Graham Stuart MP

This is government gaslighting to a high degree. 1. It’s not a new announcement. The Norfolk East and West offshore wind projects were announced earlier this year as part of the AR7 round of contracts. 2. No way does it bring down prices. Those behind it, energy giant RWE + global investors KKR, were guaranteed an above-market strike price of £91.20/MWh based on 2024 prices — indexed linked for 20 years. That guarantee is already worth £97/MWh in 2026. This is v expensive energy. 3. What is new is that the costs of developing offshore wind have soared. So the government has now had to chip in £1 billion of the £12 billion investment needed from the National Wealth [Destruction] Fund. So more state subsidy on top of the massive subsidies for two foreign companies implicit in the price guarantees embedded in AR7. 4. Far from cheaper electricity this embeds high-cost electricity in the system for 20 years. 5. So much for the Chancellor’s Budget pledge to ‘only build new projects when they lower prices’. This does the opposite — and at enormous expense to the taxpayer and electricity user. Gaslighting indeed.

At last! Properly banning smartphones has taken forever to get Labour to agree to, but we are finally there and I am delighted.

Labour have finally done the right thing & introduced a proper smartphone ban in schools. They voted against a ban seven times & dismissed our call as an “unnecessary, headline-grabbing gimmick”. Labour have been on quite a journey, but I welcome this newfound common sense.

🇨🇳 🇺🇸 Imagine China invades the United States. Chinese troops occupy Alaska. Chinese missiles destroy American cities, power stations and hospitals. Beijing complains that Washington has been behaving provocatively by refusing to surrender. President Donald Trump appears on television, desperately appealing to Europe for help. Europe’s response? “Donald, shut up. You don’t have the cards. You’re in a very bad position. You should be grateful we’re even talking to you.” Then a Chinese missile strikes an elementary school in Washington. Dozens of American children are killed. A European leader is asked whether Beijing should be held responsible. “Look, it’s terrible. Absolutely terrible. But we must remember that people are dying on both sides. Chinese soldiers are being killed by American troops, too. We cannot simply blame China because some American children have died. We need to understand the legitimate security concerns of both countries.” Meanwhile, reports emerge that 50,000 American children have been forcibly taken by Chinese occupation forces. Children from Ohio, Kentucky, Kansas and Texas have been transported to China, separated from their parents and placed with Chinese families. Europe urges everyone to remain calm. “Frankly, some of these children have been placed with better Chinese families. Very respectable people. Lovely homes. We mustn’t allow emotional arguments about children to derail the peace process.” Trump demands their immediate return. European leaders roll their eyes. “Honestly, the man is exhausting. Every time we speak to Trump, it’s the same bloody thing. Anti-aircraft missiles, air defence systems, ammunition, weapons, weapons, weapons. Can’t he just shut up for five minutes? We’re trying to negotiate peace here.” Meanwhile, Europe demands that Washington immediately stop attacking Chinese oil refineries and military infrastructure. “American strikes are escalating the conflict and threatening global energy prices. Beijing needs reassurance that its infrastructure will be protected.” China continues systematically destroying America’s electricity grid, bridges and railway networks. Europe calls for restraint. From America, naturally. European envoys then fly to Beijing to negotiate lucrative deals involving gas from occupied Alaska and a magnificent new North American security architecture. “We must address China’s legitimate security concerns. Perhaps America could withdraw its troops from certain states and reconsider its military alliances. After all, Beijing has genuine concerns about American military forces operating so close to Chinese positions.” The Chinese positions are in Texas. Trump protests that nobody has asked the Americans what they think. “Donald, we’re negotiating peace. Please stop being difficult. China’s security concerns are just as legitimate as yours.” Eventually, Brussels announces a historic agreement with Beijing determining the future of North America. The Americans are invited to applaud. Now, if this sounds like foreign policy devised by a committee of spectacularly incompetent estate agents attempting to sell a house while its owners are being murdered upstairs, congratulations. Your brain is functioning. In modern American diplomacy, the country invading its neighbour deserves security guarantees, commercial opportunities and understanding. And the children? Well, there are always two sides to every story. The moral collapse of a government. Stay connected, follow @Microinteracti1

I don't remember Nigel complaining about my methodology when I had Reform 9 points ahead...

Thanks @Nigel_Farage – it is true that, like you, I didn’t serve in the armed forces. But I’m incredibly proud of what I delivered for them as Defence Procurement Minister - the deal to buy back the defence estate, so we can actually rebuild forces housing; the MoD’s first ever Drone strategy, kicking off uncrewed development like the hybrid navy; procuring directed energy weapons for the first time, like DragonFire; and chairing the Defence Nuclear Board overseeing CASD, a role usually held by the Secretary of State. But do you know what I’m really proud of? Being part of a govt that moved heaven & earth to help Ukraine in its great fight for freedom. In comparison, what did you do when Russia invaded? Blame NATO. And you’ve repeated that baseless position since. So I offer my best wishes to your new spokesman, @AngusReform, but I hope next time he’s in front of the press you’ll let him actually be a spokesman - so we can find out if he agrees with your abhorrent views on Russia/Ukraine, that lack compassion & the good sense needed to be a proper leader, rather than a preening Putinista populist.