tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67643113307988081232024-03-05T16:53:26.913+00:00PSA CommunicationsPSA Communicationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410683643558078563noreply@blogger.comBlogger97125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764311330798808123.post-11706652787819857722014-12-03T15:44:00.000+00:002014-12-03T15:44:22.514+00:00Autumn Statement 2014<p style=" margin: 12px auto 6px auto; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none; display: block;"> <a title="View Autumn Statement 2014 on Scribd" href="https://www.scribd.com/doc/249047651/Autumn-Statement-2014" style="text-decoration: underline;" >Autumn Statement 2014</a></p><iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" src="https://www.scribd.com/embeds/249047651/content?start_page=1&view_mode=scroll&show_recommendations=true" data-auto-height="false" data-aspect-ratio="undefined" scrolling="no" id="doc_64078" width="100%" height="600" frameborder="0"></iframe>PSA Communicationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410683643558078563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764311330798808123.post-51302015411942283412014-06-04T13:38:00.001+01:002014-06-04T13:39:49.799+01:00Queen's Speech 2014<p style=" margin: 12px auto 6px auto; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none; display: block;"> <a title="View Queen&#x27;s Speech 2014 on Scribd" href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/228097809/Queen-s-Speech-2014" style="text-decoration: underline;" >Queen's Speech 2014</a></p><iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" src="//www.scribd.com/embeds/228097809/content?start_page=1&view_mode=scroll&show_recommendations=true" data-auto-height="false" data-aspect-ratio="undefined" scrolling="no" id="doc_48536" width="100%" height="600" frameborder="0"></iframe>PSA Communicationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410683643558078563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764311330798808123.post-83559928723611407832014-03-19T15:06:00.000+00:002014-03-19T15:06:51.807+00:00Budget 2014<p style=" margin: 12px auto 6px auto; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none; display: block;"> <a title="View Budget 2014 on Scribd" href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/213322681/Budget-2014" style="text-decoration: underline;" >Budget 2014</a></p><iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" src="//www.scribd.com/embeds/213322681/content?start_page=1&view_mode=scroll&show_recommendations=true" data-auto-height="false" data-aspect-ratio="undefined" scrolling="no" id="doc_98435" width="100%" height="600" frameborder="0"></iframe>PSA Communicationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410683643558078563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764311330798808123.post-24652654888792202042013-12-05T14:03:00.001+00:002013-12-05T14:03:15.726+00:00Autumn Statement 2013<p style=" margin: 12px auto 6px auto; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none; display: block;"> <a title="View Autumn Statement 2013 on Scribd" href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/189558489/Autumn-Statement-2013" style="text-decoration: underline;" >Autumn Statement 2013</a></p><iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" src="//www.scribd.com/embeds/189558489/content?start_page=1&view_mode=scroll&show_recommendations=true" data-auto-height="false" data-aspect-ratio="undefined" scrolling="no" id="doc_840" width="100%" height="600" frameborder="0"></iframe>PSA Communicationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410683643558078563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764311330798808123.post-67515562974701388932013-05-08T15:27:00.001+01:002013-05-08T15:27:13.270+01:00Queen's Speech 2013<div nbsp="" style="-x-system-font: none; display: block; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 12px auto 6px auto;">
<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/140170564/Queen-s-Speech-2013-Briefing-by-PSA-Communications" nbsp="" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="View Queen's Speech 2013 - Briefing by PSA Communications on Scribd">Queen's Speech 2013 - Briefing by PSA Communications</a> by <a href="http://www.scribd.com/marty_forsythe" nbsp="" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="View Martin Forsythe's profile on Scribd">Martin Forsythe</a></div>
<iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" data-aspect-ratio="0.708006279434851" data-auto-height="false" frameborder="0" height="600" id="doc_11641" scrolling="no" src="http://www.scribd.com/embeds/140170564/content?start_page=1&view_mode=scroll&access_key=key-2duxpmrkgywqkhtj4juo" width="100%"></iframe>PSA Communicationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410683643558078563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764311330798808123.post-73640774368189903122013-04-12T10:35:00.001+01:002013-04-12T10:35:46.091+01:00PR Week - PSA Communications forms Save Our Royal Mail coalition<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhByLDiHaSFBR62os-8pxrVbFlUxvpAHoM-sD7QBkcjSSD51niCzlF7vpdL_iJPswZdOJIZg9hwDXS4VXIo_Ez4xm0wyA1hdshisk3ue3PJmsc1lN8RCooNtTQubDkVe2BhjzugR-Qwwa4/s1600/PR+week.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhByLDiHaSFBR62os-8pxrVbFlUxvpAHoM-sD7QBkcjSSD51niCzlF7vpdL_iJPswZdOJIZg9hwDXS4VXIo_Ez4xm0wyA1hdshisk3ue3PJmsc1lN8RCooNtTQubDkVe2BhjzugR-Qwwa4/s320/PR+week.png" /></a>PR Week reports: PSA Communications has built a coalition around its client the Communications Workers Union for a Save Our Royal Mail campaign.
As the primary union for approximately 130,000 Royal Mail workers, the CWU is opposing moves to transfer the service away from full state ownership.<br />
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Two months ago Royal Mail called in City PR agencies Brunswick and Tulchan Communications, to lead it through a privatisation process (PRWeek, 8 February).<br />
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The launch partners for Save Our Royal Mail include the Countryside Alliance, the National Pensioners Convention...<br />
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You read the complete PR Week article <a href="http://www.prweek.com/uk/news/1177875/psa-communications-forms-save-royal-mail-coalition/">here</a>.<br />
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You can find out more about the Save Our Royal Mail campaign <a href="http://saveourroyalmail.org/">here</a>.PSA Communicationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410683643558078563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764311330798808123.post-9815208212668026052013-03-20T16:15:00.000+00:002013-03-20T16:17:22.029+00:00Budget 2013<p style=" margin: 12px auto 6px auto; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none; display: block;"> <a title="View Budget 2013 on Scribd" href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/131451817/Budget-2013" style="text-decoration: underline;" >Budget 2013</a> by <a title="View Marty Forsythe's profile on Scribd" href="http://www.scribd.com/marty_forsythe" style="text-decoration: underline;" >Marty Forsythe</a></p><iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" src="http://www.scribd.com/embeds/131451817/content?start_page=1&view_mode=scroll&access_key=key-8drqczqagu7de2mo7tk" data-auto-height="false" data-aspect-ratio="0.708006279434851" scrolling="no" id="doc_52318" width="100%" height="600" frameborder="0"></iframe>PSA Communicationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410683643558078563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764311330798808123.post-10156726129626713532012-12-05T16:34:00.001+00:002012-12-05T16:34:24.388+00:00Autumn Statement <a title="View Autumn Statement 2012 on Scribd" href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/115627474/Autumn-Statement-2012" style="margin: 12px auto 6px auto; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none; display: block; text-decoration: underline;">Autumn Statement 2012</a><iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" src="http://www.scribd.com/embeds/115627474/content?start_page=1&view_mode=scroll&access_key=key-11xh9412o5x0hjp2svxp" data-auto-height="false" data-aspect-ratio="0.707514450867052" scrolling="no" id="doc_82801" width="100%" height="600" frameborder="0"></iframe>PSA Communicationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410683643558078563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764311330798808123.post-14133256384495293532012-09-06T15:28:00.002+01:002012-09-10T11:24:25.688+01:00Cameron's first major reshuffle <a title="View Reshuffle 2012 on Scribd" href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/105462864/Reshuffle-2012" style="margin: 12px auto 6px auto; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none; display: block; text-decoration: underline;">Reshuffle 2012</a><iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" src="http://www.scribd.com/embeds/105462864/content?start_page=1&view_mode=scroll&access_key=key-mdc18mn5w31q58krgva" data-auto-height="true" data-aspect-ratio="0.707514450867052" scrolling="no" id="doc_23841" width="100%" height="600" frameborder="0"></iframe>PSA Communicationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410683643558078563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764311330798808123.post-69560729514093084002012-05-09T13:59:00.001+01:002012-05-09T13:59:34.604+01:00Queen's Speech 2012<a title="View Queen's Speech 2012 - Briefing by PSA Communications on Scribd" href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/92982794/Queen-s-Speech-2012-Briefing-by-PSA-Communications" style="margin: 12px auto 6px auto; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none; display: block; text-decoration: underline;">Queen's Speech 2012 - Briefing by PSA Communications</a><iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" src="http://www.scribd.com/embeds/92982794/content?start_page=1&view_mode=list&access_key=key-2g50jkvh8os8rjg3lh1u" data-auto-height="true" data-aspect-ratio="0.707514450867052" scrolling="no" id="doc_95136" width="100%" height="600" frameborder="0"></iframe>PSA Communicationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410683643558078563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764311330798808123.post-55359209044912569642012-03-21T17:24:00.005+00:002012-03-21T17:42:23.975+00:00Budget 2012<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The politics and economics of today’s Budget</span><br />
</span><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>A defining budget?</i></b><br />
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Today’s Budget was delivered at the mid-term point of the Coalition’s term of office, so conventional wisdom would suggest that the Chancellor would deliver a low key budget which gives an indication of the direction of travel the Government will take in the latter part of this five year term. Low key and un-dramatic was not what we got today. The Chancellor claimed he “had not settled for a do nothing budget.”<br />
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Despite the reduction of the structural deficit remaining the guiding principle of the Government’s economic strategy, the Chancellor demonstrated his political creativity by balancing a range of bold measures to assuage both parties in the Coalition. This is no easy task and it seems the Chancellor, who is never short of political acumen, has achieved just that. The Budget remains fiscally neutral and the moves on tax will have to be funded by further cuts in other areas.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ZERq6hgYcHAq6QmXAeViue1y_40d5WIIJ0_Dvi3V-qkiOweVfuO1TczIJNDq4DbXPSuWGz3t9b6woSooitSWLpLHd3uftLq2TZtYbia1940CvWJBOxi55Iulx3pylnww4d33dVn0JpA/s1600/budget.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ZERq6hgYcHAq6QmXAeViue1y_40d5WIIJ0_Dvi3V-qkiOweVfuO1TczIJNDq4DbXPSuWGz3t9b6woSooitSWLpLHd3uftLq2TZtYbia1940CvWJBOxi55Iulx3pylnww4d33dVn0JpA/s320/budget.jpg" /></a><br />
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<b><i>The big gamble</i></b><br />
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Despite the political balance achieved in this Budget, the reduction of the top rate of tax is a political<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=6764311330798808123&postID=5535920904491256964"></a> gamble. The public do not appear to be on the Chancellor’s side on the issue with polling suggesting the majority of the country is against such a move. The Chancellor will be hoping that the balanced nature of the budget “to support working families” will shine through public pessimism. The Chancellor also sneaked in a £5bn cut for pensioners which has already been labelled “Granny Tax” and suggested another £10bn of welfare cuts would be forthcoming.<br />
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The Liberal Democrats are claiming several victories in today’s budget labelling it the ‘Robin Hood’ Budget. They have achieved at number of measures to assuage the claim that this is a budget for the rich including a 7% stamp duty rate being introduced on residential properties worth more than £2m. It’s not labelled a mansion tax but it’s not far off. Increasing the personal income tax allowance will also lend the Liberal Democrats much needed credibility in the eyes of the public if they can convincingly claim ownership.<br />
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<b><i>Growth improving……but more needs to be done</i></b><br />
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Growth in the UK economy remains sluggish but there was a glimmer of hope in the Office of Budget Responsibility’s growth forecast for this year improving to 0.8%.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
The Government's forecast for public borrowing in 2012-13 was £120bn, and despite the Government borrowing almost twice as much as expected in February, today the Chancellor informed Parliament that the actual number will fall below £100bn next year for the first time since 2008-09. This is because of a one-off windfall of about £28bn from a transfer of assets from the Royal Mail pension fund.<br />
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<b><i>The end game</i></b><br />
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Ed Miliband leading Labour’s Budget response today was caustic. He called it a “budget for millionaires” and landed several hits on the government. No one was safe from the on-form opposition leader who unleashed the term “calamity Clegg” on a willing blogosphere. Miliband also reminded the public that all of the Conservative front bench would benefit from the reduction in the top rate of tax.<br />
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Yet such short term performances cannot mask the fact that Labour still lacks economic credibility in the eyes of the public. Miliband’s shadow Chancellor Ed Balls remains a divisive figure, unable to disassociate himself from the previous government. The reduction in the top rate is a natural gift for Labour but the opposition will need to go some way before it can lay claim to be electable.<br />
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Mid-term Budgets of this kind rarely determine election outcomes and this one will not. George Osborne has laid down a marker about how he wants to manage the economy – rewarding the high achievers while slowly reducing the burden on others as economic circumstances allow. If the economy does pick up the public appetite for tax cuts will pick up with it, leaving Labour struggling to keep up with public expectation.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Budget headlines</span><br />
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<b><i>Economic forecasts</i></b></span><ul><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) expect the British economy to avoid a technical recession with positive growth in the first quarter of this year. They say that the British economy has “carried a little more momentum into the new year than previously anticipated”. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The OBR revised up their growth forecast this year to 0.8%. OBR growth forecasts for UK: next year 2%; 2014 2.7%; 3% in 2015 and 2016 </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The OBR’s forecast unemployment rate is the same as it was last autumn. They expect it to peak this year at 8.7 per cent before falling each year to 6.3 per cent by the end of the forecast period. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Borrowing this year is set to come in at £126 billion; £1 billion lower than forecast in the Autumn Statement. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The deficit is predicted to fall to 7.6% next year. Debt forecast will now peak at 76.3% of GDP in 2014/15 rather than 78% in previous forecast. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">OBR Eurozone growth forecast for this year revised down from 0.5% to -0.3%. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">UK inflation forecast to fall from 2.8% this year to 1.9% next year. </span></li>
</ul></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Business and general taxes</i></b></span><ul><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Government will consult on the removal of VAT loopholes and anomalies. The broad exemptions on food, children’s clothes, printed books and newspapers will remain. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Chancellor has announced a further cut of corporation tax of 1%, to start immediately. The cut will continue with the two further cuts planned next year and the year after so that by 2014, corporation tax will be 22%. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Government will introduce legislation relaxing the Sunday trading laws during the eight week Olympic period. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A tax relief for the video games, animation and high-end television production sectors has been announced. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The bank levy will be increased to 0.105% from next January so the banks do not benefit from corporation tax cuts. The levy will raise £2.5bn a year. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Enhanced capital allowances for businesses setting up in new Scottish enterprise zones in Dundee, Irvine and Nigg. A Welsh enterprise zone will be created in Deeside. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There will be a consultation on simplifying the tax system for small firms with a turnover of up to £77,000. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Government support for £150m of tax increment financing to help councils promote development and an extra £270m for the Growing Places fund. </span></li>
</ul><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Housing and planning</i></b></span></div><div><ul><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Chancellor announced the expansion of the Get Britain Building Fund that provides upfront finance to construction firms to build new homes. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Stamp Duty Land Tax charge on residential properties held in corporate envelopes over £2m will be increased to 15% and will take place today. </span></li>
</ul><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Income taxes, NI and personal allowances</i></b></span><ul><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The personal allowance of income tax will increase from next April to £9,205. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From April next year, the top rate of tax will be reduced to 45p. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There will be a new single tier pension for future pensioners, set above the means test - currently around £140. There will be an automatic review of state pension age to ensure it keeps pace with the ageing population. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From 2014, taxpayers will at the same time receive a new Personal Tax Statement. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Child benefit will be withdrawn in stages when someone in the household has an income of more than £50,000. </span></li>
</ul><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Fuel and transport duties</i></b></span><ul><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) will rise by inflation only. To encourage fuel efficient fleets, the Government will extend the 100 per cent first year capital allowance for low emission business cars. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Government will reduce the CO2 threshold for the main capital allowance rates and increase the percentage list price of company cars subject to tax. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Chancellor also announced that he was again freezing VED for road hauliers. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Chancellor confirmed the fair fuel stabiliser. There will be no changes to fuel duty plans. </span></li>
</ul><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Economic “bads”</i></b></span><ul><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are no further changes to the rates of alcohol duty put in place by the previous government. The Government will shortly be publishing its Alcohol Strategy to address the growing problem of alcohol abuse, and the many billions of pounds it costs our NHS and criminal justice system. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Duty on all tobacco products will rise by 5 per cent above inflation. That’s 37 pence on a packet of cigarettes. This will take effect at 6pm tonight. </span></li>
</ul><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Other points of note</i></b></span><ul><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Government will seek "major savings" in the administrative cost of the Carbon Reduction Commitment, and bring forward an alternative environment tax this autumn if such savings cannot be found. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ministers will consult on expanding airport capacity in the South East of England. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is new funding for a total of 250,000 more apprenticeships over the next four years. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mayor of London Boris Johnson receives a £70 million development fund to attract new business and new jobs. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The National Planning Policy Framework will be published next Tuesday. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Government announced funding for ten major cities to become super-connected through superfast broadband. A further £50 million of funding was announced for other cities. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Government will consult on offering gilts with maturity terms of more than 50 years. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anti-avoidance measures in this year’s Finance Bill are expected to increase tax revenue over the next five years by around £1 billion. </span></li>
</ul><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A cautionary note</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<i><b>Mind the gap</b></i><br />
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Budget Statements are famous for “gaps” – the hidden detail and stealth consultation that eventually emerge from the mass of paperwork released on the day. Over the next week, think tanks, MPs, academics, tax and economic experts will pick the Budget apart word by word and graph by graph.<br />
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<i><b>Keep on track with PSA</b></i><br />
<br />
As and when greater detail emerges on key issues, we will let you know. However, if there is something in particular that you would like us to look out for, or to follow in detail, please let us know.</span></div>PSA Communicationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410683643558078563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764311330798808123.post-20816021859589004252012-03-12T16:50:00.002+00:002012-03-12T16:50:47.228+00:00February Structural Reform Plan progress reports<div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 1.6em; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Download the updated reports for each department (all links will open in a new window):</span></div><ul style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; margin-bottom: 1.6em; margin-left: 2em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.number10.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/CO-SRP-update-Feb2012.pdf" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #006699; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Cabinet Office SRP progress report</a> (pdf, 92kb)</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.number10.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/BIS-SRP-update-Feb2012.pdf" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #006699; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Department for Business, Innovation and Skills SRP progress report</a> (pdf, 121kb)</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.number10.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/DCLG-SRP-update-Feb2012.pdf" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #006699; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Department for Communities and Local Government SRP progress report</a> (pdf, 106kb)</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.number10.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/DCMS-SRP-update-Feb2012.pdf" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #006699; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Department for Culture, Media and Sport SRP progress report </a> (pdf, 99kb)</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.number10.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/DfE-SRP-update-Feb2012.pdf" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #006699; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Department for Education SRP progress report</a> (pdf, 94kb)</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.number10.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/DECC-SRP-update-Feb2012.pdf" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #006699; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Department for Energy and Climate Change SRP progress report</a> (pdf, kb)</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.number10.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Defra-SRP-update-Feb2012.pdf" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #006699; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs SRP progress report</a> (pdf, 122kb)</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.number10.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/DH-SRP-update-Feb2012.pdf" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #006699; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Department of Health SRP progress report 2011 </a> (pdf, 86kb)</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.number10.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/DFID-SRP-update-Feb2012.pdf" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #006699; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Department for International Development SRP progress report</a> (pdf, 112kb)</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.number10.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/DFT-SRP-update-Feb2012.pdf" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #006699; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Department for Transport SRP progress report</a> (pdf, 90kb)</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.number10.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/DWP-SRP-update-Feb2012.pdf" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #006699; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Department for Work and Pensions SRP progress report</a> (pdf, 110kb)</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.number10.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/FCO-SRP-update-Feb2012.pdf" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #006699; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Foreign and Commonwealth Office SRP progress report</a> (pdf, 141kb)</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.number10.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/HMRC-SRP-update-Feb2012.pdf" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #006699; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">HM Revenue and Customs SRP progress report</a> (pdf, 84kb)</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.number10.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/HMT-SRP-update-Feb2012.pdf" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #006699; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">HM Treasury SRP progress report</a> (pdf, 226kb)</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.number10.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/HO-SRP-update-Feb2012.pdf" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #006699; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Home Office SRP progress report</a> (pdf, 157kb)</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.number10.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/MOD-SRP-update-Feb2012.pdf" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #006699; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Ministry of Defence SRP progress report</a> (pdf, 103kb)</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.number10.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/MOJ-SRP-update-Feb2012.pdf" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #006699; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Ministry of Justice SRP progress report</a> (pdf, 97kb)</span></li>
</ul>PSA Communicationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410683643558078563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764311330798808123.post-86281477940977200292012-02-03T16:00:00.004+00:002012-02-03T16:12:09.057+00:00Not too fast, Mr Huhne.<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For many observers, Chris Huhne’s Cabinet <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2095886/Chris-Huhne-quits-Energy-Minister-charged-lying-police-speeding-points-wife-took-him.html">exit</a> has been bizarrely slow.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtMfk4-N_IkYCyZk_QHt1uu1WYdzrzQHZY_HoGYC4oYkoprEAGww7uo0hX5zqtIzmUOHpK9c1kG6o5iPZjj35WdkKwUAnsTGlVGU2h4-oQR_MUtEMr8ipmUTFHdQqb2YhtqC4iox-IEj8/s1600/Speed+camera+sign.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtMfk4-N_IkYCyZk_QHt1uu1WYdzrzQHZY_HoGYC4oYkoprEAGww7uo0hX5zqtIzmUOHpK9c1kG6o5iPZjj35WdkKwUAnsTGlVGU2h4-oQR_MUtEMr8ipmUTFHdQqb2YhtqC4iox-IEj8/s200/Speed+camera+sign.png" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The most predicted Cabinet resignation since Clare Short flounced out in 2003 finally occurred today. The LibDem MP for Eastleigh succumbed to months of pressure over an alleged offence for which he has now been charged. The ex-DECC Secretary of State faces a Watergate-like charge relating to an alleged cover-up of a possible motoring offence.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the point of charge, his exit was politically inevitable. Yet Mr Huhne has been skating on the thin ice of a Cabinet departure for months. Almost since the Coalition Government took office, Mr Huhne’s fingerprints have been detected on Cabinet leaks, anti-Conservative briefings and other political mischief-making.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From his over-the-top <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/mar/30/huhne-goebbels-propaganda-av-referendum">"Goebbels" jibes</a> about the AV referendum to the immigration <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/chris-huhne-admits-twitter-gaffe-was-linked-to-catflap-affair-2368108.html">"cat flap"</a>, the former Minister seemed to take little notice of the doctrine of Cabinet collective responsibility. His reputation for negative briefing even saw journalists making automatic assumptions – <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/active/9029007/Chris-Huhne-MP-Apology.html">wrongly</a> as it turned out – that he was behind the leaking of a letter proposing a new Royal Yacht.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If the Cabinet were populated by a single political party, Mr Huhne may have been spending more time with his family – or families – much earlier than today. Now, regardless of the outcome of the judicial process, it seems likely that the ambitious MP’s life in the political fast lane has come to an abrupt, and terminal, conclusion.</span><o:p></o:p></div>PSA Communicationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410683643558078563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764311330798808123.post-70255982306635269072012-01-18T14:52:00.000+00:002012-01-18T14:52:57.276+00:00December Structural Reform progress reports published<div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 1.6em; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Download the updated reports for each department:</span></div><ul style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; margin-bottom: 1.6em; margin-left: 2em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.number10.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/CO-srp-december-20111.pdf" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #006699; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Cabinet Office SRP progress report </a>(pdf, 92kb)</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.number10.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/BIS-srp-december-20111.pdf" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #006699; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Department for Business, Innovation and Skills SRP progress report</a> (pdf, 121kb)</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.number10.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/DCLG-srp-december-20111.pdf" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #006699; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Department for Communities and Local Government SRP progress report</a> (pdf, 106kb)</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.number10.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/DCMS-srp-december-20111.pdf" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #006699; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Department for Culture, Media and Sport SRP progress report </a>(pdf, 99kb)</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.number10.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/DFE-srp-december-20111.pdf" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #006699; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Department for Education SRP progress report</a> (pdf, 94kb)</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.number10.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/DECC-SRP-Dec-2011.pdf" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #006699; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Department for Energy and Climate Change SRP progress report</a> (pdf, kb)</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.number10.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Defra-srp-december-20111.pdf" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #006699; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs SRP progress report </a>(pdf, 122kb)</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.number10.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/DH-srp-december-20111.pdf" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #006699; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Department of Health SRP progress report 2011</a> (pdf, 86kb)</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.number10.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/DFID-srp-december-2011.pdf" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #006699; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Department for International Development SRP progress report</a> (pdf, 112kb)</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.number10.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/DFT-srp-december-20111.pdf" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #006699; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Department for Transport SRP progress report</a> (pdf, 90kb)</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.number10.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/DWP-srp-december-20111.pdf" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #006699; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Department for Work and Pensions SRP progress report</a> (pdf, 110kb)</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.number10.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/FCO-srp-december-20111.pdf" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #006699; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Foreign and Commonwealth Office SRP progress report</a> (pdf, 141kb)</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.number10.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/HMRC-srp-december-20111.pdf" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #006699; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">HM Revenue and Customs SRP progress report</a> (pdf, 84kb)</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.number10.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/HMT-srp-december-20111.pdf" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #006699; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">HM Treasury SRP progress report</a> (pdf, 226kb)</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.number10.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/HO-srp-december-20111.pdf" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #006699; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Home Office SRP progress report</a> (pdf, 157kb)</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.number10.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/MOD-srp-december-20111.pdf" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #006699; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Ministry of Defence SRP progress report </a>(pdf, 103kb)</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.number10.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/MOJ-srp-december-20111.pdf" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #006699; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Ministry of Justice SRP progress report</a> (pdf, 97kb)</span></li>
</ul>PSA Communicationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410683643558078563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764311330798808123.post-71363841438144648632011-12-09T15:43:00.005+00:002011-12-09T15:57:55.924+00:00Cameron’s premiership defined<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzDnNQQTflLfG8MifG_iyryNwgw95kMxfratV5edAtkavLIGdEz-25qiZPNTLNzKORqgE8dPs9_32JX80IpPjT-P439aEJgw96F8y49YGzBy4vmW7kehhS9FxyOrQ_6QhD5zvv2gutBWY/s1600/EU+flag+tatters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzDnNQQTflLfG8MifG_iyryNwgw95kMxfratV5edAtkavLIGdEz-25qiZPNTLNzKORqgE8dPs9_32JX80IpPjT-P439aEJgw96F8y49YGzBy4vmW7kehhS9FxyOrQ_6QhD5zvv2gutBWY/s200/EU+flag+tatters.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last night the Prime Minister decided enough was enough and vetoed a change to the Lisbon treaty. Britain will now stay outside of any new treaty agreement reached. (Initially alongside Hungary, Sweden and Czech Republic. A briefly held together European gang of four which quickly became one). The 26 other EU states will now to seek their own fiscal agreement involving deep integration around public spending and tax. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While the finer details are yet to emerge there can be no doubt that this is <i>the</i> defining moment of David Cameron’s premiership. His coalition partners and the Labour party will be deeply unhappy. But how will it resonate with the public? And what exactly has the PM vetoed? At the moment it seems the PM has put Britain firmly outside the tent to borrow an analogy from Lyndon Johnson. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How this decision reverberates will be crucial to the health of the Coalition. Our Polyglot DPM will be facing some difficult questions from the integrationists in his party over the coming days, weeks and years. He has already said he regrets the lack of a consensus deal and added, “as a lifelong pro-European, I will continue to argue within Government." </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Labour Party’s initial reaction is to suggest that Cameron has put party before country and that this development is a sign of weakness not strength. They suggest that if the PM had decided to accept new Treaty changes the chances of getting it through Parliament would be almost impossible given the size of the recent Europe rebellion he faced. Ed Miliband claims he would have negotiated a better deal for Britain. At the moment it’s hard to see how without signing up to a new treaty. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This remains a fluid situation and it is not easy to tell if the PM did the right thing but he has certainly taken a gamble. It will be difficult for the PM to claim "Game, set and match to Britain" for some time. What is clear is that the right wing of the Conservative party will be emboldened and the case for further withdrawal will be pressed hard. It would appear the biggest winners of this treaty rejection are the Euro-sceptics</span>.</div>PSA Communicationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410683643558078563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764311330798808123.post-53340680427220322392011-11-29T16:00:00.000+00:002011-11-30T11:59:29.646+00:00Autumn Statement 2011<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><b>The politics and economics of today’s Autumn Statement</b></span><br />
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<i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">A defining moment</span></b></i></span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
Chancellor George Osborne’s Autumn Statement delivered today will prove to be a defining moment for the Coalition Government. Set against the backdrop of the continuing Eurozone crisis, the OECD warning that the UK is likely to slip back into recession, the Office of Budget Responsibility lowering its growth forecasts, borrowing set to rise and looming public sector strikes.<br />
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The Chancellor said the Government would “do whatever it takes” to protect Britain from the “debt storm”. As expected Mr Osborne identified growth as the number one priority for Government and announced a swathe of measures aimed at creating the right conditions to allow businesses to grow and said the Government would provide “leadership for tough times”.<br />
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The Chancellor decided to target tax credits and public sector pay today rather than the welfare system to fund new initiatives such as infrastructure spending. This is a political quandary for the government, whilst they can claim this a fairer method of saving money it is likely to give further credence to Labour’s “squeezed middle” mantra.<br />
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The war of words between the public sector trade unions and the Government looks set to continue for the foreseeable future and makes reaching an agreement on pensions even more difficult. <br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><b>Cutting the deficit </b></span></i><br />
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Mr Osborne told the Commons that the Government is still on track to cut the deficit within the lifetime of this Parliament. Despite being helped by a reduction in debt repayment charges of £22bn to do this he will extend the public spending cuts beyond 2014-15, when they are scheduled to end. <br />
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The Office of Budget Responsibility says Growth this year will be 0.9%, next year it will fall to 0.7%. For 2013, 2014, 2015 the economy will grow by: 2.1%, 2.7%, 3% respectively.<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><i>National Infrastructure Plan</i></span></b><br />
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The Chancellor announced the publication of an infrastructure plan with £5bn worth of additional spending. Key announcements below:<br />
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· 500 new infrastructure projects will be funded over the next decade. <br />
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· 35 new road and rail schemes will be given the go-ahead today.<br />
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· a new urban broadband fund that will create up to ten ‘super-connected cities’ across the UK, with superfast broadband, including Edinburgh, Belfast, Cardiff and London.<br />
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To drive forward the Government’s infrastructure programme, the Prime Minister has asked the Chief Secretary to the Treasury to chair a new Cabinet Committee on infrastructure. The Government will update on further progress delivering the priority programmes and projects before the end of 2012.<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Key policies</span></b><br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><b>Innovation</b></span></i><br />
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The Government will publish its Innovation and Research Strategy shortly to set out how it will support innovation in the UK. <br />
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The Government will invest an additional £75 million in supporting technology-based SMEs to develop, demonstrate and commercialise new products and services.<br />
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The Government will introduce an ‘above the line’ tax credit in 2013 to encourage research and development (R&D) activity by larger companies. <br />
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The Government will consult on the detail at Budget 2012 and will ensure that SME R&D incentives are not reduced as a result of this change. This builds on measures from the 2011 Budget to increase the generosity and accessibility of R&D tax credits for SMEs.<br />
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Following a consultation over the summer 2011, the Government will publish on 6 December 2011 further details of the Patent Box and of its reform of the Controlled Foreign Company rules and R&D tax credits.<br />
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The Government will launch a new Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) from April 2012, offering 50 per cent income tax relief on investments, and will offer a capital gains tax exemption on gains realised in 2012–13 and then invested through SEIS in the same year.<br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><b>Education</b></span></i><br />
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The Government will invest £600 million to fund an estimated 100 additional Free Schools by the end of this Parliament. This will include new specialist maths Free Schools for 16-18 year olds. <br />
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The Government will invest an additional £600 million from 2012-13 to support those local authorities with the greatest demographic pressures.<br />
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<i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Regional</span></b></i><br />
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The Government will increase the Regional Growth Fund for England by £1 billion, plus Barnett consequentials for the devolve administrations, and extend it into 2014-15 to provide ongoing support to grow the private sector in areas currently dependent on the public sector.<br />
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The Government announced 100 per cent capital allowances will be made available in the Black Country, Humber, Liverpool, North Eastern, Sheffield and Tees Valley Enterprise Zones.<br />
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<i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Digital infrastructure</span></b></i><br />
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The Government announced a £20 million Rural Community Broadband Fund to help ensure more rural homes and businesses receive superfast broadband. If it is successful the Government will consider extending it.<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">The Statement headlines</span></b></span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These are the key points from today’s Autumn Statement: </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Working age benefits will be uprated in line with the Consumer Price Index's September level of 5.2%. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The permanent bank levy will rise by 0.088%, which will ensure the Treasury raises the £2.5bn it needs. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Public sector pay will rise by 1%, rather than 2%. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A National Loan Guarantee Scheme worth £20bn for small and medium-sized business will be introduced over the next two years. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Employment regulations will change to help businesses, including a change to TUPE regulations and cutting health and safety rules. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pension age to rise to 67 by 2028. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The planned January fuel duty hike has been cancelled. The fuel duty rise for August will be limited to 3p. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Free nursery places will be extended and an extra £1.2bn will be spent on new school places and 100 new free schools. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unemployed young people will be offered a Youth Contract. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Business rate holiday for small firms will be extended until 2013. </span></li>
</ul></div>PSA Communicationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410683643558078563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764311330798808123.post-33459382804234040602011-11-08T17:43:00.001+00:002011-11-08T17:44:04.211+00:00October Structural Reform Plan progress reports published<div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 1.6em; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">Download the updated reports for each department:</div><ul style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1.6em; margin-left: 2em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.number10.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/CO-business-plan-update-October20111.pdf" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #006699; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Cabinet Office SRP progress report</a> (pdf, 92kb)</li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.number10.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/BIS-business-plan-update-October2011.pdf" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #006699; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Department for Business, Innovation and Skills SRP progress report</a> (pdf, 121kb)</li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.number10.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/CLG-business-plan-update-October2011.pdf" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #006699; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Department for Communities and Local Government SRP progress report</a> (pdf, 106kb)</li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.number10.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DCMS-business-plan-update-October2011.pdf" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #006699; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Department for Culture, Media and Sport SRP progress report</a> (pdf, 99kb)</li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.number10.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DfE-business-plan-update-October20112.pdf" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #006699; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Department for Education SRP progress report</a> (pdf, 94kb)</li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.number10.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DECC-business-plan-update-October2011.pdf" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #006699; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Department of Energy and Climate Change SRP progress report</a> (pdf, 127kb)</li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.number10.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Defra-business-plan-update-October2011.pdf" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #006699; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs SRP progress report</a> (pdf, 122kb)</li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.number10.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DH-business-plan-update-October2011.pdf" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #006699; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Department of Health SRP progress report </a> (pdf, 86kb)</li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.number10.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DFID-business-plan-update-October2011.pdf" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #006699; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="DFID SRP report">Department for International Development SRP progress report</a> (pdf, 112kb)</li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.number10.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DFT-business-plan-update-October2011.pdf" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #006699; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Department for Transport SRP progress report</a> (pdf, 90kb)</li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.number10.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DWP-business-plan-update-October2011.pdf" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #006699; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Department for Work and Pensions SRP progress report</a> (pdf, 110kb)</li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.number10.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/FCO-business-plan-update-October2011.pdf" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #006699; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="FCO SRP report">Foreign and Commonwealth Office SRP progress report</a> (pdf, 141kb)</li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.number10.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/HMRC-business-plan-update-October2011.pdf" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #006699; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">HM Revenue and Customs SRP progress report</a> (pdf, 84kb)</li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.number10.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/HMT-business-plan-update-October2011.pdf" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #006699; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">HM Treasury SRP progress report </a> (pdf, 226kb)</li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.number10.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/HO-business-plan-update-October2011.pdf" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #006699; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Home Office SRP progress report</a> (pdf, 157kb)</li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.number10.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MOD-business-plan-update-October2011.pdf" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #006699; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Ministry of Defence SRP progress report</a> (pdf, 103kb)</li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.number10.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MOJ-business-plan-update-October2011.pdf" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #006699; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Ministry of Justice SRP progress report</a> (pdf, 97kb)</li>
</ul>PSA Communicationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410683643558078563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764311330798808123.post-41849618847890423782011-10-11T15:27:00.002+01:002011-10-11T16:07:01.606+01:00Olympic security – time to up the communications game<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-line-height-alt: 13.5pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">With the Olympics only months away, those faced with ensuring the games pass without incident are now faced with the enormity of a task which seemed so far off when London was awarded the games six years ago.</span></div></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp6NWfRPg7gWWuklD5FyX3HHm8FNsze7MefcFABNu70U8ft_2QpC0ANGWriKCdio2PI7Mw7yNmmXHwgWjKj_xmAbb23NECzrZCs91xgp5YujIGHqau2SFXXmyKghyTFSBwK0Y_x2kBh9w/s1600/olympics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp6NWfRPg7gWWuklD5FyX3HHm8FNsze7MefcFABNu70U8ft_2QpC0ANGWriKCdio2PI7Mw7yNmmXHwgWjKj_xmAbb23NECzrZCs91xgp5YujIGHqau2SFXXmyKghyTFSBwK0Y_x2kBh9w/s320/olympics.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Olympic Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Inevitably costs have ballooned as the games have loomed closer. Two years ago the public purse was expecting to cough up around £280m to cover security costs; last year that had risen to £475m which is the current estimate of costs of police security outside of the venues (against a £600m ”cost envelope”). A further £282m has been allocated to pay for security arrangements inside the venues. Earlier this year, the company with the contract to handle internal security said it would need to double the number of civilian security staff needed to screen visitors and train volunteers from ten to twenty thousand!</span></div></div><div style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So by the time the games have finished it is likely that the total security costs for the 2012 Olympics will be around a cool £1bn. If these figures appear eye watering then it is worth remembering that no one will argue for security of this kind to be trimmed. Even the most ardent opponent of overbearing “elf and safety” rules will simply shrug and look for easier targets to criticise. And it’s not just us. Athens was awarded their games prior to 9/11. That fateful day in New York led to security costs for the 2004 games increasing from an estimated $122m to an actual outlay of $1.8bn – more than ten times the initial assumption.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Olympic security doesn’t just evolve around Stratford. It is estimated some 350,000 foreign visitors will attend the games each day. This will place unprecedented pressure on the UK Borders Agency, airlines and airport operators and the public transport infrastructure. <o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The communications challenge<o:p></o:p></span></b></div></div><div style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So in an era of fiscal restraint and accountability how should the private security industry, airport operators’ and others communicate what they are doing with this public money? Certainly it is worth those security businesses explaining how they are ensuring the games can pass off peacefully and how value for money is being achieved.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Evidently politicians, media and the public are different audiences. With politicians it is possible to establish a clear narrative and a hierarchy of messaging on the most important facts. Ministers and others will want to be assured that the risk of an attack on the games – and other “lesser” acts of criminality such as illegal immigration – are minimal. Equally the politicians will want to know that taxpayer’s money is being spent efficiently (even if not parsimoniously). Communicating direct with Members of Parliament and other political stakeholders on this should now be a priority.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Reassuring the public that everything is going to be ok is a different matter. The security industry is reliant upon the media to act as an intermediary to communicate key messages. Planning and timing is extremely important. It would be counterproductive to discuss security issues too far ahead of the games as this might suggest there is a reason to be concerned. Instead it is important to start to introduce the media to the issues so that at the right time those key messages on security are relayed loud and clear.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally there is the power of advertising. Hundreds of millions of pounds will be spent on Olympics related advertising. Brands will use the Olympics formally as an official sponsor or in other creative ways to identify their product or service with the games. The security sector should consider itself very much part of that commercial process and use advertising to show how efficient it is at what it does.</span></div></div>PSA Communicationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410683643558078563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764311330798808123.post-24049184824254095922011-10-10T10:42:00.001+01:002011-10-10T10:42:34.158+01:00The new shadow team in full<div style="line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 18.0pt; margin-left: 12.0pt; margin-right: 12.0pt; margin-top: 18.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #1f497d;">Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Labour Party</span></strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><br />
Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; font-style: inherit; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 18pt; margin-left: 12pt; margin-right: 12pt; margin-top: 18pt; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #1f497d;">Shadow Deputy Prime Minister, Party Chair and Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport</span></strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><br />
Rt Hon Harriet Harman MP<br />
<br />
</span><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #1f497d;">Foreign and Commonwealth Office</span></strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #1f497d;"><br />
</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;">Rt Hon Douglas Alexender MP<br />
Rt Hon John Spellar MP<br />
Emma Reynolds MP<br />
Ian Lucas MP<br />
Kerry McCarthy MP<br />
Lord (David) Triesman<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; font-style: inherit; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 18pt; margin-left: 12pt; margin-right: 12pt; margin-top: 18pt; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #1f497d;">Treasury</span></strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><br />
Rt Hon Ed Balls MP<br />
Rachel Reeves MP<br />
Chris Leslie MP<br />
Owen Smith MP<br />
Cathy Jamieson MP<br />
Lord (John) Eatwell<br />
Rt Hon Lord (Bryan) Davies<br />
Lord (Neil) Davidson<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; font-style: inherit; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 18pt; margin-left: 12pt; margin-right: 12pt; margin-top: 18pt; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #1f497d;">Justice</span></strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><br />
Rt Hon Sadiq Khan MP<br />
Wayne David MP<br />
Andy Slaughter MP<br />
Rob Flello MP<br />
Jenny Chapman MP<br />
Lord (Willy) Bach<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; font-style: inherit; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 18pt; margin-left: 12pt; margin-right: 12pt; margin-top: 18pt; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #1f497d;">Home Office</span></strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><br />
Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP<br />
(also Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities)<br />
Chris Bryant MP<br />
Rt Hon David Hanson MP<br />
Diana Johnson MP<br />
Gloria de Piero MP<br />
Stella Creasy MP<br />
Rt Hon Lord (Philip) Hunt<br />
Lord (Richard) Rosser<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; font-style: inherit; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 18pt; margin-left: 12pt; margin-right: 12pt; margin-top: 18pt; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #1f497d;">Defence</span></strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><br />
Rt Hon Jim Murphy MP<br />
Kevan Jones MP<br />
Russell Brown MP<br />
Alison Seabeck MP<br />
Gemma Doyle MP<br />
Lord (Richard) Rosser<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; font-style: inherit; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 18pt; margin-left: 12pt; margin-right: 12pt; margin-top: 18pt; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #1f497d;">Business, Innovation & Skills</span></strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><br />
Chuka Umunna MP<br />
Iain Wright MP<br />
Shabana Mahmood MP<br />
Gordon Marsden MP<br />
Chi Onwurah MP<br />
Toby Perkins MP<br />
Ian Murray MP<br />
Lord (Wilf) Stevenson<br />
Lord (Tony) Young<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; font-style: inherit; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 18pt; margin-left: 12pt; margin-right: 12pt; margin-top: 18pt; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #1f497d;">Work & Pensions</span></strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><br />
Rt Hon Liam Byrne MP<br />
Rt Hon Stephen Timms MP<br />
Ian Austin MP<br />
Anne McGuire MP<br />
Gregg McClymont MP<br />
Lord (Bill) McKenzie<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; font-style: inherit; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 18pt; margin-left: 12pt; margin-right: 12pt; margin-top: 18pt; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #1f497d;">Energy and Climate Change</span></strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><br />
Rt Hon Caroline Flint MP<br />
Tom Greatrex MP<br />
Luciana Berger MP<br />
Rt Hon Baroness (Angela) Smith<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; font-style: inherit; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 18pt; margin-left: 12pt; margin-right: 12pt; margin-top: 18pt; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #1f497d;">Health</span></strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><br />
Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP<br />
Liz Kendall MP<br />
Diane Abbott MP<br />
Andrew Gwynne MP<br />
Jamie Reed MP<br />
Baroness (Glenys) Thornton<br />
Lord (Jeremy) Beecham<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; font-style: inherit; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 18pt; margin-left: 12pt; margin-right: 12pt; margin-top: 18pt; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #1f497d;">Education</span></strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><br />
Stephen Twigg MP<br />
Kevin Brennan MP<br />
Sharon Hodgson MP<br />
Karen Buck MP<br />
Catherine McKinnell MP<br />
Baroness (Bev) Hughes<br />
Baroness (Maggie) Jones<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; font-style: inherit; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 18pt; margin-left: 12pt; margin-right: 12pt; margin-top: 18pt; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #1f497d;">Communities and Local Government</span></strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><br />
Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP<br />
Jack Dromey MP<br />
Helen Jones MP<br />
Roberta Blackman-Woods MP<br />
Chris Williamson MP<br />
Lord (Bill) McKenzie<br />
Lord (Sir Jeremy) Beecham<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; font-style: inherit; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 18pt; margin-left: 12pt; margin-right: 12pt; margin-top: 18pt; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #1f497d;">Transport</span></strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><br />
Maria Eagle MP<br />
Jim Fitzpatrick MP<br />
Lilian Greenwood MP<br />
John Woodcock MP<br />
Rt Hon Lord (Bryan) Davies<br />
Lord (Richard) Rosser<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; font-style: inherit; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 18pt; margin-left: 12pt; margin-right: 12pt; margin-top: 18pt; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #1f497d;">Environment, Food and Rural Affairs</span></strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><br />
Mary Creagh MP<br />
Huw Irranca-Davies MP<br />
Gavin Shuker MP<br />
Fiona O'Donnell MP<br />
Baroness (Joyce) Quin<br />
Lord (Jim) Knight<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; font-style: inherit; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 18pt; margin-left: 12pt; margin-right: 12pt; margin-top: 18pt; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #1f497d;">International Development</span></strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><br />
Rt Hon Ivan Lewis MP<br />
Tony Cunningham MP<br />
Rushanara Ali MP<br />
Baroness (Glenys) Kinnock<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; font-style: inherit; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 18pt; margin-left: 12pt; margin-right: 12pt; margin-top: 18pt; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #1f497d;">Minister for London and the Olympics</span></strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><br />
Rt Hon Tessa Jowell MP<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; font-style: inherit; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 18pt; margin-left: 12pt; margin-right: 12pt; margin-top: 18pt; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #1f497d;">Cabinet Office</span></strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><br />
Jon Trickett MP<br />
Gareth Thomas MP<br />
Michael Dugher MP<br />
Lord (Stewart) Wood<br />
Rt Hon Lord (Philip) Hunt of Kings Heath<br />
Rt Hon Baroness (Jan) Royall<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; font-style: inherit; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 18pt; margin-left: 12pt; margin-right: 12pt; margin-top: 18pt; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #1f497d;">Equalities Office</span></strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><br />
Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP<br />
(also Shadow Home Secretary)<br />
Kate Green MP<br />
Rt Hon Baroness (Jan) Royall<br />
Baroness (Glenys) Thornton<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; font-style: inherit; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 18pt; margin-left: 12pt; margin-right: 12pt; margin-top: 18pt; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #1f497d;">Culture, Olympics, Media & Sport</span></strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><br />
Rt Hon Harriet Harman MP<br />
Clive Efford MP<br />
Helen Goodman MP<br />
Dan Jarvis MP<br />
Baroness (Maggie) Jones<br />
Baroness (Angela) Billingham<br />
Lord (Wilf) Stevenson<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; font-style: inherit; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 18pt; margin-left: 12pt; margin-right: 12pt; margin-top: 18pt; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #1f497d;">Law Officers</span></strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><br />
Emily Thornberry MP<br />
Lord (Neil) Davidson (Adv. Gen. Scotland)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; font-style: inherit; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 18pt; margin-left: 12pt; margin-right: 12pt; margin-top: 18pt; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #1f497d;">Leader of the House of Commons</span></strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><br />
Angela Eagle MP<br />
Angela Smith MP<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; font-style: inherit; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 18pt; margin-left: 12pt; margin-right: 12pt; margin-top: 18pt; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #1f497d;">Leader of the House of Lords</span></strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><br />
Rt Hon Baroness (Jan) Royall<br />
Rt Hon Lord (Philip) Hunt (Deputy Leader)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; font-style: inherit; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 18pt; margin-left: 12pt; margin-right: 12pt; margin-top: 18pt; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #1f497d;">Northern Ireland</span></strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><br />
Vernon Coaker MP<br />
Stephen Pound MP<br />
Rt Hon Baroness (Angela) Smith<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; font-style: inherit; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 18pt; margin-left: 12pt; margin-right: 12pt; margin-top: 18pt; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #1f497d;">Scotland</span></strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><br />
Margaret Curran MP<br />
William Bain MP<br />
Lord (Neil) Davidson<br />
Lord (Des) Browne<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; font-style: inherit; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 18pt; margin-left: 12pt; margin-right: 12pt; margin-top: 18pt; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #1f497d;">Wales</span></strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><br />
Rt Hon Peter Hain MP<br />
Nia Griffith MP<br />
Rt Hon Lord (Bryan) Davies<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 18.0pt; margin-left: 12.0pt; margin-right: 12.0pt; margin-top: 18.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #1f497d;">House of Commons</span></strong><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #1f497d;"><br />
<strong>Chief Whip</strong></span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><br />
Rt Hon Rosie Winterton MP<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 18.0pt; margin-left: 12.0pt; margin-right: 12.0pt; margin-top: 18.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #1f497d;">Whips</span></strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><br />
Alan Campbell MP<br />
Mark Tami MP (Pairing Whip)<br />
Lyn Brown MP<br />
David Hamilton MP<br />
Phil Wilson MP<br />
Mark Hendrick MP<br />
Graham Jones MP<br />
Chris Ruane MP<br />
Susan Elan-Jones MP<br />
Jon Ashworth MP<br />
Tom Blenkinsop MP<br />
Yvonne Fovargue MP<br />
Nic Dakin MP<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; font-style: inherit; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 18pt; margin-left: 12pt; margin-right: 12pt; margin-top: 18pt; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #1f497d;">House of Lords</span></strong><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #1f497d;"><br />
<strong>Chief Whip</strong></span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><br />
Rt Hon Lord (Steve) Bassam of Brighton<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; font-style: inherit; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 18pt; margin-left: 12pt; margin-right: 12pt; margin-top: 18pt; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #1f497d;">Deputy Chief Whips</span></strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><br />
Lord (Denis) Tunnicliffe<br />
Baroness (Christine) Crawley<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; font-style: inherit; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 18pt; margin-left: 12pt; margin-right: 12pt; margin-top: 18pt; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #1f497d;">Whips</span></strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><br />
Baroness (Maggie) Jones<br />
Baroness (Anita) Gale<br />
Lord (Richard) Rosser<br />
Lord (John) Grantchester<br />
Baroness (Margaret) Wheeler<br />
Baroness (Dianne) Hayter<br />
Lord (Roy) Kennedy<br />
Lord (Ray) Collins<br />
Lord (Roger) Liddle<br />
Lord (Wilf) Stevenson<br />
Lord (Tommy) McAvoy<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>PSA Communicationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410683643558078563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764311330798808123.post-68559820438431288912011-10-07T12:18:00.000+01:002011-10-07T12:18:40.267+01:00Full Shadow Cabinet<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Labour Party<br />
Ed Miliband MP<br />
<br />
Shadow Deputy Prime Minister, Party Chair and Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport<br />
Harriet Harman MP<br />
<br />
Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer<br />
Ed Balls MP<br />
<br />
Shadow Foreign Secretary<br />
Douglas Alexander MP<br />
<br />
Shadow Home Secretary and Minister for Women and Equalities<br />
Yvette Cooper MP<br />
<br />
Shadow Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice<br />
Sadiq Khan MP<br />
<br />
Shadow Chief Whip<br />
Rosie Winterton MP<br />
<br />
Shadow Secretary of State for Health<br />
Andy Burnham MP<br />
<br />
Shadow Secretary of State for Education<br />
Stephen Twigg MP<br />
<br />
Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills<br />
Chuka Umunna MP<br />
<br />
Shadow Secretary of State for Defence<br />
Jim Murphy MP<br />
<br />
Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government<br />
Hilary Benn MP<br />
<br />
Shadow Leader of the House of Commons<br />
Angela Eagle MP<br />
<br />
Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change<br />
Caroline Flint MP<br />
<br />
Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury<br />
Rachel Reeves MP<br />
<br />
Shadow Minister for London and the Olympics<br />
Tessa Jowell MP<br />
<br />
Shadow Secretary of State for Transport<br />
Maria Eagle MP<br />
<br />
Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and Policy Review Co-ordinator<br />
Liam Byrne MP<br />
<br />
Shadow Secretary of State for International Development<br />
Ivan Lewis MP<br />
<br />
Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs<br />
Mary Creagh MP<br />
<br />
Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office<br />
Jon Trickett MP<br />
<br />
Labour Party Deputy Chair and Campaign Coordinator<br />
Tom Watson MP<br />
<br />
Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland<br />
Vernon Coaker MP<br />
<br />
Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland<br />
Margaret Curran MP<br />
<br />
Shadow Secretary of State for Wales and Chair of the National Policy Forum<br />
Peter Hain MP<br />
<br />
Shadow Leader of the House of Lords<br />
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon<br />
<br />
Lords Chief Whip<br />
Lord Bassam of Brighton<br />
<br />
Also attending Shadow Cabinet:<br />
<br />
Shadow Minister for Care and Older People<br />
Liz Kendall MP<br />
<br />
Shadow Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)<br />
Michael Dugher MP<br />
<br />
Shadow Attorney General<br />
Emily Thornberry MP<br />
<br />
Shadow Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)<br />
Lord Stewart Wood</span>PSA Communicationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410683643558078563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764311330798808123.post-28681249116294143812011-10-07T11:12:00.003+01:002011-10-07T11:13:45.726+01:00Adieu conference<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So the exhibition stands are back in their cases and the hotels are again charging sensible room rates. The party conference season is now over and will be memorable for being largely unmemorable. Even now it is hard to recall what Nick Clegg said three weeks ago.<br />
<br />
In essence the Lib Dems were beastly to their coalition partners; Labour was beastly to itself (no change there) and the Tories beastly to err, a Bolivian's cat. Yes all very forgettable but then again why should a conference season three years away from an election be anything other? Neither government nor opposition used their conferences to set out detailed policy ideas. Instead they alighted on themes - which had a degree of similarity. Ed Miliband's speech, widely criticised at the time, proved to be a slow burner as much of his assessment of what constitutes good and bad in society was reflected in David Cameron's peroration.<br />
<br />
The Prime Minister's speech is always the highlight of the conference season. This year's was a low key effort. The speech itself seemed to be a patchwork of concepts poorly stitched together and with no real underlying theme. The headlines "stop moaning" "fight in the dog" and "people are fed up of unaccountable greed" barely link. Its understated delivery - Cameron has been far more compelling - gave the impression that this speech was an unwelcome intervention on the diary of a busy Prime Minister. That and the comic dispute about the role of domestic pets in immigration cases only fuelled the theory that the PM has still yet to establish a properly functioning No10.<br />
<br />
Another stand out issue arising from the conference season and particularly the Conservative conference was the presence of a plethora of lobbyists, if indeed a collective of lobbyists can be called a plethora. Seemingly Ministers had to run from venue to venue with their heads down to avoid being assailed by an interest group of one kind or another. Fringe meeting food - the staple diet of the conference goer - was apparently denied to the hungry local party representatives as the corporate raiders grabbed the cocktail sausages by the handful.<br />
<br />
A lobbyist in this context means anyone who attends conference on behalf of an organisation they work for, are an advocate of or are consultants to. But it is difficult to know what is wrong with that that. Should a cancer charity be denied the right to make its case at the party conferences? The question should really be - is your organisation spending its money and time sensibly by having a presence at the party conferences? In these straightened times it is often difficult to make the case that it is worth spending such a lot of money for so little impact. PSA will only advise clients to attend the party conferences if their particular circumstances truly merit the investment needed. The conference organisers love the presence of lobbyists though. It generates much needed revenue and anything that keeps party activists away from fringe meeting microphones can only be a good thing.<br />
<br />
So we bid adieu (or good riddance might be more appropriate) to the 2011 conference season. Perhaps we need to get back to big seaside set piece events with big Prime Ministers giving big speeches. The conference season has become far too metropolitan and slick. Besides they now do a mean Panini in Blackpool!</span>PSA Communicationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410683643558078563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764311330798808123.post-86049505703814861672011-10-04T15:11:00.000+01:002011-10-04T15:11:03.697+01:00George Osborne's speech to Conservative Party Conference<object width="512" height="400"><param name="movie" value="http://www.bbc.co.uk/emp/external/player.swf"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><param name="FlashVars" value="playlist=http%3A%2F%2Fplaylists%2Ebbc%2Eco%2Euk%2Fnews%2Fuk%2Dpolitics%2D15152909A%2Fplaylist%2Esxml&config_settings_showFooter=true&"></param><embed src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/emp/external/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="512" height="400" FlashVars="playlist=http%3A%2F%2Fplaylists%2Ebbc%2Eco%2Euk%2Fnews%2Fuk%2Dpolitics%2D15152909A%2Fplaylist%2Esxml&config_settings_showFooter=true&"></embed></object>PSA Communicationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410683643558078563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764311330798808123.post-82752995267732103302011-09-27T09:54:00.000+01:002011-09-29T09:59:15.971+01:00Red Ed needs the speech of his life to survive today<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"></span><br />
<div id="content-area" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="node node clearfix node-type-forum" id="node-105365" style="clear: both; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="node-inner" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="content" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="field field-type-text field-field-metadata" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="field-items" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="field-item odd" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCTJO_GRodD6EgQE2ITbDEzleUkETCNGSuEGvjvRTpMvCzSFb04bYulU7IWx-faSQzA07YrmcYda87J51XoypizXkzagK-S7U7CXYYYNOSSevSqcuOX4SoSc4DorzNA3B3JVF2RVTDGPE/s1600/ps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCTJO_GRodD6EgQE2ITbDEzleUkETCNGSuEGvjvRTpMvCzSFb04bYulU7IWx-faSQzA07YrmcYda87J51XoypizXkzagK-S7U7CXYYYNOSSevSqcuOX4SoSc4DorzNA3B3JVF2RVTDGPE/s200/ps.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Phillip Snape</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A pearl-handled revolver for the Labour leader if he isn’t on form </span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">IT IS RARE that a party leader of just twelve months standing is faced with making a speech that is considered to be make-or-break for his future prospects. But that is exactly the position facing Ed Miliband as he delivers his Labour conference speech in Liverpool today.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A strong summer performance on phone hacking cannot mask a string of polls where he consistently trails David Cameron by 10 to 20 per cent in respect of perceived leadership capabilities. That the Labour Party is marginally ahead in most polls of voting intentions suggests its slender lead exists despite Miliband, not because of him.</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="node node clearfix node-type-forum" style="clear: both; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="node-inner" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="content" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="field field-type-text field-field-body" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="field-items" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="field-item odd" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">The root of Miliband’s difficulties is of course the £156bn UK government borrowing in 2009/10. Even if the public were in the mood to forgive and forget such a large deficit (which they are not), Miliband and his shadow chancellor Ed Balls have struggled to articulate how they would tackle the current financial crisis if they were in power. So while borrowing remains extremely high this year, a double dip recession is a strong possibility, and public spending cuts remain deeply unpopular, Miliband has been unable to capitalise on the coalition’s woes.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Miliband’s other major problem is, Miliband. So far as they are aware of him, significant numbers of respondents to opinion polls just do not warm to him and cannot envisage him in 10 Downing Street. Words like “nerdy” and “geeky” tend to emerge quite quickly. To many, he simply does not have the communication skills of David Cameron, the kind you need to be a Prime Minister.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">So today in Liverpool Miliband will seek to build his reputation as competent, likeable and trustworthy. His pitch is to middle England – particularly voters in the south and the Midlands who have deserted Labour in droves. He understands that economic insecurity is a major concern for the British people, hence his repeated references to the “squeezed middle”.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">A senior Labour figure said at the weekend “we don’t need to shout louder, but explain more. Explain what we got right and wrong before the crash, explain how we would get the economy growing and so deal with the deficit, and explain how we will deal with social justice with less money around”. No doubt this is true, but it is highly unlikely that Miliband will be able to tick all those boxes in one go. His speech today will not set out the manifesto that Labour intends to fight the next election upon, although there may be some eye-catching policies on energy and higher education. Overall, his task is to try to convince a sceptical public that he shares their worries and has credible ideas to do something about them.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">If Miliband can do this, perhaps he can move to the foothills of the mountain he has to climb between now and May 2015. But he will have to make quick and steady progress if he is to prevent a pearl-handled revolver being passed his way.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Phillip Snape is the managing director of PSA Communications. </span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">This article first appeared in <a href="http://www.cityam.com/forum/red-ed-needs-the-speech-his-life-survive-today">City Am</a> 25.09.11</span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>PSA Communicationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410683643558078563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764311330798808123.post-25686474508684177142011-09-21T11:37:00.001+01:002011-09-21T11:37:27.091+01:00Liberal Democrat Conference 2011<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With the end of the Liberal Democrat conference fast approaching and before we all pack our bags and head to Liverpool we should reflect on what we have learned about the Coalition junior partners this week. </span><br />
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This conference has by in large been a disciplined and convivial affair, with no significant upsets on the floor of the conference hall. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguHLherrd6ktDew5kz2W6WSV9cejT0iXXlBPjv2e4Ef0BT-fGsX_z_7uxmdBNNOMRePwryDSCvdWt-cMI04Za2oVh-EFdq0SsHKs4vB479fl7cgBvCjzJdGRYYrsqDtJ6eOJC2okE6wiA/s1600/cleggy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguHLherrd6ktDew5kz2W6WSV9cejT0iXXlBPjv2e4Ef0BT-fGsX_z_7uxmdBNNOMRePwryDSCvdWt-cMI04Za2oVh-EFdq0SsHKs4vB479fl7cgBvCjzJdGRYYrsqDtJ6eOJC2okE6wiA/s320/cleggy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nick Clegg told delegates to hold their heads high, be proud of what they have achieved in government and don’t look back. Looking back would only remind the Lib Dems that their share of the vote has halved and not so long ago students were burning effigies of their dear leader. The clear message was: hold your nerve things will get better. <br />
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Compared with last year, when the conference language was all about unity and stable government in the national interest, this year there has been a war of words against their Tory partners which has dominated speeches all week. With Chris Huhne branding Tory right wingers as Britain’s "Tea Party tendency". Party President Tim Farron said the Coalition must end in “divorce”. And of course Vince Cable had to get involved, by claiming Tories were "descendants of those who sent children up chimneys". <br />
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On the policy announcement front, there have been announcements on the clamping down of executive pay, a new tax inspector team to target the rich and firm commitment to the 50p tax remaining in absence of another tax on the wealthy. <br />
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In keeping with the theme of the conference there will be no great surprises in Clegg’s closing speech, he will reiterate the Coalition’s commitment to reducing the deficit whilst claiming the Government is doing everything in its power to kick-start sluggish growth. <br />
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Overall, a rather dull conference with no particular highlights. The Tories couldn’t have scripted it better themselves. </span></div>PSA Communicationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410683643558078563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764311330798808123.post-6732491765441021342011-09-14T11:06:00.002+01:002011-09-15T11:09:16.479+01:00Vickers smites mammon (sort of)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The much heralded report on banking regulation from Sir John Vickers has finally been delivered. It signals the biggest shake up of the City of London since the 1980s – but not just yet. Vickers recommends that banks should separate their retail and investment operations and have sufficient capital to be able to fund their frequent trips to the casino. Vickers acknowledges that the proposals are complex and far reaching so has come to the rescue of the Chancellor by giving him seven years to implement them. Everyone is apparently on board – the banks have barely murmured. Job done? Not quite.<br />
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The politics of this – past and present – are fascinating. In 2008 as the banks haemorrhaged, the British taxpayer was forced to ride to their rescue. On one particular day the public went about their business blissfully unaware that their local hole in the wall was just 24 hours away from running out of cash. Not unusual? Well in this case it was as the banks literally had no banknotes left to fill them up with. Billions were pumped in to keep the banks afloat on the basis that it would be unthinkable for one of them to go under. By 2010 the Treasury was empty and as it happened under Labour’s watch they paid the price at the election.<br />
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Some might argue that the most incredible outcome of all of this was Ed Balls issuing a mea culpa for his involvement in a government that presided over such a light touch regulatory regime. It does remind us however, that virtually all politicians (with the honourable exception of the recently beatified St Vincent of Twickenham) were trying to outdo each other in arguing for less regulation not more, something that has conveniently been banished from the memory of the Chancellor.<br />
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All of this has demonstrated in graphic detail just how few friends the banks have. One wonders what they and their associations have been doing for the last few years if they cannot get even the right wing of the Tory party to defend them. Even the usual anti-regulation rhetoric has been shoved to one side by a government keen to begin a process that will end with massive regulatory intervention on the banks. <br />
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There is a lot of water to flow under the bridge before 2019. Ed Miliband is talking about Vickers being the “first stage of reform” not the end. No doubt his advisors will be working on a number of cruel and unusual punishments to inflict on bankers in the hope that Labour can draw favour from the public. <br />
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The Chancellor has said that the proposals will require primary legislation. He will want this to be a post 2015 election legislative battle which gives all parties concerned plenty of time to sharpen their knives. The banks themselves now have adequate time to get into the meat of this argument and achieve, in the circumstances, the best outcomes in what will be a complex and technical area of policy development. If they are wise they will approach this gargantuan project with a little more humility than they have in the past.</span>PSA Communicationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410683643558078563noreply@blogger.com0