Dominic Raab hits out at HSBC over its support for Hong Kong security legislation June 15, 2020 Foreign secretary Dominic Raab has lashed out at HSBC’s stance on proposed security legislation in Hong Kong, saying the government “will not sacrifice the people of Hong Kong over the altar of banker bonuses”. Raab said the UK had a “historic commitment to the people of Hong Kong to protect their autonomy and protect their [...]
MPs call for total ban on gambling adverts ahead of Premier League restart June 15, 2020 A group of more than 50 MPs and peers has called for a total ban on gambling adverts in a new report that urges for a wide-scale overhaul of British gambling laws. In a report set to be published tomorrow, a cross-party group of MPs will urge the government to enforce tighter controls on the [...]
Johnson launches commission to tackle racism in the UK June 15, 2020 Boris Johnson has announced a cross-government commission to examine racial inequality in the UK following weeks of Black Lives Matter protests. Writing in the Telegraph, the Prime Minister said “no-one who cares about this country” could ignore the anti-racist protests that have swept the country in response to the killing of George Floyd last month. [...]
Robert Jenrick looks to publish documents on ‘unlawful’ planning decision June 15, 2020 Under fire housing secretary Robert Jenrick has said he would seek to publish documents related to his controversial decision to approve a £1bn housing development. Jenrick told MPs today that he would “take advice” from his department’s top civil servant on “what further documentation we might be able to publish”. The housing secretary has come [...]
No set timescale for two-metre social distancing review June 15, 2020 There is no set timescale for the government’s review into the two-metre social distancing rule in England and a decision is “weeks away”, according to Downing Street. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman told journalists today that it would be a “comprehensive review”, but gave few details on what would be included. “It will be a [...]
Treasury mulls over temporary VAT cut to boost economy June 15, 2020 Chancellor Rishi Sunak is considering a temporary VAT cut to help boost consumer demand and confidence. The Treasury is considering either a blanket cut in VAT or a more targeted reduction in a bid to stimulate the faltering economy. The measure would mirror the temporary VAT cut taken by former chancellor Alastair Darling during the [...]
Over 1m ‘locked out’ of coronavirus income support schemes, MPs warn June 15, 2020 The government must extend its coronavirus income support measures to cover over a million people who have “fallen through the gaps” in the schemes, MPs said. In a report published this morning, the influential Treasury Select Committee (TSC) said large numbers of people were suffering financial hardship because they are unable to benefit from the [...]
With China’s mask off, the last days of Hong Kong are upon us June 15, 2020 There is something terrifying about watching freedom die. As a historian, whether contemplating the end of Athens, the last days of the Roman Republic, or the horrors of the French Revolution devouring its children, as a well-wisher to liberty I always feel an ineffable sadness as freedom is snuffed out. And that is precisely what [...]
Coronavirus death toll in UK rises by lowest since lockdown began June 14, 2020 The death toll in the UK from confirmed cases of coronavirus has risen by 36 to 41,698, the government said today. The increase is the lowest recorded since 22 March, the day before Prime Minister Boris Johnson implemented lockdown measures. The daily tally of deaths related to Covid-19 usually dips over the weekend due to [...]
HSBC’s head of public affairs leads pro-China lobbying push June 14, 2020 A pro-China business group is urging FTSE100 companies to lobby the UK government to act more pro-Beijing as relations between the two countries begin to flounder. The China-Britain Business Council (CBBC) – whose members include HSBC, BP and Standard Chartered – has spoken to a number of high-profile companies, that have connections to China, to back [...]