When the UK  finally got out fully from the EU, four years after the decision to leave , we removed tariffs from one fifth of the product lines where we had to impose tariffs under EU rules. This was a win for UK businesses and consumers. We took  tariffs off intermediates needed by UK producers and off consumer items we do not make ourselves. Then we signed up to tariff free trade with the Trans Pacific Partnership, wins to come soon as it comes into force.

It should remind us the so called single  market is a protectionist customs union, charging taxes on 73% of the product lines it imports. It has no free trade deal with the big TPP. The EU often charges higher tariffs than trade partners. Cars for example are charged 10% coming into EU and only 2.5% into the USA. No wonder President Trump wants to level up. The UK should have another round  of tariff reduction, assessing where we could  take our tariffs down to US levels from the higher EU levels we are still imposing in some cases.

Our total trade is up 8.6% 2016 to 2023 in volume and much more  in money. Our service trade is up 30% in real terms. Our total exports to the EU are up 6.2% in real terms. [figures taken from recent published Commons Library brief using ONS numbers]

Such a pity so many condemn Brexit from ignorance of these successes.

รีวิวเกม Santa’s Xmas Rush จากค่าย Pragmatic Play

เกม Santa’s Xmas Rush จากค่าย Pragmatic Play เป็นสล็อตออนไลน์ที่มาพร้อมกับบรรยากาศแห่งความหนาวเย็นในช่วงเทศกาลคริสต์มาสปลายปี 2025 เกมนี้สร้างบรรยากาศของฤดูหนาวด้วยหิมะขาวโพลนที่โปรยปราย ทำให้ผู้เล่นรู้สึกถึงความเย็นจนต้องสวมเสื้อกันหนาวเพื่อให้ร่างกายอบอุ่น และแน่นอนว่าความสนุกยังไม่หมดเพียงแค่นั้น เพราะในเกมนี้เราจะได้พบกับซานตาคลอสผู้ใจดีที่มาพร้อมกวางเรนเดียร์และรถลากเพื่อส่งมอบของขวัญให้กับเด็กๆ ที่แขวนถุงเท้ารอที่ต้นคริสต์มาส สำหรับผู้ที่ต้องการลองเล่นเกมก่อนตัดสินใจเดิมพันจริง สามารถทดลองเล่นสล็อตฟรีได้ทันทีที่ สล็อต888 โดยไม่ต้องดาวน์โหลดแอปพลิเคชันใดๆ ช่วยให้ทุกคนสามารถสัมผัสประสบการณ์เกมสนุกๆ ได้อย่างง่ายดาย

รูปแบบของเกมสล็อต Santa’s Xmas Rush

เกมสล็อต Santa’s Xmas Rush มีรูปแบบเป็นสล็อต 6 วงล้อ โดยมีค่า RTP ที่ 96.51% ซึ่งหมายความว่าผู้เล่นสามารถคาดหวังการจ่ายเงินคืนในระดับที่ค่อนข้างดี เกมนี้รองรับการปรับจำนวนเงินเดิมพันได้ตามต้องการ เพื่อให้เหมาะสมกับการเล่นของแต่ละคน ระบบ superslot จะนับเส้นไลน์การรวมกลุ่มของสัญลักษณ์ที่มีจำนวน 6 ตัวขึ้นไปในการคำนวณการจ่ายเงินรางวัล ในเกมนี้มีทั้งหมด 9 สัญลักษณ์ที่ปรากฏขึ้น ซึ่งแต่ละสัญลักษณ์จะมีอัตราการจ่ายเงินที่แตกต่างกันออกไป ทำให้ผู้เล่นมีโอกาสลุ้นรางวัลจากการจับคู่สัญลักษณ์ในรูปแบบต่างๆ

สัญลักษณ์และอัตราจ่ายในเกม Santa’s Xmas Rush

ในเกม Santa’s Xmas Rush มีสัญลักษณ์ต่างๆ ที่มีอัตราการจ่ายเงินที่แตกต่างกัน ซึ่งจะช่วยเพิ่มความตื่นเต้นและโอกาสในการชนะให้กับผู้เล่น

สัญลักษณ์พิเศษ

• สัญลักษณ์ Scatter จะเป็นสัญลักษณ์ลูกโป่งสีทองที่มีคำว่า “Scatter” อยู่ตรงกลาง หากปรากฏสัญลักษณ์นี้บนวงล้อ 3 ตัวขึ้นไป ผู้เล่นจะได้เข้าสู่ฟีเจอร์ Free Spins และได้รับการหมุนฟรีจำนวน 10 ครั้ง
• สัญลักษณ์ ถุงเท้า เป็นสัญลักษณ์ที่ให้อัตราการจ่ายสูงสุดในเกม โดยจะให้อัตราการจ่ายตั้งแต่ 2 เท่า ถึง 25 เท่า ซึ่งทำให้ถุงเท้ากลายเป็นสัญลักษณ์ที่มีมูลค่ามากที่สุด

สัญลักษณ์อัตราจ่ายสูง

• สัญลักษณ์ ขนมคุกกี้ ให้อัตราการจ่ายสูงเป็นอันดับที่ 2 ในเกม โดยจ่ายตั้งแต่ 1.50 เท่า ถึง 20 เท่า ซึ่งเป็นสัญลักษณ์ที่ช่วยเพิ่มรางวัลได้มากเช่นกัน
• สัญลักษณ์ กวาง เป็นสัญลักษณ์ที่ให้อัตราการจ่ายสูงสุดเป็นอันดับที่ 3 โดยจ่ายตั้งแต่ 1 เท่า ถึง 12.50 เท่า ทำให้เป็นอีกหนึ่งสัญลักษณ์ที่สามารถช่วยให้ผู้เล่นได้รับรางวัลที่ดี

สรุปการรีวิวเกมสล็อต Santa’s Xmas Rush งานฉลองคริสต์มาส

เกมสล็อต Santa’s Xmas Rush จาก Pragmatic Play สำหรับนักเดิมพันที่กำลังมองหาประสบการณ์การเล่นเกมสล็อตที่ครบวงจร เป็นเว็บสล็อตเว็บตรงที่ไม่ผ่านเอเย่นต์ ซึ่งรวมเกมสล็อตจากทุกค่ายไว้ให้คุณเลือกเล่น ทั้งเกมสล็อตที่ซื้อฟรีสปิน เกมสล็อตแตกง่าย และเกมสล็อตใหม่ล่าสุด คุณสามารถทดลองเล่นสล็อตได้ฟรีหรือสมัครสมาชิกเพียงครั้งเดียวเพื่อเข้าถึงเกมสล็อตทุกเกมจากค่ายต่างๆ รวมถึงเกมสล็อตจาก Pragmatic Play อีกด้วย พร้อมทั้งมีโปรโมชั่นสล็อต PP เครดิตฟรีที่ช่วยให้การเดิมพันของคุณคุ้มค่ามากยิ่งขึ้น

An abridged version of this article ran in The Times on 3rd February 2025

In 2007, in the pages of this newspaper, I argued that Britain should seize the moment and move Heathrow to the Thames Estuary, freeing up the congested west London site for much-needed housing while creating a world-leading transport hub fit for the 21st century. It was an ambitious plan—perhaps too ambitious for a nation that has lost its appetite for grand infrastructure. Seventeen years later, what do we have? The same tired debates, the same dithering, and now, a third runway proposal that represents the absolute minimum of what could be done. It is not a vision; it is a concession to stagnation.

Throughout history, Britain built infrastructure that transformed cities and continents. The Victorians laid thousands of miles of railways across India and Africa. British engineers built the world’s first underground railway in London, the great docks of Hong Kong, and the vast shipping hubs that made global trade possible. Ours was once a nation that saw scale and complexity as challenges to be overcome, not reasons to prevaricate. Today, while China constructs floating airports in Hong Kong and Dalian, we are still arguing over a few extra miles of tarmac at an aging airport hemmed in by suburban sprawl.

The case for expanding Heathrow is undeniable. The airport operates at near capacity, with any disruption causing delays that ripple across the global aviation network. Additional capacity is needed. But the third runway is not a bold leap forward—it is an unimaginative compromise. The design is a relic of a bygone era when Britain was still willing to approve large infrastructure projects but had already begun its slow descent into cautious incrementalism. Surely for a solution we should be looking beyond the immediate horizon, daring to create something transformative.

Compare this to the grand infrastructure ambitions of Asia. Hong Kong’s Chek Lap Kok, which replaced the legendary but perilous Kai Tak airport in the 1990s, was built on reclaimed land. It was a marvel of engineering (mostly British), completed in just six years. Now, China is taking the concept even further: Dalian is constructing a floating airport, pushing the boundaries of what is possible. This is a country that doesn’t simply accept geographic limitations—it overcomes them. Britain, meanwhile, is paralysed by protest groups, endless consultations, and political hand-wringing.

A floating airport in the Thames Estuary—an idea proposed and swiftly dismissed—would have been a statement of ambition. London could have had its own Chek Lap Kok, a world-class hub unencumbered by the constraints of Heathrow’s location. Instead, we are left with a piecemeal expansion of an outdated site, in a project that will take decades and still leave Britain trailing behind.

The environmental argument against expansion is often cited as a reason for delay, but it is a red herring. Modern aviation is rapidly advancing towards lower emissions and greater efficiency. If the concern is air pollution and carbon footprints, the answer is not to stifle airport expansion but to embrace new technology, support cleaner aviation fuels, and invest in modern air traffic management. Britain should be leading these efforts, not using environmental concerns as an excuse for stagnation.

The economic cost of our hesitation is immense. Aviation is a key driver of trade, tourism, and investment. Heathrow’s constraints mean we lose out to European rivals, with airlines shifting long-haul routes to Paris, Amsterdam, and Frankfurt. The third runway, even if built, will do little to reclaim lost ground. By the time it is operational—assuming it even survives the judicial challenges that will inevitably come—other nations will have long since surpassed us.

What Britain needs is a fundamental shift in mindset. We must stop viewing major infrastructure projects as necessary evils to be endured and start treating them as national priorities. This requires reforming our planning laws, streamlining approval processes, and fostering a political culture that celebrates engineering excellence rather than recoiling from it.

The third runway at Heathrow is not the answer—it is a symptom of our decline. Instead of an afterthought tacked onto an aging airport, we should be considering radical alternatives: offshore airports, high-speed rail integration to regional hubs, and a renewed commitment to infrastructure that places Britain at the forefront of global connectivity. We were once a nation that built the world’s most advanced transport networks, that pioneered engineering breakthroughs others only dreamed of. We can be that nation again—but only if we stop settling for mediocrity and start daring to think bigger.

The world is not waiting for Britain to catch up. While we squabble over a single new runway, China is building entire new airports on water. The contrast is stark, and the lesson is clear: boldness breeds success, hesitation ensures decline. If Britain truly wishes to remain a global player, we must abandon the timid incrementalism of the third runway and embrace the kind of audacity that once made us great.

Kit Malthouse 1^st February 2025

At midnight tonight I will no longer be the Member of Parliament for Southampton Itchen. I have served the city both locally and nationally for over 25 years but now it’s time to move on to new challenges. It’s an overused statement, but it really has been the honour of my life.

The post appeared first on Royston Smith.

Dear constituent

I am writing to you with an update about three local issues.

M25 closure – planned for 13th May

Firstly, if you have not already been told, the next closure of the M25 will take place from 9pm on Friday 10 May to 6am on Monday 13 May between junction 9 (Leatherhead/Epsom) and 10 (Wisley) in both directions. Whereas last time we were not particularly touched because the closure was the other side of Junction 10, this time we will be much more directly affected. The diversionary route will run through this area. All the details are here

https://nationalhighways.co.uk/our-roads/south-east/m25-junction-10/

But the advice from the project team is to avoid driving locally that weekend if at all possible.

South Western Railways – overcrowding on Waterloo line

I met South Western Railway’s new Chief Executive last week to discuss the continuing issue of overcrowding on the Waterloo line, particularly for people trying to catch trains at Worcester Park. I managed to get them to introduce two semi-fast trains in the evening peak last year to help with the issue, but the morning peak remains a real problem. I have been pushing them to give us two extra morning trains as well.

At the moment the issue is that they do not have enough rolling stock to increase the number of services. The new ten coach trains have been delivered, but the company has not yet been able to reach an agreement with the unions to use them. Very frustrating. And the passengers suffer.

When and if this gets resolved, the first new trains will go onto the Windsor line, but SWR have promised to make extra capacity available on our line at that time. In the meantime I am pushing them at least to reorganise their existing fleet to get a couple of ten coach services into the morning peak for the time being. I will keep you updated.

Castle Road Footbridge

I met the Regional Director of Network Rail on the site of the Castle Road footbridge a couple of weeks ago to push for more rapid action to replace the bridge, which had to be removed because it was structurally unsound.

He has promised me that the work is now going ahead, and will be done this year. It will involve a full closure of the line later in the year, but in the meantime there is a lot of piling and preparatory work to be done on the site. They will be consulting residents about the impact of this shortly.

Home Start – Volunteers

Finally, I have had a request from the local branch of Home Start who are looking for volunteers. If you do not know the charity, it uses experienced parents and grandparents to provide support for vulnerable families in the area.

Volunteers Fair

I am planning another volunteer fair for local charities next month, and will circulate details of that shortly. But if you are interested in helping Home Start, please email Tracey Cobb  at Tracey.Cobb@hseeb.org.uk.

I hope you are keeping well

With best wishes

Chris

The post Local Update appeared first on Chris Grayling.

Skegness Grammar School played host to Matt Warman MP’s second annual William of Waynflete (WoW) inter-school debate competition, with Boston High School proclaimed worthy winners for the second year running. Boston Grammar School were runners up and all participants received medals kindly sponsored by Chattertons Solicitors and Wealth Management.

Skegness Grammar School was originally founded in Wainfleet by William of Waynflete in 1483 as a feeder school for Magdalen College Oxford , also founded by William, and the site still stands currently housing the Wainfleet library.

The debate competition was named after William who rose from humble beginnings to become Lord Chancellor of England as well as first Provost of Eton and Bishop of Winchester. It aims to raise aspiration in local students by encouraging confidence in public speaking. Four teams from Skegness and Boston Grammar Schools, Boston High School and Skegness academy, competed to ‘do battle with words’ – a concept appropriate for a parliamentary style debate which as Matt pointed out, originates from the 11th century Old French parlement  meaning “discussion, discourse”.

Commenting after the event Matt Warman MP said – ‘I was delighted to extend the opportunity again for year 12 students to debate some of the most pressing issues of our time. From AI to freedom of speech, debaters showed an excellent grasp of the issues with thorough research and engaging arguments. Since my first debate last year I’ve been heartened to hear that in addition to the trip I arranged to the Houses of Parliament, schools have formed their own debate societies, held their own competitions and in one case travelled as far as Scotland to participate in debates.

The All-party Parliamentary Group on Oracy argues that Oracy should be counted alongside literacy and numeracy as a Foundational Skill with evidence showing that oracy improves academic outcomes and supports wellbeing and confidence. I am pleased to play my part in highlighting the importance of this skill and delighted that local schools have been so keen to ensure their pupils benefit.’

I am delighted to write and tell you that local NHS leaders have confirmed plans for a new hospital to be built in Sutton and to upgrade facilities at St Helier. This represents a £500 MILLION plan that will not only build a brand new state of the art hospital near to the Royal Marsden by 2025, but ALSO invest AT LEAST £80 MILLION into upgrades at St Helier.

The new specialist emergency care hospital, just a few minutes from St Helier, would treat the sickest 15% of patients, those normally arriving by ambulance. This larger specialist team would be available 24 hours a day to diagnose what is wrong with patients more rapidly, start the best treatment faster, and help patients recover more quickly. St Helier and Epsom Hospitals will remain open 24/7, with updated and improved facilities, providing all the other services that they currently do.

My children were born at St. Helier so healthcare provision in Sutton has been an issue that is a very personal one to me. Ever since being a councillor in Carshalton, some 14 years ago, I have been campaigning for a solution that protects the future of St. Helier whilst ensuring that Sutton residents have access to the very best treatment in cutting edge modern healthcare facilities. I believe that this decision can finally put to rest the political arguments so that we can get on with doing what’s best for residents across the whole of the borough of Sutton.

With this plan, the refurbished St Helier Hospital is here to stay providing the majority of local health services, and the sickest patients will get state-of-the-art treatment in the brand-new specialist emergency hospital right here in our area.

You can find out more about the plans, including the answers to some frequently asked questions at the NHS’ website: www.improvinghealthcaretogether.org.uk. You can also contact them at hello@improvinghealthcaretogether.org.uk, or get in touch with me with any queries.

IMPORTANT QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ABOUT THESE PROPOSALS

Why is this being done?

To improve the care that we receive. As St Helier’s buildings continue to age over time, it’s necessary to upgrade our healthcare facilities to improve outcomes. Surviving illness and recovering quickly is the number one priority.

Is St Helier closing?

No, quite the opposite. St Helier is here to stay with a multi-million-pound improvement package.

Is a new hospital being built?

Yes. A new specialist emergency care hospital will be built in Sutton, in addition to improving St Helier hospital.

Is St Helier getting an upgrade?

Yes. At least £80 million of the funding promised will go towards improving the facilities at St Helier hospital.

Who developed these proposals?

For the first time, we have a plan that was developed by local clinicians, not national bureaucrats or politicians. Local healthcare professionals made the case for funding to deliver this improvement, which has been rewarded with a £500 million investment. Sutton Council also supported the proposals last year.

Will I have to travel outside my area for services now?

At the moment, if you have a stroke or heart attack you will be taken past St. Helier to be treated at St. George’s. This plan means that we will still be able to treat people within the local area, not moving more services away from Sutton.

Will we still use St Helier?

Yes. From 2025, Epsom hospital, St Helier hospital and the new hospital at Sutton will all have a 24/7 Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) (which already treats the vast majority of people going to St. Helier in an emergency). Under the plans, 85% of services will remain at St Helier. Both Epsom and St Helier hospitals will still have a 24/7 UTC.

Diagnostic tests, such as MRI, x-ray or ultrasound, the heart problem diagnosis unit, the dialysis unit, Croft Ward (which takes care of patients who are stable but not ready to leave hospital), the eye care unit, the gastroenterology unit, and so many more services are staying put at Epsom and St Helier hospitals.

What about bed numbers?

The NHS have calculated that they will need the same number of beds as they do now.

What about A&E?

Unlike previous plans, which saw A&E diverted away into Tooting, A&E is now staying right here in our Borough at the new hospital. Most of the time you will still use St Helier for matters requiring immediate medical attention like broken limbs or cuts. Major trauma cases needing a blue light ambulance transfer will be treated in Sutton at the new state-of-the-art hospital next to The Royal Marsden.

What about maternity services?

Maternity services have also been protected and kept locally. Post-natal and ante-natal care are staying put at Epsom and St Helier hospitals, and births will take place in the brand-new maternity unit at the new hospital in Sutton built to the very latest healthcare standards. Women need the very best care and facilities when giving birth, and the new plans will provide that.

Where will children services be provided?

Most children will continue to receive care and treatment in the same place as they do now. Care for children who need to stay in hospital overnight – as a result of a serious illness or complex problems – will be treated at the new specialist emergency care hospital. This includes children’s surgery.  

What will happen until the new hospital in Sutton is built?

All services will continue to be carried out at Epsom and St Helier hospitals until such time the new hospital in Sutton is ready for patients.

Where will the new hospital be built?

After consulting residents, patient groups and healthcare professionals, the decision was taken to build a brand-new specialist emergency care hospital in Sutton. This will be combined with the necessary infrastructure and transport links to ensure the site of the new hospital is accessible to all that need to use it.

For more facts, and to find out what this multi-million-pound government investment in our local NHS will mean for you and your family, visit the following website: www.improvinghealthcaretogether.org.uk/faq.

This website is discontinued. Please visit my new website: StephenMetcalfe.org.uk