It would appear that I am not the only one baffled by the appointment of Minette Batters (former President of the NFU) to provide recommendations for a review into farming profitability as part of the New Deal for farmers.
It is perhaps not that surprising that Dame Batters is eager to support this Labour government, she was always very critical of the previous government, Boris Johnson in particular. I question why she is taking Labour’s shilling; will this latest quango really help the farming industry?
Defra is already engaged in several policy reviews, including the Farming Roadmap, a Food Strategy Advisory Board, a Land Use Framework consultation, the creation of a National Estate for Nature, a Sustainable Farming Incentive review and now this Farming Profitability Review.
I suspect that Secretary of State Steve Reed mistakenly believes that by asking Minette Batters to lead yet another review, farmers will be impressed and believe she and he have our backs.
From the feedback I have been getting nothing could be further from the truth. Minette was a good talker; she could talk for England and frequently did. But what she achieved for the industry could be written on the back of a cigarette packet. No doubt she will be get a tidy fee but is this public money for public good, let alone for the good of farmers?
This new committee costing thousands of pounds will make little difference. We all know where the problems lie, it doesn’t take a genius. In fact the current NFU President Tom Bradshaw could do it in an afternoon and I am sure he has already done so. This appointment is purely a distraction, a waste of taxpayers’ money.
In the UK, electricity prices are exclusively linked to the price of gas as the energy market uses a system called "marginal cost pricing." This means the price of electricity is set by the cost of the most expensive energy source needed to meet demand, which is often gas-fired power plants. While renewables like wind and solar are becoming more prevalent, gas-fired power plants still play a crucial role in meeting the peak demand, especially when renewable sources are less reliable.
The result being UK energy prices are the highest in the world. Currently we pay 25.85 pence per kwh, whilst others such as France pay 17.84 p/kwh, Spain 13.38 p/kwh and Portugal 9.2 p/kwh.
UK energy prices, particularly for electricity, are heavily influenced by global gas prices. When gas prices rise due to factors like increased global demand or supply disruptions, the cost of generating electricity also increases, leading to higher electricity prices for consumers.
The UK also operates some of the highest excise duties in Europe, combined with a 20% VAT rate.
UK steelworks are facing significantly higher electricity prices compared to their European competitors. For the 2024/25 period, the average price faced by UK steelmakers is approximately £66/MWh, while prices in Germany and France are around £50/MWh and £43/MWh respectively, meaning UK steelmakers pay significantly more for their electricity.
Britain's steel industry has called on the government to help with electricity prices that it says can be 50% higher than those paid by European competitors. In March the sector was hit by a 25% tariff on exports to the U.S. that make up around 9% of the value of Britain's steel exports. Surely it is time for the UK to set electricity prices independently from the global price of gas. There is nothing to stop this move which would help industry and domestic supplies.
Last week both Labour and the Conservatives watched as Reform changed the face of UK politics. I could re-phrase that by saying. Nigel Farage changed the face of UK politics. Without him at the helm the results would have been significantly different.
Likewise, if Boris Johnson remained leader of the Conservative party and had not been stabbed in the back by so many of his colleagues, Remainers, London’s political elite, the BBC and many others, I am certain Starmer would not have entered No 10 on the tail of 411 Labour MPs, on a turnout of just 59.7% of which only 33.7% voted labour. It is worth recalling that over 80% of the electorate did not vote labour.
The airwaves and papers are now awash with analysis and predictions as to what the future holds. Most are disparaging about both Starmer and Badenoch, neither of whom have leadership skills let alone I fear have any idea as to how to lead the country out of its current difficulties.
Out of those who acknowledge Farage’s charisma and leadership skills, most tend to question whether he has a feasible financial plan to implement the changes he proposes to make.
With President Trump rearranging the world order with his tariffs and ideology for change, including sanctioning President Putin’s land grab in Ukraine whilst eyeing up Canada, Greenland and the Gulf of Mexico for himself, it is vital that Starmer and his left-wing bandits face a credible opposition. I suspect the only way to achieve that is for Nigel and Boris to drop their simmering feud, make up and create a formidable alliance. They have just four years to persuade the British electorate that between them they really can ‘Make the UK Great Again.’
It is perhaps not that surprising that Dame Batters is eager to support this Labour government, she was always very critical of the previous government, Boris Johnson in particular. I question why she is taking Labour’s shilling; will this latest quango really help the farming industry?
Defra is already engaged in several policy reviews, including the Farming Roadmap, a Food Strategy Advisory Board, a Land Use Framework consultation, the creation of a National Estate for Nature, a Sustainable Farming Incentive review and now this Farming Profitability Review.
I suspect that Secretary of State Steve Reed mistakenly believes that by asking Minette Batters to lead yet another review, farmers will be impressed and believe she and he have our backs.
From the feedback I have been getting nothing could be further from the truth. Minette was a good talker; she could talk for England and frequently did. But what she achieved for the industry could be written on the back of a cigarette packet. No doubt she will be get a tidy fee but is this public money for public good, let alone for the good of farmers?
This new committee costing thousands of pounds will make little difference. We all know where the problems lie, it doesn’t take a genius. In fact the current NFU President Tom Bradshaw could do it in an afternoon and I am sure he has already done so. This appointment is purely a distraction, a waste of taxpayers’ money.
In the UK, electricity prices are exclusively linked to the price of gas as the energy market uses a system called "marginal cost pricing." This means the price of electricity is set by the cost of the most expensive energy source needed to meet demand, which is often gas-fired power plants. While renewables like wind and solar are becoming more prevalent, gas-fired power plants still play a crucial role in meeting the peak demand, especially when renewable sources are less reliable.
The result being UK energy prices are the highest in the world. Currently we pay 25.85 pence per kwh, whilst others such as France pay 17.84 p/kwh, Spain 13.38 p/kwh and Portugal 9.2 p/kwh.
UK energy prices, particularly for electricity, are heavily influenced by global gas prices. When gas prices rise due to factors like increased global demand or supply disruptions, the cost of generating electricity also increases, leading to higher electricity prices for consumers.
The UK also operates some of the highest excise duties in Europe, combined with a 20% VAT rate.
UK steelworks are facing significantly higher electricity prices compared to their European competitors. For the 2024/25 period, the average price faced by UK steelmakers is approximately £66/MWh, while prices in Germany and France are around £50/MWh and £43/MWh respectively, meaning UK steelmakers pay significantly more for their electricity.
Britain's steel industry has called on the government to help with electricity prices that it says can be 50% higher than those paid by European competitors. In March the sector was hit by a 25% tariff on exports to the U.S. that make up around 9% of the value of Britain's steel exports. Surely it is time for the UK to set electricity prices independently from the global price of gas. There is nothing to stop this move which would help industry and domestic supplies.
Last week both Labour and the Conservatives watched as Reform changed the face of UK politics. I could re-phrase that by saying. Nigel Farage changed the face of UK politics. Without him at the helm the results would have been significantly different.
Likewise, if Boris Johnson remained leader of the Conservative party and had not been stabbed in the back by so many of his colleagues, Remainers, London’s political elite, the BBC and many others, I am certain Starmer would not have entered No 10 on the tail of 411 Labour MPs, on a turnout of just 59.7% of which only 33.7% voted labour. It is worth recalling that over 80% of the electorate did not vote labour.
The airwaves and papers are now awash with analysis and predictions as to what the future holds. Most are disparaging about both Starmer and Badenoch, neither of whom have leadership skills let alone I fear have any idea as to how to lead the country out of its current difficulties.
Out of those who acknowledge Farage’s charisma and leadership skills, most tend to question whether he has a feasible financial plan to implement the changes he proposes to make.
With President Trump rearranging the world order with his tariffs and ideology for change, including sanctioning President Putin’s land grab in Ukraine whilst eyeing up Canada, Greenland and the Gulf of Mexico for himself, it is vital that Starmer and his left-wing bandits face a credible opposition. I suspect the only way to achieve that is for Nigel and Boris to drop their simmering feud, make up and create a formidable alliance. They have just four years to persuade the British electorate that between them they really can ‘Make the UK Great Again.’
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