“Boris Johnson has pledged to end Britain’s “era of retreat” with the largest investment in the military since the Cold War and plans for a new space command and artificial intelligence agency. The prime minister will reveal a four-year funding settlement for the Ministry of Defence today, worth an additional £16.5 billion. This is aimed at transforming the armed forces and bolstering global influence. It will address a shortfall of up to £13 billion in the military’s existing ten-year equipment plan, while funding investment in a series of novel technologies and initiatives. A long-delayed national cyberforce will be established alongside the new space command, which will be capable of launching its first rocket by 2022. The cyberforce, a joint unit between the MoD and GCHQ, will help to protect Britons at home from cyberattack but will also deploy offensive capabilities against adversaries.” – The Times
>Yesterday: David Davis MP in Comment: Much of Cummings’ critique was right – so don’t throw all his ideas out with him
“The UK prime minister’s new 10-point plan for a green recovery is a “far cry” from what is needed to get the country on track for net zero emissions by 2050, according to climate experts. The ten points put forward on Wednesday — which include a ban on the sale of new petrol or diesel vehicles after 2030 — are the boldest signal yet of the government’s climate plan, but stop short of laying out a strategy for how to strip all emissions out of the economy. Ed Miliband, shadow business secretary, said the funding “does not remotely meet the scale of what is needed” to tackle the climate emergency. Germany has a €40bn climate plan, while France has determined that €30bn of its budget will have a positive environmental impact. At least two-thirds of the UK headline figure of £12bn in funding is recycled announcements, with just £3bn being new commitments.” – FT
>Today: ToryDiary: The wind of Biden’s change is blowing through Johnson’s Government
“The world is in the midst of an arms race in green technology. Any large industrial state that fails to grasp the nettle on electrification and hydrogen will be left behind. America and Europe are both about to launch muscular eco-industrial strategies. China is hellbent on dominance of renewables and green hi-tech, not to save the planet but to achieve economic supremacy. We have moved a long way from the era when renewables were the preserve of ecological Leftists. It is why Tesla is now worth more than the European car industry, and why Denmark’s wind pioneer Orsted may soon be Europe’s most valuable energy company. Big Money is pulling forward the trend direction of the 2020s, and writing off lost causes. If it is true that Dominic Cummings mocked the Prime Minister’s “green industrial revolution” as soft economics and southern virtue-signalling, with little appeal to hard-headed Northerners, it is a relief that Downing Street is now free of his council.” – Daily Telegraph
Editorial:
>Today: Ben Houchen in Comment: My advice to the Prime Minister. Go green for more jobs in the Red Wall – and double down on levelling up
“Boris Johnson has defended the government’s handling of PPE contracts in the face of claims that ministers paid more to a single middleman than it cost to provide free school meals to English children over half-term. The prime minister said he was “very proud” of the government’s efforts to secure millions of facemasks, gowns and other protective clothing for frontline NHS workers during the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic. He faced criticism from the Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, following a report by the National Audit Office that revealed the government had set up a VIP fast-track for PPE contracts recommended by MPs, peers and ministers. At the same time it emerged that a Spanish businessman who acted as a go-between on contracts to provide gowns, masks and other protective equipment for NHS workers was paid £21 million in taxpayers’ money. At prime minister’s questions, Sir Keir pressed Mr Johnson on whether millions of pounds spent on PPE had been squandered.” – The Times
More:
Comment:
>Today: Garvan Walshe’s column: Gloomy Sturgeon projects competence. The Government doesn’t – and the Union may be the price it pays.
“Boris Johnson was facing a growing Tory rebellion over lockdown last night, as MPs warned a relaxation of the rules could not be ‘just for Christmas’. The Prime Minister is due to announce plans next week for a fresh series of restrictions, which would come into force on December 2 when the national lockdown expires. But ministers are divided on how far to go in relaxing the restrictions amid fears that the virus could quickly spiral out of control again. Michael Gove and Health Secretary Matt Hancock are said to be pushing for just a limited easing of the rules, meaning most of the country would remain in virtual lockdown, with no indoor socialising allowed. One Whitehall source said Mr Gove, who is minister for the Cabinet Office, was trying to ‘rein everything in’. Another said he was pushing for the lockdown to be extended in the hope of avoiding the need for a third lockdown next year.” – Daily Mail
>Yesterday: ToryDiary: If anyone can make this new Conservative policy role work well, it’s O’Brien
“Rishi Sunak is preparing to publish what allies describe as a “scary” outlook for the UK economy in next week’s spending review, containing the largest downgrade in economic performance and the public finances since the second world war. When the chancellor delivers his statement to the House of Commons next Wednesday, the spending plans will be based on forecasts showing the economy will still be suffering the effects of coronavirus by the likely time of the next election in 2024. The Office for Budget Responsibility, which independently produces the government’s forecasts, is on course to follow the Bank of England in predicting the UK economy will contract close to 11 per cent in 2020, the worst annual performance for more than 300 years. Boris Johnson is attempting to “reset” his government following the departure from Downing Street of Dominic Cummings and Lee Cain, two former aides, with a renewed focus on spending money on green projects and the north of England.” – FT
Editorial:
>Yesterday: ToryDiary: The proposed foreign aid cut. Many Tories are against it. But Sunak has limited options as he tries to salvage the economy.
“Sir Keir Starmer staked his leadership on keeping Jeremy Corbyn out of the parliamentary party last night as he accused his predecessor of having “undermined and set back” progress on antisemitism. Mr Corbyn was left in limbo after his successor blocked him from regaining the Labour whip, despite his readmission as a party member. Sir Keir now faces weeks of party warfare, with more than two dozen MPs calling on him to readmit Mr Corbyn and the former leader himself threatening legal action. However, Mr Corbyn may find himself out of pocket if he pursues action because he cannot legally draw on a £360,000 fund set up by supporters to defend him. He stated in his latest register of interests this month that he was “likely to benefit” from a crowdfund set up by supporters. It cannot be used to challenge his suspension because it was set up to help him defend himself against allegations of defamation. Supporters are being offered refunds.” – The Times
Comment:
Editorial:
>Yesterday: LeftWatch: Corbyn’s re-admission to the Labour Party shows the limits of Starmer’s power to change it
“Brexit negotiating teams are in the “final push” for a trade agreement with Britain, Michel Barnier told a meeting of EU Commissioners in Brussels on Wednesday. Senior diplomats warned that EU governments would demand the European Commission launch emergency no deal plans if a trade accord was not struck by Friday. There was a risk that could poison the ongoing negotiations in Brussels, one senior diplomat said, but, with six weeks to go before the end of the year the EU had no choice but to start work on its no deal safety net. The plans aim to mitigate the worst disruption to EU interests in sectors such as aviation and freight but fall far short of a “managed no deal”, which would involve consultation and consideration of British interests. The UK leaves the Brexit transition period, and the EU’s Single Market and Customs Union, on December 31. If an agreement is not ratified by then the UK and EU will trade on no deal WTO terms from January 1.” – Daily Telegraph
Comment: