en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/25713249 Comments by Arielman2 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/02/frosts-appointment-chills-the-temperature-for-the-eu.html#IDComment1097661147 ........and if you feel the current cabinet represents the best skills the country has available, I am not sure that based on the last 18 months I can agree - weakest cabinet group of any party I have seen in last 40 years. Lord Frost probably is better than many/most of those already there but feel this is 'in the land of the blind, the one eyed man' is king thinking! Do you not believe there is elected talent on the govt back benches or junior roles capable of being promoted to cabinet? Re Brexit being yesterday's war - I thought success had already been declared. Even the Lib Dems are not organising a re-join movement. No one I know wants to refight it. Tomorrow's battle was supposed to be about levelling up (regional investment, fixing social care, and major new trading opportunities etc). There I fear progress is not so good. Thu, 18 Feb 2021 16:34:38 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/02/frosts-appointment-chills-the-temperature-for-the-eu.html#IDComment1097661147 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/02/frosts-appointment-chills-the-temperature-for-the-eu.html#IDComment1097656002 An unelected cabinet member is wrong in principle (as it was by Labour in 2010 and has been since the franchise was widened). Once again the same pool is being fished. The chums of Boris / cronyism argument gets another push. What's worse, this plays back into the Brexit paradigm - yesterday's war. Now outside the EU (got border control, sovereign law making etc) do we now want to set up a hostile environment with Europe? I am sure it plays well with the >60s/party members but is this a confident, outward looking strategic move or a signal of a plan for more short term populist political tactics (eg shellfish war) and thinking. Not good for the country long term. Thu, 18 Feb 2021 12:09:54 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/02/frosts-appointment-chills-the-temperature-for-the-eu.html#IDComment1097656002 https://www.conservativehome.com/localgovernment/2021/02/tom-bell-councils-can-rapidly-accelerate-clean-transport-by-championing-autonomous-vehicles.html#IDComment1097576582 In contrast to Anyideas123, whilst I think too much waffly green stuff from govt, I think if we adopted a more positive approach to AI and EVs(where they are going to be embedded), there are some big wins but it needs some complementary joined up thinking to re-do transport overall i) AI allows much denser traffic - we need far fewer big new trunk roads saving billions ii) Use market led pricing to discourage road miles - fewer roads, nudge towards govt healthy living, user pays etc iii) Use regulation to nudge car size down - parking on narrow streets is my areas no 1 issue iv) Safety will improve greatly - encouraging use of those cycle lanes by people like me (over 50 with a choice) The classic granny vs child problem is resolved if it is re-stated as: human driver has to choose granny or child - who do you run over? Once you look at it this way the answer is clear - don't force the choice, save lives and have fewer (error prone human) drivers. Mon, 15 Feb 2021 11:37:17 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/localgovernment/2021/02/tom-bell-councils-can-rapidly-accelerate-clean-transport-by-championing-autonomous-vehicles.html#IDComment1097576582 https://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2021/02/emily-carver-an-online-sales-tax-would-be-a-clear-cut-case-of-levelling-down.html#IDComment1097452114 'Free market conservatism" has always been an oxymoron - the debate is always about where and how much tax to levy in our mixed economy. An online tax for all companies with today's digital accounting packages is doable and would raise money that could be used to reform and reduce the business rates that High Street complains about. Online would still grow - most of the long term failures in shops are for things better done on line where convenience and range are important. So many clothes shops no but hospitalities failures will come back. But an online tax would tax the externalities (loads of delivery vans, excess packaging in delivery) not reflected in our current system and tax avoidance by big companies is tackled. Wed, 10 Feb 2021 12:49:46 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2021/02/emily-carver-an-online-sales-tax-would-be-a-clear-cut-case-of-levelling-down.html#IDComment1097452114 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2021/02/sanjoy-sen-smart-motorways-need-improvements-but-theres-no-getting-away-from-the-self-driving-revolution.html#IDComment1097422000 Let's apply the same thinking as NICE and do a cost/benefit analysis. NICE assigns (roughly) £20-30,000 to the value of each year of high quality life saved by a new medicine. So if it saves 10 such years the "value of treatment" is £250K. What's more safety will likely improve rapidly with EVs (more safety tech, fewer breakdowns) even before autonomous. We are allegedly tackling a Ciimate emergency and with advances in Zoom-like technologies reducing the need to physically travel but major short term congestion issues So let's be honest with voters: we can save 80 lives per year on SMART at a cost of several billion pounds.....or we can use the same money into (insert your favourite cause eg NHS operations, wind turbines, lower taxes). There are many more effective things that can be done. Tue, 9 Feb 2021 12:03:41 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2021/02/sanjoy-sen-smart-motorways-need-improvements-but-theres-no-getting-away-from-the-self-driving-revolution.html#IDComment1097422000 https://www.conservativehome.com/localgovernment/2021/02/meghan-gallacher-scottish-conservatives-want-to-give-planning-decisions-back-to-local-communities.html#IDComment1097393666 Let's hope that the author persuades the government to empower and respect local authorities in England as well. The system is already pro-developer and short term thinking. It takes a lot of local grassroots activity and Council opposition to derail a professional developer. The result is the explosion of Mc Mansions onto greenfield sites all across the South Coast certainly - very much against the alleged agenda of more housing for ordinary people in brownfield sites Mon, 8 Feb 2021 13:36:04 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/localgovernment/2021/02/meghan-gallacher-scottish-conservatives-want-to-give-planning-decisions-back-to-local-communities.html#IDComment1097393666 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2021/02/amanda-milling-covid-will-make-mays-local-elections-unusual-but-theyre-happening-and-they-matter-lets-get-ready-for-them-now.html#IDComment1097362300 Given the way Local Council's have been excluded from things like Test'n'Trace and so much power picked up by Westminster, It will not be surprising if the Conservatives get a bloody nose locally in May. The local govt in my area has a much better reputation for competence than the central govt given all the U turns, confused messaging and, frankly, smell of 'just call my mate' corruption on PPI contracts and appointments. Sun, 7 Feb 2021 12:31:40 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2021/02/amanda-milling-covid-will-make-mays-local-elections-unusual-but-theyre-happening-and-they-matter-lets-get-ready-for-them-now.html#IDComment1097362300 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/02/gimson-gimson-gimson-and-gimson-my-coronavirus-experience-50-calls-from-test-and-trace-and-what-i-learnt.html#IDComment1097328302 The success of vaccines has been subsidiarity - the right level of control for the task done. Centralised development and purchase of the vaccine, largely decentralised execution of the jab. PPI and Test'nTrace have been disasters precisely because they remained centralised. Locally-led Test'nTrace has been much cheaper and more successful. Central govt, "the man in Wesminster", is too far away - even when there are competent ministers running the show. With many of the current mob........! Sat, 6 Feb 2021 10:29:08 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/02/gimson-gimson-gimson-and-gimson-my-coronavirus-experience-50-calls-from-test-and-trace-and-what-i-learnt.html#IDComment1097328302 https://www.conservativehome.com/localgovernment/2021/02/cladding-removal-is-a-huge-bill-punishing-taxpayers-or-homeowners-is-an-uncomfortable-choise.html#IDComment1097299592 Sprinklers sound an outstanding idea if the cost/benefit is so strong here. A genuinely out of the box solution that could bring resolution very quickly - and the right type of pragmatic thinking. At the end of the day 72 people died at Grenfell (I believe). A tragedy for the people involved but not for the country. Some 10,000 die every week. If it costs £10Bn to resolve that is £138Mn/death; the NHS used to work on a QALY of £30K. Money spent on this is not spent on other less glamourous life saving things - cleaner buses to drop air pollution in London which probably kills more every year. We are lost to headlines and weak leaders afraid to talk uncomfortable common sense to people. External adders on 2 sides of a building for lower properties and / or waivers might be enough on lower properties. If people feel uncomfortable with the risk, they can get a guaranteed sale to a govt controlled company and compensated for the estimated market difference (less £10,000 to avoid moral hazard). Other funds can be created from a windfall tax on the property's developers (or their controlling interest in the many cases of shell companies for tax reasons!). All leaseholders face a £10,000 charge that limits their exposure but avoids a moral hazard. Building owners face a similar charge / flat affected. Net solutions are at hand - it requires govt and focus will to push it through. Very few will be happy but progress and resolution needs to be made. Low calibre ministers like Jennrick need to be forced to lead and act. Fri, 5 Feb 2021 10:55:09 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/localgovernment/2021/02/cladding-removal-is-a-huge-bill-punishing-taxpayers-or-homeowners-is-an-uncomfortable-choise.html#IDComment1097299592 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2021/02/robin-millar-the-shared-prosperity-fund-will-unleash-wales-potential-and-take-back-control-from-unaccountable-bureaucrats.html#IDComment1097274929 From article...."For most people, Cardiff feels as distant as Westminster." I live in a regional city in England and feel very distanced from real influence. Local government - Tory, Labour and Lib Dem - has been systematically weakened for at least 40 years. Look at the local level of tax take; the Council tax is far less in real terms than rates used to be. Yet local political action has far more effect on people's lives day to day. Real "levelling up" requires more than just extra cash. It requires a less colonial culture by London to let local people and institutions make decisions about their own towns and cities which means letting go of the central control over the purse strings (and all that patronage). I would love to "take back control" but find I have to overthrow London as well Brussels to achieve it. Thu, 4 Feb 2021 15:36:56 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2021/02/robin-millar-the-shared-prosperity-fund-will-unleash-wales-potential-and-take-back-control-from-unaccountable-bureaucrats.html#IDComment1097274929 https://www.conservativehome.com/localgovernment/2021/02/gary-porter-the-voters-demand-more-local-control-we-should-listen-to-them.html#IDComment1097176594 During Brexit the mantra was : bring back control (from Brussels). Now the mantra should be : bring back control (from Westminster) Over the last 30-40 years the local tax base has been eroded. Look at the share of income taken by rates vs the council tax. Give real power and spending control back to local government and allow experimentation and diversity of approach. Only on issues requiring national or international co-ordination does the power need to rest with the centre (defence, national grids, educational standards) Local people know what they want much better and how to spend money much more effectively than the 'man from Westminster'. Covid has highlighted with the govt failing with a centralised track and trace vs using local community healthcare systems. However, many good people of all parties do not get involved locally in politics because, despite what the frothy-mouthed fringe say, the rewards are precious few and hours long and most big decisions are made centrally. By the way, corruption in Local govt occurs in rotten boroughs, with single party control in areas that that elect blue or red "rosettes" vs local political leaders (This is also true in perhaps 400 parliamentary seats as well as local govt). What we need is electoral reform - let's see the Constitutional Commission that was promised materialise, please.) Mon, 1 Feb 2021 10:44:00 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/localgovernment/2021/02/gary-porter-the-voters-demand-more-local-control-we-should-listen-to-them.html#IDComment1097176594 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2021/01/john-redwood-lets-hear-more-debate-about-how-the-church-of-england-enjoys-its-privileges.html#IDComment1097151090 I note you use a lower case 'c' not a capital 'C' as Wexfordtory does. This is the heart of the matter. The old conservative Conservatives tended to be old school Wet/One Nation/Remain people. For good or for ill, these have lost influence and now more populist/radical rightwing people control the party and its MPs. Politics keeps moving. I suspect we will see this change in the Conservative base lead to success in retaining some red wall seats but losses in the shires to Lib Dems. Interesting to see how it plays out. Sun, 31 Jan 2021 11:34:02 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2021/01/john-redwood-lets-hear-more-debate-about-how-the-church-of-england-enjoys-its-privileges.html#IDComment1097151090 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/01/the-cynical-politics-of-emissions-targets-and-cop26-how-government-is-poised-to-declare-success-while-delivering-failure.html#IDComment1097010919 Why do climate sceptics and deniers (out in force here today) assume that the going green aka using new, emerging and better technologies will make things worse when the history of technological advance since the Enlightenment has been the opposite? Govts can ensure that the benefits are shared equitably if they want. FWIW I expect my energy bill energy to be lower in 10-15 years than now as well as 90% renewable ! Re jobs this is not a choice of green jobs or old fashioned dirty jobs. These latter have gone and will not return (I grew up near the Nottingham coalfield !!). Technology, driven by economic imperatives, is going to make a lot people redundant. The real choice if often going to be green jobs or no jobs.......and short term at least there will be a lot of unsexy green jobs eg solar installer, turbine mechanic Tue, 26 Jan 2021 14:02:36 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/01/the-cynical-politics-of-emissions-targets-and-cop26-how-government-is-poised-to-declare-success-while-delivering-failure.html#IDComment1097010919 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2021/01/mario-laghos-more-support-less-regulation-how-government-can-help-british-industry-thrive.html#IDComment1096948298 Mario, In an unusual move for an online poster, I change my position!! I confess I had not realised it was metallurgical coal for steelmaking. Here there this is an important argument to me made since maintaining UK steel production and supply chain is a strategic defence and resilience issue and I agree in the next 10years no cost effective alternative is likely. I think focusing on this narrow case would have made sense vs trying to make trying to make the much weaker and wider arguments about coal, fracking and regulation - especially with the global COP 26 Climate Conference and Local elections coming up. Without the focused narrative, most media/media readers will pick up on the coal mine story and with it a political own goal amongst the numerous green tory swing voters (esp in the South/South West). I am not sure how many readers even on this site will read this discussion Anyway, I read this morning that Jennrick has made the decision in favour of it going forward. Sun, 24 Jan 2021 10:31:15 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2021/01/mario-laghos-more-support-less-regulation-how-government-can-help-british-industry-thrive.html#IDComment1096948298 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2021/01/mario-laghos-more-support-less-regulation-how-government-can-help-british-industry-thrive.html#IDComment1096931811 HS2 has very doubtful economic benefits - especially if compared to alternative uses of the same money to avoid travel eg in order of likely economic return 1. acceleration of broadband infrastructure (NOT free broadband) 2. improve shorter travel trips (eg upgrades to existing rail services) 3. better linkages like cross-Pennines, the Oxford-Cambridge link or a Heathrow -Gatwick Problem is Johnson likes the short term PR gain and high viz jacket opportunity of opening big ticket items (that someone in 5 years will have to pay for. We need a Conservative PM who can read a complex policy , form a consistent, coherent policy and then manage its execution. These people exist in the Tory party but no longer hold positions of power. Sat, 23 Jan 2021 18:32:13 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2021/01/mario-laghos-more-support-less-regulation-how-government-can-help-british-industry-thrive.html#IDComment1096931811 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2021/01/mario-laghos-more-support-less-regulation-how-government-can-help-british-industry-thrive.html#IDComment1096927026 For the second day in a row, I respond to an article with 19th century conservative Conservative thinking - is the author really expecting the UK to return to digging coal when one of the (increasingly rare) British triumphs has been the development of wind power in the North Sea and on land at prices below coal and very limited environmental impact !! Look at the govt's own LCOE (levellised cost of energy) figures. Investments in coal (and probably gas and nuclear) will be stranded assets before long. In contrast, high wage jobs and lower wage, less skilled jobs aplenty lie in the new green economics and with lower electricity prices from these sources in the mid term, we can look to reshore other industries and reduce energy costs for ordinary families. The new jobs (eg solar installer) will also not be heavily organised and unionised and so have less political punch but will train a generation of self reliant entrepreneurs. Say hello to the 21st century, please. Sat, 23 Jan 2021 13:56:28 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2021/01/mario-laghos-more-support-less-regulation-how-government-can-help-british-industry-thrive.html#IDComment1096927026 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/01/the-amazing-story-of-mohammad-sarwar-shows-how-sturgeon-can-be-defeated.html#IDComment1096900911 "Here is a development which will rejoice the hearts of those of us who regard the hereditary principle not merely as inevitable but as beneficial. No need to distinguish between nature and nurture. If parents pass on their abilities to their children, society is enriched." The hereditary principle is that REGARDLESS of ability, wealth/leadership positions are passed on. Astonishing that this is seriously promoted in today's world. I honestly checked if this was going to be a spoof article!! In the 1980's when I grew up, the Conservative spoke about meritocracy. Now we are returning to a leader from Eton and entitled writers like the author of this article - who may/may not have got where he is by his own merits but no doubt thinks his children should do as well regardless. How can that appeal long term to Red Wall voters? How can such hold if we are to win in a competitive global wall. I read this blog for insight into 21st century Conservative thinking; I watch the history channel for insight into the 19th century Fri, 22 Jan 2021 13:49:18 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/01/the-amazing-story-of-mohammad-sarwar-shows-how-sturgeon-can-be-defeated.html#IDComment1096900911 https://www.conservativehome.com/localgovernment/2021/01/starmer-opposes-council-tax-rises-but-he-wont-say-where-the-money-would-come-from.html#IDComment1096636552 I would never vote for Labour/Starmer but challenging him for i) a lack of transparency on how something is going to be paid for /is going to cost ii) not delivering/seeking value for money iii) failing to be brave and articulate alternatives - ie you can do this but then not this...... iv) not confronting big new spending areas like the inevitable rise in Adult Social Care .....is dangerous grounds for the current Conservative party who spending like drunked sailors and are effectively engaged in a spending race with Labour which Labour must long term feel comfortable with - remember the GE and the attack all those unaffordable Labour spending plans. There have not been many articulations of how things will be paid for from the govt on how things will be paid for and Boris Johnson doesn't seem very interested in the detail that . (Although politically at the 2019 GE the Economist backed the Lib Dems as having the most reliable, transparent and well costed plans but that did not do them much good!!). The responsible business-first leaders in the Conservative party need to 'take back control' (!!!) of the budget else we will be in trouble in the medium term Tue, 12 Jan 2021 10:45:12 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/localgovernment/2021/01/starmer-opposes-council-tax-rises-but-he-wont-say-where-the-money-would-come-from.html#IDComment1096636552 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/01/johnsons-position-is-stronger-than-it-looks.html#IDComment1096454567 Johnson should go - whilst the virus may have beaten other leaders, they could at least have given the feel of confidence and competence, not U turns and bombast. Tue, 5 Jan 2021 18:45:34 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/01/johnsons-position-is-stronger-than-it-looks.html#IDComment1096454567 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/01/johnsons-position-is-stronger-than-it-looks.html#IDComment1096452767 Johnson should go - whilst the virus may have beaten other leaders, they could at least have given the feel of confidence and competence, not U turns and bombast. His longest lasting personal contribution to British politics may not be Brexit but rather the loss of Scotland and Northern Ireland - ironically this might then cement a Tory majority in a rump England& Wales Tue, 5 Jan 2021 17:19:22 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/01/johnsons-position-is-stronger-than-it-looks.html#IDComment1096452767