Antony Hook

Centrist ideas no longer wanted in Conservative party, says Kemi Badenoch Party leader tells MPs that one-nation Tories doubting her rightward direction ‘need to get out of the way’

Its no surprise that centrist, moderate people who once voted Conservative are now supporting the Liberal Democrats.

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Rubbish.

NATO is a defensive mutual alliance .

"Imperialist war machines" invade other countries to seize territory or resources.

NATO only acts defensively and has deterred imperialist wars by others.

ALT TEXT: A diagram showing Nadhim Zahawi, Robert Jenrick, Suella Braverman Team Johnson Nadhim Zahawi, Robert Jenrick, Suella Braverman Team Truss Nadhim Zahawi, Robert Jenrick, Suella Braverman Team Farage Nadhim Zahawi, Robert Jenrick, Suella Braverman

🎵I think I’ve seen this film before, and I didn’t like the ending…🎶

The people who broke our country are the same people Nigel Farage is now relying on to fix it.

It couldn’t be clearer: Reform UK are simply the Conservatives with a new logo.

I believe the legislation has changed and he can't now.

Not the biggest issue in the nation but I felt punished and put to expense for doing the right thing and can see why others don't bother and lose faith.

I did and eventually got it but the local officials really put me through the wringer in a nit picking, time consuming way. They refused pp initially and I had to appeal to the Planning Inspector to get it.

I felt this myself a few years back when I put a gate on our drive. The height meant it legally needed planning permission. I knew my local council does no enforcement. If I just it up, nothing would happen. But I felt I should do the right thing and apply for pp.

Planning law is often held in contempt by people because the enforcement is extremely variable across the country. In many local authorities there is literally no enforcement against planning breaches.

I am on a long motorway journey (my wife driving) during which some people's contempt for the rule of law has been very very observable.

Terrible idea to block him. Wrong in principle because selections should be democratic. Wrong strategically because Labour need him. Self-defeating tactically because people will say "he was robbed."

People should write Trump a list:

Things You Could Do To Win One (Or More!) Nobel Peace Prize.

As POTUS he has numerous tools to actually do those things.

It would genuinely be magnificent for us all.

Not directly but they can bring residents together to more effectively challenge the level of the charges, how well they are being used and so on.

Developers of new estates that charge service charges are also a vested interests that tries to deter parishing.

Yes and people sometimes campaign against a PC being created on basis "you'll pay more tax" ignoring fact a PC can, if you want, set zero precept but still become a statutory consultee for many things and can apply for external money.

In recent years rules have changed to enable parties to hit voters with vast amounts of national direct mail, even in local elections.

Spending rules actually enable voters to get more comms from a national party leader than from a local candidate.

This strips community from local politics

Another factor undermining politics which builds up community spirit is current electoral rules.

Some parties builds up support mostly or entirely by canvassing and neighbourhood level leaflets.

This tends to put a sense of place and community and the centre of elections and actions post-election

Creating new Town/Parish Councils is often opposed by local politicians/parties who are established on principal LAs and don't like the idea of many more "councillors" being created in their area as potential political rivals.

But it would make a huge difference if more areas were parished.

My local Town Council has a budget of about £700k for a town of about 11,000 households. It can and does add a lot of value to people's lives.

Towns/Parishes can raise a precept but are not hidebound by overwhelming statutory functions in the way principal Local Authorities are, and they experience almost no central government interference.

A very valuable article which I shall read a couple of times to get the best of.

But I am struck by lack of reference to Town and Parish Councils, many of which do the kind of things the article suggests.

Large parts of England don't have them. There are none in Greater London for example.

Newspapers and major news websites ought to be required to have a 10cm box in a corner of page 1 that says:

"The principal owners of this newspaper live in [country] and [do/do not] pay tax in the UK]."

"We're the only party showing we want to re-engage with Europe in a serious way."

@EdDavey.LibDems.org.uk

Thank you. That sounds fun. Did they need a car once they got there?

Demand better

Reform is fast becoming "Conservatives with a new name and logo."

But with the worst aspects of conservativism increased and the more honourable side removed.

It's the most facile rebrand since Royal Mail briefly became Consignia in 2001.

We love that train. Did it a couple of Decembers ago and Father Christmas came aboard!

Yes, we have EH membership. Living in Kent with castles galore its very good value. 🏰

I'm glad to have recently joined Bluesky but am not clear yet on how well anything that isn't vaguely political will get answered.

But let's see...

Any suggestions for non-obvious places in 🇬🇧/🇮🇪 for really good holidays with children (primary aged)?

BBC Politics Tweet reading: "Greenland... is a second order issue" Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch says there are more important issues in global politics than Donald Trump's attempts to acquire Greenland, such as the protests in Iran

No Kemi, Trump threatening to invade a NATO ally is not a "second order issue."

It’s a direct challenge to Britain’s security and the future of NATO.

🚨 NEW: All of Reform's 12 councils will raise council tax this year despite pledging not to in campaigns

Some of the planned rises include:

Worcestershire - 10%
Derbyshire - 4.99%
West Northamptonshire - 4.99%
Kent - 3.99%
Staffordshire - 3.99%

[@thetimes]