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The National
28-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
Why should the left be ashamed to be left?
Labour never promised transformation. They campaigned on stability, on fiscal discipline, on not scaring anyone. The fiscal rules were locked in. Public investment was already constrained. Immigration rhetoric hardened before the first vote was cast. Still, many voters – including some on the left – held on to the hope that the machinery of government might offer opportunities for ambition, or at least decency. But less than a year in, that hope is evaporating. Cabinet ministers are storming out of meetings. The Deputy Prime Minister is circulating an alternative budget memo proposing tax increases to avoid welfare cuts. A leadership contest is openly discussed. Not because something unexpected has happened – but because everything is happening exactly as expected. What's missing is not just policy. It's narrative. Starmer offers fiscal discipline, praises business, restricts immigration and maintains brutal Conservative-era policies like the two-child benefit cap – which denies support to third children in poor families. Only when Nigel Farage's Reform UK began criticising the policy did Labour begin murmuring about change. This isn't just caution. It's a failure to lead. Because what British voters want – like French voters in 2012 – is not just competence. It's transformation: an end to austerity, a belief that the state can be a force for good, a moral rebalancing after a decade of precarity. And here's the danger: when the left refuses to offer that, it opens the door to those who will. In France, that is, ever increasingly, the far-right Rassemblement National. In the UK, it may well be Farage. Reform UK are now talking about child poverty, restoring fuel payments, helping working-class families – themes Labour once owned and have since abandoned. Farage is no ally of the poor. But Labour's silence gives him room to pretend. This keeps happening because too many centre-left parties have internalised the idea that they must apologise for their values. That being 'electable' means abandoning redistribution, avoiding the word tax and endlessly chasing the political centre. But you can't technocrat your way out of political collapse. You can't reconnect with working-class voters if you treat them as an embarrassment. I've seen this before. I'm a French journalist now based in Scotland. In 2012, I was a member of the French Socialist Party. I campaigned enthusiastically in the primaries for Martine Aubry (below) – one of the last political leaders I truly admired. For readers unfamiliar with her, Aubry was the architect of France's 35-hour work week and a principled social democrat who placed care, justice and shared dignity at the heart of her politics. She stood for a kind of feminism rooted in working-class realities and state responsibility. But Aubry lost the primary. François Hollande – a bland centrist and consensus-builder – won. And what followed was one of the most disillusioning experiences of my political life: a slow implosion of the French left, driven by a man who, like Starmer, confused caution with courage and management with leadership. Hollande's 2012 victory was heavy with hope but light on slogan – Le changement, c'est maintenant ('Change is now') – was designed to be vague. And the result itself was far from a plebiscite. He won with a modest margin and limited enthusiasm, mostly because people wanted rid of Nicolas Sarkozy, not because they believed in his vision. Starmer's path to power followed the same logic. Labour's share of the vote was historically low. The scale of the victory masked the thinness of the mandate – a rejection of 14 years of Conservative rule, not an endorsement of a bold new programme. The moment Hollande took office, something broke. He tried to reassure the markets, surrounded himself with economic technocrats and embraced 'fiscal responsibility'. Early tax increases on the wealthy were reversed. Corporate tax breaks expanded. Labour protections were weakened. Investment in social transformation stalled. READ MORE: Scottish director's film set during Highland Clearances takes Cannes by storm Then came the real rupture: a shift to the right on identity and security. In the wake of terrorist attacks, Hollande declared a state of emergency, expanded police powers and even proposed revoking French citizenship from dual nationals convicted of terrorism – a deeply symbolic, reactionary move that split his own party and alienated much of the electorate. By 2017, Hollande was so unpopular he didn't even run for re-election. The Socialist Party collapsed. Emmanuel Macron took power. And the far-right surged into the space the left had abandoned. Meanwhile, in Scotland, the story has played out differently – but not necessarily more hopefully. Labour's collapse created space not for a bold progressive force, but for the SNP: a party that, while rhetorically centre-left, has governed in a cautious, often managerial style. It has benefited from Westminster's failures more than from its own radicalism. Still, within a bleak UK-wide landscape, the Scottish Child Payment stands out as one of the few serious policy efforts to reduce child poverty. It recognises, at least, that the state should do something. While Labour drift, something interesting is happening back in France. In the coming days, the Socialist Party – the traditional party of the centre-left, once dominant and now largely eclipsed – will hold their national congress. For the first time in years, there is a real debate about what the left is for. How do we rebuild a credible alternative in time to prevent the far right from winning the presidency in 2027? Among the candidates vying to lead the party is Boris Vallaud, a relatively little-known figure outside France but a serious and thoughtful one. A former Élysée adviser under Hollande and now an MP in the Landes, Vallaud has built a reputation as a consistent, principled voice on the democratic left. Unlike many in his generation, he never embraced Macronism or the hollow centre. His campaign has resonated around a striking formulation: 'Socialism is orphaned of a strong idea.' His answer is démarchandisation – the reclaiming of life from the logic of the market. It's a concept that avoids the nostalgia of full nationalisation and the clichés of 'big state' politics. Instead, it questions the market's expansion into every domain of life – from early years care to education, housing, even human relationships. It asks what parts of society should be protected from profit imperatives, and how the state, civil society and communities might reclaim them. Vallaud is not alone: across the French left, from François Ruffin to Clémentine Autain, a common diagnosis is emerging – that the unchecked commodification of everything fuels not only inequality, but despair, loneliness and, eventually, the far right. In this sense, démarchandisation isn't just a policy tool. It's a way to reconnect socialism with meaning, power and emotion – and to name the unease so many people feel in a world where even water, old age and education are for sale. That kind of language – of meaning, purpose, direction – is strikingly absent from British a time when so much of the debate here has been reduced to numbers, caps, thresholds and reviews, it's worth noting when someone tries to articulate a broader horizon. READ MORE: I followed the SNP campaign trail in Hamilton – here's what I found out Because what I learned from campaigning with Aubry – and what I still believe — is that the left is strongest when it speaks from a place of care. Not sentimentality, but care as structure: interdependence, dignity, shared wealth. The 35-hour week was never just about hours. It was about balance, collective life, and rejecting the idea that growth is all that matters. Aubry didn't just manage. She inspired. Hollande didn't. And Starmer isn't. When the left retreats from these principles, it becomes cold. When it retreats from redistribution, it becomes irrelevant. When it copies the right, it legitimises its ideas. That's what Hollande did. And now Starmer is walking straight down the same path. In 2017, the French Socialist Party collapsed into irrelevance. The lesson wasn't that the left is doomed. It was that a left that forgets what it's for will not survive. Starmer should take note. Otherwise, like Hollande, he will be remembered not just for failing to deliver change – but for extinguishing the hope that change was still possible. As for whether démarchandisation could be that long-lost strong idea – well, that's for another column.
Telegraph
01-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Miliband and Rayner join forces to save net zero
Gas boilers in new homes will be banned as soon as next year under plans being spearheaded by Ed Miliband and Angela Rayner. The energy and housing secretaries have joined forces on new rules for housebuilders, which will require newbuilds to have heat pumps and solar panels. The Telegraph understands the new rules will be announced by Ms Rayner this summer, and are likely to be in force by next year. The fight for net zero is at the heart of a growing row engulfing Labour, exposed this week by Sir Tony Blair who warned Sir Keir Starmer that his current green policies were 'doomed to fail'. Despite Labour MPs and unions urging Sir Keir to change course on net zero, Mr Miliband and Ms Rayner will drive their radical reforms forward this year. The Cabinet ministers have been working together on net zero requirements in the Future Homes Standard, a change to building regulations first proposed by the Conservatives in 2019. Insiders said the pair had opted for the most 'ambitious' version of the new rules, which would ban gas boilers as fast as possible in new homes by increasing the energy efficiency requirements on developers. But housebuilders have warned that onerous new net zero requirements could increase costs, making it less likely that Ms Rayner will meet her target of building 1.5 million homes by the end of Labour's first term. Industry sources said the boiler ban had been expected to come into force in 2027, after a 12-month period for the legislation to take effect and a further year to implement the changes. Government sources now say the rules could take effect as soon as early 2026, giving the industry as little as six months to prepare. Mr Miliband and Ms Rayner's new rules will also require solar panels on almost all newbuilds, adding up to £4,000 to the cost of the properties. That plan, first floated in a Conservative-era public consultation, comes despite pressure from the housebuilding sector to make solar panels optional. The latest report from Britain's fiscal watchdog estimated that Labour will fall 200,000 homes short of its 1.5 million target, even without the changes to building regulations. On Thursday, Downing Street insisted the changes would not make it harder to hit the target. The new homes standard was repeatedly delayed under previous Conservative governments, but has been quickly pursued by both Ms Rayner and Mr Miliband since they took office last year. Officials at the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero are also working on plans to encourage homes with open fires and wood burning stoves to replace them with heat pumps. Ministers have commissioned a Westminster-based research company to survey homes with 'secondary heating', including electric and gas fires, wood burning stoves and fan heaters. In the company's contract, seen by The Telegraph, officials argued that 'reaching net zero by 2050 will require significant changes to how households heat their homes'. The company was asked to find out whether the 'introduction of a heat pump would change households' use of secondary heating', noting that ministers wanted to 'minimise potential burden on the electricity grid and transition away from fossil fuel-based secondary heating'. The Telegraph understands the report is designed to build understanding of how people use secondary heating, and no policy has yet been formed on whether or how to phase it out. Labour has watered down other net zero policies, including a ban on new non-electric cars by 2030 that will no longer include vans, hybrids, or most British supercars. Mr Miliband has clashed with his Cabinet colleagues over concerns that his net zero policies were unpopular with voters and threatened to hinder growth, despite his insistence that the drive for clean power will result in economic benefits. On Wednesday Downing Street failed to guarantee that his job as Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary was safe for the remainder of Labour's first term. Ms Rayner has also had her differences with Sir Keir, which sources close to her say have since been resolved since he tried to sack her in May 2021. However, earlier this week it was claimed that she threatened to resign over the Government's target to build 1.5 million homes, but was talked down by Sir Tony. This week Sir Tony, who has been advising Sir Keir, criticised what he described as 'financial sacrifices and changes in lifestyle' imposed on the public for the sake of a 'minimal' reduction in emissions. The former prime minister later rowed back on that view, arguing that Labour's approach was the 'right one' following a conversation with Downing Street. But Labour sources were furious with Sir Tony for his implied criticism of one of the Government's flagship policies just days before the local elections. One said the 'pretty incredible' intervention showed he had been 'out of the game for too long'. Labour is bracing for a bloodbath at Thursday's local elections, with the party expecting to lose hundreds of council seats across the country. Speaking on Wednesday a Downing Street spokesman insisted that the Government would try to 'tread lightly' on voters' lives when implementing net zero policies. Sir Keir said last month that he would look for 'flexibilities' to reduce the burden on consumers and companies. A Housing Department spokesperson said: 'The Future Homes Standard will be published later this year. 'We have always been clear that we want solar panels on as many new homes as possible, because they are a vital technology to help cut bills for families, boost our national energy security, and help deliver net zero. 'Through the Future Homes Standard we plan to maximise the installation of solar panels on new homes, as part of our ambition to ensure all new homes are energy efficient, and will set out final plans in due course.' A Downing Street spokesman said on Thursday that the Future Homes Standard would contain measures to increase the uptake in solar panels. Asked if this would affect the Government's housebuilding target, the spokesman replied: 'No. We're obviously doing this in consultation with the industry, which is why we're working on the details of it which you'll see once the future homes standard has been published. 'These proposals aren't new… We'll obviously also introduce it in a way that industry has time to deliver, deliver the new standards and that's exactly what we're working on as we speak.' Rayner using Miliband to flex her political muscles By Gordon Rayner On Wednesday, No 10 insisted the Government would 'tread lightly' on people's lives as it implemented net zero policies. A day later, we learn that Angela Rayner and Ed Miliband are pursuing the most radical possible net zero reforms to house building. So what exactly is going on? A disconnect between Downing Street and Mr Miliband's department for energy security and net zero has been plain to see almost since Labour came to power, but the fact that Ms Rayner has teamed up with Red Ed smacks of factionalism. No matter how hard the various parties might try to insist that they are all getting on swimmingly, Ms Rayner is canny enough to know how her latest move will be perceived, and in the eyes of voters perception is reality. As the former Labour MP Tom Harris wrote earlier this week, speculation is rife among Labour MPs that Sir Keir Starmer might not contest the next general election as Labour leader. A bad set of results in this week's local elections and Runcorn and Helsby by-election will only turn up the volume on that Westminster gossip. Currying favour You might, then, speculate that Ms Rayner is hedging her bets by standing with Mr Miliband on his net zero agenda. Regardless of whether Mr Miliband has any chance of succeeding Sir Keir as leader and prime minister (a chance that is slim but not zero), Mr Miliband remains hugely popular with Labour members – the people who will choose the next leader. Despite his disastrous previous crack at the Labour leadership, he remains more popular with the members than his Cabinet colleagues, and Ms Rayner may well want to share Mr Miliband's umbrella if bad news continues to rain down on the Starmer premiership. What else could explain Ms Rayner's decision to back a policy that might scupper her chances of hitting her target of 1.5 million new homes by the time of the next election? By speeding up a gas boiler ban and insisting on heat pumps and solar panels in new builds, Ms Rayner is increasing the cost and regulatory burden for builders at a time when she is already predicted to fall 200,000 homes short of her goal. However, the new net zero rules are also a way for her to flex her political muscles by driving through changes that might not be popular with Sir Keir or Rachel Reeves, but which they can do little to stop. Ms Rayner, directly elected as Labour's Deputy Leader, cannot be sacked from that role by Sir Keir, meaning he would hardly dare to remove her from her other job as Housing Secretary. Sir Keir has watered down other net zero policies, including the ban on non-electric cars by 2030 that won't now include vans, hybrids or most British supercars. There is also a suspicion among some Labour figures that Sir Tony Blair's curious net zero intervention this week, in which he said the current policies are 'doomed to fail', was designed to prepare the ground for a further downgrading of net zero policies by Sir Keir, who is desperate to stem the flow of voters to the net zero-sceptic Reform UK. There are even those who believe Mr Miliband will be used as a scapegoat for poor election results this week, and could lose his job in the next reshuffle as a result. Much has been read into the fact that Downing Street refused earlier this week to guarantee he would still be in post by the time of the next election, unlike Ms Reeves and David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, who have been assured they will keep their jobs throughout this Parliament. If Mr Miliband were to be sacrificed by Sir Keir, Ms Rayner would at least be able to produce evidence to Labour members that she did not dip her hands in the blood.
The Guardian
28-02-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Friday briefing: What happened when Keir Starmer met Donald Trump
Good morning. Keir Starmer's meeting with Donald Trump began as expected: handshakes, backslaps, and warm compliments. Like any good guest, the prime minister did not come empty-handed, offering the president an 'unprecedented' second state visit. Starmer was pulling out all the stops to save and protect the decades-old transatlantic alliance. And it seems, for now, that he achieved it: after private talks, Trump affirmed that 'the US and UK have a special relationship, very special, really like no other passed down through the centuries. And we're going to keep it that way. We're going to keep it very strong as it is.' Despite the generally cordial tone, Trump didn't shy away from goading the prime minister at times. During questions about the war in Ukraine, he asked the prime minister, 'could you take on Russia by yourselves?', prompting nothing more than a laugh from Starmer. Today's newsletter goes through the key takeaways from last night. That's right after the headlines. China | Dozens of Uyghurs have been deported from Thailand to China in the face of warnings from human rights experts that there is a high risk they will suffer torture, enforced disappearance and imprisonment. The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, on Thursday said the US condemned Thailand's move 'in the strongest possible terms'. Transport | HS2 has become 'a casebook example of how not to run a major project', according to the latest scathing report on the high-speed rail line from MPs on the public accounts committee. The MPs said it was 'unacceptable that over a decade into the programme, we still do not know what it will cost, what the final scope will be, when it will finally be completed or what benefits it will deliver'. Local authorities | Almost half of councils in England risk falling into bankruptcy without action to address a £4.6bn deficit amassed under a Conservative-era policy, the government's spending watchdog has warned. UK news | A network of Telegram channels with Russian links is encouraging people in Britain to commit violent attacks on mosques and Muslims and offering cryptocurrency in return, campaigners have warned. Entertainment | The Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife, classical pianist Betsy Arakawa, were found dead at their New Mexico home on Wednesday afternoon. The Press Association confirmed an 'active investigation'' into the deaths. As with other world leaders, Trump dominated the conversation. The prime minister did, however, gently push back at points – most notably when correcting Trump on the nature of British assistance to Ukraine. When Trump claimed European countries were getting most of their money back, Starmer interjected, clarifying that much of Britain's aid to Ukraine was given, not loaned. It echoed a similar moment with the French president, Emmanuel Macron. All in all, after much hand-wringing, Starmer appears to have successfully threaded the needle with the president. Trump called him a 'very tough negotiator' – high praise in Maga circles – suggesting that in private Starmer managed to hold his ground without resorting to sycophancy or outright deference. Trump and the king Trump's admiration for the royal family is no secret – it was one of the few diplomatic cards Starmer could play with confidence. Handing over the king's invitation to meet in Scotland, Sky's Beth Rigby noted that Trump 'genuinely seemed utterly delighted'. The clout of an unprecedented second state visit appears to have done the trick – for now. As Washington bureau chief David Smith aptly put in his sketch: 'Starmer calculated correctly that the puff and pageantry of a state visit with King Charles was bound to appeal to a man who, when he recently wrote on social media, 'LONG LIVE THE KING!', had only himself in mind.' Denials Donald Trump took aim at Volodymyr Zelenskyy last week, falsely calling him a 'dictator' and deepening the rift between the two leaders. The remark sparked widespread criticism across Europe, with Starmer making it clear he stood firmly with Zelenskyy. When a reporter pressed Trump on his comment, the former president came back with a Steve Urkel-style response: 'Did I say that?' His answer made it clear he had no intention of doubling down. He did, however, attempt a conciliatory tone, calling Ukraine's president 'very brave,' though he stopped short of fully retracting his initial comment. The minerals and the peace deal After days of negotiations, Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine and the US had reached a 'preliminary' deal to hand over revenue from some of Ukraine's critical mineral resources to the US. The Trump administration expects him to sign the deal later today. Initially, Zelenskyy had accused Washington of pressuring him into an agreement that would leave 10 generations of Ukrainians paying it back. Trump defended the deal yesterday, calling it a 'backstop'. He argued that the presence of American workers and companies extracting the minerals would serve as a deterrent against Russian attacks. But this falls far short of the security guarantees that Ukraine has long sought. Ultimately, Trump declined to commit to deploying US forces alongside European and British peacekeeping troops, though he insisted that the US would 'always' support the British military if need be. Earlier this month, Zelenskyy warned that it would be 'very, very, very difficult' for Ukraine to survive without continued US military support. 'Security guarantees without America are not real security guarantees,' he told the Guardian. On the broader negotiations, Trump expressed confidence that Putin would honour a peace deal. 'I don't believe he's going to violate his word. I don't think he'll be back when we make a deal. I think the deal is going to hold now. They're going to have security.' Earlier in the day, Putin continued his months-long charm offensive towards Trump, praising his administration for its 'pragmatism, a realistic worldview'. Chagos Islands Trump suggested he would support the UK's controversial plan to give up control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, which would then lease one of the islands back to Britain to maintain a strategic airbase used by both the UK and the US. The deal was first announced in October but became mired in uncertainty after the election of a new Mauritian leader, who has pushed to reopen negotiations. He is asking for changes that could see the total cost soar from £8bn to £19bn. The government has denied this and was hoping for more support from the US. Tariffs tirade The UK's distance from the European Union appears to have worked in its favour when it comes to Trump's tariffs. While the president did not explicitly confirm that Britain would be spared, he strongly implied it, stating that the UK is in a 'very different place' to the EU. Earlier this week, Trump accused the EU of trying to 'screw the United States' and said he plans to impose 25% tariffs on goods from the bloc 'very soon'. His tariff tirade against allies has left the UK increasingly anxious, but for now, at least, the discussion seems to have eased those concerns. He even said the US could have 'great trade agreements' with the UK. How long this goodwill will last remains uncertain. As Guardian political correspondent Andrew Sparrow noted, no matter how well this meeting went, the real test 'will come when the Trump administration takes decisions, and at this point it is hard to tell how useful the positive language will turn out to be'. Hannah Selinger's account of working in one of New York's finest restaurants is a shocking read, as the crisp formality of the dining room gives way to the seedy abuses of the star chef who works behind closed doors. Toby Moses, head of newsletters In the New Yorker, Kyle Chayka examines the past to contextualise Elon Musk's 'techno-fascism' and his relentless drive to completely destroy the federal government. Nimo This stunning data visualisation reveals the way Airbnb and are monetising stolen Palestinian land, with 760 rooms being advertised in hotels, apartments and other holiday rentals in illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Toby Syrian photographer Anas Alkharboutli was killed in a missile attack just four days before the fall of the Assad regime. Verena Hölzl spoke with his colleagues and friends about his remarkable life, unwavering commitment to peace, and desire for change: 'He considered his camera his weapon,' his eldest brother said. Nimo Alexis Petridis has nabbed an interview with the latest nepo baby to rise to the top of her field. Gracie Abrams (daughter of film director JJ), is one of the year's hottest pop acts and talks about how she overcame extreme anxiety, and projectile vomiting, on her way to chart success. Toby Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Premier League | West Ham pushed Leicester deeper into the relegation mire with a 2-0 win at the London Stadium. NFL | Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker has released a new statement denying allegations of sexual misconduct, while offering an apology. Sixteen massage therapists from the Baltimore area have to date come forward alleging 'degrading' behaviour during their treatment of the five-time All Pro. Football | The Premier League could be forced to operate two separate transfer windows this summer due to disruption caused by the Club World Cup. Fifa has announced plans to open an interim transfer window at the end of this season to allows clubs competing in the tournament to add to their squads and agree contract extensions with their current players before the tournament begins on 14 June. 'Trump: US workers in Ukraine would be a security 'backstop'' says the Guardian while the Times has 'Trump: We'll end war and strike trade deal with UK'. 'Trump backs Starmer on Chagos' – that's the Telegraph and the Mirror goes with 'Keir's Trump card'. 'Charmer Starmer pulls off diplomatic win in White House' is the i's version while even the Mail has to give credit with 'What an unlikely bromance!'. 'Trump backs 'great trade deal' for Brexit Britain' – surprisingly there's no subheading somehow claiming it as a 'victory for the Express'. The Financial Times has 'Trump dashes hopes over US cover for Europe peacekeepers in Ukraine'. Top story in the Metro is 'Mystery of Hackman deaths'. Our critics' roundup of the best things to watch, read, play and listen to right now TV Toxic Town | ★★★★☆ Corby, Northamptonshire, 1995: the disused steelworks that were once the heartbeat of the town are to be redeveloped into housing and a theme park. As the land is cleared, a crimson dust of toxic substances is stirred up; open-topped trucks full of the stuff career past unknowing residents to a messy landfill. And so the scene is set for Toxic Town, a true-story drama about a very British scandal. Susan (Jodie Whittaker) and Tracey (Aimee Lou Wood) meet on a maternity ward, before both give birth to children with disabilities. When Susan realises other women nearby have had similar outcomes, she starts a campaign for justice. In the darker moments here, there are flashes of the bleak malevolence of Red Riding or Sherwood. But, however distressing the facts of the case, Toxic Town feels a responsibility to ensure its audience sticks it out. So, ultimately, this is a bittersweet feelgood piece, where ordinary people suffer in deindustrialised towns that have intractable problems, but score a win by supporting each other. Jack Seale Music Panda Bear: Sinister Grift | ★★★★☆Much as Noah 'Panda Bear' Lennox – the most prolific and intriguing member of Animal Collective – has cautioned against viewing Sinister Grift purely as an album about divorce – a kind of lysergic Blood on the Tracks for Pitchfork readers – it's hard not to. Initially at least, the lyrics are pitched against music that's not just richly melodic, but incongruously sun-kissed. But then, just after Sinister Grift's midpoint, the album begins to shift: the tempo dramatically drops, the vague hint of melancholy that underpins even Animal Collective's most euphoric moments seems to gradually overwhelm its sound. This is a bold, risky way to sequence an album: listeners entranced by the pop smarts of its opening tracks may give up and turn Sinister Grift off as the whole thing dissolves into mournful, introspective and abstract territory. But if you pay attention to the words, you can't say Lennox didn't warn you, and for those minded to stick with it, there's something striking and believable about its emotional arc. Tagging along is a curious and curiously powerful experience. Alexis Petridis FilmLast Breath | ★★★★☆ It does not take much to convince that, as an opening title card for Last Breath states, the job of a saturation diver is one of the most dangerous on earth. Based on real catastrophic events during a would-be routine pipeline fix 3,000ft below the surface of the North Sea in 2012, Last Breath is a gripping disaster flick of routine, improvisation and unfathomable experience – the participants shockingly cool under pressure, as the viewer descends into deep, deep stress. The story has been out there for awhile, but it's best to avoid Googling, if possible, to feel the full, stomach-dropping shock of events one stormy late night in September, off the coast of Aberdeen. Riveting, seamless, at points genuinely shocking, Last Breath exemplifies the possibilities of human collaboration – a feat that has stuck with me and, yes, took my breath away. Adrian Horton Podcast Scam FactoryWho are the people who send scam texts/emails? This shocking show about the gangs with whole organisations dedicated to deceit focuses on a young Filipino man who thought he was getting a legitimate job, only to be held captive in an armed compound and made to send messages 14 hours a day. His sister's daring rescue attempt helps propel the narrative. Alexi Duggins Joy, hope and murder in free Syria Syria has a new leader, and for thousands it is a time of celebration and optimism. But old enmities and fears about what comes next haunt the country. Michael Safi reports A bit of good news to remind you that the world's not all bad There is a groundbreaking shift in women's football: embracing the menstrual cycle as a key to unlocking peak performance. By understanding and optimising training around their cycles, female footballers can be empowered to harness their unique physiological strengths. With the guidance of researchers and medical professionals, players can train smarter, recover faster, and achieve superior performances on the pitch. This innovative approach not only improves their game but also promotes overall wellbeing; when women work with their bodies, they can reach unprecedented sporting heights. Sign up here for a weekly roundup of The Upside, sent to you every Sunday And finally, the Guardian's puzzles are here to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow. Quick crossword Cryptic crossword Wordiply
The Guardian
28-02-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Almost half of England's councils ‘could face bankruptcy over £4.6bn deficit'
Almost half of councils in England risk falling into bankruptcy without action to address a £4.6bn deficit amassed under a Conservative-era policy, the government's spending watchdog has warned. In a damning report, the National Audit Office said that rising pressure on public services and repeated delays to reform the funding of local government meant town halls were in an 'unsustainable' financial position. It highlighted failure to reform the funding of special educational needs and disabilities (Send) as one of the most worrying areas where the resources were being outstripped by spiralling costs. The previous government had introduced a scheme known as the 'statutory override' which allowed councils to temporarily keep Send debts off their balance sheets – in effect papering over the problem. However, the override was planned to end in March 2026, by which point the accumulated deficit for all councils in England is expected to have reached £4.6bn amid ballooning pressures on local authorities. The government says it is in the process of developing a long-term solution. However, the NAO warned failure to address the problem by next March could leave 43% of local authorities at risk of declaring effective bankruptcy. The independent spending watchdog said council funding in recent years had increased but not kept up with demand or complexity of needs. After years of austerity under the Conservatives, more councils in England have declared effective bankruptcy in the past three years than the preceding three decades. While funding from central government grants, council tax and business rates had increased by 4% between 2015-16 and 2023-24 to almost £56bn, funding per person had fallen during the same period by 1%. Over that time councils also made deep cuts to discretionary services – such as libraries and road maintenance – while raising spending on adult and children's social care, which now accounts for 58% of total spending. Earlier this month ministers announced a financial settlement worth more than £69bn for the coming financial year, alongside a sweeping devolution package to reorganise the structure of local government. A form of bailout was also approved for 30 councils, and six were granted permission to raise council tax by more than the usual 5% cap. The NAO said projections show that funding per person is set to increase by 7% by 2025-26. However, the Local Government Association estimates that councils will still face a funding gap of up to £8bn by 2028-29. Gareth Davies, the head of the spending watchdog, said: 'There have been repeated delays to local government finance reform and government can no longer resort to short-term solutions to support local authorities. Action to address this must resolve the systemic weaknesses in local government financial sustainability through a comprehensive, cross-government approach.' A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: 'This government is under no illusions about the financial issues facing councils. That's why we're reforming the funding system and delivering improved public services across the country.'
The Independent
26-02-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Starmer warned child poverty will hit all-time high if two-child benefit cap not scrapped
Sir Keir Starmer is facing a fresh backlash over the two-child benefit cap after a key economic think tank warned child poverty would hit an all-time high if it is not scrapped. The prime minister has been urged to rethink the Conservative-era limit after the Resolution Foundation said his strategy to tackle child poverty would lack credibility if it remains in place. Furious Labour MPs told The Independent the two-child limit was a ' critical issue ' for the government to address, branding it the biggest driver of rising child poverty. Left-winger Kim Johnson said: 'Real change requires policies that lift children out of poverty, not ones that entrench hardship. Scrapping the two-child limit must be a priority if the government is serious about tackling child poverty.' And Nadia Whittome added: 'These findings come as little surprise, with child poverty researchers and campaigners long arguing that the two-child limit is the biggest driver of rising child poverty. It is essential that the government's child poverty strategy includes its abolition.' 'Anything less will not suffice,' she warned. The fresh calls came after Sir Keir said he had found an additional £13.4bn in annual spending to boost the size of Britain's defence budget to 2.5 per cent of GDP, in a bid to placate Donald Trump and ward off 'tyrants' like Vladimir Putin. The two-child benefit cap, imposed by Tory former chancellor George Osborne, prevents parents from claiming benefits for any third or subsequent child born after April 2017. A separate limit on benefits, imposed under the Tory- Liberal Democrat coalition in 2013, restricts how much a household can receive in benefits in total. The Resolution Foundation said increasing the two-child cap to three children could reduce child poverty by 320,000 by the next general election, costing £3.2bn per year by 2030. It said this would be 'preferable' to the current system, but that benefits should be allocated in line with need, which would require fully scrapping the two-child limit at a cost of around £4.5bn. Taken together with other measures such as extending free school meals to all families on universal credit and ensuring local housing allowance is linked to rents, it estimated a total cost of around £9bn and some 740,000 fewer children in relative poverty in 2029-30. Sir Keir's child poverty taskforce is due to present a strategy in spring but the left-leaning think tank's report warned the current two-child limit is 'incompatible with a credible' plan. The PM has previously said he wants to scrap the cap but that the government cannot currently afford to, repeatedly stressing his focus on growing the economy. But the Resolution Foundation warned that, under current spending plans, child poverty could rise to 33 per cent by the end of the decade, equating to 4.6 million children living in poverty. Researchers said it is time to move on from 'warm words' and start cutting child poverty. Adam Corlett, principal economist at the Resolution Foundation, said: 'With a record 4.6 million children set to fall below the poverty line by the end of this parliament, the government is right to be formulating a new strategy to combat this scourge of modern Britain. 'However, a credible new strategy will need more than warm words. A government that is serious about reducing child poverty will need to undo some of the policies announced by previous governments, such as scrapping the two-child limit. The upcoming spending review should also look to extend free school meals to more families. 'An ambitious strategy could support around 900,000 children out of poverty by the end of the decade. And while the cost of this action may seem daunting, the cost of inaction is far greater and could leave the government with an embarrassing record of rising child poverty.' Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell, who has sat as an independent MP since having the whip suspended by Labour in a rebellion over the two-child limit, told The Independent: 'No Labour government in history has stood by and allowed child poverty to increase on its watch. 'Labour ministers must realise that in the eyes of its supporters, the credibility of this government as a force for progress stands or falls on this critical issue.' Backbench MP Rachel Maskell added: 'It is welcome to learn that the government's plans could lift children out of poverty but, as academic research consistently shows, the biggest single intervention to reduce child poverty will be to remove the limit on the number of children to receive child benefit, and to end the benefit cap. 'Labour has a heavy responsibility to end child poverty and to ensure that every child has the very best start in life.'
