Households across Britain are embracing solar power in record numbers 📈☀️
And today some of the UK's biggest retailers have committed to stocking plug-in solar in the coming months, to help more families save on their energy bills.
Story here👇
https://t.co/lGcixonHdb
Over a million workers are now supported by the net zero economy.
Last year we broke the record for solar generation.
This year we’ve already broken records for offshore wind generation.
That’s what delivering on our clean power mission looks like.
1/ NEW: The net zero economy is now supporting:
✅Over 1m jobs
✅£105bn in GVA
✅22,000 small businesses
This analysis from @CBItweets is a reminder that net zero is a great British success story. And exactly why this Government is doubling down.
https://t.co/ppuG7DKY2B
These are tough results for Labour. There’s no sugarcoating it. We’ve lost brilliant Labour representatives who’ve stood up for their communities.
People are still frustrated. Their lives aren’t changing fast enough. We haven’t offered enough hope or optimism for the future.
I was elected to change this country - tough days like this don’t weaken my determination to do that. They strengthen it.
Thanks to the all Labour activists out campaigning today.
We were elected to change this country, two years in we’ve got a lot done, and we’ve got lots more to do.
The Prime Minister and the whole cabinet is focussed on delivering on the change we promised to the country.
In 2008, The Dark Knight was top of the box office, and I was a fresh-faced Energy Secretary.
At that time we talked about an “energy trilemma” between security, affordability, and sustainability.
But now the signs all point in the same direction - the sprint for clean power
I spoke with UK Prime Minister @Keir_Starmer. The United Kingdom’s role in fortifying Europe’s defense and security is important for us.
We discussed upcoming plans and opportunities. UK’s support matters indeed, and we will never forget the respect the British people have shown for Ukraine and our citizens.
Thank you for your support.
1/Energy bills are set to rise again due to a spike in global gas markets, with wholesale gas prices up 15% since the last energy price cap was announced.
This will put up energy bills because of our reliance on global fossil fuel markets controlled by petrostates and dictators.
Solar power will be crucial to meeting our mission for clean power by 2030.
It’s one of the cheapest, most readily-deployable energy sources we have.
That’s why we’re getting on with delivering more solar. For energy security, good jobs, lower bills, and climate leadership.
Just to be really clear if you asked me "Is it worth raising max tuition fees by 3.1% to get a 3.1% rise in maintenance loans (both now confirmed)?". My answer is YES.
Tuition fee rises don't effect most 1st time students (unless so wealthy they opt not to get loans), they affect graduates and the only ones who will pay more due to the rise are mid-high to high earning graduates (and only small % more).
The terrible degradation of living loans has hit those from low income backgrounds - who can't afford to live while they study - and thus social mobility. So a rise is important though more is needed to catch up with the huge past years real term cuts.
Explanations below.
IMPORTANT PLS SHARE. It's rumoured the English £9,250 tuition fee cap may be raised this pm for the 1st time in 8yrs, as University's finances are strained. As student finance misunderstandings abound, I've bashed out a few notes to help...
1. Higher tuition fees WON'T change what most pay each year. For most, they're paid for you by the student loans company and you repay afterwards only if you earn over the threshold. The amount you repay each year (9% over the threshold) solely depends on what you earn not on what you borrow.
2. Increasing tuition fees will only see those who clear the loan in full over the 40yrs pay more. That is generally mid-high to higher earning university leavers only, so the cost of increasing them will generally be born by the more affluent. Most lower and middle earning university leavers will simply pay 9% extra tax above the threshold for 40yrs (and higher tuition fees won't change that)
3. The rise is tuition fees is likely to be trivial compared to the changes the last govt made for 2023 starters. 2023 starters had their repayment thresholds dropped to £25,000 (from £27,295/yr) and had the time they had to keep repaying for (unless cleared) extended to 40years from 30years.
So these higher annual repayments for longer, increased by over 50% the amount many graduates will eventually have to pay back for going to university. Yet they were almost stealth changes because people can't intuitively feel the seismic impact.
Changing tuition fees is a more obvious rise, but in reality has far less of an impact on the amount most will repay (though combined with the 2023 changes it does certainly up the cost).
4. The biggest practical problem for students isnt tution fees (even if raised) its the fact maintenace loans aren't big enough. English maintenance loans have not kept pace with inflation. I'd urge the govt to couple the tuition fee loans with bigger living loans - if not it is a real risk to social mobility, with those from the poorest backgrounds likely to be worse affected.
I could write more, but will stop here, hopefully this gives an idea the issues are less straightforward than many feel.
It's here. Kujira v2 has arrived 🐳
Let's dig in, take a look round, and show you why we're so incredibly excited about what this means for the vision and future direction of Kujira 👇
⚽️ His Majesty The King has written to Gareth Southgate and the @England team following their loss against Spain at the @EURO2024 final this evening.
Read the letter below.
This photo is 113 years old.
It was taken by Sergey Prokudin-Gorsky, an early pioneer of colour photography.
If you've ever wondered what the world used to look like, Prokudin-Gorsky's photos will show you...
It’s been a crazy few days which have been filled with a whole range of emotions.
But as you all now know, after an incredible 11 years at Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, the time has come for me to start a new chapter in my life and I will be joining Scuderia Ferrari in 2025.
I feel incredibly fortunate, after achieving things with Mercedes that I could only have dreamed of as a kid, that I now have the chance to fulfil another childhood dream. Driving in Ferrari red.
Mercedes has been a huge part of my life since I was 13 years old, so this decision has been the hardest I’ve ever had to make. I’m incredibly proud of all that we’ve achieved together and I’m very grateful for the hard work and dedication of everyone I have worked with over the years and of course Toto, for his friendship, guidance and leadership. Together we have won titles, broken records and become the most successful Driver-Team partnership in F1 history. And of course I cannot forget Niki who was a huge supporter and who I still miss everyday.
I must also share my huge appreciation to the whole of the Mercedes-Benz board and everyone at the company in Germany and around the world for supporting me over these 26 years.
But the time is right to make a change and take on a new challenge. I still remember the feeling of taking a leap of faith into the unknown when I first joined Mercedes in 2013. I know some people didn’t understand it at the time but I was right to make the move then and it's the feeling I have again now. I’m excited to see what I can bring to this new opportunity and what we can do together.
However, right now, I’m not thinking about 2025. My focus is on the upcoming season and getting back out on track with Mercedes. I am more driven than ever, I am fitter and more focussed than than ever and I want to help Mercedes win once again. I am 100% committed to the job I need to do and determined to end my partnership with the team on a high.
Thank you to all of you who have been on this journey with me, you have all lifted me up as I chase my dreams and I hope I can continue to make you proud. As always, sending you my love and positive energy.
Always good to be put through my paces by some of Britain's toughest interviewers!
My Labour government will provide a better future for our children. It's time for real change in Kingswood with @DamienEgan and across the country.
Believed to be one of the largest events of its kind in the #CityofLondon, the #TacitusLecture provides the unique opportunity to discuss pressing matters and concerns facing global #trade today. 1/2
Britain needs energy independence with homegrown clean, cheap power that we can control in this country 🇬🇧
The Conservatives' Offshore Petroleum Bill does the opposite- it locks us into dependency on fossil fuel markets controlled by tyrants
That's why Labour opposes the Bill