[Tubby Isaacs]

Some interesting stuff about rehabilitation/ probation here. I worked in the Prison `Service when Home Detention Curfew (aka electronic tagging) was taking off. IIRC it wasn't the big money saver one might have hoped. It became a sort of a joke when (very rarely) footballers would play matches with tags on.

No doubt the tech has moved on in the last 25 years, and (hopefully) probation gets better at recognizing the sort of offender for whom tagging is effective and cheaper than imprisonment. The numbers in this thread sounds more promising. I see that more probation officers have been recruited. As ever, we can criticize government comms, but to me this is what (starting to) 'fix the criminal justice system looks like on a tight budget. I've got no sense at all from the prominent commentary on criminal justice, lots of which amounts to) "why doesn't Labour just fix it?".

[Tubby Isaacs]

From the Guardian, who do at least report this.

Pre-budget lift for Rachel Reeves as UK business confidence rises
Despite concerns about economy, poll shows optimism about trading prospects at highest level since 2014

Still worries of debt costs etc, but I've never seen a wider determination to talk the economy into a recession.

[Tubby Isaacs]

New economic adviser appointed.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... ic-adviser

Guardian tries to make it sound controversial.

There is likely to be criticism of Shafik’s appointment from some inside No 10 who wanted an expert in the UK economy to guide Starmer’s policymaking. Shafik, who was raised in Egypt before moving to the US as a child, has spent most her working life in organisations focused on resolving global poverty.

Her supporters would argue that two and half years on the Bank of England’s interest-rate setting committee and six years at the LSE gave her a deep understanding of the UK economy.

Starmer’s office was contacted for comment.

Just the 2.5 years setting interest rates for the Bank of England then.

[Malcolm Armsteen]

As we all have...

[Tubby Isaacs]

The summary there rather understates her "British" experience.

She gained a Master of Science degree in economics from the London School of Economics in 1986, then a Doctorate of Philosophy in economics from the University of Oxford in 1989.[16]

Also at least 3 years at DFID, where she was permanent secretary.

And nearly 6 years at the LSE as President and Vice Chancellor.

Not to mention such irrelevant stuff as the World Bank. I think she sounds fine.

[The Weeping Angel]

I see the latest rumour that is causing ructions is a proposal to tax landlord rents.

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2025/ ... from-rents

Treasury ‘considering taxing landlords’ rent’ to raise £2bn
Proposals for autumn budget would mean expanding national insurance to include rental income

Property tax threat ‘is slowing down housing market’
Kalyeena Makortoff
Thu 28 Aug 2025 12.14 BST
Share
The Treasury is reportedly considering a tax on landlords that will target income from rents in the autumn budget.

The proposals are centred on the expansion of national insurance to include rental income, which is currently exempt from the levy, as part of a broader push to plug a potential £40bn shortfall in the public finances.

Labour insiders told the Times that property income was “a significant potential extra source of funds” and landlords were seen as a way of targeting “unearned revenue”.

[kreuzberger]

These were yesterday's ructions. Today, we should all be shedding a tear for the banks, who have been enjoying a long term cock-up which is shovelling money in to their coffers.

[The Weeping Angel]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgpxwy2lkwo

No Israeli government delegation will be invited to a global defence exhibition in London next month because of the Gaza war, the UK has said.

"The Israeli government's decision to further escalate its military operation in Gaza is wrong," a UK government spokesperson said. "As a result, we can confirm that no Israeli government delegation will be invited to attend DSEI UK 2025."

Israel's defence ministry called the move a "deliberate and regrettable act of discrimination" and said it would be withdrawing and not setting up a national pavilion.

UK leaders have become more outspoken against Israel's conduct in Gaza, including a recent plan to expand the war and take over Gaza City.

"There must be a diplomatic solution to end this war now, with an immediate ceasefire, the return of the hostages and a surge in humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza," the UK government spokesperson said in a statement on Friday.

Individual Israeli defence firms will still be allowed to exhibit at the trade show, which will take place from 9 to 12 September.

DSEI is Britain's flagship defence trade show – taking place every two years in London's Docklands – with hundreds of defence firms from all over the world exhibiting their military hardware and technology.

Yeah but Starmer and Lammy belong in the Hague, Zarah said so.

[The Weeping Angel]

New economic adviser appointed.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... ic-adviser

Guardian tries to make it sound controversial.

There is likely to be criticism of Shafik’s appointment from some inside No 10 who wanted an expert in the UK economy to guide Starmer’s policymaking. Shafik, who was raised in Egypt before moving to the US as a child, has spent most her working life in organisations focused on resolving global poverty.

Her supporters would argue that two and half years on the Bank of England’s interest-rate setting committee and six years at the LSE gave her a deep understanding of the UK economy.

Starmer’s office was contacted for comment.

Just the 2.5 years setting interest rates for the Bank of England then.

Giles Wilkes isn't so sure.

[Tubby Isaacs]

The theory is that the PM needs his own economic advice independent of the Treasury, I thought.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Labour must act to close asylum hotels or face Reform poll gains, ex-minister warns
Charlie Falconer says government was right to challenge Epping hotel ruling but now has to ‘move forward’

Lead story on the Guardian, which might surprise Charlie Falconer, who hasn't said anything surprising or critical of the government. Why is this issue being covered so obsessively by media who then moan about Farage getting all the publicity?

The Refugee Council’s chief executive, Enver Solomon, said using hotels to house asylum seekers was “untenable”, adding: “Waiting until 2029 to end their use is no longer an option. As long as hotels remain open, they will continue to be flashpoints for protests, fuelling division and leaving people who have fled war and persecution feeling unsafe.”

The charity urged ministers to adopt its “one-off” scheme that would grant temporary permission to stay to those asylum seekers most likely to be recognised as refugees because of the situation in their home country. This would lead to the closure of hotels by next year, according to its own analysis

And Farage wouldn't just shift the focus to "HMOs"? That would potentially be a much bigger policing headache.

[The Weeping Angel]

The theory is that the PM needs his own economic advice independent of the Treasury, I thought.

Stephen Bush OTOH is happy with the appointment.



He's probably hoping she tells Starmer not to push the burden of social policy onto businesses.

[Tubby Isaacs]

What stuff have they done that Bush sees as hurting growth? The Employers' NI rise? Jonathan Portes says there's been a slowdown, but not the collapse that was widely predicted. Growth figures have been fine this year, despite the full on cross party attempt to make out that Rachel Reeves is useless.

[The Weeping Angel]

What stuff have they done that Bush sees as hurting growth? The Employers' NI rise? Jonathan Portes says there's been a slowdown, but not the collapse that was widely predicted. Growth figures have been fine this year, despite the full on cross party attempt to make out that Rachel Reeves is useless.

NI rises, minimum wage rises, and some of the immigration measures, such as the stuff on visas.