UK Politics Thread part II

[Jimbuna]

Ministers hold emergency Cobra meeting amid wave of strikes

The government is discussing contingency plans for upcoming strikes, including using the military and civil servants to cover Border Force staff, at an emergency Cobra meeting.

The armed forces will also be deployed to hospital trusts ahead of an ambulance strike, the government says.

But Downing Street warned there would still be "serious disruption".

Cobra is an emergency response committee made up of ministers, civil servants and others.

It comes amid a wave of strikes over pay this month from nurses, paramedics, rail workers, and Border Force staff.

Cabinet Office minister Oliver Dowden, who is chairing the meeting, said the stance taken by unions would "cause disruption for millions of hardworking people".

"The government will do all it can to mitigate the impact of this action, but the only way to stop the disruption completely is for union bosses to get back round the table and call off these damaging strikes," he said.

"I will be chairing a series of Cobra meetings over the coming weeks to ensure our plans are as robust as possible, and that disruption is kept to a minimum."

However, the prime minister's official spokesman stressed that even with members of the armed forces driving ambulances, the number available to attend calls would be reduced "significantly".

The country is facing "a challenging number of days", he said.

Border Force officers employed by the Home Office are set to walk out at Gatwick, Heathrow, Manchester, Birmingham and Cardiff airports for eight days from 23 December to New Year's Eve.

Members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) - who represent 75% of all passport control staff - voted to take action in support of a 10% pay rise which they say will help border workers who are "struggling with the cost-of-living crisis".

Some military personnel are already being trained up as part of contingency planning in a bid to avoid widespread disruption at Christmas.

Armed forces will be sent to hospital trusts to familiarise themselves with vehicles ahead of an ambulance worker strike in England and Wales on 21 and 28 December.

Paramedics and control room staff will walk out in coordinated strike action by the three main ambulance unions - Unison, GMB and Unite - in a dispute over pay. The action will affect non-life threatening calls only.

Nurses in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are also set to strike on 15 and 20 December.

Trade unions are calling for bigger pay increases to help their members cope with rising prices, but Downing Street has argued that "inflation is everyone's enemy" and meeting union calls would embed higher prices.

No 10 also said talk of coordinated strikes was "concerning" as that would "exacerbate the misery" the public is facing.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has previously pledged to introduce "new tough" anti-strike laws.

But some of the unions have said instead of meeting each other, ministers should meet them and negotiate pay.

The Royal College of Nursing is due to meet Health Secretary Steve Barclay later.

However, ministers have previously said the government will not negotiate with unions on pay.

Mr Barclay told BBC Breakfast he was willing to continue engagement with nurses' unions but that the government had "honoured in full" the recommendation of the independent pay review body.

He added that he did not want to divert money away from clearing the post-Covid backlog to fund additional pay.

Pat Cullen, head of the RCN union, has said strikes due to take place this week could be paused if the health secretary "seriously" negotiated over pay.

A RCN spokesperson said the union would attend the meeting with the health secretary "in the hope the government is now serious about negotiating".

The nurses' union have called for their members to be given a pay rise of 5% above the RPI inflation rate, which in October was 14.2%.

Meanwhile, members of health unions Unison and Unite have voted to accept the Scottish government's pay offer of around 7.5%. Members of the Royal College of Nursing and GMB are still voting on whether to accept.

Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said a Labour government would not be able to afford such a rise but added that it "would be willing to meet and negotiate" to avoid a strike.

"I think the government's stubborn refusal to engage in serious negotiations shows they are spoiling for a fight and they want to blame nurses, blame paramedics and blame NHS staff for challenges in NHS services that are the direct fault and responsibility of 12 years of Conservative mismanagement," he said.

"Frankly I think that's disgusting."

Unison's head of health Sara Gorton said: "The wage rise given to health workers this year simply hasn't been enough to stop staff leaving in droves. Without enough employees in the NHS, patients will go on waiting too long for ambulances and for treatment to start."

"Instead of putting plans in place for the strike days, ministers should be concentrating all their efforts on ending the disputes," she added.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-63939396

[Jimbuna]

Rishi Sunak promises end to asylum seeker backlog by 2023

Rishi Sunak has promised more staff to help clear the UK's backlog of asylum seekers by the end of next year.

Under a plan unveiled by the prime minister, a dedicated unit of 400 specialists will be set up to handle claims from Albanians.

UK border officials will also be posted at Albania's main airport, under a new deal with the country.

There will also be 700 staff for a new unit to monitor small boats crossing the English Channel.

Mr Sunak also announced plans to house 10,000 asylum seekers waiting on claims in disused holiday parks, former student halls, and surplus military sites.

The asylum backlog has ballooned in recent years, with 143,377 awaiting an initial decision on their application and unable to work. Of these, nearly 100,000 have been waiting more than six months.

Pressure has been building on the Home Office, as increasing numbers of claimants, housed in private and hotel accommodation, wait for a decision by officials.

This has seen Mr Sunak label the small boats crisis a priority for his premiership.

More than 40,000 people have crossed the Channel in small boats so far this year - the highest number since figures began to be collected in 2018.

There has been a rapid increase in the number of Albanians crossing the Channel and this nationality now make up 35% of arrivals.

Speaking in the Commons, Mr Sunak said it was "unfair" that people were claiming asylum after entering the UK illegally.

He added that people were "right to be angry" with the current backlog, adding that global legal frameworks for asylum had become "obsolete".
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-63959729

[Gorpet]

Originally Posted by Catfish

"More than 200 miles north of London, in seaside Morecambe, Dusty Thomas says he spends many of his days quietly starving. He is 60, a veteran of the 1982 Falklands war and the sectarian “Troubles” in Northern Ireland."
What the H.

Keir Starmer, Is your Obama, His party will bring nothing but this .The last party in power left the Country in such shambles it will take his party 30 yrs to get things right.The fact is they were elected to work together.And should have been kicked to the road a long time ago. Look no 2 or 3 parties can work together especially in the new WOKE society.1 party rule and it should be the Poorest who Take Command,We have College Educations now and it's time to take the wealth of the world and disperse it across this Planet.
Who knows about life but the Poorest. But somewhere in this Cum blob there will be a Catfish that will say look i went to this University and it is better than yours and I'm smarter than you! And the whole process starts over again.There is a place for scientist a place for University Professors to teach.But the morals and common sense taught by Mothers and Fathers to their children who will never set a foot in any of these Institutions and who in their life times will pay for those who do.Should never be breached.
It's the poor who will never reach the heights, but trust in those who, get there that they remember who got them there. It seems when a Citizen gets a bite of any lip of power.They become Mars Attacks.

[Gorpet]

And one for you Jimbo, may you live long and prosper my friend.

A Song in an Age before the Politician.Will anyone be able to listen to this again after 2023 ?

[Gorpet]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

Rishi Sunak promises end to asylum seeker backlog by 2023

Rishi Sunak has promised more staff to help clear the UK's backlog of asylum seekers by the end of next year.

Under a plan unveiled by the prime minister, a dedicated unit of 400 specialists will be set up to handle claims from Albanians.

UK border officials will also be posted at Albania's main airport, under a new deal with the country.

There will also be 700 staff for a new unit to monitor small boats crossing the English Channel.

Mr Sunak also announced plans to house 10,000 asylum seekers waiting on claims in disused holiday parks, former student halls, and surplus military sites.

The asylum backlog has ballooned in recent years, with 143,377 awaiting an initial decision on their application and unable to work. Of these, nearly 100,000 have been waiting more than six months.

Pressure has been building on the Home Office, as increasing numbers of claimants, housed in private and hotel accommodation, wait for a decision by officials.

This has seen Mr Sunak label the small boats crisis a priority for his premiership.

More than 40,000 people have crossed the Channel in small boats so far this year - the highest number since figures began to be collected in 2018.

There has been a rapid increase in the number of Albanians crossing the Channel and this nationality now make up 35% of arrivals.

Speaking in the Commons, Mr Sunak said it was "unfair" that people were claiming asylum after entering the UK illegally.

He added that people were "right to be angry" with the current backlog, adding that global legal frameworks for asylum had become "obsolete".
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-63959729

I watch your Sky News every morning here in the USA at 7:00 am our time. It is incredible how the Labour Party mimics Joe Biden's party. And they will not let the Working World see their women in bikinis.It's good to be King then again after 32 They probably don't look so good.
Remember that song American woman stay away from me.Not even an American Man today wants an American women.They are to fluid in their Identities.

[Jimbuna]

Price rises year-on-year slowed in November, with the inflation rate down to 10.7%

But the cost of living is still close to a 40-year high, squeezing millions of households and businesses.

Food prices are still rising significantly - up 16.5% over the last 12 months.

The price of fuel has fallen from record highs but this was offset by a rise in the cost of alcohol in restaurants, cafes and pubs.

October's overall inflation rate of 11.1% was the highest for 41 years and up from 10.1% in September.

The rate is worked out by the Office for National Statistics, which notes the prices of hundreds of everyday items.

The Bank of England has warned inflation could top 13% this year, and is expected to keep raising interest rates to try to control it.

[les green01]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

Price rises year-on-year slowed in November, with the inflation rate down to 10.7%

But the cost of living is still close to a 40-year high, squeezing millions of households and businesses.

Food prices are still rising significantly - up 16.5% over the last 12 months.

The price of fuel has fallen from record highs but this was offset by a rise in the cost of alcohol in restaurants, cafes and pubs.

October's overall inflation rate of 11.1% was the highest for 41 years and up from 10.1% in September.

The rate is worked out by the Office for National Statistics, which notes the prices of hundreds of everyday items.

The Bank of England has warned inflation could top 13% this year, and is expected to keep raising interest rates to try to control it.

could be worse you could have harry and it still living over there but looks like they like peeing in the royal tea

[Jimbuna]

I think it better for everyone if he stays your side of the pond.

[Jimbuna]

Scottish Parliament suspended after Scottish budget leaked with furious MSPs blaming SNP

Holyrood's presiding officer has suspended parliament for half an hour after details of the Scottish budget were leaked to the press. Alison Johnstone spoke to the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to express her "concern" at the leak. They gave her their "categoric assurance" that the information was not shared with the BBC by the Government.

The BBC published a story setting out the tax rates which were due to be announced by SNP Deputy Leader John Swinney later today.

It was revealed that Mr Swinney planned to increase income tax rates for higher earners.

Income tax rates in Scotland, as well as several other taxes, are set by the Scottish government rather than at Westminster.

He is expected to put up the higher rate of tax from 41p to 42p in the pound and to increase the top rate from 46p to 47p.

The tax threshold for the top rate is also expected to be lowered from £150,000 to closer to £125,000.

This change has already been announced for other parts of the UK by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt.

The budget is expected to include around £500m extra for local government, along with an increase in the second homes tax part of the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax - the Scottish equivalent of stamp duty - from four percent to six percent.

Mr Swinney had been due to deliver his budget statement at 2.30pm but Ms Johnstone suspended the session for before he started speaking.

Speaking ahead of the budget announcement today, the Deputy First Minister said: "Our budget goals are mutually beneficial and represent a distinctive approach to the economic challenges we face.

"The Scottish budget will take further steps to address inequality and eradicate child poverty. It will encourage a just transition to net zero, creating wealth and opportunity across the country.

"It will be the catalyst for reforms necessary to ensure our first-class public services remain sustainable in the face of the challenges to come."

The Scottish First Minister took a knock to her authority earlier this month, after her party's Westminster Leader Ian Blackford announced he would be stepping down.

This came two weeks after Ms Sturgeon reportedly intervened to defend Mr Blackford from a coup to replace him.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/othe...4f47b32635b770

[les green01]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

I think it better for everyone if he stays your side of the pond.

as long as the turn coat don't cost us anything now a certain Princess did say Prince William step in during the Queen funeral stuff cause harry was going bring a film crew from Texas with him

[Jimbuna]

He's just about persona non grata over here.

[Jimbuna]

December strikes: 1,200 troops to cover for ambulances and Border Force

About 1,200 members of the military and 1,000 civil servants are to be drafted in to cover for striking ambulance and Border Force staff over Christmas.

The government say the personnel will plug staffing gaps and keep front-line services running.

Some 10,000 ambulance staff in England and Wales will strike on 21 and 28 December in a pay dispute.

Unions say military staff are not "sufficiently trained" to taking on ambulance roles.

But Health Secretary Steve Barclay said his "number one priority" is keeping patients safe.

However he declined to discuss "political debates", stressing that the military is directed by the government to "serve the nation".

The head of the armed forces has warned against viewing troops as "the go-to" option when it comes to covering strike action.

Speaking to the Sunday Telegraph, Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, said: "We're not spare capacity. We're busy and we're doing lots of things on behalf of the nation - we've got to focus on our primary role.".
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-64012800

[Gorpet]

Is it true? UK Special Forces frogmen are sinking Rubber boats coming from France? Now this on top of inquires about the same forces killing innocent Afghans.Look only Americans do a canoe shot...Maybe? Well ya know,when you are crawling on the stinking ground,living with the stinking bodies and the next 30 feet when you poke your head up.. oh ****!
The Politician He his Wife and His Oldest son and Daughter, sure will not be there with you.To smell the copper that the ground soaks up.Why can't all of our politicians children experience the decisions their parents make?

In WW2 they were called watermelon shots.And every soldier on either side who wanted to live was a participant.

[Jimbuna]

Rishi Sunak refusing to budge on pay as strike action escalates

By Kate Whannel
Political reporter, BBC News

Rishi Sunak has insisted he will not back down against striking workers, as nurses walk out in England, Northern Ireland and Wales for a second day.

Nurses' union boss Pat Cullen has urged the prime minister to resolve the crisis before Christmas.

But there is no sign of a breakthrough between the sides.

The prime minister told The Mail he would rather accept widespread disruption than increase workers' pay, which he says would fuel inflation.

The UK is facing its biggest week of industrial strikes in recent history in the run up to Christmas, with ambulance workers, customs and immigration staff, bus drivers and postal workers all staging walk outs.

The armed forces have been drafted in to cover some jobs - but concern is growing about Wednesday's ambulance drivers strike in England and Wales, with a health minister warning people to avoid "risky activity".

Workers are calling for higher pay to help them cope with the rising cost of living, but there are also additional disputes over working conditions.

Mr Sunak is facing calls to reopen talks on nurses' pay and deal with the growing wave of strikes across the public services.

But he told The Mail: "I'm going to do what I think is right for the long-term interests of the country - combating inflation."

Ministers have also argued it would be wrong to unpick the wage levels, which were set by the pay review bodies earlier this year.

The prime minister said unions should instead focus on future pay negotiations adding: "We do need to think about what's the right approach for next year."



There are two things I can see as potential olive branches here.

One is some sort of one-off payment to recognise the cost of living pressures.

Downing Street has been playing that down over the past 24 hours, saying it's certainly not on the table at the moment.

The other thing which the government keeps talking about is next year's pay deal and perhaps some movement on that - some tinkering of how that could be calculated.

But that's not good enough for the unions.

I've asked a lot of people in government over the last few days what the end game is for the government and I don't think there's a clear answer, apart from hoping that the unions end up accepting the current deal and then get back around the table to discuss a new deal for next year.

Speaking to the BBC's Today programme, Ms Cullen said she was "truly sorry" for every patient who would have their care disrupted during Tuesday's strikes.

"We would negotiate with government - again we won't dig in if they don't dig in.

"But we have no opportunity to do that because we can't get to a table to talk to government."

In a statement released ahead of the strikes, Ms Cullen said she believed the dispute could get "wrapped up by Christmas" if ministers engaged with union talks.

However, she warned that if the government wasn't "prepared to do the right thing" her union would have "no choice" but to continue striking in January.

The Royal College of Nursing has called for a 19% pay rise (5% above the RPI inflation rate) but the government has said this is unaffordable.

Ambulance staff - who are set to walk out on Wednesday - also want above-inflation pay rises, but have not set a specific figure.

Health Secretary Steve Barclay is due to meet health unions, however it is expected these talks will not touch on pay, but rather focus on how emergency care will be provided during the strikes.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-64037292

[Skybird]

Come and meet Mr. and Mrs. Inflation. You will not leave them as the person you were when you met them.