Thread 🧵 on the Labour reduction in #WinterFuelPayments.

I was the Minister in charge of this policy at DWP from 2017-2022. Labour are making a big mistake 1/ Firstly an explainer of our benefit system. It is a big beast made up of 12+ ageing computer systems and 1000s of admin staff. It does not do nuance and fine margins. The state pension and add on benefits - winter fuel payment, Christmas support etc are one off payments 2/

Fully behind an #energysaving campaign. The energy war of Putin means this is a worldwide problem.

Reduction in energy helps constituents save money, &saves the taxpayer money, as public sector should lead the way. Reduce usage, while we address supply. Government must act 1/ The obvious reductions pursued by France, Germany & others in public sector are:
- no public buildings warmer than 19C
- turn off overnight lighting of buildings / ads etc
- turn off hot water for hand washing / public spaces
All basic but simple stuff to help supply issues 2/

The PM & Chancellors Budget Bazooka - and the new ESG.
A thread 🧵 1/ To paraphrase M and S that was no “ordinary”mini budget. It was the Full Monty.
We have a new ESG

Energy support ✅
Scrapping tax rises ++✅
Growth ✅
2/

Serving as Minister for Pensions and Financial Inclusion over the last five years has been the greatest honour of my professional life.

A 🧵 on some of what we have achieved. We have lifted automatic enrolment workplace pensions to 8% savings per annum.

More than ten million savers have been auto enrolled into a workplace pension, with the biggest increases for young people and women.

https://twitter.com/dwppressoffice/status/1504163089033441281

🧵 on climate change, emerging markets and specific UK 🇬🇧 action using workplace pensions to finance the change, and get returns for members 1/ For a year + I have been working with the @churchofengland Pension Board, and others, to see how we can unleash the productive power of UK pensions in support of the climate transition in emerging economies, while also delivering sustainable returns for members. It’s doable 2/

Like many of the UK I spent the covid lockdown shielding as I was immunocompromised, following a racing fall as a steeplechase jockey which ruptured my spleen.
In Summer 2020 I could not attend the NHS hospital with my wife as she cared for our children. Sadly, the twins died 1/ and I was only allowed into hospital as the first child’s time was ending.
This was on compassionate grounds.
I say this as we have to accept that the findings against political leaders, and others, for breach of lockdown rules matters. Covid was an awful time in many ways 2/

An honour to be allowed to speak in memory of my @HouseofCommons colleague, and friend #JackDromey - a great Union and Labour campaigner, but also the best example of cross-party working I know #RIP 1/ Many superb speeches from all parties, in front of @HarrietHarman and their children 2/

Thread on why Google can no longer be trusted, as they don’t vet their advertisers 1/
thetimes.co.uk/article/you-ca… People are being scammed by crooks because they are being deceived by cloned investment sites, advertised mostly on Google, but to a lesser degree on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin. They think they are accessing a legitimate investment company. Sadly for many they are not 2/

OXFORD VACCINE – A THREAD👇 1/ The @MHRAgovuk have been conducting a rolling review of trial data since July.

This has allowed regulators to be agile and assess the vaccine’s safety and efficacy on a rolling basis.

Last week 7 North East Local Authorities including @N_landCouncil wrote to the Government requesting local action due to a rise in Coronavirus cases.

From midnight tonight, new restrictions will be in place in Northumberland to try and stop the local rise in cases. These restrictions include:

🔴 No socialising with people outside your household (or support bubble).

🔴 Pubs and restaurants will be table service only.

🔴 Hospitality and leisure venues will need to close between 10pm – 5am.

Sadly the #NationalTrust is becoming a joke.

As #Hexham MP I want reform of this, once great, organisation.

A thread on:
- their redundancy plan 🪓
- their £1Billion+ assets 🆙
- and 4 yr failures of local #Northumberland treasures 🚂🚂🚂 1/ ⬇️ google.co.uk/amp/s/www.chro… Their recent disaster is their plan to dismiss their experts 2/:

https://twitter.com/arthistorynews/status/1296800219410178048?s=21

Sadly, just over a week ago we lost our twin boys

Teddy came and went from this world quickly and quietly. He passed peacefully. Our younger twin, Rafe, was not born until Tuesday 23, but died later that day in NeoNatal ICU.
Baby loss, and coping with grief, is very hard 1/ Nothing we could do. Just a horrible tragedy. We emerged from hospital a week ago shell shocked. We have taken some time out to recover. I am back at work part time, but bear with me. We will come through this, but will always miss our boys. Cards are fine, but pls no flowers 2/

Thread on the sliding scale between #Covid19 lockdown and relative normality ⬇️

We all have to play our part in making this work.

I have published the key details on my blog 1/ guyopperman.blogspot.com/2020/05/corona… After 6 weeks of lockdown. the PM @BorisJohnson gave a TV address, and @10DowningStreet published a detailed 60 page plan outlining our #COVID19 recovery strategy
The full plan is here 2/: gov.uk/government/pub…

Thread on the massive help @DWP @10DowningStreet + @hmtreasury + others are giving to:
- help firms with pension contributions to pay
- safeguard your pension
- help our vulnerable pensioners
- ensure pension scams are avoided 1/ Working with @TPRgovuk we have helped Defined Contribution employers by ensuring their Automatic Enrolment contributions are covered by the #Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme 2/
thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/en/covid-19-co…

V serious #coronavirus approach from #PM:
“These are the only reasons you should leave your home”.
1. Shopping (as infrequently as is poss for essentials)
2. One form of exercise a day
3. Medical need
4. Travelling to/ from work
Police will have they power to enforce these 🚨1/ UK will
- close all shops selling non-essential goods, libraries, playgrounds, outdoor gyms, places of worship
- Stop gatherings in public of more than two
- Stop all social events including weddings, baptisms but not funerals 2/

The Chancellor @RishiSunak delivers a massive economic support package to #business big + small:
- £25,000 cash grants for businesses
- Business rates scrapped for affected industries
- 3 month mortgage break for those affected by #coronavirus
- And more to come 1/ Key phrase by @RishiSunak the Chancellor =

“We have never faced an economic fight like this one. We will do whatever it takes." 2/

My website is now fully updated for #COVIDー19 #coronavirus assistance to constituents. Please go to the following link for medical advice, business, employer, benefit, + SSP support plus ideas for viral kindness: stay safe team + we will get through this:
guyopperman.co.uk/coronavirus We have also added in Foreign Office travel advice, a guide to how you look after your neighbours, and supermarket advice from them on why you don’t need to stockpile.
Any additions I will add as we go along 2/

Delighted to be re-appointed by the PM as Minister for Pensions + Financial Inclusion.

We’ve already achieved a lot, but there is lots more to crack on with.

Top priorities are the #PensionSchemesBill thru @HouseofCommons
+ continuing progress on #ESG Our Bill will reach @HouseofCommons around Easter + will

👉 Introduce Pensions Dashboard so you can see all pension pots in one place
👉 Require schemes to take account of climate risks + disclose investment chain
👉 Establish #CDC's
👉 Give the Regulator enhanced powers 2/

V positive step forward as @10DowningStreet have decided #UK is to be the first country to go further on #TCFD = Task Force on Climate Related Financial Disclosure ...

Govt will consult on proposals following amendments to #PensionSchemesBill we laid last night ⏩ #Progress 1/ This amendment imposes requirements on trustees + managers of certain occupational pension schemes as regards taking into account the effects of climate change / publishing information relating to those effects - takes #TCFD to next level 2/

A thread on why #ESG +ethical #capitalism is going to define so much of #2020

- from the #CityofLondon + your pension fund, to #COP26
- #ESG + consequential actions, not #divestment, is the weapon in combatting #climatechange 1/ ftadviser.com/pensions/2019/… In October 2019 the #ESG = Environment,Social, and Governance regs, which passed through @HouseofCommons on a x party basis a year earlier, became law: put simply they require investment to take due account of climate risk. More explanation here ⬇️ 2/
gov.uk/government/spe…

29th January ...
Thread for yr commute to work ⏩ thanks to our #armedforces keeping us safe.
On this day 29/1/1856 Queen Victoria instituted Britain’s highest military decoration, the #VictoriaCross #VC.
Awarded for outstanding bravery ‘on the field of battle’.
#NeverForget 1/ The metal from which the medals are struck is either from Russian cannon captured at the Siege of Sevastopol or other cannons.
Only 1355 #VCs have been awarded since 1856.
11 were awarded for the defence of #RorkesDrift in the Zulu wars on 23/1/1879 - 141 yrs ago this week 2/