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Post by northwestman on Jul 15, 2020 15:00:09 GMT 1
www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jul/15/coronavirus-contracts-government-transparency-pandemicDeals worth billions have been granted by a government willing to brazen out disgrace until outrage subsides. 'This is not just about value for money, important as that is. Transparent, competitive tendering is a crucial defence against cronyism and corruption. It is essential to integrity in public life and public trust in politics. But the government doesn’t seem to care. As the scandal over Cummings’ trip to Durham shows, its strategy is to brazen out disgrace until public outrage subsides. We know it cheats and lies. It knows that we know, and it doesn’t care'. It's the same with Jenrick. Boris is banking that if Jenrick can make it to the summer recess, things will have moved on by the time Parliament resumes in September. That's why Jenrick has kicked the can down the road in not as yet appearing before the HCLG Committee to answer their questions.
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Post by northwestman on Jul 15, 2020 16:02:12 GMT 1
'Radical planning reforms that would have put extra powers in the hands of Robert Jenrick have been put on hold amid the lobbying controversy surrounding the Housing Secretary.
The Telegraph understands that the Government was studying plans to take responsibility for some major developments away from councils and put Mr Jenrick in charge instead.
Ministers believed the Prime Minister would include the proposals in a white paper on planning expected later this year, and had expected him to reference them in a major speech next week on rebuilding Britain after the coronavirus recession.
However, after days of revelations about Mr Jenrick’s relationship with property developer and Tory donor Richard Desmond, Number 10 said the proposals would not be in the speech and are "not our policy".
Downing Street denied on Wednesday night that there was any link between the Desmond controversy and the decision not to take the proposals forward.
Multiple sources told The Telegraph that government planning advisers had advocated a system of development corporations, which would be set up by the Housing Secretary, and which would have the power to take decisions on planning that would normally have been taken by local authorities.
The development corporations would be able to buy land with taxpayers’ money, grant planning permission to build on it, then sell the land to developers at a profit. All money raised would be used for public benefit by building schools, roads or other infrastructure. The development corporation would also have control over what developers could and could not build.
It would have put huge power in the hands of the Housing Secretary because it effectively bypasses local councils.
One senior minister said: "I’m expecting there to be some mention of development corporations in the speech next week. There is a lot of interest in them within Government."
However, Downing Street sources said the idea was not going to be adopted'.
Daily Telegraph 25th June.
This subject looks like a certain candidate for a U turn by the government as soon as it's felt that Jenrick is no longer toxic. Might be a long wait!
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Post by northwestman on Jul 15, 2020 16:33:00 GMT 1
Dominic Cummings has pledged to overhaul the “appalling” planning system.
'This government will shortly bring forward the most radical reforms to our planning system since the end of the Second World War'. (Johnson)
The government intends to bring forward legislation in July and have the new rules in place by September.
I can only presume they want to keep a party loyalist like Jenrick ostensibly in charge, hence their egregious defence of him.
It's the same methodology that places Grayling as Chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee. Last week it was revealed that Dominic Cummings, the prime minister’s senior adviser, will visit five of the UK’s top secret security sites ahead of the integrated defence and security review. However, Grayling won't in any way be questioning as to why this is being done. His main function is to block the Russia Report for as long as possible and eventually release a heavily redacted version.
The Secretary for Defence, Ben Wallace, has said that the next Defence Review would be the 'deepest review' of Britain's defence and foreign policies since the end of the Cold War in 1991. However, he's unlikely to be around for much longer, as Dominic has allegedly lined him up for the axe for being responsible for leaks to the press. Buckland and Truss may well suffer the same fate. Dominic is very unforgiving with regards to leaks to the press, as Sajid Javid's ex special adviser Sonia Khan would testify.
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Post by LetchworthShrew on Jul 15, 2020 17:28:50 GMT 1
Breaking on BBC news. Coup by opposition MP's who wanted Julian Lewis (con) as the chair of the ISC .... and he fancied it and agreed with them!! Failing Graying .... failed before he started!! |
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Post by LetchworthShrew on Jul 15, 2020 20:19:22 GMT 1
Cummings as taken revenge 
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Post by ssshrew on Jul 15, 2020 21:55:24 GMT 1
Duplicity or common sense we ask ourselves?
Graylings record hardly gave the public confidence in him.
So now a tantrum has been thrown by No. 10 because at last they couldn’t fiddle something to their advantage. Whoever Julian Lewis may be they should be applauding him not just for saving us from Grayling but for carrying on the great tradition of not doing as expected just as Gove did to Johnson not so long ago and Cummings did to all of us when he went to Barnard Castle.
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Post by northwestman on Jul 16, 2020 7:00:11 GMT 1
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Post by northwestman on Jul 16, 2020 7:09:55 GMT 1
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/julian-lewis-chris-grayling-committee_uk_5f0f753dc5b619afc3fcb59bHow Julian Lewis Pulled Off A Very British Coup To Chair The Intelligence And Security Committee. Grayling stunned, chief whip embarrassed, Johnson furious. But what's the next plot twist? Would Cummings and Johnson dare to try this?: 'The difficulty for No.10 now is just what next step to take. In theory it could take the “nuclear option” and oust Lewis from the committee by tabling a Commons motion of selection, replacing him with another Tory MP, and thereby allowing a fresh internal election of a new chairman of the ISC. A 90-minute debate would be needed, followed by a vote on the floor of the Commons. The danger is that would lay bare just how party political the chairmanship would be, itself seen by even some of the PM’s allies as a move that could undermine the committee and its relationship with the intelligence agencies - all of which need to be protected from any charge of party politics in their scrutiny. The government would have to act very quickly too, and it may be too late to get any motion on the Order Paper in time. Tomorrow morning the ISC meets to discuss when to publish the ‘Russia report’, believed to cover donations to the Tory party among other issues. It is likely that the committee will recommend very swift publication'.
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Post by northwestman on Jul 16, 2020 7:25:09 GMT 1
The four other Tories on the committee - Mr Grayling, Theresa Villiers, Sir John Hayes and Mark Pritchard - were so appalled by Dr Lewis’s behaviour that they did not offer him their congratulations after the result was announced.
That's made my morning!
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Post by northwestman on Jul 16, 2020 8:01:23 GMT 1
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Post by northwestman on Jul 16, 2020 8:10:10 GMT 1
'With his abysmal record of failure as a Tory minister, Chris Grayling is the only man who could lose a rigged election'.
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Post by northwestman on Jul 16, 2020 8:35:16 GMT 1
Surprise, surprise. The report on Priti Patel's alleged bullying is also visiting the long grass. www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-53422019'An investigation into allegations of bullying by Priti Patel contains “robust criticisms” of the home secretary’s behaviour but its findings are being held back by Downing Street over fears they could be embarrassing, Whitehall officials said. The Cabinet Office launched the investigation into Ms Patel’s conduct in March following the resignation of Philip Rutnam as the Home Office’s most senior civil servant. He accused her of being involved in a “vicious and orchestrated briefing campaign” against him. Other civil servants have accused Ms Patel of bullying during her time as a minister at the Department for International Development and the Department for Work and Pensions'. F.T. |
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Post by northwestman on Jul 16, 2020 8:57:10 GMT 1
Duplicity is acceptable if carried out by Cummings & Johnson, but not if someone fights back.
Cummings, Jenrick, Patel are all still in post, whilst Lewis loses the whip for standing up for democracy.
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Post by northwestman on Jul 16, 2020 9:03:20 GMT 1
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Post by northwestman on Jul 16, 2020 9:54:50 GMT 1
One senior Tory MP said there was "lots of support for Julian", but noted people were "too scared to say anything. People are terrified by [chief adviser Dominic] Cummings". The former minister said it was a critical turning point in scrutiny.
Another former minister told Politics Live: "Personally I think [removing the whip] is a brave move. No 10 is disliked by rank and file. Julian is in the ERG and they are tribal, and have all worked to stop EU measures in the past. I think No 10 may come to regret it."
A third high-ranking backbencher said: "Folk are mostly just laughing at Grayling and the incompetence of of No 10".
Another said the coup "shows that No 10 can't have their own way on everything. It shows up the weakness in this administration", although insisted Mr Grayling was "well-liked" among colleagues.
Daily Telegraph.
"people were "too scared to say anything... people are terrified by [chief adviser Dominic] Cummings" What a dreadful indictment of the current state of the Conservative Party!
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Post by ssshrew on Jul 16, 2020 10:35:30 GMT 1
Absolutely but no surprise. When he wasn’t sacked we all knew how much the PM is scared of him. What a terrible state for our country to be in during a time of unheard of crisis and Brexit looming.
I can’t understand why these people are so scared of him. All he can do is get them sacked - sad possibly but they would, surprisingly survive. It’s not the Middle Ages he can’t get them hung, drawn and quartered.
For the sake of us, in the country, more of them should be standing up to this bully and his ineffective entourage. Unfortunately the damage was done when the PM refused to sack him and make a stand which, when we think what the rest of the country were going through at the time, was worse than disgraceful - it was a betrayal of us all including those that voted Tory.
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Post by northwestman on Jul 16, 2020 11:27:22 GMT 1
Lewis wasting no time!
'The government is to finally publish the greatly anticipated Russia report before the summer parliamentary recess begins next week.
A statement from the Intelligence and Security committee said:
The Intelligence and Security committee has unanimously agreed this morning that it will publish the Report on Russia prepared by its predecessor before the house rises for the summer recess. There will be no further comment'.
The committee produced a report on alleged Russian interference in UK politics which was supposed to be published before last year’s general election. But the prime minister Boris Johnson withheld its release, promising it would be published “in due course”.
The Guardian.
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Post by northwestman on Jul 16, 2020 11:39:08 GMT 1
Absolutely but no surprise. When he wasn’t sacked we all knew how much the PM is scared of him. What a terrible state for our country to be in during a time of unheard of crisis and Brexit looming. I can’t understand why these people are so scared of him. All he can do is get them sacked - sad possibly but they would, surprisingly survive. It’s not the Middle Ages he can’t get them hung, drawn and quartered. For the sake of us, in the country, more of them should be standing up to this bully and his ineffective entourage. Unfortunately the damage was done when the PM refused to sack him and make a stand which, when we think what the rest of the country were going through at the time, was worse than disgraceful - it was a betrayal of us all including those that voted Tory. Not so much scared I'd suggest, as bone idle. Boris just wants the numerous functions, fund raising events and photo opportunities. He'll happily delegate most of the work to Cummings, just as he appointed the Deputy Mayors to perform a similar function when he was Mayor of London, which freed up some quality time for him to regularly visit Arcuri's flat for I.T. and pole dancing lessons. |
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Post by northwestman on Jul 16, 2020 15:38:13 GMT 1
In a statement this morning, Mr Lewis pointed out that the PM had no powers to decide the chair. He said he had received a text message yesterday asking for confirmation he would be voting for Mr Grayling. 'I did not reply as I considered it an improper request,' he said. 'In recent days, the official No10 spokesman explicitly denied that the Government was seeking to ''parachute'' a preferred candidate in to the chair, stating that it was a matter for the senior parliamentarians on the committee to decide. 'It is therefore strange to have the whip removed for failing to vote for the Government's preferred candidate.' The wrangling came as No10 chief Dominic Cummings pushes for a major overhaul of defence and security organisation. He has visited MI5 and MI6 twice, and is due to go to a series of other sensitive sites soon. www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8529299/Julian-Lewis-accuses-PM-improper-bid-seize-control-security-watchdog.html"The wrangling came as No10 chief Dominic Cummings pushes for a major overhaul of defence and security organisation. He has visited MI5 and MI6 twice, and is due to go to a series of other sensitive sites soon". This is getting serious. Cummings is all over every aspect of government policy. It's not in any way incorrect for him to be referred to as 'No10 chief'. Where is the scrutiny of someone who technically is only a special adviser? |
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Post by northwestman on Jul 16, 2020 15:53:06 GMT 1
The government could seek to remove Lewis from the ISC by tabling a motion to replace him in the Commons, which MPs would have to approve. This tactic could run into trouble. Lewis has many allies on the Tory benches, including those who support increased defence spending. One senior backbench MP told the Guardian Lewis had charm, a quality that many of Johnson’s advisers lack. “Julian Lewis knows how to work the tea room in a way that Dominic Cummings, who has insulted most MPs at one time or another, has never quite worked out. www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/jul/16/julian-lewis-attempt-to-impose-grayling-was-improper-requestNo, but Cummings has effectively been given the power to sack anyone, MPs included, so many MPs will be terrified of the consequences of going against him. |
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Post by northwestman on Jul 16, 2020 20:38:12 GMT 1
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Post by northwestman on Jul 17, 2020 8:30:23 GMT 1
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Post by northwestman on Jul 17, 2020 8:34:43 GMT 1
"Boris Johnson has little respect for parliament, no desire for accountability, despises checks and balances, and is vindictive towards those who disagree with him, especially on Brexit".
Pretty good summary, except that Cummings' name can be added to his.
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Post by northwestman on Jul 17, 2020 9:15:05 GMT 1
www.independent.co.uk/voices/julian-lewis-sacked-whip-boris-johnson-chris-grayling-intelligence-committee-a9622076.htmlAgent Grayling, absurd as it may seem, was Number 10’s secret weapon in its attempt to eliminate independent scrutiny of its actions, and to do what it likes in the field of national security. Independent-minded advice is out; absolute rule by Johnson and Dominic Cummings is in. That is why they forced Sir Mark Sedwill out of his role as National Security Adviser, and replaced him with a political appointee, David Frost. It is a highly suspicious and disturbing development. As with the continuing wider efforts – which will intensify – to evade media attention, bully the BBC, curb the Supreme Court, politicise the civil service, suppress the franchise and crush parliamentary dissent, this is a government that regards itself as “the people’s government” yet has a mandate to do as it likes: an elective dictatorship. The only saving grace is that Number 10 is so incompetent at its grab for power. That's why we've seen so many U-turns and mix-ups over the coronavirus crisis. Not quite in the Grayling league for cluelessness, perhaps, but they are failing too.
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Post by ssshrew on Jul 17, 2020 9:33:40 GMT 1
The whole thing is extremely worrying and disheartening. It wouldn’t be quite so bad if we didn’t have actual proof that Cummings can break rules and get away with it.
I don’t know why MPs are so scared of him. As I’ve said before he can’t kill them. Many Tory MPs are millionaires anyway and most have other jobs/business interests. They’re like a load of lemmings.
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Post by ssshrew on Jul 17, 2020 9:45:05 GMT 1
Talking of mixed messages. No wonder people are confused. When the health secretary announced the relaxing of some restrictions in Leicester yesterday he said that pubs, etc., must stay closed but restrictions on schools and nurseries would be lifted. This is despite the fact that:
a) schools break up today
and
b) he answered a question in the same session about whether parents in Leicester could get a refund on booked holidays because of the Leicester fortnight where schools in Leicester have broken up two weeks earlier than everywhere else for years!!
It’s enough to make you weep. Still I suppose if your children are at a private school you wouldn’t know what was going on would you.
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Post by northwestman on Jul 17, 2020 9:54:10 GMT 1
The whole thing is extremely worrying and disheartening. It wouldn’t be quite so bad if we didn’t have actual proof that Cummings can break rules and get away with it. I don’t know why MPs are so scared of him. As I’ve said before he can’t kill them. Many Tory MPs are millionaires anyway and most have other jobs/business interests. They’re like a load of lemmings. Add Jenrick to that. This government's strategy is to do nothing other than defend the indefensible, irrespective of how damning the evidence is against the individual concerned. But go against Boris and Cummings wishes, then as Lewis has found out and no doubt anticipated, retribution from that vindictive duo will be swift. Their ruthlessness was in evidence when the likes of Hammond, Gauke, Clarke etc were kicked out. www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-49563357 |
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Post by northwestman on Jul 17, 2020 21:59:45 GMT 1
www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/jul/15/civil-servant-in-charge-of-bullying-inquiry-into-priti-patel-to-leave-postThe senior civil servant in charge of the bullying inquiry into the home secretary, Priti Patel, is to leave her post next month in another major Whitehall shake-up. Helen MacNamara’s new role as a permanent secretary in an as-yet unidentified Whitehall department will heighten speculation that No 10 is clearing the way for Patel to be cleared of multiple bullying allegations. The director general of propriety and ethics has previously been identified as the person blocking No 10 from clearing Patel in a report that has been sitting on the prime minister’s desk for several weeks. The job of ethics chief is crucial and sits at the heart of the No 10 operation. The appointed candidate oversees the provision of advice to all government departments on standards and ethics issues and manages public appointments. One Whitehall source said: “This move is a signal that No 10 will move on anyone who might challenge them on the legality or ethics of what Boris and Cummings want to do. “Control that office and you no longer have to stick to the rules when it comes to outside appointments.” So, that looks like Boris and Cummings have effectively consigned the Priti Patel Inquiry to the bin.
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Post by northwestman on Jul 17, 2020 22:07:07 GMT 1
Johnson’s combination of insouciance, dysfunction and shamelessness is a modern wonder.
Forgive my dwelling on the shamelessness, because it’s so important for both the media and the public not to shrug this off as normal. But it isn’t normal for your principal adviser to behave as Mr Cummings did in his flight to County Durham, claiming his boss knew nothing of it, and then carry on as if it didn’t matter. He’s one of the most important men in the government. It is not normal for such behaviour to be without consequence.
The stupid scrap with the ISC is not normal, and the whipping (which failed) was shameless. The attempt (which also failed) to bury the ISC’s report on Russian interference was shameless. The removal from her post of the senior civil servant Helen MacNamara, who has completed a report into allegations of bullying by the home secretary, Priti Patel, is shameless. If the report is ever published we’ll never know if it has been doctored. This is not normal.
Robert Jenrick’s behaviour as communities secretary was not normal when he intervened to force through a huge planning application that had been turned down at every stage in the process, potentially saving the applicant, a Tory donor whom he had met at dinner, some £40 million. He should have been moved from his post. Jenrick’s still there, given cover by Johnson. This is shameless.
But his colleagues always knew his shamelessness from his personal history. That he isn’t even clever, however, they are only now discovering.
Matthew Parris - The Times.
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Post by northwestman on Jul 18, 2020 13:39:42 GMT 1
My 3rd quote from George Orwell on here!
‘Political language – and with variations this is true of all political parties, from Conservatives to Anarchists – is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind.’
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