13 OCTOBER 1923
Lord Robert Cecil gave the Imperial Conference an account of the activities of the League of Nations, and claimed it for a big share in the “rapid pacific solution” of the Italo-Greek dispute.
Herbert Asquith, at a speech in Perth, discussed the Imperial Preference proposals and said that Protectionism would involve the country in industrial suicide.
Eleven people were killed in food riots at Solingen, a German town in the British zone of occupation.
12 OCTOBER 1923
Gustav Stresemann, the Chancellor of Germany, was authorised by President Friedrich Ebert to dissolve the Reichstag if the Emergency Law Bill was not passed. Owing to the Nationalists leaving the House when the Bill was put to the vote, so that the necessary quorum was not present, the Reichstag adjourned for a day.
The Imperial Conference discussed the work of the League of Nations after hearing an address on the subject by Lord Robert Cecil. The general tone of discussion was most favourable to fullest support being given to the League.
11 OCTOBER 1923
At the Imperial Economic Conference, Sir Philip Lloyd-Greame revealed the British Government’s proposal to assist in the acceleration of Dominion development schemes in their initial stages by the grant of part interest.
A further attempt was made by divers to penetrate the underground workings in the Redding Colliery, but the effort had to be abandoned owing to the road being blocked.
David Lloyd George, the former Prime Minister, was awarded the freedom of Toronto.
10 OCTOBER 1923
The British Government offered to the Dominions at the Imperial Economic Conference a number of important concessions in the matter of Imperial Preference, affecting preserved fruit, canned fruit, sugar and tobacco.
The Insurance Act Committee of the British Medical Association have rejected the proposals of the Ministry of Health with regard to the capitation fees to be paid to doctors under the Insurance Act.
The “menace” to Protestantism in Scotland caused by the large immigration of Roman Catholics from Ireland was discussed at the Scottish Protestant Congress.
9 OCTOBER 1923
It was reported that Franco-Belgian authorities in the Ruhr have presented the railwaymen with an ultimatum, which expired yesterday, demanding that they either report themselves as ready to resume work or be expelled.
Viscount Grey, commenting on the Italian-Greek episode, said: – “Recent events have shown us with horrid clearness Europe sliding surely, though it may appear slowly, towards the abyss”.
Colonel Wilfrid Ashley MP has been appointed Under Secretary for War, and Lt-Col Moore-Brabazon MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport.
Attempts by divers to reach those trapped at Redding Pit were unsuccessful.
8 OCTOBER 1923
Gustav Stresemann, the Chancellor of Germany, made a statement in the Reichstag stating that he had been able to appoint a new Cabinet.
Raymond Poincaré, the Prime Minister of France, speaking in Ligny-en-Barrois on the German crisis, said “the essential thing is to attain our ends, and we shall attain them”. Answering a question on the difference of opinion between the French and British on the subject of the Ruhr Valley occupation, he stated that he did not believe that there was any substantial difference.
Divers were sent to Redding Colliery in the hope that they could get food to those still entombed in the mine.
7 OCTOBER 1923
Gustav Stresemann, the German Chancellor, said that it might be necessary to rule without Parliament as the crisis in the country’s politics continued. Stresemann has been able to form a new Cabinet, but it was unclear whether or not it would be stable.
Lord Curzon was criticised in the French press for suggestion that France’s policy in the Ruhr Valley might not be successful.
6 OCTOBER 1923
A Berlin telegram stated that Dr Stresemann, the German Chancellor, had failed to form “a Cabinet of personalities” and that he was trying to revive a Coalition Government which could include the socialists.
Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon Walter Edward Guinness was appointed as the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, in succession to Sir William Joynson-Hicks, who was appointed as the Minister of Health.
![PRESS RELEASE : Labour will empower water regulator to ban bosses’ bonuses until they clean up [October 2023]](https://www.ukpol.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/labourlogo.png)
The press release issued by the Labour Party on 9 October 2023.
Labour will give Ofwat the powers to ban the payment of bonuses to water bosses who are found to pump significant levels of raw sewage into our precious rivers, lakes and seas.
Labour’s Shadow Environment Secretary, Steve Reed MP, has outlined plans to end years of Conservative negligence and put the water industry under “special measures” to end the sewage crisis once and for all.
Expanding the regulatory powers of Ofwat, water bosses who fail to meet high environmental standards on sewage pollution will be met with significant sanctions to ensure they cannot profit from breaking the law.
While the Tories have allowed Britain’s waterways to become an open sewer, under Labour’s new plans, Ofwat would have been able to block six out of nine water bosses’ bonuses last year due to high levels of pollution into our rivers, lakes and seas.
This comes as water companies asked customers to pay an extra £156 a year, despite water bosses pocketing millions in bonuses. According to company reports, executives at UK water companies were paid nearly £10 million in bonuses last year.
This is part of Labour’s wider plan to put the water industry under “special measures” to end the Tory sewage scandal by 2030. This includes:
Steve Reed MP, Labour’s Shadow Environment Secretary, said:
“The water industry and its regulatory framework are broken after 13 years of Tory government – with stinking, toxic sewage lapping up on our rivers, lakes, and seas.
“It is shocking that during a cost-of-living crisis, consumers are now being expected to pay the price, whilst CEOs are pocketing millions in bonuses.
“This Conservative government is too weak to tackle this scandal. They cut back enforcement and monitoring against water companies releasing this filth, and are now failing to prosecute bosses when they are blatantly breaking the law.
“Labour will turn the page on years of Conservative negligence. With Labour, the polluter – not the public – will pay. Labour will give Ofwat the powers to ban the payment of bonuses to water bosses until they have cleared up their filth.”
The press release issued by the Labour Party on 9 October 2023.
Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves will today (Monday 9 October) promise working people they will be better off with Labour as she announces once in a generation reform as part of the party’s pledge to get Britain building again.
Addressing the Labour Party’s annual conference in Liverpool, Reeves will vow to accelerate the building of critical infrastructure for digital connectivity, laboratories, and energy – to drive growth, create jobs and unlock private sector investment.
The reforms would include:
· Speeding up the planning for critically important infrastructure by updating all national policy statements – which set out what types of projects the country needs – within the first six months of a Labour government
· Fast tracking the planning process for priority growth areas of the economy, such as battery factories, laboratories, and 5G infrastructure
· Ensuring local communities get something back by providing businesses and communities with a menu of potential incentives, which could include cheaper energy bills
· Tackling unnecessary, egregious, and time-consuming litigation by setting clearer national guidance for developers on the engagement and consultation expected with local communities
· Strengthening public sector capacity to expedite planning decisions by raising the stamp duty surcharge on non-UK residents to appoint 300 new planning officers
Reeves will say that “the single biggest obstacle to building infrastructure, to investment and to growth in this country is the Conservative Party”.
The last Labour government delivered HS1 on time, under budget and at a cost of £50million per mile, comparable to France and Japan. Under the Conservatives, HS2 has failed to be delivered and cost the taxpayer £400 million per mile, making it the most expensive railway in the world.
Analysis by the engineering consultancy ARUP calculates that by following best practice infrastructure projects can be delivered 25 per cent cheaper and 20 per cent quicker than now, and deliver a better deal for taxpayers, businesses and local communities.
She will also pledge to restore business investment as a share of GDP to the level it was under the last Labour government. This would mean an additional £50 billion more every year in the British economy by the end of the decade – the equivalent to £1,700 per household.
In her speech, Rachel Reeves is expected to say:
“Labour’s task is to restore hope to our politics. The hope that lets us face the future with confidence, with a new era of economic security because there is no hope without security.
“You cannot dream big if you cannot sleep in peace at night. The peace that comes from knowing you have enough to put aside for a rainy day and the knowledge that, when you need them, strong public services will be there for you and your family.
“The strength that allows a society to withstand global shocks because it is from those strong foundations of security, that hope can spring.
“The choice at the election is this. Five more years of the Tory chaos and uncertainty, which has left working people worse off or a changed Labour Party ready to strengthen Britain’s foundations, so working people are better off.”
On Labour’s plans to get Britain building again, she is expected to say:
“If we want to spur investment, restore economic security, and revive growth. Then we must get Britain building again.
“The Tories would have you believe we can’t build anything anymore. In fact, the single biggest obstacle to building infrastructure, to investment and to growth in this country is the Conservative Party itself.
“If the Tories won’t build, if the Tories can’t build, then we will. Taking head on the obstacles presented by our antiquated planning system.
“Since 2012, decision times for national infrastructure have increased by 65 per cent, now taking four years. Labour stands with the builders not the blockers.
“So today I am announcing our plans to get Britain building. A once in a generation set of reforms to accelerate the building of critical infrastructure for energy, transport, and technology. To fast-track battery factories, life sciences and 5G infrastructure and to tackle the litigation which devours time and money before we ever see shovels in the ground.
“And to make sure that when a local community hosts critical national infrastructure, they will feel the benefits, including lower energy bills.
“It is time we had a government with ambition for our communities. A government siding with the builders not the blockers. A government that will get Britain building again.”