Latest news with #AndrewGeorge
Middle East Eye
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
The Settlers: Louis Theroux takes an unflinching look at the Israelis intent on stealing the West Bank
Earlier this month, two British Labour MPs were denied entry to Israel and deported. They had planned to visit the occupied Palestinian territories. It was national news and provoked a minor diplomatic spat. A week later, two more parliamentarians, independent MP Shockat Adam and Liberal Democrat MP Andrew George, actually got into Israel and toured the occupied Palestinian territories. They returned to Britain just over a week ago with stories of being confronted by armed Israeli settlers, of being questioned by Israeli police on Adam's religion - and of witnessing settlers intimidating Palestinians. Few British newspapers or television channels paid any interest or reported on the trip. Now, though, the Israeli settler movement is in the headlines. This is thanks to a new BBC documentary entitled The Settlers, which aired on Sunday night.
The National
23-04-2025
- Politics
- The National
UK MP tells of being detained during tense crossing into occupied West Bank
Two British MPs who have just returned from Israel and the occupied West Bank have told of a tense border crossing during which one was detained and they feared they would be fired on. This comes as pressure grows on the UK government to take a stronger stance against Israel's military campaign in Gaza. Andrew George, Liberal Democrat MP for St Ives in Cornwall, south-west England, and Adam Shockat, an independent MP for Leicester West, in central England, travelled to Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and West Bank towns last week, defying fears they could be denied entry. They were not turned back, but faced harassment during their stay. Mr George was briefly detained at the crossing into the West Bank and then released, following calls to the British embassy in Israel. Mr Shockat described how police officers in the West Bank walked towards their car pointing guns, with their fingers on the triggers. 'It was only after our local guide explained who we were that the guns were lowered, but the hands were still on the trigger,' he said. Their trip came as some European politicians face growing travel restrictions to Israel. This month, two Labour MPs were denied entry into Israel and deported, prompting outcry in Parliament and condemnation from the UK's Foreign Secretary David Lammy. Abtisam Mohamed, MP for Sheffield Central, in northern England, and Yuan Yang, MP for Earley and Woodley in Berkshire, in southern England, are members of the foreign affairs committee, which has been scrutinising the UK's foreign policy on the Israel-Palestine conflict. In France, a delegation of left-wing politicians saw their visas to Israel revoked by the Israeli authorities, two days before their planned trip. Mr George said he'd spoken to Mr Lammy ahead of his trip, and that believed that 'representations' made by the Foreign Office the Israeli authorities ensured the pair were allowed into Israel and the West Bank. The pair had been briefed by Foreign Office officials not to hand in their phones, should they be detained. They had also been advised to travel with phones and laptops that contained very little information. Mr George said he'd been 'anxious' throughout the trip, owing to statements he made criticising Israel's war in Gaza having been reported in Israeli media the week before. Mr George's constituency of St Ives is still reeling from the death of Cornishman James Henderson, an aid worker who was killed by Israeli air strike in Gaza in April 2024. 'The tragedy extends to our back door,' said Mr George. Letters from concerned constituents about the Israel-Gaza war compelled the MP to travel to Israel and Palestine. 'Although it isn't on our doorstep, it certainly is in people's minds. My constituents consistently view it as the epicentre of wider world conflict,' he said. Former Royal Marine Mr Henderson, 33, was active in sporting activities in West Cornwall, including boxing. 'He was well known and liked in our community in a way that resonated across West Cornwall. It caused a secondary grief,' said Mr George. He was among the seven aid workers from World Central Kitchen food relief non-governmental organisation who were killed in April last year in an attack on their convoy. Israel described the strike as a 'grave mistake' and apologised. Mr George called for further investigation into the attack, and said the UK government had not pressurised Israel sufficiently on the issues. 'We don't know that there is an investigation at the moment. We were promised it, but it really depends on the Israeli government,' he told The National. 'It was raised in the house the other day. The [UK] government is being excessively lily-livered as far as these issues are concerned,' he said. Mr George and Mr Shockat are expected to meet with Foreign Office ministers to brief them about their trip. They have called on the UK to impose stricter sanctions on Israel settlers in illegal settlements − including a ban on their goods − and for recognition of the Palestinian state. 'It's very clear that the majority of Labour backbenchers are on our side of the debate, and are actually pressing the government to do more to recognise the state of Palestine and to press for stronger action,' said Mr George. Though the Lib Dem MP has advocated for a two-state solution in the past, Palestinians he had met during his trip viewed the concept as 'no longer helpful, plausible or achievable'. 'I've advocated for it myself, but having now that I've visited the region, I can see why some see it as a waste of political energy … for those who are determined in securing long-term peace. It creates a veneer of purposefulness that seems too far off,' he said. Instead, he proposes a 'two-stage solution' that would see an end to the Israeli 'segregation' of Palestinians and equal rights for all, as a path towards two states. Mr Shockat warned that the West Bank could turn into the next Gaza. "We are one minute to midnight at this moment. If it's left unaddressed, it's going to have consequences − not for the region, but for the world," he said.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Cornwall plots to close second homes council tax loophole
Cornish MPs are plotting to close a loophole which allows second home owners to avoid paying higher council tax. It comes after the coastal county introduced a 100pc council tax premium on second home owners on April 1 – leaving some families facing £5,000 a year bills. Second home owners who rent out their property as a holiday let for 70 nights a year can qualify for business rates – and those with just one property are likely to qualify for further tax relief. Unlike council tax, business rates are not based on bands. Rather, they are calculated based on the property's 'rateable value', and can typically work out cheaper than council tax. Ben Maguire, the Liberal Democrat MP for North Cornwall, who is leading the charge against the tax loophole, said: 'I have dubbed it the 'Airbnb Bill'.' The Telegraph understands that the main focus of the policy will be on closing the business rates loophole, which allows second home owners to become short-term lets and avoid council tax. Mr Maguire said the bill was two-fold: 'Number one is to force second home owners to apply for planning permission when they want to turn their second home into a holiday let.' This is already the case in Gwynedd, north west Wales, which introduced planning permission for new holiday lets and second homes last year, under 'Article 4' rules. He added: 'The second part of the bill is if you are changing your home from a residential permanent occupancy property, to a non-permanent second home, you will also need to apply for planning permission.' Mr Maguire and other Cornish MPs, including Andrew George MP for St Ives, Noah Law, the Labour MP for St Austell & Newquay, and Anna Gelderd, the Labour MP for South East Cornwall, met housing minister, Matthew Pennycook, to discuss their proposals last week. More than two thirds of town halls opted to impose a 100pc council tax premium on second homes from April 1 under powers granted in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act. The powers were introduced by former Conservative cabinet minister, Michael Gove, to protect housing stock in popular holiday destinations and coastal towns. There are 13,140 second homes in Cornwall, according to the local authority, of which 2,652 are categorised as long-term empty. Council tax on a Band D second home is now £4,919.84, or more than £400 a month, after an increase of 4.99pc this year and the introduction of the 100pc premium. But second home owners have claimed that they weren't properly warned about the changes, which were advertised in local newspapers they don't read. The Telegraph last month revealed that MPs would be spared the premiums as allowances would rise to cover the tax bills. Mr Maguire said: 'You've got housing developments in places like Bodmin, a quite low socioeconomic town, historically, and you're actually finding now, even in Bodmin, lots of the big developments are becoming second homes, lots and lots of them.' Andrew George, the Liberal Democrat MP for St Ives, said that he had pointed out how the small business rates relief could be used as a loophole for second homes as long ago as 2012. He said: 'I highlighted then how it could attract second home owners to flip from council tax to business rates, and indeed that happened at a relatively industrial scale.' Mr George will meet with Treasury ministers in the coming weeks to discuss the business rates loophole after raising it in the House of Commons. He also supported a registration scheme for short-term lets – which the Ministry of Housing said last August would be introduced 'as quickly as possible' – and offered the county as a pilot. He said: 'We've offered to pilot the registration scheme. I don't think it is one that you would necessarily want to roll out as a complete scheme.' John Brown, head of the Cornwall Chamber of Commerce, said: 'We're dealing with a surplus, not a scarcity, of Airbnbs.' 'This isn't a fight between tourism and housing, but it is an addressing of and a bit of a rebalance.' Mr Brown said he didn't think the policy would push up prices for tourists, and added: 'The balance won't have an impact in terms of the actual pricing, or pricing tourists out of Cornwall. There's no two ways about it, it's not a cursory spend to come and spend time in Cornwall.' But chief executive of the Short-term Accommodation Association (STAA), Andy Fenner, said: 'I've met with local MP's, and explained the real-world contribution of short-term rentals – yet they seem more interested in grabbing headlines than solving the housing crisis. 'We're calling on the Government to support tourism and those who work in it, not scapegoat our sector for the failure to build enough homes.' In Wales, the strict rules precipitated the biggest fall in year-on-year house prices, with Gwynedd seeing a drop of 12pc, according to the Principality Building Society. A Ministry of Housing spokesman said: 'We are determined to fix the housing crisis we have inherited, and we know that having excessive concentrations of second homes and short-term lets in an area can drive up housing costs for local people and damage local services.' The spokesman said the Government was considering further action on short-term lets and second homes. Cornwall County Council declined to comment due to upcoming local elections. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
10-04-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Cornwall plots to close second homes council tax loophole
Cornish MPs are plotting to close a loophole which allows second home owners to avoid paying higher council tax. It comes after the coastal county introduced a 100pc council tax premium on second home owners on April 1 – leaving some families facing £5,000 a year bills. Second home owners who rent out their property as a holiday let for 70 nights a year can qualify for business rates – and those with just one property are likely to qualify for further tax relief. Unlike council tax, business rates are not based on bands. Rather, they are calculated based on the property's 'rateable value', and can typically work out cheaper than council tax. Ben Maguire, the Liberal Democrat MP for North Cornwall, who is leading the charge against the tax loophole, said: 'I have dubbed it the 'Airbnb Bill'.' The Telegraph understands that the main focus of the policy will be on closing the business rates loophole, which allows second home owners to become short-term lets and avoid council tax. Mr Maguire said the bill was two-fold: 'Number one is to force second home owners to apply for planning permission when they want to turn their second home into a holiday let.' This is already the case in Gwynedd, north west Wales, which introduced planning permission for new holiday lets and second homes last year, under 'Article 4' rules. He added: 'The second part of the bill is if you are changing your home from a residential permanent occupancy property, to a non-permanent second home, you will also need to apply for planning permission.' Mr Maguire and other Cornish MPs, including Andrew George MP for St Ives, Noah Law, the Labour MP for St Austell & Newquay, and Anna Gelderd, the Labour MP for South East Cornwall, met housing minister, Matthew Pennycook, to discuss their proposals last week. More than two thirds of town halls opted to impose a 100pc council tax premium on second homes from April 1 under powers granted in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act. The powers were introduced by former Conservative cabinet minister, Michael Gove, to protect housing stock in popular holiday destinations and coastal towns. There are 13,140 second homes in Cornwall, according to the local authority, of which 2,652 are categorised as long-term empty. Council tax on a Band D second home is now £4,919.84, or more than £400 a month, after an increase of 4.99pc this year and the introduction of the 100pc premium. But second home owners have claimed that they weren't properly warned about the changes, which were advertised in local newspapers they don't read. The Telegraph last month revealed that MPs would be spared the premiums as allowances would rise to cover the tax bills. Mr Maguire said: 'You've got housing developments in places like Bodmin, a quite low socioeconomic town, historically, and you're actually finding now, even in Bodmin, lots of the big developments are becoming second homes, lots and lots of them.' Andrew George, the Liberal Democrat MP for St Ives, said that he had pointed out how the small business rates relief could be used as a loophole for second homes as long ago as 2012. He said: 'I highlighted then how it could attract second home owners to flip from council tax to business rates, and indeed that happened at a relatively industrial scale.' Mr George will meet with Treasury ministers in the coming weeks to discuss the business rates loophole after raising it in the House of Commons. He also supported a registration scheme for short-term lets – which the Ministry of Housing said last August would be introduced 'as quickly as possible' – and offered the county as a pilot. He said: 'We've offered to pilot the registration scheme. I don't think it is one that you would necessarily want to roll out as a complete scheme.' John Brown, head of the Cornwall Chamber of Commerce, said: 'We're dealing with a surplus, not a scarcity, of Airbnbs.' 'This isn't a fight between tourism and housing, but it is an addressing of and a bit of a rebalance.' Mr Brown said he didn't think the policy would push up prices for tourists, and added: 'The balance won't have an impact in terms of the actual pricing, or pricing tourists out of Cornwall. There's no two ways about it, it's not a cursory spend to come and spend time in Cornwall.' But chief executive of the Short-term Accommodation Association (STAA), Andy Fenner, said: 'I've met with local MP's, and explained the real-world contribution of short-term rentals – yet they seem more interested in grabbing headlines than solving the housing crisis. 'We're calling on the Government to support tourism and those who work in it, not scapegoat our sector for the failure to build enough homes.' In Wales, the strict rules precipitated the biggest fall in year-on-year house prices, with Gwynedd seeing a drop of 12pc, according to the Principality Building Society. A Ministry of Housing spokesman said: 'We are determined to fix the housing crisis we have inherited, and we know that having excessive concentrations of second homes and short-term lets in an area can drive up housing costs for local people and damage local services.' The spokesman said the Government was considering further action on short-term lets and second homes. Cornwall County Council declined to comment due to upcoming local elections.
BBC News
04-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Devon and Cornwall fishers fear defence talks could hurt industry
Fishing industry leaders have said they are concerned defence negotiations with the EU could lead to the bloc's fishing vessels having increased access to UK issue was raised by MPs at an Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee meeting which heard the fishing industry was not "a bargaining chip" that could be "traded against defence".A key trade agreement between the UK and the EU is due to be reviewed in government insisted talk about fishing rights being linked to discussions about defence was pure speculation. Chris Ranford, chief executive of the Cornish Fish Producers Association, said: "It's really important our government stand up to this - we see it as bullying tactics."We have something really important in the UK - our fishing waters are highly productive."It's clear they want access attached to this defence contract but our government really needs to stand up for the fishing industry."In a Westminster Hall debate on fishing quota negotiations on 26 March, Andrew George, Liberal Democrat MP for St Ives, said: "The fishing industry has often been used as a pawn - a bargaining chip. It would be a great pity if that happened again."Caroline Voaden, Liberal Democrat MP for Totnes, said: "We should not allow the defence of Europe and the security of our nation to be negotiated against the fishing industry."Aphra Brandreth, Conservative MP for Chester South, said: "As the government have said, food security is national security, and we cannot have our fishing communities and fishing stocks traded against defence in any way." 'Lots of speculation' EU leaders have backed plans to jointly borrow €150bn (£126bn) to lend to EU governments for military at an Environment Committee on Tuesday, farming minister Daniel Zeichner said: "The French will say what they will say, but we are absolutely determined to stand up for the interests of the UK fishing industry."I wouldn't believe everything that is rumoured around an issue like this, because obviously there is lots and lots of speculation, but of course, we have discussions, because the transitional period comes to an end in the middle of next year. But no decisions have been taken and there is no linkage."I'm absolutely determined we get the best possible outcome for UK fishers because they're a very important source of food supply."
