Conservatives

One clear example of an industry not needing a bailoutis the supermarkets, which are set to receive a £3bn business rates holiday this year as a result of the government’s support package. Shortly after the rates holiday was announced, Sainsbury’s put out a stock market announcement welcoming the news and highlighting that the company paid more than £500m in business rates last year. The company’s share price surged – the rates holiday is worth more than twice the company’s annual profit. Tesco has a business rates bill of £700m – equal to 50% of its profits for 2019. On Wednesday, the company increased its dividend by 60% – proposing a payout to shareholders of £637m. What possible argument does the company have that it needs a government subsidy? … [Read more...] about Business is booming for supermarkets – they don’t need government handouts

The visit, in the times of the drug baron Pablo Escobar, was seen as a splendid gesture by the Colombians and transformed our relationship. It was part of a boost to our relations with Latin America as a whole that Tristan inspired. Latin American leaders had never met a British politician who spoke Spanish as well as them and also knew and loved the region so well. He was very popular indeed. He himself convinced members of the cabinet to visit the region, which they did in unprecedented numbers. … [Read more...] about Letter: Tristan Garel-Jones obituary

Right now, ministers are working to enact the prime minister’s coronavirus blueprint: summed up as “stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives”. In order to make that slogan work, there are the four coronavirus sub committees – led by Raab, chancellor Rishi Sunak, health secretary Matt Hancock and minister for the cabinet office Michael Gove – aimed at making sure most people are able to stay at home and that the NHS is prepared. These mini decision-making bodies are credited in government with keeping the show on the road. … [Read more...] about When will the cabinet ease the lockdown? That depends which minister you ask

But the stuffy formality that many people associate with parliament belies a history of innovation and improvisation. And this is no time to be standing on ceremony. While Churchill might have had a point about close-quarters debate, the more pressing issue then, as now, was the continuity of democratic institutions through adversity. The current timetable has the Commons returning in some virtual form on 21 April. That is too long to wait. At a time of extraordinary national emergency, an urgent way must be found for parliament’s work to be done – and be seen to be done. … [Read more...] about The Guardian view on parliament in lockdown: time for a virtual recall

Yvette Cooper, the chair of the home affairs select committee, has written to Patel six times – most recently in a letter issued on Wednesday – in an attempt to fix a date for the home secretary to give evidence in public to the committee, but a date for a hearing has not been confirmed. … [Read more...] about Priti Patel accused of avoiding MPs’ scrutiny during national crisis