What has Stephen Crabb been up to today?
Stephen Crabb is MP for Preseli Pembrokeshire and a member of the Conservative party.
Stephen Crabb has 22739 followers on Twitter.
There is no place in society for boycotts against the State of #Israel.
Israel welcomes @Unilever’s announcement today that @BenJerrysIsrael will continue to sell ice cream without discrimination.👏🏻 https://twitter.com/yairlapid/status/1542150601051627526
The Ben & Jerry's factory in Israel is a microcosm of the diversity of Israeli society. Today’s victory is a victory for all those who know that the struggle against BDS is, first and foremost, a struggle for partnership and dialogue, and against discrimination and hate.
Families are seeing their social security payments cut back by overly burdensome debt repayments. Some thoughts on how the cost of living crisis has highlighted the need for a change in approach by DWP. https://www.politicshome.com/thehouse/article/fairer-government-debt-collection-will-help-low-income-families
Strong statement by G7 leaders on energy security, recognising importance of Liquefied Natural Gas supplies & need for investment. UK well-placed with domestic supply & LNG infrastructure, but clear strategy needed on role of gas in the energy mix over next few years.
We currently have more job vacancies than jobseekers. But also 8.5 million people who are economically inactive. Includes many who want to work and who have worked in recent past. Helping more of this group back into the labour market must be priority. My Q to Treasury today
Sobering call from 3 of Europe’s top energy bosses for customers to cut back consumption ahead of this winter. Targeted at France/EU. UK supply in a better place thanks to North Sea & LNG. But our gas prices will feel the effect of pressures elsewhere. https://www.lejdd.fr/Societe/tribune-nous-devons-collectivement-agir-sur-la-demande-en-energie-4119737
Good to join with @Pembrokeshire today to help share with local people & businesses the plans for improving Haverfordwest Town Centre, following our successful bid to the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund.
My visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial.
An unspeakable tragedy that must never be forgotten.
A privilege to hear Holocaust survivor, Mala Tribich MBE speak with huge depth and grace about her experiences as a girl, surviving Nazi deportation and being liberated from Bergen Belsen camp. Thank you to @HolocaustUK & APPG for Holocaust Memorial
Great to officially break the ground at Dragon LNG’s solar power project today. @DragonLng plays an important role in ensuring security of UK gas supply, and contributing to the vision for a low carbon energy future at the Port of Milford Haven.
“We need to get away from sheep, wet weather, and rugby” - the challenge of branding Wales as a global tourist destination. More coverage of yesterday’s @CommonsWelshAff hearing.
Other suggestions included more use of the name Cymru, rather than Wales, and putting an emphasis on the Welsh language
https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2022-06-16/sheep-weather-and-rugby-does-wales-need-a-rebrand
Great to welcome #FBYoungLeaders @francobritish to Parliament today. A fruitful Q&A discussion about bilateral relations, and the work of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for France. 🇬🇧 🇫🇷
Enjoyed speaking at the Milford Haven Waterway Future Energy Cluster with local MPs @SCrabbPembs and @Simonhartmp in Parliament today.
So much exciting potential in Pembrokeshire and Milford Haven for current & future energy, including floating offshore wind.
Milford Haven is one of the UK’s most important energy ports: oil, LNG, marine renewables. Great to welcome the whole sector to Parliament today. Thanks to Ministers @Greghands @simonhartmp for coming along to share in the vision for new low carbon investment. #futurehavenenergy
Very encouraging and, with record job vacancies, there is a lot to welcome in today’s employment figures. Challenge remains - improve labour market participation rates, support workers to increase hours, real terms pay.
The number of employees on payroll continued to grow in May 2022 and is now 627,000 above its pre-pandemic level http://ow.ly/WMef50JwJ6c
Very sad. Mesmerising as a player and a wonderful ambassador for the game of rugby in retirement. Devoted to his town and community. A true gent. Will be missed all across Wales.
It is with the deepest sadness that we announce the passing of club legend, former captain and Scarlets President Phil Bennett.
Phil passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday evening surrounded by his close family.
Thank you to everyone at the Hamad Bin Khalifa Islamic Centre in Milford Haven for the warm welcome today. A pleasure to meet you all and to hear about your work in Pembrokeshire.
Always good to meet the team at @SouthHookLNG . The LNG import terminals at the Port of Milford Haven continue to play a vital role in strengthening UK energy security at this time.
Nice gesture from the French. There is a deep well of affection and respect for the Queen in France. Paris bookshops have been featuring window displays and promoting books about the Queen in the run up to the Jubilee.
France to present Queen with a horse - Fabuleux de Maucourt - to mark her Platinum Jubilee - @DJBond6873 reports https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/platinum-jubilee-france-tribute-to-queen-horse-b1003446.html
Predictable line from Welsh Labour trashing UK action and calling for more unfunded spending. Many poverty charities have rightly recognised that the action announced today amounts to a very substantial package of support.
First Minister Mark Drakeford says the UK Government's cost of living package announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak "barely scratches the surface". https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2022-05-26/mark-drakeford-uk-governments-cost-of-living-package-is-nowhere-near-enough
Stomach-turning. The sheer extremity of this will lead some to dismiss it is as rhetorical and not to be taken seriously. The opposite is true. The international community should be very alarmed. Well done @trussliz taking action.
This bill has passed into law within past few hours. Anyone who has any contact with Israelis now - including on social media - now faces death. International fury must be moments away…
Over a year a typical energy bill'll rise £1,500/yr. New help today (need to see t&cs)
-Low income homes w/disabilities £1,100
-Low income homes £950
-Pensioner homes £700
-All homes £400
Plus £150 council tax for band A-D.
Initially seems bigger than I expected. Glad to see
Strong and targeted £15bn #costofliving package from the Chancellor today. Simple and direct action to support those on lowest incomes facing soaring energy & food prices. Plus important confirmation of full social security uprating next year.
More than 700 fabulous entries from Pembrokeshire primary school children to my Platinum Jubilee art competition - “Draw the Queen”. Making my office very colourful right now. Thank you to all the teachers & children who took part. Winner to be announced tomorrow #PlatinumJubilee
On behalf of the All-Party Group for France, congratulations to @AmbColonna on your appointment as Foreign Minister in the French Government. Thank you for all your hard work since September 2019 on bilateral relations 🇫🇷 🇬🇧. Wishing you all the very best in your new role.
Cost of living - lots of support already in place but further Govt intervention will be necessary. Bringing forward Universal Credit/benefits uprating good place to start. My piece in @ConHome this morning: https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2022/05/stephen-crabb-the-government-must-show-it-remains-committed-to-helping-low-income-families.html
"Targeted action to help families keep their heads above water should be the priority right now.That inevitably means strengthening social security." @SCrabbPembs calls for autumn benefit uprating + Govt to stop taking debt repayments at unaffordable rates https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2022/05/stephen-crabb-the-government-must-show-it-remains-committed-to-helping-low-income-families.html
More job vacancies than unemployed currently. There’s a lot of employers out there trying to hire staff. Ministers are correct to highlight the strong labour market when discussing current economic circumstances, although other household support measures will be needed too.
There were 1.295 million job vacancies on average across February to April 2022, up from 1.261 million in the previous quarter.
➡️http://ow.ly/iNb350J9FkQ
Startling fact from Money Box's Paul Lewis this morning on R4...
...the 30 energy firms that have folded amid soaring gas prices have cost the taxpayer **£2.6 billion**
He says it raises questions about why Ofgem allowed so many inexperienced new firms to join the market
‘..nor is there some perfect constitutional clockwork version of how the Union should be.’
Pragmatic & thoughtful article by @BorisJohnson on Northern Ireland, recognising the complexity and uniqueness of NI.
https://m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/comment/stormont-must-be-restored-so-politicians-can-deliver-for-the-people-of-ni-41652590.html
Good to see UK & Welsh Governments agree a Freeport plan for Wales. Well done @Simonhartmp getting this across the line. Hopefully it can support the growth in offshore wind and help South/West Wales ports capture full economic benefits of the new investment.
Good insight from @rbrharrison - ‘Something bigger will need to be in place before the next rise in the energy price cap this autumn, most likely including more support through Universal Credit for households on lower incomes.’ https://www.standard.co.uk/comment/cost-of-living-crisis-russia-ukraine-oil-energy-prices-b987283.html
Conservatives tend to emphasise work, good budgeting/housekeeping, strong families etc as defences against hardship. Problem right now for many people is that ticking all those boxes still doesn’t keep their heads above water. Government has done a lot but more is required
Staggering. Depressing line in the DfE stats: ‘The progression rate to high tariff HE for children looked after continuously for at least 12 months has remained at 1% since 2009/10’
Astonishing stat in this piece from @Civitas_UK's Frank Young - in 2020 only 50 (five oh) care leavers went on to a 'high tariff' university.
https://capx.co/just-50-care-leavers-end-up-at-top-universities-that-ought-to-be-a-national-scandal/
Good to see Government moving forward with its commitment to a Boycotts, Divestment & Sanctions Bill. No justification for public bodies trying to pursue their own divisive foreign policies against certain countries. #QueensSpeech
CFI welcomes the Government's commitment to fighting divisive BDS actions as detailed in today's Queen's Speech during the State Opening of Parliament
As Israel marks its 74th Independence Day, our relationship is stronger than ever 🇬🇧🇮🇱
We stand together in enduring friendship as champions of freedom, democracy and the spirit of innovation.
#YomHaatzmaut
Thread 🧵 on our 🇬🇧 auto enrolled workplace #pensions … and with thanks to @sarahoconnor_ for an amazing @FT article ⬇️1/
Agree with @NadineDorries . Many private employers making common sense arrangements for staff to continue some WFH. Focus on output and service standards.
Boris Johnson is facing a cabinet backlash over Jacob Rees-Mogg’s “Dickensian” plans to force civil servants back to the office https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/cabinet-backlash-jacob-rees-mogg-dickensian-view-home-working-5vrdv2ljg?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1650863060
Congratulations to @EmmanuelMacron on your re-election as President of France. France is one of our closest and most important allies. I look forward to continuing to work together on the issues which matter most to our two countries and to the world.
🇬🇧🇫🇷
Boris Johnson and Emmanuel Macron are way out in front as Europe’s leading political figures. Important for them to work together to strengthen the 🇬🇧 🇫🇷 bilateral relationship. Our shared interests in Defence, Trade, Tech, Borders require a deep Franco-British partnership.
This is good. Congratulations @EmmanuelMacron
BREAKING: Emmanuel Macron is set to win a second term as French president after an official projection suggested he has won 58.2% of the votes compared with his rival Marine Le Pen's 41.8%.
Latest: https://trib.al/rjBPXY3
📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube
Labour attempt to weaponise cost of living challenges is fact-checked. Misleading claims and dodgy figures don’t help the debate. https://fullfact.org/economy/labour-election-leaflets-2620-cost-of-living/
Fascinating Macron v Le Pen debate. Macron’s arguments altogether stronger than the shallow claims and promises of Le Pen. Winding down now with a discussion of secularism & extremism in France. Macron on course to be re-elected on Sunday.
Enjoying this Macron v Le Pen TV debate. Seated eyeball to eyeball, flowing discussion back and forth on French household incomes. Minimal intervention from moderators. Macron in command of detail . Moving on to Ukraine now.
Pointed and timely comment on French presidential election. Navalny spells out exactly why the sympathies of some on the European Right for Putin’s ‘conservatism’ are so deeply misplaced . In short, pls pls don’t vote for Le Pen.
1/18 Je me rends compte de l'ironie de la situation: un prisonnier politique russe s'adresse aux électeurs français. Mais techniquement, je suis en prison à cause d’une plainte déposée par une entreprise française.
To help with the cost of living, we're selling over 1 million rail tickets at up to ½ price for trips from 25 Apr to 27 May 🎫
After 2 yrs of living life virtually, the Great British Rail Sale🚆 starts today.
Get yours here👉 https://greatbritishrailsale.nationalrail.co.uk
Let's discuss Russian economy. Many underestimate its dependency upon technological import. Russia's so deeply integrated into Western technological chains that severing these ties will lead to its collapse. Sanctions are already effective and can be made even more efficient🧵
Useful evidence in favour of meaningful employment support for those suffering poor mental health. Reducing the number of people permanently stopping work due to sickness is Britain’s biggest employment challenge.
The DWP has released an evaluation of employment advisers within IAPT (the NHS service that provides psychological treatments to people with common mental health problems) and the findings are really encouraging.
A short thread...
Valero oil refinery is one of the most important employers in West Wales. Disrupting its operations does nothing to support the transition of the Milford Haven energy industry to low carbon future, and nothing to ease cost of living burden.
Just Stop Oil: Valero Energy granted injunction restricting protests - BBC News https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-61100788