Chancellor Rachel Reeves dismisses Donald Trump's 'con job' wind turbine claim
Rachel Reeves has dismissed Donald Trump' s claim that wind turbines are a "con job" - as the US President said they ruin the view from his golf courses.
The Chancellor insisted on Monday that building solar farms was essential to create "homegrown energy" in the UK - stopping reliance on imports from Putin's Russia.
She said "never again can we have the boot of Putin on our neck, which was the experience after Russia invaded Ukraine and energy bills went through the roof".
It came as Mr Trump, who is visiting his golf courses in Scotland this week, launched into a rant about the use of windmills - saying he will not allow them to be built in the US.
The US President said: "They are killing the beauty of our scenery, our valleys, our beautiful plains... you look up and you see windmills all over the place, it's a horrible thing. "It's the most expensive form of energy, it's no good."
He added: 'The whole thing is a con job. It's very expensive... but more important than that is it ruins the landscape, it kills the birds, they are noisy.
"Today I'm playing I think the best [golf] course in the world, Turnberry... and I look over the horizon and I see nine windmills, I said 'isn't that a shame, what a shame'".
But asked by LBC about the comments, the Chancellor Ms Reeves said on Monday: "We've seen from the last few years and Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine that we've got to build our own homegrown energy infrastructure here in Britain.
"That includes solar farms, it includes onshore and offshore wind, because never again can we have the boot of Putin on our neck, which was the experience after Russia invaded Ukraine and energy bills went through the roof.
"That is still having an impact on the cost of living, and investment in clean, homegrown energy, boosts our security, brings jobs to Britain and ultimately brings down bills for working people, and that's the policies that we are pursuing as a government.
The US President has previously rallied against the use of wind turbines close to his golf course. Just last week he told European countries to "stop the windmills".
Over the weekend Mr Trump was seen on his Turnberry golf course in South Ayrshire, being transported between holes in a motorcade of 26 golf carts and one small secret service vehicle. His son Eric was with him on the course.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
7 minutes ago
- The Independent
Interest rates cut to 4% as UK inflation picks up
UK interest rates have been cut to their lowest level since March 2023, despite the Bank of England predicting a sharp rise in inflation amid accelerating food prices. The central bank chose to reduce interest rates to 4% from 4.25%, pointing towards a recent fall in wage inflation and reduced uncertainty over the impact of US tariffs. The cut came after the Bank's nine-person rate-setting committee was forced to take a second vote for the first time in its history. The Bank's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) initially saw four of its committee vote for the 0.25 percentage point reduction, four vote to keep rates at 4.25% and one, Alan Taylor, vote for a 0.5 percentage point cut. Governor Andrew Bailey then led a second vote, when Mr Taylor gave his backing for a cut to 4%, providing a majority of five to four. Mr Bailey said: 'We've cut interest rates today, but it was a finely balanced decision. 'Interest rates are still on a downward path, but any future rate cuts will need to be made gradually and carefully.' Lower interest rates will be welcomed by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, and the move is likely to reduce the Government debt payment costs. It comes after warnings from the NIESR think tank that the Chancellor may need to find a further £40 billion through tax rises or spending cuts in her autumn Budget in order to balance the state finances. Firms were already hit by significant tax and wage cost increases in April after Ms Reeves' first Budget. In its fresh report, the Bank of England warned that UK businesses said increased national insurance contribution payments and uncertainty caused by the tax rise have 'weighed on growth'. Nevertheless, the Bank raised its economic growth forecast for this year, predicting that GDP (gross domestic product) will grow by 1.25% in 2025, up from its previous estimate of 1%. It comes despite latest figures from the Office for National Statistics showing that the economy contracted in both April and May. Bank officials indicated that the economy is still likely to have grown by 0.1% over the second quarter, and predicted this will pick up further through the year amid hopes that reduced interest rates will encourage spending. Meanwhile, inflation is expected to accelerate in the coming months, putting more pressure on household budgets. Consumer price index (CPI) inflation is now on track to peak at 4% in September, surpassing previous guidance that it would peak at 3.5%. The increased cost of living is largely being driven by higher energy and food prices, according to the Bank. Food prices have jumped in recent months, with the cost of beef, chocolate and coffee all accelerating. The inflation reading for September could also be influential as it is typically used to decide how much benefits increase the following year and is also one aspect of the pension triple lock. The triple lock means that pensions will rise by the highest of the September inflation reading, wage inflation for the month, or 2.5%. Inflation will remain higher than previously expected for the next two years. The Bank said inflation is now on track to drop down to the 2% target rate set by the Government in 2027. On Thursday, the Bank also said it now had increased clarity over the potential impact of US President Donald Trump's tariff regime compared with its previous report in May. It said tariffs will now drag down UK economic growth by 0.2 percentage points, down from 0.3, after the Government's trade agreement with the US.
The Independent
7 minutes ago
- The Independent
Ukraine-Russia war latest: Trump and Putin to meet ‘in coming days' but no sign Zelensky will be invited
An agreement has been reached for Putin and Trump to meet 'in the coming days' to discuss a ceasefire, a Kremlin aide reportedly told Russian media. The venue for the meeting has been agreed and is due to be announced later, and all parties have begun working on the details, IFAX reports, citing Yuri Ushakov. It comes after Trump said there was 'a good chance' of a leaders' summit between Putin and Zelensky, which would be their first meeting since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The face-to-face meeting would also be the first between a sitting US and Russian president since Joe Biden met Putin in Geneva in June 2021, some eight months before Russia launched the biggest attack on a European nation since the Second World War. Earlier, Trump said his envoy Steve Witkoff made 'great progress' in a meeting with Putin in Moscow, adding: 'Everyone agrees this War must come to a close, and we will work towards that in the days and weeks to come.' What are the Storm Shadow missiles Russia claims to have shot down? Earlier, we reported Russia claimed it had shot down eight British-made Storm Shadow missiles in service with the Ukrainian army over the past 24 hours. - Storm Shadows are cruise missiles developed by France and the UK in the 90s. They are launched from aircraft. - They have a range of more than 155 miles and exceed 600mph, according to manufacturer MBDA. - The RAF and French air forced used them in the Gulf, Libya and Iraq. - The UK announced it would provide Ukraine with Storm Shadow missiles in May 2023 - the first country to do so. Steffie Banatvala7 August 2025 12:30 Zelensky says Europe must participate in Ukraine peace process after Germany call Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Europe must participate in the peace process between his country and Russia after a call with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday. 'Ukraine is not afraid of meetings and expects the same brave approach from the Russian side,' he said. Steffie Banatvala7 August 2025 12:22 Putin to visit India soon: reports Russian President Putin is set to visit India soon, NDTV reported, citing India's National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval. Mr Doval is in Moscow but did not specify dates. We are very excited and delighted to learn about the visit of President Putin to India. I think the dates are almost finalised now. The NSA Steffie Banatvala7 August 2025 11:41 ICYMI Watch: Trump envoy Witkoff meets Putin in Moscow as Russia-Ukraine peace deadline looms Steffie Banatvala7 August 2025 11:30 Steffie Banatvala7 August 2025 11:29 Zelensky will be bullied if Britain not invited to peace talks: UK former defence sec Zelensky will be bullied by Trump and Putin if Britain is not invited to peace talks, UK former defence secretary has said. 'Because both Trump and Putin are known to be bullies, they bully people all the time, and I don't think two bullies versus Zelensky, who is a brave man, but I don't think would necessarily produce the right outcomes,' Sir Ben Wallace told Times Radio. Steffie Banatvala7 August 2025 11:23 Ukraine says it struck Russia's Afipsky oil refinery The Ukrainian military said on Thursday its drone units had hit the Afipsky oil refinery in Russia's Krasnodar region, sparking flames in gas processing equipment. Russian emergency services reported a fire at the plant caused by falling drone debris. Steffie Banatvala7 August 2025 11:19 Explained: How much Russian oil does India buy? As Trump's sweeping new global tariffs have come into force today, India is set to be hit by another 25 percent in late August, bringing the total to 50 percent. The tariffs aim to target India's big purchases of Russian oil, the cornerstone of Moscow's war coffers and economy. Here, Arpan Rai explains: Here's how much Russian oil does India buy - explained New Delhi vows to continue buying Russian crude despite Donald Trump's threat to hike tariffs Steffie Banatvala7 August 2025 11:00 In pictures: Ukraine troops on the front line in Donetsk
Daily Mail
7 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Inside the unusual and historic Bank of England vote decision: JESSICA CLARK saw the three-way deadlock unfold...
The Bank of England has cut interest rates but warned that Rachel Reeves's tax raid on businesses has pushed up food prices for British households. For the first time in the Bank's history, policymakers had to vote twice on how fast to slash borrowing costs amid a three-way deadlock. In a boost to mortgage holders, Threadneedle Street economists cut rates by 0.25 percentage points to 4 per cent after an unprecedented second vote. But inflation is forecast to hit 4 per cent later this year – higher than the Bank's previous expectations and its 2 per cent target - casting doubt on pace of future reductions. BoE governor Andrew Bailey today cautioned that subsequent rate cuts must be done 'gradually and carefully'. The warning came as the Bank's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) said rising prices are being driven in part by the Chancellor's National Insurance Contributions (NICs) hike and inflation-busting minimum wage increase. Reeves's policies have fuelled spiralling grocery bills, with food inflation expected to peak at 5.5 per cent this year after hitting 4.5 per cent in June. Stubborn inflation increased uncertainty over the pace of future interest rate cuts after the Bank's nine-person MPC was trapped in a three-way split on today's decision. Four members including Bailey voted to cut borrowing costs by 0.25 percentage points to 4 per cent, while four wanted to hold rates at 4.25 per cent. Just one member, Alan Taylor, voted to cut rates faster, by 0.5 percentage points to 3.75 per cent. For the historic second poll, Taylor backed a 0.25 percentage point cut to break the deadlock. That meant the final decision was a 5-4 split in favour of setting rates at 4 per cent. Bailey said: 'We've cut interest rates today but it was a finely balanced decision. 'Interest rates are still on a downward path but any future rate cuts will need to be made gradually and carefully.' The Bank's Monetary Policy report, which was published alongside the rates decision, said that 'domestic labour costs are currently an important driver of food price inflation'. 'That is in part because a relatively high proportion of staff in these sectors are paid at or close to the National Living wage, which increased by 6.7 per cent in April,' it said. 'Furthermore, overall labour costs of supermarkets are likely to have been disproportionally affected by the lower threshold at which employers start paying NICs in part because a relatively high proportion of supermarket staff is employed part time.' Who is Alan Taylor? Professor Alan Taylor is an economist and currently Professor of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University. He has served as a senior advisor at Morgan Stanley, PIMCO and McKinsey. He is a research associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research and is a research fellow of the Centre for Economic Policy Research. He is also visiting scholar at the Bank of England. He has published papers in leading academic journals in the fields of macroeconomics, international economics, finance and economic history. Born in Wakefield, Professor Alan Taylor graduated from King's College, Cambridge, before receiving his PhD in Economics from Harvard University. Last month, he said: 'In the near term I see stronger disinflationary forces building up over the rest of this year, and then in the medium term I see a need to reach for a lower neutral level over the course of 2026 and 2027 should we be able to normalize smoothly. 'For those two reasons, I was persuaded to not only vote for a lower level of bank rate now but also to signal the need to be on a lower path over the year to come.' Higher employment costs have added 1 to 2 per cent to food prices so far, and a new packaging tax later this year is expected to pile further pressure on supermarkets. Some products including coffee, chocolate and beef have also increased in price due to weather conditions. Shoppers have already tried to reduce their supermarket spending by buying own-brand products, cheaper cuts of meat and larger value packs, the report said. And grocers reported strong sales of 'premium ready meals' as Britons held back on eating out at restaurants in a bid to save money. As well as hiking prices, businesses were trying to save money by cutting staffing levels including making redundancies and imposing hiring freezes, the report found. And they warned that Angela Raynor's workers' rights bill was adding to their uncertainty. 'To reduce the need for higher prices, many firms along the supply chain were trying to mitigate cost increases, including through reductions in headcount,' the report said. Bosses were looking towards automation, artificial intelligence and offshoring jobs as a solution to higher UK employment costs.
