Number 10 North deputy director Duncan Parish has told a conference he is still facing "institutional barriers".
'Mindset shift' needed within government on No10 North, says deputy
Source: BBC Politics
Original reporting
BBC Politics: read the full reportRelated stories
NPR Politics
Top 2 Democrats on Intel say they're preparing for Trump to claim foreign meddling
The top Democrats on the House and Senate intelligence committees said they are working under the presumption that the president will seek to justify election interference by alleging fraud.
The Guardian
Former Tory election candidate suspended over contract killing claims
Jack Ross was filmed allegedly discussing with an undercover reporter violent options to deal with enemies A former Conservative election candidate has been suspended from the party after he was seemingly filmed discussing the cost of hiring contract killers and offering to “broker” the services of a far-right activist with alleged paramilitary links. Jack Ross was filmed apparently asking an undercover reporter “What do you want done?” before listing the type of violent options that could be bought. Continue reading...
The Guardian
No surprise and lasting anger: families of people who died in care homes react to Covid inquiry report
Relatives recount distress and loneliness their loved ones went through in pandemic as a result of isolation policy “At the time it felt like a devil’s bargain – it was horrible, but it was what [we thought] we had to do to keep people safe,” says Amy of the “devastating” and “terrifying” restrictions that led to her maternal grandparents being locked down in separate care homes during the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic. Eva and Eric had been married for more than 60 years when her dementia and his increased frailty meant they needed separate residential support. When the first lockdown was announced in March 2020, however, it in effect cut them off from each other and their granddaughter, to whom they had been especially close after the early death of Amy’s mother. Continue reading...
The Guardian
‘Climate vandalism’: Jackdaw gasfield approval condemned - The Latest
Climate campaigners have condemned the UK government’s decision to allow the drilling of the Jackdaw gasfield. Critics argue the move will put climate targets at risk, while failing to reduce energy bills and the cost of living crisis. But there could be a significant victory for green activists when it comes to the much larger Rosebank oilfield, with the energy secretary, Miatta Fahnbulleh, leaning towards rejecting approval. Michael Safi speaks to environment correspondent Matthew Taylor – watch on YouTube Continue reading...
The Guardian
The Guardian view on drilling in Jackdaw: a truly pragmatic approach would focus on Britain’s green transition | Editorial
Opening the North Sea gasfield will deliver minimal benefits for households, while sending a dismal signal before next month’s Cop summit This week a report from the UN Environment Programme concluded that holding global temperatures to a 1.5C warming limit – the centrepiece commitment of the Paris climate agreement – is no longer achievable. If the disastrous consequences of a significant overshoot are to be mitigated, it argued, governments must start delivering the short-term actions to meet long-term targets on reducing fossil fuel consumption. Disappointingly, Andy Burnham and his energy secretary, Miatta Fahnbulleh, took a different view of short-term priorities on Wednesday. Before the November Cop summit, where regaining lost momentum on climate action will be crucial, their decision to approve new drilling in the Jackdaw gasfield sent a dismal signal. The prime minister justifie
The Guardian
Shabana Mahmood urged to ‘read the room’ on Labour opposition to immigration policy
No 10 declines to rule out watering down plans to extend waiting period for indefinite leave to remain as cabinet split widens Shabana Mahmood has been urged to “read the room” on Labour opposition to her immigration policy, as No 10 declined to rule out watering down her plans to make foreign workers wait 15 years to get permanent residency. Mahmood, the home secretary, is consulting on plans to increase the period before foreign workers can claim indefinite leave to remain from five to 15 years, backdated to apply to anyone arriving from 2021 onwards. Continue reading...