logo
Cometh the hour, cometh the resentment

Cometh the hour, cometh the resentment

The Guardian30-03-2025

Is it just me who resents the pointless exercise of changing the clocks twice a year? And it's not just clocks – it's the central heating, the cooker, the microwave, the outside lighting, the CCTV, the home telephones and various other timers that are usually forgotten about. Then before you know it, the whole process has to be reversed. To what end exactly?Dr John DaviesKirkby-in-Cleveland, North Yorkshire
The BBC certainly chooses its timing well ('I feel really, really cross at incredibly dumb decisions': Stephen Sackur on the end of HARDtalk – and leaving the BBC, 24 March). Precisely when there is increasing public dissatisfaction with politics and politicians, it ends HARDtalk – one of the few programmes that ensured key movers and shakers could not dodge questions or get away with simplistic answers.Michael MeadowcroftLeeds
America has Doge, maybe Keir Starmer should set up Dobe – Department of Benefits Extraction, run by a British billionaire. Sir Jim Ratcliffe springs to mind, with his recent experience of implementing unpopular cost-saving measures. James LoganEdgware, London
It's good to hear Hirundinidae passerines are returning to these shores (Letters, 24 March), but for most of us, the first swallow of summer is still the involuntary gulp that occurs when we get our annual council tax and energy statements.Mike HineKingston upon Thames, London
There is nothing better than spotting the first Half Man Half Biscuit letter of spring. I feel doubly blessed, even before March is out (Letters, 23 and 26 March). Alan ReynoldsSmethwick, West Midlands
Do you have a photograph you'd like to share with Guardian readers? If so, please click here to upload it. A selection will be published in our Readers' best photographs galleries and in the print edition on Saturdays.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Chancellor to unveil £113bn spending plans focused on NHS, defence and schools
Chancellor to unveil £113bn spending plans focused on NHS, defence and schools

STV News

time2 hours ago

  • STV News

Chancellor to unveil £113bn spending plans focused on NHS, defence and schools

Chancellor Rachel Reeves will promise to 'invest in Britain's renewal' as she reveals her spending plans on Wednesday. The UK Government's spending review is expected to include a £113bn investment package, boosted by looser borrowing rules. Reeves will announce significant increases in funding for the NHS, defence and education, alongside changes to Treasury rules aimed at directing more investment outside London and the south-east of England. She will say the spending plans are 'possible only because of the stability I have introduced' since the October budget, adding the review will 'ensure renewal is felt in people's everyday lives, their jobs, their communities.' 'The priorities in this spending review are the priorities of working people,' Reeves is set to say. 'To invest in our country's security, health and economy so working people all over our country are better off.' The chancellor has already committed £15.6bn to public transport in England's city regions and £16.7bn for nuclear projects, including the Sizewell C plant in Suffolk. However, the review will impose tight spending limits on most departments outside health, defence and education. While the policing budget is expected to rise above inflation, this could come with cuts elsewhere in the Home Office. Ahead of the announcement, the Institute for Fiscal Studies warned that any NHS funding rise above 2.5% could mean real-terms cuts for other departments or tax increases in the autumn budget. Reeves has reaffirmed Labour's commitment to keeping income tax, national insurance and VAT rates unchanged. She will tell MPs on Wednesday: 'I have made my choices. In place of chaos, I choose stability. In place of decline, I choose investment. In place of retreat, I choose national renewal. 'These are my choices. These are this Government's choices. These are the British people's choices.' But the SNP has called on Reeves to 'abandon Labour Party austerity cuts and deliver urgent support to tackle soaring poverty and help families with the cost of living'. SNP Westminster Leader Stephen Flynn also said it was essential that Scotland finally gets its fair share of capital investment to boost economic growth and create jobs. He said: 'The real test of the UK spending review will be whether the Labour government abandons its devastating austerity cuts to disabled people, and finally takes the bold action needed to eradicate child poverty – or whether the Chancellor ploughs ahead with billions of pounds of cuts to hard-pressed households. 'This is a test of values. Voters were promised change but the cost of living is sky-high, poverty is soaring to record levels on Keir Starmer's watch – and Labour Party austerity cuts are making things even worse. 'Unless the chancellor changes course, more families will fall into deprivation and destitution as a direct result of Labour government failure. 'The chancellor must abandon Labour Party austerity cuts and deliver urgent support to tackle poverty and help families with the cost of living – and Scotland must not be treated as an afterthought when it comes to investment. 'It is essential that Scotland finally gets its fair share of capital investment to boost economic growth and create jobs. 'That means immediately funding vital Scottish energy projects, including Scottish carbon capture, instead of the Labour government constantly cutting and delaying projects in Scotland while pumping billions of pounds into the south of England. 'Time and again, the Labour government has blocked or cut funding for projects in Scotland. It cut £800m of funding for Edinburgh's supercomputer – and handed millions to Bristol's. 'It has delayed Scottish Carbon Capture while pumping billions into England's – and it broke its promise to save Grangemouth, while it set aside billions for steel in Scunthorpe. Scotland must get the investment it needs – and it must get it now.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country

Cheap bus fares to cheap housing - what is in Rachel Reeves spending review
Cheap bus fares to cheap housing - what is in Rachel Reeves spending review

Wales Online

time2 hours ago

  • Wales Online

Cheap bus fares to cheap housing - what is in Rachel Reeves spending review

Cheap bus fares to cheap housing - what is in Rachel Reeves spending review Chancellor Rachel Reeves is announcing billions of pounds for schools, the NHS, defence and nuclear power - as well as public transport changes Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves Rachel Reeves will unveil her spending review on Wednesday, arguing that her priorities are 'the priorities of working people'. The Chancellor is expected to focus on 'Britain's renewal' as she sets out her spending plans for the coming years, with big increases for the NHS, defence and schools. Arguing that the Government is 'renewing Britain', she will acknowledge that 'too many people in too many parts of the country are yet to feel it'. She will say: 'This Government's task – my task – and the purpose of this spending review is to change that, to ensure that renewal is felt in people's everyday lives, their jobs, their communities.' ‌ Among the main announcements is expected to be a £30 billion increase in NHS funding, a rise of around 2.8% in real terms, along with an extra £4.5 billion for schools and a rise in defence spending to 2.5% of GDP. ‌ But Wednesday could present a tough prospect for other government as the Chancellor seeks to balance Labour's commitments on spending with her fiscal rules. The Institute for Fiscal Studies has already warned that any increase in NHS funding above 2.5% is likely to mean real-terms cuts for other departments, or further tax rises to come in the budget this autumn. This could mean a budgetary squeeze for areas such as local government, the justice system and the Home Office, despite reports that policing would receive an above-inflation settlement. The Chancellor has already insisted that her fiscal rules remain in place, along with Labour's manifesto commitment not to increase income tax, national insurance or VAT. She will say on Wednesday: 'I have made my choices. In place of chaos, I choose stability. In place of decline, I choose investment. In place of retreat, I choose national renewal. These are my choices. These are this Government's choices. These are the British people's choices.' Article continues below Other announcements expected on Wednesday include £39 billion for social and affordable housing over the next decade as the Government aims to meet its target of building 1.5 million new homes by the next election. The Treasury said this would see annual investment in affordable housing rise to £4 billion by 2029/30, almost double the average of £2.3 billion between 2021 and 2026. The additional spending has been welcomed by homelessness charities, with Crisis calling it 'a determined political signal that housing really matters' and Shelter describing the move as 'a watershed moment in tackling the housing emergency'. The Chancellor has also already announced some £15.6 billion of spending on public transport in England's city regions, and £16.7 billion for nuclear power projects, the bulk of which will fund the new Sizewell C plant in Suffolk. There is also expected to be an extension of the £3 bus fare cap until March 2027 and an extra £445 million for upgrading Welsh railways. ‌ But one of the big losers from the spending review could be London, which is not expected to receive funding for any significant infrastructure projects or powers to introduce a tourist levy – both key requests from Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan. The full details will be revealed in the Commons on Wednesday, but several announcements have already been made. They include: ‌ – £15.6 billion for public transport projects in England's city regions; – £16.7 billion for nuclear power projects, including £14.2 billion for the new Sizewell C power plant in Suffolk; – £39 billion over the next 10 years to build affordable and social housing; ‌ – An extension of the £3 bus fare cap until March 2027; – £445 million for upgrades to Welsh railways. The Chancellor is also expected to announce changes to the Treasury's 'green book' rules that govern whether major projects are approved. Article continues below The Government hopes that changing the green book will make it easier to invest in areas outside London and the South East.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store