Dear John,

Welcome back to your Weekend Wire. 

We began this week on a high by hosting a fringe event on pro-Europeanism to a packed out room at Lib Dem Conference, and rallying the support of senior business leaders to speak out against divergence from the EU. 

Shockingly the Tories have somehow managed to keep their heads above sea-level for another week, the same can’t be said for Ed Davey at Lib Dem Party Conference.

Nor can it be said for most of Britain, with Storm Agnes battering all parts of the country - still sure you want to rollback those net-zero targets Rishi?

The Grass Really is Greener?

This week Labour announced that they will stand firm on their net-zero targets if they are elected, arguing that green growth is the way to bring down household bills and secure the future of the UK economy.

Speaking to the Guardian, Ed Milliband, Shadow Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, attacked Sunak’s u-turn, stating that ‘every family is paying the price’. 

Even Tory Mega-Donor, John Caudwell, is threatening to defect to Labour in reaction to the decision. Things must be bad. 

So does this mark the end of Labour’s Policy U-Turns?

Oh wait...

On Thursday, Labour announced that it was dropping plans to strip private schools of charity status. 

Despite Starmer previously saying that “charitable status for private schools could not be justified”, the Party now intends to keep their charitable status intact, but insists that it will still achieve its policy of charging 20% VAT on fees and ending business rates relief in England.

According to Labour, the purpose of this policy is to create a new cash flow to funnel into state schools, so children have equal opportunity to receive a great education. 

Not So Green Light for Rosebank Oil Field

Rosebank, the largest untapped oil field in the UK, has been given the go ahead by regulators. 

This follows the Government’s decision back in July to hand out hundreds of new licences for oil and gas exploration in the North Sea. 

The decision has been met with extensive criticism from MPs including UKTBC Commissioner and Green MP Caroline Lucas, and environmentalists who raised severe concerns over the fact that Rosebank could produce 200 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, only exacerbating the Government’s inability to meet its net-zero target by 2050.

The Government has hit back claiming that the new oil field will protect the UK’s energy security whilst simultaneously growing the economy and making energy bills cheaper (although as usual, there’s no proof as to how it will actually do this).

Suella de Vil

On Tuesday in an address to an almost empty room in Washington, Suella Braverman once again attacked asylum seekers and refugees, another in a long line of shameless attacks to distract from her own failures as Home Secretary. 

However, in this attack she took it a step further, claiming not only that “multiculturalism has failed” but that “simply being gay, or a woman” is not enough of a reason to be protected by international refugee laws. 

First of all, as was pointed out by the countless critics of this speech, Suella herself, and PM Rishi Sunak, are living proof that multiculturalism has succeeded in this country. 

AND secondly, as highlighted in a statement by Elton John and husband David Furnish on Wednesday, Braverman’s speech, is “dismissing the very real danger LGBTQ+ communities face and risks further legitimising hate and violence against them”

How much longer will Sunak allow this outrageous and cruel behaviour to go on?

HS-Who?

On Friday morning, Trade Unions called on Sunak to organise an emergency summit to attain how HS2 can be put back on track. 

Ironically, the Tory Conference is being held in Manchester starting on Sunday but due to Sunak’s failure to invest in our rail networks it’s unlikely the trains will get him there on time. Good job he’s got his helicopter, right!

Fancy a Takeaway tonight?

According to the BBC, in a survey carried out by Just Eat, 70% of the public think the government should do more to reduce plastic use, while 73% would support a ban on plastic takeaway boxes.

What do you think?

Do you support banning single-use plastics?

And that’s it for this week!

Hope you have a great weekend, and tune in next week to hear from Emily.

Best wishes,
Georgia Wiltshire
Development Manager
Best for Britain