Mailwatch(ed) Forum

I like and admire Thornberrry. But, that bloody flag ...

And the fact that she's an MP in Central London, same as Starmer, will be a problem.

I hope Phillipson (I finally spelt her name right) wins. If necessary, appoint someone else to a party liaison role.

This sounds good. Warren always cheers me up.

I'm fairly surprised how much stuff is being done in the immediate aftermath of the reshuffle. Hopefully none of the new ministers regret any of it.

I would have voted for Creasy or McGovern to be honest, I'll probably go with Phillipson, Powell is terrible and I am not sure why anyone really rates her.

As for the reshuffle, I think getting Cooper shifted was right, I think it was done with the minimal fuss and I approve of most of the changes and also those none changes.

And Ed Miliband wasn't sacked for at least the 27th time, it's almost like these people don't know whats going on.

Usual helpful effort from Clive Lewis here.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment ... ate-policy

The Labour MP Clive Lewis said: “It’s absurd that public money is being used to subsidise SUV-sized electric cars. They may be cleaner than petrol, but they’re still oversized, wasteful and dangerous. Heavier SUVs mean more potholes, more tyre pollution, and more energy consumption, hardly a green transition. Cities like Paris are moving to penalise SUVs with higher parking charges. Here in Britain, we’re doing the opposite: handing them subsidies.”

Lewis added that the issue was indicative of a wider inconsistency in Labour’s climate policy: “One day it’s warm homes investment, the next it’s Heathrow expansion; talk of climate leadership, while bankrolling more roads and bigger cars. If Labour is serious about climate action and public health, it should back smaller, lighter EVs and invest in universal, public transport – not pour taxpayers’ cash into supersized status symbols.”

He may have a point about these subsidies, but the logic will be, I presume, that the people who are availing themselves of them would be buying cars that are the same size, except petrol.

As ever with Clive there's a snappy fact to tell us how we're doing worse than everyone else. But hold on, he's comparing the whole UK with Paris specifically. A few seconds on Google shows that France subsidizes some smaller SUVs too. The equivalent of Paris is London, and boroughs are already looking at taxing SUVs more. Westminster's Labour council already are.


The subsidy eligibility is more complicated than it sounds. It's designed mostly in terms of the environment, obviously, but also includes an element of industrial policy, favoring European models. Isn't Clive a fervent European, supporter of manufacturing? Perhaps he could investigate this complexity, rather than just assume Ed Miliband isn't as clever as straight-talking Clive.

And for the second bit, what does "bankrolling roads" mean? I'm quite glad our main road's resurfacing happened, seeing it was basically lunar before. Does he think that the major freight route that is the Lower Thames Crossing shouldn't happen? What alternative to this is there at the moment for road freight? Heathrow Expansion is donkeys years away from happening, if it does. The Government removing its block at this stage is a nod to business, nothing more.

I dunno, I'm probably being harsh. I hate SUVs as much as Clive, and hope the London boroughs act on this. But I find his style pretty off-putting.

Tax them to the fucking hilt und ringfence that income for something green.

They are relatively green. They’re just a massive nuisance. Hopefully the London councils lead the way. The Greens can bring some useful pressure ahead of the borough elections next year.

Worth pointing out that my mate's Volvo estate (XC70 or V70XC, can't remember) just falls foul of Mme. Hidalgo's anti-SUV tax due to its weight.

It's not just obnoxious knobs in Range Rovers (although owning anything made by JLR is a punishment in itself).

McDonnell is going full "stitch up". Any reason why a party in government might want to get this done reasonably promptly, John?

He is just responding with his customary loyalty and helpfulness...


Just discussed this with Mrs A and we think we're going Bridget.

More from Warren. I'm a bit confused. Herefordshire is on this list, so is S and W Herts. But there are lots of deprived areas, in fairness. What's the view of health expert, Oliver Eagleton, beyond blah blah Wes Streeting?

Hang on, I thought Blue Labour headbangers were in charge of everything?