Tag Archives: GB

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Labour councillor joins Exeter Greens

28 February 2017

The Green Party in Exeter have gained their first city councillor, following the defection from Labour by Alphington councillor, Chris Musgrave. Councillor Musgrave says he has been drawn to the Green Party because of their deep-seated commitment to openness and transparency in local government, something he says is ‘in short supply with the current Labour administration.’

Councillor Musgrave says he has become increasingly disillusioned with a ‘small clique making decisions behind closed doors’ and a refusal by the Labour group to accept proper scrutiny in decision making. He also accuses the Labour-run council of ignoring the results of public consultations, Cllr Chris Musgrave said:

“Openness and transparency is in short supply in the local Labour Party. Major decisions are increasingly made by a small clique behind closed doors with the majority of councillors locked out of the process. Whenever I have challenged the Labour Party and Labour-led council on major decisions – which is exactly what I believe I should be doing as an elected Councillor – I have been told in no uncertain terms to be quiet.   

“I have become convinced that the best way I can serve the residents of my ward is by joining the Green Party, which is clearly committed to open and transparent local government. I have also become increasingly convinced that the Greens have the right policies for protecting public services, safeguarding our local environment and tackling the city’s rising inequality. 

“The Tories seem incapable or unwilling to challenge Exeter Labour, so it will be up to the Green Party to hold the Labour Party to account. As the city’s first Green councillor, I intend to do just that.”    

Molly Scott Cato, Green MEP for the South West, has expressed her delight that Exeter has its first Green councillor. She said:

“Great news for Exeter! The South West is the strongest region of the country for Greens. This defection builds on resounding wins in recent local elections in Weymouth and the Forest of Dean – where Greens unseated a UKIP councillor. People across the region are coming to realise that the Green Party offers effective opposition and a clear alternative vision to business as usual”. 

Caroline Lucas MP, co-leader of the Green Party, who studied as an undergraduate at Exeter University, said:

“It’s great that Exeter now has a Green councillor to hold the Labour run council to account. Greens are committed to working hard for their communities and fighting the corner of local people. This defection will strengthen our local party and puts us in good stead to win further seats in the coming years.”

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Green Party • • •

News story: Reforms to put financial stability at the heart of the UK’s regulatory system complete

From Wednesday 1 March, the Bank of England’s new Prudential Regulation Committee (PRC) will take control of the Prudential Regulation Authority’s (PRA) most important financial stability supervision and policy decisions.

The change, which was set out in the Bank of England and Financial Services Act 2016, ends the PRA’s subsidiary status to the Bank and sees the PRC replace the PRA board. There are no changes to the PRA’s objectives or functions.

These changes will mean the Bank of England is better equipped to fulfil its vital role of overseeing monetary policy and financial stability for the whole of the UK by strengthening the governance and accountability of the Bank.

The Chancellor has reappointed the external members of the PRA Board to the PRC and has approved the new appointment by the Governor of the Bank of England of Ben Broadbent to the PRC.

Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Simon Kirby, said:

A well-regulated financial system is central to a strong economy. Since 2010, we have radically reformed how the UK’s financial services industry is supervised and put the Bank of England back at the heart of the system, where it belongs.

Integrating the Prudential Regulation Authority with the Bank of England completes this process and strengthens the governance and accountability of the Bank.

The Prudential Regulation Committee is created on the same legal footing as the Monetary Policy Committee and the Financial Policy Committee.

The Bank of England and Financial Services Act 2016 is the government’s third major piece of legislation since 2010 to fundamentally reform the financial sector.

The Financial Services Act 2012 dismantled the failed tripartite system, putting the Bank of England at the centre of a new framework of financial regulation.

The Banking Reform Act 2013 put in place strict new rules on bank ring-fencing and made sweeping changes to enhance individual accountability and raise standards in banking.

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HM Government • • •

News story: Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport reappoints Theatres Trust Trustees

Ruth Eastwood

Currently CEO of the Grade II* Listed Matcham Grand Theatre in Blackpool, Ruth has worked in touring, presenting and producing theatres from Hull Truck to the Royal National Theatre. She has also worked as a freelance arts management and organisational development specialist. From 2006-09 she was Chief Executive of Leicester Theatre Trust and from 1997-2006 of Poole Arts Trust where she also managed large scale capital developments. Ruth Eastwood became a Trustee of The Theatres Trust on 7 February 2011. She has been reappointed for a period of three years, ending on 6 February 2020.

Dara Ó Briain

Dara is a comedian and television presenter, noted for hosting television shows such as Mock the Week, Dara Ó Briain: School of Hard Sums and The Apprentice: You’re Fired! Dara began his career by performing in comedy clubs in Ireland; he now tours both nationally and internationally. When not on tour, he works regularly as an after-dinner Speaker and awards host, having presented the Bafta Telly awards, the Bafta Video Game awards and the Empire Movie awards, amongst many others. Dara has also written a book; Tickling the English published in 2009 and has now written for most of the national papers in the UK and Ireland, including a year as sports columnist for the Guardian. Dara Ó Briain became a Trustee of The Theatres Trust on 1 April 2014. He has been reappointed for a period of three years, ending on 31 March 2020.

Peter Roberts

Peter has spent the last 55 years working in the theatre industry, he recently was the technical director and head of theatre development at Cameron Mackintosh. Peter is now a freelance theatre consultant. Peter has not only worked in theatres all over Great Britain but he has also worked on theatres internationally including, USA, Canada, Thailand, Australia, France and Germany. Peter is currently a Governor at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and has been a member of the Society of London Theatres for 34 years. He is also a member of the Steering Group of The British Entertainment Industry Radio Group which negotiates with Ofcom on Radio Spectrum allocation for live performances. Peter Roberts became a Trustee of The Theatres Trust on 1 April 2014. He has been reappointed for a period of three years, ending on 31 March 2020.

Ann Skippers

Ann Skippers is a chartered town planner with over twenty-five years’ experience in planning in a career which has spanned the public, private and academic sectors. Having begun her career in local government, Ann runs and is Director of Ann Skippers Planning, a consultancy which specialises in neighbourhood planning and providing training and support to a range of clients on planning matters. Ann was President of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) in 2010 and has been actively involved with the RTPI throughout her career holding a number of positions, but is currently a member of General Assembly. She was the Vice President (Europe) of the Commonwealth Association of Planners from 2010-2012 and Vice Chair of the Construction Industry Council from 2011-2014. In 2014 Ann was appointed to the Board of the Built Environment Professional Education Project. Ann has also been a non-salaried Planning Inspector since 2004. She is currently a Visiting Professor in the Bartlett School of Planning at University College London. Ann Skippers became a Trustee of The Theatres Trust on 1 April 2014. She has been reappointed for a period of three years, ending on 31 March 2020.

Anna Stapleton

Anna Stapleton is a Freelance Arts Professional, with over forty years’ experience of working in the arts. Previous posts include Administrative Director at the Citizens Theatre, Glasgow; Drama & Dance Director at the Scottish Arts Council; Drama Director at the Arts Council of England and work with a range of producing theatres including the Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh; the Liverpool Everyman Theatre; Perth Theatre and the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester. Anna Stapleton is currently is a Trustee of Horsecross Arts Ltd. and became a Trustee of The Theatres Trust on 12 May 2014. She has been reappointed for a period of three years, ending on 11 May 2020.

Trustees for the Theatres Trust are not remunerated. This appointment has been made in accordance with the OCPA Code of Practice. It is a requirement of the Code that political activity by those appointed is declared. Ruth Eastwood, Dara Ó Briain, Peter Roberts, Ann Skippers and Anna Stapleton have all declared that they have not carried out any political activity.

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HM Government • • •

Greens help secure historic vote on tax dodging

28 February 2017

Molly Scott Cato, Green MEP for the South West, has welcomed a historic vote on clamping down on tax dodging, as committee members in the European Parliament today voted for a number of key Green demands [1]. By an overwhelming majority (87-1), MEPs voted for a revision of the Anti-Money Laundering Directive, which will tighten rules on trusts and transparency. Molly Scott Cato is a member of the Economics committee in the European Parliament. She said:

“There is growing outrage about the way wealthy people are able to offshore their money so they can avoid paying tax. A strengthened anti-money laundering law – which requires transparency from financial and legal companies in the management of the assets of the wealthy – will help to tackle this immoral and often illegal activity.

There was strong support for a Green proposal for a public register of property ownership to show who is the beneficial owner of land and property. Dr Scott Cato said:

“This is a significant win for the Greens. In London and elsewhere dirty money is laundered through the purchase of property so it is crucial to have public information on who benefits from its ownership.”

Molly Scott Cato has challenged the UK government to declare their support for the measures as the country prepares to leave the EU. She said:

“We have already seen that Amber Rudd was involved in offshore trusts in the Bahamas and now we have had the Chancellor and Prime Minister suggesting the UK will take on even more of the character of a tax haven after Brexit.

“As a British MEP I will be keeping my eye on the UK government in the European Council, where the decision will be taken by qualified majority so they will not have a veto.”

“But the government needs to realise that refusing to follow these strengthened EU laws on financial transparency could increase the destructive impact of Brexit on The City. This is because in order to register trusts in EU member states, or for clients in those countries, British legal and financial firms will still need to stick to these laws.”

Dr Scott Cato concluded:

“Today’s votes show that it is Greens that are leading on key agendas concerned with social justice and economic accountability.”

Notes

[1] MEPs on the European Parliament’s Economic & Monetary Affairs Committee and Civil Liberties Justice & Home Affairs Committee 

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Green Party • • •

News story: Oscar success: UK cutting-edge music technology in the mix

La La Land – awarded Best Original Music Score – features a next-generation synthesizer, developed by ROLI with support from Innovate UK.

The Dalston-based music company’s innovative Seaboard GRAND has gained widespread attention with La La Land, dominating the film and television awards season for its soundtrack.

ROLI has revolutionised the piano keyboard by replacing white and black keys with a continuous, touch-responsive surface. Its ’keywaves’ are sensitive to initial strike force, pressure and left–right finger placement.

The instrument is used in a seminal scene with Ryan Gosling’s character, Sebastian, joining a band fronted by musician John Legend. It marks the upturn of his career as the jazz purist comes to accept that the music he loves needs to evolve to gain a broader audience and survive.

As well as the Oscar, the film won a Golden Globe for Best Original Score and British Academy Film Award for Best Film Music.

Innovate UK has a long history with ROLI. We first supported the company on research and development for the technology that underpins the Seaboard. ROLI has also received grants from Innovate UK for further projects, including proof of concepts and prototyping. We continue to work with the team today.

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HM Government • • •