Martin Kettle's Blog, page 71
January 25, 2016
Cecil Parkinson: the minister who strayed from the path to power
Parkinson’s rise up the Conservative ranks to become trade secretary was only as spectacular as his fall a few months later
For the last 30 years of his life – and probably now also in his death – it has been Cecil Parkinson’s fate to be remembered for only one thing. The revelation at the climax of the Conservative conference in 1983 that Parkinson, married and with three daughters, had fathered a daughter with his former secretary, Sara Keays, forced his resignation as Margaret Thatcher’s trade secretary. Not surprisingly, it also nearly wrecked his marriage. But there was more to Cecil Parkinson than his fall.
His resignation destroyed the career of a man who might otherwise have been prime minister. He returned to his wife, Anne, and turned his back on Keays and their daughter, Flora, who was born three months later in January 1984. But Parkinson had flown too near to the sun to ever recover from such a very public fall. Though he returned to government in 1987 and was briefly party chairman for a second time under William Hague, after the 1997 election defeat, his days at the top of British politics were over.
Related: Former Tory minister Cecil Parkinson dies aged 84
Related: Lord Parkinson obituary
Continue reading...
January 21, 2016
How did my communist family get it so wrong? Because politics was their religion | Martin Kettle
The first public event I can remember took place in 1953. I was three years old. But I don’t remember the Queen’s coronation, as other children of my age may have done. What I remember was my mother reading from the Daily Worker about the death of Stalin. This tells you a lot about what it was like to grow up in a communist family, even in a not particularly doctrinaire one like mine. We lived in a different world from normal people.
Related: The role of communist thinking in today’s world | Letters
Related: Party Animals: My Family and Other Communists by David Aaronovitch – dark memories of Marxism
This left of today looks suspiciously as if it is developing into another church to me
This left too seems happiest as a fellowship of true believers, dismissive of all those who remain sceptics
Continue reading...January 18, 2016
LSO/Heras-Casado/Weilerstein - bright and rewarding
Barbican, London
If the programme had a traditional feel, it also had freshness, balance and authority, and Alisa Weilerstein rode the changing moods of Elgar’s cello concerto with eloquence and assurance
After the boundary pushing of its recent Debussy and Dutilleux performances under Simon Rattle, the programming of this latest London Symphony Orchestra concert – an overture, a concerto and a symphony – had a distinctly traditional feel. But the Spanish conductor Pablo Heras-Casado and the US cellist Alisa Weilerstein are very much artists of today, and in their hands the old formula emerged as bright and rewarding as ever.
No orchestra in the world has a longer association with the Elgar cello concerto than the LSO, and Weilerstein’s account of the composer’s iconic late period work was the centrepiece of the evening. From first to last, though, her playing possessed a freshness and authority very much of its own, to which the rapport with Heras-Casado’s restrained control of the orchestra greatly contributed. Weilerstein rode the changing moods with eloquence and assurance, mesmerisingly so in some of the fastest passages, but she was always alive to dynamic contrasts and intimate inflections of phrase. The most striking aspect of a highly convincing account was the way Weilerstein managed to keep the balance between Elgar’s reflectiveness, which can sometimes swamp the work, and the composer’s very practical determination to press on.
Continue reading...January 7, 2016
I’m backing George Osborne’s Project Fear – if it helps keep us in Europe | Martin Kettle
The chancellor’s sudden economic pessimism is aimed at creating insecurities about Britain quitting the European Union
Perhaps we should let Labour go for a while. As a party of government, it has left the electorate behind to go on a voyage from which it may or may not return. A Labour government in 2020 is unlikely, although you never know, and may even be undesirable. Right now, every column about Labour’s internal arguments runs the risk of being an indulgence or just slightly irrelevant.
One day, this may change. But for the moment, only two parties are shaping this country: the SNP and the Conservatives. This is where British politics in 2016 will be fought out.
Related: George Osborne warns UK economy faces 'cocktail of threats'
Continue reading...January 6, 2016
Winning ugly: the art of Jeremy Corbyn's shambolic shuffle
The Labour leader’s long-winded and limited shakeup left him looking like a total loser. The look was deceptive
A veteran leftwinger such as Jeremy Corbyn is unlikely to have fond memories of the late Sir Robert Mark, who was London’s hard-as-nails reforming police chief in the street-fighting 1970s of Corbyn’s hot youth. The current Labour leader has always been more of a Marxist than a Markist.
But perhaps Corbyn should look again at Mark. That’s because the former Met commissioner once told an interviewer that the art of policing was “to win while appearing to lose”. Which is pretty much exactly what Corbyn has done in his shadow cabinet reshuffle.
Continue reading...January 3, 2016
I used to think booing was healthy. Now it’s out of control | Martin Kettle
In the 1980s, I wrote an article in the Guardian that began: “What’s wrong with booing at the opera, for goodness sake?” My view back then was that booing was unpleasant but at least it showed people cared. Why should British audiences feel they had to sit meekly and applaud all the time, whatever was served up to them? They shouldn’t have to take what they don’t like. And I concluded: “We need more booing in Britain, not less.”
Thirty years on, my wish has largely come true, to an extent that was hard to foresee back then, and not just in the opera house. We now have much more booing in Britain. Indeed, in some situations booing has almost become routine. But something else has changed too. I have got what I wished for – only now I don’t like it.
Related: Hurray for booing | Catherine Bennett
Continue reading...December 29, 2015
Storm Frank: Tadcaster evacuated as bridge partially collapses - as it happened
Cumbria and southern and central Scotland face more disruptionInitial estimate of flooding costs put at £5.8bnDavid Cameron defends flood funding levelsEnvironment Agency calls for ‘complete rethink’ on flood defence
8.18pm GMT
Looters targeted several flooded homes in York, according to police, who have been giving details of the thefts.
A number of houses were targeted into in a city street while they were submerged in dirty water, according to North Yorkshire police.
It came as a huge clear-up got under way in York as falling river levels and repairs to industrial water pumps saw many flooded streets drained of filthy water.
Acting Superintendent Mark Grange said: “It is extremely disappointing to see victims of the floods being targeted in this way.
Urge anyone with any information to contact the police, despicable criminal acts when communities are so vulnerable. https://t.co/LHUDrNSc71
8.15pm GMT
As they return to their flood-damaged homes, residents of York have been expressing anger and frustration about government decisions and the lack of adequate warning after years of false alarms.
Here is some video capturing their views.
8.08pm GMT
Here are some more images from the scene in Tadcaster, including photographers of some of the troops who have been drafted in to help with evacuations of residents from homes.
8.03pm GMT
Some Tadcaster residents have meanwhile been plunged into darkness as a power cut hit the part of the town which lies to the east of the river.
It’s not clear if this is linked to the bridge collapse.
7.59pm GMT
Here’s the Environment Agency map showing, in dark purple, the areas of Tadcaster where flood warnings are in place.
7.51pm GMT
An extra £50m in official funding has been released, which the government says will be available immediately to local authorities to help them support households and businesses affected by floods.
The funding extends the total level of of support pledged by the government for the winter floods to more than £100m, according to the Department for Communities and Local Government.
7.43pm GMT
The emergency services are still hard at it elsewhere. North Yorkshire fire service says it has just rescued four people from a car which was stuck in flood water in the York area.
We have just rescued 4 people from a car stuck in flood water using rescue boats with assistance from @WestMidsFire @HWFire #yorkfloods
7.36pm GMT
Homes in Tadcaster are being evacuated on either side of the bridge while people are being taken to a rest centre at Tadcaster Grammar school, according to North Yorkshire Police.
The school is to the west, on the town’s outskirts.
7.27pm GMT
The earlier decision to close the bridge due to structural fears had “almost certainly saved lives”, according to Johnny Lyttle, a civil engineer working on flood risk management projects in Yorkshire and the North East.
Huge respect for whoever closed Tadcaster Bridge due to structural fears. Almost certainly saved lives. @SelbyDC @NYorksPolice @EnvAgencyYNE
6.39pm GMT
The best picture so far showing the Tadcaster bridge collapse.
Can't believe #Tadcaster bridge has collapsed - town split in 2. This pic was taken by the fab Giles Rocholl. pic.twitter.com/ntYRr88BP2
6.37pm GMT
People are being evacuated in Tadcaster after the Environment Agency issued a severe flood warning in response to the bridge collapse there. The warning, issued at 5.47pm on Tuesday says:
This severe flood warning has been issued due to the structural failure of Tadcaster Bridge over the river Wharfe in Tadcaster. Significant flooding is expected in the Tadcaster area. Those in this area are advised to evacuate immediately. The situation is serious and there is a significant risk to life. Please follow the advice of the emergency services and officials in the area.
Scene in Tadcaster. Evacuees being sent to Tadcaster Grammar #Tadcaster #tadcasterbridge pic.twitter.com/kEbYpzwXoH
The bridge collapse, I think, is due to the sheer weight of water which is pressing against that bridge for so many days, and also the cumulative effect of just tree upon tree, all that debris flowing down that river and just smashing into that bridge over the past few days.
The effect of that closure, that could be closed now for months on end, and it’s just going to get the down in half
What we are worried about now is that debris that’s fallen under the bridge will create an obstacle for more debris that will be flooding down on the heavy rains top come. It would just be a travesty if there is more floods to come as a result of that debris and flood the hard work that we have done over the past few days.
Tadcaster bridge before it collapsed. Been there many 100's of years. Sad day for Tadcaster. pic.twitter.com/U0sRBzAvFF
The collapsed bridge at Tadcaster was c.1700, widened in 1791 by York architect John Carr who also worked at @fairfax_house. Tragic loss.
6.20pm GMT
Wind map at 1645. An awsome terrible beauty is #stormFrank. Look at the sweep of it - way down to the S of Portugal pic.twitter.com/NmHnWESt54
6.03pm GMT
Sarah Topping was close to the Tadcaster bridge as it collapsed and managed to capture this video of it crumbling into the swollen river Wharfe.
@BBCLookNorth Tadcaster bridge has collapsed following the flooding! pic.twitter.com/LA4zNd80CX
The bridge in #Tadcaster has collapsed pic.twitter.com/nIGBxU6iIe
Please avoid the area around #Tadcaster bridge. Emergency services are in attendance following reports it has collapsed.
5.51pm GMT
Helen Pidd, the Guardian’s north of England editor, has been in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, to see the clean-up efforts after the worst floods that anyone in the town can remember.
A group of Syrian refugees from Manchester had even pitched up ready to help, and were put to work shovelling sand into sandbags, in the car park of the Conservative club in Littleborough.
“We saw the pictures on TV and wanted to help,” said Yasser al-Jassem, 35, a teacher who came to Britain in the back of a lorry from Calais in May. “The people of Greater Manchester have been very good to us and so we wanted to offer our help to them.”
Related: Everyone mucks in as Rochdale prepares for next deluge
5.40pm GMT
Part of the historic bridge in the centre of Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, has collapsed into the River Wharfe.
The road was closed due to fears over the structural safety of the bridge but a small crowd gathered on Tuesday evening as stone could be heard falling into the water and creaking noises could be heard.
York floods: Tadcaster bridge partially collapses following heavy flooding https://t.co/DS5JCtXtWK pic.twitter.com/VT5TNwHDc6
5.25pm GMT
The government has been paying rich landowners to install flood defences that effectively channel water downstream to residential areas, George Monbiot reports this evening. He writes:
These floods were not just predictable; they were predicted. There were clear and specific warnings that the management of land upstream of the towns now featuring in the news would lead to disaster. On 9 December one of my readers told me this. “I live in the middle of Foss drainage board land above York, where flooding would not harm a single property but water is sent down as fast as possible to York.” A few days later another reader wrote to me, warning that “upstream flood banks now protect crops, not the city of York”. On 26 December the Foss exploded into York.
It’s a complaint I’ve heard repeatedly: internal drainage boards – which are public bodies but tend to be mostly controlled by landowners – often prioritise the protection of farmland above the safety of towns and cities downstream. By straightening, embanking and dredging rivers where they cut through fields, the boards accelerate the flow of water, making flooding downstream more likely. When heavy rain falls, some land must flood. We have a choice: fields or cities. And all over Britain, we have chosen badly.
Related: A deluge foretold: how Britain pays farmers to flood its homes | George Monbiot
5.15pm GMT
Have you got your flood kit ready?
With hours to go until Storm Frank is expected to hit, bringing fresh flooding to many parts of the UK, here is some advice on how to minimise the impact of flooding.
With flood warnings in place, 3 steps to help minimise the potential impact of flooding #StormFrank #floodaware pic.twitter.com/3JJca1dUHG
5.11pm GMT
A reminder that fire and rescue workers from across the country have given up their Christmas holidays to provide support to inundated communities across the north.
Water rescue experts from Northamptonshire fire and rescue have been deployed in Yorkshire since Boxing Day, helping residents in areas deep under water.
Northamptonshire fire and rescue service are very proud of our firefighters and the support they have provided to the communities of West Yorkshire and North Yorkshire. Our firefighters are well trained and professional specialist teams. These firefighters have committed to support this deployment on rest days and many have curtailed their family gatherings and Christmas celebrations to make themselves available to support this national deployment and help communities in other counties.
4.36pm GMT
Ireland, too has faced flooding. And one woman took the opportunity to be exceedingly silly by tying a rope to the back of a 4x4 and wakeboarding through flooded roads in Tipperary.
The waterskier, who cut a wake down the N65 road to Galway, was later named by Irish men’s site JOE.ie as Lindsay Whelan.
4.19pm GMT
York residents express anger and frustration about government decisions and the lack of adequate warning after years of false alarms as they return to their flood-damaged homes, in this video from ITN.
With a layer of silt covering the entire ground floor of his house, Rodger Pierce accuses politicians of hiding behind the emergency services to deflect from the decision they made to cut funding
4.10pm GMT
The number of flood alerts, which call for residents to be prepared for possible flooding, has been upgraded to 71 from 49 earlier in the day.
To check if your area is one of those that could be flooded as heavy rains move in tonight check the Environment Agency’s latest flood warnings. Most of the new flood alerts seem to be clustered around Devon and Cornwall, south-west England.
4.05pm GMT
Appleby, Braithwaite, Cockermouth, Egremont, Flimby, Glenridding and Keswick are the main areas of concern in Cumbria ahead of the arrival of Storm Frank, police have said.
Cumbria is one of the regions specifically mentioned by the Met Offices amber warning for rainfall overnight and into tomorrow, although the police statement says they are not expected disruption as bad as that caused by Storm Desmond earlier this month. Superintendent Mark Pannone, of Cumbria Constabulary, said:
The further spell of rain and high winds is likely to cause some disruption across north and west Cumbria. The Strategic Coordination Group are doing everything possible to ensure that the county is prepared for the forecasted conditions.
I would advise those who live or work in the areas of concern to keep up to date with the latest weather forecasts and Environment Agency advice.
Partner agencies preparing for further weather disruption as Storm Frank approaches #CumbriaFloods https://t.co/raNVKXs2fn
3.58pm GMT
The army’s north-west England press office has posted this video of a Chinook silhouetted against grey skies as it airlifts sandbags to fill the breach in flood defences near Croston, Lancashire, scene of some of Boxing Day’s worst flooding.
The fight is on to stop conditions in the town worsening tonight when Storm Frank brings heavy downpours across the west coast of Britain and in Northern Ireland. The Environment Agency currently has three severe flood warnings in place for Croston.
RAF CH47 Chinook lifting sandbags to breach in River defences at River Douglas, Croston, Lancs. https://t.co/ttde1fLr6N
3.21pm GMT
Flooding in York has inundated the city’s well-known Jorvik tourist attraction for the first time in its 32-year history. The exhibition features an underground ride around a mock-up of a Viking city. But today groups of mannequin families and warriors stood in the dark, in more than a foot of dirty river water.
Video: Flooding in York closes Jorvik tourist attraction https://t.co/ATSCBG1gkC pic.twitter.com/ceEi4LeLf0
3.17pm GMT
Someone is blaming the EU for the flooding.
Am surprised no one has blamed the EU for the #floods in the UK yet. There must be some anti-EU angle, no? Oh, wait! https://t.co/h19uRFyAfi
3.04pm GMT
The Lib Dem leader Tim Farron has called on the chancellor George Osborne to guarantee additional funding to repair infrastructure in flooded areas.
In a letter to the chancellor, Farron said:
The government’s approach to flood defences is short-sighted. In 2012, I said more funding was needed to deal with the torrential rain and ‘freak’ weather that was becoming more prevalent. In the years since I have repeated that call and do so again today. We need to urgently review every shelved flood defence scheme. The prime minister pulling on his wellies, wading through some water for a photo op and doing a couple of interviews does not make people believe he is doing enough. He needs to show he cares about the north by following up his words with deeds.
2.57pm GMT
2.33pm GMT
Lord Krebs, a member of the climate change committee, which provides advice to the government, has in effect accused the government of complacency on flood defence. Appearing on BBC Radio 4’s the World at One, he said:
The biggest single risk from climate change to this country is the increased likelihood of flooding ... We have in our report to parliament highlighted this as the number one risk and we have said the government needs to rethink its whole strategy of managing flood risk. Unfortunately the government said in its reply ‘we’re very happy with what we’re doing at the moment.’ I hope as a result of recent events, the government will look again.
We’ve made it more difficult for the uplands to absorb water. Instead we’ve channelled it into gullies so it runs straight off the hills down into the valleys and causes problems of flooding.
2.13pm GMT
Rory Stewart, the floods minister, has been challenged over his contention that it would take seven to eight months to get EU solidarity funding for the floods. A press spokesman for Lib Dem MEP Catherine Bearder has contacted the Guardian to dispute Stewart’s assertion.
Under new rules, 10% of the funding could be made available almost immediately as an advance payment. If the latest estimates of £5bn damage are correct, this means the UK would be entitled to £125m of funding in total and £12.5m immediately.
Bearder recently met EU commissioner Corina Cretu who confirmed the UK would be eligible for this funding and was surprised no application is being made, as it has to be made within 12 weeks of when the flooding first hit.
It is baffling that the government has still not applied for EU solidarity funding. Millions of pounds could be made available within weeks to help hard-hit communities rebuild. The Conservatives must not allow their divisions over Europe to deprive flood victims of desperately-needed funds.
The 10% advance payment can be made available on average within four to six weeks from the date of the application, following a commission decision. The remaining amount of the EUSF aid is paid out on average within six to nine from the date of the application. The procedure requires several steps: assessment of the application, commission communication proposing an amount of aid to the European parliament and council who have to approve it before it can be paid out. Once the appropriations become available in the EU budget the commission adopts a decision awarding the aid.
1.50pm GMT
Henry McDonald has more on Storm Frank and Ireland.
Ten-metre high waves have been spotted off the Irish coast, according to Met Eireann at lunchtime today. Meanwhile, people living alongside Ireland’s longest river, the Shannon, have been advised to stay indoors if at all possible through Tuesday.
Met Éireann said that upwards of 40mm of rain is expected in counties Donegal, Monaghan, Cavan, Sligo, Roscommon, Mayo, Leitrim, Clare, Limerick, Tipperary as well as all of the Leinster region on the east coast except Wicklow over the next 24 hours from this afternoon.
12.53pm GMT
The head of the Environment Agency is returning to the UK from holiday in the Caribbean amid criticism of his absence from the UK as the body battles with some of Britain’s worst flooding for decades, writes Ben Quinn.
After avoiding the question of Sir Philip Diley’s whereabouts amid reports that he was at his luxury home on Barbados, the agency finally released a statement shortly before lunchtime saying that he had spent Christmas on the island with his family.
“He is keeping in regular touch with the Environment Agency on its response to the current flooding, and available to participate in any necessary discussions,” it added. ”He has been in Barbados where his family are from and we’re expecting him back in the UK in the next 24 hours.
12.47pm GMT
Damien Gayle has a weather roundup, with Yorkshire communities along the rivers Aire, Ouse and Swale expected to bear the brunt of fresh flooding.
Residents in northern England, south and central Scotland and Northern Ireland should brace themselves for yet more downpours and potential new flooding overnight, as Storm Frank brings another spell of wet and windy weather set to fall on already waterlogged ground.
Severe flood warnings are already in place in nine areas in England, with the Environment Agency warning people in a further 42 locations to take immediate action ahead of expected flooding.
12.36pm GMT
Henry McDonald in Belfast has sent this update on Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic.
An amber weather warning has been issued for parts of Northern Ireland with roads already closed due to flooding, ferries to Scotland cancelled and the police telling motorists to avoid coastal areas over the next 24 hours.
Severe gales are expected across the region from 3pm this afternoon to late into Tuesday night. Six roads in rural parts of counties Down, Tyrone and Fermanagh are closed, with more expected due to flooding as Storm Frank batters the province later.
12.29pm GMT
To clamp down on thieves – described by one victim as the “scum of the earth” – police in the Calderdale Valleys region have accepted help from motorcycle clubs to provide extra patrols, PA reports.
Some thieves are preying on flood victims who have left their property out to dry, according to West Yorkshire police in the Calderdale Valleys.
A spokesman said: “As the cleanup of Mytholmroyd, Todmorden and Hebden Bridge continues, we are being made aware of persons attending the area and removing items which are being left outside properties either for disposal or to dry out.
12.26pm GMT
12.12pm GMT
An amber warning for flooding has been issued for Northern Ireland, where several roads have been closed due to Storm Frank.
Weather warnings have been updated to include Northern Ireland in the amber 'be prepared' warning for flooding. pic.twitter.com/P02Sac5HkP
12.04pm GMT
A road bridge in West Yorkshire has been closed after the carriageway crumbled and collapsed after the floods, the Press Association reports.
Elland Bridge, a busy route between Elland and Brighouse, near Huddersfield, could take months to repair. The road surface on the bridge, which crosses both the river Calder and Calder and Hebble Navigation canal, is understood to have partly collapsed in the early hours of this morning. Roads on to the bridge have been closed by police and Calderdale council said diversions are in place due to structural concerns.
12.00pm GMT
The environment secretary, Elizabeth Truss, who chaired a Cobra meeting this morning, says Environment Agency teams are deployed in large numbers in the worst affected and most at risk communities.
“With Storm Frank forecast for this evening, we remain committed to doing everything we can to help those communities affected,” the EA said in a statement.
I am also working to ensure that we have in place the long-term plans we need to protect our communities in the years ahead. We have capital investment confirmed for the next six years – a first for any government. We are already spending £2.3bn over that period to better protect 300,000 homes from flooding, but in light of recent events we need to be sure we have the very best possible plans in place for flood prevention and protection across the whole country. That is why we have already commenced a national flood resilience review to better protect the country from future flooding and increasingly extreme weather events.
Latest statement from Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss on flooding in the north of England. https://t.co/AQVyrYki6b #flood
11.43am GMT
The milk is getting through in York, despite flood disruption.
UK - Bottles of milk delivered are left on sandbags placed as defences against flooding in York. By @JustinTallis pic.twitter.com/DbQnkFgdPs
11.03am GMT
Bikers are showing their community spirit.
Biker gangs are patrolling Hebden Bridge and Mytholmroyd this week to scare off looters at night pic.twitter.com/bvEq5EEd7B
11.01am GMT
Seema Kenneday, Conservative MP for South Ribble, is grateful for help from the armed forces.
Thank you to Army coming to help repair breach in Douglas at Croston #floodaware pic.twitter.com/Npsqrtqrad
10.40am GMT
Northern Ireland is already being affected by Storm Frank. Several roads have been closed and P&O has cancelled sailings between Larne and Cairnryan.
#StormFrank latest: Roads closed across Northern Ireland due to flooding https://t.co/bEMcBnubxc
10.24am GMT
The EA says pumps are now working at the Foss Barrier in York. The barrier prevents flood water from the river Ouse backing up the river Foss.
The Foss Barrier, #York is now operational + in the closed position pumping water from the R. Foss into River Ouse pic.twitter.com/ADcmNGCfhW
10.16am GMT
In Cumbria, police are urging people to get their shopping done before Storm Frank hits.
#stormfrank get 2the shops/do any driving 2day whilst the weather is a bit calmer Once #frankie arrives please stay indoors unless urgent
9.59am GMT
The Manchester Evening News reports that every household in Rochdale affected by the flooding is to get a £500 payment from the council to help them get back on their feet. Council officers are working to identify the households affected to work out how to get the financial aid to them. The council are also speaking with the government about more substantial, longer-term payments to help residents and businesses.
Each household affected by flooding in Rochdale to be given £500 by council https://t.co/SIQIley4bU pic.twitter.com/zV6XIjB7n2
9.50am GMT
The floods minister, Rory Stewart, was asked on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme whether the government would seek EU funding for the floods. This is what he said.
That’s again something we’re open-minded on but to be honest about that it can be seven or eight months to process, it’s not going to be able to help people who are immediately affected. So our real priority at the moment is to get the money to the people who are affected and making sure businesses and householders get the support now.
9.44am GMT
9.36am GMT
Front page of Yorkshire Post.
PM facing tide of flood fury. Front page of today's @yorkshirepost. #yplive pic.twitter.com/UykAEXYRvr
9.21am GMT
Some telephone lines at Sheffield’s Royal Hallamshire hospital have stopped working due to damage to the region’s phone systems from flooding in Leeds. Connection problems with the lines, including the hospital’s main number, started on Monday and are still affecting services today.
NEW: Phone lines down at Sheffield's Royal Hallamshire Hospital due to Leeds flooding https://t.co/0ICqblgYYB pic.twitter.com/OrOl3zyFCY
9.19am GMT
The Met Office says Storm Frank will bring gales or severe gales to western parts of the UK from Tuesday evening into Wednesday. Gusts of 55-65mph are likely, with gusts reaching 70-80mph in exposed areas, particularly in north-west Scotland, and later Shetland.
Rainfall is expected to cause some disruption with persistent, heavy rain over parts of Northern Ireland, west and south-west Scotland, spreading to north-west England and Wales through Wednesday. Rainfall totals of 20-40mm are expected widely across these areas but with 80mm possible over high ground and some exposed areas in south-west Scotland and Cumbria have the potential to receive 100-150mm of rainfall.
9.06am GMT
A severe flood warning remains for York city centre and areas of Huntington, Tang Hall, Osbaldwick and Foss Islands. The EA says it is testing repairs on the Foss Barrier that were put in place during daylight hours. Levels on the river Ouse have fallen from a peak of 5.2 metres to 4.8 metres during Monday, but levels will remain high and flood water will remain in affected areas throughout this week. Rainfall is forecast on Wednesday, which may have a further impact on this area, says the EA.
8.48am GMT
More rain, more flooding says the Met Office.
Greatest impact from #StormFrank will be rain. Unfortunately more #flooding looks likely. Big rainfall totals. Simon pic.twitter.com/lzBgkpJSG7
8.45am GMT
Martin Kettle addresses the north-south theme cited by several northern politicians and the Yorkshire Evening Post in a powerful editorial on Monday. In his column, he writes:
As the Bible says, it rains on the just and the unjust alike. But you only have to look at the London focus of so much infrastructural renewal, never mind the mere existence of the Thames Barrier, to see why there is a genuine grievance here. London gets the projects it wants , while the people of Kirkstall and Rochdale have to brush the water and the dirt out of their flooded homes.
The most important thing about the Christmas floods of 2015 is, without doubt, the misery of having your house, your street, your village and now even your city under water. But it’s almost as important that it is our country, northern England, where this is happening, though perhaps it just doesn’t feel like that in Chelsea or Shoreditch. This is a test of national solidarity as well as government.
8.41am GMT
The floods minister, Rory Stewart, has defended the cuts made in the previous coalition government to flood defences saying that £1.8bn had been spent in the last parliament.
He told Good Morning Britain:
Underlying the central problem I’m afraid is the weather. We have never had rain like this before. We have been dealing with this for nearly three-and-a-half weeks now. We started with more rain than had ever been seen in a day in the United Kingdom. We have had more rain than has ever happened in this month.
Rivers here which haven’t flooded in this way for 75 years are 15 feet up. I’m afraid that is the fundamental problem here. We are spending an enormous amount of money on flood defences. In the end what is beating us is this relentless rain.
We cannot be in a situation where there is stop-start investment,” he said. McDonnell rejected the argument that money for foreign aid should be spent on flood defence at home, saying that aid money is being spent on tackling climate change at source.
8.31am GMT
As communities continue to clean up after the Boxing Day floods, gales and downpours are forecast from this evening, with Cumbria and southern and central Scotland most at risk of more disruption from Storm Frank.
The Met Office has issued amber warnings with up to 40mm of persistent rain expected widely across Northern Ireland, west and south-west Scotland, Wales and north-west England – flooded by Storm Desmond – by tomorrow. Twice that – 80mm – is possible over high ground, with some exposed areas in south-west Scotland and Cumbria warned they could be hit by 100-150mm. It said the conditions were “not unusual for this time of year” and comparable with the storms of the winter of 2013-14.
Continue reading...December 28, 2015
David Cameron in wellies won’t mollify flood victims in the north | Martin Kettle
Growing up in postwar Leeds, you always knew where the Yorkshire Post stood on the issues of the day. You knew where its sister paper the Yorkshire Evening Post stood, too. The clue was in the name of the Victorian-era company that owned them both – Yorkshire Conservative Newspapers Limited.
These were monopoly local papers which, in the manner of Tories of the Harold Macmillan era, routinely refused to use the word Labour, always preferring to talk about the Socialists. The Tory bias was a big reason why, though we lived in Yorkshire, my family always took, along with the Daily Worker, the more liberal Manchester Guardian.
Related: North-south divide cited as factor in Yorkshire flooding devastation
Only the absence of nationalism stops the north being, politically speaking, another Scotland
Continue reading...December 18, 2015
Best of 2015: our classical critics pick their favourite live events
There were masterly turns by prodigious youngsters, and vigorous performances by mature masters – across the UK, it’s been a fascinating classical year
See our overall top 10 classical concerts and operas of 2015Top 10s from Tim Ashley, Andrew Clements, George Hall and Tom ServicePeter Hill and Benjamin Frith
Pianists Hill and Frith’s February recital of Messiaen and Stravinsky – serenity and resonance – at Cardiff’s School of Music still stands out. Read the full review
December 17, 2015
Britain’s pro-Europeans need to find a Shirley Williams | Martin Kettle
When a woman is 85, and has spent the best part of 50 years in parliament, she is entitled to call it a day with honour. Nevertheless, there is something poignant and symbolic about Shirley Williams choosing to retire from politics on the very day the prime minister begins the process that could lead to Britain leaving Europe.
Related: The cheerleaders for a Brexit must say what it will look like | Pat McFadden
Related: The real threat facing Britain is our own isolationism
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