There is a trust problem about the COP26 meeting, currently happening in Glasgow and deciding the fate of the world. That is hardly surprising given that - bizarrely, on the eve of a hugely important climate conference, UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced billions in road spending, cuts to taxes on polluting domestic flights and cancelled long-delayed fuel duty rises. But still, that isn't the only problem about COP meetings in recent years: the other problem is who governments choose as partners. Polluters like Air France, gas and electricity company Engie and carmakers BMW and Renault were among the sponsors of ...
Today being a public holiday, I successfully persuaded the family to go for a trip to the lower Ardennes, specifically to the château at Modave, the far side of Huy, just where the landscape starts to get interesting. My reason for this goes back to the summer, when I was wowed by the stucco ceilings inside the Park Abbey near Leuven, created by the 17th century artist Jan-Christian Hansche. There are a couple of castles in the Brussels area which also have some of his work (Beaulieu near Machelen and Horst on the other side of Leuven) but neither is ...
The Conservatives' plans to cut air passenger duty on domestic flights will see a significant spike in CO2 emissions equivalent to 2.3 million extra train journeys, analysis by the Liberal Democrats shows. It comes as world leaders meet for today's crucial COP26 summit and after the Chancellor failed to give a single mention to the word climate in his Budget speech last week. The Liberal Democrats are calling for the Government to cancel the slashing of Air Passenger Duty and invest in zero-carbon domestic flights instead. The Office for Budget Responsibility estimates that reducing Air Passenger Duty will see an ...
Responding to Boris Johnson's speech at COP26, Leader of the Liberal Democrats and Former Secretary of State for Climate Change, Ed Davey MP, said: "Boris Johnson has blustered his way to COP26 and it is starting to show. This is the most important conference to take place on our shores in a generation, and we all need it to succeed. "That means putting aside his differences with other western leaders, particularly our friends across Europe, and working together to force China and others to act. For COP to succeed, the Prime Minister needs to stop just talking about 'Global Britain' ...
Second paragraph of third chapter of The Empire of Time:Young Urte is there, and Karen, Helge - eight months pregnant by the look of her - and Brigitte, herself in the first stages of pregnancy. And Bella, and Lili and ...Second paragraph of third chapter of Crashland:'Yes, by a dupe outside the safe house in Sacramento Bay. We don't have a body, but his blood was found at the scene, plus other evidence strongly suggesting that what you say is true.'These were the last two books on my shelves acquired in 2014. Sometimes there is a reason why you don't ...
I have now finished watching Blair & Brown – the New Labour Revolution, a 5-part series from the BBC on the Labour government of 1997 to 2010. For politicos like me it was compulsive viewing, for all its flaws. Does it say anything to us about politics now? One criticism of the series is that ... Continue reading New Labour was not about making hard choices
How many times did I, you or anyone you know, has "written someone off"? How many times, before someone spoke, we already "knew" the other person? How often do we label or stigmatise other humans? A few days ago, I was quite lucky to meet someone, still very young, whose journey can be an inspiration to many of us: Lost her mother at the age of 14 Didn't finish school Was kicked out from her house Lost contact, for two years, with her siblings More importantly, Jamala Osman lost a sense of belonging and a purpose in life. Many would ...
Sun, 16:41: October 2021 books https://t.co/g2ATY774Vn Sun, 20:48: RT @leonardocarella: I have no reasons to question the reporting of a story on the Prime minister by, respectively, the godfather to the Pr... Mon, 09:59: Celtic new year resolution: get more exercise. https://t.co/7VKKKFEjpd https://t.co/UvyCQs8pgk Mon, 10:06: RT @nickjbarlow: One British journalist mistranslates a letter in French. Others just running with that as they don't have the skills to ch... Mon, 10:14: Doctor Who's The Halloween Apocalypse is like a series finale, but backwards - Radio Times Good analysis. I enjoyed it (and am not particularly interested in hearing why you didn't). ...
COP26 could well be our last chance to take substantive action on the climate crisis, and it's never been more important for Britain to take a leadership role on environmental matters.
The sun is shining in the Creetings this morning, and whilst it's not exactly warm, a bit of sunshine does lift the spirits somewhat. It's also nice to be back after a week off – the jet lag is just fine, and thank you for asking. The COP26 event dominates the political agenda this week, naturally, and whilst our own Government is sending out decidedly mixed messages – reducing air passenger duty on short haul flights? Really? Having to be embarrassed into acting on sewage discharges into rivers and coastal waters? – there are a lot of people counting on ...
Policing of the conduct of government ministers is an important function that we have consistently got wrong both at Westminister and in the devolved administrations. Understandably, there have been widespread calls for reform of the system after Boris Johnson's previous adviser on ministers' interests, Sir Alex Allan, resigned after a report into the conduct of Priti Patel, the home secretary, was ignored. Following an investigation into allegations that Patel engaged in bullying behaviour, Allan found she had "not consistently met the high standards expected of her", but a government statement said the PM had full confidence in her and considered ...
DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 1 NOVEMBER 2021 Perth Road (west of Glamis Road) - temporary traffic lights from Thursday 4 to Saturday 6 November for City Fibre work. Glamis Road (at Blackness Road) - temporary traffic lights from Monday 1 to Thursday 4 November for City Fibre work. Forthcoming Roadworks Nethergate (South Marketgait to Tay Street Lane) - closed westbound overnight (7.30pm - 6.30am) on Monday 8 November for Scottish Water work. Riverside Drive (at Perth Road) - temporary traffic lights on Monday 8 November for 2 days ...
