On 2nd February Shell reported its highest profits in 115 years. On 7th February I asked the Government if they would increase the windfall tax on companies like Shell Continue reading “Shell’s Record Profits”
Author: jonesjb
Retained EU Law Bill arrives in Lords
Some 2,000 years ago, the Roman philosopher Cicero said, “The closer the collapse of an empire, the crazier its laws”. That is what we have here. There are families who are starving, people who are freezing in their homes and workers rightfully striking on the streets, but we are debating this dross. Just as the Public Order Bill is an attack on democracy in the streets, this Bill is an attack on democracy here within Parliament. Rather than taking back control, the Government are seeking to take away Parliament’s sovereign power of voting for or against laws and to hand that power over to a chaotic Executive of right-wing Ministers and their civil servants. We have reached the slash-and-burn stage of Brexit. The only sensible thing now is to cut our losses and rejoin the EU.
Sustainable Farming Incentive and crustacean mortality
Metropolitan Police: Criminality
The “spy cops” undercover policing inquiry that is going on at the moment has taken years. It is a classic case of police forces covering up former crimes. What makes the Minister think the Angiolini inquiry will be any different? Continue reading “Metropolitan Police: Criminality”
Environmental Targets: Air Pollution
These targets are, again, too little, too late. The Government say they want to improve human health and reduce environmental pollution and that there is some urgency to their actions, but that is absolute nonsense because they have had the opportunity to show the public that they care about the quality of our water and air and they have shown no ambition. A target was published in 2005 to meet WHO’s old air quality guideline which we now won’t meet until 2040 Continue reading “Environmental Targets: Air Pollution”
Environmental Targets: Biodiversity
These are not just limp targets; they are utterly inadequate Continue reading “Environmental Targets: Biodiversity”
Environmental Targets: Marine
As a signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity, the UK failed to reach its target of restoring at least 15% of degraded ecosystems by 2020. It was adopted by the UK as part of target 2 of the EU’s biodiversity strategy, and the lack of progress is most pronounced in the marine and costal environment, where habitat degradation continues and restoration remains in its relative infancy. I believe that nobody in the Government understands the ocean, it is crucial to our well-being, and these new Government targets related to the Environment Act 2021 are utterly insufficient. Continue reading “Environmental Targets: Marine”
Police Conduct and David Carrick
It is impossible that there was not a lot of gossip about Carrick before now—and, before him, about Couzens and many others way into the past. Senior officers must have known and must, at some point, have turned a blind eye. Continue reading “Police Conduct and David Carrick”
Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill Second Reading
This Bill does not mention climate change which is the biggest existential threat to all of humankind; it is not just about the north or the south but the whole world and the Government have been deficient in mentioning it and putting it into a context that can make a difference. Continue reading “Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill Second Reading”
Afghanistan
In the last few months of 2022, Germany extracted 24,000 people from Afghanistan. The UK has so far resettled 6,300 people in total in its Afghan citizens resettlement scheme which opened in January 2022.
I have asked HMG this Question for Written Answer: what recent steps it has taken to address famine and food insecurity in Afghanistan; and if it will reaffirm Britain’s humanitarian commitment by providing resources to help Afghanistan’s electricity shortage? Continue reading “Afghanistan”
Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb 