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What Labour Is Doing Now to Transform NHS in UK: Analogue to Digital

In our previous article we looked at an overview about what Labour is planning to do to transform the National Health Service in the United Kingdom. We will look at one of these important aspects in more detail here and consider what Labour leaders are currently doing at this time, to deliver transformation of NHS service standards and performance.

On the ‘Sunday Morning Show with Trevor Phillips’ politics show yesterday Pat McFadden was unsurprised about the 60 or so consultations across different government departments that are being carried out by the new Labour government since taking office in July this year. (1)

According to The Health Foundation, Labour’s NHS transformation plan for 2025 (yet to be launched) is a plan of action that involves three key areas. These are ‘Analogue to Digital’, ‘Hospital to Communities’ and ‘Sickness to Prevention’. We will look at the first of these key areas ‘Analogue to Digital’ in this article and then the other areas in our next few posts soon. (2)

We know that Sir Keir Starmer formed a new government this summer and so from Labour’s point of view, it is ‘early days.’ We understand there are currently more consultations being conducted and we expect a more detailed NHS and healthcare in the United Kingdom plan to be presented by Sir Keir Starmer and his Labour leadership team this Spring 2025, although we do not have a specific date yet.

However, in order to deliver the kind of change that Health Minister Wes Streeting has identified through his consultations with experts and NHS employees, it is crucial to ‘hit the ground running’ in terms of introducing new policy. This is in order to assist the amazing professional people who are currently doing exceptional work throughout the NHS to be able to treat more people of all ages, in better and more efficient ways, without any delays, in the best environment and circumstances possible.

The NHS today is a wonderfully huge and complicated organisation. It is also important to consider that there are United Kingdom residents that are currently on waiting lists for treatment and there are people who may be in urgent need of additional care services, that are not currently being sufficiently provided. These UK citizens do not wish to wait any longer than they need to for their health needs to be met.

We outlined in our previous article what the new Labour government have set out in their manifesto and more recently on their official website. This initial article outlined what Keir Starmer and his Labour leadership team’s general priorities, aims and objectives are for improving the NHS.

Here we will consider what Labour is doing now in order to set the wheels in motion for transforming and updating this great, highly regarded and treasured but often severely challenged public service organisation that is the National Health Service in the United Kingdom today.

Analogue to Digital

NHS: A digital journey

The transition from analogue records to digital records in the NHS has involved introducing computer service networks that were originally designed and launched quite a number of years ago now.

Consequently, it is a difficult (but not impossible) task to upgrade and integrate IT systems physically located in different departments, hospitals and healthcare trusts to run on a secure and confidential system that meets the needs of the latest technology and demands of a variety of different services simultaneously. Sharing of data between doctors, nurses and other healthcare assistants can be crucial to providing holistic healthcare to patients, especially if a person has multiple health problems at the same time.

In the last few years digitisation in the NHS has leaped forward, motivated by the extra demands placed on the NHS during the Covid time.  “By the end of 2022 app sign ups had reached over 30 million. There has been a growth in online booking services, telephone and remote appointments and e-prescribing.” Explained Elizabeth Bell and Tomos Lewis of Blake Morgan. (3)

Digital NHS: the priorities this year

A priority for Labour this year is finding the resources to start “building a robust digital infrastructure” says the private consulting company Simmons and Simmons who describe how healthcare managers under Labour leadership direction will use the latest Artificial Intelligence software. (4)

The new digital plan includes a focus on analysing patient data and improving disease prevention and diagnosis better and faster than traditional scanning ‘by sight’ methods alone. This is already having excellent preventative effects in areas such as breast cancer detection and early treatment. (5)

“An AI tool tested by the NHS successfully identified tiny signs of breast cancer in 11 women which had been missed by human doctors. The tool, called Mia, was piloted alongside NHS clinicians and analysed the mammograms of over 10,000 women.” Stated the BBC in March. (6)

Artificial Intelligence software is also now being used in the NHS at General Practitioner settings and James Tapper at The Guardian has highlighted this development in his article that describes how doctors are using the ‘C the Signs’ A.I. tool. “‘C the Signs’ analyses a patient’s medical record to pull together their past medical history, test results, prescriptions and treatments, as well as other personal characteristics that might indicate cancer risk, such as their postcode, age and family history.” (7)

“AI-driven genomics also enables the NHS to screen new-borns for rare diseases, identifying those at risk before symptoms arise.” (4) says Simmons and Simmons echoing BBC news reporting that recently covered a successful trial program which is now being offered to hundreds more new parents across the UK.

New digital system will improve NHS efficiency

“Labour will pool resources across neighbouring hospitals to introduce shared waiting lists to allow patients to be treated quicker.” is an admirable strategy. This efficiency improvement only works if the organisations involved can communicate seamlessly, in real time, on sophisticated software that can be shared across what can be very different models of healthcare provision. For example: computer record systems in a privately funded healthcare facility and also computer record systems in a traditional NHS Trust hospital facility sharing one patient’s data and information. (2)

Transforming the NHS into a digital service that embraces the latest artificial intelligence driven clinical software solutions is ambitious. It will mean that the technology suppliers that provide hardware and software and infrastructure support for this large organisation will have to meet the demands of a procurements process “known for its rigour and competitive nature”. As Simmons and Simmons advises, new technology suppliers will need to be competitive whilst being able to “meet regulatory standards but also demonstrate value for money and integration capabilities with existing systems.”

Denial of service attacks and malicious interference by hackers are real threats to computer networks with confidential patient data records. I.T. systems need to be designed with the ability for many different healthcare settings to look up and edit patient records whilst ensuring that no security firewall backdoors can compromise the digital computer network. Simultaneously it is important that the whole system cannot be attacked by a spreading computer virus or other malware that could cause havoc throughout the different computer records systems in such a large and diverse organisation such as the NHS.

New digital consultation and managing change in the NHS

As part of a countrywide consultation programme to lead change in updating and improving the NHS for the future under Labour, members of the public, clinicians and experts have been urged to submit ideas for the NHS future plan that is being formed this season. A new government online platform was launched on the 21st October 2024 called ‘change.nhs.uk’ The new platform has been designed to put staff and patients in driving seat of reform which is an admirable initiative. (7)

It is also realistic to remember that many long-term NHS employees are tired and wary of each successive government and political party that comes into power thinking that they can completely redesign the structure of a very established and hierarchical National Health Service. Every new Health minister and his or her team is keen on radically changing who makes decisions within the organisation and how the health service should operate.

‘Analysis paralysis’ is a factor that may, without some caution, stand in the way of delivering a better NHS now under Labour. It takes time and money to pay consultants to do reports and doesn’t instantly create policies that actually help people to obtain better and improved health. Experienced NHS employees know that this can cause major disruption that does not always lead to a better and more efficient outcomes for healthcare workers and their patients. As with most big businesses and civil service departments all around the world, overcoming resistance to change throughout the NHS and its culture will be a challenge in itself.

Going digital where possible means using technology to work faster and more efficiently which means that communication is improved and resources can be focused on spending time with patients when needed. Working smarter not harder using the latest technology is brilliant. This is especially true in this medical environment where patient numbers are massive as the UK population has gone up and trained doctors, nurses and healthcare providers are in demand as they are relatively (to the number of patients) in much smaller numbers.

More clarity on budgets and a detailed plan for training new and existing NHS employees on the new digital systems is an area that we need more information from Labour ministers and NHS leaders. We need a clear plan that ensures that patients can receive the healthcare that they need with teams of professionals and their assistants that can work together, without being overwhelmed, by patient waiting lists and workload.

We need more detail as soon as possible (most likely early in the Spring of 2025) with a plan from Labour with exactly how these new systems will be procured and who will benefit from improved digital technology across the NHS and which areas and departments will receive these resources first.

This NHS transformation plan will possibly cost more money than even the Conservative Party government was spending on the NHS during extraordinary covid times. Investing in people and the latest healthcare systems makes sense if Labour’s economic objective is growth, as it will create a healthier national workforce. If digital systems are fully invested in and rolled out across the country then this will put the NHS in a confident position to continue to be the much-loved and admired institution it is today and to thrive as we look ahead to better health outcomes for everyone in the United Kingdom as we head into the 21st century.

(1) ‘Full Show: Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips’ Featuring Pat Mcfadden, Sky News, 1 December 2024 ‘Full Show: Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips’ Featuring Pat Mcfadden, Sky News (2) ‘Labour’s first 100 days in health and care policy’ Leo Ewbank, Jennie Leggat, The Health Foundation, 11 October 2024 ‘Labour’s first 100 days in health and care policy’ Leo Ewbank, Jennie Leggat, The Health Foundation (3) ‘The Digitisation of the NHS’ Elisabeth Bell, Tomos Lewis, Blake Morgan, 20 June 2023 ‘The Digitisation of the NHS’ Elisabeth Bell, Tomos Lewis at Blake Morgan (4) ‘Labour’s commitment to a technological revolution in healthcare’ Simmons and Simmons, 25 September 2024 ‘Labour’s commitment to a technological revolution in healthcare’ Simmons and Simmons (5) Artificial Intelligence in Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Personalized Medicine’ National Library of Medicine, National Center for Biotechnology Information (USA) 17 October 2023 ‘Artificial Intelligence in Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Personalized Medicine’ National Library of Medicine, National Center for Biotechnology Information (6) ‘NHS AI test spots tiny cancers missed by doctors’ BBC News, Technology, 21 March 2024 ‘NHS AI test spots tiny cancers missed by doctors’ BBC News, Technology (7) ‘GPs use AI to boost cancer detection rates in England by 8%’ James Tapper, The Guardian, 21 Jul 2024 ‘GPs use AI to boost cancer detection rates in England by 8%’ James Tapper, The Guardian, 21 Jul 2024 (8) ‘Government issues rallying cry to the nation to help fix NHS’ Gov. UK official UK government website Press Release, 21 October 2024 ‘Government issues rallying cry to the nation to help fix NHS’ Gov. UK official UK government website Press Release  

The National Health Service under Labour: 11 priorities in the action plan to transform service standards

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What is the NHS?

The purpose of the United Kingdom’s National Health Service is to deliver high-quality services for all. (1) On 5th July 1948 the National Health Service was established in the United Kingdom. Britain was the first western country to offer free at the point of use medical care to the whole population. More than 75 years after the time of post-World War II Labour Prime Minister Clement Attlee introduced the NHS it continues to be a distinguishing feature of the British welfare state. (2)

Ask almost any member of public in the UK and they will tell you how much they value ‘their NHS’ and how they (or a loved one) have experienced amazing care and support from one or a team of the exceptional people that consistently give outstanding care, around the clock, in every town and city across the British Isles and Northern Ireland.

“The best health services should be available, free for all. Money should no longer be the passport to the best treatment. People should get the best that modern science can offer.” (5)

Pressures for the NHS in recent years

“There is no denying that the past few years have been the most challenging in our 75-year history for everyone working in the NHS.” stated Amanda Pritchard NHS Chief Executive in June 2023. (4)

The UK’s health services, like the rest of the world, has had a very difficult few years dealing with many challenges and pressures. This recent period includes the economic ‘austerity’ years and then numerous pressures during Brexit, the covid pandemic, recruitment and retention issues and strikes about pay from qualified medical staff.

In addition, global economic factors have meant that financial inflation has been, in real terms, eating into the value of the limited resources allocated by central government to fund a universal NHS. Furthermore, the NHS needs to deliver high quality services to a growing UK population, that also has an aging population, who are all more likely to be experiencing complex needs.

Many hospital and medical facilities and healthcare buildings need major overdue investment now. Updating the technology and computer networks needed to efficiently keep secure healthcare records of tens of millions of citizens whilst simultaneously providing instant and appropriate multi-departmental information access across the NHS systems, is also a big and important challenge.

Surgeon Reports that NHS is in Critical Condition

This year Lord (Ara) Darzi, surgeon and former health minister, was commissioned to rapidly review the National Health Service’s performance. “His investigation concluded the NHS is in critical condition” (7)

This summer Labour member of Parliament for Ilford North and Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Wes Streeting declared the United Kingdom’s National Health Service to be “broken”. Therefore, ‘the only way is up’ for the senior Labour politicians who are now in power to work with healthcare leaders across the UK, to transform their beloved NHS. Labour’s vision is to transform the NHS into an efficient and effective organisation for everyone in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to be proud of every day. (3) (A222_ref6)

The new Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has been forthright with his damming assessment of the state of the nation’s largest publicly funded service, a year after the latest NHS Long Term Workforce Plan was published. (4)

NHS Long Term Workforce Plan – created by 2019 Conservative government

The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan which was first designed in 2019 under a Conservative government aims to focus on ways to train and retain more doctors, dentists, nurses, midwives and healthcare professionals. The strategy also sets out a direction for reform of the NHS which will improve productivity by delivering the training required to meet service needs, whilst providing extra flexibility. The reform plan includes using technology and smarter working practices to free up clinician’s time to care for patients.  (4)

The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan explains the importance of the workplace environment and culture and how providing a good work/life balance for NHS employees is key. There are other sections of the plan called NHS People Plan and NHS People Promise which fit into the overall aims of the Long Term Workforce Plan. (4)

This NHS Long Term Workforce Plan talks about Urgent Treatment Centres (UTCs) being important to improving emergency service provision.

The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan recognises that many of the illnesses that the NHS treats are preventable and that prevention is better and cheaper than cure. Therefore, the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan funds specific new evidence based ‘NHS prevention programmes’ including: to cut smoking and reduce obesity partly by enrolling people onto diabetes type 2 prevention programmes, limit alcohol related Accident and Emergency (A&E) admissions and to lower air pollution. (4)

The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan outlines the priorities of raising standards for care quality and achieving improved outcomes in the areas of childbirth, cancer treatment, cardiovascular disease treatment, treating mental health (and preventing suicides), treating diabetes, treating multimorbidity and supporting healthy aging and preventing and supporting people living with dementia.

The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan describes how creating Integrated Care Systems (ICCs) that bring together local organisations to deliver the ‘triple integration’ of: primary and specialist care and physical and mental health services and also health with social care.

The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan reflections with a new Labour government

Some of the aims of the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan such as introducing new legislation to prevent young people smoking and training more midwives have been achieved since the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan was first written. (12)

However, there is a lot of work to do for the new Labour government to for example: reduce poverty in families and raise healthcare service standards and access to good quality housing environments. Deliver important preventative healthcare such as NHS dental services, consistently across the country for every household.

Improving working culture and conditions to ensure trained employees are retained in the UK for a long time (and most often for their whole careers) is also critical to building a more efficient and better NHS over the long term.

So now what are Labour going to do to improve NHS services?

11 priorities in the action plan to transform service standards across the UK

  1. Cut waiting times

Labour’s official website pledges to build an NHS fit for the future by committing to cut NHS waiting times with 40,000 more appointments every week. Patients should expect to wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral for consultant-led treatment for non-urgent health conditions.  (5)

Sir Keir Starmer and his team started their term in power by negotiating a pay settlement deal with the British Medical Association which means that resident (or junior) doctors and hospital staff will be working consistently every day without any strike action. This will be an improvement in NHS performance as strike action has disrupted recent services at many NHS hospitals around the country in recent months and years. (7)

  1. Sir Keir Starmer’s NHS action plan for 2025 and beyond

According to industry experts Labour leaders are introducing a plan which centres around three key areas: ‘analogue to digital’, ‘hospital to communities’ and ‘sickness to prevention’. (7)

  1. Analogue to Digital & Modernisation

The new Labour government pledge to double the number of cancer scanners.

A new ‘Fit For the Future’ fund to double the number of CT and MRI scanners (some of which utilise new Artificial Intelligence software) will allow the NHS healthcare specialists to catch cancer and other conditions earlier, saving lives.

Keir Starmer’s plan aims to maximise the potential of clinical trials available to the general public using the latest ‘app’ software technology. This means connecting with more people with certain health conditions via their smart phones.

Labour’s Health Minister Wes Streeting and his team aim to improve the utilisation of the existing NHS smart phone ‘app’ to notify patients about local services information, vaccinations and health checks. (5)

Modernisation

The New Hospitals Programme in progress under the previous Conservative leadership will be fully delivered by the Labour government if all goes according to plan. (5)

  1. Hospital to Communities & Transition to Neighbourhood Health Services

Labour’s manifesto idea to deliver “more care delivered in local communities to spot problems earlier.” involves shifting resources to primary care and community services. This means that local communities will also need the financial support to deliver the services that Labour leaders are recommending in their action plans. (5)

A return to community care whenever the availability of specialists and technology allows will certainly be welcomed by people who find it difficult to travel any more than a very local distance to attend an appointment. Travelling out of their neighbourhood is often difficult for residents. This particularly affects the elderly and people who are disabled or unwell, who are the very people we need to support locally if it is possible.

Labour’s official website states that Sir Keir Starmer’s senior healthcare team plan to recruit an additional 8,500 NHS mental health staff to support adults and children. This mental health recruitment drive will need very careful budgeting as it will likely cost more than £250 million in salaries alone, per year.

  1. Social Care Reform

Labour strives to ensure that “everyone lives an independent, prosperous life” and social care is key to achieving this outcome. (5)

Two areas that Labour will focus on are inconsistent social care standards and chronic healthcare staff shortages. Labour wants to introduce reforms under a programme entitled ‘National Care Service’ which will be delivered locally (see Transition to Neighbourhood Health Services).

Critics have suggested that the current Labour policy, or lack of a “serious policy agenda” for social care (7) means that reform of care services is currently an afterthought. It is quite possible that more research is currently being carried out by Labour experts into the best ways of improving the vital but complex and ‘failing in many areas’ social care system.

We may find that new Labour policy is launched with confidence soon. However, morale in social care is often low and time is of the essence to fix the NHS care system that is in crisis in several areas such as hospice care and emergency mental health support services.

  1. Hospital to Communities

Labour aims to work closely with healthcare providers and trade unions to improve patient services, and terms and conditions and training standards for social care workers. They aim to develop the role of social care workers in the community to provide more support and care services to patients locally, often in their homes. This is part of a strategy to free up hospital beds which will in turn provide better medical services for the most seriously ill who need it most urgently.

This means that more experienced and qualified community care workers can be approved to undertake basic but important nursing duties (that would otherwise involve a trip to the doctors or hospital clinic) and this practice can help people live healthier and for longer in their own homes.

  1. Mental Health Provision

Equally Sir Keir Starmer and his senior team are aware of the need to update mental health provision for young people. They have outlined a plan to do this by setting up ‘Young Future’s’ hubs in every community and recruiting 8,500 new staff nationally, whilst addressing outdated mental health legislation. (5)

  1. Sickness to Prevention

Labour is launching a new Dentistry Rescue Plan.

Labour’s Dentistry Rescue Plan will include resources to support very young children with education and healthcare for improved oral healthcare.

The Labour manifesto also prioritises the return of the family doctor.  (5)

Labour has committed to delivering the Tobacco and Vapes Bill that was proposed by the Conservative government last year. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill is currently on its final stages in the House of Commons and if approved by the House of Lords it should be approved as law in 2025.

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will have a major impact on cutting down access to harmful smoking and vaping in teenagers and young adults and be key to achieving the first ‘smoke free’ generation in the UK soon.

  1. Expanding services – Dentistry Rescue Plan

Labour plan to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments “and recruit new dentists to areas that need them most.” In recent years it has been very difficult to persuade the limited number of qualified dentists to work in rural and other less popular locations and work within strict NHS payment contracts. (5)

  1. Expanding services – maternity care

Labour is promising to train thousands more midwives as part of the NHS Workforce Plan which was started by the previous Conservative government.

  1. Expanding services – Dementia prevention and treatment

Labour wants to champion a plan that will put Britain at “the forefront of transforming treatment for dementia” (14)

Possibility of the change in UK law regarding Assisted Dying under Labour leadership.

Labour life peer Lord Falconer of Thoroton has sponsored a bill to propose amending the law regarding ‘Assisted Dying’ in the House of Lords which has reached its second reading stage. The ‘Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults Bill has received its second reading this week in the House of Commons put forward by Labour’s Kim Leadbeater. (9)

The Terminally Ill Adults Bill which includes strict safeguards, could enable terminally ill adults expected to die within six months to seek help to end their life if two doctors and a High Court judge verify, they are eligible and have made their decision voluntarily.

Kim Leadbeater explained that this bill could prevent “harrowing deaths” and as predicted it has proved controversial as ministers have expressed concerns that although admirable in its aims, some vulnerable people may feel pressured to end their own lives inappropriately. As with many important moral questions this is a complicated area with many serious aspects and consequences to consider which could have a massive impact on our society in the long term. (10)

Improving NHS services: the big picture

Decisions that are made by the Chancellor and in central government about who, how much and when to fund all the departments involved in running a nation with more than 67 million people have a direct impact on what funds are available to enable Labour’s admirable National Healthcare Service transformation and improvements strategy to be a success.

We will look at all these important strategic areas in more detail in our next article at HotEnough.com very soon. It is admirable to focus on creating the best National Healthcare Service possible fit for the 21st century.

  Article image: Original spray paint mural in photograph at St. Richards Hospital, Chichester, West Sussex by Horace Art in 2021 https://horacegallery.com/   photo by A. Howse (1) ‘What We Do’ NHS England official website, 18 November 2024 ‘What We Do’ NHS England official website (2) ‘The founding of the NHS: 75 years on’ Gov.UK official Government website, 13 July 2023 ‘The founding of the NHS: 75 years on’ Gov.UK (3) ‘Labour’s first week: Eight key plans, and the challenges ahead’ Matt McGrath, Kevin Peachey, Nick Triggle, James Landale, Daniel Sandford, Simon Jack, Sima Kotecha, BBC News, 13 July 2024 ‘Labour’s first week: Eight key plans, and the challenges ahead’ Matt McGrath, Kevin Peachey, Nick Triggle, James Landale, Daniel Sandford, Simon Jack, Sima Kotecha, BBC News (4) ‘NHS Long Term Workforce Plan’ Official NHS publication ref PR00104_ii, published 30 June 2023 and updated 4 January 2024 ‘NHS Long Term Workforce Plan’ Official NHS publication ‘NHS Long Term Workforce Plan’ Official NHS publication – long read (5) ‘Build an NHS fit for the future’ Labour official website, 18 November 2024 ‘Build an NHS fit for the future’ Labour official website (6) ‘What drugs are there for people living with Alzheimer’s disease?’ Alzheimer’s Society official website, 18 November 2024 ‘What drugs are there for people living with Alzheimer’s disease?’ Alzheimer’s Society official website (7) ‘Labour’s first 100 days in health and care policy’ Leo Ewbank, Jennie Leggat, The Health Foundation, 11 October 2024 ‘Labour’s first 100 days in health and care policy’ Leo Ewbank, Jennie Leggat, The Health Foundation (8) ‘2024/25 NHS priorities and operational planning guidance’ NHS Confederation, 28 March 2024 2024/25 NHS priorities and operational planning guidance’ NHS Confederation (9) The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill 2024-25, House of Lords, 24 October 2024 The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill 2024-25, House of Lords (10) ‘Assisted dying could stop harrowing deaths, says MP behind bill’ BBC News, 16 November 2024 Assisted dying could stop harrowing deaths, says MP behind bill’ BBC News, 16 November 2024 (11) Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, Private Members’ Bill (Ballot Bill) Kim Leadbeater Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, Private Members’ Bill (Ballot Bill) Kim Leadbeater (12) ‘Registration data reports’ Nursing and Midwifery Council, 18 November 2024 ‘Registration data reports’ Nursing and Midwifery Council (13) ‘NHS in numbers today’ NHS official website, 18 November 2024 ‘NHS in numbers today’ NHS official website (14) ‘At a tipping point – what do party manifestos mean for dementia?’ Alzheimer’s Research UK, 18 November 2024 ‘At a tipping point – what do party manifestos mean for dementia?’ Alzheimer’s Research UK  

Hurricane Milton Hits Florida as Global Warming Causes More Fierce Storms

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Hurricane Milton hits Florida

Last week President Biden warned Floridian residents to leave their homes and evacuate or risk losing their own lives in Hurricane Milton saying to Tampa Bay citizens: “residents will die if they don’t evacuate”. (8)

At the beginning of last week national weather forecasters predicted that the wind speeds in the approaching extreme storm event would exceed the force of the United States most recent massive hurricane named Helene, which devastated parts of North Carolina and Virginia.

Many feared Milton would cause destruction to the sunshine state’s coasts and central districts on the scale of hurricane Katrina which killed over one thousand people and flattened many areas of New Orleans and caused damage which took several years to rebuild.

Thankfully Milton was not as devastating as the experts had predicted. Milton was the ninth hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic season, which continues until the end of November.

On Wednesday 9th October weather scientists were astonished to find Milton growing in strength as it travelled over the Gulf of Mexico increasing from a category 1 storm to a category 5 storm in less than 10 hours. The warmer water was predicted to fuel the hurricane to enable it to become an extraordinary weather event, even for a region that is used to an active hurricane season.

American hurricanes and hurricane Milton

The category classification for hurricanes is called the Saffir-Simpson scale. This system allocates storms according to their wind speed and potential damage severity, with category 5 being the most powerful storm. (3)

Last month Hurricane Helene demonstrated how the warm waters of the Gulf seas can ‘heat up’ a storm force that is powerful enough to reach speeds of over 74 miles per hour which means the storm is classed as a hurricane. The consequences of Helene were severe and tragically 227 people died as a direct result of hurricane Helene devastation. Two million people were left without power after hurricane Helene. Hurricane Helene tore through Florida, Georgia, western North and South Carolina, eastern Tennessee and the southern part of Virginia. (1)

In the many towns in the southern states of America that were in Helene’s path, buildings were demolished and the massive amount of rainfall that accompanied the high winds caused major flooding and disrupted power and water services.

Sadly, less than two weeks later more than 20 people died in Hurricane Milton which was reported as “brutal” even by stoic Florida residents, who were interviewed by a variety of freelance journalists on location, after the storm passed.

Some Floridians had chosen to stay and endure the storm, despite the serious official warnings. For example, families with many animals were unsure of where they would all stay instead. Some residents worried about being caught in the storm inside their vehicles during unpredictable traffic chaos and therefore chose to stay put in their apartments and houses, despite the official guidance.

“At least 20 tornadoes have been recorded as Milton surged through the state” reported The Independent. One man with a large family and lots of dogs to shelter said “we too easily forget how bad it can be to stay up all night through a hurricane like this”.

Hurricane Milton was a major event that disrupted many thousands of lives as whole community areas were evacuated simultaneously. Thankfully however, the loss of life and damage to major infrastructure and buildings was relatively minor as fortunately all the pre-storm preparations seem to have worked well for the majority of Floridians, in most locations.

Warmer ocean temperatures stoke larger storms

Many experts now agree that the hotter ocean water temperatures that are associated with global warming are contributing to the current situation where warmer air and more moisture can cause bigger storms and more intense rainfall.

Powerful storms that form in warm tropical ocean waters are called hurricanes in the American continent and cyclones and typhoons in the Indian, Pacific and Southern Oceans in Asia and near Australia.

Additionally, the increased rainfall can cause massive storm surges of water which often causes serious flooding around coastlines. (6)

Last year the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) produced a report that stated “Peak Tropical Cyclone rain rates increase with local warming at least at the rate of mean water vapour increase over oceans (about 7% per 1°C of warming) and in some cases exceeding this rate due to the increased low-level moisture convergence caused by increases in Tropical Cyclone wind intensity.” (4)

The IPCC panel directly linked global warming to the gradual increase in severe weather events all across the planet and explained that “The average and maximum rain rates associated with tropical cyclones (TCs), extratropical cyclones and atmospheric rivers across the globe, and severe convective storms in some regions, increase in a warming world.” (4)

Sea level rises increase storm surges

The powerful effect of a hurricane’s impact on coastlines and river banks can be seen when storm surges happen. This is when water levels rise above normal levels and they are worsened by high winds pushing the water further inland. Scientists point to the gradual but recently more rapidly increasing sea level rises that are believed to be triggered by human caused global warming as “warmer ocean water expands and land ice melts.” (6)

However not everyone agrees with the scientists that global warming is causing more powerful hurricanes in Florida. The Governor of Florida Ron DeSantis said there was a “precedent” for the immense destruction of these extreme weather events and believes that the previous century had many bigger storms than what Americans are experiencing this season. (2)

Technology predicts hurricanes but we all need to ‘do our part’ together to prevent permanent unwanted weather changes  

Sophisticated weather predicting technology allows citizens living in tropical cyclone zones to prepare for approaching severe weather events in advance. Angela Colbert Ph.D. is part of National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and describes how National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA partners with NASA to collect measurements of various aspects of hurricanes over time. (7)

Colbert refers to Shirley Murillo Deputy Director of NOAA’s Hurricane Research Division who states that “NASA weather satellites are a powerful tool for observations, as people cannot fly into every storm to gather data” These satellite and meteorological findings are then compared and analysed by scientific researchers who can produce models to predict how future hurricanes might emerge and be impacted by climate change. (7)

Protecting the environment is an issue that affects everyone. It is important for our governments who lead countries in the wealthier parts of the world that contribute most to climate change in delivering effective strategies for reducing unwanted climate change and improving the environment.

There is still time to act in order to prevent more global warming and further detrimental effects to communities living in areas affected by seasonal hurricanes and storm water surges. We can all do our bit to put pressure on those in authority to prioritise environmental issues, as well as looking after the environment where we live, choosing environmentally friendly lifestyles and minimising our carbon footprint as much as possible.

    (1) ‘Global heating makes hurricanes like Helene twice as likely, data shows’ Oliver Milman and Jonathan Watts, The Guardian, Wed 9 October 2024 ‘Global heating makes hurricanes like Helene twice as likely, data shows’ Oliver Milman and Jonathan Watts, The Guardian (2) ‘DeSantis denies that climate change is making hurricanes more powerful’ Mike Bedigan, The Independent, 12 October 2024 ‘DeSantis denies that climate change is making hurricanes more powerful’ Mike Bedigan, The Independent (3) ‘How is climate change affecting hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones?’ Mark Poynting, Climate Reporter, BBC News 9 October 2024 ‘How is climate change affecting hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones?’ Mark Poynting, Climate Reporter, BBC News (4) ‘Weather and Climate Extreme Events in a Changing Climate’ (AR6 – chapter 11) Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change IPCC – United Nations body for assessing science related to climate change, 20 March 2023 ‘Weather and Climate Extreme Events in a Changing Climate’ (AR6 – chapter 11) Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change IPCC (5) ‘Climate change key driver of catastrophic impacts of Hurricane Helene that devastated both coastal and inland communities’ World Weather Attribution Organisation 9 October 2024 ‘Climate change key driver of catastrophic impacts of Hurricane Helene that devastated both coastal and inland communities’ World Weather Attribution Organisation (6) ‘How climate change makes hurricanes more destructive’ Environmental Défense Fund organisation, article, 17 October 2024 ‘How climate change makes hurricanes more destructive’ Environmental Défense Fund organisation (7) ‘A force of nature: hurricanes in a changing climate’ Angela Colbert PhD. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 1 June 2022 ‘A force of nature: hurricanes in a changing climate’ Angela Colbert PhD. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (8) ‘Joe Biden said Hurricane Milton is a ‘matter of life and death’ as he warns people to evacuate’ Sky News 9 October 2024 ‘Joe Biden said Hurricane Milton is a ‘matter of life and death’ as he warns people to evacuate’ Sky News

Kate Winslet is outstanding as Lee Miller in the UK’s latest film ‘Lee’

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‘Lee’ is a film starring and directed by Kate Winslet which was released in cinemas in the UK on the 13th September. We watched at Cineworld in West Sussex where Kate Winslet lit up the big screen as Elizabeth ’Lee’ Miller accompanied by amazing sets, vintage costumes and a fantastic musical score.

The film based on the real-life story of Lee Miller and it begins with an older lady (retired Lee also played by Kate Winslet) who begins, somewhat reluctantly, to tell her life story to a young man whose identity is revealed later on, in this beautifully crafted movie.

The film lightly touches on American born Lee’s early life as a statuesque and successful Vogue model who perfectly reflected the glamour and elegance of 1920’s flapper chic. Lee’s life as a young lady allowed her creative studies and sense of adventure to guide her and she soon counted Man Ray and Picasso as among her closest friends, in an artistic group that were eventually known as ‘the Surrealists’.

Intelligent, educated and articulate Lee Miller developed her family interest in the new technology of photography and forged a career as a female photographer working in New York, London and Paris at a time when women were striving for acceptance and still dreaming of equal opportunities in the workplace.

This film focuses on the challenges and personal consequences of Lee Miller’s decision to follow her gut instinct into action, at a time when World War II saw France become occupied by the Germans. Lee Miller chose to leave her enviable life of long-awaited domestic harmony with her devoted new husband and established British art dealer and artist Roland Penrose and the relative safety of their respectable home in London. Miller headed alone instead into an unknown future, crossing the English Channel to join the Allied troops in combat, as an American war correspondent.

Lee’s life was full of highs and lows and this worthwhile film is played wonderfully and incredibly convincingly by Kate Winslet as the daring heroine Lee. The emotional rollercoaster and sometimes messy fallout of living life on the edge was conveyed powerfully and the tension, devotion and friendship between the relationships of Lee and her husband, lovers and friends was communicated with perfect period detail and style.

Without revealing too much about the subjects covered in this cinematic work, ‘Lee’ reminds us how important first-hand photographic evidence can be to asserting, in a timely fashion and without any doubt, that horrific historical events sometimes definitely did happen, how it happened and why it must be remembered and ideally never allowed to happen again.

This type of political journalism both then in the 20th century and now in the 21st century is not for the faint hearted but can be very important work. Serving as a war correspondent can also be emotionally and physically damaging and occasionally devastating to the lives of those who contribute to society by recording both the best and the worst times that are occurring across the world. The unravelling of how Lee’s experiences profoundly affected her was well handled and the film also allowed us to see how Lee choosing not to take the opportunity to fully reach her potential as a journalist professional, was also a path just not worth pursuing.

One of the film’s strengths is highlighting the contrast between the interwar times of leisurely fun and frolics and conversely the discomfort, stress and hard commitment of covering the danger and devastation of wartime Europe.

We follow Lee as she enjoys the good life in sunny peaceful times with lifelong artistic and bohemian friends in the beautiful English countryside and also the stunning French coast. We are then transported to another world of shocking realities and uncertain outcomes of how cities, towns, lives and sometimes whole families and groups of people can be destroyed and wiped out by an invasion of soldiers, following the invasion orders of a cruel dictatorship intent on expanding their empire.

We all thought the film was really very good and we were all impressed how well Kate Winslet played the leading role and really became Lee. We are not linguistic experts and although we have visited many on the American States, we have only spent significant amounts of time in the southern states of the United States of America. However, we weren’t totally taken with Lee’s American accent but as Kate Winslet is also based in Sussex this is understandable. We figured that with all the years of European living that Lee’s Poughkeepsie accent may have worn off somewhat as well.

Both Roland Penrose (Alexander Sarsgard) and US based Life photographer David Scherman (played by Andy Samberg) were really brilliantly well played. Both the characters of Penrose and Scherman also helped to fully immerse us in their unusual and unconventional world and the difficulties of living during war time and during that unique decade which has defined international relations and the balance of power ever since.  Andrea Riseborough was also magnificent as Lee’s London based editor and dedicated creative supporter whilst also navigating a tough task as ‘Brogues’ boss.

Happily, there is still room for a sequel to this movie focusing on Lee’s earlier life, the fabulous Vogue years as a model, socialite and emerging creative photographer and how she gained the skills and the connections that allowed her to become the resilient, brave, mature and well-rounded strong women, well-known surrealist and war journalist that she most certainly appeared in this excellent film.

We need movies that champion the contribution of powerful women especially in industries whose leaders are still predominantly male. This is not a jaunty entertaining ‘chick flick’ or ‘romcom’ and some viewers may prefer to watch this worthwhile film on a small screen or television because of some of the upsetting and sensitive content. Possibly waiting for it to be ‘downloadable’ in another media format could make sense, from the point of view that ‘Lee’ is not a grand or big budget action movie filled with clever computer graphics. However, those with a keen visual eye and a love of photography and period drama details will not be disappointed with the experience of watching this movie on the big screen.

I can recommend reading all the books about Lee Miller and looking at all her photographs too and as a super fan it was an absolute treat to see all the period details and cleverly shot scenes in this work. We all escaped into the world of Lee Miller without distraction, just as Kate Winslet has cleverly designed the film to be enjoyed and consumed. This cinematic work is undoubtedly thought provoking when seen through a 2024 perspective.

It could be fair to say that without any prior knowledge of Lee Miller’s life and the circles she moved in, one might overlook the significance of the artists she spent time with. It was easy to miss that one of her close friends was Picasso for instance, although he was perfectly represented by Enrique Arce, which was a great casting choice.

Of course, Sussex in England is one of our favourite places, we loved seeing Lee Miller and Roland Penrose’s English country home Farley Farmhouse (now a museum and visitor attraction) feature in the ‘Lee’ film. The epilogue at the end was a splendid way to finish and satisfyingly explained what happened to all the characters leading up to today and how Lee’s family and the Lee Miller archive and legacy lives on into the future, now enhanced by Kate Winslet’s top-quality film.

Information and book to visit Farley Farmhouse in Sussex Visit Farley Farmhouse in Sussex
Farleys House & Gallery
(1) Farley Farmhouse in Sussex, official residence of Lee Miller and now Lee Miller Museum and home of Anthony Penrose and family, 3 October 2024 Farley Farmhouse in Sussex, official residence of Lee Miller (2) ‘Lee review – Kate Winslet is remarkable as model turned war photographer Lee Miller’ Wendy Ide’s film of the week, The Guardian, 15 September 2024 ‘Lee review – Kate Winslet is remarkable as model turned war photographer Lee Miller’ Wendy Ide, The Guardian (3) Kate Winslet ‘Lee’ official trailer link, 3 October 2024 Kate Winslet ‘Lee’ official trailer link

What are the Top Ten Priorities for Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the Labour Leadership This September?

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  1. International relations

The new Labour government’s leader Sir Keir Starmer is all about service to the country and the community we live in. Sir Starmer is keen to build on Great Britain and Northern Ireland’s good relationships with Europe, America and our international partners around the world.

Fortunately for Keir Starmer the new Labour Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and his senior team was able to attend the North Atlantic Trade Organisation NATO conference and network with other international leaders and strategic allies of Great Britain and Northen Ireland shortly after winning the General Election.

On the 18th July the European Political Community (EPC) summit was held at historic Blenheim Palace. (1)

  1. Defence spending

Sir Keir Starmer has committed to spending 2.5% of the UK’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on defence spending including £3 billion per year on military aid to Ukraine for as long for as it is needed. Initial meetings with American President Joe Biden at the international North America Trade Organisation NATO gave the new Prime Minister for the UK an opportunity to encourage our political allies to support Ukrainians in defending their country from Russian invasion.

This week the Prime Minister flew to America to meet with President Joe Biden once more to discuss the eastern European conflict and how to support Ukraine. It has been widely reported that the two leaders discussed the controversial decision to sanction long-range missiles and other weapons, as the threat from Russian bombardment continues to devastate Ukrainian towns and cities, with many more civilian lives lost again in recent days.

  1. National public disorder problems and security challenge

A major security challenge faced Keir Starmer and his leadership team in the form of widespread public disorder in England this summer. The unrest was sparked on the 30th July 2024 by incorrectly spread disinformation about the ethnicity of a man who carried out a shocking and tragic stabbing of three young girls at a Taylor Swift themed dance class in the northern coastal town of Southport.

Street protestors tuned violent and the far-right thugs attacked mosques and other public places that shelter England’s multicultural community. Dozens of police officers were injured.

Hundreds of rioters have been prosecuted so far along with several adults who knowingly and deliberately spread disinformation and lies on social media.

We will analyse the summer riots and the consequences for labour and the country in another article with more detail soon. The violence quickly diminished after it was clear that any person threatening or hurting innocent members of the public and policemen and policewomen would not be tolerated.

The courts have been working overtime over the last month in order to process and prosecute up to 250 people who have been accused of rioting and violence in several protests in communities across England at the beginning of August, particularly in the Manchester region of England.

  1. Tackle pressure on prisons

The previous Conservative government understood that prison places were nearly at capacity in England and Wales and there has been some investment in providing new facilities and places for those that have broken the law and received jail sentences. However, these efforts did not go far enough to prevent Labour coming to power to find many prisons in England are currently struggling to meet the basic demands of prisoners. This includes containing violence and prevent incidents of self-harm within prisons.

Keir Starmer and his leadership team have already made tough decisions. This month Labour leaders have chosen to release up to thousands of prison inmates who have been convicted of relatively less serious offences. The chosen prisoners will be able to walk out of incarceration after they have served up to only 40% of their sentences in some cases. (Source BBC Radio 4 News PM show Friday 6 September 2024).

  1. Public sector pay review

The public sector pay review has been a key priority for the new Labour government. This has been especially in focus because of the serious impact to the delivery of health services during the recent National Health worker strikes, such as the junior doctors strikes.

Not everyone is in agreement that this is the right way to go about getting value for taxpayers and their families in their National Health Services. On the BBC Radio 4 “Any Questions” show today, Alex Salmond previously First Minister of Scotland from 2007 to 2014 criticised the Labour party for cutting fuel credits for pensioners not on welfare benefits after quickly giving public sector workers such as doctors and train drivers above inflation wage increases. (8)

  1. Improve National Health Service standards and long wait times for treatment

Labour has promised to deal with the situation of long wait times of up to a year or more for National Health Service treatment that is experienced by millions of citizens in England. Despite the lockdowns and shutdowns that were supposed to avoid additional impact on the healthcare system Covid disruption has left a backlog of health treatment that has been hard to catch up with. This is despite the amazing work by NHS managers, doctors, nurses and their teams.

Extra funding over the past few years allocated from central government has not solved the problems which cause long waits for treatment in some departments.

Some of the causes of not being able to get on top of the long waits for treatment are complex system failures such as cuts in social care, building and infrastructure underinvestment, medical staff strikes and sickness, training, burnout and recruitment and retention problems.

The Labour Health Secretary Wes Streeting declared the NHS to be “broken” so the only way is up for Labour to work with healthcare leaders across the UK to transform the beloved NHS into an efficient and effective organisation for everyone in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to be proud of every day. (6)

  1. Supporting families and children

Labour is in the process of rolling out the Conservative’s policy of at least 15 hours free childcare hours for every child over the age of 2 years. Free breakfast clubs will also be available to all primary aged school children. This will support families and enable more parents to go back to work. Extra funding will be available to pay for training thousands of teachers in subjects where there is currently a shortage. (7)

There is a lot of support for reversing the two-child benefit cap in England (this has already been scrapped in Scotland) However, speaking on ‘Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg’ Chancellor Rachel Reeves has not committed to doing this yet this year, due to insufficient funds being available at the Treasury, to pay for the increase in benefits. (9)

This is controversial for many politicians including the Green party who support the reversal of this policy. This is because if benefits were increased to families that need them and reflected the number of children in any English household, this would immediately enable thousands of children to move out of poverty. Many of the poorest larger family households in the UK currently are choosing between spending on heating or eating, this winter already.

It was announced today that advertising on a variety of unhealthy foods and drinks are being banned before 9pm with effect from October 2025. This decision by the Labour party leadership is in an effort to prevent obesity and health problems due to the unnecessary overconsumption by children and young people of foods and drinks that are high in fat, sugar and salt.

Health Minister Andrew Gwynne said “These restrictions will help protect children from being exposed to advertising of less healthy food and drinks, which evidence shows influences their dietary preferences from a young age” (10)

  1. The growth economy and employment strategy: increasing the number of adults currently in work

Labour aims to reduce unemployment and help people who are on long term sickness leave to rejoin the labour market and become economically active again. Government figures show that several hundreds of thousands more working age people left the UK workforce during and after all the difficulties experienced because of covid disruption and an increase in health problems in recent years.

Liz Kendall is the new Work and Pensions Secretary and intends to rejuvenate old fashioned Job Centres and provide new schemes to provide customised help to people to help them overcome the barriers to retuning to work.

The New Deal for Working People aims to strengthen existing workers’ rights and improve working conditions across the national workforce.

There is no doubt that minimising stress for working men and women increases happiness, health and productivity. Critics have been concerned that regulations that increase an employer’s responsibilities and legal costs may actually have a negative impact on economic growth in the long term, making companies more hesitant to recruit and hire extra people.

Labour plans for raising much needed government income

Up to £2.6 billion is estimated, by the Chancellor and her financial team, is able to be additionally generated in tax revenue, by closing existing ‘non-dom’ (residents who are not tax domiciles based in the UK) tax loopholes.

This is of course a debatable ‘quick tax win’ as many multi-millionaires and billionaire’s resident in London and the UK can quite easily choose where in the world, they wish to invest their money and be a tax resident.

Therefore, this policy may well have the opposite effect to that which is intended and affect the government’s economic coffers in a negative direction once introduced, should hundreds or thousands of high-net-worth individuals decide to quickly take their spending power and tax revenue elsewhere. (7)

  1. Build 1.5 million homes

Rachel Reeves wants to “get Britain building again” The Chancellor says this is important and it will help economic growth in the United Kingdom. (9)

Challenges include the existing planning system and the ongoing tension between local councils, local residents and government planning policy and planning regulations. Chancellor Rachel Reeves wants to reform the planning system and introduce a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) which focuses on enabling economic growth across the country.

Another factor to consider is the current availability of a sufficiently skilled labour force to deliver the central government target of such a high number of new build properties, every day.

Labour will continue the efforts by the previous conservative government to improve the number, quality and availability of housing across the country. There is huge demand for social affordable housing for those on lower incomes. Thsi is because over the previous decades, it is agreed by all parties, that we have not built enough of the kind of social housing that many individuals and families on a budget desperately need.

Many areas in counties all over England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have new housing that does not effectively meet the needs of the local people but is the type of residential building that has suited the requirements of private developers and house builders. Privately owned housebuilders are usually primarily focused on making a profit and keep their business operations running smoothly.

Labour is looking at the complex area of planning policy to see where the opportunities for simplifying and improving the system are. This is a complicated and expensive area but with the issue of providing enough new housing, like solving the homeless problem in the UK, it is not ‘rocket science’ and delivering better housing for everyone is an achievable and vital goal for this energetic and creative new government to commit to, and succeed in completing.

  1. Infrastructure, transport and energy

Investing in quality infrastructure fit for the future and reducing household bills

Labour is currently introducing more regulation to ensure privately owned utilities, including water companies, will invest in the construction of system upgrades. Labour’s new policies will force companies to invest in major infrastructure improvements, to provide value for UK citizens in the long term.

Sir Keir Starmer and his team are avoiding going down the nationalising strategy road as there is a view that buying back utilities companies is not something that economically speaking, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are in a financial position to be able to do at present.

However, this is all hugely challenging as many United Kingdom based utility service providers are in debt ‘to the tune of’ millions of pounds. Therefore, as costs are passed onto the consumer, this ultimately costs UK residents money through their household bills which have nearly all gone up significantly above inflation year on year, over the past decade.

Any mandated improvements will then additionally also be directly passed on through the cost of energy and utility bills sent to householders. Currently many millions of bill payers and their families on our island are faced with increasing bills. Simultaneously residents experience often low-quality bathing water (and other waterside and water sport activities) affecting their healthy enjoyment of life and their ability to enjoy the sea and river waters, by which they live.

To future proof our basic infrastructure for this generation and also the next generations serious investment is required to replace our, in places, antiquated and leaking systems. There are several big expensive infrastructure projects underway across the country as regional and local councils realise that increasing population density creates an urgent need for major investment to provide water, sewage, electricity, communication and gas and other renewable energy supplies to homes and businesses throughout the UK.

This situation is closely linked to another important priority for Labour to improve:

Fuel Poverty and financial hardship currently experienced by millions of individuals and families in the UK.  (6)

There is also the massive challenge of providing cleaner greener energy to our homes and businesses (which are currently heated mostly by natural gas) and a Labour manifesto objective to deliver this by 2030 which is less than 6 years away. (7)

Finding ways to build energy independence in the UK to provide a more secure energy provision will also involve major infrastructure investment, which will cost many millions of pounds to introduce.

Labour’s Great British energy company will be ‘owned by the British people’ based in Scotland and the plan promises to ambitiously make progress in developing secure (nationally managed) energy whilst creating good jobs and lowering bills for citizens.

Great British Energy’s three initial priorities

“Great British Energy will have three initial priorities working alongside private partners:

  1. “Co-investing in new technologies: Great British Energy will help speed up and scale the deployment of new technologies, with public investment helping to crowd in investment in areas like floating offshore wind, tidal power and hydrogen as they develop into mature technologies.” (11)
  2. “Scale and accelerate mature technologies: Great British Energy will also help scale and accelerate the roll-out of mature technologies, like wind, solar and nuclear. It will partner with existing private sector firms to speed up deployment of mature renewable technologies to meet our ambitious clean power timelines. It will also build organisational capability and expertise to deliver energy megaprojects like nuclear power stations, reducing project and construction risk.” (11)
  3. “Scale up municipal and community energy: GB Energy will partner with energy companies, local authorities and cooperatives to develop 8GWs small-scale and medium-scale community energy projects. Profits will flow directly back into local communities to cut bills, not to the shareholders of foreign companies. This will help to create a more decentralised energy system, with more local generation and ownership, and will help to create a more resilient energy system.” (11)

Boosting onshore and offshore wind power infrastructure development sounds fantastic and we all want to minimise our reliance on fossil fuels and protect our environment to meet our climate objectives.

We do have considerable opportunity as an often (but not always) the British Isles are a very windy island, so maximising the natural opportunities that wind technology can could contribute to reliable energy independence.

All these major infrastructure projects are potentially and actually located in different parts of the country and often in areas of outstanding or special beauty and much-loved unspoilt countryside and coastlines.

Those households who benefit from receiving cheap and reliable energy may live many hundreds of miles away from the location of the turbines, machinery, equipment and power stations and their physical networks of different varieties.

The challenge is to overcome the natural reluctance of villages and towns to shoulder a heavy burden in terms of plant and new infrastructure allocated altogether on their doorstep and as far as the eye can see. Financial incentives and new jobs for communities agreeing to host much needed infrastructure development could be part of the answer to ensuring British energy independence, which could be imperative during these uncertain times internationally.

Transport

Although electric vehicles are now commonplace on our roads in the UK there is a lot to be done to create an efficient and affordable transport system in the UK that helps to maximise the potential for economic growth and well-being, for both UK citizens and international visitors.

Many major cities have frequent long traffic jams that slow up productivity and unnecessarily increase carbon emissions in England. The South East of England is often affected by miles of queues, with infrastructure improvements such as the A27 bypass shelved because they are too expensive to deliver at this time.

Train travel is a great opportunity and has a splendid and innovative history in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland but there are also massive challenges to overcome to deliver services that meet the expectations of commuters, students and international leisure travellers used to the efficient and reasonably priced services currently delivered at standard, in many other European countries.

Although many people who work on the railways are wonderfully helpful key workers, often UK train services are still super expensive, unreliable and overcrowded train services that millions of people struggle to rely on in order to get to work and other important appointments.

The Conservatives cancelled their flagship HS2 rail infrastructure project and train drivers (who have recently been given pay rises despite no improvement in services discernible to rail users) have been consistently on strike in recent months, so there is a lot that can be improved. (7)

Bus services are a postcode lottery and not everyone can afford to run a car of any variety and additionally not everyone lives near a bus stop or train station. Labour strives to improve transport and also “promote social mobility and regional equality” which sounds great.

“Buses in England outside London were privatised and deregulated by law in the 1980s, before limited powers were given to metro mayors as part of devolution, allowing them to set routes and timetables.” Stated the Guardian newspaper explaining why some of our most convenient public transport networks are not as appropriate, accessible and affordable as they could be. (12)

Impressively labour have wasted no time in making a radical change to the existing organisation of transport in communities by enabling local authorities across England to run and control bus services. This means local council leaders can introduce and be more flexible about providing routes and services that closely meet the people who live in their specific area.

The new transport secretary Louise Haigh called it a “bus revolution” but time will tell whether councils have the funding to truly deliver the kind of system that local people (often in rural locations) really need to reliably get them to their healthcare appointments, educational institutions, social and family meetups and crucially to their employment workplaces. (12)

Conclusion

The delighted elation for Labour politicians at the exciting and decisive win gained in the July UK General Election, after being in opposition for 14 years, has now faded with the summer evening sunshine. It is time to get down to the real and sometimes shocking business of leading this amazing, beautiful, talented, often problematic and occasionally troubled country.

The enthusiasm and determination of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Chancellor Rachel Reeves and their capable senior team is admirable, and also occasionally rather depressing if considering the serious situation of attempting to balance the nation’s financial books post covid, Brexit, energy crisis and conservative leadership changes.

If the UK can experience economic growth and prosperity and also be an alternative green energy hub that the world can admire, that will be amazing. There is a lot of work to do as many government departments are currently underfunded and trying to make it work with diminishing resources that have already suffered budget cuts during the austerity years.

There is no doubt that there are opportunities to work smarter with existing budgets but also it is clear there is still a lot to do in all directions, to make any significant improvements to the quality of life and future prospects of British citizens.

Sir Keir’s leadership will be essential to ensuring that Labour manifesto priorities are delivered while simultaneously hiring and leading the great teams that are needed to focus on serving our communities well in the long term, whilst providing the services and facilities that are needed right now.

The first role of government is to preserve the security of the people. All Members of Parliament led by the Prime Minister will need to embrace and adapt to a changing international landscape with key elections in America in November this year that may significantly change the balance of power. There are ongoing serious international conflicts that affect the UK and all nations around the globe.

Careful diplomacy will be needed to assist in creating a more peaceful planet, maintaining our security and defence and handling situations out of our government’s direct control, such as the unexpected energy crisis, that in recent years have affected almost all our lives living in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Perhaps the recent NASA International Space Station Missions can provide much needed inspiration of how we can succeed in creating a more peaceful world, if many countries can work together with the right mindset and a fresh perspective:

“The main goal of the International Space Station is to work on peaceful projects. In space, we’re all people from Earth.” declared Sunita Williams who is a talented NASA Astronaut who has definitely found her “happy place”.

We hope Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s professional, serious, calm and collaborative approach can help lead the United Kingdom’s citizens back on earth to build and develop the best health and prosperity that is possible over the coming years, for a nation heading into the 21st century.

  (1) ‘What will Keir Starmer’s first few weeks as prime minister look like?’ Rebecca Mckee and Jack Pannell, Institute for Government, 26 June 2024 ‘What will Keir Starmer’s first few weeks as prime minister look like?’ Rebecca Mckee and Jack Pannell, Institute for Government (2) ‘Who is the Speaker of the House of Commons and what do they do?’ Jennifer Clarke, BBC News, 9 July 2024 ‘Who is the Speaker of the House of Commons and what do they do?’ Jennifer Clarke, BBC News (3) ‘First Minister John Swinney announced his first Programme for Government on 4 September 2024’ Scottish Government official press release 4 September 2024 ‘First Minister John Swinney announced his first Programme for Government on 4 September 2024’ Scottish Government official press release (4) ‘Violent scenes as far-right protesters ‘hijack’ vigil for 3 girls killed in Southport knife attack’ Helen Regen, Niamh Kennedy, Maija Ehlinger, Duarte Mendonca, Radian Gigova, CNN News, 1 August 2024 ‘Violent scenes as far-right protesters ‘hijack’ vigil for 3 girls killed in Southport knife attack’ Helen Regen, Niamh Kennedy, Maija Ehlinger, Duarte Mendonca, Radian Gigova, CNN News (5) ‘Further footage released of people wanted over riots’ 5 September 2024 (5) ‘Further footage released of people wanted over riots’ BBC News (6) ‘Labour’s first week: Eight key plans, and the challenges ahead’ Matt McGrath, Kevin Peachey, Nick Triggle, James Landale, Daniel Sandford, Simon Jack, Sima Kotecha, BBC News, 13 July 2024 ‘Labour’s first week: Eight key plans, and the challenges ahead’ Matt McGrath, Kevin Peachey, Nick Triggle, James Landale, Daniel Sandford, Simon Jack, Sima Kotecha, BBC News (7) ‘What can we expect from Labour’s First 100 Days in Power’ Ella Dutton, Brevia Consulting, 12 July 2024 ‘What can we expect from Labour’s First 100 Days in Power’ Ella Dutton, Brevia Consulting (8) ‘Any Questions?’ Alex Forsyth presents political debate from the Skypark in Glasgow, BBC Radio 4 Series, 14 September 2024 ‘Any Questions?’ Alex Forsyth presents political debate from the Skypark in Glasgow, BBC Radio 4 Series (9) ‘Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg’ Featuring Chancellor Rachel Reeves, BBC One News, 21 July 2024 ‘Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg’ Featuring Chancellor Rachel Reeves, BBC One News (10) ‘Ban on junk food TV adverts before 9pm to come in next year’ Alex Boyd and Zahra Fatima, BBC News 12 September 2024 ‘Ban on junk food TV adverts before 9pm to come in next year’ Alex Boyd and Zahra Fatima, BBC News (11) ‘Vote to switch on Great British Energy’ Website promoted by David Evans on behalf of the Labour Party, 20 Rushworth Street, London, SE1 0SS,       14  September 2024   ‘Vote to switch on Great British Energy’ Website promoted by David Evans on behalf of the Labour Party (12) ‘Labour to give English local authorities power to run bus services’ Gwyn Topham, Transport Correspondent, The Guardian, 9 September 2024 ‘Labour to give English local authorities power to run bus services’ Gwyn Topham, Transport Correspondent, The Guardian (13) International Space Station Quotes, BrainyQuote website, 14 September 2024 International Space Station Quotes, Sunita Williams, NASA Astronaut, BrainyQuote

UK General Election: Starmer Leads Labour into Power with Historic Victory Over Opposition

The votes had been mostly counted after a long day at polling stations all over the United Kingdom last night at 10pm.

This week the polls had predicted that an unprecedented number of people would select to mark a cross in the box for their local Labour party candidates, who were representing their local constituency area. Labour is the major party in opposition to the Conservatives who have been in power for the last 14 years. The last six weeks has seen an energetic roller coaster of an election contest.

It was a truly breathtaking moment when the preliminary UK general election results were announced last night live on television.

Labour had, as the polls had predicted, secured a mega majority of parliamentary seats in the Houses of Parliament gaining an amazing 412 seats. The Liberal Democrats had also won more seats than ever before, with a comparatively impressive 61 seats for their party led by Ed Davies.

It was a truly crushing defeat for the Conservatives who are trailing far behind Labour with 121 seats in a way not seen since the 1930’s and that most of us have never seen in our lifetime.

“The Conservatives saw their vote share almost halve to 23.7 percent, down from 43.6 per cent at the last election.” Reported the Financial Times today. (4)

Rishi Sunak took responsibility for the failure of his party to continue in power, in his departure from Number 10 Downing Street speech earlier. Sunak apologised to the nation for not meeting their expectations. Then with gentlemanly professionalism, he wished the new Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his family the best of luck in the top job role, as he departed holding his wife’s hand. Rishi Sunak was undoubtedly feeling some sense of relief from the pressure of uniting the United Kingdom behind a troubled and ailing Conservative party, which has probably made for a very stressful couple of years.

Today the final results rolled in and with only 2 seats left to declare a huge win for Keir Starmer and the Labour party is confirmed with Labour winning a 33.7% share of the all the votes cast. (1)

The seats won so far today are as follows:

Labour 412, Conservatives 121, Liberal Democrats 71,

Scottish National party 9, Sinn Fein 7, Independent 6, Democratic Unionist Party 5, Reform UK 4, Green 4, Plaid Cymru 4, Social Democratic & Labour Party 2, Alliance Party 1, Ulster Unionist Party 1, Traditional Unionist Voice 1

This means the majority of voters in the UK have voted against re-electing the Conservatives, sending a very strong message for the party.

Men and women of all ages have chosen to turn up and vote for the change which Sir Keir Starmer and his team are proposing. Wes Streeting is likely to become Labour’s Health Secretary very soon, when Keir Starmer announces his new government. Speaking on Laura Kuenssberg’s Sunday morning politics show on the BBC recently, Streeting warned that “not voting was giving a fresh mandate to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his cabinet” to continue with an increasingly unpopular government besieged by scandals and policies that many citizens did not support.  (3)

The public are giving Labour an opportunity to demonstrate how they will improve Great Britain and Northern Ireland by putting into practice the policies that they have outlined in their Labour manifesto. These commitments include prioritising the health service, the green economy, new immigration strategies, education reforms and measures to further prevent anti-social behaviour.

However, according to the Independent this general election is “on track to be the lowest turnout for 20 years” with the percentage of voters who actually put their slips and postal votes in the ballot box standing at around 60%.

Time will tell if Sir Keir Starmer and his team are able to deliver on their manifesto promises. For now, it is all smiles and hopeful excitement for a fresh chapter, a new government and looking forward to the release of pent-up energy and funds that will now be able to roll into action. Getting all these new policies and projects off the ground will help make Great Britain and Northern Ireland stronger if it works.

Sir Keir Starmer makes his upbeat acceptance speech at Number 10 Downing Street this afternoon. On a windy, sunshine and showers day in London, after obtaining permission to form a new government from King Charles II at Buckingham Palace, the Labour leader will begin his time in office as the United Kingdom’s new Prime Minister. As the new cabinet is chosen, there will be celebrations in many constituencies across the country, that continue into this weekend.

(1) BBC Election Results GE24 – Live Updates, 5 July 2024 BBC Election Results GE24 – Live Updates (2) General election turnout on track to be lowest for more than 20 years, Ian Jones, Independent, 5 July 2024 General election turnout on track to be lowest for more than 20 years, Ian Jones, Independent, (3) ‘Streeting Warns of No.10 nightmare if voters stay at home’ Gergana Krasteva, Metro.co.uk newspaper, 17 June 2024 (4) ‘Labour’s landslide victory in charts’ Ella Hollowood and Jonathan Vincent, Financial Times, 5 July 2024 ‘Labour’s landslide victory in charts’ Ella Hollowood and Jonathan Vincent, Financial Times

Today is Polling Day: There is Still Time until 10pm to Vote in General Election

Polling Stations in every community across the United Kingdom are open this Thursday evening, 4th of July as the nation votes for which party will lead the country during an unusual general election.

It is six weeks since the current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the unexpected summer leadership contest, outside Number 10 Downing Street on a memorably wet May day.

Both of the major parties in Britain: the Conservatives and Labour have had their fair share of positive coverage in the press and the would-be Prime Minister’s and their teams have all made embarrassing gaffs and mistakes that included rather unprofessional betting on a July 4th election date sweepstakes and saying dreadful things about the opposition.

To say it has been a bumpy ride for England over the last 14 years under the Conservatives is an understatement. An unexpected pandemic, energy price shocks as well as the war in Ukraine have led to very challenging times for everyone globally, especially families and individuals affected by the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak promised to clean up the more questionable (some would say unforgivable) behaviours seen in his party and demonstrated in multiple scandals such as Partygate. We will know tomorrow whether the general public have faith that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been able to achieve these respectable aims and whether adults living in households around the country believe that those Members of Parliament that are left in the incumbent Conservative government, are united enough to deliver their ambitious agenda. The Conservatives policies include the extremely controversial Rwanda Plan for relocating migrants overseas. On the worryingly dramatic last BBC political debate with Labour’s leader Kier Starmer the existing Prime Minister declared “at least we have a plan!” (as opposed to Labour’s less drastic illegal immigrations policies).

We have all heard many aspects of all the main political parties’ manifestos over the last few weeks. These policies have been transmitted on television debates, on radio programmes as well as features on other digital channels, social media and broadcast live events.

According to the official political polls, many residents across Great Britain and Northern Ireland are looking for a change of those in power in the United Kingdom and Labour is top of the list. The Liberal Democrats already have a lot of support from recent local elections and have a place in the polls as a viable opposition for those that don’t want to vote Conservative but can’t quite bring themselves to vote for Labour for whatever reason. Fun fact: The Liberal Democrats are the only party looking to work towards a reintegration with the European Union post Brexit. Ed Davey has run an entertaining and interesting Liberal Democrat campaign strategy that has helped to lighten the mood at times. Sometimes this jolly and caring approach has appeared a little soppy for the often-sober times we a living through. This is after all the most senior role in Westminster that involves becoming a figurehead for the UK at international conferences.

The Green party have been popular in the debating process and they have a special place as the one party that is focusing on the important work of minimising the effect of global climate change.

There are several independent parties and Nigel Farage made a surprise decision to run in May. Farage is representing the Reform party which has also had its fair share of shocking news stories during this sometimes heated and relatively stressful lead up to polling day. It is a shame that in 2024 we still have accusations around rude comments regarding someone’s race and heritage in the United Kingdom. Thankfully this doesn’t represent the British public who are by and large excellent folk with kind attitudes towards their fellow citizens.

We have millions of people with a positive spirit and many talents living on the beautiful British Isles. Our vibrant and cosmopolitan nation has much to be proud of and we can achieve great things working together.

However, we currently have an economy with limited resources in the United Kingdom and there are also several difficult and serious issues to address this year the the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom will need to deal with including funding the armed services, benefits and care system and the National Health Service as well as our esteemed emergency services, police force and educational institutions.

There is no doubt that Kier Starmer and Rishi Sunak are very different people with differing views on how to solve our biggest problems and grow our economy to be able to afford more services for our citizens. Prime Minister (for the rest of today at least) Rishi Sunak, Kier Starmer and Ed Davey are all professionals that have the ability and the statesmanship to lead our country forward.

On occasions during the political campaigns running up to these elections the atmosphere has been fraught, competitive and more than one debate has bordered on aggressive, angry and full of unnecessarily loud voices.

It would be understandable that men and women of all ages living in the United Kingdom may have chosen to book the first bargain getaway abroad that pops into their inbox in order to escape all the chaos of the noisy election runup.

Political decisions in a permacrisis are difficult and on top of all the other pressures of daily living the last thing we all need is another appointment in a physical location with limited parking facilities involving paperwork and all the neighbours.

It is worth remembering when deciding whether to dash out and put your ‘X’ on the ballot paper that democracy is a special privilege that works when everyone in a society ‘makes it happen’. Our system isn’t perfect but as Churchill once said “democracy is the worst form of government except all the others.”

We have free and fair elections in the United Kingdom and the suffragette movement sacrificed greatly to enable women to vote and in the fullness of time to be treated with the equality that we enjoy today. We still have work to do in this regard. Several dozen countries around the world are not fortunate enough to freely choose who they vote for even if they purport to be ‘democratic’ We must exercise our right to vote when we can as a tribute to those who suffered in order to make that happen for future generations.

Voting and using our voice to promote and celebrate the freedoms that we currently have is the best way to protect our rights in a changing world. Our non-perfect, best it can be, democratic political process allows everyone to participate and influence the way our country works. We are grateful to those who step up, represent us all and serve our society every day. We wish them and the United Kingdom the best of luck as the results roll in tonight!

A Blooming Fabulous Bunch of Fashion and Interiors Collections Bring Joy to SS24

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In a hopeful, positive and creative reaction to the turbulent world that we live in 2024, a trend for colourful and decorative nature inspired items for the wardrobe, home and workplace has swept across London, England and beyond into Europe this season.

Lily of the Valley lights, colourful egg and daffodils, Tivoli Entrance, Vestervold, Copenhagen, Denmark
Lily of the Valley lights, colourful egg and daffodils, Tivoli Entrance, Vestervold, Copenhagen, Denmark

Bright handcrafted and commercially manufactured fashion and home interior products appear in boutiques in hundreds of high streets and out of town shops. Pretty wares in bold feminine shapes and organic patterns enliven the many one-off fairs and trading events that celebrate the joy of unique home furnishings and spring-summer apparel.

Traditional English style floral china on shop display with large painted floral sculpture. Fortnum and Mason, Piccadilly, London. Photo by kind permission of A-M Hartley
Traditional English style floral china on shop display with large painted floral sculpture. Fortnum and Mason, Piccadilly, London. Photo by kind permission of A-M Hartley

Clothing, furniture, fabrics, lighting, soft furnishings and accessories in multi-hued sustainable materials and a kaleidoscope of natural finishes enhance store windows and retail displays. The latest verdant designs are fresh and ready to stylishly grace home and office room spaces of any architectural period.

Whilst floral ranges are not ‘stop press’ news for spring, these garden themed pieces reflect our continuing desire for embracing the great outdoors. Most people are looking forward to more time outside in our backyards, green spaces and local parks this week. We want to surround ourselves with living things (or the idea of nature) to remind us of healthy new growth. The enjoyment and mental health benefits of getting out in nature and nurturing the development our precious green havens can be reflected in our homes and the places that we work and spend our leisure time in too.

Scandinavian Design shop window with large fabric flowers on branches and felt Easter eggs and bunnies. Photo by A.Howse
Scandinavian Design shop window with large fabric flowers on branches and felt Easter eggs and bunnies. Photo by A.Howse

Picking up on the flower power vibe there are thousands of UK residents and those residing in Europe sporting flowery jewellery, shirts and dresses to complement their lawn picnics, indoor plants and humble window boxes this June and July. A few lucky folks will be featuring their maximalist floral country sitting rooms in their summer parties, complete with bouquets from their own cut flower gardens.

Winifred Nicholson oil painting still life with flowers with other British modern painting exhibits at The Shape of Things: Still Life in Britain, Pallant House Gallery, Chichester, West Sussex. Photo by A.Howse
Winifred Nicholson oil painting still life with flowers with other British modern painting exhibits at The Shape of Things: Still Life in Britain, Pallant House Gallery, Chichester, West Sussex. Photo by A.Howse

There are also millions of bohemian bloom clad sun seekers that are everyone in between, who are all escaping to their ‘happy place’ to revel in petals, buds and leaves. Temporarily avoiding the looming election debates and other serious world issues that can be overwhelming at times for the best of us it is time to treat ourselves to celebrate the longest days outside.

The comforting colours and organic designs available to order at the moment evoke the happy days of past summers, picnics, rural festivals and simpler times for most of us. The enduring popularity of the ‘cottage core’ look is no coincidence. The majority of adults appreciate any opportunity to go ‘offline’ occasionally and sometimes like to switch off completely, from our incessant digital lives and the ‘constantly on’ lifestyles that most of us unintentionally lead today.

Flower themed Lego kits for sale at Lego, Tivoli, Copenhagen, Denmark. Photo by A.Howse
Flower themed Lego kits for sale at Lego, Tivoli, Copenhagen, Denmark. Photo by A.Howse

We predict that ‘analogue’ interiors (without screens and internet connected gadgets wherever possible) and vintage, upcycled handmade and handcrafted furnishings and clothing will continue to be really popular through 2024 and into next year. Most working (and studying) people are keen to carefully manage their work/life balance and create a non-stressful nest to spend time relaxing and recharging and enjoying the company of their closest loved ones.

Floral dresses and bright shirts on display at Monsoon, Waterloo, London. Photo by A.Howse
Floral dresses and bright shirts on display at Monsoon, Waterloo, London. Photo by A.Howse

Consumers are increasingly interested in owning less and owning better quality items (to quote the late great Vivienne Westwood). The public in general now like to understand the history and heritage of their possessions. Men and women of all ages are considering the environmental impact of the things that they buy and engage with, on a daily basis. This means considering carefully before buying anything and choosing classic favourites that will stand the test of time. This is true both when it comes to what to wear and also when setting up and developing a home. Nowadays many shoppers are replacing more durable items as they are worn and worn out and shunning cheap fast fashion fads.

This summer the retail buyers and talented craft makers have recognised that we need garments and interior elements that can easily add to our existing handed down and/or inherited furniture collections. Thrifty charity shop tables, chairs and cabinet furniture purchases are all the rage for many English adults lucky enough to be able to buy their own pads or long term rent unfurnished abodes. (along with for most young families that inevitably own some cheerfully customised Ikea storage basics).

Beautiful variegated rainbow shades, as well as lots of different pastel whites, contrast well with a selection of wooden stains or painted furniture from the last five or more decades. Harmonising greens suit the interior decoration of individuals living in house shares, apartments and houses with existing contents they have not chosen themselves. Renting means carefully introducing homeware that coordinates with what is left by the owner and there already. Therefore, acquiring any of the current blossoming and dendritic interior offerings that are available online or preferably for sale in physical local stores is perfect.

Vallensbaek Havn roses on resturant tables at sailing club, Denmark. Photo by A.Howse
Vallensbaek Havn roses on resturant tables at sailing club, Denmark. Photo by A.Howse

It is extra wonderful to extend this botanical home trend across a carefully curated capsule wardrobe. This option has the added benefit of seamlessly incorporating a treasured seasonal selection of tops, bottoms, dresses and suits into ‘the look’ of any abode. This is especially fortuitous if you happen to have clothing storage solution comprising of an easy to see open rail arrangement as a statement piece in a bedroom or any other ‘open living space’ arrangement.

Dressing rooms and interior of Moss fashion shop, Copenhagen, Denmark. Photo by A.Howse
Dressing rooms and interior of Moss fashion shop, Copenhagen, Denmark. Photo by A.Howse

Seasonal colour analysis assesses the colouring of men and women of all ages. One way to obtain a completely personalised and ‘pulled together’ look across all your fashion and home style is to order specific interior design items like ceiling lights and window curtains as well as wardrobe heroes such as jumpsuits and tunics and more, to specifically match any individual’s best and most becoming shades and tints. The specially chosen swatches of colour bring out the best in an individual person’s colouring and skin tone to help anyone look their best every day.

Floral trousers display with ceramic patterned vase at FatFace shop, Waterloo, London. Photo by A.Howse
Floral trousers display with ceramic patterned vase at FatFace shop, Waterloo, London. Photo by A.Howse

The sky is the limit to surrounding yourself with natural forms and plant embellished floral accoutrements. Now is a great time to invest in gorgeous necessities that stand the test of time, make you feel happy and bring back delightful sunny memories, whatever the weather.

Bestselling Author Kate Mosse Launches ‘The Ghost Ship’ with a Magical Midsummer Appearance

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Kate Mosse enchanted the audience at Waterstones event with a memorable book signing experience. The evening naturally highlighted Kate’s talent and wisdom as an exceptional writer, historian and as an established leader of the arts in Britain.

Yesterday evening sixty fans of the bestselling author Kate Mosse were lucky enough to attend a wonderful evening event to celebrate the launch of her latest book ‘The Ghost Ship’ at Waterstones bookshop in Chichester, West Sussex in England.

Former Chichester High School student Mrs Mosse looked upbeat and relaxed as she strolled along the sunlit medieval West Street, past the historic Chichester Cathedral where she made her way to arrive at the imposing vintage print boutique in perfect time, for the sold-out occasion, which started at 7pm.

The President of the Festival of Chichester, which is currently in full swing, Kate Mosse smiled happily as she greeted the upmarket bookstore Manager and her team warmly. Mrs Mosse then posed elegantly for a quick personal photograph to mark the important moment with her freshly pressed new edition ‘The Ghost Ship’ outside the traditional Georgian shop window.

The storefront exclusively displayed framed images of the handsome new book covers, featuring a striking nautically coloured ceramic tile design front cover complete with a sailing ship logo. The prints are smartly framed along with key information related to the selling of Kate’s latest novel.

The author and manager stepped back inside the old building and joined the enthusiastic guests and staff on the first floor of the voluminous old bookstore, many of which were enjoying chatting over a refreshing drink on this warm June evening.

Kate gave a friendly individual welcome to many of the literary attendees, before merrily seating herself at the front of the book signing table. Five dozen guests sat listening very carefully facing Mrs Mosse who was comfortably perched quite closely to the first row of seated readers and in front of a branded presentation board, splashed with images of Kate’s latest creative publication.

After a formal introduction by the professional store Manager and much clapping, Kate Mosse began an informative and informal talk, where she outlined how her life has unfolded in many wonderful ways. Kate elaborated fascinatingly on how her journey as an author and creative professional, who is based in Sussex, has been an exciting, positive and sometimes challenging adventure.

Successful fiction and non-fiction writer, journalist, broadcaster and cultural leader Kate Mosse attended New Collage at Oxford University where she gained a BA(Hons.) degree in English Literature in 1984.

Mrs Mosse treated us all to stories of how her personal family life evolved from strong roots and friendships in the Chichester harbour area. Kate told us how her children with fellow author and husband Greg Mosse have grown up strong and how they are a close family. Mrs Mosse also shared how their son is also following in his parent’s footsteps this year, by becoming a published fiction writer.

Kate described how she enjoys the intellectual freedom and also the unexpected and stimulating historical knowledge that occurs from having the opportunity to spend time abroad absorbing different cultures and researching writing her unique books.

Mrs Mosse especially admires the historic fortified city of Carcassonne in the south of France where she shares a much-loved family cottage. Kate also feels at home in the Canary Islands and was in more recent years particularly taken with the historical treasures that she found in learning more about South Africa’s cultural heritage while she explored the towns and landscape. Mrs Mosse is interested in how the Europeans engaged with the South Africans and how the agriculture and trading routes many centuries ago shaped the country’s history and ethnic development.

The ancient facts and the old stories that belong to the places that Kate has visited has inspired several of her novels which are usually formed through a process which marries her extensive visionary imagination with little known historical gems and dramatic happenings from fascinating past places and times.

The audience were treated to an outline of the tale of her latest book which follows the escapades of two strong, brave and formidable 17th century female seafarers. The Waterstones press summary declares enticingly:

“The Ghost Ship is inspired by the real-life story of pirates Anne Bonny and Mary Read, in 1621 two women set sail from Amsterdam for Cape Town at the height of the wars of religion in France.  Travelling from France and Holland, the Canary Islands to South Africa, it’s an epic adventure story of revenge on the High Seas, family secrets, a love story spanning countries and generations, and courageous women fighting to survive in a man’s world.”

Kate also treated the assembled literary fans at Chichester’s best known book emporium to a beautifully spoken ‘sneak preview’ reading from her latest work, the latest in The Joubert family Chronicles: The Map of Bones’ which is due to be put out on the shelves in October. The charming leading British novelist transported the audience to another time and world with her latest creation.

In 2005 Kate Mosse published Labyrinth which is the first title in the Languedoc Trilogy which became a bestseller immediately.

Mrs Mosse was granted the honour of Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth II in 2013 for her services to literature. Kate Mosse was awarded Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) by King Charles II in the New Year 2024 honours for services to literature, women and charity. The BBC News reported that “Author Kate Mosse, best known for her Languedoc Trilogy, says she considers her CBE as recognition of the importance of The Women’s Prize for Fiction, which she co-founded.” (3)

As well as continuing to help and inspire others through her work as Chair of the Board of the Women’s prize for Fiction and also as a Professor of Contemporary Literature and Creative Writing at the University of Chichester, Kate Mosse is excited about producing more original new literary and theatrical works in the near future.

Over the past few years Kate has been developing a campaign to nominate Women In History (#WomenInHistory) Mrs Mosse mentioned last night that there are more plans in the pipeline to celebrate up to a thousand incredible women, which includes her work on Warrier Women and Queens of Antiquity.

“Our ‘First 500’ is varied and fabulous, it sings with admiration for so many inspiring women throughout the ages and those who are making history today. It’s all about putting all the women back into history, not just a select few. Because only by learning about the whole past, in all its technicolour glory, can we really know where we stand now.” Kate Mosse (4)

Celebrating the amazing women in history, their legacies and their contribution to how we live today will likely be central to Kate Mosse’s book and theatre performance themes in the near future. “Writing women back into history” is important says Kate Mosse.

Nominating world-changing women who have been previously overlooked is a brilliant way to further expand Kate’s sizable contribution to the arts in England and as an inspirational role model for anyone who has thought about pursuing creative writing and making a difference in their communities.

Kate Mosse delighted everyone who she met as she thoughtfully signed copies of her new book “The Ghost Ship” last night in Waterstones in Chichester. Kate’s legacy and historic work celebrating and promoting previously overlooked women in history will definitely continue to educate and inspire everyone, particularly women and younger generations, all over the world, for a very long time into the future.

  (1) ‘A Night Out with Kate Mosse: The Ghost Ship paperback launch’ Events, Waterstones website, 19th June 2024 ‘A Night Out with Kate Mosse: The Ghost Ship paperback launch’ Events, Waterstones website (2) ‘Kate Mosse, Rob Burrow and Kevin Sinfield awarded CBEs in 2024 New Year’s Honours’ Pan Macmillan, Press Release, 30 December 2023 ‘Kate Mosse, Rob Burrow and Kevin Sinfield awarded CBEs in 2024 New Year’s Honours’ Pan Macmillan (3) ‘New Year Honours 2024: Micheal Eavis and Jilly Cooper Lead List’ Sarah Bell, BBC News, 29 December 2024 ‘New Year Honours 2024: Micheal Eavis and Jilly Cooper Lead List’ Sarah Bell, BBC News (4) “#WomenInHistory: Kate Mosse presents the extraordinary women in whose footsteps we walk.” Kate Mosse, Pan MacMillan, 5th March 2021 “#WomenInHistory: Kate Mosse presents the extraordinary women in whose footsteps we walk.” Kate Mosse, Pan MacMillan

D-Day 80 Portsmouth in Pictures

D-Day 80 poster, Havant, Hampshire, England
D-Day 80 poster, Havant, Hampshire, England
Wednesday June 5th 2024 marked the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in 1944 and hundreds of local people turned out to commemorate. Patriotic locals and day trippers from around the country wanted to be there to support a special ticketed event that took place in Portsmouth in Hampshire, England to celebrate the lives of brave military men and women who took part in the D-Day activities accross the Solent 80 years ago, that changed the course of history. Read the full D-Day80 article here: Stunning Red Arrows Fly-Past Thrills Crowds at D-Day 80 Commemorations in Portsmouth The VIP’s watched the ceremony on a large screen that could also be heard and partly seen by the enthusiastic crowd that had gathered along the Esplanade on Southsea Common to share in the formal commemoration of the occasion. At the end of the official service everyone in Portsmouth harbour was treated to a magnificent fly past display by the Red Arrows. Red Arrows Fly-Past D-Day80 Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
DDay-80 coloured smoke in sky after Red Arrows display and Frigate Gun salute, Portsmouth, Hampshire. Photo by A.Howse
DDay-80 coloured smoke in sky after Red Arrows display and Frigate Gun salute, Portsmouth, Hampshire. Photo by A.Howse
The BAE Systems’ Hawk T1 aircraft were accompanied by a Typhoon FGR4 jet and together they painted the blue sky with stunning red, white and blue smoke trail stripes.
DDay-80 Two Chinook helicopters fly over Portsmouth Harbour, Hampshire. Photo by A.Howse
DDay-80 Two Chinook helicopters fly over Portsmouth Harbour, Hampshire. Photo by A.Howse
Two enormous Chinook helicopters also impressed onlookers with their presence adding to the event which marks the critical D-Day operation.
DDay 80 Policemen and Policewomen on bicycles, Southsea Common, Hampshire. Photo by A.Howse
DDay 80 Policemen and Policewomen on bicycles, Southsea Common, Hampshire. Photo by A.Howse
Security was tight to protect the Royal family, the Prime Minister and the veterans and the VIP’s in attendance.
Female soldiers in the army attend DDay80 Portsmouth, Hampshire. Photo by A.Howse
Female soldiers in the army attend DDay80 Portsmouth, Hampshire. Photo by A.Howse
Female soldiers in the army attended D-Day80 in Portsmouth, Hampshire. The D-Day80 commemoration in Portsmouth on the 5th June and the service that took place in Normandy in France on the 6th June were essential to remember all those citizens who served in World War II and all those who were hurt or tragically died defending their country.
WWII Remembrance collage, St Faith's church DDay80 display, Meridian Centre, Havant, Hampshire
WWII Remembrance collage, St Faith’s church DDay80 display, Meridian Centre, Havant, Hampshire