Climate change and MP second jobs have dominated this month’s press and media.
MP Owen Paterson stepped forward as this month’s Westminster pantomime villain with allegations of corruption from his second job. Aside from the media circus whipping us into a frenzy on this, a few things have stood out for me.
Firstly, I've spent several years now watching MPs vote for legislation without them having the slightest idea what's in it. So I'm not massively sympathetic to the argument that they have time for a second job.
Secondly, Owen Paterson may only be the tip of the iceberg. Nearly 140 MPs worked other jobs in the past year. Does this not create natural conflicts of interest even for the innocent?
Thirdly, this is creating a part-time parliament given all of the second jobs being worked! Here’s a thought……just have the one job and do it amazingly well.
This story will rumble on as I fear there is more scandal to come.
The story of climate change will also rumble on. It has to. World leaders swept into Glasgow, disembarking from their carbon-chugging private jets (over 400 arrived) to discuss the evils of carbon-chugging machines and scoring political points.
But here is the key point. There is a great gap between the grand targets of international politics and footling measures such as turning off the tap when teeth-brushing. We need to be filled with clear Government advice so that we can make good choices with 50 years ahead in mind.
Those like me who do believe that something big needs to be done must be nudged, cajoled and incentivised in the most effective directions. I am a pretty obedient person……just tell me what I need to do and I’ll form good habits.
There is one mission which the Government must put at the centre of its drive……shifting us from cars and planes onto trains. To have a hope of achieving net zero, we need to make the 21st century the new golden age of the railways. Our daily journeys account for a huge chunk of the nation’s CO2 emissions (27% in 2019). Among the non-bike options of trains, planes and cars, trains are by far the greenest. Hop on the Eurostar at St Pancras instead of taking the plane to Paris and you will cut more than 90 per cent of the emissions.
The environmental case for getting passengers back on track is clear, which is why Rishi’s budget decision to cut air passenger duty on domestic flights was absolutely baffling and cancelling the Leeds section of HS2 even more startling. It’s not as though air travel needs the advantage; journeys by rail already tend to be significantly more expensive.
The longer we delay action to reach net zero, the more likely it becomes we will need to achieve net negative to avoid catastrophic climate change. Even more likely is the need for political change soon to avoid this.
Sad and worrying times…..especially for a father of a concerned 7 year old.
The Numbers
The numbers were dominated by inflation this month as it hit 4.2%, the highest level in 10 years. In a bizarre twist, the Governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey, even apologised for the situation given that his remit is to keep the inflation ship steady at 2.0%.
You don’t have to look far to see costs spiralling.
- Petrol is now 150p a litre.
- Second hand cars have increased by 27% in the past 6 months.
- The cost of electricity is up 19% and gas 28%.
- House renovations have been hit by the cost of labour going up 20%, paint up by 10% and windows / doors using plastic up by around 13%.
- The price of savoury snacks has gone up 7.6% in the past 12 weeks.
Unfortunately, things will get worse before they get better as inflation is likely to go over 5.0% in coming months.
One of the key contributors to the inflation spike is a lack of available workers in the UK and job vacancies have reached a record high of 1.2 million.
UK public sector net debt hit £2.3 trillion, equivalent to 95% of national income, a level not reached since the early 1960s.
The key issue for the public coffers is the rising cost of living, with inflation increasing interest payments on index-linked Government debt to £5.6 billion (an increase of £3.8 billion from a year ago).
In the US, Joe B signed a $1trillion infrastructure deal into law, taking the national debt close to $29 trillion. Which reminded me of the quote by John Adams: “There are two ways to enslave a country. One is by the sword. The other is by debt.”
Employers across the US hired 531,000 as recruitment within the world’s largest economy accelerated after months of disappointing growth. Unemployment fell to 4.6% and the number of jobless claims reached a 50 year low, exceeded expectations on Wall Street.
China’s share of global carbon emissions has risen to a record level, accounting for over 30% of the total due to its increasing consumption of coal. Guess who didn’t show for Cop26!
Trump of the Month
November was a classic month in the life of BoJo as Prime Minister. He has bumbled his way through the month as an average after dinner speaker who has an extra glass of wine or two with lunch.
That’s fine if you are a guest on a TV talk show……not so great if you are in control of the UK.
But I don’t blame him……we all know what we’ve got with BoJo. I blame those that are tasked with keeping him on a straight path or at least promoting that he is on a straight path.
This month’s Trump of the Month is……BoJo’s advisors.
Such has been the number of own goals scored by BoJo, Sir Keir has moved into the lead in the opinion polls. Which is staggering given that he hasn’t done anything……it is the unintended consequence of not leading the opposition. That’s how bad BoJo is being portrayed.
Example 1
The month started with BoJo being pictured with
Rishi messing about with beer kegs. Rishi announced in his budget that draught
beer served from barrels of more than 40 litres would be subject to a 5 per
cent tax cut starting in 2023. The problem was, what BoJo and Rishi were holding
were too small to classify for the tax cut.
Example 2
BoJo spent days beating the environments drum but left Cop26 by private plane to fly back to London to attend a private Gentlemen’s Club dinner. It was merely a coincidence that it was swarming with party donors.
Example 3
Then there was the whole issue with MP Owen Paterson and the second job fiasco. In short, Paterson was earning £500 per hour to advise for Randox as a second job. Randox then wins a £133 million contract for Covid testing without any other firms getting chance to bid. Parliamentary Standards Committee cries foul play and announces it will suspend the MP.
A great opportunity for BoJo to score an open goal by condemning the behaviour. Instead BoJo orders his Tory friends to vote to change legislation to stop the suspension……until public outrage suggests he changes tact.
Example 4
HS2 was seen as key to a ‘northern powerhouse’ and levelling up the north. BoJo announces that a key part of the London to Leeds line will not be built. Levelling up you say?
Example 5
BoJo visited a hospital up north and decided it was sensible not to wear a mask. Remember it was BoJo who said people should use their common sense as to when they should wear a face covering. Judging by the photo, he felt it more important to protect his tie than the hundreds of vulnerable patients within the building. At least he is applying common sense though.
Example 6
In a 20 minute keynote speech to business leaders at the CBI Annual Conference, BoJo:
- compared himself to Moses
- pretended to be an accelerating car
- referred to himself in the third-person
- lost his place in the speech
- spoke about going to Peppa Pig World
I absolutely expect all of the above behaviour from BoJo. That’s who he is and we voted for it….it’s our fault. But I absolutely expect the gaggle of aides, advisors and political confidants to guide him on right / wrong and install a moral compass. At the very least to show him simple and effective PR skills.
I miss the days when the most shocking political story was when an MP dated a Cheeky Girl.
Trump Lunacy Rating: 10 / 10
And Finally……
"You can't get away from yourself by moving from one place to another."
Ernest Hemingway
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