Latest news with #Bassetlaw
Daily Mail
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
QUENTIN LETTS: Sir Keir was priggishly cocky. He's stuck us back on the gluey flypaper of the EU...
Noisy, crowing laughter from Labour (and Lib Dems) mixed with shouts of 'shut up!' and groans of 'oh no, here we go!' when Conservatives and Scots Nats questioned Sir Keir Starmer and his EU agreement. In this Commons there was no time for such impertinence. Only one attitude was permitted: fealty to the Prime Minister. Kemi Badenoch tried – but failed. Her microphone did not seem to be working properly and in the hubbub she was often inaudible. Amid the abuse from Labour yowlers she vanished under the waves, glug glug. Nigel Farage did not turn up for the pre-lunch statement and now it turns out he was on holiday! Two no-shows in two days, on what used to be his core issue. What's going on? Labour's Red Wallers, reportedly simmering about concessions made to Brussels, proved to be non-combustible. One of them, Bassetlaw's much-hyped Jo White, mewed congratulations to Sir Keir for delivering everything her constituents had most earnestly desired. Her only criticism was that the student-exchange arrangements might be too middle-class. Sir Keir himself? Priggishly cocky. Confident. Almost cruel. All those years of blocking Brexit and colluding with Brussels against our country's urgent interests have finally come good. He has stuck us back, good and proper, on the gluey flypaper of European Commission regulations. He has condemned us to years more of a bad fishing deal that was finally about to expire. He has promised to pay Eurocrats undisclosed millions, perhaps billions, in 'administrative costs'. It's like one of those 'convenience charges' you have to pay at railway station car-parks, though the sums are rather heftier. Sir Keir's old co-collaborator, Hilary Benn, sat some way down the government bench, peering mistily at the middle distance. Suave Peter Kyle, Science Secretary, was tapping something into his mobile telephone. Wes Streeting, beside him, casually slid an eye over Mr Kyle's screen. Dame Emily Thornberry had poured herself into a new red trouser suit. Beside Sir Keir sat Nick Thomas-Symonds, minister for surrender negotiations. He kept glancing nervously at the PM's back and made sure he did a lot of nodding. The statement was meant to be about the EU deal but Sir Keir talked almost as much about his US and India agreements. He alleged the Tories, in failing to greet these with rapture, were showing themselves to be anti-trade. The trouble with hyperbole is that it can become as addictive as tincture of opium. Take one sip, another becomes irresistible. Sir Keir flew into repeated denunciations of what he considered to be the intellectual vacuity of the opposition. The Conservatives were finished. The Conservatives had made 'a descent into the abyss'. After Mrs Badenoch's contribution he remarked 'oh dear, that was such an unserious response'. From what one had managed to hear of it amid the hog-whimpering and giggles from Sir Keir's backbenchers, it had actually been quite sober. Probably too serious, in fact. She could do with being more vulgar. Doesn't prick the balloon. Bounces off it. Time and again Sir Keir repeated his 'they're not serious' line. Only he and the grown-ups, the technocrats, the people who knew best, were serious. Yet the characters behind him were behaving like baboons. Untidily-fringed Alan Gemmell (Central Ayrshire) roared witticisms about Mrs Badenoch before hooting gleefully with Gregor Poynton (Livingston) and Gordon McKee (Glasgow South). A lower-grade trio was led by Alex Barros-Curtis (Cardiff West), yelping insults at the opposition and then cackling with delight. His little helpers were Chris Vince (the Harlow dimwit) and Natasha Irons (Croydon East). 'This is how they laugh at the public,' retorted Mrs Badenoch, 'yet they have no idea at what they've signed up for.' This set off another wave of merriment, a drowning din of derision that the barbarian Brexit voters were finally overcome. In a Commons where almost half the opposition (ie the Lib Dems) agrees with the Government, our legislature has seldom felt less representative of public sentiment.
The Independent
20-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Youth mobility scheme shouldn't only benefit ‘middle class kids'
A youth mobility scheme with the European Union must benefit all young people, not just 'middle class kids on their gap year', a Labour MP has said. Sir Keir Starmer had told the Commons the newly-agreed 'youth experience scheme' will allow young British people to travel and work in Europe. Prior to the announcement of the deal, the Government faced pressure from its backbench MPs to agree a scheme with Brussels which would benefit those under 30. In the Commons, Jo White urged the Prime Minister to ensure all young people could benefit from the experiences of living abroad. Meanwhile, Conservative former minister Esther McVey argued the scheme was 'a bitter betrayal of British youth', as she called for a cap on the numbers, to specifically protect 'white working class boys'. The Prime Minister faced further criticism from the Tories with Conservative former minister Mark Francois arguing dynamic alignment is 'the most pernicious part of this deal'. In a statement on the UK-EU summit, the Prime Minister said the Government should be 'proud' to give young people the opportunity of a 'controlled youth experience scheme'. 'It delivers for our young people, because we are now on a path towards a controlled youth experience scheme with firm caps on numbers and visa controls. A relationship we have with so many countries around the world, some actually even set up by the party opposite,' he added. Ms White, MP for Bassetlaw, said: 'What I want to know is how young people in my area will benefit from it, opening up to experiences and opportunities that they would have never otherwise dreamed of? 'This is a scheme that must not just benefit middle class kids on their gap year.' Sir Keir replied: 'I completely agree with her wholeheartedly, this has to benefit all of our young people, and we'll make sure that it does, whether that's work or travel or study, because it is a really important opportunity for young people that we would want to provide to them and to help them then to take advantage of.' Earlier in the session, Ms McVey, MP for Tatton, said: 'With youth unemployment higher in Europe, in countries like France, Spain, Portugal and Sweden, I can see why the EU pushed for a youth mobility scheme to help get their youth unemployment figures down. 'So can the Prime Minister tell the House what impact assessment he has done on his youth scheme for youth unemployment for young Brits, particularly white working class boys who suffer the most, and can he tell the House today the cap he has put on numbers for people coming into the UK? If he can't, this is a bitter betrayal of British youth.' Sir Keir replied: 'This provides young people in the United Kingdom the opportunity to work, to study and to travel in Europe. It is going to be a capped scheme of limited duration and with visas, something, again, everybody said we couldn't negotiate. We have negotiated.' Green Party MP Ellie Chown (Herefordshire) accused the Prime Minister of being 'timid' on the youth mobility scheme. In his response, he said: 'What we have now negotiated is a scheme that does not cross our red lines, but it's good for young people, both here and in Europe.' Elsewhere in the session, Mr Francois, Conservative MP for Rayleigh and Wickford, claimed the UK will become an 'automatic rule-taker' as a result of the deal with the EU. He said: 'The most pernicious part of this deal is dynamic alignment, by which we become an automatic rule-taker from the European Union. 'Labour have been briefing journalists we have an opt-out from that. I've read the document in detail – we don't – and besides, the ECJ (European Court of Justice) is the ultimate arbiter in a dispute. It is so the EU will always win. 'Why, Prime Minister, when the British people voted peacefully and democratically to leave the European Union, have you surrendered that right and made us a rule-taker to the EU once again?' Sir Keir said he had 'forgotten about some of the nonsense that's spouted' and added: 'On the question of how the rules are made – they will go through a parliamentary process in this House.' Labour backbenchers shouted 'shut up' as Mr Francois said 'subject to the ECJ' from his seat. The Prime Minister continued: 'Every trade deal has an arbitration clause to deal with the settlement of disputes. All trade deals have that, including all the trade deals that they have negotiated. 'On the question of the ECJ, if there's an issue of European law that needs to be referred by the independent arbitrators to the court, they then give a ruling on the interpretation, it passes back to the arbitrators to make the final decision.' Sir Bernard Jenkin, Conservative MP for Harwich and North Essex, said the Prime Minister is 'giving up control over our laws and restoring payments to the European Union. He will pay a bitter political price for this betrayal'. Sir Keir replied: 'We were told it was impossible to negotiate a better deal with the EU with those red lines, we've just done it. We have also shown that we are outside the EU because, he will appreciate, that having a deal with India and the US is inconsistent with membership of the EU. 'There could be no better evidence that we're not going back into the EU, nor are these negotiations on that basis.'
BBC News
16-05-2025
- BBC News
'Two groups' starting Worksop fires, say Bassetlaw police
Two groups of people are starting fires in a town and "putting lives at risk", Nottinghamshire Police least 18 fires have been fought in open spaces across Worksop in the past two weeks, including five incidents in just over two hours on Monday Police said it was "actively investigating" the series of Inspector Rob Harrison told the BBC on Friday Worksop residents would see a "visible presence" in an attempt to stamp out the arsons. He said the force believed "two groups" in the Worksop area were behind the spate of fires."Most of them are hedges and grass fires which spread rapidly, especially with this nice weather we're having," he added."We're putting in extra patrols, you'll see a visible presence around the affected areas, working through CCTV, working with local partners and fire and rescue services to get to the bottom of what's happened." While no-one has been hurt, newly installed play equipment has been damaged, and those living nearby have been left Fire and Rescue Service has called on Worksop residents to report anyone starting fires, and to take district manager Adrian Brizzolara said: "We are asking everyone to be extra cautious - the hot, dry weather means even a small spark can turn into a large fire within minutes."Wildfires can spread rapidly, which we have seen recently in Worksop, and as such, it poses a serious risk to people, wildlife and property."Bassetlaw District Council has said it was "extremely shocked and disappointed" at damage being caused to its open spaces. Insp Harrison called on the perpetrators to "stop immediately".He said: "You're putting lives at risk, it's extremely dangerous, it's causing untold damage to local parkland, golf courses, play equipment, and it's only a matter of time before something more tragic happens."
BBC News
15-05-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Worksop hit by latest in a series of fires
Firefighters say they have dealt with another fire in Worksop after a spate of outbreaks during the hot Fire and Rescue Service (NFRS) said it was called at about 22:06 BST on Wednesday to a fire at Peaks Hill Farm, Carlton service added two fire engines from Worksop Fire Station attended the blaze, which was described by NFRS as a "small fire in the open".Firefighters were called out to 16 fires in the open in the town within the space of a week, it was confirmed on Tuesday, which included five incidents in just over two hours on Monday. Fires fought on Monday alone included grass, undergrowth and hedgerows alight in Rayton Farm Lane, two trees on fire in Ambleside Grange, burning rubbish in a woodland off Curzon Drive, an unattended bonfire at Hannah Park and a playground blaze in Prospect Bassetlaw district manager Adrian Brizzolara called on people to be "extra cautious", as the hot weather means a small fire can turn into a large fire "within minutes"."Wildfires can spread rapidly, which we have seen recently in Worksop, and as such, it poses a serious risk to people, wildlife and property", he added.
BBC News
15-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Plans for 24-hour gambling centre in Worksop set to be approved
Plans for a new gambling centre in Worksop that will operate 24 hours a day are set to be given the Champion Gaming Ltd has submitted an application to Bassetlaw District Council to convert the former Greenwoods clothing store in Bridge Street into an adult gaming proposal received 26 objections from residents who raised concerns over anti-social behaviour in the town, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) a report prepared for Bassetlaw District Council's planning committee says the proposal would create employment opportunities and increase footfall in the town. According to the LDRS, the ground floor of the site will see electronic gaming and amusement machines, and the first floor will contain offices and storage plans are approved, the centre will operate for 24 hours a day, employ five full-time staff members and a part-time head office staff application received objections from residents over the noise impact on the town said gambling "should not be encouraged" in a "deprived" applicant said it would take measures to control the potential for noise disturbances through double-glazing of the officers' report adds the proposed centre would not generate "unacceptable levels" of noise or harm the "vitality" of the town of the council's planning committee are recommended to approve the application when they meet on 21 May.
