GO has resigned from the government
Philip Hammond appointed Chancellor
It looked like Leadsom stood down because of mummygate but aparently the real reason was the threat by the CEO of one of the firms she worked for to spill the beans about her fabricated cv
Jen - I think in essence there's not going to be enough money. Not even if the NHS/care interface (where most of the "efficiency savings" could be made) was to suddenly work like clockwork. Without a plan for getting there.
Or am I being too negative...?
Leadsom is an appalling choice to run DEFRA.
I can only hope that she comes unravelled in double quick time and is replaced by someone less dire.
www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jul/18/concerns-mount-over-andrea-leadsoms-suitability-for-environment-role
@varian and jessm
That wouldn't surprise me in the slightest (although I have no evidence). She comes across as somebody who really doesn't know what she's talking about in areas where she's supposed to have experience and expertise.
I really fear for the NHS. The crux of it is, dj, that NHS England has been told it will get an extra £10billion, but much of that money is coming from Public Health and training. Funding for training is being 'saved' by making student nurses take out loans for their courses.
Countries such as France and Germany spend 50% more than the NHS and even they are complaining that they don't have enough to deal with increasing demand. Trusts are being told to make efficiency savings and you can bet that the bulk of the savings will come from staffing cuts at a time when Hunt wants a 7 day service. Ha ha ha!
Over £100 billion to be gained from tax cheats. That would fill the NHS black hole.
However, I did read today that Cameron's commission set up to look into the Panama Papers has not yet been given them. Shades of Chilcot.
I wouldn't hold your breath that anything will be done as a result of the Panama Papers. I expect it will all be found to be perfectly 'legal'.
The thing about the Panama Papers is that they are international, so they could be looked into in the US, which has just charged two HSBC bankers with fraud. They do these things so much quicker in the US.
Whyte and Mackay being looked into because of links with Panama Papers.
I don't think that was as a result of the Panama Papers (could be wrong). The US is very good at prosecuting people when other individuals lose out, as they allegedly have done with the HSBC case. However, they're not so good at prosecuting people for fraud when the whole country is the loser.
I suspect the Panama Papers will make loads of money for corporate lawyers, but I seriously can't see much making its way to the Treasury.
BREXIT is a blow to campaigners who wanted the whole of the EU to act together on tax evasion. The UK can't (and won't) act on its own, although many of the biggest tax havens are British sovereign territory. It could be that the situation becomes worse, if London becomes a tax haven in its own right. It's no wonder that some of the biggest hedge fund managers supported BREXIT.
As far as the NHS is concerned, one thing the government could do is buy up the PFI contracts. It's never been cheaper for the government to borrow money (by issuing bonds) and it would save billions in the long wrong.
The government could also invest in local government services, which would take some of the pressure off acute hospital services, but local authorities are facing cuts and don't want to make themselves even more unpopular.
The government could also make pension contributions subject to a flat tax rate, rather than giving away money to the wealthiest with tax savings. Apparently that would result in an £8 billion increase in tax income, but they won't do that either, because the wealthiest would kick up a stink.
One way or other, the NHS is about to implode. Blaming drunks, agency staff or sugary drinks isn't going to solve the problem of such a serious shortfall in funding. Hunt's staying at Health seems to show that May wants him to continue with what he's been doing - or else nobody else wanted the job.
publicintegrity.us4.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=8dc6eceed67f7f012462d0b12&id=5aa9411dea&e=98045e9077
Just received this email, daphne.
Yes, but the media is saying that what Whyte and Mackay is doing is legal.
www.icij.org/blog/2016/07/new-eu-rules-tackle-money-laundering-and-tax-abuse
I doubt whether this would have happened if it wasn't for the Panama Papers.
But the UK isn't going to be in the EU for much longer. While the EU and possibly the US decides to crack down on tax evasion, the UK will still be shuffling its bits of paper around, which isn't going to increase our tax revenues. More than ever, we need the British government to act, because we won't have anybody else doing it for us and many of the most important tax havens are under British jurisdiction anyway.
But the UK isn't going to be in the EU for much longer. While the EU and possibly the US decides to crack down on tax evasion, the UK will still be shuffling its bits of paper around, which isn't going to increase our tax revenues. More than ever, we need the British government to act, because we won't have anybody else doing it for us and many of the most important tax havens are under British jurisdiction anyway.
If we want to stay in the single market, we will have to accept EU rules on the free movement of capital, which include those on tax fraud.
Brexiters are not going to get much, are they, if they want the single market.
www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/11-bits-bad-news-tories-8465961
Nurses bursaries definitely to be scrapped. Tuition fees to rise.
www.facebook.com/johann.malawana/posts/10154362320744772
An open letter to Jeremy Hunt from the ex chair of the BMA junior doctors committee.
I see Johnson has been warned about his undiplomatic comments, and told to get his act together.
Well there's a surprise!
Liz Truss is causing alarm in her new roll as Lord/Lady Chancellor. The legal profession has voiced an opinion that her experience is nil. She has experience of a couple of ministerial posts, including environment, food and rural affairs.
Richar Horwood QC said " she is particularly passionate about British cheeses, but nothing (she has done to date) qualifies her to defend the rule of law across government"
If May wanted a female in the role Anna Subrey would have been considered the better choice. She has demonstrated her independence and knowledge of the law.
May is considered to have shown poor judgement. The people who will suffer as ever will be the poor and immigrants.
Neither of the previous incumbents, Grayling and Gove, had any expertise in law.
And it showed, particularly with Grayling. Gove had to undo many of the changes Grayling made.
Liz Truss is a very weak choice for chancellor.I was hoping that she would not be in the cabinet at all.
I agree with both of you.
Anna Soubry must have pi$$ed off Theresa May big time.
www.change.org/p/david-cameron-mp-free-nazanin-ratcliffe/u/17400866
I hope this has a good outcome.
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