Chris Whiteside for the North

For Mountain Awareness day yesterday, the Ordinance Survey created this image using data from 2019-23 to show the common areas in England and Wales that @mountainresquk are most frequently called out to. If you are walking in the hills and mountains, in England Wales or indeed Scotland or Northern Ireland, be sure to take account of the fact that clocks have gone back and make sure you've factored in the different and shortening daylight hours.

I don't often quote the SNP first minister of Scotland or agree with him, but I very much agree with a message he posted on X, formerly Twitter, about the dreadful scenes at Dagestan airport where a mob stormed the airport looking for passengers from Israel. He posted: "Absolutely terrifying footage.  There is real fear amongst our Jewish communities worldwide about the rise of antisemitism.  I stand with our Jewish community in Scotland against antisemitism. We can not allow the forces of hatred to divide us." ( Humza Yousaf )

Don't forget that tonight marks the end of British Summer time in the UK and we get an extra hour, putting the clocks back an hour. Formally, after the first time the clocks reach 3am they reset to 2am.

We are starting our Network North plan by investing £150 million of savings from HS2 to improve bus services across the North and Midlands , with the £2 bus fare cap also extended across the country from next week. Taking the bus is the most popular form of public transport, which is why our ‘Get Around for £2’ scheme is in place, making bus fares cheaper for the millions of people that rely on them. Bus fares in areas where Conservatives are in charge have fallen, meanwhile fares continue to rise where Labour and the SNP are in power. Savings from HS2 are ensuring that, from next week, bus fares are continuing to be capped at £2 all the way to 31 December 2024, saving bus passengers money. Our Network North plan will see £1 billion of investment in bus services across the North and Midlands – the first £150 million of which we announced yesterday. This funding is only possible due to the long-term decision we have taken to redirect every penny of savings from HS2 in transport projects...

 Network North has been launched to improve transport links in the North of England.

 

A very powerful adddress by Arnold Schwarzenegger, former governor of Florida, about the evils of Anti-semitism and why nobody shoud go down the path of hate against Jews or any other group of people. This is worth listening to.  

The government has  announced   new support for the most vulnerable to access justice   following the expansion of a scheme to help people with court and tribunal fees, ensuring the most vulnerable in society get the justice they deserve. No matter what someone’s finances, it is vital they can get the justice they deserve amidst the rising cost of living challenges.  That is why the Conservative government is are making it easier for more people to get help with court fees through the Help with Fees scheme which has already helped tens of thousands of people pay court fees since we created the scheme in 2013, providing over £80 million in the last year alone to thousands of people.  These reforms will make the scheme more generous for those who need it most - so everyone has access to justice when needed. 

 

An awful lot of nonsense gets posted on X, formerly Twitter, but just every so often you find a real gem. Thanks to Dr Helen Ingram for tweeting this - she added the words "I have a new hero." I thought I was a book lover, but this is something else ...

 

My quote for today is the letter below, which appeared in a British newspaper this week, republished on Twitter. To anyone who imagined that Anti-Semitism is no longer a problem in this country - please note. It is a tragic shame that children on their way to school have to hide who they are.  Regardless of your opinions about what is going on in the Middle East - I have made mine very clear in other posts so will not repeat then here - there is no place for Anti-Semitism in Britain. It is completely unacceptable for anyone to threaten the Jewish community in Britain or make them feel unsafe. We stand with Britain's Jewish community.

New ONS  data   released today shows  the UK economy grew in August ,   but there's more to do to grow the economy and build a brighter future. Following the ONS’s revised UK growth figures, showing UK GDP is 1.8 per cent higher than before the pandemic – 2 per cent higher than previously thought the economy is continuing to grow. The latest official statistics show that the UK economy grew in August by 0.2 per cent, showing the UK economy is still resilient as we continue to deliver on the British people’s priorities by securing economic growth and halving inflation by the end of the year. While this is good news, we know there is more to do if we are to secure the long-term future of the British economy as we work to make the UK a securer and more prosperous country.

 Britain's Chief Rabbi, Sir Ephraim Mirvis, has published on X (formerly Twitter) a powerful call to the media to call Hamas what they are - terrorists. It is worth quoting in full. "Words matter. A number of media organisations have editorial guidelines directing them not to use the term 'terrorist' in their reporting of the conflict between Israel and Hamas.  These guidelines may be borne out of well-intentioned aspirations to appear accurate and impartial. But there is a point at which the failure to use the term 'terrorist', is itself a failure of accuracy and impartiality.  The depth of the terror that Hamas has inflicted upon innocent people across Israel in recent days is not in doubt. The murder of babies where they sleep is not the act of a 'freedom fighter'. The performative desecration of dead bodies for the benefit of social media, the rape of women and the beheading of civilians in their homes, are not the acts of 'militants'. The t...

The horrific events in the Middle East should not distract us from the threat posed to the whole world if Putin's unprovoked and illegal invasion of Ukraine is seen to succeed. That's why continued support for Ukraine is important and why the UK government has today  announced a new internationally funded package of military support worth £100 million , demonstrating our continued and unwavering support for Ukraine.  Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine must be stopped, and we are totally committed to supporting Ukraine in their fight against the Russian invasion. That is why Britain has announced an additional £100 million for Ukraine through the International Fund for Ukraine which will see additional military equipment provided to Ukraine, including mine field clearing equipment to help soldiers breach Russian lines. The people of Ukraine are fighting for democracy and the international rule of law – we will continue to stand side by side with Ukraine as they stand up to Put...

Today is  World Mental Health Day 2023 . World Mental Health Day (10 Oct) is  a day to talk about mental health and show everyone that mental health matters. It’s also a day to let people know that it’s okay to ask for help, no matter what you’re going through.   As the theme of World Mental Health Day highlights,  ‘mental health is a universal human right’ .

 

 Last night Prime Minister Rishi Sunak joined the Chief Rabbi, Sir Ephraim Mirvis,  at Finchley United Synagogue, standing in vigil with the local Jewish communities following the devastating terrorist attacks in Israel. We stand with Israel at this difficult time. Terrorism will not prevail. The Prime Minister visits the Finchley United Synagogue | Flickr

United Utilities has announced plans for a record £13.7 billion investment plan to deliver cleaner rivers, more reliable water supplies and extra support for customers struggling with bills in the North West. This would be the biggest investment in water infrastructure for more than 100 years and support 30,000 jobs across the region, including 7,000 which would be new jobs. At the same time the company is planning to double its financial support for those who need it, with a package of £525m to help one in six customers who may be struggling to pay their water bill. United Utilities says it has engaged with more than 95,000 people across Cumbria, Lancashire, Merseyside, Manchester and Cheshire to help shape the plan which addresses the things people said matter most to them. From 2025, the company is planning to deliver the best quality tap water by investing in aqueducts to safeguard water supplies for more than 2m customers and improve water quality for a further 1.4m. More than...

Yesterday,   the Prime Minister spoke with the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , following deadly attacks by Hamas against Israel. We stand with Israel unequivocally against these acts of terror. The Prime Minister offered Prime Minister Netanyahu any support Israel needs. The Prime Minister outlined the diplomatic work the UK is doing to ensure the world speaks with one voice in opposition to these appalling attacks. Prime Minister Netanyahu thanked the Prime Minister for the UK’s support.  The Prime Minister also stressed his commitment to ensuring the Jewish community in the UK feels safe and secure at this time. The leaders agreed to stay in close contact as the situation develops.

The flag of Israel was projected onto 10 Downing Street this evening as the Prime Minister proclaimed, "We stand with Israel." It is difficult to find the words to address how shocking the events in Israel this weekend are.  But it is clear that from early on Saturday morning, Hamas fired thousands of rockets at towns and cities in Israel, while Hamas terrorists from Gaza have invaded Israel and attacked both military and civilian targets, gunning down scores if not hundreds of unarmed men, women and children in their homes, and dragging about a hundred other people, many of them women and children, back to Gaza as hostages. There appears to be little doubt of the accuracy of reports of civilians being massacred and taken hostage, since the Hamas terrorists themselves have posted harrowing images of dead bodies and of hostages including children: there are also accounts of Jewish women being raped. The Israeli military says at least 700 people have died in the Hamas attacks i...

The Department of Transport has made £591,015 available in time limited grants to Westmorland and Furness council to restore bus services and increase the frequency of services. A report prepared by council officers to the council's Strategic Transport board said “Many of our local hospitality businesses and visitor attractions in Westmorland and Furness are suffering from the continued effects of the COVID pandemic and ongoing labour shortages. “Cumbria Tourism published its latest tourism tracker in March 2023 with business advisors Lamont Pridmore. The report identified that 86 per cent of businesses now say they are struggling to recruit with 59 per cent reporting it as a serious concern. “This is exacerbated by the long-term demographic challenges, lack of affordable housing and limited public transport facilities. Bus services which might be reinstated using this money include the 564 Sedbergh to Kendal route on Monday to Fridays which was previously axed earlier this year, a...

The area of the former Allerdale borough council has been ruled out of consideration as a potential host for an underground radioactive waste facility. Nuclear Waste Services has announced that the area was not suitable geologically for the disposal facility, known as a GDF, following study of existing data and new assessments to understand pm the basis of six siting factors, which were safety and security, community, environment, engineering feasibility, transport, and value for money, whether it would make sense for a GDF was located in Allerdale. A spokesman said:  “Following a comprehensive and robust evaluation of information it was concluded only a limited volume of suitable rock was identifiable and the geology in the area was unlikely to support a post closure safety case. “Nuclear Waste Services has therefore taken the decision not to take Allerdale further in the search for a suitable site to host a GDF.” Nuclear Waste Services added that initial assessments of existing d...

Because of the rail strike, the vast majority of the time today which I have not been at party conference has been or will be spent travelling. To avoid the risk of being too tired to drive safely, however, I did stop for a meal and watched the final episode of series one of the Star Wars steaming series "Ahsoka" before finishing the journey. It had perhaps the best Star Wars episode title ever, a wonderfully appropriate nod to C.S. Lewis:  

"If it's any consolation, I was surprised they gave me this slot as well." How veterans affairs minister Johnny Mercer handled one of the worst "Now follow that" I have ever seen, when he had to follow a barnstorming speech by Penny Mordaunt, shortly before the Prime Minister came on. 

  Another interesting day at the Conservative conference in Manchester. Whatever the press may write about the conference there are a lot of people here, there is a positive buzz in the conference atmosphere, I have met a lot of friends here. Nobody should ever take the British people for granted, and nobody at the Conservative conference is foolish enough to be complacent about the next election or imagine that we are going into it as anything other than the underdogs. But the outcome of the election is not a done deal and there is no sign at all of the party giving up without a fight. I will save most of my fire on HS2 until we actually get an announcement, which I understand is likely to be in the PM's speech tomorrow. If the rumours about what has been decided are correct, then making the announcement in his speech here in Manchester would be far better than ignoring the issue while he is here and slipping the decision out a few days after the conference. But I won't make a...

Today the health secretary announced three new medical schools as part of the NHS Workforce Plan. Health secretary Steve Barclay laid out plans for   the creation of three new medical schools and unveil a new £30 million fund to speed out the roll out of cutting-edge technology across the NHS, improving patient care in the long-term and helping to cut waiting lists.  A strong NHS workforce, backed my new technologies and medical advancements, will ensure our NHS is fit for the future and there for people when they need it.  That is why the Health Secretary today announced the creation of three new NHS medical schools to provide a further 205 undergraduate places from September next year and help us deliver on our long-term ambition to double the number of medical school places to 15,000 by 2031.  The Health Secretary also announced the creation of a new £30 million Health Technology Adoption and Acceleration Fund, helping local NHS organisations to rapidly adopt new ...

"If we pull the plug on Ukraine, it will be 10 times worse than in Afghanistan. This would be a death sentence for Taiwan. You missed the whole of World War II if you don't know how this movie ends." US Senator  Lindsey Graham  (Republican) 

Far and away the best speech of the conference so far, based both on my own humble opinion and the fact that it received the most enthusiastic standing ovation, was that of the Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt. Here is an extract from an email he sent to me (and no doubt to everyone else attending the conference) later today. "I opened the afternoon session at Conference by announcing more measures to back British workers and taxpayers. And it's thanks to this economic recovery, and the long-term decisions we've made to halve inflation, that we're able to announce another increase in the National Living Wage to at least £11 an hour. That's a pay rise for 2 million workers, and it means that the wages of the lowest paid are on average  £9,000 a year  higher than they were in 2010. Furthermore, I'm saving taxpayers' money by transitioning Britain to a more productive state, not a bigger state.  We're also freezing the expansion of the civil service, and...

 The second day of conference began for me with an early start: I had to get myself up at 6.30 am or so to come into Central Manchester for a 7.30am prayer breakfast organised by the Conservative Christian Fellowship with Open Doors, the body which monitors persecution of Christians around the world. It was a very good and extremely powerful session, with good contributions from several speakers but in particular the Bishop of Truro and Bishop-Designate of Winchester, who Jeremy Hunt when Foreign Secretary had commissioned to lead a team to prepare what became known as the "Truro report" into the persecution worldwide of religious minorities and what Britain should do about it. As so often, there is a massive disconnect between the conference as perceived by most of the delegates attending it and as written about by the press. No doubt the members attending, often referred to disparagingly as the "party faithful," tend to think things are going better for their part...

  The government has announced   the first 55 towns across the UK to benefit from our new £1 billion Long-term Plan for Towns , levelling up left behind towns as we deliver a brighter future for the UK.  55 towns will benefit from our new £1.1 billion endowment fund to deliver our long-term plan to regenerate left behind towns. The Long-Term Plan for Towns  will allocate a ten-year endowment-style fund of £20 million to be spent on local people’s priorities, like regenerating local high streets and town centres, improving transport and securing public safety. This long-term commitment will allow towns to plan for their future, rather than the end of the financial year. Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, said:  "Towns are the place most of us call home and where most of us go to work. But politicians have always taken towns for granted and focused on cities.   The result is the half-empty high streets, run-down shopping centres and anti-social behaviour that ...