- Early reports this morning suggest that with fuel protestors numbering in the dozens, widespread disruption to petrol supplies is not likely. Ahead of the protests the head of the Environment Agency urged ministers to stand firm in the face of "sabre-rattling" from the haulage industry. Talking to ePolitix.com, Baroness Young, the agency's chief executive, said the industry was failing to take advantage of government services which would help them use fuel more efficiently. "It is always disappointing if government wavers in the face of blackmail," she added. Will she repeat this to those engaged in dealings with Sinn Fein/IRA? Are there not situations where the Government is the blackmailer? Oh yes – where is pc now with the adverse connotations of blackmail?
- The Ulster secretary has announced that the government no longer recognises the Ulster Volunteer Force and Red Hand Commando ceasefires. Peter Hain told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "What I have done in this decision overnight is to send an absolutely crystal clear signal out to everybody that we will not tolerate violence, that it does not pay." The Cabinet minister also holds talks on loyalist violence and the peace process with a Sinn Fein delegation including Martin McGuinness, Gerry Kelly and Alex Maskey. Surely the very fact that he will meet and discuss such matters with three (supposedly ex-) terrorists makes a nonsense of his declaration of the value of violence.
- Foreign secretary Jack Straw delivers a keynote speech at the International Institute for Strategic Studies on 'why Iran matters'. Can he include George Bush in the distribution of his draft speech?
- Culture secretary Tessa Jowell today defends the government's decision not to require cricket Tests to be broadcast on free terrestrial television. Writing in the Telegraph, she says that the government is unable to prevent the contract with Sky going ahead. They have already protected some sporting etc. events saying they are Heritage Events and have to be shown free-to-air.
- Environment secretary Margaret Beckett delivers a keynote speech in New York on green issues. Appropriate given the backlash about conditions in New Orleans>
- Defence secretary John Reid holds talks with his Russian counterpart. How to stage a withdrawal from Afghanistan that looks reasonable?
- Health secretary Patricia Hewitt delivers a speech on care outside hospital. Most likely place to find it – outside.
- The government's environmental watchdog has warned ministers not to "throw the baby out with the bathwater" in their drive to reduce red tape. Speaking to ePolitix.com, the chief executive of the Environment Agency said that "modern regulation" should not become "no regulation or deregulation". Baroness Young said it was possible to reduce the burdens on businesses without lowering standards of environmental protection. But she also highlighted the usefulness of government rules, saying they could create employment and encourage innovation. There was also a call for ministers to bring forward new incentives for environment-friendly behaviour. And consumption should be tackled by "getting up the price of things that we don't want consumed", she added. Rules = employment. Gainful employment or checkers of tick-boxes on official forms
- Rural affairs minister Jim McKnight launches a consultation on heather and grass burning and is later among the speakers at the LGA's annual rural conference. Something tha has been done since time immemorial - what's new?
- Sports minister Richard Caborn begins a regional Olympics tour in Cornwall. Likely to achieve a great deal towards an event centred on a relatively small part of London.
- Jim Murphy, Cabinet Office minister with responsibility for e-government visits the Isle of Lewis to see how IT helps improve the lives of people in remote areas. Can someone not just tell him and save an expensive visit. If IT is so good – what price video-conferencing.
All in all, they’d be better off sitting at the Oval watching re-runs on the big screen.
No comments:
Post a Comment