With this calibre of MP, it's no wonder Britain is on the decline
To understand the scale of the catastrophe engulfing our country, look no further than a three-minute clip of a Government minister being eaten alive by a veteran broadcaster today.
On paper, Economic Secretary to The Treasury Emma Reynolds may well be quite bright (she has a Politics, Philosophy and Economics degree from Oxford). She certainly has no shortage of experience, having spent her entire career in and around politics.
Asked to demonstrate the most basic level of understanding about what she and her department are doing with vast sums of our money, however, she was as exposed as a boggle-eyed frog on a lily leaf.
The gory detail of the latest ministerial car crash scarcely matters, though in 20 years as a political journalist, Reynolds's encounter with Nick Ferrari is one of the most excruciating interviews I have heard. Put simply, she had no idea what she was talking about – which is alarming, given her power.
What matters more is the overall impression created by an endless succession of ministers from Keir Starmer's Government who, under the slightest pressure, seem just as weak and ill-informed. It is not only that they refuse to give straight answers to simple questions, or to take any responsibility for obvious errors. That's par for the course among professional politicians. It is that they routinely insult our intelligence, dismiss and denigrate our concerns and continually insist that black is white. The shameless telling of bare-faced lies is like nothing I have observed before. And if caught out, they simply double down.
Witness the behaviour of Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones, whose ludicrous assertion that the 'majority' of Channel migrants are women and children is demonstrably untrue, giving him no way out. Did he apologise? Not at all! Instead, he claimed he had been 'misrepresented', and tried to shift the blame to Reform UK.
Oh, I know that all governments have their share of ministerial muppets and dreary career politicians who owe their rise up the greasy pole less to ability than to connections, favours owed, or absence of anyone better. Nor are crash interviews the preserve of any one political party. They happen from time to time during every administration, when interviewees are tired, distracted, or badly briefed.
What is different about this lot is the sheer frequency with which they demonstrate their ineptitude, and the depths to which they sink as they try to deflect. Reynolds's calamitous appearance comes hot on the heels of a similar disaster involving her Treasury colleague James Murray last week. Nine times the minister was asked where migrants will go in the unlikely event that the Government honours a pledge to stop using hotel accommodation. Nine times he failed to give his interviewer an answer. He looked as panicked and out of his depth as a drowning man.
Meanwhile, the Chancellor on Sunday tried to use victims of the grooming gangs as a shield against awkward questions about the responsibility of the many authorities that turned a blind eye, as if performative compassion should shut down that vital debate. At least she did not repeat previous shameful 'lines to take' from Downing Street, smearing the campaign for a public inquiry as 'far-Right.'
In two decades reporting on governments of all political stripes, I have never witnessed such systematic incompetence and mediocrity. How can our country bear another four years of this?
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North Wales Chronicle
26 minutes ago
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British father-to-be feels like ‘second class citizen' over family visa rules
David Todd, 33, is calling on the Government to reform the policy, including to scrap or lower the minimum income requirement (MIR) for British citizens to bring their partners to the country, as ministers mull over updating the visa route. His plea comes as charities Reunite Families UK and Coram published reports on Monday documenting the 'significant emotional and psychological harm' to families from the policy, particularly for children who grow up under long separation from one of their parents. Mr Todd had hoped to move back to the UK from Germany with his American wife, Claire Todd, 32, before the birth of their first baby which is due in October. But the couple are facing being split up for Mr Todd to return to the UK alone to build up enough income proof as the British citizen in the relationship, or raise savings of more than £88,500 dictated by the visa rules to allow them to return as a family. Mr Todd told the PA news agency: 'There's been lots of times where I've stayed awake at night worrying about it and how it's all going to work out, because you feel completely helpless. 'It's like we're second class citizens because we married someone who fell in love with someone who wasn't British.' Earlier this month the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) set out its recommendations after a review requested by the Home Secretary to look at how to set an MIR for family visas that balances economic wellbeing and family life. It warned against raising the threshold for family visas to the same level for skilled workers, as planned by the previous government. Skilled workers are only eligible to come to the UK if they earn a salary of £38,700 or more, compared to £29,000 required mainly for family visas. The UK's current £29,000 threshold, which was set in 2024, is high compared to other high-income countries reviewed by the MAC. It was previously set at £18,600 since 2012. Mr Todd, from Solihull, West Midlands, added increasing the level to £38,700 would be 'devastating'. 'Even with this MAC report now, we don't know what the Government's going to do, how they're going to react,' the classical music conductor said. 'It's this feeling that you're kind of helpless, you're stuck in limbo, and you're desperately trying to contort yourself into this position where you can make it work just because you want to live with your wife or husband.' The couple, living in Wurzburg, Germany, first left the UK after Ms Todd's student visa ended and moved to the European nation so they could be together seven years ago. After building 'good careers' as classical musicians on the continent, the couple began trying to make a return to the UK up to a year ago, wanting to be near family as they start their own. For Mr Todd, he said the Government should at least make the ways to prove income easier, and to include the spouse's salary to contribute to the income threshold. He said it is 'ridiculous' his wife's income cannot be used to meet the salary requirement despite her remote job as a content creator paying enough to mean they 'could move to the UK tomorrow'. Mr Todd said he wants to 'avoid at all costs' the prospect of being separated from his wife and child, adding: 'It just feels wrong, am I going to have to turn to my child when she's older and say to her: 'Well, sorry, the reason I wasn't with you for the first year of your life was because I was trying to get work for the family to move.'' British father Ed Moon, currently living in Taipei with his Taiwanese wife Amber Moon and four-year-old daughter Maya, is also applying to the family visa route to move back to the UK as Maya reaches school age. He told PA the most difficult thing is the 'extremely extensive' documentation you need to provide with any errors meaning the visa is denied and the process must be started again, with visa fees costing around £2,000. 'We're having to dip into every ounce of our savings to do this,' the 36-year-old from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, said. 'You feel just unwanted by your country essentially. It's been especially tough, really like from a personal perspective.' The journalist also said it is a waste of money for the taxpayer for him to grow up and be educated in the UK, to then not let him and his family live there, adding: 'I want to be able to contribute to the UK.' The research by Reunite Families and Coram found that British citizens face exile, increased financial pressure and separation from their partners often for long periods of time from the family visa policy. For children separated from one of their parents, the charities warned they can face life-changing trauma and distress. The report also highlighted how the rules particularly discriminate against those including British mothers, who are more likely to experience hardship, working class and low income partners and black and ethnic minority workers, who are more likely to earn less than their white counterparts. Reunite Families UK executive director Caroline Coombs said 'simple and practical changes' from the Home Office could make significant differences to families, starting with scrapping the MIR and simplifying the rules and application process to stop the need for expensive legal advice. 'These rules have become the tax on love. People are suffering and want to be heard.' A Home Office spokesperson said: 'We understand the minimum income requirement for family visas needs to balance a respect for family life while also maintaining the UK's economic stability, which is why the Home Secretary commissioned the independent Migration Advisory Committee to undertake a review. 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Leader Live
40 minutes ago
- Leader Live
British father-to-be feels like ‘second class citizen' over family visa rules
David Todd, 33, is calling on the Government to reform the policy, including to scrap or lower the minimum income requirement (MIR) for British citizens to bring their partners to the country, as ministers mull over updating the visa route. His plea comes as charities Reunite Families UK and Coram published reports on Monday documenting the 'significant emotional and psychological harm' to families from the policy, particularly for children who grow up under long separation from one of their parents. Mr Todd had hoped to move back to the UK from Germany with his American wife, Claire Todd, 32, before the birth of their first baby which is due in October. But the couple are facing being split up for Mr Todd to return to the UK alone to build up enough income proof as the British citizen in the relationship, or raise savings of more than £88,500 dictated by the visa rules to allow them to return as a family. Mr Todd told the PA news agency: 'There's been lots of times where I've stayed awake at night worrying about it and how it's all going to work out, because you feel completely helpless. 'It's like we're second class citizens because we married someone who fell in love with someone who wasn't British.' Earlier this month the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) set out its recommendations after a review requested by the Home Secretary to look at how to set an MIR for family visas that balances economic wellbeing and family life. It warned against raising the threshold for family visas to the same level for skilled workers, as planned by the previous government. Skilled workers are only eligible to come to the UK if they earn a salary of £38,700 or more, compared to £29,000 required mainly for family visas. The UK's current £29,000 threshold, which was set in 2024, is high compared to other high-income countries reviewed by the MAC. It was previously set at £18,600 since 2012. Mr Todd, from Solihull, West Midlands, added increasing the level to £38,700 would be 'devastating'. 'Even with this MAC report now, we don't know what the Government's going to do, how they're going to react,' the classical music conductor said. 'It's this feeling that you're kind of helpless, you're stuck in limbo, and you're desperately trying to contort yourself into this position where you can make it work just because you want to live with your wife or husband.' The couple, living in Wurzburg, Germany, first left the UK after Ms Todd's student visa ended and moved to the European nation so they could be together seven years ago. After building 'good careers' as classical musicians on the continent, the couple began trying to make a return to the UK up to a year ago, wanting to be near family as they start their own. For Mr Todd, he said the Government should at least make the ways to prove income easier, and to include the spouse's salary to contribute to the income threshold. He said it is 'ridiculous' his wife's income cannot be used to meet the salary requirement despite her remote job as a content creator paying enough to mean they 'could move to the UK tomorrow'. Mr Todd said he wants to 'avoid at all costs' the prospect of being separated from his wife and child, adding: 'It just feels wrong, am I going to have to turn to my child when she's older and say to her: 'Well, sorry, the reason I wasn't with you for the first year of your life was because I was trying to get work for the family to move.'' British father Ed Moon, currently living in Taipei with his Taiwanese wife Amber Moon and four-year-old daughter Maya, is also applying to the family visa route to move back to the UK as Maya reaches school age. He told PA the most difficult thing is the 'extremely extensive' documentation you need to provide with any errors meaning the visa is denied and the process must be started again, with visa fees costing around £2,000. 'We're having to dip into every ounce of our savings to do this,' the 36-year-old from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, said. 'You feel just unwanted by your country essentially. It's been especially tough, really like from a personal perspective.' The journalist also said it is a waste of money for the taxpayer for him to grow up and be educated in the UK, to then not let him and his family live there, adding: 'I want to be able to contribute to the UK.' The research by Reunite Families and Coram found that British citizens face exile, increased financial pressure and separation from their partners often for long periods of time from the family visa policy. For children separated from one of their parents, the charities warned they can face life-changing trauma and distress. The report also highlighted how the rules particularly discriminate against those including British mothers, who are more likely to experience hardship, working class and low income partners and black and ethnic minority workers, who are more likely to earn less than their white counterparts. Reunite Families UK executive director Caroline Coombs said 'simple and practical changes' from the Home Office could make significant differences to families, starting with scrapping the MIR and simplifying the rules and application process to stop the need for expensive legal advice. 'These rules have become the tax on love. People are suffering and want to be heard.' A Home Office spokesperson said: 'We understand the minimum income requirement for family visas needs to balance a respect for family life while also maintaining the UK's economic stability, which is why the Home Secretary commissioned the independent Migration Advisory Committee to undertake a review. 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Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
As UK households struggle with energy bills, staff at industry watchdog Ofgem enjoy 'woke' quizzes and Pride movie nights at 4.30pm on a Tuesday
Officials working for energy regulator Ofgem have spent thousands of pounds on ' woke ' events including movie nights and quizzes during working hours, the Mail can reveal. At a time when Britain has been hit with some of the highest energy prices in Europe, the quango tasked with regulating such matters has a host of 'staff networks' given money to hold gatherings over the past year. They included a 'Pride Movie Night', which started at 4.30pm on a Tuesday last July, as well as an 'End of Pride Quiz' which ran from 4pm to 5.30pm later that month. Another gathering organised by the LGBT + network was on 'Perspectives from Rainbow Regulators' which ran for almost 90 minutes on a Thursday afternoon last September. The quango also held an event on the 'art and history of black hair' which lasted 75 minutes on a work day in October. In total, Ofgem has spent £66,954 of the internal HR Equity, Diversity and Inclusion budget on staff networks since 2021, although funding was stopped in May 2024. The figures were revealed in response to a Freedom of Information request by the TaxPayers' Alliance and shared exclusively with the Mail. Ofgem has come under fire in recent years over the cost of bills, its handling of the prepayment meter scandal and its failure to prevent suppliers going bust. Joanna Marchong, of the TPA, said: 'It's beyond parody that as Brits face some of the highest energy prices in the world, our energy watchdog is spending time on woke movie nights and quizzes. 'Ofgem has repeatedly failed billpayers with its endless meddling in the energy market, which has both added to the costs of bills while also failing to prevent major firms from going bust. 'It's clear that there is a complete lack of focus on the core priorities of the organisation.' An Ofgem spokesman said: 'Our workforce reflects the communities we serve, offering a wide range of experiences and skills which helps to support our work as an effective energy regulator.' The spokesperson added: 'Staff networks are no longer funded centrally following the introduction of the EDI Expenditure rules last year.' Firms are spared green levy Thousands of businesses will be exempt from paying green levies in an industry shake-up, the Prime Minister will announce. Sir Keir Starmer will vow to slash energy bills for more than 7,000 firms by up to 25 per cent from 2027 when he launches his industrial strategy today. The ten-year plan to promote growth will see some firms exempted from the Renewables Obligation and Feed-in Tariffs. Manufacturers have previously warned energy costs are much higher in the UK than overseas. Government sources insisted the move would not be funded by raising taxes or household bills. Sir Keir said last night the plan would deliver 'long-term certainty' for British businesses.
