Welcome to Blog No20 of my Weekly Digest. A politics blog, which tries to makes sense of the past week’s events in N Ireland, UK and the USA. It’s been another big week in the world of politics, particularly in the US, where we had a mercifully incident free Presidential inauguration like no other. This was the week that Americans waved goodbye to the most divisive and controversial President since Nixon. Or, did they? 🤔 There is also plenty to report nearer home, too, so stick around to read my tuppence-worth on what’s been happening. As always, we begin right here in N Ireland.
I’ll start with a story about the NI Victims’ Payment Scheme, often referred to as the Trouble’s Pension, which was set up to provide money for people who were badly injured during the Troubles, with pension style payments of between £2,000 and £10,000 a year for the rest of their lives. Upon their death a spouse or carer would still get the payments for a further 10 years. Applications for the process are expected to open in March and the scheme has been estimated to cost up to £800m over its lifetime. Apart from wrangles over the definition of what constitutes a victim and Sinn Fein complaints that some Republican victims have been overlooked, the scheme has been broadly welcomed across the political spectrum. It has been very regrettable, therefore, that it’s implementation has been dogged by legal challenges and delays for various reasons. When the legislation for the scheme was finally approved in Westminster everyone affected thought it would only be a matter of sorting through the administration of the scheme. However, in the latest setback for victims and their families, another row has emerged around who is going to pay for it – Westminster or Stormont!
NI Executive ministers argue that as the scheme was passed by Westminster, it should produce the funding. However, speaking in the House of Commons on Wednesday, NI Secretary, Brandon Lewis said: “We must make sure progress is not diverted – this is a devolved matter and devolved matters are funded by the block grant. (The block grant being the pre-agreed amount of money NI receives from the UK Exchequer each year, worked out via a mechanism known as the Barnett Formula.) Inevitably, there has been quite an adverse reaction to Mr Lewis’ comments from NI politicians. Baroness O’Loan – a former Police Ombudsman for NI – accused the UK government of a “dereliction of duty”. Lord Dodds of the DUP and Baroness Ritchie of the SDLP, as well as Lord Empey (UUP) – also raised their concerns about the delay in resolving the funding dispute.
Needless to say, the victims themselves have been left angry and disappointed, yet again, at this political prevarication. On Tuesday the victims’ group the Wave Trauma Centre said it was “outraged” by the dispute between Stormont and Westminster. Alan McBride from the group said victims had been treated “disgracefully” due to a “long, long road of delay and deny” by politicians. Well, indeed! I think it’s time the UK Government stepped up to the plate on this one, to be honest. Perhaps, the Troubles victims have also become the unfortunate victims of Tory weariness at what they see as the constant fiscal profligacy and ‘begging bowl’ antics of the NI Executive over things like NAMA and RHI and that extra cash gleaned from the DUP-Tory Confidence & Supply arrangement under Teresa May? However, that should be no excuse to treat victims of the Troubles in this way! I think I’ll give the last word on this to Stormont Justice Minister, Naomi Long.
Just when we thought a semblance of togetherness and collegiality had broken out in the Office of First and Deputy First Ministers, what with the resumption of joint press conferences to deal with the heightened Covid threat, up pops that hoary old elephant in the room, the border poll! Who the heck brought that up now? Well, a former Conservative Chancellor of the Exchequer, that’s who! Plus, a well timed opinion poll on the matter!
George Osborne wrote this week in the London Evening Standard. – “By unleashing English nationalism Brexit has made the future of the UK the central political issue of the coming decade. Northern Ireland is already heading for the exit door,”….. “By remaining in the EU single market, it is for all economic intents and purposes now slowly becoming part of a united Ireland. Its prosperity now depends on its relationship with Dublin (and Brussels), not London. The politics will follow,” he added. Osborne then stuck the boot in. “Northern Irish unionists always feared the mainland was not sufficiently committed to their cause. Now their short-sighted support for Brexit (and unbelievably stupid decision to torpedo Theresa May’s deal that avoided separate Irish arrangements) has made those fears a reality.”…. “It pains me to report that most here and abroad will not care,” he said. Ouch! Osborne’s remarks come at the same time as a survey on the prospects of a border poll, commissioned by the Sunday Times, which found that 51% of people in NI want a referendum on Irish unity in the next five years.
Predictably, Osborne has been roundly criticised for his remarks in unionist circles. East Belfast DUP MP, Gavin Robinson dismissively stated – “He can be as rude as he likes but he is yesterday’s man,” ….. “He is clearly motivated by internal Tory frictions and he is clearly trying to settle some old scores with colleagues for whom he has no regard. I don’t put a lot of store in what he has said.” He agreed, however, that unionists needed to gather themselves to meet the challenges ahead. And this centenary year of the NI state was the time to do it. UUP leader, Steve Aiken, was also scathing of Osborne’s remarks.
Meanwhile, DUP leader Arlene Foster has said a potential vote on a united Ireland would be “absolutely reckless”. “We all know how divisive a border poll would be, and for us in Northern Ireland what we have to do is come together to fight against Covid, and not be distracted by what would be absolutely reckless at this time.” Equally predictable perhaps was Michelle O’Neill’s response….
The coronavirus pandemic has meant our MLA’s and MPs have had to adapt to a new way of working, often setting up office in their homes rather than at Stormont or Westminster. However, that hasn’t stopped them claiming thousands of pounds in expenses. Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority figures for the 2020-21 financial year show MPs across the UK had claimed over £9 million as of January 6th.
Ian Paisley was the UK’s fifth most expensive MP, setting the taxpayer back more than a quarter of a million pounds. He was followed on the list by his party colleague, Jim Shannon. North Antrim MP Paisley cost a whopping £253,824 last year, while Stangford MP Shannon cost £252,298, according to the figures from the TaxPayers’ Alliance. A DUP spokesman said: “All claims were properly approved by the authorities in line with their parliamentary duties. Both MPs use these allowances to provide a first-class constituency service.” Worth every penny, then, I’m sure you’ll agree!
Speaking of MP’s, there has been some important activity in the House of Commons over the last week. Not least, the vote on a key amendment to the Trade Bill. The House of Lords proposed an amendment to the trade bill that would have required future trade agreements to be scrutinised by parliament, with a view to ensuring standards are retained. However, the key amendment fell on Tuesday night by 353 votes to 277. The new post-Brexit arrangements for food imports and food production standards in the UK would allow ministers to make significant changes to existing food safety regulations without consultation. The government has vowed not to allow the import of chlorinated chicken and hormone-treated beef, but has refused to sign those pledges into law, interestingly! It’s a good job the current government has proved to be entirely trustworthy in all matters of ethical integrity, then, isn’t it? 🤦🏻♂️
In another significant Commons vote, Labour’s non-binding motion pressing the Government to maintain the temporary increase in Universal Credit was approved by 278 votes to zero, after Boris Johnson ordered his MPs to abstain. Tory MPs have come under fire for ignoring the vote on extending a £20-a-week uplift to millions of families. The Prime Minister did suffer a mini backbench rebellion during the symbolic vote, as Tory MPs, mainly from the so-called red wall northern constituencies, lined up to criticise the planned cut. Labour leader, Keir Starmer, also slammed Conservatives for their cowardice in snubbing the vote, tweeting: “They didn’t even show up”. The move will hit 5.7million low income families – 39% of whom already have a jobs. The PM is under growing pressure to reverse plans to slash the monthly benefits allowance on April 12. Remember, this is a man who recently complained that his £161,401 PM’s salary wasn’t enough to live on, but who is now resisting the extension of a £20 per week uplift to families on the breadline, in the middle of an unprecedented global pandemic! Empathy may not be his strong point, me thinks!
In other news from the Commons, the powerful Public Accounts Committee was giving NHS Track and Trace chief, Baroness Dido Harding, a grilling this week. She defended spending £1,000 a day each on over 900 consultants from Deloitte. Yes, you read that correctly! Harding told the PAC Committee she felt it was “appropriate” to bring in external help in “extreme emergency circumstances” such as that faced by the country during the coronavirus crisis. And David Williams, the Second Permanent Secretary at the Department of Health and Social Care also insisted private companies are not profiteering. The top civil servant said the cost and effectiveness of work by consultants such as Deloitte on England’s test and trace scheme is closely monitored. Well, that’s a relief! I’m sure £1000 per consultant, per day, is remarkably good value for money, really, given how ‘world beating’ the entire enterprise has been! 🤦🏻♂️
The Government have also come under increasing pressure this week to initiate a plan to reopen schools at the earliest opportunity. A group of backbench Tory MP’s, in particular, have become increasingly irked at the lack of progress or realisation of any discernible plan for an education restart. Hapless Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson, has refused to say what plans have been made, if any. Teaching union chiefs believe vaccinating staff, alongside testing kids for coronavirus, is key to fully reopening schools. The NASUWT teaching union have launched a ‘Vaccinate to Educate’ campaign.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Jenny Harries told the Commons Education Select Committee she was unable to rule out schools staying shut after February half-term, saying it was not a “fixed date”. Dr Harries also controversially claimed teachers were at no greater risk from Covid than other professions – although they are in the workplace while many others are at home, educating key workers’ children. However, the National Education Union revealed that the average rate of infection is 1.9 times higher among primary and secondary teachers than the general population – and twice as high for special school teachers. For teaching assistants and other staff, it is three times higher in primary schools and almost seven times higher in special schools. Five times more pupils are attending England’s schools than during the first lockdown. Statistics showed 21% of pupils were attending state primary schools last Wednesday, which is well up on the figures during the first lockdown.
Finally, before I depart the UK for the US, Boris Johnson has faced criticism this week over his slow decision making throughout the pandemic, after it emerged he overruled Priti Patel’s call in March to close Britain’s borders. The Home Secretary has admitted that the UK should have acted sooner last year to protect the country from new cases of coronavirus arriving and was quite happy to throw Boris under the bus for it, so to speak. Chief Scientific Advisor, Sir Patrick Vallance also claimed he had been “pushing continuously” to go earlier and harder with restrictions to get on top of the virus. In what many will interpret as a direct criticism of Johnson and the Government, he added: “Waiting and watching simply doesn’t work”. It looks like the blame game recriminations have started early. Watch this space, as this may get ugly!
And so to America and a bright, new dawn! In his inauguration speech, Joe Biden struck the perfect note and tone. The overall key themes that I took away from it were unity, democracy and hope. In fact, he used the word ‘unity’ 8 times in his 21 minute speech! He also used the word ‘democracy’ 11 times! To overcome the challenges that America faces and to “restore the soul of America,” Biden said, requires more than words. “It requires the most elusive of all things in a democracy. Unity. Unity.”
Emphasising the immense challenges that lie ahead, Biden stated; “We face an attack on our democracy and on truth. A raging virus, growing inequities, the sting of systemic racism, a climate in crisis…we will be judged, you and I, by how we resolve these cascading crises of our era.” ……….. “We have much to do in this winter of peril and significant possibilities.” “Together we will write an American story of hope, not fear. Of unity not division, of light not darkness.”
The supremely well crafted speech continued with a series of statements beginning with the words ‘here we stand’, again emphasising unity of purpose and togetherness in the face of adversity. “Here we stand in the shadow of the Capitol dome, completed amid the Civil War when the union itself was literally hanging in the balance. Yet we endured. We prevailed. ……..And here we stand, just days after a riotous mob thought they could use violence to silence the will of the people, to stop the work of this democracy, to drive us from this sacred ground. It did not happen. It will never happen. Not today. Not tomorrow, not ever. Not ever.” “This is a great nation,” Biden continued. “We are good people. And over the centuries, through storm and strife, in peace and in war, we’ve come so far…Through civil war, the Great Depression, world war, 9/11, through struggle, sacrifice and setbacks, our better angels have always prevailed.” Biden said America faces an historic moment of crisis and challenge. “Unity is the path forward,” he added. There’s that word unity again!
“This is democracy’s day. A day of history and hope of renewal and resolve through a crucible for the ages. America has been tested anew and America has risen to the challenge. ……. We’ve learned again that democracy is precious. Democracy is fragile. At this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed.”
The 46th President also paused in his inaugural address to pray for the more than 400,000 people in America who have been killed by Covid-19, a sign that the days of ignoring the coronavirus’s threat were over. He went to Arlington National Cemetery with Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama, reconvening the club of past presidents in a show of respect for his office. The sort of respect that has been sadly absent for the last four years!
And let’s not overlook the show stealing contribution of America’s first youth poet laureate, 22 year old Amanda Gorman. Remember that name! She addressed the inauguration with a poem written for the political moment, describing “a force that would shatter our nation” and the work Americans must do to rebuild and reconcile. She was magnificent and represented a very different America from the unrepresentative one that was foisted on us during the previous weeks.
A celebratory musical evening followed Mr Biden’s inauguration ceremony earlier in the day, with musical contributions led by Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lopez. Gaga led the way, superbly singing the US National Anthem and Lopez sang a medley of This Land is Your Land and America. And it didn’t end there. We were treated to a smorgasbord of rock and Hollywood royalty, including cameos by Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, Dave Grohl, and Katy Perry among others, performing her greatest hit in front of actual fireworks!
Tom Hanks, many people’s choice of fantasy President, added some gravitas with his reassuring, dulcet toned speech. Although, I did think it might be a shame for him to have survived all that time on that deserted island, only to die of exposure on the steps of the Capitol building! He looked foundered, as we say! There was clearly a determination to inject as much razzmatazz and stardust as possible (and no one does razzmatazz like the Americans!) into the proceedings to make up for the unfortunate and unprecedented restrictions surrounding this inauguration. And it worked! It was fabulous!
And as for Trump? Well, I don’t want to dwell on him too much, for this was very much Joe’s moment, despite Trump’s best attempts to try to steal the limelight one last time! President Trump, as he still was, set off from the White House early in the morning for the very last time, but did so without the customary military send off. A tradition denied to him by the Pentagon. Instead, he had arranged his own event at a military base en route to his home at the Mar a Lago Resort in Florida. With it being so early in the morning, coupled with the exclusivity of the location, it was a modest and select gathering who patiently waited in the cold for the outgoing President and First Lady to arrive. There was something appropriately tragic and a little pathetic about the whole scene. After all the bluster, Trump went off into the Florida sunset with something of a whimper!
Once the inauguration formalities were over, President Joe Biden didn’t waste any time in purging the policy legacy of Donald Trump, such as it was, from America’s government and the political psyche. Every single action on Biden’s first day in office was a repudiation of the last four years of mayhem — from an inaugural address that promised to “defend the truth” and stressed healing over “American carnage” to a flurry of restorative Executive Orders. The removal of any personal artefacts of the Trump aberration from the Oval Office, including his favoured bust of Winston Churchill, was an obvious sign that America was very much under new management! As President Biden sat in the big boss chair for the first time, he made it clear it wasn’t just for a photo call, but to get down to business!
Biden signed 17 executive orders that represent the start of an aggressive plan to unpick the Trump presidency. With a stroke of the pen, the US headed back into the Paris climate accord and the World Health Organization, and rescinded a ban on travellers from mostly Muslim nations. Biden wore a mask in the Oval Office and mandated face coverings in all US federal buildings. President Biden also vowed to “manage the hell” out of the pandemic — as he revealed that the previous administration had unbelievably left no plan for rolling out the Covid-19 vaccines. And he has an ambitious team of nominees appointed and ready to get things done. There is indeed a fresh wind blowing through that famous old office, blowing away the stagnation and stench of four years of chaos, ineptitude, alleged corruption and division. After a four year term of policy by tweet, Washington is back to its old normal already, as if it were all just a bad dream.
That seems like a very good note to end on for this week! I didn’t even write anything about the impending impeachment trial, but that can wait until next week as we let it play out in the Senate. Thank you, for reading and feel free to share! Until next week, then, stat tuned in, stay informed and stay safe out there! Take care! 🤓👍
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