If we're really lucky we might even get a de facto lockdown
Huge energy price rises pile pressure on British companies
Warning of businesses going under as cost of gas set to rise by as much as 80 per cent, while electricity bills to increase by up to 30 per cent
Businesses across the UK are facing “eye-watering” rises in their energy bills because of the conflict in the Middle East, analysis for The Times suggests.
Unlike households, companies are not insulated from volatility in gas and electricity prices, which have almost doubled since the Iran war began.
The problem is particularly acute for the thousands of companies that fix their annual price tariff at the start of the financial year in April and will face an immediate sharp rise in their bills.
Analysis by the energy consultancy Cornwall Insight found that as a result of the conflict, business users’ electricity bills would rise by up to 30 per cent, while the cost of gas could go up by as much as 80 per cent. This would mean that a business such as a larger retail and leisure site, on an average 12-month electricity contract, would have an annual bill of £578,000 — £95,000 more than early last month.
For gas, bills have risen by £376,000, reaching just over £1.02 million a year, an increase of nearly 60 per cent, based on the latest wholesale prices.
On Tuesday Wael Sawan, the chief executive of Shell, warned that Europe risked fuel shortages as soon as next month. At an industry conference in Houston, Texas, he said the global oil and gas supply squeeze had already forced parts of Asia to cut energy consumption and that the “ripple effect” threatened to spread west within days.
Forget the price and the bills that take up most of that story and focus on the end: shortages. If there is no petrol, the price doesn't matter.
The really bad news, as we saw after SMO inflation, is an upsurge in calls by misguided but influential pundits for tightening the money supply and higher interest rates to curb inflation. Idiots!
One of the great logical fallacies of our times: that imported commodity inflation is somehow the fault of over-exuberant businesses and consumers and can best be held in check by choking off money supply.
As you said, exactly the same problem in 2022: people who should know better failing to distinguish between home grown demand driven inflation and external supply shocks.
I completely agree. The correct response to an external shock like this is to cut interest rates not increase them. And to reduce taxes so that any windfall gained by the government is available to maintain demand. And of course to reopen the North Sea but that is a longer term help not immediate.
What we will get instead is a tightening of monetary policy by increases in base rates and the government spending lots of money it doesn’t have to boost consumption amongst its favoured clientele.
Idiots.
That is because of the obsession with the 2% inflation target given to the BoE. It gives little other option. A broader remit to balance inflation and growth is needed.
If we're really lucky we might even get a de facto lockdown
Huge energy price rises pile pressure on British companies
Warning of businesses going under as cost of gas set to rise by as much as 80 per cent, while electricity bills to increase by up to 30 per cent
Businesses across the UK are facing “eye-watering” rises in their energy bills because of the conflict in the Middle East, analysis for The Times suggests.
Unlike households, companies are not insulated from volatility in gas and electricity prices, which have almost doubled since the Iran war began.
The problem is particularly acute for the thousands of companies that fix their annual price tariff at the start of the financial year in April and will face an immediate sharp rise in their bills.
Analysis by the energy consultancy Cornwall Insight found that as a result of the conflict, business users’ electricity bills would rise by up to 30 per cent, while the cost of gas could go up by as much as 80 per cent. This would mean that a business such as a larger retail and leisure site, on an average 12-month electricity contract, would have an annual bill of £578,000 — £95,000 more than early last month.
For gas, bills have risen by £376,000, reaching just over £1.02 million a year, an increase of nearly 60 per cent, based on the latest wholesale prices.
On Tuesday Wael Sawan, the chief executive of Shell, warned that Europe risked fuel shortages as soon as next month. At an industry conference in Houston, Texas, he said the global oil and gas supply squeeze had already forced parts of Asia to cut energy consumption and that the “ripple effect” threatened to spread west within days.
Depressing. I’d much rather businesses were given some kind of some support - low interest government loans or similar - than handouts to people who can shoulder this. Loans that could bd used to install solar, heat pumps, batteries.
I include myself in this. We save for emergencies so can weather this out. We do huge mileage each year, but a lot of that is social, weekend driving that we can cut back on. We don’t need any help from the government.
OTOH , we don’t use much gas because we live in an energy-efficient flat, appropriate for two young-ish adults. I’m not sure why people like me should bail out those in big, detached houses. They’ve made their choice.
If only spongers on benefits are getting the help I doubt many will be in big detached houses , once again telling that you spew hatred on a handful of poor pensioners ( unlike the majority) who may have a decent house and no money.
30% of UK households (7mn) are in receipt of Universal Credit. Surprisingly the same spread throughout the UK (England 29% / Wales 30% / Scotland 31%). There are 9mn pensioner households.
So the workers not in receipt of UC are doing a lot of the heavy lifting for pensioners more than anyone else.
If Katie Lam is the future of anything then they are truly fucked.
Personally I think the next Tory defection will be to LD in a strong LD area, from a moderate one nation Tory who is unable to accept Badenoch death March right right right.
There aren't many Tory MPs from strong LD areas left though, most LD leaning areas in the likes of Surrey and Oxfordshire and Hertfordshire and Berkshire already went LD at the 2024 general election. The few who did hold on in those areas like Hunt will stay Tory regardless
I think those who were going to defect to Reform even while Kemi is leader already have, the Tory right is now largely united behind her. If the local and devolved elections are poor for the Conservatives in May though and she loses a VONC and is replaced by a more moderate Conservative leader like Cleverly then you could see a handful of the Jenrickite hardcore cultural right of the party still join Farage, Lam, McVey and indeed Timothy himself would top that list.
Timothy is clever but given he wrote the disastrous 2017 Tory manifesto I doubt any Tory leader would be too devastated at his loss
Defecting to Reform from the Tories is a bit of a twist or bust position. Reform will likely either form the next government or become past history very quickly. (I think the latter but other views are available). Defectors to it have little future is it sinks fast.
The tiny number of prominent Tories who have crossed over, almost none with wide appeal outside the extremes, indicates this may be a factor.
The Tories have a foundation which may yet go extinct but is based on more than the Trumpian fantasies of an individual, so has a batetr chance of survival than Reform.
If a path back to government exists for the tories, and I sincerely hope it does not, then it's through the economy. KB should hammer Cozzie Livs at every PMQ from now until the GE. That c-nt's phone is just too Inside Baseball.
If we're really lucky we might even get a de facto lockdown
Huge energy price rises pile pressure on British companies
Warning of businesses going under as cost of gas set to rise by as much as 80 per cent, while electricity bills to increase by up to 30 per cent
Businesses across the UK are facing “eye-watering” rises in their energy bills because of the conflict in the Middle East, analysis for The Times suggests.
Unlike households, companies are not insulated from volatility in gas and electricity prices, which have almost doubled since the Iran war began.
The problem is particularly acute for the thousands of companies that fix their annual price tariff at the start of the financial year in April and will face an immediate sharp rise in their bills.
Analysis by the energy consultancy Cornwall Insight found that as a result of the conflict, business users’ electricity bills would rise by up to 30 per cent, while the cost of gas could go up by as much as 80 per cent. This would mean that a business such as a larger retail and leisure site, on an average 12-month electricity contract, would have an annual bill of £578,000 — £95,000 more than early last month.
For gas, bills have risen by £376,000, reaching just over £1.02 million a year, an increase of nearly 60 per cent, based on the latest wholesale prices.
On Tuesday Wael Sawan, the chief executive of Shell, warned that Europe risked fuel shortages as soon as next month. At an industry conference in Houston, Texas, he said the global oil and gas supply squeeze had already forced parts of Asia to cut energy consumption and that the “ripple effect” threatened to spread west within days.
Forget the price and the bills that take up most of that story and focus on the end: shortages. If there is no petrol, the price doesn't matter.
The really bad news, as we saw after SMO inflation, is an upsurge in calls by misguided but influential pundits for tightening the money supply and higher interest rates to curb inflation. Idiots!
One of the great logical fallacies of our times: that imported commodity inflation is somehow the fault of over-exuberant businesses and consumers and can best be held in check by choking off money supply.
As you said, exactly the same problem in 2022: people who should know better failing to distinguish between home grown demand driven inflation and external supply shocks.
I completely agree. The correct response to an external shock like this is to cut interest rates not increase them. And to reduce taxes so that any windfall gained by the government is available to maintain demand. And of course to reopen the North Sea but that is a longer term help not immediate.
What we will get instead is a tightening of monetary policy by increases in base rates and the government spending lots of money it doesn’t have to boost consumption amongst its favoured clientele.
Idiots.
That is because of the obsession with the 2% inflation target given to the BoE. It gives little other option. A broader remit to balance inflation and growth is needed.
Growth especially. We urgently need to both reduce consumption and increase investment for future growth. Monetary policy should be focused on assisting fiscal policy in supporting that.
If we're really lucky we might even get a de facto lockdown
Huge energy price rises pile pressure on British companies
Warning of businesses going under as cost of gas set to rise by as much as 80 per cent, while electricity bills to increase by up to 30 per cent
Businesses across the UK are facing “eye-watering” rises in their energy bills because of the conflict in the Middle East, analysis for The Times suggests.
Unlike households, companies are not insulated from volatility in gas and electricity prices, which have almost doubled since the Iran war began.
The problem is particularly acute for the thousands of companies that fix their annual price tariff at the start of the financial year in April and will face an immediate sharp rise in their bills.
Analysis by the energy consultancy Cornwall Insight found that as a result of the conflict, business users’ electricity bills would rise by up to 30 per cent, while the cost of gas could go up by as much as 80 per cent. This would mean that a business such as a larger retail and leisure site, on an average 12-month electricity contract, would have an annual bill of £578,000 — £95,000 more than early last month.
For gas, bills have risen by £376,000, reaching just over £1.02 million a year, an increase of nearly 60 per cent, based on the latest wholesale prices.
On Tuesday Wael Sawan, the chief executive of Shell, warned that Europe risked fuel shortages as soon as next month. At an industry conference in Houston, Texas, he said the global oil and gas supply squeeze had already forced parts of Asia to cut energy consumption and that the “ripple effect” threatened to spread west within days.
Forget the price and the bills that take up most of that story and focus on the end: shortages. If there is no petrol, the price doesn't matter.
The really bad news, as we saw after SMO inflation, is an upsurge in calls by misguided but influential pundits for tightening the money supply and higher interest rates to curb inflation. Idiots!
One of the great logical fallacies of our times: that imported commodity inflation is somehow the fault of over-exuberant businesses and consumers and can best be held in check by choking off money supply.
As you said, exactly the same problem in 2022: people who should know better failing to distinguish between home grown demand driven inflation and external supply shocks.
Interestingly we had the opposite effect in the 2000s with people who should have known better failing to distinguish between the home grown consumer and property bubble and the external supply deflation.
On which, I think the government deserves some credit for providing replacements for the ambulances destroyed so swiftly.
Well, yes and no.
While these ambulances are not restricted to Jewish patients, they do operate in Jewish neighbourhoods. In the rest of the country we have to rely on overstretched NHS ambulance services that consistently fail to meet timeliness targets. For example a little to the west of me:
If we're really lucky we might even get a de facto lockdown
Huge energy price rises pile pressure on British companies
Warning of businesses going under as cost of gas set to rise by as much as 80 per cent, while electricity bills to increase by up to 30 per cent
Businesses across the UK are facing “eye-watering” rises in their energy bills because of the conflict in the Middle East, analysis for The Times suggests.
Unlike households, companies are not insulated from volatility in gas and electricity prices, which have almost doubled since the Iran war began.
The problem is particularly acute for the thousands of companies that fix their annual price tariff at the start of the financial year in April and will face an immediate sharp rise in their bills.
Analysis by the energy consultancy Cornwall Insight found that as a result of the conflict, business users’ electricity bills would rise by up to 30 per cent, while the cost of gas could go up by as much as 80 per cent. This would mean that a business such as a larger retail and leisure site, on an average 12-month electricity contract, would have an annual bill of £578,000 — £95,000 more than early last month.
For gas, bills have risen by £376,000, reaching just over £1.02 million a year, an increase of nearly 60 per cent, based on the latest wholesale prices.
On Tuesday Wael Sawan, the chief executive of Shell, warned that Europe risked fuel shortages as soon as next month. At an industry conference in Houston, Texas, he said the global oil and gas supply squeeze had already forced parts of Asia to cut energy consumption and that the “ripple effect” threatened to spread west within days.
We seem to have got into the mindset that the government can protect businesses and people from all exogenous risks. That’s just not affordable.
The reality is that if a business can’t operate profitability at a given level of energy prices and that level is sustained then the business should shut down and the capital be redeployed
The reality is a lot of what we face and will face now with energy is as a result of inept govt policy.
I agree that govt bailing us all out is not the solution
But govt needs also to put in place policies that are pro business and help business, not fuck them over or leave business vulnerable to the whims of the Middle East.
And it’s not just renewables. We need oil and gas whether we like it or not.
With that I’m off to take an old friend, my bike, off for its final journey.
Um - North Sea oil wouldn't even at its peak provided enough energy for us.
So exactly what has the Government done wrong because we are shifting to renewables far faster than anyone thought we would.
We're passing up maybe a couple of billion a year in tax revenue, and taking a small slice out of our balance of payments deficit.
Continuing N Sea oil exploration, and the roll out of renewables, are two almost completely separate issues now. There's virtually no linkage. So the arguments for and against exploration - which will make almost no difference to our future usage of oil or gas - are purely economic. And quite strongly in favour of granting drilling licenses.
Arguing the opposite is essentially environmental cosplay.
I wasn’t talking about tax, money or anything else - simply that no policy would have put us in a position where we could cope with the forthcoming oil and gas crisis
If I had to choose I’d back Katie Lam because I wonder if she is annoyed that her fellow new intake member Nick Timothy was promoted to the shadow cabinet over her when Robert Jenrick defected.)
If Katie Lam is that vacuous then the Conservatives would be well rid of her.
On which, I think the government deserves some credit for providing replacements for the ambulances destroyed so swiftly.
Yes and no. Other groups might be readying their own claims for free ambulances, if only to make political capital.
And the surge of charitable donations following the attack means the charity could buy a whole new fleet now if they wished, but the optics are good, and it was the right thing to do.
I hear the Plod have apready picked up two of the tossers. This is unusually sharp of the Met, if true, but credit where credit is due.
If Katie Lam is the future of anything then they are truly fucked.
Personally I think the next Tory defection will be to LD in a strong LD area, from a moderate one nation Tory who is unable to accept Badenoch death March right right right.
There aren't many Tory MPs from strong LD areas left though, most LD leaning areas in the likes of Surrey and Oxfordshire and Hertfordshire and Berkshire already went LD at the 2024 general election. The few who did hold on in those areas like Hunt will stay Tory regardless
Here are the possible LD gains and the Tory candidates for defection to LDs:
East Hampshire: Damian Hinds Farnham and Bordon: Gregory Stafford Godalming and Ash : Sir Jeremy Hunt Hamble Valley: Paul Holmes Romsey and Southampton North : Caroline Nokes North Cotswolds: Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown North Dorset: Simon Hoare
Absolutely insane that a corrupt Trump family member, with no official government position, and having recently received $2bn in Saudi funding for his business, is one of the two lead negotiators with Iran.
In his first term Trump still had vaguely competent and experienced advisers. That has all changed. The mess he is in now is down to being advised by a drunken TV host, his grifting golf partner and his grifting son-in-law. Is anyone really surprised at the outcome?
I think those who were going to defect to Reform even while Kemi is leader already have, the Tory right is now largely united behind her. If the local and devolved elections are poor for the Conservatives in May though and she loses a VONC and is replaced by a more moderate Conservative leader like Cleverly then you could see a handful of the Jenrickite hardcore cultural right of the party still join Farage, Lam, McVey and indeed Timothy himself would top that list.
Timothy is clever but given he wrote the disastrous 2017 Tory manifesto I doubt any Tory leader would be too devastated at his loss
Defecting to Reform from the Tories is a bit of a twist or bust position. Reform will likely either form the next government or become past history very quickly. (I think the latter but other views are available). Defectors to it have little future is it sinks fast.
The tiny number of prominent Tories who have crossed over, almost none with wide appeal outside the extremes, indicates this may be a factor.
The Tories have a foundation which may yet go extinct but is based on more than the Trumpian fantasies of an individual, so has a batetr chance of survival than Reform.
To an extent but if either Reform or the Tories form the next government or indeed any future government it will likely be either with one taking over most of the other and after a merger effectively between the two or in a coalition government or confidence and supply arrangement.
So the right will survive even if both of them being standalone parties doesn't
To be in the top 10 for goals at a stadium you only play at once a year is a level of disrespect we may never see again.
How does that compare to other teams? I know for my daughter's team in the four years they've been playing only 9 players have scored - so this is likely true for them too. But no doubt there are some nuances between the premier leage and the South Manchester girls' league that I am missing.
If Katie Lam is the future of anything then they are truly fucked.
Personally I think the next Tory defection will be to LD in a strong LD area, from a moderate one nation Tory who is unable to accept Badenoch death March right right right.
There aren't many Tory MPs from strong LD areas left though, most LD leaning areas in the likes of Surrey and Oxfordshire and Hertfordshire and Berkshire already went LD at the 2024 general election. The few who did hold on in those areas like Hunt will stay Tory regardless
Here are the possible LD gains and the Tory candidates for defection to LDs:
East Hampshire: Damian Hinds Farnham and Bordon: Gregory Stafford Godalming and Ash : Sir Jeremy Hunt Hamble Valley: Paul Holmes Romsey and Southampton North : Caroline Nokes North Cotswolds: Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown North Dorset: Simon Hoare
All unlikely defectors I think.
Indeed and less than 10% combined of the even relatively small current Tory parliamentary party, only ones I could see possibly going LD of those are Nokes and Hoare. Though if Cleverly replaced Badenoch as Tory leader after May I think even they would stay
Absolutely insane that a corrupt Trump family member, with no official government position, and having recently received $2bn in Saudi funding for his business, is one of the two lead negotiators with Iran.
It is not insane. The US is now a Trump family business, one like the Corleone family.
Without Vito, Michael or Tom being in charge.
Trump has an element of Fredo - a useless self-indulgent showman - and Hegseth is a wannabe Sonny.
Doesn't it tell you all you need to know about todays Tory Party that when the world is in real peril their MPs are staying awake at night debating whether Kemi should lead PMQs on the theft of Morgan McSweeney's phone?
Irrespective of politics it should concern all of us that McSweeney's phone, with all the confidential information and government communications, was stolen and dismissed by the police with just a crime number
This phone could provide enormous potential for blackmail and should have been immediately referred to the National Crime Agency
It seems that Ukraine is better at sinking ships 2,000km away than Iran is at sinking them off its coast.
Ukrainian drones struck the Vyborg shipyard in Russia overnight, heavily damaging the under-construction Project 23550 Arctic patrol ship Purga (475), which partially submerged after the attack; a fire also broke out.
I thought EMcV had already gone Fukker. It seems like the type of stupid shit she'd do and she has the Daytime TV look that Big Nige prefers for his candidates so probably a worthy fav.
Katie Lam has an air of unquantifiable strangeness about her like Mary out of Corrie.
I didn't have you down as a watcher of Corrie.
I instinctively mistrust and dislike anybody who doesn't watch it. It speaks to an unhealthy degree of societal detachment.
Morning all More in Common sees the top 3 all lose 1 point. Reform at their lowest with MiC since July ➡️ REF UK 27% (-1) 🌳 CON 20% (-1) 🌹 LAB 19% (-1) 🔶 LIB DEM 14% (+2) 🌍 GREEN 12% (-1) 🟡 SNP 3% (+1)
If we're really lucky we might even get a de facto lockdown
Huge energy price rises pile pressure on British companies
Warning of businesses going under as cost of gas set to rise by as much as 80 per cent, while electricity bills to increase by up to 30 per cent
Businesses across the UK are facing “eye-watering” rises in their energy bills because of the conflict in the Middle East, analysis for The Times suggests.
Unlike households, companies are not insulated from volatility in gas and electricity prices, which have almost doubled since the Iran war began.
The problem is particularly acute for the thousands of companies that fix their annual price tariff at the start of the financial year in April and will face an immediate sharp rise in their bills.
Analysis by the energy consultancy Cornwall Insight found that as a result of the conflict, business users’ electricity bills would rise by up to 30 per cent, while the cost of gas could go up by as much as 80 per cent. This would mean that a business such as a larger retail and leisure site, on an average 12-month electricity contract, would have an annual bill of £578,000 — £95,000 more than early last month.
For gas, bills have risen by £376,000, reaching just over £1.02 million a year, an increase of nearly 60 per cent, based on the latest wholesale prices.
On Tuesday Wael Sawan, the chief executive of Shell, warned that Europe risked fuel shortages as soon as next month. At an industry conference in Houston, Texas, he said the global oil and gas supply squeeze had already forced parts of Asia to cut energy consumption and that the “ripple effect” threatened to spread west within days.
Depressing. I’d much rather businesses were given some kind of some support - low interest government loans or similar - than handouts to people who can shoulder this. Loans that could bd used to install solar, heat pumps, batteries.
I include myself in this. We save for emergencies so can weather this out. We do huge mileage each year, but a lot of that is social, weekend driving that we can cut back on. We don’t need any help from the government.
OTOH , we don’t use much gas because we live in an energy-efficient flat, appropriate for two young-ish adults. I’m not sure why people like me should bail out those in big, detached houses. They’ve made their choice.
Hmmm
“I don’t see why people who live in houses should help bail out people in flats that prove to be structurally unsound or covered in fire lighters. They made their choice.”
Not so fun from the other end of the telescope, eh?
Morning all More in Common sees the top 3 all lose 1 point. Reform at their lowest with MiC since July ➡️ REF UK 27% (-1) 🌳 CON 20% (-1) 🌹 LAB 19% (-1) 🔶 LIB DEM 14% (+2) 🌍 GREEN 12% (-1) 🟡 SNP 3% (+1)
N = 2,408 | 20-22/3| Change w 18/03
Better for Kemi, even if the Tories are down 1% so are Labour and Reform, if that is the NEV in May and the Tories are second to Reform then Kemi stays and it will be SKS facing the leadership challenge.
Good poll for Davey too with the LDs retaking 4th place and overtaking the Greens
Morning all More in Common sees the top 3 all lose 1 point. Reform at their lowest with MiC since July ➡️ REF UK 27% (-1) 🌳 CON 20% (-1) 🌹 LAB 19% (-1) 🔶 LIB DEM 14% (+2) 🌍 GREEN 12% (-1) 🟡 SNP 3% (+1)
If we're really lucky we might even get a de facto lockdown
Huge energy price rises pile pressure on British companies
Warning of businesses going under as cost of gas set to rise by as much as 80 per cent, while electricity bills to increase by up to 30 per cent
Businesses across the UK are facing “eye-watering” rises in their energy bills because of the conflict in the Middle East, analysis for The Times suggests.
Unlike households, companies are not insulated from volatility in gas and electricity prices, which have almost doubled since the Iran war began.
The problem is particularly acute for the thousands of companies that fix their annual price tariff at the start of the financial year in April and will face an immediate sharp rise in their bills.
Analysis by the energy consultancy Cornwall Insight found that as a result of the conflict, business users’ electricity bills would rise by up to 30 per cent, while the cost of gas could go up by as much as 80 per cent. This would mean that a business such as a larger retail and leisure site, on an average 12-month electricity contract, would have an annual bill of £578,000 — £95,000 more than early last month.
For gas, bills have risen by £376,000, reaching just over £1.02 million a year, an increase of nearly 60 per cent, based on the latest wholesale prices.
On Tuesday Wael Sawan, the chief executive of Shell, warned that Europe risked fuel shortages as soon as next month. At an industry conference in Houston, Texas, he said the global oil and gas supply squeeze had already forced parts of Asia to cut energy consumption and that the “ripple effect” threatened to spread west within days.
We seem to have got into the mindset that the government can protect businesses and people from all exogenous risks. That’s just not affordable.
The reality is that if a business can’t operate profitability at a given level of energy prices and that level is sustained then the business should shut down and the capital be redeployed
The reality is a lot of what we face and will face now with energy is as a result of inept govt policy.
I agree that govt bailing us all out is not the solution
But govt needs also to put in place policies that are pro business and help business, not fuck them over or leave business vulnerable to the whims of the Middle East.
And it’s not just renewables. We need oil and gas whether we like it or not.
With that I’m off to take an old friend, my bike, off for its final journey.
Um - North Sea oil wouldn't even at its peak provided enough energy for us.
So exactly what has the Government done wrong because we are shifting to renewables far faster than anyone thought we would.
We're passing up maybe a couple of billion a year in tax revenue, and taking a small slice out of our balance of payments deficit.
Continuing N Sea oil exploration, and the roll out of renewables, are two almost completely separate issues now. There's virtually no linkage. So the arguments for and against exploration - which will make almost no difference to our future usage of oil or gas - are purely economic. And quite strongly in favour of granting drilling licenses.
Arguing the opposite is essentially environmental cosplay.
There is a link of sorts - the port facilities and sometimes people who work in O&G are being competed for by renewables. In my former school it’s not OPITO picking up school leavers any more - it’s SSEN, EDF, Orsted etc.
To be in the top 10 for goals at a stadium you only play at once a year is a level of disrespect we may never see again.
I think he's probably got a couple of decent seasons left in him, wonder who will snaffle him.
Wrexham, maybe, for their final push into the Premier.
He's leaving after the season ends so that doesn't make sense. Also doubt it'll be the Championship club that gets him, they won't be able to compete on wages for a start with elsewhere.
Doesn't it tell you all you need to know about todays Tory Party that when the world is in real peril their MPs are staying awake at night debating whether Kemi should lead PMQs on the theft of Morgan McSweeney's phone?
Irrespective of politics it should concern all of us that McSweeney's phone, with all the confidential information and government communications, was stolen and dismissed by the police with just a crime number
This phone could provide enormous potential for blackmail and should have been immediately referred to the National Crime Agency
It's gesture politics and explains why the Tory Party is deemed irrelevant.
This from the Party of Boris Johnson, who not only lost phones but went missing for 18 hours to meet the KGB
If Badenoch can't like an adult serious person' at Pmq, let Flynn, Davey and Farage ask 2 questions each, they will be far more grown up
May be she could lead with the NHS satisfaction survey, satisfaction UP for first time in 7 years, Dissatisfaction DOWN biggest ever recorded drop 8% down.
Long way to go but signs Labour have started on way back to the world Class NHS they gifted the Tories to destroy as they always do.
Morning all More in Common sees the top 3 all lose 1 point. Reform at their lowest with MiC since July ➡️ REF UK 27% (-1) 🌳 CON 20% (-1) 🌹 LAB 19% (-1) 🔶 LIB DEM 14% (+2) 🌍 GREEN 12% (-1) 🟡 SNP 3% (+1)
N = 2,408 | 20-22/3| Change w 18/03
Better for Kemi, even if the Tories are down 1% so are Labour and Reform, if that is the NEV in May and the Tories are second to Reform then Kemi stays and it will be SKS facing the leadership challenge.
Good poll for Davey too with the LDs retaking 4th place and overtaking the Greens
Morning all More in Common sees the top 3 all lose 1 point. Reform at their lowest with MiC since July ➡️ REF UK 27% (-1) 🌳 CON 20% (-1) 🌹 LAB 19% (-1) 🔶 LIB DEM 14% (+2) 🌍 GREEN 12% (-1) 🟡 SNP 3% (+1)
If we're really lucky we might even get a de facto lockdown
Huge energy price rises pile pressure on British companies
Warning of businesses going under as cost of gas set to rise by as much as 80 per cent, while electricity bills to increase by up to 30 per cent
Businesses across the UK are facing “eye-watering” rises in their energy bills because of the conflict in the Middle East, analysis for The Times suggests.
Unlike households, companies are not insulated from volatility in gas and electricity prices, which have almost doubled since the Iran war began.
The problem is particularly acute for the thousands of companies that fix their annual price tariff at the start of the financial year in April and will face an immediate sharp rise in their bills.
Analysis by the energy consultancy Cornwall Insight found that as a result of the conflict, business users’ electricity bills would rise by up to 30 per cent, while the cost of gas could go up by as much as 80 per cent. This would mean that a business such as a larger retail and leisure site, on an average 12-month electricity contract, would have an annual bill of £578,000 — £95,000 more than early last month.
For gas, bills have risen by £376,000, reaching just over £1.02 million a year, an increase of nearly 60 per cent, based on the latest wholesale prices.
On Tuesday Wael Sawan, the chief executive of Shell, warned that Europe risked fuel shortages as soon as next month. At an industry conference in Houston, Texas, he said the global oil and gas supply squeeze had already forced parts of Asia to cut energy consumption and that the “ripple effect” threatened to spread west within days.
Depressing. I’d much rather businesses were given some kind of some support - low interest government loans or similar - than handouts to people who can shoulder this. Loans that could bd used to install solar, heat pumps, batteries.
I include myself in this. We save for emergencies so can weather this out. We do huge mileage each year, but a lot of that is social, weekend driving that we can cut back on. We don’t need any help from the government.
OTOH , we don’t use much gas because we live in an energy-efficient flat, appropriate for two young-ish adults. I’m not sure why people like me should bail out those in big, detached houses. They’ve made their choice.
Hmmm
“I don’t see why people who live in houses should help bail out people in flats that prove to be structurally unsound or covered in fire lighters. They made their choice.”
Not so fun from the other end of the telescope, eh?
In principle I actually agree with that. I got my flat checked for asbestos, and don’t expect a government handout if it happened to have it. Buyer beware.
For something like cladding it should be up to the homeowners/councils/leaseholders to take those forms to court. When it’s so widespread there is a role for government to assist the process, but ultimately we need to drop the assumption that they are responsible for fixing everything that goes wrong in life.
(It’s a silly comparison anyway - if you buy a massive house you’d have to be a complete dunce to think the energy costs will be low)
Morning all More in Common sees the top 3 all lose 1 point. Reform at their lowest with MiC since July ➡️ REF UK 27% (-1) 🌳 CON 20% (-1) 🌹 LAB 19% (-1) 🔶 LIB DEM 14% (+2) 🌍 GREEN 12% (-1) 🟡 SNP 3% (+1)
Doesn't it tell you all you need to know about todays Tory Party that when the world is in real peril their MPs are staying awake at night debating whether Kemi should lead PMQs on the theft of Morgan McSweeney's phone?
Irrespective of politics it should concern all of us that McSweeney's phone, with all the confidential information and government communications, was stolen and dismissed by the police with just a crime number
This phone could provide enormous potential for blackmail and should have been immediately referred to the National Crime Agency
It's gesture politics and explains why the Tory Party is deemed irrelevant.
This from the Party of Boris Johnson, who not only lost phones but went missing for 18 hours to meet the KGB
If Badenoch can't like an adult serious person' at Pmq, let Flynn, Davey and Farage ask 2 questions each, they will be far more grown up
May be she could lead with the NHS satisfaction survey, satisfaction UP for first time in 7 years, Dissatisfaction DOWN biggest ever recorded drop 8% down.
Long way to go but signs Labour have started on way back to the world Class NHS they gifted the Tories to destroy as they always do.
Same old Tories
I think Kemi should lead on this if only to annoy you more
You have nothing new or original to say, just the same whataboutery and tired lines
If Katie Lam is the future of anything then they are truly fucked.
Personally I think the next Tory defection will be to LD in a strong LD area, from a moderate one nation Tory who is unable to accept Badenoch death March right right right.
There aren't many Tory MPs from strong LD areas left though, most LD leaning areas in the likes of Surrey and Oxfordshire and Hertfordshire and Berkshire already went LD at the 2024 general election. The few who did hold on in those areas like Hunt will stay Tory regardless
Here are the possible LD gains and the Tory candidates for defection to LDs:
East Hampshire: Damian Hinds Farnham and Bordon: Gregory Stafford Godalming and Ash : Sir Jeremy Hunt Hamble Valley: Paul Holmes Romsey and Southampton North : Caroline Nokes North Cotswolds: Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown North Dorset: Simon Hoare
All unlikely defectors I think.
Indeed and less than 10% combined of the even relatively small current Tory parliamentary party, only ones I could see possibly going LD of those are Nokes and Hoare. Though if Cleverly replaced Badenoch as Tory leader after May I think even they would stay
F1: btw, Merc apparently investigated by FIA for rear and front wings closing at different times (beyond regulation).
I'd be mildly miffed if they got disqualified from China, so Hamilton gets the win, as it's way past the time when my Hamilton to win bet would count as green.
Yes, it is always galling when a result is changed in your favour but too late because bookies paid out on the result on the day.
Journos reporting Kings Speech w/c May 13 so prorogation W/c April 27. 2 weeks Easter break start tomorrow so we have perhaps 2 and a half to 3 weeks Parliamentary time remaining this session Chagos and Assisted Dying looking sunk.
If Katie Lam is the future of anything then they are truly fucked.
Personally I think the next Tory defection will be to LD in a strong LD area, from a moderate one nation Tory who is unable to accept Badenoch death March right right right.
There aren't many Tory MPs from strong LD areas left though, most LD leaning areas in the likes of Surrey and Oxfordshire and Hertfordshire and Berkshire already went LD at the 2024 general election. The few who did hold on in those areas like Hunt will stay Tory regardless
Here are the possible LD gains and the Tory candidates for defection to LDs:
East Hampshire: Damian Hinds Farnham and Bordon: Gregory Stafford Godalming and Ash : Sir Jeremy Hunt Hamble Valley: Paul Holmes Romsey and Southampton North : Caroline Nokes North Cotswolds: Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown North Dorset: Simon Hoare
All unlikely defectors I think.
Indeed and less than 10% combined of the even relatively small current Tory parliamentary party, only ones I could see possibly going LD of those are Nokes and Hoare. Though if Cleverly replaced Badenoch as Tory leader after May I think even they would stay
Nokes would be my choice
It could start a trickle though
Nokes endorsed Tugendhat in 2024, Hoare endorsed Cleverly if one or two did go LD it would be from that wing
If Katie Lam is the future of anything then they are truly fucked.
Personally I think the next Tory defection will be to LD in a strong LD area, from a moderate one nation Tory who is unable to accept Badenoch death March right right right.
There aren't many Tory MPs from strong LD areas left though, most LD leaning areas in the likes of Surrey and Oxfordshire and Hertfordshire and Berkshire already went LD at the 2024 general election. The few who did hold on in those areas like Hunt will stay Tory regardless
Here are the possible LD gains and the Tory candidates for defection to LDs:
East Hampshire: Damian Hinds Farnham and Bordon: Gregory Stafford Godalming and Ash : Sir Jeremy Hunt Hamble Valley: Paul Holmes Romsey and Southampton North : Caroline Nokes North Cotswolds: Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown North Dorset: Simon Hoare
All unlikely defectors I think.
Indeed and less than 10% combined of the even relatively small current Tory parliamentary party, only ones I could see possibly going LD of those are Nokes and Hoare. Though if Cleverly replaced Badenoch as Tory leader after May I think even they would stay
Some of those are very strange constituencies. Farnham (posh Surrey town) and Bordon (run down ex military town with a shitload of new housing) have very little in common, ditto Godalming (equally posh Surrey town) and Ash (suburb of Aldershot).
Doesn't it tell you all you need to know about todays Tory Party that when the world is in real peril their MPs are staying awake at night debating whether Kemi should lead PMQs on the theft of Morgan McSweeney's phone?
Starmer
It is disturbing but I understand that the Met Pol lost phone diplomatic level are currently operating at a critical backlog, searching for phones and data from my 3 predecessors and associated Cabinet Members.
I will commit to arranging a meeting with my learned friend with the relevant Met Pol department head, she may even be able to offer some evidence herself
Doesn't it tell you all you need to know about todays Tory Party that when the world is in real peril their MPs are staying awake at night debating whether Kemi should lead PMQs on the theft of Morgan McSweeney's phone?
Irrespective of politics it should concern all of us that McSweeney's phone, with all the confidential information and government communications, was stolen and dismissed by the police with just a crime number
This phone could provide enormous potential for blackmail and should have been immediately referred to the National Crime Agency
There has to be a back up of it anyway. To think otherwise would be stretching credulity to breaking point
Doesn't it tell you all you need to know about todays Tory Party that when the world is in real peril their MPs are staying awake at night debating whether Kemi should lead PMQs on the theft of Morgan McSweeney's phone?
Irrespective of politics it should concern all of us that McSweeney's phone, with all the confidential information and government communications, was stolen and dismissed by the police with just a crime number
This phone could provide enormous potential for blackmail and should have been immediately referred to the National Crime Agency
In this particular moment in history we don't even know who our friends or enemies are. Who exactly should we worry about if they had access to all the secrets on McSweeneys phone?
F1: btw, Merc apparently investigated by FIA for rear and front wings closing at different times (beyond regulation).
I'd be mildly miffed if they got disqualified from China, so Hamilton gets the win, as it's way past the time when my Hamilton to win bet would count as green.
Yes, it is always galling when a result is changed in your favour but too late because bookies paid out on the result on the day.
Happened last year, I think, with disqualifications in.... Vegas, if memory serves.
To be in the top 10 for goals at a stadium you only play at once a year is a level of disrespect we may never see again.
I think he's probably got a couple of decent seasons left in him, wonder who will snaffle him.
Wrexham, maybe, for their final push into the Premier.
He's leaving after the season ends so that doesn't make sense. Also doubt it'll be the Championship club that gets him, they won't be able to compete on wages for a start with elsewhere.
He doesn't need the wages, so he could play for whoever he fancies.
Apparently his family is well settled in Liverpool and he likes the British way of life, so maybe he would choose somewhere reasonably local. Everton wouldn't really be acceptable and I can't see him joining the madness at Manchester.
If we're really lucky we might even get a de facto lockdown
Huge energy price rises pile pressure on British companies
Warning of businesses going under as cost of gas set to rise by as much as 80 per cent, while electricity bills to increase by up to 30 per cent
Businesses across the UK are facing “eye-watering” rises in their energy bills because of the conflict in the Middle East, analysis for The Times suggests.
Unlike households, companies are not insulated from volatility in gas and electricity prices, which have almost doubled since the Iran war began.
The problem is particularly acute for the thousands of companies that fix their annual price tariff at the start of the financial year in April and will face an immediate sharp rise in their bills.
Analysis by the energy consultancy Cornwall Insight found that as a result of the conflict, business users’ electricity bills would rise by up to 30 per cent, while the cost of gas could go up by as much as 80 per cent. This would mean that a business such as a larger retail and leisure site, on an average 12-month electricity contract, would have an annual bill of £578,000 — £95,000 more than early last month.
For gas, bills have risen by £376,000, reaching just over £1.02 million a year, an increase of nearly 60 per cent, based on the latest wholesale prices.
On Tuesday Wael Sawan, the chief executive of Shell, warned that Europe risked fuel shortages as soon as next month. At an industry conference in Houston, Texas, he said the global oil and gas supply squeeze had already forced parts of Asia to cut energy consumption and that the “ripple effect” threatened to spread west within days.
We seem to have got into the mindset that the government can protect businesses and people from all exogenous risks. That’s just not affordable.
The reality is that if a business can’t operate profitability at a given level of energy prices and that level is sustained then the business should shut down and the capital be redeployed
The reality is a lot of what we face and will face now with energy is as a result of inept govt policy.
I agree that govt bailing us all out is not the solution
But govt needs also to put in place policies that are pro business and help business, not fuck them over or leave business vulnerable to the whims of the Middle East.
And it’s not just renewables. We need oil and gas whether we like it or not.
With that I’m off to take an old friend, my bike, off for its final journey.
Um - North Sea oil wouldn't even at its peak provided enough energy for us.
So exactly what has the Government done wrong because we are shifting to renewables far faster than anyone thought we would.
We're passing up maybe a couple of billion a year in tax revenue, and taking a small slice out of our balance of payments deficit.
Continuing N Sea oil exploration, and the roll out of renewables, are two almost completely separate issues now. There's virtually no linkage. So the arguments for and against exploration - which will make almost no difference to our future usage of oil or gas - are purely economic. And quite strongly in favour of granting drilling licenses.
Arguing the opposite is essentially environmental cosplay.
There shouldn't be a linkage but there is, politically. The essential thing for energy security as well as planet protection is to go all out for electrification using renewable energy sources.
There are other steps we can take to improve security of fossil fuels, which are still essential in the meantime. These include more refinery capacity, oil and gas storage. These involve eye watering amounts of capital for specific risks you hope won't materialise - difficult investments to make i think. New drilling licences in the North Sea are nearly irrelevant to energy security - most of the oil has to be exported due to lack of refinery capacity.
But there is a strong case of, why not continue to exploit the North Sea at a low level for a bit longer? And the linkage. Hopefully allowing new drilling licences shuts people up about a marginal distraction so we can focus on what really matters - electrification.
Doesn't it tell you all you need to know about todays Tory Party that when the world is in real peril their MPs are staying awake at night debating whether Kemi should lead PMQs on the theft of Morgan McSweeney's phone?
Irrespective of politics it should concern all of us that McSweeney's phone, with all the confidential information and government communications, was stolen and dismissed by the police with just a crime number
This phone could provide enormous potential for blackmail and should have been immediately referred to the National Crime Agency
Questions for all parties might include why any government communications depend on foreign, third party apps, and why they were not properly archived, although cynics might suggest one answers the other. Questions for the Mandelson inquiry might include whether the messages did magically reappear on McSweeney's new phone with the same number.
To be in the top 10 for goals at a stadium you only play at once a year is a level of disrespect we may never see again.
I think he's probably got a couple of decent seasons left in him, wonder who will snaffle him.
Wrexham, maybe, for their final push into the Premier.
He's leaving after the season ends so that doesn't make sense. Also doubt it'll be the Championship club that gets him, they won't be able to compete on wages for a start with elsewhere.
He doesn't need the wages, so he could play for whoever he fancies.
Apparently his family is well settled in Liverpool and he likes the British way of life, so maybe he would choose somewhere reasonably local. Everton wouldn't really be acceptable and I can't see him joining the madness at Manchester.
To be in the top 10 for goals at a stadium you only play at once a year is a level of disrespect we may never see again.
I think he's probably got a couple of decent seasons left in him, wonder who will snaffle him.
Wrexham, maybe, for their final push into the Premier.
He's leaving after the season ends so that doesn't make sense. Also doubt it'll be the Championship club that gets him, they won't be able to compete on wages for a start with elsewhere.
He doesn't need the wages, so he could play for whoever he fancies.
Apparently his family is well settled in Liverpool and he likes the British way of life, so maybe he would choose somewhere reasonably local. Everton wouldn't really be acceptable and I can't see him joining the madness at Manchester.
Maybe one of the Birmingham clubs?
Depending where he lives in Liverpool Wrexham could be the best option - I can't imagine he would want the cameras following him though..
On the other hand I could see Wrexham giving him a percentage of the club as the next stage of the story...
If we're really lucky we might even get a de facto lockdown
Huge energy price rises pile pressure on British companies
Warning of businesses going under as cost of gas set to rise by as much as 80 per cent, while electricity bills to increase by up to 30 per cent
Businesses across the UK are facing “eye-watering” rises in their energy bills because of the conflict in the Middle East, analysis for The Times suggests.
Unlike households, companies are not insulated from volatility in gas and electricity prices, which have almost doubled since the Iran war began.
The problem is particularly acute for the thousands of companies that fix their annual price tariff at the start of the financial year in April and will face an immediate sharp rise in their bills.
Analysis by the energy consultancy Cornwall Insight found that as a result of the conflict, business users’ electricity bills would rise by up to 30 per cent, while the cost of gas could go up by as much as 80 per cent. This would mean that a business such as a larger retail and leisure site, on an average 12-month electricity contract, would have an annual bill of £578,000 — £95,000 more than early last month.
For gas, bills have risen by £376,000, reaching just over £1.02 million a year, an increase of nearly 60 per cent, based on the latest wholesale prices.
On Tuesday Wael Sawan, the chief executive of Shell, warned that Europe risked fuel shortages as soon as next month. At an industry conference in Houston, Texas, he said the global oil and gas supply squeeze had already forced parts of Asia to cut energy consumption and that the “ripple effect” threatened to spread west within days.
We seem to have got into the mindset that the government can protect businesses and people from all exogenous risks. That’s just not affordable.
The reality is that if a business can’t operate profitability at a given level of energy prices and that level is sustained then the business should shut down and the capital be redeployed
The reality is a lot of what we face and will face now with energy is as a result of inept govt policy.
I agree that govt bailing us all out is not the solution
But govt needs also to put in place policies that are pro business and help business, not fuck them over or leave business vulnerable to the whims of the Middle East.
And it’s not just renewables. We need oil and gas whether we like it or not.
With that I’m off to take an old friend, my bike, off for its final journey.
Um - North Sea oil wouldn't even at its peak provided enough energy for us.
So exactly what has the Government done wrong because we are shifting to renewables far faster than anyone thought we would.
First sentence. Never made that claim.
Shifting ‘far faster than anyone thought we could’ is just a vague, woolly statement.
Shifting to renewables is only part of it. But, you’re right, govt, is perfect and never put a foot wrong on energy.
Doesn't it tell you all you need to know about todays Tory Party that when the world is in real peril their MPs are staying awake at night debating whether Kemi should lead PMQs on the theft of Morgan McSweeney's phone?
Irrespective of politics it should concern all of us that McSweeney's phone, with all the confidential information and government communications, was stolen and dismissed by the police with just a crime number
This phone could provide enormous potential for blackmail and should have been immediately referred to the National Crime Agency
There has to be a back up of it anyway. To think otherwise would be stretching credulity to breaking point
You want the funny bit?
WhatsApp has compromised the end to end encryption. Unlike Signal.
So the NSA probably has a copy of everything.
Nice, eh?
Edit: the Signal source code for both apps and servers is open source. You can implement your own Signal instance, servers, everything. I know people who did it themselves as an experiment.
Several companies offer forks of Signal for custom secure comms.
So trivial to have a fork of Signal for government usage. Complete with permanent archiving of all messages.
It seems that Ukraine is better at sinking ships 2,000km away than Iran is at sinking them off its coast.
Ukrainian drones struck the Vyborg shipyard in Russia overnight, heavily damaging the under-construction Project 23550 Arctic patrol ship Purga (475), which partially submerged after the attack; a fire also broke out.
There have been intense attacks in the Russian Baltic in the past few days- the Primorsk oil terminal is still on fire and the shipyard at Vyborg seems to have been crippled by this latest attack. Ust Luga has also come under attack, and it seems a couple of drones strayed into both Estonia and Latvia. The cost to the Russians of this alone is very serious.
However on the front line itself, the Russian casualties have been utterly catastrophic, the equivalent of the total American deaths of 20 years in Afghanistan every two days. The scale of the disaster for Russia just keeps getting worse, the rate of casualties is actually accelerating, not falling. Finally there seems to be the beginning of a push back inside Russia, with criticism mounting- and the regime becoming increasingly defensive. The Internet itself in Russia is completely going down as Putin seeks to limit communication inside Russia, while the man himself is even more elusive and his personal security arrangement become more draconian.
There is an awful lot of ruin in a nation, and Russia takes a strange kind of pride on being able to absorb the blows, but this war is taking a turn for the worse from the Russian perspective, and we hear growing rumours of dissent and rebellion. The Ukrainians have pushed the Russians back and seriously disrupted the planned Spring offensive. Moscow has a lot to ponder, and there seem few good choices for Putin at this point. One thing is increasingly obvious, whatever happens, Russia is going to take a very long time to recover, and there is a chance that it may never be able to do so.
The Trump quagmire in Iran is child's play compered to Putin's quagmire in Ukraine.
An intriguing evening in Denmark but with the cool of the morning, a few thoughts.
The Social Democrats, despite taking a beating, are the sole remaining large national party with 38 seats. The Folketing is fragmented as never before with no less than twelve parties winning seats. On the "red" or "left" side, you have the Social Democrats and the Socialistiske Folkeparti who did well but perhaps not as well as they had hoped winning 20 seats and becoming the second largest group in Parliament.
The other "Red" parties are much smaller but the block has 84 and a decisive advantage over the "blue" or "right" grouping of parties with 77. On the "Blue" side, Venstre, the traditional leading party, also lost ground but just held off the Liberal Alliance and the Dansk Folkeparti who were the big winners of the night at the expense of the Denmark Democrats. The three main "blue" block parties have 51 seats but are within themselves grappling for leadership.
It seems however the old coalition of Social Democrats, Venstre and the Moderates is gone - the Venstre leader has already said that period of co-operation has ended and he wants to lead a traditional "blue" Government but he has left the door open to the Radikale Venstre to join or support such a Government.
That invite has also been proffered by the Statsminister and Social Democrat leader, Mette Frederiksen but in essence none of this matters very much.
The Moderates lost a little ground but did well to be left holding the balance of power having won 14 seats. NO majority Government is possible without their support though the "Red" bloc could form a minority administration if the Moderates offered the equivalent of Confidence & Supply.
The party leaders have gathered for an initial meeting this morning and the process, as I recall, is they choose one to be the first to be invited by King Frederik IX to try to form a new Government at which point the horse trading (no actual horses) will begin. I suspect Frederiksen will get first go at this but it all depends on Lars Lokke Rasmussen, the Moderates leader, who, as the saying goes, holds all the cards.
If we're really lucky we might even get a de facto lockdown
Huge energy price rises pile pressure on British companies
Warning of businesses going under as cost of gas set to rise by as much as 80 per cent, while electricity bills to increase by up to 30 per cent
Businesses across the UK are facing “eye-watering” rises in their energy bills because of the conflict in the Middle East, analysis for The Times suggests.
Unlike households, companies are not insulated from volatility in gas and electricity prices, which have almost doubled since the Iran war began.
The problem is particularly acute for the thousands of companies that fix their annual price tariff at the start of the financial year in April and will face an immediate sharp rise in their bills.
Analysis by the energy consultancy Cornwall Insight found that as a result of the conflict, business users’ electricity bills would rise by up to 30 per cent, while the cost of gas could go up by as much as 80 per cent. This would mean that a business such as a larger retail and leisure site, on an average 12-month electricity contract, would have an annual bill of £578,000 — £95,000 more than early last month.
For gas, bills have risen by £376,000, reaching just over £1.02 million a year, an increase of nearly 60 per cent, based on the latest wholesale prices.
On Tuesday Wael Sawan, the chief executive of Shell, warned that Europe risked fuel shortages as soon as next month. At an industry conference in Houston, Texas, he said the global oil and gas supply squeeze had already forced parts of Asia to cut energy consumption and that the “ripple effect” threatened to spread west within days.
We seem to have got into the mindset that the government can protect businesses and people from all exogenous risks. That’s just not affordable.
The reality is that if a business can’t operate profitability at a given level of energy prices and that level is sustained then the business should shut down and the capital be redeployed
The reality is a lot of what we face and will face now with energy is as a result of inept govt policy.
I agree that govt bailing us all out is not the solution
But govt needs also to put in place policies that are pro business and help business, not fuck them over or leave business vulnerable to the whims of the Middle East.
And it’s not just renewables. We need oil and gas whether we like it or not.
With that I’m off to take an old friend, my bike, off for its final journey.
Um - North Sea oil wouldn't even at its peak provided enough energy for us.
So exactly what has the Government done wrong because we are shifting to renewables far faster than anyone thought we would.
First sentence. Never made that claim.
Shifting ‘far faster than anyone thought we could’ is just a vague, woolly statement.
Shifting to renewables is only part of it. But, you’re right, govt, is perfect and never put a foot wrong on energy.
Government have put a lot wrong but no government could have put us in a position where we wouldn’t be impacted by the worlds energy source being cut off. Given that it’s a global market I suspect the difference between former Government’s policies and perfect policies and implementation would be the sum root of f all, as the issues would still exist elsewhere
If we're really lucky we might even get a de facto lockdown
Huge energy price rises pile pressure on British companies
Warning of businesses going under as cost of gas set to rise by as much as 80 per cent, while electricity bills to increase by up to 30 per cent
Businesses across the UK are facing “eye-watering” rises in their energy bills because of the conflict in the Middle East, analysis for The Times suggests.
Unlike households, companies are not insulated from volatility in gas and electricity prices, which have almost doubled since the Iran war began.
The problem is particularly acute for the thousands of companies that fix their annual price tariff at the start of the financial year in April and will face an immediate sharp rise in their bills.
Analysis by the energy consultancy Cornwall Insight found that as a result of the conflict, business users’ electricity bills would rise by up to 30 per cent, while the cost of gas could go up by as much as 80 per cent. This would mean that a business such as a larger retail and leisure site, on an average 12-month electricity contract, would have an annual bill of £578,000 — £95,000 more than early last month.
For gas, bills have risen by £376,000, reaching just over £1.02 million a year, an increase of nearly 60 per cent, based on the latest wholesale prices.
On Tuesday Wael Sawan, the chief executive of Shell, warned that Europe risked fuel shortages as soon as next month. At an industry conference in Houston, Texas, he said the global oil and gas supply squeeze had already forced parts of Asia to cut energy consumption and that the “ripple effect” threatened to spread west within days.
Depressing. I’d much rather businesses were given some kind of some support - low interest government loans or similar - than handouts to people who can shoulder this. Loans that could bd used to install solar, heat pumps, batteries.
I include myself in this. We save for emergencies so can weather this out. We do huge mileage each year, but a lot of that is social, weekend driving that we can cut back on. We don’t need any help from the government.
OTOH , we don’t use much gas because we live in an energy-efficient flat, appropriate for two young-ish adults. I’m not sure why people like me should bail out those in big, detached houses. They’ve made their choice.
If only spongers on benefits are getting the help I doubt many will be in big detached houses , once again telling that you spew hatred on a handful of poor pensioners ( unlike the majority) who may have a decent house and no money.
30% of UK households (7mn) are in receipt of Universal Credit. Surprisingly the same spread throughout the UK (England 29% / Wales 30% / Scotland 31%). There are 9mn pensioner households.
So the workers not in receipt of UC are doing a lot of the heavy lifting for pensioners more than anyone else.
You’re obsessed with bloody pensioners receiving benefits but not working age people.
Pension is a contribution based benefit and those receiving it did the heavy lifting in the past.
Rightly or wrongly that’s the case.
Aside from a few benefits, such as contribution based JSA, you cannot say that about most who receive working age benefits and bloody labour, or some of them, want to hand more money to the Boriswave.
Personally I’d tie both pensions and benefits to GDP growth.
@malcolmg what is it with people here who are happy to dump on people who contributed to the benefits system getting something back but radiate their middle class, white, worthiness on those who largely haven’t ?
To be in the top 10 for goals at a stadium you only play at once a year is a level of disrespect we may never see again.
I think he's probably got a couple of decent seasons left in him, wonder who will snaffle him.
Wrexham, maybe, for their final push into the Premier.
He's leaving after the season ends so that doesn't make sense. Also doubt it'll be the Championship club that gets him, they won't be able to compete on wages for a start with elsewhere.
He doesn't need the wages, so he could play for whoever he fancies.
Apparently his family is well settled in Liverpool and he likes the British way of life, so maybe he would choose somewhere reasonably local. Everton wouldn't really be acceptable and I can't see him joining the madness at Manchester.
Maybe one of the Birmingham clubs?
I reckon Inter Miami
I think unlikely with trump in power.
Saudi if things quickly calm down in the ME. Would be a good signing by Galatasary as free and they don’t mind huge wages, moderate Muslim country playing out his career in the sun.
He would be an ideal Barcelona singing as they like free transfers as their finances are kaput - Lewandowski was the same and he has prospered.
Can’t see him staying in England though as clearly his pace has left him which is essential and he won’t want another duff season with poor figures.
If we're really lucky we might even get a de facto lockdown
Huge energy price rises pile pressure on British companies
Warning of businesses going under as cost of gas set to rise by as much as 80 per cent, while electricity bills to increase by up to 30 per cent
Businesses across the UK are facing “eye-watering” rises in their energy bills because of the conflict in the Middle East, analysis for The Times suggests.
Unlike households, companies are not insulated from volatility in gas and electricity prices, which have almost doubled since the Iran war began.
The problem is particularly acute for the thousands of companies that fix their annual price tariff at the start of the financial year in April and will face an immediate sharp rise in their bills.
Analysis by the energy consultancy Cornwall Insight found that as a result of the conflict, business users’ electricity bills would rise by up to 30 per cent, while the cost of gas could go up by as much as 80 per cent. This would mean that a business such as a larger retail and leisure site, on an average 12-month electricity contract, would have an annual bill of £578,000 — £95,000 more than early last month.
For gas, bills have risen by £376,000, reaching just over £1.02 million a year, an increase of nearly 60 per cent, based on the latest wholesale prices.
On Tuesday Wael Sawan, the chief executive of Shell, warned that Europe risked fuel shortages as soon as next month. At an industry conference in Houston, Texas, he said the global oil and gas supply squeeze had already forced parts of Asia to cut energy consumption and that the “ripple effect” threatened to spread west within days.
We seem to have got into the mindset that the government can protect businesses and people from all exogenous risks. That’s just not affordable.
The reality is that if a business can’t operate profitability at a given level of energy prices and that level is sustained then the business should shut down and the capital be redeployed
The reality is a lot of what we face and will face now with energy is as a result of inept govt policy.
I agree that govt bailing us all out is not the solution
But govt needs also to put in place policies that are pro business and help business, not fuck them over or leave business vulnerable to the whims of the Middle East.
And it’s not just renewables. We need oil and gas whether we like it or not.
With that I’m off to take an old friend, my bike, off for its final journey.
Um - North Sea oil wouldn't even at its peak provided enough energy for us.
So exactly what has the Government done wrong because we are shifting to renewables far faster than anyone thought we would.
First sentence. Never made that claim.
Shifting ‘far faster than anyone thought we could’ is just a vague, woolly statement.
Shifting to renewables is only part of it. But, you’re right, govt, is perfect and never put a foot wrong on energy.
Government have put a lot wrong but no government could have put us in a position where we wouldn’t be impacted by the worlds energy source being cut off. Given that it’s a global market I suspect the difference between former Government’s policies and perfect policies and implementation would be the sum root of f all, as the issues would still exist elsewhere
Again you’re arguing something I never claimed. I never said we wouldn’t be impacted at all, however other policy choices could have helped mitigate.
Oh, and it is not the worlds energy source, it’s a part of it. If it was the worlds energy source the lights would already be out.
To be fair to Suella, that's a joke, albeit with the subtlety expected of a Cambridge-educated lawyer.
I'd be interested to know whether this year's and last year's apparently warm wet winter is part of a trend, or maybe just normal variation. Our parkrun was cancelled due to flooding from Christmas to mid February and the first two weeks in March, which is worse than last year (we managed one run in both January and February but back to BAU in March) and much worse than the year before (about one cancellation a month).
Doesn't it tell you all you need to know about todays Tory Party that when the world is in real peril their MPs are staying awake at night debating whether Kemi should lead PMQs on the theft of Morgan McSweeney's phone?
Irrespective of politics it should concern all of us that McSweeney's phone, with all the confidential information and government communications, was stolen and dismissed by the police with just a crime number
This phone could provide enormous potential for blackmail and should have been immediately referred to the National Crime Agency
In this particular moment in history we don't even know who our friends or enemies are. Who exactly should we worry about if they had access to all the secrets on McSweeneys phone?
I cannot believe you would ask such a weird question
Anyone from crime syndicates, to Russian, Chinese, Iranian intelligence, politicians facing blackmail, and even security issues
It seems that Ukraine is better at sinking ships 2,000km away than Iran is at sinking them off its coast.
Ukrainian drones struck the Vyborg shipyard in Russia overnight, heavily damaging the under-construction Project 23550 Arctic patrol ship Purga (475), which partially submerged after the attack; a fire also broke out.
There have been intense attacks in the Russian Baltic in the past few days- the Primorsk oil terminal is still on fire and the shipyard at Vyborg seems to have been crippled by this latest attack. Ust Luga has also come under attack, and it seems a couple of drones strayed into both Estonia and Latvia. The cost to the Russians of this alone is very serious.
However on the front line itself, the Russian casualties have been utterly catastrophic, the equivalent of the total American deaths of 20 years in Afghanistan every two days. The scale of the disaster for Russia just keeps getting worse, the rate of casualties is actually accelerating, not falling. Finally there seems to be the beginning of a push back inside Russia, with criticism mounting- and the regime becoming increasingly defensive. The Internet itself in Russia is completely going down as Putin seeks to limit communication inside Russia, while the man himself is even more elusive and his personal security arrangement become more draconian.
There is an awful lot of ruin in a nation, and Russia takes a strange kind of pride on being able to absorb the blows, but this war is taking a turn for the worse from the Russian perspective, and we hear growing rumours of dissent and rebellion. The Ukrainians have pushed the Russians back and seriously disrupted the planned Spring offensive. Moscow has a lot to ponder, and there seem few good choices for Putin at this point. One thing is increasingly obvious, whatever happens, Russia is going to take a very long time to recover, and there is a chance that it may never be able to do so.
The Trump quagmire in Iran is child's play compered to Putin's quagmire in Ukraine.
Peter Zeihan interesting on Russia's long-term prospects. Summary - not good. Ukraine war last roll of the dice before history and demographic decline dump Russia into irrelevance. Apparently Russia has the world's highest abortion rate.
If we're really lucky we might even get a de facto lockdown
Huge energy price rises pile pressure on British companies
Warning of businesses going under as cost of gas set to rise by as much as 80 per cent, while electricity bills to increase by up to 30 per cent
Businesses across the UK are facing “eye-watering” rises in their energy bills because of the conflict in the Middle East, analysis for The Times suggests.
Unlike households, companies are not insulated from volatility in gas and electricity prices, which have almost doubled since the Iran war began.
The problem is particularly acute for the thousands of companies that fix their annual price tariff at the start of the financial year in April and will face an immediate sharp rise in their bills.
Analysis by the energy consultancy Cornwall Insight found that as a result of the conflict, business users’ electricity bills would rise by up to 30 per cent, while the cost of gas could go up by as much as 80 per cent. This would mean that a business such as a larger retail and leisure site, on an average 12-month electricity contract, would have an annual bill of £578,000 — £95,000 more than early last month.
For gas, bills have risen by £376,000, reaching just over £1.02 million a year, an increase of nearly 60 per cent, based on the latest wholesale prices.
On Tuesday Wael Sawan, the chief executive of Shell, warned that Europe risked fuel shortages as soon as next month. At an industry conference in Houston, Texas, he said the global oil and gas supply squeeze had already forced parts of Asia to cut energy consumption and that the “ripple effect” threatened to spread west within days.
Depressing. I’d much rather businesses were given some kind of some support - low interest government loans or similar - than handouts to people who can shoulder this. Loans that could bd used to install solar, heat pumps, batteries.
I include myself in this. We save for emergencies so can weather this out. We do huge mileage each year, but a lot of that is social, weekend driving that we can cut back on. We don’t need any help from the government.
OTOH , we don’t use much gas because we live in an energy-efficient flat, appropriate for two young-ish adults. I’m not sure why people like me should bail out those in big, detached houses. They’ve made their choice.
If only spongers on benefits are getting the help I doubt many will be in big detached houses , once again telling that you spew hatred on a handful of poor pensioners ( unlike the majority) who may have a decent house and no money.
30% of UK households (7mn) are in receipt of Universal Credit. Surprisingly the same spread throughout the UK (England 29% / Wales 30% / Scotland 31%). There are 9mn pensioner households.
So the workers not in receipt of UC are doing a lot of the heavy lifting for pensioners more than anyone else.
You’re obsessed with bloody pensioners receiving benefits but not working age people.
Pension is a contribution based benefit and those receiving it did the heavy lifting in the past.
Rightly or wrongly that’s the case.
Aside from a few benefits, such as contribution based JSA, you cannot say that about most who receive working age benefits and bloody labour, or some of them, want to hand more money to the Boriswave.
Personally I’d tie both pensions and benefits to GDP growth.
@malcolmg what is it with people here who are happy to dump on people who contributed to the benefits system getting something back but radiate their middle class, white, worthiness on those who largely haven’t ?
To answer your question about pensioners, the amount contributed on an actuarial basis doesn't represent the amounts they are taking out. ON one hand you could argue that you paid what was asked. On the other, you can argue that pensioners encouraged governments that would undercharge them and sell of the nations assets to give the illusion of fiscal prudence.
In other words the real costs of pensions was kicked into the future and the future is now.
If we're really lucky we might even get a de facto lockdown
Huge energy price rises pile pressure on British companies
Warning of businesses going under as cost of gas set to rise by as much as 80 per cent, while electricity bills to increase by up to 30 per cent
Businesses across the UK are facing “eye-watering” rises in their energy bills because of the conflict in the Middle East, analysis for The Times suggests.
Unlike households, companies are not insulated from volatility in gas and electricity prices, which have almost doubled since the Iran war began.
The problem is particularly acute for the thousands of companies that fix their annual price tariff at the start of the financial year in April and will face an immediate sharp rise in their bills.
Analysis by the energy consultancy Cornwall Insight found that as a result of the conflict, business users’ electricity bills would rise by up to 30 per cent, while the cost of gas could go up by as much as 80 per cent. This would mean that a business such as a larger retail and leisure site, on an average 12-month electricity contract, would have an annual bill of £578,000 — £95,000 more than early last month.
For gas, bills have risen by £376,000, reaching just over £1.02 million a year, an increase of nearly 60 per cent, based on the latest wholesale prices.
On Tuesday Wael Sawan, the chief executive of Shell, warned that Europe risked fuel shortages as soon as next month. At an industry conference in Houston, Texas, he said the global oil and gas supply squeeze had already forced parts of Asia to cut energy consumption and that the “ripple effect” threatened to spread west within days.
Depressing. I’d much rather businesses were given some kind of some support - low interest government loans or similar - than handouts to people who can shoulder this. Loans that could bd used to install solar, heat pumps, batteries.
I include myself in this. We save for emergencies so can weather this out. We do huge mileage each year, but a lot of that is social, weekend driving that we can cut back on. We don’t need any help from the government.
OTOH , we don’t use much gas because we live in an energy-efficient flat, appropriate for two young-ish adults. I’m not sure why people like me should bail out those in big, detached houses. They’ve made their choice.
If only spongers on benefits are getting the help I doubt many will be in big detached houses , once again telling that you spew hatred on a handful of poor pensioners ( unlike the majority) who may have a decent house and no money.
30% of UK households (7mn) are in receipt of Universal Credit. Surprisingly the same spread throughout the UK (England 29% / Wales 30% / Scotland 31%). There are 9mn pensioner households.
So the workers not in receipt of UC are doing a lot of the heavy lifting for pensioners more than anyone else.
You’re obsessed with bloody pensioners receiving benefits but not working age people.
Pension is a contribution based benefit and those receiving it did the heavy lifting in the past.
Rightly or wrongly that’s the case.
Aside from a few benefits, such as contribution based JSA, you cannot say that about most who receive working age benefits and bloody labour, or some of them, want to hand more money to the Boriswave.
Personally I’d tie both pensions and benefits to GDP growth.
@malcolmg what is it with people here who are happy to dump on people who contributed to the benefits system getting something back but radiate their middle class, white, worthiness on those who largely haven’t ?
Hopefully no-one wants to see state support removed for old people but what grates is the huge sense of entitlement of the current generation of pensioners. Who are much better catered for than generations past, and also those to come. Who sound off about how they deserve the lion share of state welfare "because they worked for it", all the while denying any support to people who are actually working, and supposedly feckless and morally inferior.
Sadly all parties indulge this sense of entitlement, hoping these guys will vote for them.
If we're really lucky we might even get a de facto lockdown
Huge energy price rises pile pressure on British companies
Warning of businesses going under as cost of gas set to rise by as much as 80 per cent, while electricity bills to increase by up to 30 per cent
Businesses across the UK are facing “eye-watering” rises in their energy bills because of the conflict in the Middle East, analysis for The Times suggests.
Unlike households, companies are not insulated from volatility in gas and electricity prices, which have almost doubled since the Iran war began.
The problem is particularly acute for the thousands of companies that fix their annual price tariff at the start of the financial year in April and will face an immediate sharp rise in their bills.
Analysis by the energy consultancy Cornwall Insight found that as a result of the conflict, business users’ electricity bills would rise by up to 30 per cent, while the cost of gas could go up by as much as 80 per cent. This would mean that a business such as a larger retail and leisure site, on an average 12-month electricity contract, would have an annual bill of £578,000 — £95,000 more than early last month.
For gas, bills have risen by £376,000, reaching just over £1.02 million a year, an increase of nearly 60 per cent, based on the latest wholesale prices.
On Tuesday Wael Sawan, the chief executive of Shell, warned that Europe risked fuel shortages as soon as next month. At an industry conference in Houston, Texas, he said the global oil and gas supply squeeze had already forced parts of Asia to cut energy consumption and that the “ripple effect” threatened to spread west within days.
Depressing. I’d much rather businesses were given some kind of some support - low interest government loans or similar - than handouts to people who can shoulder this. Loans that could bd used to install solar, heat pumps, batteries.
I include myself in this. We save for emergencies so can weather this out. We do huge mileage each year, but a lot of that is social, weekend driving that we can cut back on. We don’t need any help from the government.
OTOH , we don’t use much gas because we live in an energy-efficient flat, appropriate for two young-ish adults. I’m not sure why people like me should bail out those in big, detached houses. They’ve made their choice.
If only spongers on benefits are getting the help I doubt many will be in big detached houses , once again telling that you spew hatred on a handful of poor pensioners ( unlike the majority) who may have a decent house and no money.
30% of UK households (7mn) are in receipt of Universal Credit. Surprisingly the same spread throughout the UK (England 29% / Wales 30% / Scotland 31%). There are 9mn pensioner households.
So the workers not in receipt of UC are doing a lot of the heavy lifting for pensioners more than anyone else.
You’re obsessed with bloody pensioners receiving benefits but not working age people.
Pension is a contribution based benefit and those receiving it did the heavy lifting in the past.
Rightly or wrongly that’s the case.
Aside from a few benefits, such as contribution based JSA, you cannot say that about most who receive working age benefits and bloody labour, or some of them, want to hand more money to the Boriswave.
Personally I’d tie both pensions and benefits to GDP growth.
@malcolmg what is it with people here who are happy to dump on people who contributed to the benefits system getting something back but radiate their middle class, white, worthiness on those who largely haven’t ?
It seems that about 21% of pensioners receive some combination of pension credit, housing benefit and council tax reduction.
And to quote google AI:
Pension Credit acts as a "passported" benefit, meaning that receiving it often automatically entitles you to a range of other benefits and financial support. These can be worth thousands of pounds a year, particularly if you are in receipt of the Guarantee Credit part of Pension Credit.
Key benefits and support available include:
Housing and Council Tax Council Tax Reduction: You could have your council tax bill reduced, sometimes to zero, which is typically claimed through your local authority. Housing Benefit: If you rent your home, you may have your rent paid in full by your local council. Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI): If you own your home, you may be eligible for a loan to help with interest payments on your mortgage, as well as help with ground rent and service charges.
Health and NHS Costs If you receive Guarantee Credit, you are entitled to: Free NHS Dental Treatment: Full coverage for check-ups and treatments. Help with Spectacles: Vouchers for glasses or contact lenses. Travel Costs: Reimbursement of transport costs to and from hospital for NHS treatment. Free Prescriptions: (This is automatic in Scotland and Wales, but in England, it is dependent on receiving Guarantee Credit).
Energy and Heating Warm Home Discount: A £150 discount on your electricity bill (usually between October and March). Cold Weather Payments: A £25 payment for each seven-day period of freezing weather between November and March. Winter Heating Payment (Scotland): An automatic payment replacing the Cold Weather Payment.
Other Benefits Free TV Licence: People aged 75 or over, who also receive Pension Credit, are entitled to a free TV licence. Winter Fuel Payment: Eligible low-income pensioners will continue to receive this annual payment. Social Tariffs: Access to lower-cost phone and broadband packages from some providers. Funeral Expenses Payment: Financial support if you are arranging a funeral and are on a low income. Redirection Service: A discount on the Royal Mail redirection service if you are moving house.
It is important to note that even a small award of Pension Credit can unlock these additional benefits.
This is a problem with the UK benefits system - receiving one benefit makes you eligible to receive another and then another and then another and so on.
It might be worth knowing how much these recipients of pension credit (and all the resulting benefits) saved for their own retirement or how much work they ever did and how much tax they ever paid.
If we're really lucky we might even get a de facto lockdown
Huge energy price rises pile pressure on British companies
Warning of businesses going under as cost of gas set to rise by as much as 80 per cent, while electricity bills to increase by up to 30 per cent
Businesses across the UK are facing “eye-watering” rises in their energy bills because of the conflict in the Middle East, analysis for The Times suggests.
Unlike households, companies are not insulated from volatility in gas and electricity prices, which have almost doubled since the Iran war began.
The problem is particularly acute for the thousands of companies that fix their annual price tariff at the start of the financial year in April and will face an immediate sharp rise in their bills.
Analysis by the energy consultancy Cornwall Insight found that as a result of the conflict, business users’ electricity bills would rise by up to 30 per cent, while the cost of gas could go up by as much as 80 per cent. This would mean that a business such as a larger retail and leisure site, on an average 12-month electricity contract, would have an annual bill of £578,000 — £95,000 more than early last month.
For gas, bills have risen by £376,000, reaching just over £1.02 million a year, an increase of nearly 60 per cent, based on the latest wholesale prices.
On Tuesday Wael Sawan, the chief executive of Shell, warned that Europe risked fuel shortages as soon as next month. At an industry conference in Houston, Texas, he said the global oil and gas supply squeeze had already forced parts of Asia to cut energy consumption and that the “ripple effect” threatened to spread west within days.
Depressing. I’d much rather businesses were given some kind of some support - low interest government loans or similar - than handouts to people who can shoulder this. Loans that could bd used to install solar, heat pumps, batteries.
I include myself in this. We save for emergencies so can weather this out. We do huge mileage each year, but a lot of that is social, weekend driving that we can cut back on. We don’t need any help from the government.
OTOH , we don’t use much gas because we live in an energy-efficient flat, appropriate for two young-ish adults. I’m not sure why people like me should bail out those in big, detached houses. They’ve made their choice.
We live in a big detached house and are unlikely to be affected beyond what we can afford
However, if those energy prices hit next week no amount of future investment in energy savings will prevent both huge price rises and many lost jobs
This is a very serious crisis that has nightmare implications for all governments
Everyone will be affected if there is no fuel. No transport, no deliveries, nothing in shops, and so on.
But the flip side is the Trump family have made a ton of money on Polymarket.
Is Polymarket essentially similar to the Betfair Exchange?
I *think* so, but I'm not sure
In fixed-odds betting (sportsbook betting) in the high street (eg Ladbrokes), when you place a bet the person you are betting with is the bookmaker
In exchange betting online (eg Betfair Exchange), when you place a bet the person you are betting with is another gambler: the exchange just holds the money (for a fee) until the bet is resolved
In a prediction market (eg Polymarket), when you place a bet you are buying a "token". If that token cannot be matched with another gambler then your bet is returned unbetted. The prediction market holds the money until things are resolved.
If we're really lucky we might even get a de facto lockdown
Huge energy price rises pile pressure on British companies
Warning of businesses going under as cost of gas set to rise by as much as 80 per cent, while electricity bills to increase by up to 30 per cent
Businesses across the UK are facing “eye-watering” rises in their energy bills because of the conflict in the Middle East, analysis for The Times suggests.
Unlike households, companies are not insulated from volatility in gas and electricity prices, which have almost doubled since the Iran war began.
The problem is particularly acute for the thousands of companies that fix their annual price tariff at the start of the financial year in April and will face an immediate sharp rise in their bills.
Analysis by the energy consultancy Cornwall Insight found that as a result of the conflict, business users’ electricity bills would rise by up to 30 per cent, while the cost of gas could go up by as much as 80 per cent. This would mean that a business such as a larger retail and leisure site, on an average 12-month electricity contract, would have an annual bill of £578,000 — £95,000 more than early last month.
For gas, bills have risen by £376,000, reaching just over £1.02 million a year, an increase of nearly 60 per cent, based on the latest wholesale prices.
On Tuesday Wael Sawan, the chief executive of Shell, warned that Europe risked fuel shortages as soon as next month. At an industry conference in Houston, Texas, he said the global oil and gas supply squeeze had already forced parts of Asia to cut energy consumption and that the “ripple effect” threatened to spread west within days.
Depressing. I’d much rather businesses were given some kind of some support - low interest government loans or similar - than handouts to people who can shoulder this. Loans that could bd used to install solar, heat pumps, batteries.
I include myself in this. We save for emergencies so can weather this out. We do huge mileage each year, but a lot of that is social, weekend driving that we can cut back on. We don’t need any help from the government.
OTOH , we don’t use much gas because we live in an energy-efficient flat, appropriate for two young-ish adults. I’m not sure why people like me should bail out those in big, detached houses. They’ve made their choice.
If only spongers on benefits are getting the help I doubt many will be in big detached houses , once again telling that you spew hatred on a handful of poor pensioners ( unlike the majority) who may have a decent house and no money.
Surely someone who has "a decent house and no money" actually has a lot of money but chooses to leave it tied up in an unproductive asset and live a poverty lifestyle
Journos reporting Kings Speech w/c May 13 so prorogation W/c April 27. 2 weeks Easter break start tomorrow so we have perhaps 2 and a half to 3 weeks Parliamentary time remaining this session Chagos and Assisted Dying looking sunk.
Well everyone wanted Chagos gone so congratulations you've got what you wanted.
If we're really lucky we might even get a de facto lockdown
Huge energy price rises pile pressure on British companies
Warning of businesses going under as cost of gas set to rise by as much as 80 per cent, while electricity bills to increase by up to 30 per cent
Businesses across the UK are facing “eye-watering” rises in their energy bills because of the conflict in the Middle East, analysis for The Times suggests.
Unlike households, companies are not insulated from volatility in gas and electricity prices, which have almost doubled since the Iran war began.
The problem is particularly acute for the thousands of companies that fix their annual price tariff at the start of the financial year in April and will face an immediate sharp rise in their bills.
Analysis by the energy consultancy Cornwall Insight found that as a result of the conflict, business users’ electricity bills would rise by up to 30 per cent, while the cost of gas could go up by as much as 80 per cent. This would mean that a business such as a larger retail and leisure site, on an average 12-month electricity contract, would have an annual bill of £578,000 — £95,000 more than early last month.
For gas, bills have risen by £376,000, reaching just over £1.02 million a year, an increase of nearly 60 per cent, based on the latest wholesale prices.
On Tuesday Wael Sawan, the chief executive of Shell, warned that Europe risked fuel shortages as soon as next month. At an industry conference in Houston, Texas, he said the global oil and gas supply squeeze had already forced parts of Asia to cut energy consumption and that the “ripple effect” threatened to spread west within days.
Depressing. I’d much rather businesses were given some kind of some support - low interest government loans or similar - than handouts to people who can shoulder this. Loans that could bd used to install solar, heat pumps, batteries.
I include myself in this. We save for emergencies so can weather this out. We do huge mileage each year, but a lot of that is social, weekend driving that we can cut back on. We don’t need any help from the government.
OTOH , we don’t use much gas because we live in an energy-efficient flat, appropriate for two young-ish adults. I’m not sure why people like me should bail out those in big, detached houses. They’ve made their choice.
If only spongers on benefits are getting the help I doubt many will be in big detached houses , once again telling that you spew hatred on a handful of poor pensioners ( unlike the majority) who may have a decent house and no money.
30% of UK households (7mn) are in receipt of Universal Credit. Surprisingly the same spread throughout the UK (England 29% / Wales 30% / Scotland 31%). There are 9mn pensioner households.
So the workers not in receipt of UC are doing a lot of the heavy lifting for pensioners more than anyone else.
You’re obsessed with bloody pensioners receiving benefits but not working age people.
Pension is a contribution based benefit and those receiving it did the heavy lifting in the past.
Rightly or wrongly that’s the case.
Aside from a few benefits, such as contribution based JSA, you cannot say that about most who receive working age benefits and bloody labour, or some of them, want to hand more money to the Boriswave.
Personally I’d tie both pensions and benefits to GDP growth.
@malcolmg what is it with people here who are happy to dump on people who contributed to the benefits system getting something back but radiate their middle class, white, worthiness on those who largely haven’t ?
It seems that about 21% of pensioners receive some combination of pension credit, housing benefit and council tax reduction.
And to quote google AI:
Pension Credit acts as a "passported" benefit, meaning that receiving it often automatically entitles you to a range of other benefits and financial support. These can be worth thousands of pounds a year, particularly if you are in receipt of the Guarantee Credit part of Pension Credit.
Key benefits and support available include:
Housing and Council Tax Council Tax Reduction: You could have your council tax bill reduced, sometimes to zero, which is typically claimed through your local authority. Housing Benefit: If you rent your home, you may have your rent paid in full by your local council. Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI): If you own your home, you may be eligible for a loan to help with interest payments on your mortgage, as well as help with ground rent and service charges.
Health and NHS Costs If you receive Guarantee Credit, you are entitled to: Free NHS Dental Treatment: Full coverage for check-ups and treatments. Help with Spectacles: Vouchers for glasses or contact lenses. Travel Costs: Reimbursement of transport costs to and from hospital for NHS treatment. Free Prescriptions: (This is automatic in Scotland and Wales, but in England, it is dependent on receiving Guarantee Credit).
Energy and Heating Warm Home Discount: A £150 discount on your electricity bill (usually between October and March). Cold Weather Payments: A £25 payment for each seven-day period of freezing weather between November and March. Winter Heating Payment (Scotland): An automatic payment replacing the Cold Weather Payment.
Other Benefits Free TV Licence: People aged 75 or over, who also receive Pension Credit, are entitled to a free TV licence. Winter Fuel Payment: Eligible low-income pensioners will continue to receive this annual payment. Social Tariffs: Access to lower-cost phone and broadband packages from some providers. Funeral Expenses Payment: Financial support if you are arranging a funeral and are on a low income. Redirection Service: A discount on the Royal Mail redirection service if you are moving house.
It is important to note that even a small award of Pension Credit can unlock these additional benefits.
This is a problem with the UK benefits system - receiving one benefit makes you eligible to receive another and then another and then another and so on.
It might be worth knowing how much these recipients of pension credit (and all the resulting benefits) saved for their own retirement or how much work they ever did and how much tax they ever paid.
I am in the 79% who do not receive any benefits other than the state pension and frankly want the triple lock scrapped
If we're really lucky we might even get a de facto lockdown
Huge energy price rises pile pressure on British companies
Warning of businesses going under as cost of gas set to rise by as much as 80 per cent, while electricity bills to increase by up to 30 per cent
Businesses across the UK are facing “eye-watering” rises in their energy bills because of the conflict in the Middle East, analysis for The Times suggests.
Unlike households, companies are not insulated from volatility in gas and electricity prices, which have almost doubled since the Iran war began.
The problem is particularly acute for the thousands of companies that fix their annual price tariff at the start of the financial year in April and will face an immediate sharp rise in their bills.
Analysis by the energy consultancy Cornwall Insight found that as a result of the conflict, business users’ electricity bills would rise by up to 30 per cent, while the cost of gas could go up by as much as 80 per cent. This would mean that a business such as a larger retail and leisure site, on an average 12-month electricity contract, would have an annual bill of £578,000 — £95,000 more than early last month.
For gas, bills have risen by £376,000, reaching just over £1.02 million a year, an increase of nearly 60 per cent, based on the latest wholesale prices.
On Tuesday Wael Sawan, the chief executive of Shell, warned that Europe risked fuel shortages as soon as next month. At an industry conference in Houston, Texas, he said the global oil and gas supply squeeze had already forced parts of Asia to cut energy consumption and that the “ripple effect” threatened to spread west within days.
Depressing. I’d much rather businesses were given some kind of some support - low interest government loans or similar - than handouts to people who can shoulder this. Loans that could bd used to install solar, heat pumps, batteries.
I include myself in this. We save for emergencies so can weather this out. We do huge mileage each year, but a lot of that is social, weekend driving that we can cut back on. We don’t need any help from the government.
OTOH , we don’t use much gas because we live in an energy-efficient flat, appropriate for two young-ish adults. I’m not sure why people like me should bail out those in big, detached houses. They’ve made their choice.
If only spongers on benefits are getting the help I doubt many will be in big detached houses , once again telling that you spew hatred on a handful of poor pensioners ( unlike the majority) who may have a decent house and no money.
30% of UK households (7mn) are in receipt of Universal Credit. Surprisingly the same spread throughout the UK (England 29% / Wales 30% / Scotland 31%). There are 9mn pensioner households.
So the workers not in receipt of UC are doing a lot of the heavy lifting for pensioners more than anyone else.
You’re obsessed with bloody pensioners receiving benefits but not working age people.
Pension is a contribution based benefit and those receiving it did the heavy lifting in the past.
Rightly or wrongly that’s the case.
Aside from a few benefits, such as contribution based JSA, you cannot say that about most who receive working age benefits and bloody labour, or some of them, want to hand more money to the Boriswave.
Personally I’d tie both pensions and benefits to GDP growth.
@malcolmg what is it with people here who are happy to dump on people who contributed to the benefits system getting something back but radiate their middle class, white, worthiness on those who largely haven’t ?
Hopefully no-one wants to see state support removed for old people but what grates is the huge sense of entitlement of the current generation of pensioners. Who are much better catered for than generations past, and also those to come. Who sound off about how they deserve the lion share of state welfare "because they worked for it", all the while denying any support to people who are actually working, and supposedly feckless and morally inferior.
Sadly all parties indulge this sense of entitlement, hoping these guys will vote for them.
It is not pensioners receiving free childcare despite family incomes of up to £200,000 a year. It is not pensioners whose children enjoy breakfast clubs and after-school clubs. It is not pensioners who get higher rate tax relief on private pension contributions. It *is* pensioners who left school at 15 or 16 and worked for more years to 65 than younger generations who left school at 21 and whose pension age is 67 or 68.
And I still believe this intergenerational spat was started by Russian trolls.
If we're really lucky we might even get a de facto lockdown
Huge energy price rises pile pressure on British companies
Warning of businesses going under as cost of gas set to rise by as much as 80 per cent, while electricity bills to increase by up to 30 per cent
Businesses across the UK are facing “eye-watering” rises in their energy bills because of the conflict in the Middle East, analysis for The Times suggests.
Unlike households, companies are not insulated from volatility in gas and electricity prices, which have almost doubled since the Iran war began.
The problem is particularly acute for the thousands of companies that fix their annual price tariff at the start of the financial year in April and will face an immediate sharp rise in their bills.
Analysis by the energy consultancy Cornwall Insight found that as a result of the conflict, business users’ electricity bills would rise by up to 30 per cent, while the cost of gas could go up by as much as 80 per cent. This would mean that a business such as a larger retail and leisure site, on an average 12-month electricity contract, would have an annual bill of £578,000 — £95,000 more than early last month.
For gas, bills have risen by £376,000, reaching just over £1.02 million a year, an increase of nearly 60 per cent, based on the latest wholesale prices.
On Tuesday Wael Sawan, the chief executive of Shell, warned that Europe risked fuel shortages as soon as next month. At an industry conference in Houston, Texas, he said the global oil and gas supply squeeze had already forced parts of Asia to cut energy consumption and that the “ripple effect” threatened to spread west within days.
Depressing. I’d much rather businesses were given some kind of some support - low interest government loans or similar - than handouts to people who can shoulder this. Loans that could bd used to install solar, heat pumps, batteries.
I include myself in this. We save for emergencies so can weather this out. We do huge mileage each year, but a lot of that is social, weekend driving that we can cut back on. We don’t need any help from the government.
OTOH , we don’t use much gas because we live in an energy-efficient flat, appropriate for two young-ish adults. I’m not sure why people like me should bail out those in big, detached houses. They’ve made their choice.
If only spongers on benefits are getting the help I doubt many will be in big detached houses , once again telling that you spew hatred on a handful of poor pensioners ( unlike the majority) who may have a decent house and no money.
30% of UK households (7mn) are in receipt of Universal Credit. Surprisingly the same spread throughout the UK (England 29% / Wales 30% / Scotland 31%). There are 9mn pensioner households.
So the workers not in receipt of UC are doing a lot of the heavy lifting for pensioners more than anyone else.
You’re obsessed with bloody pensioners receiving benefits but not working age people.
Pension is a contribution based benefit and those receiving it did the heavy lifting in the past.
Rightly or wrongly that’s the case.
Aside from a few benefits, such as contribution based JSA, you cannot say that about most who receive working age benefits and bloody labour, or some of them, want to hand more money to the Boriswave.
Personally I’d tie both pensions and benefits to GDP growth.
@malcolmg what is it with people here who are happy to dump on people who contributed to the benefits system getting something back but radiate their middle class, white, worthiness on those who largely haven’t ?
It seems that about 21% of pensioners receive some combination of pension credit, housing benefit and council tax reduction.
And to quote google AI:
Pension Credit acts as a "passported" benefit, meaning that receiving it often automatically entitles you to a range of other benefits and financial support. These can be worth thousands of pounds a year, particularly if you are in receipt of the Guarantee Credit part of Pension Credit.
Key benefits and support available include:
Housing and Council Tax Council Tax Reduction: You could have your council tax bill reduced, sometimes to zero, which is typically claimed through your local authority. Housing Benefit: If you rent your home, you may have your rent paid in full by your local council. Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI): If you own your home, you may be eligible for a loan to help with interest payments on your mortgage, as well as help with ground rent and service charges.
Health and NHS Costs If you receive Guarantee Credit, you are entitled to: Free NHS Dental Treatment: Full coverage for check-ups and treatments. Help with Spectacles: Vouchers for glasses or contact lenses. Travel Costs: Reimbursement of transport costs to and from hospital for NHS treatment. Free Prescriptions: (This is automatic in Scotland and Wales, but in England, it is dependent on receiving Guarantee Credit).
Energy and Heating Warm Home Discount: A £150 discount on your electricity bill (usually between October and March). Cold Weather Payments: A £25 payment for each seven-day period of freezing weather between November and March. Winter Heating Payment (Scotland): An automatic payment replacing the Cold Weather Payment.
Other Benefits Free TV Licence: People aged 75 or over, who also receive Pension Credit, are entitled to a free TV licence. Winter Fuel Payment: Eligible low-income pensioners will continue to receive this annual payment. Social Tariffs: Access to lower-cost phone and broadband packages from some providers. Funeral Expenses Payment: Financial support if you are arranging a funeral and are on a low income. Redirection Service: A discount on the Royal Mail redirection service if you are moving house.
It is important to note that even a small award of Pension Credit can unlock these additional benefits.
This is a problem with the UK benefits system - receiving one benefit makes you eligible to receive another and then another and then another and so on.
It might be worth knowing how much these recipients of pension credit (and all the resulting benefits) saved for their own retirement or how much work they ever did and how much tax they ever paid.
State pension is a welfare benefit paid for out of current taxation. There's no link between what you pay as NI and the pension you receive. Also NI if it actually was insurance should also cover healthcare costs, which are massively higher for older people.
There's an irrefutable case for welfare for older people. But that's what it is, and it has to be paid for out of general taxation levied on everyone. The whole population deserves a say in how their tax contributions get used.
If we're really lucky we might even get a de facto lockdown
Huge energy price rises pile pressure on British companies
Warning of businesses going under as cost of gas set to rise by as much as 80 per cent, while electricity bills to increase by up to 30 per cent
Businesses across the UK are facing “eye-watering” rises in their energy bills because of the conflict in the Middle East, analysis for The Times suggests.
Unlike households, companies are not insulated from volatility in gas and electricity prices, which have almost doubled since the Iran war began.
The problem is particularly acute for the thousands of companies that fix their annual price tariff at the start of the financial year in April and will face an immediate sharp rise in their bills.
Analysis by the energy consultancy Cornwall Insight found that as a result of the conflict, business users’ electricity bills would rise by up to 30 per cent, while the cost of gas could go up by as much as 80 per cent. This would mean that a business such as a larger retail and leisure site, on an average 12-month electricity contract, would have an annual bill of £578,000 — £95,000 more than early last month.
For gas, bills have risen by £376,000, reaching just over £1.02 million a year, an increase of nearly 60 per cent, based on the latest wholesale prices.
On Tuesday Wael Sawan, the chief executive of Shell, warned that Europe risked fuel shortages as soon as next month. At an industry conference in Houston, Texas, he said the global oil and gas supply squeeze had already forced parts of Asia to cut energy consumption and that the “ripple effect” threatened to spread west within days.
Depressing. I’d much rather businesses were given some kind of some support - low interest government loans or similar - than handouts to people who can shoulder this. Loans that could bd used to install solar, heat pumps, batteries.
I include myself in this. We save for emergencies so can weather this out. We do huge mileage each year, but a lot of that is social, weekend driving that we can cut back on. We don’t need any help from the government.
OTOH , we don’t use much gas because we live in an energy-efficient flat, appropriate for two young-ish adults. I’m not sure why people like me should bail out those in big, detached houses. They’ve made their choice.
If only spongers on benefits are getting the help I doubt many will be in big detached houses , once again telling that you spew hatred on a handful of poor pensioners ( unlike the majority) who may have a decent house and no money.
Surely someone who has "a decent house and no money" actually has a lot of money but chooses to leave it tied up in an unproductive asset and live a poverty lifestyle
Yes this characterisation is one of my pet peeves. Of curse downsizing comes with costs but people need to be responsible for their own lifestyle planning based on their own asset portfolio (including housing) and their income instead of always coming running to the government.
If we're really lucky we might even get a de facto lockdown
Huge energy price rises pile pressure on British companies
Warning of businesses going under as cost of gas set to rise by as much as 80 per cent, while electricity bills to increase by up to 30 per cent
Businesses across the UK are facing “eye-watering” rises in their energy bills because of the conflict in the Middle East, analysis for The Times suggests.
Unlike households, companies are not insulated from volatility in gas and electricity prices, which have almost doubled since the Iran war began.
The problem is particularly acute for the thousands of companies that fix their annual price tariff at the start of the financial year in April and will face an immediate sharp rise in their bills.
Analysis by the energy consultancy Cornwall Insight found that as a result of the conflict, business users’ electricity bills would rise by up to 30 per cent, while the cost of gas could go up by as much as 80 per cent. This would mean that a business such as a larger retail and leisure site, on an average 12-month electricity contract, would have an annual bill of £578,000 — £95,000 more than early last month.
For gas, bills have risen by £376,000, reaching just over £1.02 million a year, an increase of nearly 60 per cent, based on the latest wholesale prices.
On Tuesday Wael Sawan, the chief executive of Shell, warned that Europe risked fuel shortages as soon as next month. At an industry conference in Houston, Texas, he said the global oil and gas supply squeeze had already forced parts of Asia to cut energy consumption and that the “ripple effect” threatened to spread west within days.
Depressing. I’d much rather businesses were given some kind of some support - low interest government loans or similar - than handouts to people who can shoulder this. Loans that could bd used to install solar, heat pumps, batteries.
I include myself in this. We save for emergencies so can weather this out. We do huge mileage each year, but a lot of that is social, weekend driving that we can cut back on. We don’t need any help from the government.
OTOH , we don’t use much gas because we live in an energy-efficient flat, appropriate for two young-ish adults. I’m not sure why people like me should bail out those in big, detached houses. They’ve made their choice.
If only spongers on benefits are getting the help I doubt many will be in big detached houses , once again telling that you spew hatred on a handful of poor pensioners ( unlike the majority) who may have a decent house and no money.
30% of UK households (7mn) are in receipt of Universal Credit. Surprisingly the same spread throughout the UK (England 29% / Wales 30% / Scotland 31%). There are 9mn pensioner households.
So the workers not in receipt of UC are doing a lot of the heavy lifting for pensioners more than anyone else.
You’re obsessed with bloody pensioners receiving benefits but not working age people.
Pension is a contribution based benefit and those receiving it did the heavy lifting in the past.
Rightly or wrongly that’s the case.
Aside from a few benefits, such as contribution based JSA, you cannot say that about most who receive working age benefits and bloody labour, or some of them, want to hand more money to the Boriswave.
Personally I’d tie both pensions and benefits to GDP growth.
@malcolmg what is it with people here who are happy to dump on people who contributed to the benefits system getting something back but radiate their middle class, white, worthiness on those who largely haven’t ?
It seems that about 21% of pensioners receive some combination of pension credit, housing benefit and council tax reduction.
And to quote google AI:
Pension Credit acts as a "passported" benefit, meaning that receiving it often automatically entitles you to a range of other benefits and financial support. These can be worth thousands of pounds a year, particularly if you are in receipt of the Guarantee Credit part of Pension Credit.
Key benefits and support available include:
Housing and Council Tax Council Tax Reduction: You could have your council tax bill reduced, sometimes to zero, which is typically claimed through your local authority. Housing Benefit: If you rent your home, you may have your rent paid in full by your local council. Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI): If you own your home, you may be eligible for a loan to help with interest payments on your mortgage, as well as help with ground rent and service charges.
Health and NHS Costs If you receive Guarantee Credit, you are entitled to: Free NHS Dental Treatment: Full coverage for check-ups and treatments. Help with Spectacles: Vouchers for glasses or contact lenses. Travel Costs: Reimbursement of transport costs to and from hospital for NHS treatment. Free Prescriptions: (This is automatic in Scotland and Wales, but in England, it is dependent on receiving Guarantee Credit).
Energy and Heating Warm Home Discount: A £150 discount on your electricity bill (usually between October and March). Cold Weather Payments: A £25 payment for each seven-day period of freezing weather between November and March. Winter Heating Payment (Scotland): An automatic payment replacing the Cold Weather Payment.
Other Benefits Free TV Licence: People aged 75 or over, who also receive Pension Credit, are entitled to a free TV licence. Winter Fuel Payment: Eligible low-income pensioners will continue to receive this annual payment. Social Tariffs: Access to lower-cost phone and broadband packages from some providers. Funeral Expenses Payment: Financial support if you are arranging a funeral and are on a low income. Redirection Service: A discount on the Royal Mail redirection service if you are moving house.
It is important to note that even a small award of Pension Credit can unlock these additional benefits.
This is a problem with the UK benefits system - receiving one benefit makes you eligible to receive another and then another and then another and so on.
It might be worth knowing how much these recipients of pension credit (and all the resulting benefits) saved for their own retirement or how much work they ever did and how much tax they ever paid.
I am in the 79% who do not receive any benefits other than the state pension and frankly want the triple lock scrapped
To be in the top 10 for goals at a stadium you only play at once a year is a level of disrespect we may never see again.
I think he's probably got a couple of decent seasons left in him, wonder who will snaffle him.
Wrexham, maybe, for their final push into the Premier.
He's leaving after the season ends so that doesn't make sense. Also doubt it'll be the Championship club that gets him, they won't be able to compete on wages for a start with elsewhere.
He doesn't need the wages, so he could play for whoever he fancies.
Apparently his family is well settled in Liverpool and he likes the British way of life, so maybe he would choose somewhere reasonably local. Everton wouldn't really be acceptable and I can't see him joining the madness at Manchester.
Maybe one of the Birmingham clubs?
Depending where he lives in Liverpool Wrexham could be the best option - I can't imagine he would want the cameras following him though..
On the other hand I could see Wrexham giving him a percentage of the club as the next stage of the story...
Honestly, I doubt it is about money. If it were he would probably go the Saudi league.
To be in the top 10 for goals at a stadium you only play at once a year is a level of disrespect we may never see again.
I think he's probably got a couple of decent seasons left in him, wonder who will snaffle him.
Wrexham, maybe, for their final push into the Premier.
He's leaving after the season ends so that doesn't make sense. Also doubt it'll be the Championship club that gets him, they won't be able to compete on wages for a start with elsewhere.
He doesn't need the wages, so he could play for whoever he fancies.
Apparently his family is well settled in Liverpool and he likes the British way of life, so maybe he would choose somewhere reasonably local. Everton wouldn't really be acceptable and I can't see him joining the madness at Manchester.
Maybe one of the Birmingham clubs?
I reckon Inter Miami
I think unlikely with trump in power.
Saudi if things quickly calm down in the ME. Would be a good signing by Galatasary as free and they don’t mind huge wages, moderate Muslim country playing out his career in the sun.
He would be an ideal Barcelona singing as they like free transfers as their finances are kaput - Lewandowski was the same and he has prospered.
Can’t see him staying in England though as clearly his pace has left him which is essential and he won’t want another duff season with poor figures.
Al Ittihad need him but I think he'd only go to a Saudi club that is going to play Asian Champions League next season so probably Al Hilal. He would rewrite Saudi Pro League scoring records, that's for sure.
If we're really lucky we might even get a de facto lockdown
Huge energy price rises pile pressure on British companies
Warning of businesses going under as cost of gas set to rise by as much as 80 per cent, while electricity bills to increase by up to 30 per cent
Businesses across the UK are facing “eye-watering” rises in their energy bills because of the conflict in the Middle East, analysis for The Times suggests.
Unlike households, companies are not insulated from volatility in gas and electricity prices, which have almost doubled since the Iran war began.
The problem is particularly acute for the thousands of companies that fix their annual price tariff at the start of the financial year in April and will face an immediate sharp rise in their bills.
Analysis by the energy consultancy Cornwall Insight found that as a result of the conflict, business users’ electricity bills would rise by up to 30 per cent, while the cost of gas could go up by as much as 80 per cent. This would mean that a business such as a larger retail and leisure site, on an average 12-month electricity contract, would have an annual bill of £578,000 — £95,000 more than early last month.
For gas, bills have risen by £376,000, reaching just over £1.02 million a year, an increase of nearly 60 per cent, based on the latest wholesale prices.
On Tuesday Wael Sawan, the chief executive of Shell, warned that Europe risked fuel shortages as soon as next month. At an industry conference in Houston, Texas, he said the global oil and gas supply squeeze had already forced parts of Asia to cut energy consumption and that the “ripple effect” threatened to spread west within days.
Depressing. I’d much rather businesses were given some kind of some support - low interest government loans or similar - than handouts to people who can shoulder this. Loans that could bd used to install solar, heat pumps, batteries.
I include myself in this. We save for emergencies so can weather this out. We do huge mileage each year, but a lot of that is social, weekend driving that we can cut back on. We don’t need any help from the government.
OTOH , we don’t use much gas because we live in an energy-efficient flat, appropriate for two young-ish adults. I’m not sure why people like me should bail out those in big, detached houses. They’ve made their choice.
If only spongers on benefits are getting the help I doubt many will be in big detached houses , once again telling that you spew hatred on a handful of poor pensioners ( unlike the majority) who may have a decent house and no money.
30% of UK households (7mn) are in receipt of Universal Credit. Surprisingly the same spread throughout the UK (England 29% / Wales 30% / Scotland 31%). There are 9mn pensioner households.
So the workers not in receipt of UC are doing a lot of the heavy lifting for pensioners more than anyone else.
You’re obsessed with bloody pensioners receiving benefits but not working age people.
Pension is a contribution based benefit and those receiving it did the heavy lifting in the past.
Rightly or wrongly that’s the case.
Aside from a few benefits, such as contribution based JSA, you cannot say that about most who receive working age benefits and bloody labour, or some of them, want to hand more money to the Boriswave.
Personally I’d tie both pensions and benefits to GDP growth.
@malcolmg what is it with people here who are happy to dump on people who contributed to the benefits system getting something back but radiate their middle class, white, worthiness on those who largely haven’t ?
Hopefully no-one wants to see state support removed for old people but what grates is the huge sense of entitlement of the current generation of pensioners. Who are much better catered for than generations past, and also those to come. Who sound off about how they deserve the lion share of state welfare "because they worked for it", all the while denying any support to people who are actually working, and supposedly feckless and morally inferior.
Sadly all parties indulge this sense of entitlement, hoping these guys will vote for them.
It is not pensioners receiving free childcare despite family incomes of up to £200,000 a year. It is not pensioners whose children enjoy breakfast clubs and after-school clubs. It is not pensioners who get higher rate tax relief on private pension contributions. It *is* pensioners who left school at 15 or 16 and worked for more years to 65 than younger generations who left school at 21 and whose pension age is 67 or 68.
And I still believe this intergenerational spat was started by Russian trolls.
The Russian trolls seem to have done a good job if your post is anything to go by.
There are arguments both ways for benefits to be universal or income based. I do point out that couples on £200 000 pay out approximately half of that as tax, while pensioners in general don't.
If we're really lucky we might even get a de facto lockdown
Huge energy price rises pile pressure on British companies
Warning of businesses going under as cost of gas set to rise by as much as 80 per cent, while electricity bills to increase by up to 30 per cent
Businesses across the UK are facing “eye-watering” rises in their energy bills because of the conflict in the Middle East, analysis for The Times suggests.
Unlike households, companies are not insulated from volatility in gas and electricity prices, which have almost doubled since the Iran war began.
The problem is particularly acute for the thousands of companies that fix their annual price tariff at the start of the financial year in April and will face an immediate sharp rise in their bills.
Analysis by the energy consultancy Cornwall Insight found that as a result of the conflict, business users’ electricity bills would rise by up to 30 per cent, while the cost of gas could go up by as much as 80 per cent. This would mean that a business such as a larger retail and leisure site, on an average 12-month electricity contract, would have an annual bill of £578,000 — £95,000 more than early last month.
For gas, bills have risen by £376,000, reaching just over £1.02 million a year, an increase of nearly 60 per cent, based on the latest wholesale prices.
On Tuesday Wael Sawan, the chief executive of Shell, warned that Europe risked fuel shortages as soon as next month. At an industry conference in Houston, Texas, he said the global oil and gas supply squeeze had already forced parts of Asia to cut energy consumption and that the “ripple effect” threatened to spread west within days.
Depressing. I’d much rather businesses were given some kind of some support - low interest government loans or similar - than handouts to people who can shoulder this. Loans that could bd used to install solar, heat pumps, batteries.
I include myself in this. We save for emergencies so can weather this out. We do huge mileage each year, but a lot of that is social, weekend driving that we can cut back on. We don’t need any help from the government.
OTOH , we don’t use much gas because we live in an energy-efficient flat, appropriate for two young-ish adults. I’m not sure why people like me should bail out those in big, detached houses. They’ve made their choice.
If only spongers on benefits are getting the help I doubt many will be in big detached houses , once again telling that you spew hatred on a handful of poor pensioners ( unlike the majority) who may have a decent house and no money.
30% of UK households (7mn) are in receipt of Universal Credit. Surprisingly the same spread throughout the UK (England 29% / Wales 30% / Scotland 31%). There are 9mn pensioner households.
So the workers not in receipt of UC are doing a lot of the heavy lifting for pensioners more than anyone else.
You’re obsessed with bloody pensioners receiving benefits but not working age people.
Pension is a contribution based benefit and those receiving it did the heavy lifting in the past.
Rightly or wrongly that’s the case.
Aside from a few benefits, such as contribution based JSA, you cannot say that about most who receive working age benefits and bloody labour, or some of them, want to hand more money to the Boriswave.
Personally I’d tie both pensions and benefits to GDP growth.
@malcolmg what is it with people here who are happy to dump on people who contributed to the benefits system getting something back but radiate their middle class, white, worthiness on those who largely haven’t ?
It seems that about 21% of pensioners receive some combination of pension credit, housing benefit and council tax reduction.
And to quote google AI:
Pension Credit acts as a "passported" benefit, meaning that receiving it often automatically entitles you to a range of other benefits and financial support. These can be worth thousands of pounds a year, particularly if you are in receipt of the Guarantee Credit part of Pension Credit.
Key benefits and support available include:
Housing and Council Tax Council Tax Reduction: You could have your council tax bill reduced, sometimes to zero, which is typically claimed through your local authority. Housing Benefit: If you rent your home, you may have your rent paid in full by your local council. Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI): If you own your home, you may be eligible for a loan to help with interest payments on your mortgage, as well as help with ground rent and service charges.
Health and NHS Costs If you receive Guarantee Credit, you are entitled to: Free NHS Dental Treatment: Full coverage for check-ups and treatments. Help with Spectacles: Vouchers for glasses or contact lenses. Travel Costs: Reimbursement of transport costs to and from hospital for NHS treatment. Free Prescriptions: (This is automatic in Scotland and Wales, but in England, it is dependent on receiving Guarantee Credit).
Energy and Heating Warm Home Discount: A £150 discount on your electricity bill (usually between October and March). Cold Weather Payments: A £25 payment for each seven-day period of freezing weather between November and March. Winter Heating Payment (Scotland): An automatic payment replacing the Cold Weather Payment.
Other Benefits Free TV Licence: People aged 75 or over, who also receive Pension Credit, are entitled to a free TV licence. Winter Fuel Payment: Eligible low-income pensioners will continue to receive this annual payment. Social Tariffs: Access to lower-cost phone and broadband packages from some providers. Funeral Expenses Payment: Financial support if you are arranging a funeral and are on a low income. Redirection Service: A discount on the Royal Mail redirection service if you are moving house.
It is important to note that even a small award of Pension Credit can unlock these additional benefits.
This is a problem with the UK benefits system - receiving one benefit makes you eligible to receive another and then another and then another and so on.
It might be worth knowing how much these recipients of pension credit (and all the resulting benefits) saved for their own retirement or how much work they ever did and how much tax they ever paid.
State pension is a welfare benefit paid for out of current taxation. There's no link between what you pay as NI and the pension you receive. Also NI if it actually was insurance should also cover healthcare costs, which are massively higher for older people.
There's an irrefutable case for welfare for older people. But that's what it is, and it has to be paid for out of general taxation levied on everyone. The whole population deserves a say in how their tax contributions get used.
There is a link, given that paying NI is the qualification for a state pension and we have all spent our working lives being told this is the case. Also, why should it pay for healthcare? It is a tax that qualifies you for employment related benefits including crrtain unemployment and sickness benefits and your pension.
On pensions - the next comedy will be when generation rent retires.
If you own your property outright, you can live well on very little.
If they are paying full rent, many will not have the resources to retire at all - no savings, since it all went on rent.
An oncoming cliff of pensioner poverty.
Well if we've halted immigration, the population will be in freefall by then, the rentiers will be dying off, releasing housing stock onto a down market driving it further down, and the problem might solve itself without intervention ?
If we're really lucky we might even get a de facto lockdown
Huge energy price rises pile pressure on British companies
Warning of businesses going under as cost of gas set to rise by as much as 80 per cent, while electricity bills to increase by up to 30 per cent
Businesses across the UK are facing “eye-watering” rises in their energy bills because of the conflict in the Middle East, analysis for The Times suggests.
Unlike households, companies are not insulated from volatility in gas and electricity prices, which have almost doubled since the Iran war began.
The problem is particularly acute for the thousands of companies that fix their annual price tariff at the start of the financial year in April and will face an immediate sharp rise in their bills.
Analysis by the energy consultancy Cornwall Insight found that as a result of the conflict, business users’ electricity bills would rise by up to 30 per cent, while the cost of gas could go up by as much as 80 per cent. This would mean that a business such as a larger retail and leisure site, on an average 12-month electricity contract, would have an annual bill of £578,000 — £95,000 more than early last month.
For gas, bills have risen by £376,000, reaching just over £1.02 million a year, an increase of nearly 60 per cent, based on the latest wholesale prices.
On Tuesday Wael Sawan, the chief executive of Shell, warned that Europe risked fuel shortages as soon as next month. At an industry conference in Houston, Texas, he said the global oil and gas supply squeeze had already forced parts of Asia to cut energy consumption and that the “ripple effect” threatened to spread west within days.
There is a storm brewing, the cost of oil/fuel etc is filtering through the supply chain and prices will start going up across the board, expect to see this very soon. Lucky for those business who have a 2 or 3 year energy price fix, unlucky for those coming out of contract shortly.
There's only so much working from home can do, you cant mitigate costs of manufacturing so easily, those costs have to be passed on to the end consumer.
Not quite as sharp a shock as Ukraine war price increases, but the longer it goes on the worse it will be for business and the public.
None of this is directly Mr Starmer's fault of course, but he wont get thanked if a coach and horses gets driven through his energy bills reduction pledge
Long term the UK/western nations need to work out whether to appease Iran, pay a levy for passage through Hormuz or source more oil and gas elsewhere
If we're really lucky we might even get a de facto lockdown
Huge energy price rises pile pressure on British companies
Warning of businesses going under as cost of gas set to rise by as much as 80 per cent, while electricity bills to increase by up to 30 per cent
Businesses across the UK are facing “eye-watering” rises in their energy bills because of the conflict in the Middle East, analysis for The Times suggests.
Unlike households, companies are not insulated from volatility in gas and electricity prices, which have almost doubled since the Iran war began.
The problem is particularly acute for the thousands of companies that fix their annual price tariff at the start of the financial year in April and will face an immediate sharp rise in their bills.
Analysis by the energy consultancy Cornwall Insight found that as a result of the conflict, business users’ electricity bills would rise by up to 30 per cent, while the cost of gas could go up by as much as 80 per cent. This would mean that a business such as a larger retail and leisure site, on an average 12-month electricity contract, would have an annual bill of £578,000 — £95,000 more than early last month.
For gas, bills have risen by £376,000, reaching just over £1.02 million a year, an increase of nearly 60 per cent, based on the latest wholesale prices.
On Tuesday Wael Sawan, the chief executive of Shell, warned that Europe risked fuel shortages as soon as next month. At an industry conference in Houston, Texas, he said the global oil and gas supply squeeze had already forced parts of Asia to cut energy consumption and that the “ripple effect” threatened to spread west within days.
There is a storm brewing, the cost of oil/fuel etc is filtering through the supply chain and prices will start going up across the board, expect to see this very soon. Lucky for those business who have a 2 or 3 year energy price fix, unlucky for those coming out of contract shortly.
There's only so much working from home can do, you cant mitigate costs of manufacturing so easily, those costs have to be passed on to the end consumer.
Not quite as sharp a shock as Ukraine war price increases, but the longer it goes on the worse it will be for business and the public.
None of this is directly Mr Starmer's fault of course, but he wont get thanked if a coach and horses gets driven through his energy bills reduction pledge
Long term the UK/western nations need to work out whether to appease Iran, pay a levy for passage through Hormuz or source more oil and gas elsewhere
Was talking with someone last week who said that Aberdeen based small manufacturing is dying from fuel cost - people will pay a premium for their reputation for quality in the oil industry, but not that much of a premium.
If we're really lucky we might even get a de facto lockdown
Huge energy price rises pile pressure on British companies
Warning of businesses going under as cost of gas set to rise by as much as 80 per cent, while electricity bills to increase by up to 30 per cent
Businesses across the UK are facing “eye-watering” rises in their energy bills because of the conflict in the Middle East, analysis for The Times suggests.
Unlike households, companies are not insulated from volatility in gas and electricity prices, which have almost doubled since the Iran war began.
The problem is particularly acute for the thousands of companies that fix their annual price tariff at the start of the financial year in April and will face an immediate sharp rise in their bills.
Analysis by the energy consultancy Cornwall Insight found that as a result of the conflict, business users’ electricity bills would rise by up to 30 per cent, while the cost of gas could go up by as much as 80 per cent. This would mean that a business such as a larger retail and leisure site, on an average 12-month electricity contract, would have an annual bill of £578,000 — £95,000 more than early last month.
For gas, bills have risen by £376,000, reaching just over £1.02 million a year, an increase of nearly 60 per cent, based on the latest wholesale prices.
On Tuesday Wael Sawan, the chief executive of Shell, warned that Europe risked fuel shortages as soon as next month. At an industry conference in Houston, Texas, he said the global oil and gas supply squeeze had already forced parts of Asia to cut energy consumption and that the “ripple effect” threatened to spread west within days.
Depressing. I’d much rather businesses were given some kind of some support - low interest government loans or similar - than handouts to people who can shoulder this. Loans that could bd used to install solar, heat pumps, batteries.
I include myself in this. We save for emergencies so can weather this out. We do huge mileage each year, but a lot of that is social, weekend driving that we can cut back on. We don’t need any help from the government.
OTOH , we don’t use much gas because we live in an energy-efficient flat, appropriate for two young-ish adults. I’m not sure why people like me should bail out those in big, detached houses. They’ve made their choice.
If only spongers on benefits are getting the help I doubt many will be in big detached houses , once again telling that you spew hatred on a handful of poor pensioners ( unlike the majority) who may have a decent house and no money.
30% of UK households (7mn) are in receipt of Universal Credit. Surprisingly the same spread throughout the UK (England 29% / Wales 30% / Scotland 31%). There are 9mn pensioner households.
So the workers not in receipt of UC are doing a lot of the heavy lifting for pensioners more than anyone else.
You’re obsessed with bloody pensioners receiving benefits but not working age people.
Pension is a contribution based benefit and those receiving it did the heavy lifting in the past.
Rightly or wrongly that’s the case.
Aside from a few benefits, such as contribution based JSA, you cannot say that about most who receive working age benefits and bloody labour, or some of them, want to hand more money to the Boriswave.
Personally I’d tie both pensions and benefits to GDP growth.
@malcolmg what is it with people here who are happy to dump on people who contributed to the benefits system getting something back but radiate their middle class, white, worthiness on those who largely haven’t ?
It seems that about 21% of pensioners receive some combination of pension credit, housing benefit and council tax reduction.
And to quote google AI:
Pension Credit acts as a "passported" benefit, meaning that receiving it often automatically entitles you to a range of other benefits and financial support. These can be worth thousands of pounds a year, particularly if you are in receipt of the Guarantee Credit part of Pension Credit.
Key benefits and support available include:
Housing and Council Tax Council Tax Reduction: You could have your council tax bill reduced, sometimes to zero, which is typically claimed through your local authority. Housing Benefit: If you rent your home, you may have your rent paid in full by your local council. Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI): If you own your home, you may be eligible for a loan to help with interest payments on your mortgage, as well as help with ground rent and service charges.
Health and NHS Costs If you receive Guarantee Credit, you are entitled to: Free NHS Dental Treatment: Full coverage for check-ups and treatments. Help with Spectacles: Vouchers for glasses or contact lenses. Travel Costs: Reimbursement of transport costs to and from hospital for NHS treatment. Free Prescriptions: (This is automatic in Scotland and Wales, but in England, it is dependent on receiving Guarantee Credit).
Energy and Heating Warm Home Discount: A £150 discount on your electricity bill (usually between October and March). Cold Weather Payments: A £25 payment for each seven-day period of freezing weather between November and March. Winter Heating Payment (Scotland): An automatic payment replacing the Cold Weather Payment.
Other Benefits Free TV Licence: People aged 75 or over, who also receive Pension Credit, are entitled to a free TV licence. Winter Fuel Payment: Eligible low-income pensioners will continue to receive this annual payment. Social Tariffs: Access to lower-cost phone and broadband packages from some providers. Funeral Expenses Payment: Financial support if you are arranging a funeral and are on a low income. Redirection Service: A discount on the Royal Mail redirection service if you are moving house.
It is important to note that even a small award of Pension Credit can unlock these additional benefits.
This is a problem with the UK benefits system - receiving one benefit makes you eligible to receive another and then another and then another and so on.
It might be worth knowing how much these recipients of pension credit (and all the resulting benefits) saved for their own retirement or how much work they ever did and how much tax they ever paid.
State pension is a welfare benefit paid for out of current taxation. There's no link between what you pay as NI and the pension you receive. Also NI if it actually was insurance should also cover healthcare costs, which are massively higher for older people.
There's an irrefutable case for welfare for older people. But that's what it is, and it has to be paid for out of general taxation levied on everyone. The whole population deserves a say in how their tax contributions get used.
There is a link, given that paying NI is the qualification for a state pension and we have all spent our working lives being told this is the case. Also, why should it pay for healthcare? It is a tax that qualifies you for employment related benefits including crrtain unemployment and sickness benefits and your pension.
Fair point on qualifications for the benefit. Nevertheless State Pension is paid out of current taxation, what you get out isn't connected to what you put in over the population, and National insurance is an employment tax and isn't actually insurance.
Comments
So the workers not in receipt of UC are doing a lot of the heavy lifting for pensioners more than anyone else.
The tiny number of prominent Tories who have crossed over, almost none with wide appeal outside the extremes, indicates this may be a factor.
The Tories have a foundation which may yet go extinct but is based on more than the Trumpian fantasies of an individual, so has a batetr chance of survival than Reform.
https://x.com/JewishNewsUK/status/2036372285792104903
Global warming?!?
Just over a week to go until Easter and we need to get our big coats back out!
I wouldn’t mind a bit more global warming to be honest, right now.
https://x.com/SuellaBraverman/status/2036507074868207712
While these ambulances are not restricted to Jewish patients, they do operate in Jewish neighbourhoods. In the rest of the country we have to rely on overstretched NHS ambulance services that consistently fail to meet timeliness targets. For example a little to the west of me:
BBC News - West Midlands ambulance handover delays 'worst in England' - BBC News
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8742yrlwjno?app-referrer=deep-link
Its a sticking plaster over a major wound, a worthwhile one, but one rooted in systemic failure to address the problem.
If Katie Lam is that vacuous then the Conservatives would be well rid of her.
I hear the Plod have apready picked up two of the tossers. This is unusually sharp of the Met, if true, but credit where credit is due.
East Hampshire: Damian Hinds
Farnham and Bordon: Gregory Stafford
Godalming and Ash : Sir Jeremy Hunt
Hamble Valley: Paul Holmes
Romsey and Southampton North : Caroline Nokes
North Cotswolds: Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown
North Dorset: Simon Hoare
All unlikely defectors I think.
So the right will survive even if both of them being standalone parties doesn't
I know for my daughter's team in the four years they've been playing only 9 players have scored - so this is likely true for them too. But no doubt there are some nuances between the premier leage and the South Manchester girls' league that I am missing.
Trump has an element of Fredo - a useless self-indulgent showman - and Hegseth is a wannabe Sonny.
This phone could provide enormous potential for blackmail and should have been immediately referred to the National Crime Agency
(yes, I did check the Apr 1st adjacent date)
https://x.com/Variety/status/2036657053733695924?s=20
Ukrainian drones struck the Vyborg shipyard in Russia overnight, heavily damaging the under-construction Project 23550 Arctic patrol ship Purga (475), which partially submerged after the attack; a fire also broke out.
https://x.com/NOELreports/status/2036720949026845180?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^tweet
More in Common sees the top 3 all lose 1 point. Reform at their lowest with MiC since July
➡️ REF UK 27% (-1)
🌳 CON 20% (-1)
🌹 LAB 19% (-1)
🔶 LIB DEM 14% (+2)
🌍 GREEN 12% (-1)
🟡 SNP 3% (+1)
N = 2,408 | 20-22/3| Change w 18/03
“I don’t see why people who live in houses should help bail out people in flats that prove to be structurally unsound or covered in fire lighters. They made their choice.”
Not so fun from the other end of the telescope, eh?
Good poll for Davey too with the LDs retaking 4th place and overtaking the Greens
This from the Party of Boris Johnson, who not only lost phones but went missing for 18 hours to meet the KGB
If Badenoch can't like an adult serious person' at Pmq, let Flynn, Davey and Farage ask 2 questions each, they will be far more grown up
May be she could lead with the NHS satisfaction survey, satisfaction UP for first time in 7 years, Dissatisfaction DOWN biggest ever recorded drop 8% down.
Long way to go but signs Labour have started on way back to the world Class NHS they gifted the Tories to destroy as they always do.
Same old Tories
For something like cladding it should be up to the homeowners/councils/leaseholders to take those forms to court. When it’s so widespread there is a role for government to assist the process, but ultimately we need to drop the assumption that they are responsible for fixing everything that goes wrong in life.
(It’s a silly comparison anyway - if you buy a massive house you’d have to be a complete dunce to think the energy costs will be low)
Corbynesque
You have nothing new or original to say, just the same whataboutery and tired lines
It could start a trickle though
Chagos and Assisted Dying looking sunk.
It is disturbing but I understand that the Met Pol lost phone diplomatic level are currently operating at a critical backlog, searching for phones and data from my 3 predecessors and associated Cabinet Members.
I will commit to arranging a meeting with my learned friend with the relevant Met Pol department head, she may even be able to offer some evidence herself
Apparently his family is well settled in Liverpool and he likes the British way of life, so maybe he would choose somewhere reasonably local. Everton wouldn't really be acceptable and I can't see him joining the madness at Manchester.
Maybe one of the Birmingham clubs?
There are other steps we can take to improve security of fossil fuels, which are still essential in the meantime. These include more refinery capacity, oil and gas storage. These involve eye watering amounts of capital for specific risks you hope won't materialise - difficult investments to make i think. New drilling licences in the North Sea are nearly irrelevant to energy security - most of the oil has to be exported due to lack of refinery capacity.
But there is a strong case of, why not continue to exploit the North Sea at a low level for a bit longer? And the linkage. Hopefully allowing new drilling licences shuts people up about a marginal distraction so we can focus on what really matters - electrification.
On the other hand I could see Wrexham giving him a percentage of the club as the next stage of the story...
Shifting ‘far faster than anyone thought we could’ is just a vague, woolly statement.
Shifting to renewables is only part of it. But, you’re right, govt, is perfect and never put a foot wrong on energy.
WhatsApp has compromised the end to end encryption. Unlike Signal.
So the NSA probably has a copy of everything.
Nice, eh?
Edit: the Signal source code for both apps and servers is open source. You can implement your own Signal instance, servers, everything. I know people who did it themselves as an experiment.
Several companies offer forks of Signal for custom secure comms.
So trivial to have a fork of Signal for government usage. Complete with permanent archiving of all messages.
However on the front line itself, the Russian casualties have been utterly catastrophic, the equivalent of the total American deaths of 20 years in Afghanistan every two days. The scale of the disaster for Russia just keeps getting worse, the rate of casualties is actually accelerating, not falling. Finally there seems to be the beginning of a push back inside Russia, with criticism mounting- and the regime becoming increasingly defensive. The Internet itself in Russia is completely going down as Putin seeks to limit communication inside Russia, while the man himself is even more elusive and his personal security arrangement become more draconian.
There is an awful lot of ruin in a nation, and Russia takes a strange kind of pride on being able to absorb the blows, but this war is taking a turn for the worse from the Russian perspective, and we hear growing rumours of dissent and rebellion. The Ukrainians have pushed the Russians back and seriously disrupted the planned Spring offensive. Moscow has a lot to ponder, and there seem few good choices for Putin at this point. One thing is increasingly obvious, whatever happens, Russia is going to take a very long time to recover, and there is a chance that it may never be able to do so.
The Trump quagmire in Iran is child's play compered to Putin's quagmire in Ukraine.
An intriguing evening in Denmark but with the cool of the morning, a few thoughts.
The Social Democrats, despite taking a beating, are the sole remaining large national party with 38 seats. The Folketing is fragmented as never before with no less than twelve parties winning seats. On the "red" or "left" side, you have the Social Democrats and the Socialistiske Folkeparti who did well but perhaps not as well as they had hoped winning 20 seats and becoming the second largest group in Parliament.
The other "Red" parties are much smaller but the block has 84 and a decisive advantage over the "blue" or "right" grouping of parties with 77. On the "Blue" side, Venstre, the traditional leading party, also lost ground but just held off the Liberal Alliance and the Dansk Folkeparti who were the big winners of the night at the expense of the Denmark Democrats. The three main "blue" block parties have 51 seats but are within themselves grappling for leadership.
It seems however the old coalition of Social Democrats, Venstre and the Moderates is gone - the Venstre leader has already said that period of co-operation has ended and he wants to lead a traditional "blue" Government but he has left the door open to the Radikale Venstre to join or support such a Government.
That invite has also been proffered by the Statsminister and Social Democrat leader, Mette Frederiksen but in essence none of this matters very much.
The Moderates lost a little ground but did well to be left holding the balance of power having won 14 seats. NO majority Government is possible without their support though the "Red" bloc could form a minority administration if the Moderates offered the equivalent of Confidence & Supply.
The party leaders have gathered for an initial meeting this morning and the process, as I recall, is they choose one to be the first to be invited by King Frederik IX to try to form a new Government at which point the horse trading (no actual horses) will begin. I suspect Frederiksen will get first go at this but it all depends on Lars Lokke Rasmussen, the Moderates leader, who, as the saying goes, holds all the cards.
Pension is a contribution based benefit and those receiving it did the heavy lifting in the past.
Rightly or wrongly that’s the case.
Aside from a few benefits, such as contribution based JSA, you cannot say that about most who receive working age benefits and bloody labour, or some of them, want to hand more money to the Boriswave.
Personally I’d tie both pensions and benefits to GDP growth.
@malcolmg what is it with people here who are happy to dump on people who contributed to the benefits system getting something back but radiate their middle class, white, worthiness on those who largely haven’t ?
Saudi if things quickly calm down in the ME. Would be a good signing by Galatasary as free and they don’t mind huge wages, moderate Muslim country playing out his career in the sun.
He would be an ideal Barcelona singing as they like free transfers as their finances are kaput - Lewandowski was the same and he has prospered.
Can’t see him staying in England though as clearly his pace has left him which is essential and he won’t want another duff season with poor figures.
Oh, and it is not the worlds energy source, it’s a part of it. If it was the worlds energy source the lights would already be out.
Anyone from crime syndicates, to Russian, Chinese, Iranian intelligence, politicians facing blackmail, and even security issues
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6mXqOk63Ss
In other words the real costs of pensions was kicked into the future and the future is now.
Sadly all parties indulge this sense of entitlement, hoping these guys will vote for them.
And to quote google AI:
Pension Credit acts as a "passported" benefit, meaning that receiving it often automatically entitles you to a range of other benefits and financial support. These can be worth thousands of pounds a year, particularly if you are in receipt of the Guarantee Credit part of Pension Credit.
Key benefits and support available include:
Housing and Council Tax
Council Tax Reduction: You could have your council tax bill reduced, sometimes to zero, which is typically claimed through your local authority.
Housing Benefit: If you rent your home, you may have your rent paid in full by your local council.
Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI): If you own your home, you may be eligible for a loan to help with interest payments on your mortgage, as well as help with ground rent and service charges.
Health and NHS Costs
If you receive Guarantee Credit, you are entitled to:
Free NHS Dental Treatment: Full coverage for check-ups and treatments.
Help with Spectacles: Vouchers for glasses or contact lenses.
Travel Costs: Reimbursement of transport costs to and from hospital for NHS treatment.
Free Prescriptions: (This is automatic in Scotland and Wales, but in England, it is dependent on receiving Guarantee Credit).
Energy and Heating
Warm Home Discount: A £150 discount on your electricity bill (usually between October and March).
Cold Weather Payments: A £25 payment for each seven-day period of freezing weather between November and March.
Winter Heating Payment (Scotland): An automatic payment replacing the Cold Weather Payment.
Other Benefits
Free TV Licence: People aged 75 or over, who also receive Pension Credit, are entitled to a free TV licence.
Winter Fuel Payment: Eligible low-income pensioners will continue to receive this annual payment.
Social Tariffs: Access to lower-cost phone and broadband packages from some providers.
Funeral Expenses Payment: Financial support if you are arranging a funeral and are on a low income.
Redirection Service: A discount on the Royal Mail redirection service if you are moving house.
It is important to note that even a small award of Pension Credit can unlock these additional benefits.
This is a problem with the UK benefits system - receiving one benefit makes you eligible to receive another and then another and then another and so on.
It might be worth knowing how much these recipients of pension credit (and all the resulting benefits) saved for their own retirement or how much work they ever did and how much tax they ever paid.
- In fixed-odds betting (sportsbook betting) in the high street (eg Ladbrokes), when you place a bet the person you are betting with is the bookmaker
- In exchange betting online (eg Betfair Exchange), when you place a bet the person you are betting with is another gambler: the exchange just holds the money (for a fee) until the bet is resolved
- In a prediction market (eg Polymarket), when you place a bet you are buying a "token". If that token cannot be matched with another gambler then your bet is returned unbetted. The prediction market holds the money until things are resolved.
If I'm wrong, somebody tell me.And I still believe this intergenerational spat was started by Russian trolls.
https://news.sky.com/story/ed-miliband-tells-mps-how-he-hopes-to-cut-household-energy-bills-amid-calls-for-more-north-sea-drilling-13523989
There's an irrefutable case for welfare for older people. But that's what it is, and it has to be paid for out of general taxation levied on everyone. The whole population deserves a say in how their tax contributions get used.
Betting PostF1: backed Hadjar (boosted to 5.25) to beat Verstappen. The Red Bull has a 50% DNF rate. So...
Won’t someone think of the poor luxury travel writing flint knapping hack correspondents
If you own your property outright, you can live well on very little.
If they are paying full rent, many will not have the resources to retire at all - no savings, since it all went on rent.
An oncoming cliff of pensioner poverty.
There are arguments both ways for benefits to be universal or income based. I do point out that couples on £200 000 pay out approximately half of that as tax, while pensioners in general don't.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQE1Jz1tAcA (4 mins)
There's only so much working from home can do, you cant mitigate costs of manufacturing so easily, those costs have to be passed on to the end consumer.
Not quite as sharp a shock as Ukraine war price increases, but the longer it goes on the worse it will be for business and the public.
None of this is directly Mr Starmer's fault of course, but he wont get thanked if a coach and horses gets driven through his energy bills reduction pledge
Long term the UK/western nations need to work out whether to appease Iran, pay a levy for passage through Hormuz or source more oil and gas elsewhere
Iranian officials told the US they do not want to re-enter negotiations with Witkoff and Kushner, would prefer to talk with Vice President JD Vance -CNN
https://x.com/Osinttechnical/status/2036581812508467574
Sir Keir Starmer's national security adviser Jonathan Powell has been in talks with Wang Yi, China's foreign minister
They have been talking about the need to 'deepen co-operation in all fields and to effectively manage disputes', Reuters reports
Wang told Powell that 'all parties should avoid adding fuel to the first' on Iran
It is worth noting that we only know about the fact of this visit through the Chinese state broadcaster CCTV
There was no advance notice of the trip or briefing from the government at all
Going to get myself a cheap second-hand EV, I think. Time to plan forward cautiously, with an old EV hatchback that's easy to manage.