Latest news with #NigelFarage
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
UK manufacturing poised for funding boost to reduce energy costs
UK manufacturing is expected to receive support to ease energy costs and boost skills, the Guardian understands, as part of a long-awaited industrial strategy due to be unveiled next week. Energy-intensive industries have long complained that they pay too much for electricity compared with competitors in the EU, while the wider industrial sector has struggled to recruit skilled staff. As Nigel Farage's Reform party targets support in Britain's industrial heartlands, ministers are poised to pour funds into boosting the manufacturing workforce with proposals similar to a £600m package for the construction sector announced earlier this year, which underpins plans to build 1.5m homes. Ministers have drawn up plans to take aim at energy costs through two policies, one targeted at businesses that use the most electricity – such as steel and aluminium – and another designed to support manufacturing more broadly. Related: Trump threatens to keep 25% tariff on UK steel imports over Port Talbot concerns These are expected to be at the heart of the strategy, which could be announced as soon as Monday. First, the government will increase from 60% to 90% the 'network compensation charging' (NCC) scheme, a discount for energy-intensive businesses on the fees they pay to connect to the Grid. The discount, which is ultimately paid for by other electricity bill-payers including households, is available under the British Industry Supercharger initiative brought in by the previous government. Industry sources said increasing the discount would reduce costs for struggling steelmakers by about £6.50 per megawatt hour (MWh). This is expected to help big companies such as Tata and British Steel, which is under government control, manage the costly transition from blast furnaces to greener electric arc furnaces. However, industry sources said that, while the policy was welcome, the overall saving for the sector is only expected to be worth about £15m a year. Energy costs are likely to remain significantly higher than in Germany and France, chiefly because UK electricity prices are linked to the cost of wholesale gas, which is a larger part of the British energy mix than on the continent. Speaking at the Paris airshow this week, the business and energy minister, Sarah Jones, said: 'Whether you're a company wanting to invest in the UK or whether you're an existing company in the UK, energy prices is a challenge. The fact that we're not competitive with it, with Europe, is the challenge.' For smaller manufacturers, ministers will consult on a new 'intensity threshold' to provide relief. The scheme, which could be up and running as soon as 2027, is expected to work by analysing the ratio between a company's energy usage and its turnover, adjusting the support on offer accordingly. Make UK, the trade body for the sector, welcomed indications that companies are in line to receive the support they have long campaigned for. 'If we're going to move the dial in the industrial strategy we have to get manufacturers' eye-watering energy costs more in line with our competitors,,' said Stephen Phipson, chief executive of Make UK. 'This would be an incredibly welcome move for companies and provide a much-needed shot in the arm at a time when they are facing multiple challenges on all fronts. 'It would also give a vital kickstart to investment and help manufacturing support the government to deliver its growth mission to boost the economy.' The strategy is also likely to include greater powers for the state-owned British Business Bank to invest directly in businesses, particularly small and medium-sized startups. The department for business and trade declined to comment on the content of the industrial strategy. Ministers were expected to publish the industrial strategy earlier this year but the announcement was postponed as the government brought forward detailed plans for individual sectors. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
The Guardian
9 hours ago
- Business
- The Guardian
UK manufacturing set for a funding boost to reduce energy costs
UK manufacturing is expected to receive support to ease energy costs and boost skills, the Guardian understands, as part of a long-awaited industrial strategy due to be unveiled next week. Energy-intensive industries have long complained that they pay too much for electricity compared with competitors in the EU, while the wider industrial sector has struggled to recruit skilled staff. As Nigel Farage's Reform party targets support in Britain's industrial heartlands, ministers are poised to pour funds into boosting the manufacturing workforce with proposals similar to a £600m package for the construction sector announced earlier this year, which underpins plans to build 1.5m homes. Ministers have drawn up plans to target energy costs through two policies, one targeted at businesses that use the most electricity – such as steel and aluminium – and another designed to support manufacturing more broadly. These are expected to be at the heart of the strategy, which could be announced as soon as Monday. First, the government will increase from 60% to 90% the 'network compensation charging' (NCC) scheme, a discount for energy-intensive businesses on the fees they pay to connect to the Grid. The discount, which is ultimately paid for by other electricity bill-payers including households, is available under the British Industry Supercharger iniative brought in by the previous government. Industry sources said increasing the discount would reduce costs for struggling steelmakers by about £6.50 per megawatt hour (MWh). This is expected to help major firms such as Tata and British Steel, which is under government control, manage the costly transition from blast furnaces to greener electric arc furnaces. However, industry sources said that, while the policy was welcome, the overall saving for the sector is only expected to be worth about £15m a year. Energy costs are likely to remain significantly higher than in Germany and France, chiefly because UK electricity prices are linked to the cost of wholesale gas, which is a larger part of the British energy mix than on the continent. Speaking at the Paris airshow earlier this week, the business and energy minister, Sarah Jones, said: 'Whether you're a company wanting to invest in the UK or whether you're an existing company in the UK, energy prices is a challenge. The fact that we're not competitive with it, with Europe, is the challenge.' For smaller manufacturers, ministers will consult on a new 'intensity threshold' to provide relief. The scheme, which could be up and running as soon as 2027, is expected to work by analysing the ratio between a company's energy usage and its turnover, adjusting the support on offer accordingly. Sign up to Business Today Get set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning after newsletter promotion Make UK, the trade body for the sector, welcomed indications that firms are in line to receive the support they have long campaigned for. 'If we're going to move the dial in the industrial strategy we have to get manufacturers' eye-watering energy costs more in line with our competitors,,' said Stephen Phipson, chief executive of Make UK. 'This would be an incredibly welcome move for companies and provide a much-needed shot in the arm at a time when they are facing multiple challenges on all fronts. 'It would also give a vital kickstart to investment and help manufacturing support the government to deliver its growth mission to boost the economy.' The strategy is also likely to include greater powers for the state-owned British Business Bank to invest directly in businesses, particularly small and medium-sized startups. The department for business and trade declined to comment on the content of the industrial strategy. Ministers were expected to publish the industrial strategy earlier this year but the announcement was postponed as the government brought forward detailed plans for individual sectors.
Irish Times
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
A Nigel Farage-led UK goverment could herald a united Ireland
The election of Reform Party leader, Nigel Farage , as British prime minister after the next Westminster election would accelerate support for Irish unification and Scottish independence, former taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said. Speaking on the BBC's The View programme, shown on BBC Northern Ireland on Thursday night, Mr Varadkar praised British prime minister Keir Starmer 's attitudes towards Ireland since his election last year. 'Prime minister Starmer might be re-elected for a second term. It's equally possible – not probable – but possible, that Nigel Farage could be prime minister of the UK in four years' time, or in nine years' time,' said Mr Varadkar. 'That would change the picture,' he said, and change opinions about Irish unification among 'some people in the middle ground in Northern Ireland if in Westminster we had an English nationalist government'. READ MORE Mr Farage's party won hundreds of seats across England and Wales in May's local elections and frequently leads national opinion polls ahead of Labour and the Conservatives. Even the possibility of a Reform-led government in London strongly supports his contention that the Irish Government should be planning for Irish unification, even if it offered no view on when a referendum should be held, Mr Varadkar said. 'It makes sense to do a bit of horizon scanning, to do a bit of scenario planning, to think about some of those issues, even if it's a just-in-case,' he said. A Farage-led administration would 'double down on Brexit' because those who supported the UK's exit from the EU believed 'it wasn't done properly', the former Fine Gael leader and taoiseach said. 'What you'd see is an attempt to rescind many of the things that prime minister Starmer and his government have done to bring the United Kingdom even further away from the European Union,' he said. [ Explainer: what is Keir Starmer's Brexit reset deal? Opens in new window ] Mr Varadkar said he believed a Farage-led UK government would put Irish unification 'centre stage'. 'And it isn't just because a right-wing nationalist government in London would want to bring the UK and Northern Ireland away from Europe,' he said. Many conservative and populist attitudes pushed by Reform on social issues, such as gay rights, would not be liked by a majority of people in Northern Ireland, from both traditions, he said. '[They] have a liberal and European outlook, and if that's the kind of government they had in London versus a government in Dublin that was very different, it might make them more likely to vote yes to unification,' he said. Mr Varadkar said he hoped a Farage-led government would not happen, 'but I'm saying it could, and we should think about that'. If Farage succeeds, it will be because of English voters showing 'scant regard' for opinions in Northern Ireland and Scotland, he said. 'We've seen that happen before, and we saw it happen with Brexit. Could it happen in four to nine years? It could.' [ Rory Stewart: Britons' view of Ireland has gone from 'patronising superiority to complete ignorance' Opens in new window ] Since he stepped down as taoiseach, Mr Varadkar has repeatedly supported Irish unification, though he told the BBC programme that he had not begun planning for unity during his time in power because he was trying to secure an EU/UK deal. Unification is 'not inevitable' and must be worked towards, he said, but there are 'a lot of factors that would suggest that we're on that trajectory', especially recent polling showing that a majority of young people in Northern Ireland favour it, he said. 'I think that will carry through, and that's why I think it's something that we should plan for,' he said. 'I think it's something that shouldn't just be an aspiration; it's something that should be an objective of the Irish Government, and of Irish society.'
The Independent
10 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Nigel Farage as British PM would put Irish unity ‘centre stage'
Former Irish premier Leo Varadkar said that Irish unity would become 'centre stage' if Reform UK leader Nigel Farage was elected UK prime minister. Mr Varadkar, who stood down as taoiseach in April last year, said it is possible Mr Farage will be prime minister in four years or nine years time. He described British politics as 'very volatile'. Reform made big gains in local elections in England and Wales in May. Mr Varadkar told BBC Northern Ireland's The View programme, which will be aired on Thursday night, that he hoped Mr Farage is not the next British prime minister. The former Fine Gael leader said if the Reform leader became prime minister, it would 'change the pictures in terms of attitudes towards independence in Scotland'. 'I think it would change the views of some people in the middle ground in Northern Ireland (towards Irish unity),' he said. 'It isn't just because a right-wing nationalist government in London would want to bring the UK and Northern Ireland away from Europe. It is other things as well.' He also claimed that councils run by Reform in England were preventing people from flying Pride or progress flags. Mr Varadkar added: 'I don't think most people in Northern Ireland would like that. 'If that's the kind of government they had in London versus a government in Dublin that was very different, it might make them more likely to vote yes to unification,' he added. 'I do want to be very clear about this, it's not something I hope happens. 'I hope it doesn't happen.' Mr Varadkar said he believes planning for a united Ireland should be happening, but that a date should not be fixed as the numbers to win are not in place. He added: 'I don't think a united Ireland is inevitable, I think it's something that we have to work towards. 'But I think there are a lot of factors that would suggest that we're on that trajectory. 'Demographic factors, polling, even the most recent numbers showing that a very clear majority of younger people in Northern Ireland want there to be a new united Ireland.' 'I think that will carry true, and that's why I think it's something that we should plan for.' He said Irish unity will not happen 'by osmosis or by accident'. 'I think (it) has to be worked towards. I think those of us who believe in it have a duty to make the case for it,' he added. 'Look at the trajectory, and that is clear. We see it in elections. We see it in opinion polls. We see it in demographics.'
BreakingNews.ie
11 hours ago
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Nigel Farage as British PM would put Irish unity ‘centre stage'
Former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said that Irish unity would become 'centre stage' if Reform UK leader Nigel Farage was elected UK prime minister. Mr Varadkar, who stood down as Taoiseach in April last year, said it is possible Mr Farage will be prime minister in four years or nine years time. Advertisement He described British politics as 'very volatile'. Former taoiseach Leo Varadkar said that planning for a united Ireland should be under way. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA. Reform made big gains in local elections in England and Wales in May. Mr Varadkar told BBC Northern Ireland's The View programme, which will be aired on Thursday night, that he hoped Mr Farage is not the next British prime minister. The former Fine Gael leader said if the Reform leader became prime minister, it would 'change the pictures in terms of attitudes towards independence in Scotland'. Advertisement 'I think it would change the views of some people in the middle ground in Northern Ireland (towards Irish unity),' he said. 'It isn't just because a right-wing nationalist government in London would want to bring the UK and Northern Ireland away from Europe. It is other things as well.' He also claimed that councils run by Reform in England were preventing people from flying Pride or progress flags. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage speaks during a press conference at Church House in Westminster, London. Photo: Jeff Moore/PA. Mr Varadkar added: 'I don't think most people in Northern Ireland would like that. Advertisement 'If that's the kind of government they had in London versus a government in Dublin that was very different, it might make them more likely to vote yes to unification,' he added. 'I do want to be very clear about this, it's not something I hope happens. 'I hope it doesn't happen.' Mr Varadkar said he believes planning for a united Ireland should be happening, but that a date should not be fixed as the numbers to win are not in place. Advertisement He added: 'I don't think a united Ireland is inevitable, I think it's something that we have to work towards. 'But I think there are a lot of factors that would suggest that we're on that trajectory. 'Demographic factors, polling, even the most recent numbers showing that a very clear majority of younger people in Northern Ireland want there to be a new united Ireland.' 'I think that will carry true, and that's why I think it's something that we should plan for.' Advertisement Ireland Kallas criticised over 'clear lack of understandin... Read More He said Irish unity will not happen 'by osmosis or by accident'. 'I think (it) has to be worked towards. I think those of us who believe in it have a duty to make the case for it,' he added. 'Look at the trajectory, and that is clear. We see it in elections. We see it in opinion polls. We see it in demographics.'
