Latest news with #SirEdDavey
The Independent
2 days ago
- Climate
- The Independent
Warning over dangers of rivers, lakes and waterways as temperatures soar
Warnings are being issued over the risks surrounding rivers, lakes and waterways as temperatures are set to reach heatwave levels in parts of the country. Temperatures are rising this week and are forecast to peak at 33C on Saturday. London Fire Brigade (LFB) has attended more than 280 water-related incidents this year so far, an increase of about 15% compared with the same period in 2024, it said. They have included incidents such as sinking and capsized boats, individuals trapped in mud or caught by the tide, and people and animals in distress in the water. Fifteen incidents resulted in people drowning in London, the fire brigade said. As part of a national push during Drowning Prevention Week, LFB is increasing engagement with communities to raise awareness of water safety risks. During a visit to Kingston Fire Station, Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Ed Davey met local firefighters and observed a live demonstration of the brigade's river flume tank. The tank includes a hydraulic flume with a range of features such as bridges, rocks and weirs to demonstrate how water behaves in rivers. Since its introduction at Twickenham Fire Station last year, the tank has been used across London to show schools, youth groups, communities and stakeholders how even experienced swimmers can quickly get into difficulty in open water. Pam Oparaocha, assistant commissioner for prevention and protection, said: 'We're working closely with MPs, schools and local communities to help people understand the serious water safety risks as summer approaches. 'With warm weather and school holidays on the horizon, we want people, especially young people, to enjoy our waterways safely, and that starts with education. 'Strong currents, underwater hazards and cold water shock can be deadly. It's important to know the risks and to familiarise yourself with lifesaving equipment like throwlines, which are available along many of London's waterways. There's a wealth of guidance on our website to help people stay safe this summer.' Jules Pipe, deputy mayor for the fire service, said: 'London's rivers, lakes and waterways can look very appealing when the temperatures rise, however, they can contain hidden dangers. 'The mayor and I are working to improve the capital's waterways for everyone to enjoy, and I urge everyone to heed London Fire Brigade's advice to stay safe in and around water. 'As the hot weather continues and with the summer holidays looming, this timely work with young people will help save lives and build a safer London for everyone.'
BBC News
06-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
'Protect public from vehicle theft epidemic', says Lib Dem leader
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has called on the government to "protect" the public from the "epidemic" of vehicle thefts by ruling out policing budget Office statistics show that nearly 2,500 cases of vehicle thefts were reported in the Thames Valley last year, with fewer than 3% of those resulting in Ed made the comments whilst on a visit to a bicycle repair shop in Thame, Oxfordshire, alongside the Lib Dem MP for Henley and Thame Freddie van BBC has contacted the Home Office for a response to Sir Ed's comments. Speaking at Thame Cycle, where he and van Mierlo went for a ride of their own, Sir Ed said: "Freddie and I may be the ones on our bikes today, but it is thieves who are taking people for a ride as they steal cars and get away with it.""It is a crime that is immensely damaging to victims, yet few criminals are ever held accountable for their actions. Our police need back up from this government." Van Mierlo added that there was a car theft "epidemic plaguing Oxfordshire"."Thames Valley Police do incredible work, but they're stretched after years of cuts from successive governments," he Ed said the government needed to "get a grip" on the crime, adding: "We need our forces around the country to be supported and well-resourced."During the visit, he also called on chancellor Rachel Reeves to "back up" the police by ruling out any budget cuts in the upcoming Spending Review."Our police must have the resources they need so they can tackle this problem," van Mierlo added. The BBC has contacted the Home Office for a response to the comments, whilst the Treasury said it would not comment on "speculation" regarding the Spending Review. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
The Guardian
26-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
The Guardian view on Ed Davey's mission: build politics around care. If not, cruelty will define it
Did last week mark a sea change in British politics? For many, it did. The government's U-turn on winter fuel payments signalled a welcome retreat. But the deeper shift may lie in the terrain that ministers are now forced to fight on: cuts hitting disabled people and their families. In the Commons, Sir Ed Davey raised the case of Ginny, a carer for her husband with myotonic dystrophy. He described the human burden of responsibility, exhaustion and love. Under the government's planned cuts, he warned, her family stands to lose £12,000 a year. The prime minister replied with managerial platitudes. Sir Ed, by contrast, spoke of duty, dignity and the very real consequences of policy. The Liberal Democrat leader isn't trading in ideology; he's drawing a line based on human decency. Caring has been a constant theme of his life, even more than politics. When he was a teenager, Sir Ed spent three years looking after his mother who died of bone cancer. Later he helped care for the grandmother who brought him up. Every morning at 6am, Sir Ed wakes up his severely disabled 17-year-old son, John, then cleans his teeth, bathes him and gives him his morning massage. In his new book, Why I Care, he frames this both an act of love and a foundational political insight. The Lib Dem leader wants to rewrite British politics – not with the language of crisis, but that of care. In a Westminster hooked on 'tough choices' and resistant to compassion in policy, he offers something rare – moral clarity rooted in lived experience. He understands that care is not a luxury to be considered after the economy is 'fixed'. It is, he says, the core economy. His new book is both memoir and manifesto, containing a call to abandon parliamentary introspection and recentre politics around mutual support. Critics might call it earnest. Cynics may spy sentiment in search of power. The Tory leader, Kemi Badenoch, says Lib Dems are just 'good at fixing church roofs'. But Sir Ed leans in. His paddle‑boarding, Zumba-thrusting 2024 election campaign delivered his party's best result in a century, winning 72 seats – 60 from the Conservatives. The latest YouGov polling has his party ahead of the Tories and snapping at Labour's heels. Rooted in real life and years helping constituents through a broken system, his authority on care is hard-won. The UK has 6 million unpaid carers – 1.7 million work more than 50 hours a week. The NHS would collapse without them. Yet many carers are met not with help, but hurdles – denied adequate respite and treated as invisible. This paper's investigation into the scandal over carer's allowance payments revealed a brutal bureaucracy punishing vulnerable people. It's not just neglectful. It's insulting. Sir Ed's proposal – to assign every family in need a named carer and social worker – is modest, sensible and overdue. He's also had enough of the care reviews. Who can blame him? Since 1997, there have been 25 commissions, inquiries and white papers. Now ministers want Louise Casey to take three more years for a review into adult social care. He says it's enough to make you cry. Sir Ed's not point-scoring, just asking how family, community and state can equitably share the load. And urging the government to get on with it – as quietly and steadily as the carers it routinely ignores.
The Independent
21-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
UK politics live: Starmer announces winter fuel payments U-turn at PMQs
Sir Keir Starmer has performed a dramatic U-turn on his controversial cuts to winter fuel payments for pensioners after mounting backlash from Labour MPs. At PMQs, the prime minister said he understood that pensioners were feeling the pressure of the cost of living crisis and he promised to 'ensure that, as we go forward, more pensioners are eligible for winter fuel payments '. Sir Keir said the government has needed to "stabilise the economy with tough decisions" after taking over from the Tories, and that the economy is starting to improve. "We want to make sure people feel those improvements in their days as their lives go forward," he said. "That is why we want to ensure that as we go forward, more pensioners are eligible for winter fuel payments." Tory leader Kemi Badenoch challenged him over the 'U-turn', calling him 'desperate'. Finding a mechanism to widen eligibility for the payment will cause headaches in Whitehall, because officials fear that simply increasing the pension credit threshold to which access is linked would also increase the take-up of that benefit, wiping out any potential savings. Watch | Starmer pays tribute to Bicester firefighters and Olivia Korbel's mother 21 May 2025 12:39 Starmer told to apologise for 'world's longest U-turn' on winter fuel cuts Sir Ed Davey has dubbed Sir Keir Starmer's change of stance on winter fuel cuts 'the world's longest U-turn'. The Liberal Democrat welcomed the prime minister's announcement that more pensioners would be made eligible for winter fuel payments, but said it has 'come far too late for the millions of pensioners forced to freeze in their own homes over the winter'. Sir Ed said: 'The least those people deserve is an apology for this punitive policy and a serious proposal from the Prime Minister on how he will begin to pick up the pieces from his Government's disastrous decision. Not vague words that will take months to materialise into something meaningful.' Archie Mitchell21 May 2025 12:38 Starmer backs Lucy Connolly prison sentence Sir Keir Starmer has hit back at critics of Lucy Connolly's prison sentence, arguing that sentencing 'is a matter for our courts'. The wife of a former Tory councillor was jailed for a social media post in which she told followers to 'set fire to all the f****** hotels full of the b******* for all I care, while you're at it take the treacherous government and politicians with them'. Asked by ex-Reform MP Rupert Lowe whether a prison sentence was 'not an efficient or fair use of a prison place', Sir Keir said: 'I am strongly in favor of free speech. We have had free speech in this country for a very long time, and we protect it fiercely. But I am equally against incitement to violence against other people, and I will always support the action taken by our police and courts to keep our streets and people safe.' Archie Mitchell, Political Correspondent21 May 2025 12:35 Starmer quickly corrects himself on 'deportations' Sir Keir Starmer repeatedly highlights the fact Labour has removed 24,000 people from the UK 'with no right to be here'. The prime minister hopes it will win Labour support among those who lost faith in the Conservatives amid spiralling numbers of migrants crossing the Channel in small boats. He contrasts the figure with the handful of volunteers sent to Rwanda by the Tories at huge cost to the taxpayer. But he was forced to quickly correct himself in the Commons after he initially referred to the 'removals' as 'deportations'. The majority of the 24,000 figure is made up of people who left voluntarily, so were not technically deported. Archie Mitchell21 May 2025 12:32 Farage was the 'first through the e-gates', Starmer says Nigel Farage was the 'first through the e-gates' under Labour's post-Brexit reset deal with the EU, Sir Keir Starmer has joked. After the Reform UK leader skipped a debate on the Brexit reset to flock off to France on holiday, the prime minister said 'there was no sign of him'. 'He was first through the e-gates, somewhere in the south of France,' Sir Keir said. Access to e-gates was a key part of the deal the UK has agreed with Brussels to forge closer post-Brexit ties. In an awkward pun, he added: 'Nice work if you can get it.' Archie Mitchell, Political Correspondent21 May 2025 12:32 Analysis | Why is Labour U-turning on winter fuel cuts? In a word – votes. Keir Starmer has told MPs it is because the economy is beginning to improve – so the UK can now afford it. But there is no doubt that Labour has come under intense pressure on this issue since it had such an effect on the party's disastrous local election results at the start of this month. No 10 is also facing a potential Labour rebellion next month when tough welfare cuts are due to be voted on in the House of Commons. More than 100 Labour MPs have already signed a letter raising their concerns about the changes. Focus groups of voters have also told Labour that it could forgiven for the winter fuel cuts - if there is a full or semi-U-turn. Effectively, it is not too late. As long as the government acts soon. Kate Devlin, Whitehall Editor21 May 2025 12:20 Analysis | Kemi Badenoch homes in on a pain point for Starmer Kemi Badenoch has finally managed to hit a real pain point for Sir Keir Starmer at PMQs, pressing him on whether or not he will U-turn on winter fuel payments. Just minutes earlier, the PM indicated he would row back on the policy – saying he wants to ensure more pensioners are eligible for winter fuel payments. But instead of accepting him at his word, the leader of the opposition is now pushing him on the issue, urging him to say – yes or no – whether he will do a full U-turn. Even though Sir Keir already appears to have made the admission, Badenoch's approach is a sensible one. 'How can any of them ever trust him again', she asked, playing into growing fears that the PM lacks principles. Getting the prime minister to admit to a U-turn would be a victory for the Tories, allowing Badenoch to take credit for Labour's shifting position and highlight what many voters and Labour MPs are already concerned about – that the PM lacks conviction and, in the Tory leader's words 'can't give a straight answer to a simple question'. Millie Cooke, Political Correspondent21 May 2025 12:19 Starmer: Economic turnaround makes winter fuel u-turn possible Sir Keir Starmer is painting the winter fuel payment u-turn as possible due to an economic turnaround spurred by Labour's growth drive and trade deals with the US, India and EU. The prime minister said he wants to make sure 'people feel the benefit of the measures we are taking'. 'That is why I want to ensure more pensioners are eligible,' he added. He said: 'It is important that, as you would expect, that we are clear we can afford the decisions we are making. And that's why it will now be looked at at a fiscal event.' It means the u-turn could come on 11 June at the chancellor's spending review. Archie Mitchell21 May 2025 12:18 Tories left inflation 'bang on target', Kemi Badenoch says Kemi Badenoch has pounced on Wednesday's jump in inflation, arguing the Conservatives left it 'bang on target' at 2 per cent. Echoed by shadow chancellor Mel Stride, the Tory leader said that despite reacting to the war in Ukraine, 'inflation was brought down by us'. She said: 'While he is doing trade deals with countries like the US and India, their inflation is going down, it's going up here, why?' Sir Keir Starmer hit back by reminding MPs of the 'disastrous Liz Truss mini budget, inflation through the roof and a £22 billion black hole in the public finances'. Archie Mitchell21 May 2025 12:14 Analysis: Kemi Badenoch picks the right topic (for once) The beleaguered Tory leader has been much criticised for consistently missing the issues of the week in her six questions each week at PMQs. But today, Kemi Badenoch has gone for the throat on the right topic. On a day when inflation has risen and amid revelations that Angela Rayner wants eight new tax rises, Ms Badenoch has plenty to shoot at. Keir Starmer's claim she 'is talking the country down' rings a bit hollow. David Maddox, Political Editor21 May 2025 12:13
Telegraph
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Get ready for another coalition government
Coalition government made and unmade the Liberal Democrats. It made them, because it put Liberal Democrat MPs into ministerial office for the first time. And it unmade them, because it turned the party out of Parliament almost altogether. In 2010, just before they entered coalition, they had 62 MPs. In 2015, after a term of it, they were reduced to only eight. So Sir Nick Clegg, in suggesting that the Liberal Democrats enter coalition again in the event of a hung parliament, is thumping a bruise: memories of 2015 are painful, even ten years on, among the party that he used to lead. 'Politics without power is like a car without fuel'. What's he up to? There is no great mystery about Sir Nick's motives. Politicians are defensive of their record – and had he not entered the coalition he would be remembered as a minor party leader, rather than as Deputy Prime Minister. But there is more to his intervention than a backwards glance at his legacy. Sir Nick is also looking forward to what may happen after the next election. British politics is fragmenting: five parties now compete for votes in England – Labour, Reform, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats, and a de facto alliance of Greens, independents and Islamists. The political logic of electoral disintegration is a hung parliament. So Sir Nick's intervention is nothing if not timely, however inconvenient it may be for Sir Ed Davey. And inconvenient it certainly is. For Clegg is posing what, if the Liberal Democrats claim to be a serious party, is nothing less than an existential question for them – namely, what on earth are they for in the first place? What do they exist to do – other than publish leaflets with misleading bar charts and post placards that proclaim 'winning here'? Or, to cut to the chase, what's the point of Sir Ed – last seen challenging Sir Keir Starmer in a TikTok dance video? Does this former Cabinet Minister – Energy Secretary under the Coalition, no less – now exist only to tumble from paddleboards in Lake Windermere, or to hurl himself in bungee jumps from cranes? Is he no more than a walking, talking photo-op. Perhaps so – and in a Parliament in which Labour has a vast majority, Reform are rampant and the Conservatives are vanishing, Sir Ed's attention-seizing irrelevances are, on the whole, a net plus for his party. A hung parliament would be a different matter. The Liberal Democrat leader would have to put aside childish things. A minority party has four options in a hung parliament: to enter a coalition, give a government confidence and supply, bring it down – or simply dither. The Liberal Democrats chose the first in 2010. Then, their partner was the Conservatives. At the next election, their option would surely be, in the event of a hung Parliament, Sir Keir Starmer and Labour. Here's the crunch – for Sir Ed, at any rate. There is no gain from failing to make up one's mind. Nor, as matters stand, for pivoting back towards the Tories: after all, the Liberal Democrats have prospered by presenting themselves, post-Brexit, as a pro–Europe, southern-based alternative to the Conservatives. A revived alliance with them would be unthinkable. Electoral reality would suggest propping up Sir Keir – in return for as many concessions as Sir Ed could squeeze out of him. Customs union membership? Proportional representation? A written constitution? Who knows? But Sir Ed understands the terms of trade between the senior and junior partner in any arrangement – none better. Coalition would mean office, red boxes, ministerial cars, and jobs for the boys and girls. Confidence and supply would bring none of those things. But it would keep more distance between Sir Ed and Sir Keir. And so appease that segment of Liberal Democrat voters whose hearts may be on the Left, but whose wallets are on the Right, and are reflexively suspicious of Labour. But Sir Nick has raised a bigger question than the future of the party he used to lead – as it calculates the trade-offs between ministerial office and parliamentary numbers. Namely: what would other parties do in the event of a future hung parliament? We have the Liberal Democrats on the Centre-Left. What about the parties of the Right? If Reform are the smaller of the two Right-wing parties, might they enter into coalition with the Conservatives? If the Tories are the smaller, would they let themselves be swallowed up by Reform? Or would both parties rather endure another term of Sir Keir than work with each other? In encouraging us to think ahead, Sir Nick is doing us a service.
