Environmental activists challenge ‘unlawful’ UK fossil fuel plan in high court
Sat 4 Dec 2021 13.01 GMT
Environmental campaigners will this week ask the high court to rule that the government’s fossil fuel strategy is unlawful, in a case that could undermine the UK’s claim to be leading the fight against climate change.
The campaigners will argue that the government is effectively subsidising oil and gas production with billions of pounds in handouts, which conflicts with its legal duty to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
Pressure group Paid to Pollute says oil and gas companies received billions of pounds in tax relief for new oil and gas exploration, and billions more towards decommissioning costs between 2016 and 2020. The group says this amounts to fossil fuel subsidies.
“Public money is supporting businesses that contribute to the climate crisis instead of solving it,” said Kairin van Sweeden, one of three activists who will appear in court. “We have to challenge this deadly use of the public purse. If the Oil and Gas Authority won’t use common sense, perhaps it’ll listen to the courts.”
The hearing comes as controversy mounts over the UK oil and gas industry’s attempts to gain approval for more than a dozen new schemes, even though scientists say new investment in oil and gas projects must stop if governments are to tackle the climate crisis.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment ... high-court
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Boris Johnson urged to make changes after Shropshire North by-election defeats
11 minutes ago
Senior Tories have urged Boris Johnson to make changes following a huge by-election defeat for the Conservatives.
Ex-Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith said No 10 needed discipline while another senior Tory said the PM needed to get "a bit of a bloody grip".
Mr Johnson said he was "disappointed" with his party's performance in the North Shropshire vote.
The Lib Dems who won the ultra-safe Tory seat, said voters were "fed up" with Mr Johnson's "incompetence".
The party's candidate, Helen Morgan, overturned a Tory majority of almost 23,000 at the last general election to win by 5,925 votes, saying: "The people of North Shropshire have spoken on behalf of the British people. They have said loudly and clearly, 'Boris Johnson, the party is over.'"
Their historic victory came after a week dominated by claims of Covid rule-breaking in No 10 and a revolt by Mr Johnson's own MPs over restrictions.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-59699135
11 minutes ago
Senior Tories have urged Boris Johnson to make changes following a huge by-election defeat for the Conservatives.
Ex-Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith said No 10 needed discipline while another senior Tory said the PM needed to get "a bit of a bloody grip".
Mr Johnson said he was "disappointed" with his party's performance in the North Shropshire vote.
The Lib Dems who won the ultra-safe Tory seat, said voters were "fed up" with Mr Johnson's "incompetence".
The party's candidate, Helen Morgan, overturned a Tory majority of almost 23,000 at the last general election to win by 5,925 votes, saying: "The people of North Shropshire have spoken on behalf of the British people. They have said loudly and clearly, 'Boris Johnson, the party is over.'"
Their historic victory came after a week dominated by claims of Covid rule-breaking in No 10 and a revolt by Mr Johnson's own MPs over restrictions.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-59699135
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UK police arrest armed intruder on Windsor Castle grounds
Source: AP
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/europe-arts- ... 7a4c398d8f
Source: AP
LONDON (AP) — British police arrested a man armed with a weapon on the grounds of Windsor Castle on Saturday.
Thames Valley police said the security breach took place at 8:30 a.m. on Christmas Day. The 19-year-old from Southampton is in custody.
“The man has been arrested on suspicion of breach or trespass of a protected site and possession of an offensive weapon. He remains in custody at this time,” Thames Valley Police Superintendent Rebecca Mears said. “We can confirm security processes were triggered within moments of the man entering the grounds and he did not enter any buildings.”
Members of the royal family have been informed.
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/europe-arts- ... 7a4c398d8f
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Restored Big Ben to bong again at midnight to bring in new year
Fri 31 Dec 2021 12.14 GMT
London’s public fireworks display may be cancelled, but Westminster’s new year revellers will be treated to Big Ben’s newly painted dials as the clock bongs 12 times to mark the end of 2021.
The 96-metre clock tower above the Houses of Parliament, which houses the Great Bell known as Big Ben, has been mostly hidden from view since a £79.7m conservation projection began four years ago.
For the first time since 2017, the clock face will be revealed to show the conservation work that has taken place, including the restoration of the original colour scheme.
Using historic paint analysis and Charles Barry’s original watercolour designs, conservationists have reinstated a Prussian blue and gold colour scheme for the dials and clock hands. They believe the black paint of the clock dials and stonework that many associate with the national symbol was chosen in the 1930s to mask the effects of pollution.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/202 ... n-new-year
Credit: Toby Melville/Reuters
Fri 31 Dec 2021 12.14 GMT
London’s public fireworks display may be cancelled, but Westminster’s new year revellers will be treated to Big Ben’s newly painted dials as the clock bongs 12 times to mark the end of 2021.
The 96-metre clock tower above the Houses of Parliament, which houses the Great Bell known as Big Ben, has been mostly hidden from view since a £79.7m conservation projection began four years ago.
For the first time since 2017, the clock face will be revealed to show the conservation work that has taken place, including the restoration of the original colour scheme.
Using historic paint analysis and Charles Barry’s original watercolour designs, conservationists have reinstated a Prussian blue and gold colour scheme for the dials and clock hands. They believe the black paint of the clock dials and stonework that many associate with the national symbol was chosen in the 1930s to mask the effects of pollution.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/202 ... n-new-year
Credit: Toby Melville/Reuters
