Latest news with #GreenBook
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Rachel Reeves to splash billions in North and Midlands under major rule change
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to reprioritise funding outside of London and the South East - with tens of billions of pounds of investment in road, rail and green energy projects Rachel Reeves is preparing to divert billions of pounds of investment into the North and the Midlands by rewriting key Treasury rules. The Chancellor will use next month's Spending Review to reprioritise funding outside of London and the South East of England - unlocking tens of billions of pounds of investment in road, rail and green energy projects. She recently told The Guardian she was planning "£113bn more in capital spending than the plans we inherited" from the Tories. It comes amid alarm from Labour MPs over the threat from Reform UK in their heartlands and the prospect of cuts to day-to-day spending in unprotected Whitehall departments. Treasury value-for-money rules assess investment in areas where the economy is already doing well as having the biggest impact on growth. Critics say the rules in the so-called Green Book bake in a bias towards the South East, favouring an expansion of the Tube to a tram network in a northern city. But Ms Reeves committed to review these rules earlier this year, with the announcement expected alongside the Spending Review in mid June. Speaking in January, she said: 'As the metro mayor of Liverpool, Steve Rotherham, has called for, we will review the Green Book and how it is being used to provide objective, transparent advice on public investment across the country, including outside London, and the South East. This means that investment in all regions is given a fair hearing by the Treasury that I lead.' Boris Johnson ordered a review of the rules to allow an infrastructure boom in the North of England in a bid to cling onto Red Wall voters that backed the Tories in the 2019 election. But the changes never materialised. This week, Keir Starmer said Nigel Farage's party was Labour's biggest electoral threat and dismissed the Tories as "sliding into the abyss". On a visit to St Helens, the PM said Reform's economic plans risked a repeat of the market mayhem caused by Tory PM Liz Truss. Mr Starmer said: "He [Farage] set out economic plans that contained billions upon billions of pounds of completely unfunded spending, precisely the sort of irresponsible splurge that sent your mortgage costs, your bills and the cost of living through the roof. It's Liz Truss all over again." Reform's local election performance has sparked jitters in both Labour and Tory circles after the party seized control of 10 English councils and won the Runcorn and Helsby by-election by just six votes. However officials pushed back on the idea that the Chancellor's plans were a response to Reform - pointing to Ms Reeves's commitment to a review in January.
The Independent
5 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Reeves to plough tens of billions into red wall seats as Labour seeks to fend off Farage
Labour is set to plough tens of billions of pounds into red wall seats leaning towards Reform UK as the party ramps up its efforts to halt the rise of Nigel Farage. After months of haemorrhaging voters to Mr Farage's populist outfit, Rachel Reeves will unveil spending for a slew of road, rail and green energy projects in the north and Midlands, according to reports. The chancellor will use next month's spending review to reprioritise spending from the southeast to the red wall seats that Labour won at the last election, but are now under threat from Reform, it is claimed. It could free up tens of billions of pounds to invest in the projects in areas where Labour fears Mr Farage's appeal as part of an overall £100 billion pot Ms Reeves can use to invest in infrastructure after tweaking her fiscal rules in last year's Budget. Touting the fiscal rule change in January in a speech promising to kickstart growth, Ms Reeves said: 'We have changed course on public investment, too. 'With a new investment rule to ensure that we don't just count the costs of investment, we count the benefits too.' The chancellor said the changes would deliver £100 billion for 'growth-enhancing' capital spending. And, paving the way for the spending spree in the red wall, she vowed to review the government's Green Book, which is used to judge the costs and benefits of projects, to 'provide objective, transparent advice on public investment across the country, including outside London and the south east'. The review, to be published alongside the wider spending review, is expected to conclude the government should give greater priority to public sector investment in areas of lower economic productivity, The Times reported. The red wall investment drive is Labour's latest effort to stem the rise of Reform, with Mr Farage's party hitting a new polling high on Thursday. The Techne UK weekly tracker poll for The Independent revealed that Reform has hit an all time high of 31 per cent (up 1 from last week), nine points above Labour on 22 per cent (unchanged) and almost double Kemi Badenoch 's Tories stuck in third equal on 16 per cent (down 1). As the poll was released, Sir Keir Starmer was in St Helens delivering a speech aimed entirely at potential backers of Mr Farage, warning that his 'fantasy' economics will lead to a Liz Truss -style economic meltdown. Sir Keir branded Mr Farage's policies a 'mad experiment', insisting he would 'be exactly the same' as Ms Truss. He said: 'Apparently [Mr Farage] is in Las Vegas today at a casino, and it's not a surprise, because he said that the Liz Truss budget in his view was the best since 1986. 'That shows his judgment. It shows what he'd do and the result would be exactly the same. I'm not prepared to let that happen.'
Chicago Tribune
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Event in Aurora to feature ‘Musicians' Green Book' exhibit, music and screening of documentary
The 'Musicians' Green Book: An Enduring Legacy' exhibit, documentary screening and live musical performance will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 31, at the Cathedral of Grace St. John, 2950 Bilter Road in Aurora. Presented by the Musicians' Enduring Legacy Organization (MELO), in partnership with the Dunham Foundation, the event will feature a live performance by Josephine Beavers, MELO's founder and CEO, along with a special documentary screening, according to a press release about the event. Beavers created MELO out of a commitment to honor the overlooked stories of African American musicians who performed and traveled during the Jim Crow era, the release stated. Motivated by the need to preserve their legacies and inspired by tools like the Green Book that once guided Black performers safely across the country, Beavers envisioned MELO as a platform to showcase the resilience, talent and historical impact of these artists, event organizers said. Throughout the past month, the 'Musicians' Green Book' traveling exhibit has been seen across Aurora, organizers said. 'Aurora has enthusiastically embraced 'The Musicians' Green Book: An Enduring Legacy' and we are so proud,' said Beavers in the release. 'The community connections and heartfelt conversations inspired by this exhibit have been deeply meaningful to our team. We look forward to continuing this journey and sharing these important stories with future generations.' The exhibit premiered at Waubonsee Community College's downtown Aurora campus, continued at Aurora University and concludes at the Cathedral of Grace St. John in Aurora.
Canada Standard
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Canada Standard
Sikyong Penpa Tsering visits Calgary, urges Tibetan unity and cultural preservation
Calgary [Canada], May 27 (ANI): Sikyong Penpa Tsering, leader of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), arrived in Calgary, Canada, on May 24. As part of his ongoing official trip, he received a warm reception from the Tibetan community and representatives of the Tibetan Association of Alberta (TAA), according to a report from the CTA. During his visit, he addressed key political issues concerning Tibet. The TAA President opened the event with welcoming remarks and presented certificates of appreciation to former executive members. This was followed by introductory comments from Dr. Namgyal Choedup, the Representative of the Office of Tibet in Washington, DC, who outlined the goals of Sikyong's visit, according to a report by the CTA. Sikyong Penpa Tsering addressed the current political landscape regarding Tibet, discussed the CTA's ongoing interactions with international stakeholders, and stressed the necessity for unity among the Tibetan diaspora. Highlighting the significance of empowering youth and fostering community involvement, he encouraged Tibetans in Canada to stay dedicated to preserving their cultural heritage and supporting the Tibetan cause. Sikyong remarked that Tibetans have set themselves apart from other refugee communities due to their resilience and collective spirit. He noted that the Tibetan cause has remained prominent on the global stage largely thanks to the steadfast commitment of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and the indomitable courage of Tibetans living in Tibet. He reiterated the Kashag's strong determination to address the Sino-Tibetan conflict through dialogue based on the Middle Way Approach, a policy framework conceived by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and supported by the Tibetan Parliament in Exile, the CTA report stated. Sikyong further emphasised the teachings and guidance of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, particularly stressing His Holiness's Four Principal Commitments: the promotion of human values, fostering religious harmony, preserving Tibetan culture and the environment, and reviving ancient Indian wisdom. He urged the Tibetan community to integrate these values into their personal and collective lives. During his speech to the Tibetan community in Canada, Sikyong Penpa Tsering highlighted the significance of the Green Book, issued by the Department of Finance of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA). He clarified that the Green Book certifies an individual's Tibetan identity in exile and represents the collective acknowledgement of the CTA as the sole legitimate representative of the Tibetan people. The visit concluded with a community gathering, where members of the Tibetan diaspora expressed their gratitude, followed by a formal vote of thanks from the Tibetan Association of Alberta, as highlighted in the CTA report. (ANI)
Boston Globe
16-05-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
Walking tour will focus on Green Book locations in Boston
The Green Book was a travel guide listing hotels, restaurants, gas stations, barber shops, tailors, and other establishments where Black travelers were welcomed when segregation and racial discrimination was rampant across the country. It was started in 1936 by Victor H. Green, a US Postal Service carrier who wanted his fellow Black travelers to be able to 'vacation without aggravation.' Saturday's tour will be led by former state representative Byron Rushing and the Rev. June Cooper, and reproductions of the Green Book will be available for sale at the conclusion of the event. Advertisement The tour includes lunch at Slade's, the beloved Boston restaurant that was listed in the Green Book during the 1930s. It remains one of the few Green Book locations in Boston that is still in business. The tour starts at the Union United Methodist Church at 485 Columbus Ave. in Boston at 11 a.m., and Members of WeJazzUp and Berklee College of Music students perform at Slade's Bar and Grill on Jan. 14, 2025. The band, which regularly welcomes student musicians to its weekly jazz sessions, has been a fixture at the historic Tremont Street establishment for nearly 25 years, helping nurture new talent while continuing the venue's legacy as a cultural cornerstone. Erin Clark/Globe Staff Emily Sweeney can be reached at
