DAILY MAIL COMMENT: Watchdog bares its fangs at dodgy lawyers

A major reason why public confidence in professional regulators has slumped is that when wrongdoing is suspected they typically move at glacial speed.

Of course, due process must be observed for individuals and organisations under investigation. Livelihoods are at stake.

Too often, though, watchdogs give the frustrating impression of dragging their feet. Not the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

A week after the Mail told how corrupt immigration lawyers were charging huge sums to help bogus refugees concoct backstories to secure asylum in Britain, it has acted with ruthless swiftness.

Shocked at our findings, the SRA shut down three law firms involved in the scandal, while a legal adviser who contrived a horrific tale of torture has been banned.

Shocked at our findings, the SRA shut down three law firms involved in the scandal, while a legal adviser who contrived a horrific tale of torture has been banned

These deplorable lawyers have shamed their profession, made it harder for genuine asylum seekers to find sanctuary here, and have further eroded trust in the immigration and justice systems.

It is welcome, too, that the SRA will now carry out spot checks on other firms in the asylum sector. Those who were caught bang to rights by our investigation are surely only the tip of the iceberg.

Keir’s power vacuum

The fact Labour and other eco-zealots are up in arms with the Government for issuing hundreds of new North Sea oil and gas drilling licences proves it is a smart move.

The reality is that green technology might well be the future, but while it’s under development it can’t be the only option.

Until we can safely transition to net zero Britain needs fossil fuels to keep the lights on, produce food and grow the economy.

The fact Labour and other eco-zealots are up in arms with the Government for issuing hundreds of new North Sea oil and gas drilling licences proves it is a smart move

Exploiting our own reserves will protect energy security, generate millions in taxes, create high-skilled jobs, and, as Rishi Sunak pointed out, be greener than buying energy from overseas tyrants.

However, unless the Government drops its eye-watering 75 per cent windfall tax, it may find oil and gas companies delay urgently needed investment and drilling.

While the Tories pursue a more credible and pragmatic environmentalism, Sir Keir Starmer’s irresponsible plan to ban new North Sea oil and gas projects seems to have been written by Just Stop Oil.

That may delight eco-warriors, but his proposals would leave us all poorer, colder and more dependent on hostile regimes.

BBC’s bumpy landing

Was there anything more asinine than a finger-wagging BBC presenter trying to raise his profile by accusing Mr Sunak of double standards for flying to Aberdeen despite his green agenda?

If the BBC is so judgmental about those who fly, why did its climate editor recently take a return trip (believed to be by plane) to Spain to report on global warming? 

The PM has the most important job in the whole country, with huge pressure on his time and security concerns. He should travel accordingly. Did the journalist really expect him to go by National Express?

Mr Sunak was right to respond robustly, arguing that it would be ‘completely wrong’ to restrict aviation to tackle climate change. The answer is investment in clean airline technology, not banning people from jetting off on holiday. That would haemorrhage support for net zero.

If the BBC is so judgmental about those who fly, why did its climate editor recently take a return trip (believed to be by plane) to Spain to report on global warming?

As ever with the Corporation, it’s a classic case of ‘do as we say, not as we do’.

A study by a think-tank finds that scrapping the tourist tax would attract so many more high-spending visitors it would create and support 200,000 jobs, leading to healthier tax receipts and cutting the welfare bill. 

Jeremy Hunt must see the benefits, even if the Office for Budget Responsibility won’t. So who is in charge at the Treasury: The Chancellor – or unelected economic advisers?