NHS 1) Sunak told care system at risk of collapse if workers not paid as much as nurses
“Rishi Sunak has come under Tory pressure to give care workers a pay rise – just as he is refusing demands to increase nurses’ pay. Damian Green, the former First Secretary of State, said Britain’s care system was at risk of collapse unless care workers were paid as much as nurses. Mr Green, the chairman of the all-party parliamentary group on adult social care, said the country desperately needed more care staff and the only way to achieve that was pay parity with NHS nurses. The Royal College of Nursing wants an increase of 19 per cent, and is set to hold further strike action. The RCN said the average wage of a UK nurse was £33,384, while the average care worker earns around £23,000. Care workers, most of whom are employed by private firms, have not decided to go on strike.” – Daily Telegraph
- Agency leeches are sucking NHS dry – Daily Mail
- Health Service spends more than £8.2m on ‘woke warriors’ in diversity jobs – Daily Telegraph
NHS 2) Ministers plan to scrap targets to ‘boost efficiency’
“The government is preparing to ditch NHS national targets in an attempt to “boost efficiency”, as part of recommendations from a review led by a former Labour health secretary. Patricia Hewitt led the government-commissioned review into the NHS in England, looking at how the new integrated care systems (ICSs) could operate efficiently. The chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, announced the assessment during the autumn budget. Labour has warned the government that scrapping these targets equates to “scrapping standards altogether”… The review was launched in the hope that the ICSs will be able to function with fewer national targets and more control so they are accountable for performance and spending.” – The Guardian
Middle-class families ‘face £40,000 stealth tax on incomes’
“Middle-class families will be up to £40,000 worse off over the next decade as a result of Jeremy Hunt’s stealth taxes to reduce government borrowing. In last month’s autumn statement the chancellor announced plans to freeze the levels at which people pay different rates of income tax until 2028 at the earliest. Economists warned that the decision would drag thousands more families into paying tax at a time when earnings were failing to keep pace with inflation. Research from the House of Commons Library has shown the full effect on household income over the next ten years. It finds that a family with two earners on £60,000 a year each will be £40,880 worse off over the decade than they would have been if income tax thresholds had risen in line with inflation.” – The Times
Gove declares war on ‘eyesore’ urban planning blighting towns and cities
“Housing chief Michael Gove has declared war on ugly buildings blighting towns and cities. The Levelling Up Secretary is now backing calls to give the public more say on plans for urban developments. It comes as a report from the Policy Exchange think tank demands broader and deeper public consultation on developments and claims opposition to new housing would be reduced if there was a greater focus on design… The report also calls for a so-called School of Place for architects, planners, designers, engineers and consultants to “revive traditional architecture from the annals of obscurity”.” – The Sun
- He claims development opposition is down to a fear of poor quality – Daily Mail
More:
- Ministers in talks to axe housing contract for soldiers over poor conditions – Daily Telegraph
Ex-ministers who break sleaze rules should face fines, says Pickles
“Former ministers who break Whitehall sleaze rules and take jobs in sectors they used to regulate should face fines of up to £16,000, the head of the watchdog that regulates appointments has suggested. Lord Pickles has said that the advisory committee on business appointments (Acoba) has become “essentially toothless” because there are no sanctions in place for those who break the rules. He called on Rishi Sunak to change the contracts of ministers to allow the government to claw back up to three months’ salary for those who refused to follow Acoba’s advice. Pickles has become increasingly frustrated with the government for failing to act on recommendations to strengthen Acoba after a string of scandals involving ministers and officials taking jobs after leaving office.” – The Times
Braverman considers raising the threshold for British citizens applying for a family visa…
“Suella Braverman is considering plans to make it harder for foreign students to bring their spouses to the UK to reduce immigration. The Home Secretary is also looking into increasing the minimum salaries for companies employing skilled workers to reduce numbers. Her new blueprint would see the government pushing up the minimum income threshold for British citizens applying for a family visa for a spouse or children. Currently, a couple must prove that they have an income of at least £18,600 and show evidence they have enough money to cover the costs of any children who do not have British citizenship. Ms Braverman’s plans… would also increase the minimum salary thresholds for workers filling jobs on the shortage occupation list…” – Daily Express
- Gangs running Channel operations from Germany because of soft immigration laws – The Sun
- Ninety migrants cross on Christmas Day – Daily Telegraph
…as May warns her not to ease anti-slavery rules
“Rishi Sunak has been warned by Theresa May not to ease her modern slavery laws in an attempt to reduce migration as figures showed that 90 people crossed the Channel in two small boats on Christmas Day. The former prime minister, who championed “world-leading protections” for the victims of modern-day slavery, said that making asylum claims more difficult to justify would create other problems. Sunak is understood to have spoken to May about her concerns, which she raised as the government tries to address the asylum claims backlog. The prime minister has promised to “raise the threshold someone must meet to be considered a modern slave”, and to remove “gold-plating” in the system.” – The Times
- She insists Tories can rebuild reputation and win next election… – The Guardian
- …if Sunak restores fiscal credibility – Daily Mail
Tory MPs fear losing key ‘red wall’ seats
“But Gullis, like other Tory MPs defending seats in the “red wall”, is facing electoral oblivion according to the polls, as memories of the former prime minister — and his 2019 rout of the opposition party in the Midlands and north of England — start to fade. One of Gullis’s Westminster colleagues said: “The red wall is dead. It’s possible we won’t hold any of the seats we won at the last election. Some people are just hanging around for their severance payments.” If that swath of working-class, traditionally Labour-voting constituencies falls, it is likely that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s government, with its majority of 69, will fall too. Gullis, a restless and popular local campaigner, is less pessimistic, insisting all is not lost.” – FT
- Farage ‘open-minded’ about comeback but concern over ‘cheating’ dampens mood – Daily Express
- Senior Tories risk losing seats if he returns to politics, experts say – The Guardian
- Dorries insists Johnson could return – Daily Express
>Today: ToryDiary: Our survey. Lee Anderson is Backbencher of the Year.
Labour attacks delays to online safety bill as it highlights Christmas scams
“Nearly £80m will be lost to online fraud and scams over the 12 days of Christmas, Labour has said as it criticised ministers for delays over the online safety bill. Police force data analysed by the party found there were 312 daily incidents of online fraud or cybercrime on average in 2019/20 and 2020/21, with the amount lost to fraud equivalent to £6.36m a day or £76m over the festive period. Labour hit out at the delay in parliamentary progress of the online safety bill, claiming it was letting fraudsters and criminals off the hook. The bill has been hit by repeated delays and amendments. It was meant to finish its Commons stages in July. However, the government pulled it at the last minute to hold a confidence vote in Boris Johnson, instead.” – The Guardian
William Hague: Would I still go into politics? That’s an easy one
“My quarter-century in the Commons, ending in 2015, was more benign than most in human affairs. But the next quarter-century looks set to bring the most profound political, ethical, legal and technological challenges in the history of civilisation. Whether we can arrest climate change, regenerate nature, control artificial intelligence, maintain public services for an ageing population, manage mass migration, stop pandemics, prevent global conflict, transform education and health, and many other questions will all be down to the political leaders of the next generation. Would you really opt for a quiet life, when the most decisive time ever in human development — or disaster — is unfolding? Do you think you can sit this one out?” – The Times
News in Brief:
- A plagiarism success story? – Poppy Coburn, The Critic
- How to save the NHS from itself – Sam Ashworth-Hayes, The Spectator
- Politicised publishers won’t tell the truth about Empire – Nikhil Krishnan, UnHerd
- Things could be better – Adam Mastroianni, Experimental History
