supported by no less a person than the redoubtable Pauline Neville-Jones, who had been appointed as David Cameron’s National Security Adviser.
Neville Jones had been a civil servant, but was one no longer – obviously, or she wouldn’t have been able to serve an Opposition Party. In other words, she was, like Frost, a political appointment. And she was set to take up the post in government on the same basis.
That didn’t happen for a variety of reasons – but they had little if anything to do with her no longer being a civil servant. This slice of history is a reminder that the American-style title of National Security Adviser is relatively new. And in the United States, of course, political appointments are the rule rather than the exception.
There’s no reason why it should necessarily be different here. The wall between political and diplomact appointments is sometimes vaulted – as when Jim Callaghan sent Peter Jay to Washington as Ambassador or, more recently, when David Cameron’s former Chief of Staff, Ed Llewellyn, was dispatched in the same capacity to Paris.
I don’t remember Llewellyn’s appointment creating waves. Then again, he was a Remainer before and during the EU referendum whereas Frost was not. Could this explain why some of the protests about the latter’s appointment are made so passionately?
May would say not – claiming yesterday that Frost has “no proven expertise in national security”. And, certainly, he has less experience in the field than Mark Sedwill, the ex-Prime Minister’s former Permanent Secretary at the Home Office, who eventually followed her to Downing Street, and to whom she is clearly committed.
Sedwill was Ambassador in Afghanistan, then NATO’s Senior Civilian Representative there, then the Foreign Office’s Director-General for Afghanistan and Pakistan and also its the Director-General, Political. But hang on a moment. Sedwill has three predecessors as National Security Adviser. What about them?
Peter Ricketts, the first holder of the post, was the Permanent Representative to NATO and Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee. Fair enough. But Kim Darroch, the second, was essentially an EU specialist – eventually serving as Permanent Representative, i.e Ambassador, to the European Union.
Mark Lyall Grant, the third, was the Foreign Office’s Director General for Political Affairs before becoming Ambassador to the United Nations. That former post will have left him familiar with the world of spookdom. But so will Frost’s experience as Director of the Foreign Office’s Policy Planning Staff.
He will also have had to be across security issues as Boris Johnson’s leading policy SpAd when the latter was Foreign Secretary. Did Darroch really have more “proven security expertise” on appointment as National Security Adviser than Frost?
Britain is not the only country to be restructuring its national security system in response to what is proving not to be “the end of history” but the revival of ideology – be it communist in China or Islamist elsewhere (including, in case anyone had forgotten, here). Then there is Russia.
Godson says that “as part of Global Britain – foreshadowed by his speech on the EU earlier this year – Frost is going to be much the most high profile holder of the National Security Adviser post. He is going to be a super Ambassador, a direct emissary for the Prime Minister”.
But perhaps we should all take a step backwards from comparing CVs, and simply ask ourselves who has a record of delivering for Britain. With all due respect to the former Prime Minister, her version of the Withdrawal Agreement, negotiated with Olly Robbins in the lead, failed to pass the Commons three times.
The variant negotiated with Frost in place actually won MPs’ support before last December’s election. The EU Withdrawal Bill of which it was the centrepiece gained Second Reading, though the Government lost the timetable motion which came with it.
And of course Brexit itself, with the Johnson/Frost Withdrawal Agreement in place, has now happened. Is it really so bad to appoint a National Security who actually believes in it – and who has the full confidence of a Prime Minister elected by a thumping majority only last December?


conservativehome--2020-07-01--Luke Evans: My Coronavirus report from near the Leicester lockdown front line

Dr Luke Evans is a member of the Health Select Committee , and is MP for Bosworth .
As I sit down to write this week ’ s column I hope that you will excuse it ’ s slightly erratic nature and its stream of consciousness tone .
Forgive me .
As a Leicestershire MP , the last 48 hours have been taken over by the news of the Government ’ s local lockdown of Leicester and , at first , considering the approach which should be taken should any of my own Bosworth constituency be included in the lockdown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may have to take locally now we know that we are not .
Over the weekend , rumours started circulating in the media that ‘ Leicester ’ might become subject to the first localised lockdown since the imposition of Coronavirus legislation .
There is a cluster of outbreaks – which must be taken seriously .
Like many cities , ‘ Leicester ’ is quite difficult to accurately define .
Did rumours relate solely to the local government area that is the ‘ City of Leicester ’ , or could it include the suburbs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which are covered by Leicestershire County Council ’ s jurisdiction , and of course the constituencies of our seven Conservative MPs ?
I set out on Monday morning to do my due diligence by speaking with regional public health leads , our chief constable and the chair of our local resilience forum , to get the actual facts on the ground .
During the day , it became increasing clear that a local lockdown would be imposed imminently , and I was invited to a Zoom call with other Leicestershire MPs , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the County Council , Dido Harding , senior leaders in Public Health England and Nadine Dorries , the Health Minister .
During the course of that conversation , it became quickly apparent that the data is worrying enough in Leicester to make a local lockdown was inevitable ; with an R rate stubbornly stuck at one , it was clear that , unless something was done now , this outbreak could get considerably out of hand…and quickly .
To be safe , lockdown would include parts of the county – potentially including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Coronavirus are showing a marked national trend downwards , it is obvious that this isn ’ t the case in parts of Leicester .
Nationally , for every 100 people tested for Covid-19 – that is those displaying symptoms – two receive positive tests ; in Leicester , that figure increases to ten .
Leicester now accounts for 10 per cent of Covid-19 admissions nationally and , crucially , the trend is not downwards .
Clearly , it is important that we understand why the trends in Leicester are so different from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in agreement that it is not due to the national release of lockdown ( otherwise you would expect hot spots popping up all across the country ) , so something else must be going on .
At this point , the uptick appears multifactorial , and plenty of work is going on to establish categorically what these factors are , but right now our focus is much more about practicalities and what to do .
How do we guarantee health safety , effective enforcement of lockdown , protecting businesses and support for livelihoods @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this to the public , preventing spread and make best use of shared working ?
Questions like these all immediately sprung to mind , and were evidently shared by all fellow MPs on the call .
Post-meeting , it was straight onto a statement from the Health Secretary , and then my first step was to speak with members of my team with a plan , followed by courtesy calls to councillors whose wards and divisions were likely to be affected and local leaders .
I ’ m very conscious that an MP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I very much rely on my team and local activists .
I said in my maiden speech that healthcare taught me that “ empowering those who can and helping those who can ’ t ” is critical ; this situation ably demonstrated this again .
In the wake of the Secretary of State ’ s statement , as you might expect , calls continued well into the night .
Yesterday morning started with a very early meeting with the Health Minister and Leicestershire MPs to digest the news , update and then talk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ further questions come to forefront .
With worried residents , particularly those living in the city commuter belt , it would have been preferable if a map of the lockdown area had been produced far quicker than it actually was .
There are many questions about how we can prevent those living in the lockdown area from visiting areas , including my own , where restrictions are being lifted this weekend .
Government was clear it was for local decision makers to decide the extent of the boundary , given that they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and how communities function in real life not just on a map .
( The map is not the territory coming through here from last week ! )
Ultimately , I see my role as being that of an honest broker in a fluid situation .
I ’ m determined not to put information out because I want to be first with the news , but rather believe it is best to wait until updates are properly verified .
Instead , what are the worries of my constituents both regarding their safety and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do my best to secure both .
Over the course of yesterday , I had further meetings and calls with officials from the Department of Health , Home Office , Treasury and local leaders from the police , council and LRF , to name but a few .
Like any emergency situation faced , you want to deliver clear , accurate information , even if that maybe no further news , that is an imperative .
The situation reminds me of my early days as an A & E doctor .
The relatives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want updates quickly , yet medical uncertainty about how the patient will respond is difficult , added to which the demands of my bosses might be altogether different ; but at the end of the day you can lay out what you know , what you are doing and why , and how you expect the poorly person to respond .
The outbreak in Leicester city is no different….now we have two weeks to watch for signs of response , and I will continue to be communicating them to my constituents , working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the best outcome ; a safe time to return the easing of lockdown .

Dr Luke Evans is a member of the Health Select Committee, and is MP for Bosworth.
As I sit down to write this week’s column I hope that you will excuse it’s slightly erratic nature and its stream of consciousness tone. Forgive me.
As a Leicestershire MP, the last 48 hours have been taken over by the news of the Government’s local lockdown of Leicester and, at first, considering the approach which should be taken should any of my own Bosworth constituency be included in the lockdown area; and subsequently what steps we may have to take locally now we know that we are not.
Over the weekend, rumours started circulating in the media that ‘Leicester’ might become subject to the first localised lockdown since the imposition of Coronavirus legislation. There is a cluster of outbreaks – which must be taken seriously.
Like many cities, ‘Leicester’ is quite difficult to accurately define. Did rumours relate solely to the local government area that is the ‘City of Leicester’, or could it include the suburbs which stretch out towards the rural areas which are covered by Leicestershire County Council’s jurisdiction, and of course the constituencies of our seven Conservative MPs?
I set out on Monday morning to do my due diligence by speaking with regional public health leads, our chief constable and the chair of our local resilience forum, to get the actual facts on the ground.
During the day, it became increasing clear that a local lockdown would be imposed imminently, and I was invited to a Zoom call with other Leicestershire MPs, the elected Mayor of Leicester, the Leader of the County Council, Dido Harding, senior leaders in Public Health England and Nadine Dorries, the Health Minister.
During the course of that conversation, it became quickly apparent that the data is worrying enough in Leicester to make a local lockdown was inevitable; with an R rate stubbornly stuck at one, it was clear that, unless something was done now, this outbreak could get considerably out of hand…and quickly. To be safe, lockdown would include parts of the county – potentially including my own constituency.
Although incidents of Coronavirus are showing a marked national trend downwards, it is obvious that this isn’t the case in parts of Leicester. Nationally, for every 100 people tested for Covid-19 – that is those displaying symptoms – two receive positive tests; in Leicester, that figure increases to ten.
Leicester now accounts for 10 per cent of Covid-19 admissions nationally and, crucially, the trend is not downwards.
Clearly, it is important that we understand why the trends in Leicester are so different from the national ones. The health specialists were in agreement that it is not due to the national release of lockdown (otherwise you would expect hot spots popping up all across the country), so something else must be going on.
At this point, the uptick appears multifactorial, and plenty of work is going on to establish categorically what these factors are, but right now our focus is much more about practicalities and what to do.
How do we guarantee health safety, effective enforcement of lockdown, protecting businesses and support for livelihoods? How do we communicate all of this to the public, preventing spread and make best use of shared working?
Questions like these all immediately sprung to mind, and were evidently shared by all fellow MPs on the call.
Post-meeting, it was straight onto a statement from the Health Secretary, and then my first step was to speak with members of my team with a plan, followed by courtesy calls to councillors whose wards and divisions were likely to be affected and local leaders.
I’m very conscious that an MP never works on their own, and I very much rely on my team and local activists. I said in my maiden speech that healthcare taught me that “empowering those who can and helping those who can’t” is critical; this situation ably demonstrated this again.
In the wake of the Secretary of State’s statement, as you might expect, calls continued well into the night.
Yesterday morning started with a very early meeting with the Health Minister and Leicestershire MPs to digest the news, update and then talk about practicalities.
As Tuesday progressed, further questions come to forefront.
With worried residents, particularly those living in the city commuter belt, it would have been preferable if a map of the lockdown area had been produced far quicker than it actually was. There are many questions about how we can prevent those living in the lockdown area from visiting areas, including my own, where restrictions are being lifted this weekend.
Government was clear it was for local decision makers to decide the extent of the boundary, given that they are best placed to know natural geography, and how communities function in real life not just on a map. (The map is not the territory coming through here from last week!)
Ultimately, I see my role as being that of an honest broker in a fluid situation. I’m determined not to put information out because I want to be first with the news, but rather believe it is best to wait until updates are properly verified.
Instead, what are the worries of my constituents both regarding their safety and their livelihoods? My job is to do my best to secure both.
Over the course of yesterday, I had further meetings and calls with officials from the Department of Health, Home Office, Treasury and local leaders from the police, council and LRF, to name but a few.
Like any emergency situation faced, you want to deliver clear, accurate information, even if that maybe no further news, that is an imperative.
The situation reminds me of my early days as an A&E doctor. The relatives of a very sick patient will always want updates quickly, yet medical uncertainty about how the patient will respond is difficult, added to which the demands of my bosses might be altogether different; but at the end of the day you can lay out what you know, what you are doing and why, and how you expect the poorly person to respond.
The outbreak in Leicester city is no different….now we have two weeks to watch for signs of response, and I will continue to be communicating them to my constituents, working with all the teams involved to get the best outcome; a safe time to return the easing of lockdown.


conservativehome--2020-07-01--Robert Halfon: Johnson delivers for the workers but Starmer could win back their votes

Robert Halfon is MP for Harlow , a former Conservative Party Deputy Chairman , Chair of the Education Select Committee and President of Conservative Workers and Trade Unionists .
I think readers of ConservativeHome will know my columns well enough by now that when I want the Conservative Government to be better , I am not afraid to say it .
But it is also important to dance a jig or two , when they get it right .
Yesterday ’ s speech by the Prime Minister was a blue-collar speech in tooth and claw .
When he said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s priorities , he really meant it .
For communities like mine in Harlow , and no doubt those in and around the blue wall , there will be a sigh of relief that there is no return to austerity , that the NHS is King , that schools and colleges will be better funded and housing and infrastructure will be built across our land .
Above all , we now have an extraordinary and exciting offering to our young people – an opportunity guarantee , comprising a choice between an apprenticeship or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ real policy that could make a difference to winning back younger voters as well .
The reason why this Boris Johnson speech was so important was not just the significant policy content , but because it set the direction of travel for the Conservative administration .
After a few rocky weeks seemingly being bogged down in the Coronavirus mire , the Prime Minister is back on the front foot , setting out a Tory Workers ’ agenda , that millions of lower income workers not only relate to , but can also get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why they voted for us again .
Of course , saying that we are going to ‘ build , build , build ’ is easier than the building itself , but now the course/trajectory/path has been set , it is up to the rest of the Government to start constructing our New Jerusalem .
Patrick O ’ Flynn was one of the early media forefathers ( and proponents ) of blue-collar conservatism , way back in the days when Notting Hill was regarded as the preferred venue of the Tory éminence grise – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was yesterday .
So , he is someone worth reading up on or listening to .
However , his recent article for The Spectator entitled , ‘ Starmer is stuffed , filled me with absolute horror , because his line of argument , if accepted , would instill a large dollop of complacency in every Conservative .
In O ’ Flynn ’ s view , Starmer ’ s history and background , his inability to develop blue-collar policy , the cultural wars and the Tories ’ reputation for economic competency , means everything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If we , as Conservatives , believe the above to be true , that way disaster lies ; not only will we lose our majority at worst , or have a hung parliament at best , but our historic red wall gains in the North will crumble away .
Let me set out a few reasons why : First , Keir Starmer is radically de-Corbynising the Labour Party – almost by stealth and under the cover of coronavirus .
Almost all the way through the Shadow frontbench , from PPS ’ to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If you look at the calibre of Labour MPs – like Shadow Business Minister , Lucy Powell , or Shadow Home Secretary , Nick Thomas Symonds – you know that the Labour leader is being serious when he wants to present an alternative Government .
Meanwhile , the NEC and Labour General Secretary are passing into the hands of social democrats , rather than the far left .
Second , whilst Starmer may not have had his Clause IV with the sacking of Rebecca Long-Bailey , it is certainly a Clause 0.4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has shown the British public that he will not tolerate the anti-semitism that has so infected his party over the past few years – and given a pretty sure signal that he wants to enter the doors of 10 Downing Street .
The idea that the public will care about Starmer ’ s past record as Director of Public Prosecutions is as fanciful as voters being negatively influenced by Johnson going to Eton , or his early and controversial newspaper columns .
Third , never underestimate the power of Labour .
Their message @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is enduring , still popular and extremely potent .
They are not going to sit back and let the Tories rule for eternity .
The psephological evidence shows that public opinion is leaning closer and closer towards Starmer for Prime Minister .
The latest Opinium poll shows that Starmer is preferred to lead the country by 37 per cent of voters , compared with 35 per cent who back Johnson .
While the Conservatives remain four points ahead of their opposition on 43 per cent to Labour ’ s 39 per cent , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per cent in February and early March , when Jeremy Corbyn was leader .
Scaling the Tory wall is far from insurmountable .
Fourth , on policy : Just because Starmer is a ‘ metropolitan ’ does not mean that his policies will be ‘ metropolitan ’ , too .
His Policy Chief is Claire Ainsley , who wrote an important book , The New Working Class : How to Win Hearts , Minds and Votes .
If her views , alongside those of a more communitarian nature as proposed by thoughtful Labour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dagenham ( with whom Johnson ’ s former Political Secretary , my colleague Danny Kruger , is collaborating on big society policy development ) , or Maurice Glasman , then they could actually have an exciting message to the public , winning minds as well as hearts .
If Tories are busy painting flags on planes , or building Royal Yachts , or shooting ourselves in the foot as we are wont to do on a regular basis – whether it be on free school meals or the NHS surcharge – and Labour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , skills and genuinely affordable housing , I think it is pretty clear voters are going to be looking at the Labour offering , once again .
Having said that , if we come up with more of the blue-collar narrative , I set out in the first part of this article , alongside significant tax cuts for the lower paid , then perhaps O ’ Flynn could be on to something .
I just wish he wouldn ’ t say it , nor any other right-thinking individual .
Conservatives have to take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a majority of one , and remember that the political left want the Tories gone , and will stop at nothing to kick them out of Downing Street .

Robert Halfon is MP for Harlow, a former Conservative Party Deputy Chairman, Chair of the Education Select Committee and President of Conservative Workers and Trade Unionists.
Blue-Collar Boris
I think readers of ConservativeHome will know my columns well enough by now that when I want the Conservative Government to be better, I am not afraid to say it. But it is also important to dance a jig or two, when they get it right.
Yesterday’s speech by the Prime Minister was a blue-collar speech in tooth and claw. When he said that he would focus on the people’s priorities, he really meant it.
For communities like mine in Harlow, and no doubt those in and around the blue wall, there will be a sigh of relief that there is no return to austerity, that the NHS is King, that schools and colleges will be better funded and housing and infrastructure will be built across our land.
Above all, we now have an extraordinary and exciting offering to our young people – an opportunity guarantee, comprising a choice between an apprenticeship or a work placement. This is a real policy that could make a difference to winning back younger voters as well.
The reason why this Boris Johnson speech was so important was not just the significant policy content, but because it set the direction of travel for the Conservative administration. After a few rocky weeks seemingly being bogged down in the Coronavirus mire, the Prime Minister is back on the front foot, setting out a Tory Workers’ agenda, that millions of lower income workers not only relate to, but can also get behind.
They have been reminded of why they voted for us again. Of course, saying that we are going to ‘build, build, build’ is easier than the building itself, but now the course/trajectory/path has been set, it is up to the rest of the Government to start constructing our New Jerusalem.
Starmer unstuffed
Patrick O’Flynn was one of the early media forefathers (and proponents) of blue-collar conservatism, way back in the days when Notting Hill was regarded as the preferred venue of the Tory éminence grise – a little unlike Dudley, where Johnson was yesterday. So, he is someone worth reading up on or listening to.
However, his recent article for The Spectator entitled, ‘Starmer is stuffed, filled me with absolute horror, because his line of argument, if accepted, would instill a large dollop of complacency in every Conservative.
In O’Flynn’s view, Starmer’s history and background, his inability to develop blue-collar policy, the cultural wars and the Tories’ reputation for economic competency, means everything will be alright on the night.
If we, as Conservatives, believe the above to be true, that way disaster lies; not only will we lose our majority at worst, or have a hung parliament at best, but our historic red wall gains in the North will crumble away.
Let me set out a few reasons why:
First, Keir Starmer is radically de-Corbynising the Labour Party – almost by stealth and under the cover of coronavirus. Almost all the way through the Shadow frontbench, from PPS’ to the Shadow Cabinet, moderates are being promoted. If you look at the calibre of Labour MPs – like Shadow Business Minister, Lucy Powell, or Shadow Home Secretary, Nick Thomas Symonds – you know that the Labour leader is being serious when he wants to present an alternative Government. Meanwhile, the NEC and Labour General Secretary are passing into the hands of social democrats, rather than the far left.
Second, whilst Starmer may not have had his Clause IV with the sacking of Rebecca Long-Bailey, it is certainly a Clause 0.4. In one fell swoop, Starmer has shown the British public that he will not tolerate the anti-semitism that has so infected his party over the past few years – and given a pretty sure signal that he wants to enter the doors of 10 Downing Street.
The idea that the public will care about Starmer’s past record as Director of Public Prosecutions is as fanciful as voters being negatively influenced by Johnson going to Eton, or his early and controversial newspaper columns.
Third, never underestimate the power of Labour. Their message of helping the underdog and the poor is enduring, still popular and extremely potent. They are not going to sit back and let the Tories rule for eternity. The psephological evidence shows that public opinion is leaning closer and closer towards Starmer for Prime Minister.
The latest Opinium poll shows that Starmer is preferred to lead the country by 37 per cent of voters, compared with 35 per cent who back Johnson. While the Conservatives remain four points ahead of their opposition on 43 per cent to Labour’s 39 per cent, the gap has closed from over 20 per cent in February and early March, when Jeremy Corbyn was leader. Scaling the Tory wall is far from insurmountable.
Fourth, on policy: Just because Starmer is a ‘metropolitan’ does not mean that his policies will be ‘metropolitan’, too. His Policy Chief is Claire Ainsley, who wrote an important book, The New Working Class: How to Win Hearts, Minds and Votes.
If her views, alongside those of a more communitarian nature as proposed by thoughtful Labour thinkers like John Cruddas, MP for Dagenham (with whom Johnson’s former Political Secretary, my colleague Danny Kruger, is collaborating on big society policy development), or Maurice Glasman, then they could actually have an exciting message to the public, winning minds as well as hearts.
If Tories are busy painting flags on planes, or building Royal Yachts, or shooting ourselves in the foot as we are wont to do on a regular basis – whether it be on free school meals or the NHS surcharge – and Labour are focusing on the cost of living, skills and genuinely affordable housing, I think it is pretty clear voters are going to be looking at the Labour offering, once again.
Having said that, if we come up with more of the blue-collar narrative, I set out in the first part of this article, alongside significant tax cuts for the lower paid, then perhaps O’Flynn could be on to something.
I just wish he wouldn’t say it, nor any other right-thinking individual. Conservatives have to take the next few years as if we have a majority of one, and remember that the political left want the Tories gone, and will stop at nothing to kick them out of Downing Street.


conservativehome--2020-07-01--John Bald: Williamson is right. Pupils should sit in rows facing the teacher.

John Bald is a former Ofsted inspector and has written two books on the history of writing and spelling .
He is Vice President of the Conservative Education Society .
Gavin Williamson ’ s statement that school pupils should sit in rows facing the teacher and pay attention , was predictably denounced by progressives as ill-informed , authoritarian , and near-fascist .
Unfortunately for those who think he should be accountable to Twitter rather than Parliament , his view is correct , and supported not only by the results of schools such as West London Free , Michaela , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most recent evidence on the way the brain forms the neural networks that embody learning .
His point about coronavirus spreading more easily if children sit facing each other is important in current circumstances , but the evidence on concentration and learning is permanent , and validates the reforms to teaching and learning made by headteachers and Conservative ministers since the opening of Mossbourne in 2005 .
The most important source is the recent book How We Learn , by Professor Stanislas Dehaene , director of cognitive neuroimaging at the French national health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demonstrates by experiment that , from babyhood , we form working views and hypotheses about the world , which we modify when we encounter something that does not fit them .
This continues throughout life , and is consistent with much scientific activity as discussed in Thomas Kuhn ’ s The Structure of Scientific Revolutions .
An example is Galileo ’ s discovery of the movement of Jupiter ’ s moons , which was inconsistent with the notion that the universe revolved round the earth .
Dehaene sees the same process as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ computers are turned in on themselves to produce the same outcome , albeit less efficiently .
I ’ ve reviewed the book in detail here , and checked the review with the author .
Salient points are his endorsement of phonics as the basis of teaching reading in French as well as English – to establish the alphabetic principle , which is then modified to take account of the respective variations in each language – and the effect of focus and concentration on the development of neural networks .
We need , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close attention to the teacher , not to restore the former “ magisterial ” style , where the teacher simply dictated and pupils copied , but to stimulate brain activity and hence learning .
This is what the schools mentioned above set out to do , and the reason why their results have shot up .
For the Secretary of State to recommend that others adopt this successful approach is not ideology , but common sense .
The progressive “ blob ” , that still dominates teacher training in most – not quite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ignore brain research , as it does not fit their goal of using education as a means of reshaping society , beginning with mixed-ability teaching .
They would do better to put the evidence of brain research at the heart of their curriculum , and to investigate its application in each subject .
When this happens , the outcome is a happy and successful learning community in which issues of racism do not arise because the atmosphere of shared purpose and teamwork leaves no room for them .
As Katharine Birbalsingh put it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have seen my teachers on Monday .
They were so thrilled .
Everyone was beaming… One child who never smiles , and he beamed at me .
We were all so excited to be back , and it is , it is lovely to be in school….
” Michaela staff had been working flat out during lockdown , with Zoom lessons – NEU please note – and other online content , but this was not an adequate substitute for school .
“ Children , ” she said , “ build a relationship with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the year , and that relationship is so important to that child , working hard and delivering for their teacher.
” This is also her solution to the issue of race .
Britain , she says has perhaps only Canada as a competitor when it comes to “ the best country in the world to live in with regard to race , ” and this is one theme of her latest book , “ The Power of Culture ” .
Children at Michaela sing patriotic songs and recite poems precisely to emphasise their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in direct opposition to current campaigns that present them as victims .
In the ten years since she stood up at our Conference and told the truth about the disintegration of education in London schools , Birbalsingh has endured marginalisation and insult – “ Coconut ” perhaps the most predictable – and has felt that she was swimming upstream .
She is now so obviously correct that we may , to mix a metaphor , see the tide beginning to turn .
A footnote on the Huffington Post ’ s publication of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plans for September , including an apparent proposal to stop teaching some subjects .
This is not the way to proceed .
Focusing only on English , maths , and science will produce a boring grind , and not only for children whose interests lie in other directions .
A better approach , as exemplified in Alex Quigley ’ s books , Closing the Vocabulary Gap and Closing the Reading Gap , is to build literacy and clear thinking into everything a school does , maximising brain activity and using school to build @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parents develop in their children from birth .
Schools that do this – see this 2005 report on Gateway School , Marylebone – close the gap .
Those that don ’ t , perpetuate it .

John Bald is a former Ofsted inspector and has written two books on the history of writing and spelling. He is Vice President of the Conservative Education Society.
Gavin Williamson’s statement that school pupils should sit in rows facing the teacher and pay attention, was predictably denounced by progressives as ill-informed, authoritarian, and near-fascist. Unfortunately for those who think he should be accountable to Twitter rather than Parliament, his view is correct, and supported not only by the results of schools such as West London Free, Michaela, and the best academies, but by the most recent evidence on the way the brain forms the neural networks that embody learning. His point about coronavirus spreading more easily if children sit facing each other is important in current circumstances, but the evidence on concentration and learning is permanent, and validates the reforms to teaching and learning made by headteachers and Conservative ministers since the opening of Mossbourne in 2005.
The most important source is the recent book How We Learn, by Professor Stanislas Dehaene, director of cognitive neuroimaging at the French national health and scientific research institute INSERM. Dehaene demonstrates by experiment that, from babyhood, we form working views and hypotheses about the world, which we modify when we encounter something that does not fit them. This continues throughout life, and is consistent with much scientific activity as discussed in Thomas Kuhn’s The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. An example is Galileo’s discovery of the movement of Jupiter’s moons, which was inconsistent with the notion that the universe revolved round the earth. Dehaene sees the same process as the key to developing artificial intelligence, where computers are turned in on themselves to produce the same outcome, albeit less efficiently.
I’ve reviewed the book in detail here, and checked the review with the author. Salient points are his endorsement of phonics as the basis of teaching reading in French as well as English – to establish the alphabetic principle, which is then modified to take account of the respective variations in each language – and the effect of focus and concentration on the development of neural networks. We need, he says, to teach children to pay close attention to the teacher, not to restore the former “magisterial” style, where the teacher simply dictated and pupils copied, but to stimulate brain activity and hence learning. This is what the schools mentioned above set out to do, and the reason why their results have shot up. For the Secretary of State to recommend that others adopt this successful approach is not ideology, but common sense. The progressive “blob”, that still dominates teacher training in most – not quite all – universities does its best to ignore brain research, as it does not fit their goal of using education as a means of reshaping society, beginning with mixed-ability teaching. They would do better to put the evidence of brain research at the heart of their curriculum, and to investigate its application in each subject.
When this happens, the outcome is a happy and successful learning community in which issues of racism do not arise because the atmosphere of shared purpose and teamwork leaves no room for them.
As Katharine Birbalsingh put it on Any Questions:
“You should have seen my teachers on Monday. They were so thrilled. Everyone was beaming… One child who never smiles, and he beamed at me. We were all so excited to be back, and it is, it is lovely to be in school….”
Michaela staff had been working flat out during lockdown, with Zoom lessons – NEU please note – and other online content, but this was not an adequate substitute for school. “Children,” she said, “build a relationship with their teacher, that they have over the year, and that relationship is so important to that child, working hard and delivering for their teacher.”
This is also her solution to the issue of race. Britain, she says has perhaps only Canada as a competitor when it comes to “the best country in the world to live in with regard to race,” and this is one theme of her latest book, “The Power of Culture”. Children at Michaela sing patriotic songs and recite poems precisely to emphasise their full and active membership of society, in direct opposition to current campaigns that present them as victims. In the ten years since she stood up at our Conference and told the truth about the disintegration of education in London schools, Birbalsingh has endured marginalisation and insult – “Coconut” perhaps the most predictable – and has felt that she was swimming upstream. She is now so obviously correct that we may, to mix a metaphor, see the tide beginning to turn.
A footnote on the Huffington Post’s publication of a leaked draft of the DfE’s plans for September, including an apparent proposal to stop teaching some subjects. This is not the way to proceed. Focusing only on English, maths, and science will produce a boring grind, and not only for children whose interests lie in other directions. A better approach, as exemplified in Alex Quigley’s books, Closing the Vocabulary Gap and Closing the Reading Gap, is to build literacy and clear thinking into everything a school does, maximising brain activity and using school to build up the thinking power that highly educated parents develop in their children from birth. Schools that do this – see this 2005 report on Gateway School, Marylebone – close the gap. Those that don’t, perpetuate it.


conservativehome--2020-06-30--Black Lives Matter UK: Who are its organisers?

Yesterday , Keir Starmer made an important distinction during an interview with BBC Breakfast .
While he acknowledged that the Black Lives Movement had been about “ reflecting ” on the dreadful events in America , he regretted that it had become “ tangled up… with the organisation Black Lives Matter ” , a statement that he received equal doses of praise and backlash for .
What Starmer highlighted is that there ’ s a crucial difference between the statement “ black lives matter ” – which any decent human being agrees with – to “ Black Lives Matter ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But here it gets slightly more complicated , as the movement is largely “ non-hierarchical ” , making it harder for Starmer , and other leaders , to engage with its UK representatives .
What British groups do have in common is their inspiration : the American BLM movement , which was prompted by the acquittal of George Zimmerman after he fatally shot Trayvon Martin , an African American teenager walking to a family member ’ s house , in February 2012 .
This shocking event prompted Twitter users to form the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racial inequalities in the judicial and policing system – and it increasingly gained traction with the help of three activists , Patrisse Cullors , Alicia Garza and Opal Tometi , who encouraged the growth of networks and calls to action .
Despite the fact that the organisation is decentralised with no formal hierarchy , everyone knows who these founders are .
They regularly give interviews , with their biographies listed on the Black Lives Matter website , and people know their political views .
Cullors once described her and Garza as “ trained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sit at the table with President Trump who is “ literally the epitome of evil , all the evils of this country ” , singling out “ capitalism ” as one of them .
Given this level of political openness , people in the UK might want to hear from BLM leaders about their aims for this country , but it ’ s tricky as the movement is divided into many groups , such as Tribe Named Athari , Black Lives Matter Leeds , All Black Lives UK , and Black Lives Matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Named Athari has said it has no direct affiliation with .
Black Lives Matter UK , set up in 2016 , is arguably the most famous branch here , with 72.1k followers on Twitter ( at the time of writing ) .
In recent days , it gained prominence for criticising Israel on social media , and posting “ FREE PALESTINE ” , as well as attacking Starmer for his comments on defunding the police ( a goal of BLM US ) .
Though the group doesn ’ t have a website , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fund Me page , where it has raised £1 million .
Organisers state their aims are “ to dismantle imperialism , capitalism , white-supremacy , patriarchy and the state structures that disproportionately and systematically harm Black people in Britain and around the world.
” Although the group says it is endorsed by Patrisse Cullors , it refuses to name anyone else , posting : “ Amongst calls for transparency and demands to reveal the leadership behind BLM UK , we are currently dealing with emergency legal matters following last week ’ s protests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups .
This is a genuine threat to our safety ” .
So this appears to be the rationale for hidden identities .
Then there ’ s the website blacklivesmatter.uk ( BLMUK on Twitter – where it has 1,500 followers ) .
On its front page , it tells visitors that it is not connected to “ the activist coalition using : Twitter @ ukblm ” ( the branch mentioned above ) or the Instagram account @ blmuk , even going so far as to point out “ The UKBLM coalition do not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in its “ About us ” section , it writes : “ There are many independent activist groups across the UK who do and will not publicly identify themselves , nor having leadership or declare leadership , no office base or website to go to , preferring a small or for some a huge interest and following from profile statuses on social media platforms and some raise funds via gofundme , crowdfunding pages and alike.
” Another website is called the Black Lives Matter Movement , which explicitly states that it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( above ) .
It is founded by Gary McFarlane , an author on its site , who is a prominent member of the Socialist Workers Party .
On Russia Today , he said “ In all revolutionary situations statues are toppled and that ’ s a good sign for the future because we do need a revolution in this country and many others.
” The SWP has been accused before of trying to infiltrate Extinction Rebellion ( XR ) and the Labour Party , and some BLM representatives released a statement distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a socialist undercurrent to some of these movements ; indeed , Natalie Jeffers , founder of BLMUK , was quoted saying that we must fight “ capitalism with socialism ” and “ dedicate ourselves to revolutionary politic power ” .
But it ’ s hard to know the extent of this sentiment , due to how spread out the movement is .
Although all of these groups are fighting for the same broad cause – to end racism – the decentralised system could cause confusion around what policies they are proposing .
Whereas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which led to protesters doing their own thing – such as jumping on tube carriages , it arguably has more practical demands for the Government ( citizens ’ assemblies ) , compared to BLM ’ s ( US ) desire to “ disrupt the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure ” .
XR has also fielded representatives onto television , such as Skeena Rathor , the “ co-leader ” , as well as Zion Lights , a spokesperson .
The Hong Kong protests , too , though “ decentralised ” , have had Joshua Wong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ConservativeHome is aware , there has not been an equivalent spokesperson for BLM UK in this way .
Perhaps the closest is Imarn Ayton , an activist , who has demanded a meeting with Boris Johnson and called for the statue of Winston Churchill to be removed on Radio 4 .
Whether she is accepted as overall leader of the movement is less known , though .
Either way , with the movement growing in power in recent weeks , politicians – and TV producers – will increasingly want to know what ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Perhaps Andrew Neil is already gearing up for an interview .
But with no clear BLM UK leader , different funding levels for each group , and separate manifestos , it ’ s not obvious who will answer questions .

Yesterday, Keir Starmer made an important distinction during an interview with BBC Breakfast. While he acknowledged that the Black Lives Movement had been about “reflecting” on the dreadful events in America, he regretted that it had become “tangled up… with the organisation Black Lives Matter”, a statement that he received equal doses of praise and backlash for.
What Starmer highlighted is that there’s a crucial difference between the statement “black lives matter” – which any decent human being agrees with – to “Black Lives Matter”, an organisation that has clear goals.
But here it gets slightly more complicated, as the movement is largely “non-hierarchical”, making it harder for Starmer, and other leaders, to engage with its UK representatives.
What British groups do have in common is their inspiration: the American BLM movement, which was prompted by the acquittal of George Zimmerman after he fatally shot Trayvon Martin, an African American teenager walking to a family member’s house, in February 2012.
This shocking event prompted Twitter users to form the hashtag – #BlackLivesMatter – to highlight racial inequalities in the judicial and policing system – and it increasingly gained traction with the help of three activists, Patrisse Cullors, Alicia Garza and Opal Tometi, who encouraged the growth of networks and calls to action.
Despite the fact that the organisation is decentralised with no formal hierarchy, everyone knows who these founders are. They regularly give interviews, with their biographies listed on the Black Lives Matter website, and people know their political views.
Cullors once described her and Garza as “trained Marxists” and said she would not sit at the table with President Trump who is “literally the epitome of evil, all the evils of this country”, singling out “capitalism” as one of them.
Given this level of political openness, people in the UK might want to hear from BLM leaders about their aims for this country, but it’s tricky as the movement is divided into many groups, such as Tribe Named Athari, Black Lives Matter Leeds, All Black Lives UK, and Black Lives Matter UK, the latter of which Tribe Named Athari has said it has no direct affiliation with.
Black Lives Matter UK, set up in 2016, is arguably the most famous branch here, with 72.1k followers on Twitter (at the time of writing). In recent days, it gained prominence for criticising Israel on social media, and posting “FREE PALESTINE”, as well as attacking Starmer for his comments on defunding the police (a goal of BLM US).
Though the group doesn’t have a website, Black Lives Matter UK has a Go Fund Me page, where it has raised £1 million. Organisers state their aims are “to dismantle imperialism, capitalism, white-supremacy, patriarchy and the state structures that disproportionately and systematically harm Black people in Britain and around the world.”
Although the group says it is endorsed by Patrisse Cullors, it refuses to name anyone else, posting: “Amongst calls for transparency and demands to reveal the leadership behind BLM UK, we are currently dealing with emergency legal matters following last week’s protests in addition to the hostility of far-right groups. This is a genuine threat to our safety”. So this appears to be the rationale for hidden identities.
Then there’s the website blacklivesmatter.uk (BLMUK on Twitter – where it has 1,500 followers). On its front page, it tells visitors that it is not connected to “the activist coalition using: Twitter @ukblm” (the branch mentioned above) or the Instagram account @blmuk, even going so far as to point out “The UKBLM coalition do not have an official website”.
Furthermore, in its “About us” section, it writes: “There are many independent activist groups across the UK who do and will not publicly identify themselves, nor having leadership or declare leadership, no office base or website to go to, preferring a small or for some a huge interest and following from profile statuses on social media platforms and some raise funds via gofundme, crowdfunding pages and alike.”
Another website is called the Black Lives Matter Movement, which explicitly states that it’s “not connected to BLMUK” (above). It is founded by Gary McFarlane, an author on its site, who is a prominent member of the Socialist Workers Party.
On Russia Today, he said “In all revolutionary situations statues are toppled and that’s a good sign for the future because we do need a revolution in this country and many others.” The SWP has been accused before of trying to infiltrate Extinction Rebellion (XR) and the Labour Party, and some BLM representatives released a statement distancing itself from it.
Clearly there is a socialist undercurrent to some of these movements; indeed, Natalie Jeffers, founder of BLMUK, was quoted saying that we must fight “capitalism with socialism” and “dedicate ourselves to revolutionary politic power”. But it’s hard to know the extent of this sentiment, due to how spread out the movement is.
Although all of these groups are fighting for the same broad cause – to end racism – the decentralised system could cause confusion around what policies they are proposing.
Whereas XR also favours a dencentralised system, which led to protesters doing their own thing – such as jumping on tube carriages, it arguably has more practical demands for the Government (citizens’ assemblies), compared to BLM’s (US) desire to “disrupt the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure”.
XR has also fielded representatives onto television, such as Skeena Rathor, the “co-leader”, as well as Zion Lights, a spokesperson. The Hong Kong protests, too, though “decentralised”, have had Joshua Wong as their figurehead. As far as ConservativeHome is aware, there has not been an equivalent spokesperson for BLM UK in this way.
Perhaps the closest is Imarn Ayton, an activist, who has demanded a meeting with Boris Johnson and called for the statue of Winston Churchill to be removed on Radio 4. Whether she is accepted as overall leader of the movement is less known, though.
Either way, with the movement growing in power in recent weeks, politicians – and TV producers – will increasingly want to know what’s being proposed for the UK. Perhaps Andrew Neil is already gearing up for an interview. But with no clear BLM UK leader, different funding levels for each group, and separate manifestos, it’s not obvious who will answer questions.


conservativehome--2020-07-01--Ben Roback: When masks become memes: The partisan political climate has hurt America’s fight against

Ben Roback: When masks become memes: The partisan political climate has hurt America’s fight against coronavirus

Ben Roback is Head of Trade and International Policy at Cicero Group .
You wouldn ’ t necessarily expect a Governor to become a reliable source of memes on social media , but Andrew Cuomo is doing things differently .
The Democratic Governor of New York has harnessed his social media following to spread the COVID-19 mitigation message to New Yorkers , ( primarily ) young and ( occasionally tech-savvy ) old .
There aren ’ t many politicians who become memes for a good reason .
With respect , Cuomo has hardly broken the internet in a manner that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kylie Jenner on Instagram .
But he has harnessed the platform to communicate a clear message to his 987,000 followers .
Shareable content is even more powerful at a time when politicians are – with one notable exception – campaigning remotely online .
Whilst becoming the source of a meme and the butt of all jokes online had once been the bête noire of the political class , Cuomo is getting good at it .
But the focus here is not so much on digital campaigning , as much as the topic is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Instead , it shows how something as simple as wearing a mask during a global pandemic has been politicised in the United States .
Wearing a mask ought not to be controversial , especially when the guidance is now unequivocal .
The World Health Organisation acknowledges that ‘ Non-medical , fabric masks are being used by many people in public areas , but there has been limited evidence on their effectiveness and WHO does not recommend their widespread use among the public for control of COVID-19.
’ However , in instances where social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advises governments to encourage the general public to use non-medical fabric masks.
’ In the United States , the advice from government has changed over time , which has created room for confusion .
The anti-maskers are well aware of this .
The government ’ s leading infectious disease authority , Dr Anthony Fauci , initially opposed mask-wearing by the American public for fear of draining supplies needed for health care workers , but later reversed course .
Since then , he has criticised those reluctant to wear a mask and urged them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Research has since squashed any further wiggle room for doubt .
A University of Washington health institute study suggests that if 95 per cent of Americans wore masks now , 33,0000 fewer people would die by October 1 .
This ought not to have prompted political debate The mask has become a symbol of political attitudes to the binary ‘ health vs recovery ’ debate that now looms large over the United States .
The president has gone to great lengths to avoid being seen wearing a mask in public , famously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ford plant in Michigan – despite official state and local requirements to do so .
Surrounded by executives wearing masks , President Trump told reporters : “ I had one on before .
I wore one in the back area .
I didn ’ t want to give the press the pleasure of seeing it.
” It is unclear why being seen in a mask by the press would represent a form of defeat for the president , short of an infringement on his civil liberties .
Some GOP governors are following the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states that have implemented broad mask-wearing requirements , just four have Republican governors .
The response to the pandemic has descended into political point-scoring – not a shocking statement to make in an election year after all .
In refusing to wear a mask , the president wants to become the physical embodiment of the national recovery he hopes will return him to office for four more years .
It has become abundantly clear that , even in the simplest form of responding to COVID-19 like wearing a mask , there would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The president could be convinced that there is still time to lead The Republican leadership and membership appear to be bending on the question of masks .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says there should be no stigma associated with covering one ’ s face and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy says doing so is essential to fully reopening the economy .
Even Fox News host Sean Hannity , one of the president ’ s most vocal and influential supporters , has said he will wear one .
Fox & Friends co-host @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president , went a step further and said : “ I think that if the president wore one [ a mask ] , it would just set a good example .
He ’ d be a good role model .
I don ’ t see any downside to the president wearing a mask in public.
” There is no sign that a change in course from the president would be frowned upon by voters .
A new Fox News poll showed 68 per cent of Republicans have a favourable view of mask-wearers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who strongly approve of President Trump ’ s job performance .
Incidentally , perhaps more alarmingly , by a 36-point margin , voters say presidential candidates holding large political events and rallies is a bad idea .
The evidence therefore suggests that there is still time for the president to show leadership on this issue , but the window of opportunity is narrowing .
What is more , a volte-face would be jumped on by the president ’ s opponents as the sign of a spectacular U-turn .
What is , in fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be seized upon by the Biden campaign and the likes of Governor Cuomo as a great victory for the Democrats looking ahead to the November election .
Policy changes are so often sensationalised as admissions of defeat , whereas often it is simply a victory for common sense – see Downing Street ’ s concession on the Marcus Rashford campaign for free school meals , for example .
Those hoping for a change of tack from the president are likely to be disappointed .
To wear a mask would be to admit that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eye of the COVID-19 storm , enduring the first wave before worrying about the second , at a time when the president wants to focus on the economic rebound .
States that previously opened up to a flood of economic activity at bars , restaurants and salons are now facing a tsunami of new cases .
For as long as daily cases rise – and Dr Fauci warned yesterday they could creep up to 100,000 per day in short order – the president will look disjointed and out of touch in focussing on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s economy begin to heal while its citizens are still dying ?
Covering one ’ s face should be a simple way of limiting the spread of the disease , above political debate , discourse , or disagreement .
The fact that something as obvious as wearing a mask has become a symbol of the political divide that now surrounds COVID-19 embodies the hyper-partisan climate that continues to threaten America ’ s chances of getting on top of COVID-19 .
The crossover of politics into pop culture , coupled with the fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a mask the antithesis to the economic recovery , makes it hard to foresee a change in approach .
That is going to make it harder , not easier , for the United States to get on top of a health pandemic that once again is spiralling out of control .

Ben Roback is Head of Trade and International Policy at Cicero Group.
You wouldn’t necessarily expect a Governor to become a reliable source of memes on social media, but Andrew Cuomo is doing things differently. The Democratic Governor of New York has harnessed his social media following to spread the COVID-19 mitigation message to New Yorkers, (primarily) young and (occasionally tech-savvy) old. There aren’t many politicians who become memes for a good reason. With respect, Cuomo has hardly broken the internet in a manner that threatens the dominance of Dwayne Johnson or Kylie Jenner on Instagram. But he has harnessed the platform to communicate a clear message to his 987,000 followers.
Shareable content is even more powerful at a time when politicians are – with one notable exception – campaigning remotely online. Whilst becoming the source of a meme and the butt of all jokes online had once been the bête noire of the political class, Cuomo is getting good at it.
But the focus here is not so much on digital campaigning, as much as the topic is worthy of words on this site. Instead, it shows how something as simple as wearing a mask during a global pandemic has been politicised in the United States.
Wearing a mask ought not to be controversial, especially when the guidance is now unequivocal. The World Health Organisation acknowledges that ‘Non-medical, fabric masks are being used by many people in public areas, but there has been limited evidence on their effectiveness and WHO does not recommend their widespread use among the public for control of COVID-19.’ However, in instances where social distancing is not possible, ‘WHO advises governments to encourage the general public to use non-medical fabric masks.’
In the United States, the advice from government has changed over time, which has created room for confusion. The anti-maskers are well aware of this. The government’s leading infectious disease authority, Dr Anthony Fauci, initially opposed mask-wearing by the American public for fear of draining supplies needed for health care workers, but later reversed course. Since then, he has criticised those reluctant to wear a mask and urged them to “get past” political objections. Research has since squashed any further wiggle room for doubt. A University of Washington health institute study suggests that if 95 per cent of Americans wore masks now, 33,0000 fewer people would die by October 1.
This ought not to have prompted political debate
The mask has become a symbol of political attitudes to the binary ‘health vs recovery’ debate that now looms large over the United States. The president has gone to great lengths to avoid being seen wearing a mask in public, famously refusing to do so when touring a Ford plant in Michigan – despite official state and local requirements to do so. Surrounded by executives wearing masks, President Trump told reporters: “I had one on before. I wore one in the back area. I didn’t want to give the press the pleasure of seeing it.” It is unclear why being seen in a mask by the press would represent a form of defeat for the president, short of an infringement on his civil liberties. Some GOP governors are following the president’s lead. Of 20 states that have implemented broad mask-wearing requirements, just four have Republican governors.
The response to the pandemic has descended into political point-scoring – not a shocking statement to make in an election year after all. In refusing to wear a mask, the president wants to become the physical embodiment of the national recovery he hopes will return him to office for four more years. It has become abundantly clear that, even in the simplest form of responding to COVID-19 like wearing a mask, there would be no unity forged between Democrats and Republicans.
The president could be convinced that there is still time to lead
The Republican leadership and membership appear to be bending on the question of masks. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says there should be no stigma associated with covering one’s face and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy says doing so is essential to fully reopening the economy. Even Fox News host Sean Hannity, one of the president’s most vocal and influential supporters, has said he will wear one. Fox & Friends co-host Steve Doocy, another media friend of the president, went a step further and said:
“I think that if the president wore one [a mask], it would just set a good example. He’d be a good role model. I don’t see any downside to the president wearing a mask in public.”
There is no sign that a change in course from the president would be frowned upon by voters. A new Fox News poll showed 68 per cent of Republicans have a favourable view of mask-wearers, and 61 per cent of those who strongly approve of President Trump’s job performance. Incidentally, perhaps more alarmingly, by a 36-point margin, voters say presidential candidates holding large political events and rallies is a bad idea.
The evidence therefore suggests that there is still time for the president to show leadership on this issue, but the window of opportunity is narrowing. What is more, a volte-face would be jumped on by the president’s opponents as the sign of a spectacular U-turn. What is, in fact, a victory for common sense would be seized upon by the Biden campaign and the likes of Governor Cuomo as a great victory for the Democrats looking ahead to the November election. Policy changes are so often sensationalised as admissions of defeat, whereas often it is simply a victory for common sense – see Downing Street’s concession on the Marcus Rashford campaign for free school meals, for example.
Those hoping for a change of tack from the president are likely to be disappointed. To wear a mask would be to admit that the United States is still in the eye of the COVID-19 storm, enduring the first wave before worrying about the second, at a time when the president wants to focus on the economic rebound. States that previously opened up to a flood of economic activity at bars, restaurants and salons are now facing a tsunami of new cases. For as long as daily cases rise – and Dr Fauci warned yesterday they could creep up to 100,000 per day in short order – the president will look disjointed and out of touch in focussing on the economic recovery. Can a nation’s economy begin to heal while its citizens are still dying?
Covering one’s face should be a simple way of limiting the spread of the disease, above political debate, discourse, or disagreement. The fact that something as obvious as wearing a mask has become a symbol of the political divide that now surrounds COVID-19 embodies the hyper-partisan climate that continues to threaten America’s chances of getting on top of COVID-19. The crossover of politics into pop culture, coupled with the fact that the president appears to consider wearing a mask the antithesis to the economic recovery, makes it hard to foresee a change in approach. That is going to make it harder, not easier, for the United States to get on top of a health pandemic that once again is spiralling out of control.


conservativehome--2020-07-02--Henry Hill: Johnson prepares to take a more ‘robust’ line on the Union… but muzzles devosceptics

Fight for the Union : Government mulls ‘ devolution revolution ’ … but tries to muzzle Tory critics Earlier this week , the Times reported that ministers are considering setting up new , UK-wide economic and security bodies as part of a bid to enhance the standing of the British Government in Scotland , Wales , and Northern Ireland .
This move could finally mark an end to the previous practice of feebly handing over reserved powers to the devolved institutions , even when this risked great damage to the Union , in the name of the “ spirit of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ministers are preparing to be more “ robust ” with their SNP counterparts in taking responsibility for macroeconomic and security issues ” , and ideas will be brought forward by a new Union Policy Implementation Committee , supported by a Downing Street-based ‘ Union Unit ’ .
This may be some comfort to the Scottish Conservatives , many of whom are deeply concerned that the Prime Minister doesn ’ t grasp the scale of the danger posed to the Union by the next Holyrood elections .
( Of course , holding a referendum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more robust ’ about . )
It also comes in the same week as Boris Johnson ’ s high-profile clash with Nicola Sturgeon over the latter ’ s threat to start quarantining visitors from England .
Following the ugly politics we have already seen from the Welsh Government , this highlights once again the real damage the ‘ Four Nations ’ approach to the Union , so thoughtlessly endorsed by minister after minister , is doing to the integrity of our country .
But there are apparently limits to the boldness of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the whips have been cracking down on Conservative MPs who want to break ranks and criticise devolution .
This is further proof that the divisions we revealed in May are not going away , and will continue to exacerbate the coalition-building dilemma faced by the Welsh Tories .
For their part , the ruling devophiles amongst the Cardiff Bay leadership are reportedly doubling-down on their efforts to excise wrongthink on this question : apparently expressing devosceptic views is enough to get even already approved candidates summoned back for re-assessment .
But silencing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ further ) the Government ’ s painfully slow awakening to the dangers of the current constitutional situation .
We must hope that , like the Eurosceptics before them , it will not be long until some true believers slough off the whip on this particular question .
Elsewhere this week Joanna Cherry MP , an ally of Alex Salmond and prominent figure on the SNP ’ s ‘ fundamentalist ’ wing , called on the Nationalists to be prepared to make a bid for independence without a referendum .
The Welsh Nationalists have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organisation called for one of their candidates to be permanently barred from the Party over an antisemitic tweet .
According to Wales Online , high-profile Plaid activist Sahar Al-Faifi tweeted the same claim about Israel training US police officers which ended up seeing Rebecca Long-Bailey sacked from the Labour front bench .
This is not the first time this has happened : Al-Faifi was previously suspended from Plaid over a series of antisemitic social media posts published in 2014 , but was since reinstated .
Apparently the Nationalists would not confirm whether or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call for O ’ Neill to ‘ step aside ’ over funeral attendance The Democratic Unionist Party are calling on Michelle O ’ Neill , the leader of Sinn Fein in Northern Ireland and Deputy First Minister , to step aside to allow a police investigation into a republican funeral held earlier this week .
O ’ Neill , who has repeatedly urged the public to maintain social distancing and obey other public health guidelines , flagrantly breached them at the funeral of Bobby Storey , an IRA terrorist and senior Sinn Fein @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it will be difficult for Arlene Foster , the First Minister , to appear alongside O ’ Neill at the Executive ’ s coronavirus press conferences .
For her part , the Sinn Fein leader says that she is “ satisfied ” that her actions were within public health advice .
ITV reports that the Government has committed to protecting the boundaries of Ynys Môn , the parliamentary constituency which corresponds to the Isle of Anglesey , ahead of “ the most radical shake-up of Welsh parliamentary seats in more than a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wales ’ seats will be brought into line with England ’ s in terms of size .
As a result , the Principality ’ s representation in the House of Commons will be cut by almost a quarter , from 40 to about 32 .
This is part of a broader push to equalise constituencies across the UK .
Anglesey will now join four other island-based exceptions to the new rule : Orkney & Shetland and Na h-Eileanan an Iar ( Western Isles ) in Scotland , and two seats on the Isle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Conservatives , who won the seat at the last election , as the adjoining area of mainland Wales is slim pickings for the party .

Fight for the Union: Government mulls ‘devolution revolution’… but tries to muzzle Tory critics
Earlier this week, the Times reported that ministers are considering setting up new, UK-wide economic and security bodies as part of a bid to enhance the standing of the British Government in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
This move could finally mark an end to the previous practice of feebly handing over reserved powers to the devolved institutions, even when this risked great damage to the Union, in the name of the “spirit of devolution”.
Apparently, “Tory ministers are preparing to be more “robust” with their SNP counterparts in taking responsibility for macroeconomic and security issues”, and ideas will be brought forward by a new Union Policy Implementation Committee, supported by a Downing Street-based ‘Union Unit’.
This may be some comfort to the Scottish Conservatives, many of whom are deeply concerned that the Prime Minister doesn’t grasp the scale of the danger posed to the Union by the next Holyrood elections. (Of course, holding a referendum is one thing ministers could be ‘more robust’ about.)
It also comes in the same week as Boris Johnson’s high-profile clash with Nicola Sturgeon over the latter’s threat to start quarantining visitors from England. Following the ugly politics we have already seen from the Welsh Government, this highlights once again the real damage the ‘Four Nations’ approach to the Union, so thoughtlessly endorsed by minister after minister, is doing to the integrity of our country.
But there are apparently limits to the boldness of this approach. This week Guido Fawkes reported that the whips have been cracking down on Conservative MPs who want to break ranks and criticise devolution. This is further proof that the divisions we revealed in May are not going away, and will continue to exacerbate the coalition-building dilemma faced by the Welsh Tories.
For their part, the ruling devophiles amongst the Cardiff Bay leadership are reportedly doubling-down on their efforts to excise wrongthink on this question: apparently expressing devosceptic views is enough to get even already approved candidates summoned back for re-assessment.
But silencing such critics will only slow (even further) the Government’s painfully slow awakening to the dangers of the current constitutional situation. We must hope that, like the Eurosceptics before them, it will not be long until some true believers slough off the whip on this particular question.
Elsewhere this week Joanna Cherry MP, an ally of Alex Salmond and prominent figure on the SNP’s ‘fundamentalist’ wing, called on the Nationalists to be prepared to make a bid for independence without a referendum.
Plaid Cymru launches investigation after Senedd candidate accused of antisemitism
The Welsh Nationalists have launched an investigation after a prominent Jewish organisation called for one of their candidates to be permanently barred from the Party over an antisemitic tweet.
According to Wales Online, high-profile Plaid activist Sahar Al-Faifi tweeted the same claim about Israel training US police officers which ended up seeing Rebecca Long-Bailey sacked from the Labour front bench.
This is not the first time this has happened: Al-Faifi was previously suspended from Plaid over a series of antisemitic social media posts published in 2014, but was since reinstated. Apparently the Nationalists would not confirm whether or not she remains a candidate.
DUP call for O’Neill to ‘step aside’ over funeral attendance
The Democratic Unionist Party are calling on Michelle O’Neill, the leader of Sinn Fein in Northern Ireland and Deputy First Minister, to step aside to allow a police investigation into a republican funeral held earlier this week.
O’Neill, who has repeatedly urged the public to maintain social distancing and obey other public health guidelines, flagrantly breached them at the funeral of Bobby Storey, an IRA terrorist and senior Sinn Fein official.
Now the DUP are saying that it will be difficult for Arlene Foster, the First Minister, to appear alongside O’Neill at the Executive’s coronavirus press conferences. For her part, the Sinn Fein leader says that she is “satisfied” that her actions were within public health advice.
Anglesey constituency protected from ‘radical’ boundary shake-up
ITV reports that the Government has committed to protecting the boundaries of Ynys Môn, the parliamentary constituency which corresponds to the Isle of Anglesey, ahead of “the most radical shake-up of Welsh parliamentary seats in more than a century”.
Under the proposals, Wales’ seats will be brought into line with England’s in terms of size. As a result, the Principality’s representation in the House of Commons will be cut by almost a quarter, from 40 to about 32. This is part of a broader push to equalise constituencies across the UK.
Anglesey will now join four other island-based exceptions to the new rule: Orkney & Shetland and Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Western Isles) in Scotland, and two seats on the Isle of Wight. The move may help the Conservatives, who won the seat at the last election, as the adjoining area of mainland Wales is slim pickings for the party.


conservativehome--2020-07-02--Calling Conservatives: New public appointments announced. Non-Executive Directors at the Scottish Na