Sadiq Khan slams ‘unacceptable’ London lockdown plans August 3, 2020 London mayor Sadiq Khan has hit out at Boris Johnson after the Prime Minister reportedly discussed drastic contingency plans to lockdown London in event of a second coronavirus wave without involving City Hall. One of the options discussed by Johnson as part of a “war gaming” session with chancellor Rishi Sunak was using the M25 [...]
Chief whip ‘told about Tory MP rape claims four months ago’ August 3, 2020 The government’s chief whip was last night accused of failing to act for four months on allegations against a Tory MP and former minister arrested for suspected rape over the weekend. Tory chief whip Mark Spencer is understood to have spoken with the complainant in April, but failed to launch an investigation into the allegations. [...]
UK to distribute millions of 90-minute coronavirus tests August 3, 2020 New 90-minute coronavirus tests will be distributed to care homes and laboratories around the UK from next week, the government announced today. The speedy tests will check for Covid-19 and flu in a boost to ramp up testing capacity before winter arrives, amid fears of a second wave of cases in Britain. Two new tests [...]
The duelling narratives that will define November’s US presidential election August 3, 2020 There is a theory behind every presidential campaign, a basic narrative as to why the specific presidential aspirant and the specific moment are met, why the candidate is uniquely gifted to help the country through its present moment of peril. Of course, more often than not, this amounts to nonsense. For every Franklin Roosevelt or [...]
Trump vows action on Chinese companies ‘in coming days’ August 2, 2020 US President Donald Trump will take action against Chinese companies sharing data with the Beijing government “in the coming days”, secretary of state Mike Pompeo said today. “President Trump has said ‘enough’ and we’re going to fix it,” Pompeo said on Fox News this afternoon. “He will take action in the coming days with respect [...]
Boris Johnson considers M25 border among new lockdown measures August 2, 2020 Boris Johnson is considering a fresh raft of lockdown measures in England including restricting travel beyond the M25, as the Prime Minister scrambles to contain a spike in infections across the country. Plans are being assessed after a sharp rise in new coronavirus cases last week forced the Prime Minister to apply the brakes on [...]
Tory MP arrested on suspicion of rape will not be suspended from party August 2, 2020 The Tory MP arrested over allegations of rape will not be suspended from the party, in a decision that will only be reviewed following a police investigation, the Conservative party said today. A spokesperson for the Conservative whips’ office said: “These are serious allegations and it is right that they are investigated fully. The whip [...]
Tory MP arrested on suspicion of rape August 2, 2020 A Conservative MP and former minister has been arrested after a woman in her twenties accused him of rape, sexual assault and coercive control. The Tory MP was taken into custody yesterday and released on bail. The Metropolitan Police confirmed they have launched an investigation into four alleged incidents between July 2019 and January 2020 [...]
City grandees recognised in latest Honours list July 31, 2020 A number of the City’s most prominent figures have been awarded peerages in the Queen’s latest honours list. Dame Helena Morrissey, founder of the 30% Club and one of the City’s best-known fund managers, will become a baroness, having been nominated by Johnson. The Prime Minister also nominated billionaire Michael Spencer, the founder of ICAP [...]
Casinos blast new lockdown measures as ‘sickening’ July 31, 2020 Britain’s casinos have slammed the Prime Minister’s decision to U-turn on plans to ease lockdown restrictions tomorrow as “sickening”, warning that business hangs in the balance with venues forced to shut over the critical summer months. In a press conference today, Boris Johnson said plans to reopen venues tomorrow will be pushed back until at [...]