David Longstaff

Five new clean energy Technical Excellence Colleges will help train thousands of young people for the industries of the future. With 400,000 clean energy jobs set to be created by 2030, we’re investing in the skills needed for the next generation of jobs in our communities.

The nut zealotry of Ed Miliband A new occasional series — No 2 At a time when global supply chains are vulnerable and we should be producing much more of our own food, E Miliband has today approved Springwell Solar Farm. It will cover seven square miles of prime Lincolnshire farmland. And the solar panels are likely to come from China (so much for green manufacturing jobs). Mili-Madness on stilts.

Labour just voted to block North Sea drilling during an energy crisis. Turning down more domestic supply and £25 BILLION in extra tax revenue. That means more taxes on ordinary people instead. Economically illiterate doesn't even begin to cover it.

This story below reveals the true extent of Angela Rayner's cluelessness when it comes to economics, the public finances and financial markets. I say that not with glee - but deep alarm and regret. If this is really how the probable next Prime Minister of the UK thinks - betting markets put a more than 50% chance on leadership coup by June - then the ousting of Starmer/Reeves by Rayner (or Miliband) is likely to spark an instant spike in gilt yields, from their already elevated levels. Just the fact that Rayner has said what she has below will put yet more upward pressure on the market-driven borrowing costs – whatever the Bank of England says is these days mere mood – that drive the interest rates faced by firms and households. I have nothing against more social housing – on the contrary, the arguments in favour of building more are at the heart of my book "Home Truths", along with policy mechanisms that could get that done. But if you think that, in the current environment, hard-nosed international creditors do - or even should - give a monkey's about the "social benefits" of subsidised housing then you are utterly and dangerously deluded. Again, I say this in sorrow, not glee. I knew plenty of smart people at the top of successive Blair governments. The architects of New Labour – at least the Blairites – always made sure there were financially literate and market-savvy people in the room when big decisions were made. That was important back then - when the national debt Britain had to service was 35pc of GDP. Now – with the same metric pushing 100pc of GDP and Britain paying more than Morocco to borrow money – it is absolutely vital. It seems that there is no-one – NO-ONE AT ALL – near the top of today's Labour government who has the first clue about the realities of public accounts and global finance. These are – once again – NOT tribal or party-political points, but statements of cold fact ....

Following the ongoing situation in Iran, I am convening a special Security College on Monday. For regional security and stability, it is of the utmost importance that there is no further escalation through Iran’s unjustified attacks on partners in the region.

Today the energy price cap has dropped by £117. We said we’d bring energy bills down - we meant it.