Best Of

Did anyone listen to the Starmer speech (beyond my capacity to endure, I admit) ?

I see from reports of it that he did mention nuclear regulation, but did he really go this far ?
(I am sceptical.)

The Prime Minister spoke about the Taskforce on Nuclear Energy today:

"Exactly a week ago, John Fingleton reported on our nuclear industry. He found that pointless gold plating, unnecessary red tape, well intentioned but fundamentally misguided environmental regulations, and, I quote – it's quite a stark quote, he said – "a mindset that favours process over outcome" has all made Britain the most expensive place to build nuclear power.

"Now, I agree with him. In fact, I would go further. Because the truth is we see that story repeated again and again right across our economy. For years Britain did not have a proper industrial strategy. For years it cut public investment. For years it did not have a planning framework or frankly a government that would quickly approve new railways, new tramlines, data centres, laboratories, power stations, wind farms, even whole towns.

"So, guided by a simple truth, that rooting out excessive costs in every corner of our economy is an essential step to cutting the cost of living, and creating more dynamic markets for business, we will also clear the path for British business.

"And therefore, in addition to accepting the Fingleton recommendations, I'm asking the Business Secretary to apply these lessons across the entire industrial strategy."

The point about process over outcome is key. Our report is about achieving better outcomes for safety and the environment, which can be done at much lower cost if we get the regulatory framework right.

I would like to thank my fellow Taskforce members and the hard-working team of civil servants who supported us in this review.

I am also grateful to all those who responded very positively to our recommendations. There is a huge appetite for change. Implementation will require tough decisions and hard-work, so it is good to know that there a huge public appetite for change.

For those who have not seen it, the report is available below.

https://gov.uk/government/publications/nuclear-regulatory-taskforce...
https://x.com/JohnFingleton1/status/1995456872053166099

Now, were they actually to adopt every recommendation in the report, it would make a very large difference to costs and timescales. Applied more broadly, and applied effectively, it might even make a significant difference to UK competitiveness.

As I said, I am extremely sceptical.

The PM reads my headers, it seems.

https://www1.politicalbetting.com/index.php/archives/2024/02/04/the-state-of-process-the-process-state/

The problem is that it's swimming in mud (Where's @JosiasJessop when you need him?), to try and change things.

The UK system, from top to bottom is in love with Process. Not outcomes.

And they will deploy the Deadly Argument at every step - that reducing Process is an attack on Human Rights! Security implications! Foreign powers, national interests. We have to consult our allies, top brass. NATO, SEATO, Moscow!

I came across the actual clip.
It's under two minutes, for those who suffer from Starmer-phonophobia:
https://x.com/s8mb/status/1995463242315858193
Huge from the PM.

Starmer accepts the Fingleton Review *and* pledges to extend it to other infrastructure: data centres, railways, tramways, towns, labs, and more.

Massive, and a big shift from the Treasury's equivocation. Implementation will be a big battle, but we can win.

(It was an excellent header, btw.)

Just to be clear, this is the best thing Starmer has done as PM, by a long way.

It should be welcomed; he should be praised for it: and watched like a hawk to make sure he delivers.

I really welcome this and he now needs to deliver, and do something about the Aarhus convention too which allows multiple vexatious complaints with the complainants free of the financial consequence.

But this is a fantastic move if he delivers. It’s a big ‘if’ as they’ve spent 16 months talking the talk. They have yet to walk the walk.

Meanwhile https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/risk-averse-infrastructure-fish-disco-p8gjhncml

Integrity is what you do when you know no-one else is watching.

Damn. I thought that was masturbation.

Lord John Whorfin: History is-a made at night. Character is what you are in the dark.

Who I am in the dark is stubbing my toe on the fan heater, then hopping to bed whilst trying not to scream "OH, FUCK THAT HURT" before collapsing on the bed.

Not as heroic as I wanted, but you take what you get.

I once broke my little toe (it was pointing out at 45-60 degrees) by cracking it against a kitchen cupboard while walking about without slippers. Queue a very, very long wait at A&E.

Once I was let behind the curtain I was ushered into a cubical and left to wait. Meanwhile I could hear a lot of fuss from the cubicle next to me. Eventually a nurse popped her head in and said "We don't treat that - just wear tight socks. Bye.".

As I was hobbling out - I noticed the next-door cubicle patient was a very handsome Australian blond-haired surfer dude with a little toe injury being 'treated' by about fifty nurses.

Lessons learned : 1) wear slippers. 2) become a very handsome surfer dude.

So far I have achieved 1) with some aplomb.

One major impact with defections is defectors go from being political enemies to being principled heroes who have seen the light on how brilliant your party is. The same goes for Reform in their treatment of the 3 Tory ex MP defectors today

One of the ironies of the Tory/Reform switchers is that the very people who have laid the Tories low - those who indulged Boris, and then gave us Truss - are the very same people clambering aboard the Reform ship. Leaving the more sensible Tories who have remained, blinking in the twilight and hoping that there might be an outbreak of commonsense sometime soon.

Thoughts on Kemi. What she has proven is that she is not an IDS-type dud. She does possess something a bit special, but remains some considerable distance from being perceived by the public as a credible alternative PM. This is why I favoured Cleverly. But she has stifled Jenrick, so that's something and seems to be getting the hang of it, a bit. All the same, there is no movement in the polls and next May still looks grim. So, the long run it is.

For May, I think the Conservatives will need to learn from Kenneth Baker who, back in the day, managed to persuade the media to focus on the results in Westminster and Wandsworth, and overlook what was happening everywhere else.

Yes, about 40% of the 2019 Conservative vote has gone Reform, another 40% has stayed Tory and the remaining 20% has gone Labour or LD.
Of the Conservatives who have gone Reform, from the likes of Dorries, Kruger and Gullis down they are all from the Boris loyalist wing which switched to backing Truss in 2022 v Sunak and backed Jenrick over Kemi last year. Ironically that may sure up Kemi's position and increase Cleverly or Stride's chances too as the more Jenrick backers go Reform, the harder it will be for Jenrick to replace Kemi as Tory leader before the next general election.

You are also right, while the Tories will likely suffer losses overall in the local and devolved elections next May, they could gain Westminster and Barnet and should hold Kensington and Chelsea which Kemi and her backers would highlight

I increasingly think the Tories will gain seats back from the Liberal Democrats.

They've convinced themselves it's all permanent because Values and Brexit, but the more they act like Santa's little helper the more voters in affluent English seats will make the choice they need to.

The Lib Dems have extended their list of target seats.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/nov/30/bakery-chain-gails-plans-to-open-40-more-outlets-as-sales-soar