Welcome to my weekly update no.363
Parliament is about to rise for conference recess and the unexpectedly big news was the decision to impose sanctions on goods from certain Israeli settlements about which I and many others had mixed feelings. Locally we are inching closer to a final decision on expanding the Surrey Hills National Landscape – with fingers firmly crossed!
WESTMINSTER WHISPERS
ISRAEL SANCTIONS – PRINCIPLE OR POLITICS? Ed Miliband wrote a book in 2021 called ‘Go Big: How to Fix Our World.’ Well he is certainly going ‘big’ as Foreign Secretary with his decision to sanction West Bank settlers which provoked a furious Israeli response. Diplomatically he can claim some success with support from France and Canada and only a muted response from the USA, where Trump clearly has his own frustrations with Netanyahu. I agree that Netanyahu’s determination to kill off a two-state solution (long a UK diplomatic objective) is reprehensible. And I agree that it is not anti-semitic to criticise Israel. But was it wise? No one thinks it will change one jot what Israel does. But it may affect our relationship with the US upon which we depend for our security – whatever our reservations about Donald Trump. The President yesterday expressed support for a united Ireland and last week cast doubt on American support for the Falklands. Interest and values are not always aligned in foreign policy so I hope we don’t come to regret the rather performative approach we are taking.
TOP OF THE CLASS Bittersweet news in the latest PISA education league tables: England is now in the global top ten for reading, maths and science – but it comes just as the government appears to be doubling down on trying to abolish the very reforms that made that possible. The best article explaining why this is a mistake is by John Burn-Murdoch, the scrupulously impartial FT journalist, who worries that if we move away from a knowledge-rich curriculum we will set up a generation to fail at school.
WARFARE OR WELFARE? Everyone knows that Britain urgently needs to spend more on defence but where should the money come from? Given that yet higher taxes will kill off growth, we need to transform the efficiency with which we spend taxpayers money. No one believes politicians promising efficiency savings – but this time, thanks to AI, it could just happen. Read how we could do this in my latest Substack article where you can also subscribe to my new fortnightly emails. The next one will be how to tackle our national debt – don’t tell me I’m not being ambitious in my dotage!
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HEALTH BILL LEAVES THE COMMONS Another curate’s egg is the Health Bill which last week completed its Commons passage. The measures allowing a single electronic patient record are really positive and will hopefully end having to explain one’s situation over and over again to different medical staff. The abolition of NHS England is a distraction (and one that will cost £1.3 billion). But moving the Health Services Investigation Body, which I set up, into the CQC is a mistake. It was deliberately made wholly independent of the government and regulators to make it easier for patients and staff to speak confidentially, something I worry will now be lost. You can read more in the latest edition of my NHS newsletter Patient Safety Watch or see my Health debate intervention during the Health Bill debate here. And real NHS buffs may enjoy my interview on this podcast about what is really stopping the NHS investing in prevention rather than cure.
LOCAL LIFE
GOOD NEWS… We are tantalisingly close to seeing the Surrey Hills National Landscape expanded! Last week Natural England formally submitted its proposals to the Secretary of State, and I have written to give them my full support. The proposed extension would increase the National Landscape by around 30%, bringing some wonderful countryside into the Surrey Hills, including important areas here in Godalming and Ash. This has been many years in the making and a huge amount of work has gone into getting us this far. Thank you to everyone who has played a part. There is now just one big hurdle left – the Secretary of State’s final decision. Fingers crossed!
BETTER NEWS…Some encouraging news for Alfold residents after years of sewer problems and tankers at Clappers Meadow. I met with Thames Water and local councillors to discuss the major programme now being funded to reline and reseal Alfold’s sewer network, reducing the groundwater and rainwater getting into the system and overwhelming it during wet weather. Surveys are taking place over the next three months, with the main relining works planned for Q2–Q3 2027. This means one more winter without lining so Thames Water are planning an interim tank solution which should remove the need for tankers this winter. After years of fighting for this it is great to finally see a solution and a timetable. For more detail please attend the drop-in session: Friday 9 October, 6–8pm, Alfold Village Hall.
BAD NEWS…(there had to be some) I have again written to the Housing Minister after Waverley finally revealed the outcome of its problematic review of those hit by huge CIL charges. Despite the many families caught up in this scandal, only six cases were submitted for review – and of those just one family is set to receive a refund. We all warned from the outset that the review was far too narrow and have sadly now been proved right. Waverley is basically ignoring the government edict that they do have discretion on this. Not good enough.
…AND FUN NEWS Join me at Godalming Borough Hall on Friday 16th October at 7.30pm (Bar opens at 6.30pm) when I will discuss my latest book - Can We Be Rich Again? and why – despite everything – we should be positive about the British economy. Click here for free tickets. There is a suggested £5 donation to the Royal Surrey County Hospital’s Cancer & Surgical Innovation Centre campaign and royalties from any books sold will go to the same wonderful cause.
HAVE YOUR SAY ON TRANSPORT FOR CRANLEIGH VILLAGES The Cranleigh Villages Group is asking residents in Alfold, Cranleigh, Dunsfold and Ewhurst want to better understand the transport challenges residents face – and are particularly keen to hear from younger people and those who don’t have access to a car. The results will be used to help make the case for better transport provision across our rural communities. Please complete this 2 minute survey by the end of September.
CAN YOUR BUSINESS LEND A HAND AT LINDEN FARM? Linden Farm in Alfold is a supported living home for ten severely autistic young adults and is looking for a local business that could offer a staff volunteer day - lots of general tidying and maintenance help needed! If your business might be able to help, please get in touch and I will happily put you in contact with the team.
AND FINALLY…the sad end of a Puttenham tradition…or more accurately the Last Hop. The Hampton Estate has announced that it will stop growing hops after this year’s harvest, bringing to an end a tradition stretching back generations. The Estate says increasingly hot, dry summers have made its traditional Fuggles hops much harder to grow and meant this year’s harvest yield was down by around 70%. Hops have been cultivated around Puttenham for at least 170 years.
