Conservative Party

The Conservatives’ climate change plans show they have tried but failed to reinvent net zero

Retrieved on:

torsdag, juni 13, 2024

The question in climate policy is no longer how much adopting net zero technologies will “cost” us.

Key Points:

The question in climate policy is no longer how much adopting net zero technologies will “cost” us.
It is how quickly the savings from their adoption can be realised to benefit households, the economy and above all the climate.
For instance, the manifesto proposes continuing to invest in “new fossil fuel extraction through annual licensing rounds” and building “new gas power stations”.
But these are unlikely to save money or to make the nation more energy secure, even in the near-term.

Procrastination: no solution to net zero challenge

In 2023, annual heat pump deployment was around 80% below where it should have been if following the “balanced net zero” trajectory set out by the government’s official advisory Climate Change Committee.
Our analysis shows that the household sector will require around two-thirds of the total investment needed in clean technologies to 2030.
Households also face non-monetary barriers such as time, access to information, and misperceptions around the “cost” of net zero.

Reinventing the Climate Change Act

The manifesto makes a number of suggestions to improve the way climate policy is decided.
Pretty much all of them are already contained in the 2008 Climate Change Act.
The Conservatives would like to “reform the Climate Change Committee, giving it an explicit mandate to consider cost to households and UK energy security in its future climate advice.” Section 10 of the Act does exactly that.

Missed opportunity for investment and jobs

Conservative manifesto puts home ownership up top – but ignores housing affordability

Retrieved on:

onsdag, juni 12, 2024

On Tuesday, June 11 2024, Sunak doubled down on this claim, during his speech to launch the Conservative party manifesto.

Key Points:

On Tuesday, June 11 2024, Sunak doubled down on this claim, during his speech to launch the Conservative party manifesto.
The Conservative manifesto follows suit, emphasising home ownership, with little attention paid to affordable housing and renting.
Still, more government data shows that “private enterprise” has delivered 81% of new housing between 2019-23 (with the rest from housing associations and local authorities).
Research from Ireland even shows that increasing housing supply can be associated with rising housing costs.
Some housing scholars point out that the housing crisis is more accurately described as one of affordability.
Government data on new-build housing completions overlooks the many ways local authorities are starting to directly provide housing again.
However, the fact that most authorities across the country now prioritise increasing affordable housing shows how pressing the crisis is.

Our reliable election forecast model predicts British Conservatives will lose big

Retrieved on:

onsdag, juni 12, 2024

Pendulum, Human, Reform Party, Scottish National Party, CC, Conservatism, MP, Tory, Rishi Sunak, Anomaly, Conservative Party, Forecasting, Political lists, History, Public opinion, Government, PM, Research

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s election call for July 4 was a surprise.

Key Points:

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s election call for July 4 was a surprise.
Since the government could stay in power another six months and have an election in early 2025, why did Sunak opt to go early?
It’s unlikely the early call provides some unique opportunity to extend the Conservative Party’s rule yet again.

Accurately predicting UK elections

My American colleague Helmut Norpoth and I developed the PM and the Pendulum model, which has been successfully forecasting British elections since 2005.
For the 2010 election, the forecast was a hung parliament with the Conservatives ahead 311-265 — the actual result was 306-258.
The history of recent British elections provides some boundaries for what the model will forecast since a loss as big as the current polls indicate is far outside the historical patterns.

Ultimate decline always on horizon

The regular swing of the pendulum predicts that after two elections or so, the public begins to turn against the party in power.
Being far ahead of the opposition in seats and in popularity can delay the transfer of power back.
But the inexorable decline of the governing party in terms of government approval, leader approval and voter intentions is always somewhere on the horizon.
In fact, the PM and the Pendulum model predicted a 2.4-point Conservative lead and a 311-268 MP lead over Labour.

A Labour landslide?

After 14 years of Conservative rule under five different prime ministers, the July 4 election will likely bring Labour back to power in a victory similar in size to New Labour and Tony Blair’s landslide in 1997.
The model predicts a nine-point Labour lead over the Conservatives — well below the 22-point Labour lead the polls are currently showing.
Next, applying our seats model, a nine-point Labour lead would translate into 381 seats for Labour and 186 for the Conservative Party — a very comfortable majority government for Labour, but short of the landslide scope suggested by the latest polling figures.

Conservative prospects are dim

Protocase Hosts Federal Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre on Site Tour and Meet-and-Greet

Retrieved on:

fredag, april 26, 2024

Pierre Poilievre, Parliamentary opposition, NOVA, Certification, Engineering, Atlantic Canada, Science, Atlantic Ocean, Trust, Conservative Party

The visit was part of Poilievre’s ongoing Atlantic Canada tour, demonstrating his commitment to engaging with businesses and communities across the region.

Key Points:

The visit was part of Poilievre’s ongoing Atlantic Canada tour, demonstrating his commitment to engaging with businesses and communities across the region.
As he interacted with Protocase's robust workforce of over 390 employees, Poilievre gained insights into the company's innovative approach to “mass custom” manufacturing.
Steve Lilley, President and CEO of Protocase Inc., expressed his enthusiasm for Poilievre's visit, stating, “Pierre Poilievre aligns with my beliefs in all Canadians’ right to free speech.
Dr. Doug Milburn, Vice-President and Chairman of Protocase Inc., emphasized the significance of Poilievre’s visit, stating, “It’s an honour to have Pierre Poilievre make a stop at Protocase during his tour.

Ex-Tory Minister ‘disgusted’ at Conservative Party for ‘blatantly going against’ the UN on climate commitments, as he declares support for Labour policy in interview with CEO Chris Caldwell of United Renewables

Retrieved on:

torsdag, april 11, 2024

University, UN, Labour, Bath, Conservatism, Policy, Climate, Paris Agreement, Isle, Politics, Parliament, Political lists, Keir Starmer, Drill, Government, Conservative Party, Energy

DOUGLAS, Isle of Man, April 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Conservative party is ‘playing at culture wars,’ on climate whilst rolling back critical policy commitments which he himself signed into law, former Minister Chris Skidmore declared today.

Key Points:

‘The current iteration of the Conservative Party is not the Conservative Party I became a Member of Parliament with,’ he told host Chris Caldwell, CEO of clean energy firm United Renewables.
‘You can see a number of the difficulties it is facing because some of the MPs I simply wouldn’t recognise, back in 2010, as being Conservatives.
This episode, featuring Chris Skidmore OBE, is available now for viewing in two parts.
To discover more about the podcast and tune in to the latest episodes, visit the United Renewables website .

Lord William Hague becomes chair of Hakluyt's international advisory board

Retrieved on:

torsdag, april 18, 2024

McKinsey & Company, MP, House, The Royal Foundation, Politics, Political lists, Parliament, Commons, Multimedia, Foreign, Citigroup, Younger, Government, Conservative Party

LONDON, April 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Hakluyt, the global strategic advisory firm for businesses and investors, has appointed Lord William Hague as chair of its international advisory board.

Key Points:

LONDON, April 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Hakluyt, the global strategic advisory firm for businesses and investors, has appointed Lord William Hague as chair of its international advisory board.
Lord Hague will succeed Niall FitzGerald KBE, the former CEO and chairman of Unilever, who has led the advisory board since 2014.
Hakluyt's international advisory board includes senior leaders from the worlds of business, government and academia, who support the firm's global connectivity and expertise.
Varun Chandra, Hakluyt's managing partner, added: "It is a great honour to welcome Lord Hague as chair of our advisory board.

Lord William Hague becomes chair of Hakluyt's international advisory board

Retrieved on:

torsdag, april 18, 2024

McKinsey & Company, MP, House, The Royal Foundation, Politics, Political lists, Parliament, Commons, Foreign, Citigroup, Younger, Government, Conservative Party

LONDON, April 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Hakluyt, the global strategic advisory firm for businesses and investors, has appointed Lord William Hague as chair of its international advisory board.

Key Points:

LONDON, April 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Hakluyt, the global strategic advisory firm for businesses and investors, has appointed Lord William Hague as chair of its international advisory board.
Lord Hague will succeed Niall FitzGerald KBE, the former CEO and chairman of Unilever, who has led the advisory board since 2014.
Hakluyt's international advisory board includes senior leaders from the worlds of business, government and academia, who support the firm's global connectivity and expertise.
Varun Chandra, Hakluyt's managing partner, added: "It is a great honour to welcome Lord Hague as chair of our advisory board.

OUT NOW New Book by Michael Ashcroft 'Red Queen? The Unauthorised Biography of Angela Rayner'

Retrieved on:

tisdag, mars 19, 2024

After becoming a care worker, she was a trade union representative before entering the House of Commons in 2015 as the Labour MP for Ashton-under-Lyne.

Key Points:

After becoming a care worker, she was a trade union representative before entering the House of Commons in 2015 as the Labour MP for Ashton-under-Lyne.
She served as the shadow Secretary of State for Education for four years from 2016 and was elected deputy leader of the Labour Party in April 2020.
Michael Ashcroft's new book follows the journey of a politician who has quickly become an outspoken and charismatic presence in British public life.
Lord Ashcroft is an award-winning author who has written twenty-seven other books, largely on politics and bravery.

LORD ASHCROFT POLL: LABOUR EXTEND LEAD DESPITE BUDGET; VOTERS SAY BORIS A LIABILITY NOT AN ASSET TO TORY CAMPAIGN

Retrieved on:

torsdag, mars 14, 2024

Conservative Party, Michael Ashcroft, Go for broke, Tory, Telegraphy, Research, Red, Political lists, News, Red Knight, Red Queen, Keir Starmer, Conservatism, National Insurance, Rishi Sunak, Reform UK, Liberal Democrats (UK), Biography

LONDON, March 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Boris Johnson would be a liability to the Conservative election campaign according to the latest poll from Lord Ashcroft, and Labour have extended their lead even though voters backed individual Budget measures.

Key Points:

LONDON, March 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Boris Johnson would be a liability to the Conservative election campaign according to the latest poll from Lord Ashcroft, and Labour have extended their lead even though voters backed individual Budget measures.
Following news that Boris Johnson is set to campaign for the Conservatives at the election, we found voters saying he would be a liability to the Tories rather than an asset by 59% to 20%.
Keir Starmer was seen as a net liability by 33% to 31%, and Angela Rayner by 27% to 24%.
Full details and data tables are available at LordAshcroftPolls.com
LORD ASHCROFT KCMG PC is an international businessman, philanthropist, pollster and author.

Tackling the causes of crime, not sending more people to jail, is the only way to fight it

Retrieved on:

onsdag, april 3, 2024

It requires becoming not “tough on crime,” but “smart on crime” before it happens.

Key Points:

It requires becoming not “tough on crime,” but “smart on crime” before it happens.
This approach requires governments to invest in enough proven prevention measures to greatly reduce injuries, trauma and loss of life stemming from violent crime.
The city’s community safety plan diagnosed the risk factors and focused proven prevention initiatives on those most vulnerable to violence.

Horner recommendations

Thirty years ago, Bob Horner, a staunch Conservative and former RCMP officer, chaired a parliamentary committee on crime prevention in Canada.
He was blunt: “If locking up those who violate the law contributed to safer societies, then the United States should be the safest country in the world.” But Horner did not just criticize, he made recommendations on how to prevent crime.
He correctly called for an official at a senior level to be solely tasked with putting effective prevention into action.
Horner also called for an annual investment in crime prevention equivalent to five per cent of the expenditures spent on policing and criminal justice.

Preventing violence

That evidence is publicly available from various sources, including the United States Justice Department’s Crime Solutions platform.
As part of our analysis, we examined Crime Solutions and several similar platforms to explain to decision-makers how these programs are proven to stop violence and how to implement them.
Key components of these proven solutions include: • Hiring and training social workers and mentors to reach out to young men prone to involvement in violence and to assist with trauma; • Recruiting case workers to join surgeons in hospital emergency rooms to ensure that victims of violence do not make repeat appearances; • Helping young men with problem-solving skills and emotional regulation to control the anger that can lead to injuries to others; • Providing opportunities for job training, mentoring and jobs in areas where the violence originates; • Participation in courses that prevent sexual violence by shifting social norms about consent in schools and encouraging students to take action as bystanders at universities.

Community safety planning

Ontario changed the name of its policing law in 2019 to the Community Safety and Policing Act with a new section that requires municipalities to develop community safety and well-being plans.
Ottawa must also develop professional community safety planners, raise awareness nationally about proven solutions and provide tools to achieve and track results.

Irvin Waller made a donation to the federal Greens and Ontario NDP in 2023. Jeffrey Bradley does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.