Politics

‘As first minister I am ultimately accountable for every decision that the Scottish government takes,’ Nicola Sturgeon announced on Friday as she gave evidence to the Scottish parliament’s public audit committee. Scotland’s ferry procurement fiasco is being closely scrutinised, and the latest developments have put Sturgeon’s record under the microscope.  In a performance reminiscent of her evidence session during the Salmond inquiry, the first minister spoke confidently, asserting several times that she was trying her best to be open – while dodging any actual accountability. It was classic Sturgeon.  There have been accusatory murmurings that the Scottish government may have corrupted the ferry procurement process for political reasons. The charge was slapped

It’s the biggest issue facing British politics: what to do about parliament’s catering? An army marches on its stomach and our legion of lords and legislators is no exception. For months, Mr S has heard grumbles about standards slipping in the Commons canteen. And now, finally, we have the proof, for today parly bosses admitted in a post on the internal staff intranet that: the most recent inspection led to a new food hygiene rating of two stars, down from [the] previous rating of five… Environmental health officers identified the presence of pests near catering venues. This is a particular challenge in parliament. Given the calibre of some MPs, that’s

Is it a red wave? A ripple? Or a trickle? Nobody quite knows. However, what looks certain is that the Republican blow out that many right wing pundits were anticipating has not happened. Crucially, the Democrats have won the crunch Senate race in Pennsylvania. John Fetterman, the man who had a stroke just a few months ago, defeated Mehmet Oz, who the late polls suggested would win.  Elsewhere, it turns out the polls were right — the Senate races are incredibly tight. It looks as if a dramatic late surge for Adam Laxalt in Nevada means the Republicans should squeak another Senate victory for there. So … over to Georgia,

Rishi Sunak is back from his first overseas trip as Prime Minister. Despite Downing Street having initially said he wouldn’t go, Sunak did travel to Cop27, the international climate change summit in Egypt.   Given the UK has had three prime ministers this year, his non-attendance would have raised question marks The problem with Sunak not going was not only that the UK was handing over the Cop presidency to the Egyptians. Given the UK has had three prime ministers this year, his non-attendance would also have raised question marks over the UK’s commitment to this climate change agenda. In the end, Sunak went and reiterated the UK’s position on the

Here’s a thought experiment about tax and fairness. Imagine two people, Janet and John. They’re both 30 years old. Janet did better at school and works harder than John, does longer hours and earns more. Her salary is £50,000. Her take-home pay is £37,776 – she pays £12,224 in income tax and national insurance each year. John’s doing OK: he earns £25,000. His take-home pay is £20,881, after taxes of £4,119. Let us wind the clock forwards by twenty years and assume all else is equal: salaries and tax rates remain unchanged. Over those two decades, Janet’s efforts bring her £755,520. John’s total is £417,620. Then, aged 50, both our

They were the dynamic, priapic premiers who guided their country through a pandemic – and the comparisons between Boris Johnson and David Lloyd George don’t stop there. For no man has done more to advance the cause of Lords reform since the days of the ‘Welsh Wizard’ than Johnson. In his seemingly ongoing quest to destroy the Upper House, this morning’s Times reports that the Old Etonian has nominated some 20 names for life peerages. Among them include two youthful aides who, if accepted, would become the youngest life peers ever. The first is Ross Kempsell, 30, the Tory party’s former political director, whose mooted nomination has caused something of