Latest news with #LauraKuenssberg
Telegraph
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Men aren't the enemy, but I wouldn't want to be one
On Sunday the BBC managed the difficult task of getting the Environment Secretary, his shadow opposite, and the leaders of both Reform UK and the Lib Dems onto Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, each for a discussion on our water industry. Unfortunately for the programme's producers, the panellists were all male, white, and over the age of 59. And so, with mind-sapping predictability, the identity politics brigade – to which the BBC usually obediently kowtows – went bananas. 'British politics in all its diversity this morning,' sniffed the political editor of The Byline Times, though the country is 81 per cent white and 50 per cent male. It's true that men and women are treated unequally in this country, just not in the way most people think. We approve when females dominate certain industries, run FTSE100 companies, make up the majority of university graduates, yet cry 'sexism' whenever and wherever men are in the lead on some criterion. We have an Equality Act offering a legal get-out card to employers who prefer candidates from 'under-represented' groups. It's why the RAF, NHS and several police forces have all tied themselves in knots explaining why they have prioritised minority recruits. We used to pride ourselves on providing 'equality of opportunity' but now that's not good enough. We have to aim for 'equity' which, purportedly righting the wrongs of the past, permits turning a blind eye to evidence suggesting white males are now often at a marked disadvantage. White British males eligible for free school meals, for instance, are now the lowest performing group at GCSE. They are grossly underrepresented in higher education, with just 13 per cent going to university. And when was the last time you heard about an outreach or access programme focused on this group, rather than ethnic minorities and women? Who will advocate for the white men, in left-behind towns and communities, hit hardest by the decline of manufacturing jobs in the late-20th century? None of these opportunities have returned, whilst others are gradually being cut off: it was reported this week that women in the construction, electrical and plumbing sectors are now 'inundated' with requests from customers who feel safer with them working in their homes. Apparently, there's too much 'inappropriate behaviour from tradesmen' going on. Really? How many clients can honestly say they've been subjected to Gregg Wallace-style misogynistic banter over a faulty cable or leaky pipe? White men have the highest suicide rates in the UK; white working class men are statistically among the least likely to experience upward social mobility. The list goes on and on. But it's not unique to men from any particular ethnic group. If you possess XY chromosomes, you are growing up in a society which will treat you with suspicion, as a predator in the making, whose basic instincts ought to be suppressed. Where you are terrified to approach members of the opposite sex in a social setting, let alone in the workplace, in case you are taken to be an Andrew Tate tribute act. Where traditional masculine qualities – assertiveness, competitiveness, independence, strength – are dismissed as destructive to our society. Where your economic contribution will be downplayed: how many people are aware, for example, that men pay over 70 per cent of all income tax? That they pay back more of their student loans on average (£50,800) than women (£39,200)? How many stop to consider that, Waspis notwithstanding, women's life expectancy means we get the state pension for longer? That men account for the vast majority – 95 per cent – of fatal workplace injuries? Meanwhile feminist groups bemoan the gender pay gap, conveniently forgetting that it is largely a consequence of compensating differentials and free choice. If women opt for part-time roles, remote roles, less demanding roles, why should they expect to be paid in line with male colleagues who are putting in the harder yards? For all the grimness of our medieval maternity wards, I'm glad I'm a woman in modern-day Britain. Most of us do reasonably well. I should confess, however, to having a stake in this debate, as the mother of three young boys. But why should my sons be instructed to 'stand aside' to allow girls to rise up? It's precisely this mentality which leads us to convince ourselves slavery reparations are a solid idea. Boys born today have nothing to atone for, nor will they benefit from the 'patriarchy' of the past. So why should they listen to people like Jerry Levins, the late AOL-Time Warner CEO, who famously proclaimed that 'it's time to replace all men at the top with women'? 'Women are better leaders', he intoned back in 2017 – before the full scale of the Jacinda Ardern or Angela Merkel catastrophes became clear. The evidence is far from definitive. Perhaps it's time for a truce between the sexes. Not least so that we can focus on the areas where women are genuinely disadvantaged, discriminated against or mistreated. The Left appears far more troubled that easyJet pays its male pilots more than its female cabin crew than it does the steady rise in FGM or warnings from charities that forced marriage is on the rise. I'm sorry, but I struggle to see the Kuenssberg panel as such a horrorshow. Laura was in charge, after all.
The Independent
20-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Stephen Flynn jokes he'll be ‘washing hair' when Donald Trump visits UK
Stephen Flynn joked he will be washing his hair when Donald Trump is in the UK for his state visit in September. The Scottish National Party's (SNP) Westminster leader, who is bald, told Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg that he will find "any excuse possible" to avoid meeting the US president on his visit to Scotland. While insisting it was 'absolutely right' that First Minister John Swinney meets Mr Trump, Mr Flynn quipped that he'd be 'looking after his own toddlers' while the Republican is in the country.
BBC News
20-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Reform UK councillors obstructed by officials, Nigel Farage says
Nigel Farage has accused some council officials of obstructing the work of Reform UK councillors, as he defended the way the party is running local gained control of 10 councils in May's local elections in the party's leader told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme that in some areas Reform councillors were being "hamstrung" by existing has pledged to cut wasteful spending and improve the efficiency of the councils it runs but some of its spending decisions have faced criticism, while opponents say there has been little concrete action to reduce costs. In Warwickshire, opposition parties have criticised Reform UK for planning to hire political assistants at a cost of up to £190,000 a year, saying the money should be spent on front-line services council's interim leader, George Finch, said the move was necessary because council staff have been unable to come up with "imaginative ideas" to resolve key issues. The 19-year-old was put in charge of the council after Reform's previous council leader resigned, citing health over whether this was a good use of taxpayers' money, Farage told the BBC: "At the moment, we're finding that we're very, very hamstrung."We're going into existing administrations, we're facing obstructionism in many places."And Warwickshire is a very, very good example."He added: "It's better to have staff who support the will of the democratically elected councillors than it is to have public sector staff opposing them."Warwickshire County Council has been approached for said that in some areas Reform was "working reasonably well with existing administrations" but in others there was "genuine, deliberate obstructionism". He added that some officials "don't want to show us the books" and where money is being spent. Reform UK's Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) - modelled on the cost-cutting initiative set up by US President Donald Trump and previously led by billionaire Elon Musk - was launched in June. The unit is made up of about 15 unelected volunteers and is run by Zia Yusuf, who quit as party chairman in June, before returning to Reform to head up Doge days says Kent County Council will be the first to be audited but in other areas, such as Staffordshire, the council says it is still waiting for the unit to start the pace of progress, Farage said: "Bear in mind, we're not the Labour Party. We haven't got hundreds of staff."We're a party that's been really active for just over a year. We're growing in size."Yes, we have a Doge team who've not been everywhere yet. But you've seen already, us highlighting examples of extravagant expenditure." Farage was also challenged over spending decisions in Scarborough, where the town council has approved a 600% increase in the Reform mayor's allowance, from £500 to £3,500 a mayor has defended the move, saying the allowance helps to cover his expenses and allows him to carry out his duties said he had "no idea" about the situation in the Reform-run council, adding: "Is he doing it or she doing it as a full-time job? I've no idea.""What we could do is just get multi-millionaires to stand as candidates everywhere and indeed our Doge team are doing the work unpaid," he said."If people have got resources and they do it for free, that's great. I don't know the Scarborough Council situation." Sign up for our Politics Essential newsletter to keep up with the inner workings of Westminster and beyond.
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Nigel Farage Makes Light Of Concerns Over A Reform Mayor's Huge Pay Rise. No One Else Is Laughing.
Nigel Farage just laughed and insisted he had 'no idea' when asked about how a Reform UK mayor just received a huge pay rise – and was instantly torn apart on social media. Reform UK has made no secret of its ambitions to win the next general election, and is currently leading in the polls. So far, it has an outright majority over 10 local authorities after a major victory in May's local elections. But, judging by the Reform leader's response to a development in Scarborough council, handling any more than that may prove difficult. On the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, the presenter asked for his response to reports that Scarborough town council have given its Reform mayor, Thomas Murray, a 600% pay rise. But Farage immediately hit back: 'I've no idea! Whether what you say is true or not, I've no idea.' 'Is that the right thing to do in principle?' Kuenssberg asked. 'I've no idea, it's a town council – 600%, what is it from what?' Farage said. She replied: 'A payment of £500 up to £3,500 –' 'I don't know, is he or she doing it as a full-time job? I've no idea,' he said dismissively. But Kuenssberg kept pushing: 'In principle is that the right thing to do?' He replied: 'What we could do is get multi-millionaires to stand as candidates everywhere, and indeed our [government waste] DOGE team are doing the work, unpaid, right? 'If people have got resources and they want to do it for free, that's great. I don't know the Scarborough circumstances.' The Reform-run council defended the hike, which was approved in a meeting last Wednesday, saying the mayor should not be left 'out of pocket' for an unpaid position considering it involved an increase in responsibilities. They also noted that savings had already been made elsewhere – ignoring the irony that Reform has reportedly promised to give council taxpayers 'better value for money and reduce excessive expenditure'. #bbclaurak: What about Scarborough town council Nigel Farage: I've no ideaLK: Scarborough TC have given its Reform mayor a 600% pay-rise... is that the right thing to do?NF: I've no idea... I've no idea... — Haggis_UK 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 (@Haggis_UK) July 20, 2025 His responses impressed very few people on social media as the public raged over his 'unserious' reaction – and even accused him of 'running' from problems... Yeah if you can't keep a handle on 10 councils, you probably shouldn't attempt four nations, 350 constituencies and 26 government departments. — A-Aron (@aaronlspence) July 20, 2025 Unserious, irresponsible, and dangerous. — Luke Warner (@LukeVWarner) July 20, 2025 Nigel Farage is a fraud. — Alistair Manhire (@AlistairManhire) July 20, 2025 Doesn't know. Doesn't care. Never has done. Complete fucking charlatan. Will this country ever move on from this reductive gobshite? — Adam Abbott (@adrock73) July 20, 2025 Firstly, why is he getting still more air time? Secondly, what do you expect? Nothing is ever down to him. Not me mate, big boy done it and ran away. — Barbara Nadel (@BarbaraNadel) July 20, 2025 Farage also seemed dismissive of other, much larger, questions about money elsewhere in the interview when he was asked how much it would cost to privatise 50% of the water industry – one of Reform's major policy proposals. He just said it 'doesn't need to be a big sum of money.' So commentators on X quickly drew attention to the way Kuenssberg scrutinised Reform's economic credibility... Brilliant scrutiny of Reformonics from @bbclaurak'So you don't know how much it would be…'No… — Vicky Spratt (@Victoria_Spratt) July 20, 2025 Whenever a policy requires more detail than can fit on the back of a beer mat, Farage is lost. — Jon Hollis (@JonHollis9) July 20, 2025 More of this kind of scrutiny on Reform's economic credibility, rather than on the poll ratings, please. — Theo Bertram (@theobertram) July 20, 2025 Straight out the Trump playbook - say something that sounds good but have no way of backing it up. I understand that people are disillusioned with existing establishments parties, but to just blindly start following and voting for Farage will be a catastrophic mistake. — Stuart Wright (@weebaldy79) July 20, 2025 Related... Nigel Farage Says Some Afghans Airlifted To UK Are 'Sex Offenders'. But There's No Evidence That's True Even Some Reform Voters Think Nigel Farage Is An 'A******e', So What Is His Appeal? Nigel Farage Gets Schooled By Keir Starmer As He Tries To Stir The Brexit Pot
The Guardian
20-07-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Environment secretary ‘furious' about England and Wales water bills
The environment secretary, Steve Reed, has said he is 'furious' about an average 36% rise in water bills in England and Wales but was unable to rule out further above-inflation increases in future to fix the broken water sector. Reed said he hoped that 'root and branch' reform of the industry would lead to billions of pounds more in investment, which would mean companies would 'never again' have to increase bills in the way they did last year. However, asked by the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg whether he would allow water companies to increase bills even further, as many have already askedsaid the decision would be up to regulators. 'I'm furious about the bill rises that we saw last year,' he said. 'They happened because of 14 years of failure under the previous government. They could have intervened and made sure that that investment to fix the broken sewage pipes was going in. They didn't. 'The point is you can learn from the past to improve the future. If you see a crack in the wall of your home and you leave it for 10 years, it gets much more expensive to fix. That's what happened with our water pipes. Bill payers were made to pay the price of failure. 'I'm furious about that. By changing the whole system, root and branch reform, I can make sure enough money is going in every year that we will never again see that kind of massive bill hike that customers had to pay last year.' Ministers will this week announce a consultation into creating a new water regulator, with a government-commissioned review expected to confirm on Monday that Ofwat, the watchdog that polices how much water companies can charge for services, will be abolished. 'A key part of that will be you make the water companies upgrade the pipes so they don't collapse to the extent that you need huge bill rise to put them back into a decent state,' Reed said. 'If we can get that right, we will get that right, you have a much more level for how bills will go up, no more massive bill shocks, like we had at the end of last year.' Critics have said Ofwat has presided over a culture of underinvestment in water infrastructure and financial mismanagement by water companies since its creation in 1989. Thames Water, the most troubling case for the government and the UK's largest water company, is loaded with £20bn in debt and struggling to stave off financial collapse. Earlier, Reed told Sky News' Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips programme that households expected 'a small, steady increase' in water bills rather than massive hikes. 'Bills need to be as low as possible,' he said. There needed to be 'appropriate bill rises' to secure 'appropriate levels of investment', he said, adding: 'A small, steady increase in bills is what people expect. That's what happens in most bills that I pay this year.' Industry leaders have also long complained about a lack of coherence in water regulation, with different regulators and agencies doubling up on areas of investigation. This has made it hard to have timely decisions, allowing investigations to drag on rather than prevent or address environmental harm and pollution. Reed said that it was 'outrageous' that Southern Water's chief executive, Lawrence Gosden, was given a pay rise that almost doubled his income, adding that he should have turned it down. 'Trust between the customers and the water companies is at the lowest point probably ever, and by paying their senior executives rises of that kind, what message are they sending to their customers?' he added. 'I really would urge them to think about this very, very, very carefully.' He said he would resign as environment secretary if the government failed to halve sewage pollution in rivers by 2030. 'Politicians come and say we're going to do things. Of course our job should be on the line if we don't.' Nigel Farage told the BBC the water industry was in a 'hell of a mess' before adding that the government should not bail out investors if water companies go bust, even though Reform's policy is to bring 50% of the sector under state control. Ofwat estimated it would cost £99bn to nationalise the sector, but Farage said it would cost 'a lot less' than £50bn if the right deal was struck. 'It's public-sector thinking, we need private-sector innovation,' he added, although the industry is run by the private sector currently. Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrat leader, called for a public benefit corporation model to restructure the water industry, with a new regulator to replace Ofwat. He told the BBC that the private capital model brought in by the Conservatives had failed but that nationalisation also would not work. Kevin Hollinrake, the shadow communities secretary, said he was not opposed to new regulation of the water industry but was concerned it 'might just be shuffling the deckchairs on the Titanic'.
