Ex-DPM Oliver Dowden has photographed himself looking sullen in a field to display his upset at new rules in the National Planning Policy Framework making it easier to build new homes near train stations. An obvious place to build them…
I am very worried about the government’s latest planning reforms published today, which will give a ‘default yes’ for developments near railway stations. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/nvviin1dIb
— Oliver Dowden (@OliverDowden) August 17, 2026
Dowden, who is still MP for Hertsmere, said:
“I am very worried about the government’s latest planning reforms published today, which will give a ‘default yes’ for developments near railway stations. Commuter hubs across Hertsmere, including Radlett, Cuffley, Borehamwood, Potters Bar and Bushey sit directly in the firing line of these changes, putting over 200 acres of our precious Green Belt at risk. I will continue to rigorously oppose these ill-thought-through changes that will do so much damage to our area.”
Is aggressive local NIMBYism still permitted in the new purging Tory Party? No one look at Chris Philp…
Big news in the Reform tent. Guido hears Montgomerie was informed of his suspension yesterday – prior to the broadcast of his interview with The Spectator but after he sat down for it…
Guido understands the suspension of Montie’s membership results from his repeated public criticism and straying from the party line. He is said to have broken party rules. They’ll have to talk to him and work out what to do next…
According to the FT, former Cabinet Secretary Chris Wormald received a staggering £500,000 payout after Starmer sacked him in February. A record sum which is almost double the expected amount, and paid by the taxpayer. Thanks Keir…
His sudden departure after just 14 months in the job – once Starmer decided he’d made the wrong decision in appointing him – is the reason it is so unbelievably high. Starmer himself will have personally signed it off. He also gave Wormald a peerage. He may as well have asked for a Ferrari, a private jet, and a mansion. Starmer was happy to hand over anything to see him gone, so long as the taxpayer footed the bill…
Miserable new figures from the ONS show there are 18,000 fewer vacancies available than a year ago, with the lowest overall total since the pandemic. Unemployment sat at 4.9% in the three months to June. Small businesses have tightened their belts the most, cutting 8,000 openings, in the face of higher employment taxes and operational costs. The cost of Labour…
Meanwhile private sector pay growth slowed once again to 2.8%, yet the pubic sector saw annual wages up by 6.1%. Inflation stats are out tomorrow. It can always get worse…
Peter Hitchens returns to the Guido Fawkes Show with Adam Cherry and Max Young to discuss why prisons are failing, why the UK is in terminal decline, and what he thinks of Andy Burnham. Click the video above to watch it on YouTube…
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The Energy Department has taken on staff from Labour’s favourite leftist think tank and the TUC. Civil servants not sufficiently left-wing?
As of last month (though prior to Burnham’s ascension) DESNZ said in response to a parliamentary question from Tory MP Charlie Dewhirst:
“An individual from the IPPR (Institute for Public Policy Research) has been seconded to work in Energy Infrastructure Group on industrial strategy.
An individual from the TUC (Trades Union Congress) has been seconded to work in Energy Infrastructure Group on workforce policy.”
The current Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh used to work at IPPR in 2016 and 2017. The think tank boasted last week about how many of its former personnel are inside government now. How much deeper does it go?
Lord Khan in the Telegraph: “I hope, and I say this in a non-pompous way, that the public service I do will bring rewards in this world and the hereafter,” he says. “I’m hoping the work I do is earning me Brownie points.”