POLITICS CORNER

[Stanley]

HERE is a clue to what Rachel Reeves may be thinking about the price of heating oil......
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is to offer a package of support to households struggling with higher heating oil costs following the global impact of the US-Israel war in Iran. In an interview with the Times, Reeves said she has "found the money" to help, adding the Treasury is also looking at "different options" to help those most vulnerable to soaring energy bills. The increase in global oil prices has caused a spike in heating oil costs, commonly used in rural areas not connected to the main gas grid. It is not covered by the regulator Ofgem's energy price cap which is set to fall in April. The support is expected to be announced early next week. A government spokesperson said: "We know that people are concerned about the potential impact of global conflicts on the cost of living." They added: "While it is too soon to know the full impact of this crisis, as the chancellor said, she will take the necessary decisions to help families with the cost of living and protect the public finances." About 1.7 million households in England and Wales rely on kerosene for heating and hot water but, unlike gas and electricity, prices are not capped and are subject to volatility. Almost two-thirds of homes (62.5%) in Northern Ireland rely on heating oil. Since the start of the US and Israel's assault in Iran, households using heating oil have seen their bills double, orders cancelled - and some have been unable to get heating oil at all.

[Whyperion]

Time to fund ground and air source heat pumps

[Stanley]

HEATING OIL still heads politics news.
2 hours ago
Plans to support households who have faced a sharp rise in the cost of heating oil are to be set out by the government. The price of heating oil has spiked since the outbreak of the US-Israeli war with Iran, as the cost of crude oil has jumped above $100 (£75) a barrel - it was $71 a barrel before the conflict began. At the weekend, Chancellor Rachel Reeves told the Times she had "found the money" to help. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will set out the support plans - reportedly costing £50m - at a news conference on Monday. He is also expected to say he will "not tolerate companies trying to exploit this crisis" following accusations of price gouging. Unlike consumers who use gas and electricity for heating and hot water, prices for households using heating oil are not capped by regulator Ofgem. As a result, those who use heating oil have been among the first to feel the impact of rising crude prices and some customers say their costs have doubled. The issue is particularly acute in Northern Ireland, where about 500,000 homes use it, almost two-thirds of all households. About 3% of households in England and Wales said oil was their only source of central heating, according to a 2021 census, and 5% of households in Scotland.

[Tripps]

I bet not many of you have heard of this chap - despite his record and the fact that he is a Minister in the current Labour Government.

Al Carns OBE MC DSO.

I heard an interview with him on Times Radio last night in the wee hours. He has an appearance somewhere betwen a Greek god and Action Man, and remarkably is married with children. He was within two days of being promoted to Brigadier, when he quit and stood for Parliament in 2024. He climbed Everest in a record four days recently - like you do.

He's a bit too belligerent for my taste - but that's understandable. He says a major war in inevitable in the next three to five years.
I've a good idea about who he has in mind to run it .

[Stanley]

You're right David, I have never heard of him and that lot frightens me to death. Sometimes I am glad I am so old, with a bit of luck I'll die before the next disaster strikes....

See THIS response from Trump to Starmer's speech yesterday....
Updated 1 minute ago
US President Donald Trump has renewed his criticism of the UK government over its response to the Iran conflict, after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the country would not be drawn into the "wider war". Trump told reporters on Monday he was "not happy" with the UK, adding it "should be involved enthusiastically" in efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz - a vital oil shipping channel. He then told a later press conference there were "some countries that greatly disappointed me" before he singled out the UK, which he said had been considered "the Rolls-Royce of allies". Trump's remarks came after Sir Keir said the UK was working with allies on a "viable, collective plan" to reopen the strait. Sir Keir also said the UK already had minehunters in the region but there was no decision yet on what action would be taken. Oil prices have surged after Iran effectively shut the world's busiest oil shipping channel to tankers. Iran has threatened to attack any ships it considers linked to the US, while there is also a risk from sea mines. Trump has urged the UK and other countries to send warships to the Gulf to help protect the shipping channel. Sir Keir had previously angered Trump by refusing to allow the US to use UK bases for its initial offensive strikes against Iran. However, he has since given permission for them to be used for defensive action against Iranian missile strikes. Speaking in Washington, Trump suggested in some cases he was asking world leaders if they would help with the Strait of Hormuz "not because we need them but because I want to find out how they're reacting". He added he was "very surprised" at the UK's attitude towards the war and highlighted their joint work in Ukraine. Trump said: "We don't need to work with them in Ukraine, and then they tell us that we have a mine ship around and they don't want to do it. "I think it's terrible." Trump went on to accuse Sir Keir of offering to send aircraft carriers "right after the war essentially ended", adding: "I was not happy with the UK. "I think they will be involved, yeah maybe, but they should be involved enthusiastically." He added in the later press conference that he had told Starmer "it would be really helpful if you'd send over a couple of ships and if you have some minesweepers, which they do, be very helpful". "And the prime minister... he says, well, I'd like to ask my team. "I said, you don't have to worry about a team. You don't have a team. You're the prime minister. You can make a decision... So it's very disappointing." UK government sources stressed the prime minister was attempting to get over a sense of what the military and the UK's allies might collectively be able to do as a team - as opposed to his own ability to act decisively. The British warship HMS Dragon left Portsmouth on 10 March to join the country's defensive operations in the region.
Do you think this signals the end of the 'special relationship'?

[Tizer]

Did you hear the interview on this morning's Today programme with the retired American army general? He was scathing about Trump and his war on Iran and I'll bet that many of the serving top US military officers think the same even though they dare not say it. I wonder how many senior US military men have resigned recently because of Trump?

I remember when last year Trump gathered together all the country's military top brass to sit in an auditorium and listen to him slagging them off for not keeping their soldiers, sailors and airmen physically fit enough for war. They'd obviously prepared themselves in advance and they all sat still, stiff and upright, no expressions on their faces. There was no cheering, no applause, nothing. They sat there until he finished, didn't ask any questions and just walked out quietly. Zero leadership from Trump. I'm sure they hate him.

[Stanley]

Peter, as I have said elsewhere, I get a strong feeling that we are heading for some kind of dénouement but I don't know what. I am sure you are right. We watch and wait!

THIS bloke talks a lot of sense for a retired comedian......
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Donald Trump and Sir Keir Starmer to meet and find common ground, after the US president's repeated criticism of the UK prime minister. In an exclusive interview with the BBC after talks with Sir Keir, the Ukrainian president said that while he would not tell Trump what to do, the pair should meet to "re-load the relationship". A war ignited by US and Israeli strikes on Iran has spilled into a diplomatic row after Trump's reprimanding of the Nato allies and Starmer's supposed lack of military action. Zelensky warned against division among western leaders and said he had a "very bad feeling" about the impact of war in Iran on Ukraine.

[Tripps]

This speech in Parlaiment by Sir Geoffrey Cox (what a voice!) is perhaps a bit self indulgent , an a touch too long - but well "worth a look".

Trial by Jury

I ask myself regularly to consider that certain politicians are plotting the collapse of the nation. I have in mind Sir Keir Rodney Starmer, Ed Miliband and several others. I muse as to what they would do differently if in fact that was the case.

The answer I get from myself is often "nothing".

[Stanley]

What a performer! And of course he is right. I can't pass an opinion on the likelihood that there are Members plotting the downfall of the nation but I will agree that if there were, abolition of jury trial, or it's withdrawal from certain trials, would be a very efficient tactic.

Meanwhile... THIS performance in the House reassures nobody.
Sir Keir Starmer has avoided saying whether he spoke to Peter Mandelson about his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, before picking the peer as the UK's ambassador to the US. Despite repeated questioning in the Commons from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, Sir Keir did not confirm if a conversation had taken place, instead apologising for the appointment and attacking Badenoch for her stance on Iran. Badenoch accused Sir Keir of outsourcing decisions to his staff and failing to be straight with MPs.
You may be right David about jury trial but Starmer's performance is doing just as much damage to society and it is time the situation was resolved one way or another. I note that within the last hour Sadiq Khan has called for Brexit to be reversed. Brexit was an even more grievous blow to society but it was allowed to happen.....

[Stanley]

See THIS report from Parliament on more division in the government.
1 hour ago
Labour MPs opposed to the government's immigration reforms are threatening to expose the party's divisions by forcing a symbolic vote in Parliament unless ministers back down. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood plans to double the length of time that it will take for migrants to gain indefinite leave to remain (ILR) – or permanent residency - in the UK in most cases from five to 10 years. Care workers and refugees would have to wait longer. The Home Office has said these changes do not require legislation – and therefore would not need to be put to a vote - but opponents are considering using parliamentary procedure to force a non-binding vote to highlight their concerns.
Mahmood is seen as too harsh out on the streets and MPs are looking at the May Elections.....
In another part of the forest Angela Rayner seems to be showing as a rival for Starmer's job......

[Stanley]

See THIS change of UK policy......
The UK has agreed to allow the United States to use British bases to launch strikes on Iranian sites targeting the Strait of Hormuz. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer previously allowed US forces to use the bases only for defensive operations to prevent Iran firing missiles that put British interests or lives at risk. On Friday, Downing Street said ministers approved an expansion of the targets to help protect ships in the strait – a vital oil shipping channel - and still on the basis of "collective self-defence". US President Donald Trump said the UK "should have acted a lot faster", while Iran's foreign minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi claimed Sir Keir was "putting British lives in danger".

[Whyperion]

Bring me the head of Diago Garcia