King Charles asks for profits from £1bn wind farm deal to go to ‘wider public good’ – and not to the royals

Published

2 years ago

January 19, 2023

admin

The King has again signalled his wish to potentially shake up the way the monarchy is funded following a £1bn wind farm deal that could have created more money for the royals.

Six new offshore wind energy lease agreements, announced by the Crown Estate, have generated a major windfall for the estate – and would usually lead to a jump in the monarchy’s official funding.

But instead, the King has said he wants the money to be used for the “wider public good”.

Under the taxpayer-funded Sovereign Grant, which is currently £86.3m a year, the King receives 25% of the Crown Estate’s annual surplus to fund his family’s official work, which includes an extra 10% for the refurbishment of Buckingham Palace until 2027.

But following the wind farm lease announcement, the palace has made it clear that the King does not want the Royal Family to be seen to benefit.

In a statement, Buckingham Palace said: “In view of the offshore energy windfall, the keeper of the privy purse has written to the prime minister and chancellor to share the King’s wish that this windfall be directed for wider public good, rather than to the Sovereign Grant, through an appropriate reduction in the proportion of Crown Estate surplus that funds the Sovereign Grant.”

The prime minister, the chancellor and the keeper of the privy purse – who are the royal trustees of the Sovereign Grant – decide the percentages, not the monarch.

The Sovereign Grant is based on funds two years in arrears, so any boost in Crown Estate profits and new percentage arrangements would not impact the grant until 2024 to 2025.

In his first Christmas broadcast, the King shared his concerns about the cost of living crisis and the current financial difficulties many are facing.

At his accession council he also said that he wished to surrender the revenues of the Crown Estate for the wider public good, retaining only a small percentage to fund royal public duty.

The Crown Estate, which manages the seabed and half the foreshore around England, Wales and Northern Ireland, belongs to the reigning monarch “in right of The Crown” but it is not their private property.

The monarch surrenders the revenue from the estate, more than £312m a year, to the Treasury each year for the benefit of the nation’s finances, in exchange for the Sovereign Grant.

The wind farm lease agreements will no doubt be welcomed by the King, who has campaigned for over five decades on environmental issues.

Three of the six projects will be located off the North Wales, Cumbria and Lancashire coasts – with three more located in the North Sea – and have the potential to power more than seven million homes. Together they will pay around £1bn to the Crown Estate every year.

Gus Jaspert, managing director of the Crown Estate, said: “Today marks a significant milestone for the UK on the road to net zero, unlocking green energy potential for more than seven million homes and demonstrating to the world that the UK offshore wind industry is growing at pace to help meet the climate challenge.”

Graham Smith, from anti-monarchy group Republic, said: “This was constitutional theatre. He didn’t wish to do anything, he made a statement that reflected an arrangement he had no power to change. And he doesn’t retain anything, because it’s not his to retain and 100% of the profits go to the government.”

On the windfarm announcement, he added: “This statement is cynical PR to pre-empt a government decision to reduce the percentage calculation, it should at least be met with some scepticism and comment from critics. The sovereign grant is a highly questionable arrangement and doesn’t reflect the £345m a year total cost to the taxpayer.”

UK

Kemi Badenoch calls on Sir Keir Starmer to sack Tulip Siddiq over property allegations

Published

1 hour ago

January 12, 2025

admin

Kemi Badenoch calls on Sir Keir Starmer to sack Tulip Siddiq over property allegations

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir Starmer to sack Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq over allegations she lived in properties linked to allies of her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, the deposed prime minister of Bangladesh.

It comes after the current Bangladeshi leader, Muhammad Yunus, said London properties used by Ms Siddiq should be investigated.

He told the Sunday Times the properties should be handed back to his government if they were acquired through “plain robbery”.

Tory leader Ms Badenoch said: “It’s time for Keir Starmer to sack Tulip Siddiq.

“He appointed his personal friend as anti-corruption minister and she is accused herself of corruption.

“Now the government of Bangladesh is raising serious concerns about her links to the regime of Sheikh Hasina.”

Ms Siddiq insists she has “done nothing wrong”.

Her aunt was ousted from office in August following an uprising against her 20-year leadership and fled to India.

Ms Siddiq is also named with her aunt in Bangladesh court documents about meetings with the Russian government.

As economic secretary to the Treasury, Ms Siddiq is responsible for policy on both the City and tackling corruption.

She referred herself to the prime minister’s ethics watchdog on Monday following the reports about the properties.

On the same day, the prime minister said: “Tulip Siddiq has acted entirely properly by referring herself to the independent adviser, as she’s now done, and that’s why we brought into being the new code.

“It’s to allow ministers to ask the adviser to establish the facts, and yes, I’ve got confidence in her, and that’s the process that will now be happening.”

UK

Search area widened for missing sisters in Aberdeen

Published

1 hour ago

January 12, 2025

admin

Search area widened for missing sisters in Aberdeen

Police in Aberdeen have widened the search area for two sisters who disappeared four days ago in the city.

Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both 32, were last seen on CCTV on Market Street after leaving their home on Tuesday at around 2.12am.

The sisters – who are part of a set of triplets and originally from Hungary – crossed the Victoria Bridge to the Torry area and turned right on to a footpath next to the River Dee.

They headed in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club but officers said there is no evidence to suggest the missing women left the immediate area.

Specialist search teams, police dogs and a marine unit have been trying to trace the pair.

Further searches are being carried out towards the Port of Aberdeen’s South Harbour and Duthie Park.

Police Scotland said it is liaising with authorities in Hungary to support the relatives of the two sisters.

Chief Inspector Darren Bruce said: “Eliza and Henrietta’s family are understandably extremely worried about them and we are working tirelessly to find them.

“We are seriously concerned about them and have significant resources dedicated to the inquiry.”

The sisters, from Aberdeen city centre, are described as slim with long brown hair.

Officers have requested businesses in and around the South Esplanade and Menzies Road area to review their CCTV footage for the early morning of Tuesday 7 January.

Police added they are keen to hear from anyone with dashcam footage from that time.

UK

Katie Piper reveals artificial eye decision – 16 years after acid attack

Published

1 hour ago

January 12, 2025

admin

Katie Piper reveals artificial eye decision - 16 years after acid attack

TV presenter Katie Piper has revealed her decision to get an artificial eye, 16 years after an acid attack that left her with life-changing injuries and partial blindness.

The Loose Women panellist, 41, is an advocate for those with burns and disfigurement injuries.

She shared a video of her being fitted with the prosthetic on Instagram.

Piper said: “After many years battling with my eye health, I’ve reached the end of the road somewhat, and the decision has been made to try a prosthetic eye shell.

“This marks the start of a journey to have an artificial eye, with an incredible medical team behind me.

“As always I’m incredibly grateful to all those in the NHS and private health care system for their talent and kindness.

“I will share my journey, I’m hopeful and nervous about being able to tolerate it and would love to hear from any of you in the comments if you’ve been on this journey or have any advice.”

Commenting on the post, presenter Lisa Snowdon said Piper was a “warrior” and a “true inspiration”.

Piper has undergone hundreds of operations after suffering an acid attack arranged by her ex-boyfriend in March 2008.

She gave up her right to anonymity and made a documentary in 2009 called Katie: My Beautiful Face.

Piper also founded the Katie Piper Foundation which supports survivors of life-changing burns and scars, and has received an honorary doctorate from the Royal College of Surgeons to mark her ground-breaking work.

She was made an OBE in 2021 for her services to charity and burn victims.