Westministenders: Hey Hey we're the Monkies.

[RedToothBrush]

Welcome to the Listening Parliament.

Have you noticed it yet?

The Three Monkeys of See No Evil, Hear No Evil and Speak No Evil have been in a bit of a fight with didn’t fair well. Its funny how politicians of all shades and levels are desperate to prove just how good they at listening and how they see the problems.

Its quite incredible to think that officials elected to serve the public are even in this position where they are having suddenly think about how they show they are listening. It rather shows up that they have been accustomed to telling the public what to think and what to believe.

What they are still to work out, is that in saying they are listening, they also have to demonstrate they are listening and be credible.

The trouble is, that even though some of the monkeys have been killed off, we still have a lot of monkeys in parliament. 'Monkey say, Monkey do' actions still lurk. Politicians who imitate others without understanding the consequences.

There is no point in listening if you are only listening to one group and don’t understand the consequences of simply repeating the words of others.

Politicians saying they are listening when you can find dozens of incidents where they have said completely the opposition, without having the gumption to explain they have changed their position and without having the grace to explain the evidence that has lead them to change that position rather undermines the idea they are listening.

U-Turns are not a bad thing. U-Turns can show that you were making an error but were wise enough to admit that and why you were wrong. U-Turns are bad when you fail to acknowledge your failings and only do it to chase votes. This is where cynicism creeps in and lack of trust in politicians occurs.

Listening also requires actions to reflect words. There is no good in saying one thing, if your actions don’t reflect that. This is where the Listening Parliament is already failing. And I’m sure we will see it more.

Above all, listening is only part of a conversation. A politician is supposed to be accountable. They are supposed to have their eyes open to evil, not deaf to it and not unwilling to speak inconvenient truths where they recognise the evil.

Any politician who tells you they listen needs to back it up somehow. They need to demonstrate and justify their positions accurately. If they don’t they aren’t listening properly.

Isn’t it funny how it was in Hartlepool that the monkey got hung for being a Frenchman? No one was there to explain differently.

Perhaps it is Ron, but the ripping up of an international treaty in that fashion isn't a good sign regardless of whether it's 'only' a 'domestic' issue.

I've always quite liked Dominic Grieve for his brave pro-Remain stance - he seemed decent; so was surprised to see his name on the list of 72 landlord MPs who voted against making homes fit for human habitation. Just shows you...

www.google.co.uk/amp/www.indy100.com/article/72-mps-vote-human-habitation-living-standards-private-landlords-grenfell-tower-7790891%3Famp

who voted against making homes fit for human habitation
and what they have done:.

A 'must watch' testimony from Grenfell volunteer.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oesuPtXAHs

.

The answer to the tuition fees question depends on what you think education (generally) and tertiary education (specifically) is for. M Gove seems to think that it's only the graduate that benefits from tertiary education and therefore that they should shoulder the full cost. If this level of training is of no value to the economy or country, then this might be a reasonable opinion. But if it isn't, then why does the govt aspire to such high levels of participation in post-school education? In any case if the benefits to the individual are mostly financial they will pay more tax anyway.

I seem to remember Gove whinging on about rigour when he was EdSec. I've never detected any in his political arguments.

Not least in that teachers need university education and we all need to go to school even if we don't go on to higher education ourselves. Every single one of us has benefited from a group of graduates.

Red I was not offering that by way of excuse at all, my sympathies are entirely with the people of Hong Kong. It is just that even without Brexit and Trump and the fact that he is looking like one of the few grown ups on the world stage, if he was risking being as much of a pariah as Jiang Zemin after Tiannanmen and attracting worldwide condemnation from the UN, US and Britain with the EU behind it I think he would still have given that speech because it was aimed at the Hong Kong, and Chinese, people. I am afraid it will probably work as well and the relative freedom that enabled students to occupy Central with their Umbrella movement is gone. The Police crack down fast and hard at first signs of protest. There are some very gruesome pictures circulating in the Cantonese Press of protesters being beaten up during Xi's visit. If anyone wants more detail this article is good www.hongkongfp.com/2017/07/01/hk20-pay-price-chinas-increasing-prosperity-increasing-fear-leaders/

www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-40479053

Speaking of Hinckley Point, the news is today that the Magic Money Tree is going to have to sprout a few more branches as the building costs have already gone up 1 DUP. (£1.5 billion)

Place marking

Me too

How are the ardent Brexiteers taking the news that the "cake and eat it policy" is now officially bollocks ?

I know it's childish, but it's tempting to play "Brexit Bingo", as slowly but surely, all the facts the Remain side put out before the vote turn out to be true.

So that's a line through "we won't be allowed to have our cake and eat it", as promised by Leave.

Next, please.

Westminstenders would like to bring you a brand NEW regular on its threads. In order to bring you some incite into the wisdom of vocal Brexiteers. Its called 'Just Saying John' in tribute to everyone's favourite Welsh loving Tory, John Redwood:

John Redwood‏****@johnredwood
Public sector pay – lets have pay rises with productivity rises
johnredwoodsdiary.com/2017/07/03/public-sector-pay-lets-have-pay-rises-with-productivity-rises/

Maybe it would rise pay or employ more people you made it possible for that by increasing motivation.
Here's an article talking about just 15 ways to improve productivity How many of them are even thinkable in the public sector right now?

1. Track and limit how much time you're spending on tasks.
2. Take regular breaks.
3. Set self-imposed deadlines.
4. Follow the "two-minute rule."
5. Just say no to meetings.
6. Hold standing meetings.
7. Quit multitasking.
8. Take advantage of your commute.
9. Give up on the illusion of perfection.

10. Take exercise breaks. 11. Be proactive, not reactive. 12. Turn off notifications. 13. Work in 90-minute intervals. 14. Give yourself something nice to look at. 15. Minimize interruptions (to the best of your ability). Just saying John.

John Redwood‏****@johnredwood
The way to square the circle of wanting people to be better paid & keep overall costs down is to boost quality & output w/o increasing staff

Erm. Not its not. Try harder.
Alternatively we could trial the system with MPs with performance related pay. I propose a target lead system which details a full break down of the number and type of correspondence each MP received, records the number resolved Constituency cases for each MP, and the score system for constituency case handling satisfaction. In a table so that Constituents can see how their MP compares to other MPs. MPs deemed to be 'failing' by not matching the performance of other MPs will be subject to automatic deselection proceedings being brought against them by their party and a by-election triggered. That would improve the representation we get.
Seems a fair suggestion.
Just Saying John.

John Redwood‏****@johnredwood
^Why No deal will work fine: johnredwoodsdiary.com/2017/06/30/why-no-deal-will-work-fine/ We can trade successfully with the EU if there is no deal. #Brexit

Of course no one will loose their job at all. There will be frictionless transition to this. The EU will diplomatically be thrilled. In no way will this affect us in terms of the WTO. People in Gibraltar, NI and the Falklands will be happy as larry.
Just saying John.

John Redwood‏****@johnredwood
Why do some in the UK establishment want to take dictation from Brussels & want to undermine the generous & good offer the UK is making?

Maybe its because the UK are not making a generous or good offer and the EU are?
Just saying John.

Speaking of Hinckley Point, the news is today that the Magic Money Tree is going to have to sprout a few more branches as the building costs have already gone up 1 DUP. (£1.5 billion)

I knew Hinckley would end up millions over budget. I think the electorate in general need to come to terms with paying more tax.

I don't personally agree with Corbyns vies that the rich can be taxed and taxed to pay for everything. I think everyone earning over a certain level (£20K ???) needs to pay more.

Kevin Maguire‏*@Kevin*_Maguire
Bad news for nurses, armed forces, etc: Downing Street says no extra pay this year. Means 1% cap lifted 2018 if at all. RPI inflation 3.5%

Stephen Bush‏*@stephenkb*

One reason I think it's v unlikely that, despite what most Tory MPs think now, there will be an early election is UK looks pre-recessional.
"hey, let's refight the June 2017 election against a united Labour party and with a recessional economy!" Lacks a certain something.

I'm not sure what is most depressing in those two tweets.

www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/sas-facing-fresh-scrutiny-over-claims-soldiers-tried-to-cover-up-war-crimes-in-afghanistan-a3578211.html
SAS facing fresh scrutiny over claims soldiers 'tried to cover up war crimes in Afghanistan'

More political currency for Corbyn.

www.itv.com/news/2017-07-03/prince-george-and-princess-charlotte-to-join-duke-and-duchess-of-cambridge-on-tour-of-poland-and-germany/
Prince George and Princess Charlotte to join Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on tour of Poland and Germany

Key Brexit negotiators deployed in charm offensive against the EU.

In 1979, income tax base rate was 33% and top rate 83%
Our income tax rates are low compared to other developed European countries like Germany, which is why we have disintegrating public services

Tax cuts may be fine for the wealthy, but almost everyone else needs functioning public services for a decent quality of life.

The difference in Germany is huge: transport, healthcare, public services here work pretty efficiently, not because Germans are cleverer, but because the public are prepared to pay sufficient tax to fund them.

Voters' choice: low tax vs properly functioning public services

I'm informed that the Tory party website has ads for "campaign managers", closing date August 28th.

Just a precaution ?

If there is going to be a recession, memories of that tend to linger longer than the recession itself.
So the Tories may want to seize the chance, especially if Labour start deselecting MPs or otherwise publicly splitting the party.

Back to the Fisheries.

This is the Common Library briefing from March
secondreading.uk/brexit/brexit-the-london-convention-and-coastal-fishing-rights/
Brexit, the London Convention and coastal fishing rights

Some points from it:

There are concerns that even if the UK leaves the CFP after Brexit, provisions in the previously redundant 1964 London Convention on fisheries could allow foreign fishing vessels continued access to UK waters between 6 and 12 nm.

The UK would have to give two years’ notice to withdraw from the London Convention, so certain groups are calling on the Government to trigger the exit process at the same time as starting the Article 50 negotiations.

and

There is some debate as to whether the London Convention provisions still apply, or whether they have been superseded by the CFP. In evidence to the Lords EU Energy and Environment Sub-Committee, Robin Churchill – Professor Emeritus of International Law at the University of Dundee – said he thought that the CFP superseded the London Convention, meaning that historic fishing rights derive from EU law, and not from the Convention. Prof Churchill was therefore “sceptical” as to whether the London Convention rights could be revived after 40 years. However, DEFRA Minister Lord Gardiner appeared to confirm that the London Convention provisions continue to apply today, in answer to a PQ on 9 March 2017.

International lawyer says that London Convention obsolete. Politician says its not.

and
Fishing for leave (a pro-Brexit fishing campaign group) see withdrawal from the London Convention (and the potential anomaly in fishing access rights in coastal waters post-Brexit) as an acid test of the UK Government’s commitment to taking back control of UK seas and fisheries resources.

and

When questioned about the London Convention in a recent Select Committee evidence session, DEFRA Minister George Eustice said (Q.33) that the Government was “looking very closely at this because it is quite a dated agreement in which we have no benefit.” The Minister also noted the possibility of leaving the Convention, but gave no commitment, and said that it was unlikely that the UK would have an exclusion zone where no‑one can come into our waters, because this would need to be part of the wider negotiations on access and quotas. Press reports on 24 March suggested that the Prime Minister would pull the UK out of the convention and end access for European vessels to British fishing waters if talks with the EU over Brexit break down.

The reason Gove has 'left' a treaty that no longer exists in a totally meaningless gesture, is to make the EU bad when it become apparent that fisheries will be part of wider negotiations. As stated by a DEFRA minister in March.

As if this is a surprise to anyone.

Laying down my placemat.

Today's Evening Standard.

The difference in Germany is huge: transport, healthcare, public services here work pretty efficiently, not because Germans are cleverer, but because the public are prepared to pay sufficient tax to fund them

But is the uk public willing to pay the higher taxes. They seem to want the improved services but want the money to come from elsewhere

• tax high earners (£80K) more
• increase corporation tax
• cut tax avoidance (not a bad idea)

Any suggestion the money should come from people's pay packets does not go down well.

But is the uk public willing to pay the higher taxes.

Evenly distributed, yes.

Evenly distributed, yes

Sorry lurking is that you being willing or wider society?

I did ask a question on mumsnet a while ago asking if people would pay more tax to support the NHS. Loads of posters said they either paid enough already or simply couldn't afford anymore.

Loads of posters said they either paid enough already or simply couldn't afford anymore.

There is the paradox. If they don't pay more, they could well end up paying EVEN MORE with privatised services or face no services.

I am genuinely not sure that people realise that is the real choice on the table. In much the same way that they don't realise what Brexit means in reality an only have been given an ideological vision that someone has propagated.