Independent Commission on Funding and Finance for Wales

Cricket's wicket ways: what the furore over a stumping tells us about Anglo-Australian relations (spoiler: they'll survive)

Retrieved on: 
火曜日, 7月 4, 2023
People, Bairstow, Friends, Politics, Depression, Farmer, Policy, AUKUS, Bread, Equity, Government, Sheep, Labour, Conservative Party, Independent Commission on Funding and Finance for Wales, Law of the United Kingdom, City, Headingley, European, Great Depression, MCC, Political lists, Bodyline, Neighbours, Racism, Rishi Sunak, Brexit, Commonwealth, News, FTA, Safety, Conservatism, Auction, Entertainment, Film industry, Maralinga

The already febrile sporting pages of the English press have gone into overdrive about Jonny Bairstow’s controversial dismissal.

Key Points: 
  • The already febrile sporting pages of the English press have gone into overdrive about Jonny Bairstow’s controversial dismissal.
  • The reason this is not just cricket is that the political furore over the Ashes playing out in England expresses old and new elements of the Australia-UK relationship.
  • The old elements are that Anglo-Australian rivalries and tensions play out in the safety of social forms understood by both sides, in this case cricket.
  • On the Labor left, this has revived memories of the last time Australian and British security was so closely aligned.
  • Memories of the disaster at Singapore in 1942, or nuclear testing at Maralinga in the 1950s, don’t bring much comfort.
  • The Scots appear to be enjoying the moment and generally support two teams – Scotland, and anyone playing against England.
  • The Headingley crowd may still be smarting from the Bairstow incident, and confirmed in their views of how Australians play the game.

Cricket inequalities in England and Wales are untenable – our report shows how to rejuvenate the game

Retrieved on: 
金曜日, 6月 30, 2023
Prejudice, University of Oxford, UCL, World war, Racism, Culture, Diary, University, Metropolitan Police Authority, Woman, Symbolism, England and Wales Cricket Board, Research, History, Equity, Independent Commission on Funding and Finance for Wales, Puberty, Man, Social justice, Population, Oxford University Press, Metropolitan, ECB, BCAP, ICEC, Auction, Sports equipment, Animal husbandry, Toy, Cricket

Holding Up a Mirror to Cricket contains strong and disturbing evidence about the class prejudice, racism and misogyny that runs through all levels of the game in England and Wales.

Key Points: 
  • Holding Up a Mirror to Cricket contains strong and disturbing evidence about the class prejudice, racism and misogyny that runs through all levels of the game in England and Wales.
  • The ICEC was established in 2021 by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), the sport’s official governing body, to assess evidence of inequalities and discrimination, and to recommend actions to address these issues.
  • I was one of the four commissioners working with the ICEC’s chair Cindy Butts (previously the deputy of chair of the Metropolitan Police Authority).

What our survey found

    • We also conducted a survey that was distributed within and by cricket clubs across England and Wales, and also by the county teams to both players and coaches.
    • We had more than 4,000 responses, of which a shocking 50% of people who play and organise cricket in England and Wales said they had experienced discrimination of some kind.
    • The reason the report is getting so much welcome engagement is because – sadly – many people relate to its findings.

Recommendations for change

    • Our report contains 44 recommendations designed to transform the game into a truly inclusive sport.
    • The findings and recommendations of the report relating to black cricket build on my Windrush Cricket project at UCL, which looks at the role of cricket in the black experience of migration and settlement in Britain after the second world war.
    • We recommend a new, properly financed Black Cricket Action Plan (BCAP) to invest in grassroots black cricket and talent development.

Elitism in cricket

    • I believe these matches are untenable, that they portray the worst possible image of elitism in cricket, and should have no place in modern Britain.
    • We have proposed an action plan to rejuvenate state school cricket – which has been left to decay – and level the playing field between the state and private sectors.
    • This creates a sizeable structural advantage for privately educated children, at an age where most state primary school children have never played a formal game of cricket.
    • Imagine how good the England men’s and women’s cricket teams might be if we truly broadened the talent pool.

The Barnett formula

Retrieved on: 
火曜日, 1月 7, 2020
Politics of the United Kingdom, Politics of Northern Ireland, Politics of Scotland, Barnett formula, English nationalism, Public finance of the United Kingdom, Politics of country subdivisions, Government of the United Kingdom, Formula racing, Independent Commission on Funding and Finance for Wales

House of Commons Library

Key Points: 
  • House of Commons Library

    This briefing looks at how the Barnett formula works and includes a brief summary of the debate surrounding the formula.

  • The Barnett formula calculates the annual change in the block grant.
  • There have been frequent calls for a review of the Barnett formula and the wider funding system for devolved administrations.
  • An exception is that Wales Barnett formula now includes a floor to prevent its block grant funding falling below a needs-related level.

Devolve Air Passenger Duty to Wales, urges Committee

Retrieved on: 
火曜日, 6月 11, 2019
Constitutional commissions, Welsh devolution, Government of the United Kingdom, United Kingdom, Government of Wales, Constitution of the United Kingdom, Air Passenger Duty, Taxation in the United Kingdom, APD, Independent Commission on Funding and Finance for Wales, Commission on Devolution in Wales, Devolution in the United Kingdom

Welsh Affairs Committee publishes report on devolution of air passenger to Wales

Key Points: 

Inquiry conclusions

  • Following an inquiry examining the advantages and disadvantages of devolution of Air Passenger Duty (APD) a tax levied by the UK Government on passenger flights from UK airports the Welsh Affairs Committee strongly recommends that APD be devolved to the Welsh Government by 2021.
  • The Committee also calls on the Welsh Government to carry out a full environmental impact assessment before decisions are made on any reduction of abolition of the tax.

Chair's comments


    Commenting on the report, Chair of the Committee David T.C. Davies MP said: “I’m not often persuaded by arguments for devolution, but the evidence my Committee heard about the benefits of devolving APD was absolutely convincing. The UK Government needs to recognise these opportunities for Wales and demonstrate its commitment to equity within the devolution system by setting out a plan for devolving APD to Wales by 2021.”

Air Passenger Duty

  • Air Passenger Duty (APD) is a tax levied by the Government on passenger flights from UK airports, which came into effect in 1994.
  • The Welsh Affairs Committees report weighs up the arguments for and against devolution of Air Passenger Duty, and draws on evidence taken from tax experts, airlines, airports, the Chairs of the Silk and Holtham Commissions and UK and Welsh government ministers.

Arguments for devolving APD

  • The Committee heard a range of arguments for devolving APD, most notably the fact that two respected independent commissions the Holtham and Silk Commissions have previously made recommendations to devolve APD to Wales.
  • My Committee found the arguments for devolution of APD to Wales compelling, and we urge the UK Government to hand over APD to the Welsh Government by 2021.

Arguments against devolving APD

  • The report also considers the balance of evidence against devolving APD, citing environmental and commercial concerns.
  • Several nearby English airports, such as Bristol Airport, are concerned that devolution of APD could have a detrimental effect on their business if the Welsh Government chooses to lower or abolish APD.

Further information

Devolve Air Passenger Duty to Wales, urges Committee

Retrieved on: 
火曜日, 6月 11, 2019
Constitutional commissions, Welsh devolution, Government of the United Kingdom, United Kingdom, Government of Wales, Constitution of the United Kingdom, Air Passenger Duty, Taxation in the United Kingdom, APD, Independent Commission on Funding and Finance for Wales, Commission on Devolution in Wales, Devolution in the United Kingdom

Welsh Affairs Committee publishes report on devolution of air passenger to Wales

Key Points: 

Inquiry conclusions

  • Following an inquiry examining the advantages and disadvantages of devolution of Air Passenger Duty (APD) a tax levied by the UK Government on passenger flights from UK airports the Welsh Affairs Committee strongly recommends that APD be devolved to the Welsh Government by 2021.
  • The Committee also calls on the Welsh Government to carry out a full environmental impact assessment before decisions are made on any reduction of abolition of the tax.

Chair's comments


    Commenting on the report, Chair of the Committee David T.C. Davies MP said: “I’m not often persuaded by arguments for devolution, but the evidence my Committee heard about the benefits of devolving APD was absolutely convincing. The UK Government needs to recognise these opportunities for Wales and demonstrate its commitment to equity within the devolution system by setting out a plan for devolving APD to Wales by 2021.”

Air Passenger Duty

  • Air Passenger Duty (APD) is a tax levied by the Government on passenger flights from UK airports, which came into effect in 1994.
  • The Welsh Affairs Committees report weighs up the arguments for and against devolution of Air Passenger Duty, and draws on evidence taken from tax experts, airlines, airports, the Chairs of the Silk and Holtham Commissions and UK and Welsh government ministers.

Arguments for devolving APD

  • The Committee heard a range of arguments for devolving APD, most notably the fact that two respected independent commissions the Holtham and Silk Commissions have previously made recommendations to devolve APD to Wales.
  • My Committee found the arguments for devolution of APD to Wales compelling, and we urge the UK Government to hand over APD to the Welsh Government by 2021.

Arguments against devolving APD

  • The report also considers the balance of evidence against devolving APD, citing environmental and commercial concerns.
  • Several nearby English airports, such as Bristol Airport, are concerned that devolution of APD could have a detrimental effect on their business if the Welsh Government chooses to lower or abolish APD.

Further information

Devolve Air Passenger Duty to Wales, urges Committee

Retrieved on: 
火曜日, 6月 11, 2019
Constitutional commissions, Welsh devolution, Government of the United Kingdom, United Kingdom, Government of Wales, Constitution of the United Kingdom, Air Passenger Duty, Taxation in the United Kingdom, APD, Independent Commission on Funding and Finance for Wales, Commission on Devolution in Wales, Devolution in the United Kingdom

Welsh Affairs Committee publishes report on devolution of air passenger to Wales

Key Points: 

Inquiry conclusions

  • Following an inquiry examining the advantages and disadvantages of devolution of Air Passenger Duty (APD) a tax levied by the UK Government on passenger flights from UK airports the Welsh Affairs Committee strongly recommends that APD be devolved to the Welsh Government by 2021.
  • The Committee also calls on the Welsh Government to carry out a full environmental impact assessment before decisions are made on any reduction of abolition of the tax.

Chair's comments


    Commenting on the report, Chair of the Committee David T.C. Davies MP said: “I’m not often persuaded by arguments for devolution, but the evidence my Committee heard about the benefits of devolving APD was absolutely convincing. The UK Government needs to recognise these opportunities for Wales and demonstrate its commitment to equity within the devolution system by setting out a plan for devolving APD to Wales by 2021.”

Air Passenger Duty

  • Air Passenger Duty (APD) is a tax levied by the Government on passenger flights from UK airports, which came into effect in 1994.
  • The Welsh Affairs Committees report weighs up the arguments for and against devolution of Air Passenger Duty, and draws on evidence taken from tax experts, airlines, airports, the Chairs of the Silk and Holtham Commissions and UK and Welsh government ministers.

Arguments for devolving APD

  • The Committee heard a range of arguments for devolving APD, most notably the fact that two respected independent commissions the Holtham and Silk Commissions have previously made recommendations to devolve APD to Wales.
  • My Committee found the arguments for devolution of APD to Wales compelling, and we urge the UK Government to hand over APD to the Welsh Government by 2021.

Arguments against devolving APD

  • The report also considers the balance of evidence against devolving APD, citing environmental and commercial concerns.
  • Several nearby English airports, such as Bristol Airport, are concerned that devolution of APD could have a detrimental effect on their business if the Welsh Government chooses to lower or abolish APD.

Further information