The Boohoo scandal shouldn’t shock anyone — modern slavery is a pandemic July 21, 2020 No brand today should be “shocked and appalled” at what happens in its own supply chain, as fast fashion brand Boohoo recently claimed to be. To know so little about the sourcing, processes and practices involved in creating a product you sell should be a crime itself. Tales of UK-based sweat shops and modern slavery [...]
Left out in the cold: The company directors who have fallen through the cracks in the Treasury’s support schemes July 21, 2020 On Friday, the Prime Minister set out the latest steps towards reopening Britain’s economy, providing encouragement for many businesses. Combined with the chancellor’s promise earlier this month of a half-price lunch, the message appears clear: it’s time to get going and move the economy forward again. But as we do, the government should also take [...]
MPs criticise government for slow coronavirus misinformation response July 21, 2020 MPs have lashed out at the government over its failure to respond to concerns regarding online harms during the coronavirus pandemic, calling for legislation to be introduced as a matter of urgency. Members of the Digital, Cultural, Media and Sport select committee published a report today in which they pushed the government to name the [...]
UK looks to build upward with new planning laws July 21, 2020 The government will today put forward new planning laws that will make it easier for UK homeowners to add two storeys to their properties in a bid to ease the country’s housing crisis. Homeowners will be able to add extra storeys through a “fast track approvals process”, while the new laws will also allow developers [...]
Pompeo arrives in UK to discuss China, 5G and Brexit July 20, 2020 US secretary of state Mike Pompeo today arrived in the United Kingdom, with plans to discuss China, 5G and a Brexit free trade deal with Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Pompeo, who did not speak to reporters on the plane, was due to be greeted by US ambassador Woody Johnson shortly after landing. “While in London, [...]
Tory MPs amp up pressure for UK ban on Tiktok July 20, 2020 A group of senior Conservative MPs have warned that Chinese social media app Tiktok is”’as much a threat to Britain” as banned telecoms firm Huawei, as tensions between London and Beijing continue to sour. The government last week announced it will introduce a ban on new Huawei products from the UK’s 5G network from next [...]
Top nurse was ‘dropped’ from press conference after denouncing Dominic Cummings July 20, 2020 England’s top nurse has said she was banned from speaking at a government’s coronavirus press conferences after telling Downing Street that she would denounce Dominic Cummings’ trip to Durham. Chief nurse Ruth May said she was “dropped” from a press conference appearance in May, after saying she thought Cummings’ much publicised trip was a violation [...]
UK suspends extradition treaty, places arms embargo on Hong Kong July 20, 2020 The UK has officially suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong indefinitely and banned arms exports to the region in line with existing restrictions on mainland China. Foreign secretary Dominic Raab said the imposition of new security legislation in Hong Kong by Beijing meant that the “key assumptions underpinning or extradition treaties with Hong Kong” [...]
PM calls face-to-face cabinet meeting since lockdown – without masks July 20, 2020 Boris Johnson will summon his first in-person cabinet meeting tomorrow for the first time since March, with members due to meet without masks despite current social distancing guidelines. The Prime Minister’s usual Tuesday morning cabinet meetings in Downing Street have convened virtually for the last five months using video conferencing software, due to the nationwide [...]
Signs of progress in fourth day of EU coronavirus fund talks July 20, 2020 EU talks aimed at agreeing the terms of a €750bn coronavirus bailout fund ran into their fourth day but there have been signs of progress. Germany and France said a framework had been sketched during a summit in Brussels which has been heated at points. The main division is between the countries hardest-hit by the [...]