National living wage set to rise over six per cent in 2020 December 31, 2019 Almost three million workers are set to receive a 6.2 per cent pay rise from April, after the government announced plans to raise the national living wage. The raise, which the government says will be “the biggest cash increase ever”, comes as prime minister Boris Johnson seeks yo shore up support from the working class [...]
Ex-Labour MPs criticise party ‘cronyism’ and call for sweeping changes December 29, 2019 A group of former Labour MPs unseated at the election have accused the party leadership of “cronyism” and that it needs to be fundamentally reformed. The 12 MPs signed a letter that criticised the party’s response to Labour’s historic election defeat, saying that it needs to go “way beyond a simple review”. Read more: Tom [...]
Tony Blair’s organisation bid for EU money while he was campaigning against Brexit December 29, 2019 Tony Blair’s organisation was competing for contracts from the EU while simultaneously campaigning for a second Brexit referendum, it has been revealed. Documents, newly revealed by The Telegraph reveal that the non-profit Tony Blair Institute (TBI) was talking to officials about securing further funding from the European Commission. Read more: Tony Blair: Labour must be [...]
Spotify to suspend political ads in 2020 December 28, 2019 Music streaming service Spotify has said it will pause selling political advertising in early 2020. The world’s most popular music subscription service, which according to latest figures has 141m users listen to its ad-supported platform, said the pause would include its original and exclusive podcasts. It comes as campaigns for the presidential election set for [...]
UK cyber security chief to step down next year December 28, 2019 The head of the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has announced he will stand down next summer. The government said that Ciaran Martin would leave his post in 2020 on Friday evening, almost four years after founding the organisation. The 45-year-old said it had “been the privilege of a lifetime” and warned the challenge [...]
Tom Watson: Labour brutality and hostility pushed me to step down December 28, 2019 Former Labour deputy leader Tom Watson has said he stood down as an MP last month due to the “brutality and hostility” within his own party. Speaking to the Guardian, he said criticism from factions and on social media had become a “heavy load”. The former West Bromwich East MP revealed that Labour Party officials [...]
Hong Kong protesters march on shopping centres as Christmas clashes continue December 26, 2019 Hundreds of protesters descended on shopping centres in Hong Kong today in a bid to disrupt business on the third day of Christmas demonstrations. The so-called shopping protests have targeted malls in the financial hub since Christmas Eve, with police firing tear gas to disperse protesters and tourists in the busy areas. Read more: Hong [...]
Donald Trump impeachment trial: Republicans have not ruled out witnesses December 23, 2019 Mitch McConnell, the US Republican Senate majority leader, has said his party has not ruled out hearing witnesses in the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump. However, he added that he would not agree to the Democrats’ request that the Senate agree ahead of time to take testimony during the trial. Read more: Space Force: [...]
Donald Trump invites Boris Johnson to White House December 22, 2019 US president Donald Trump has reportedly invited prime minister Boris Johnson to visit him in the White House in the new year. The Sunday Times reported that Trump’s invitation to Johnson was made after the British prime minister’s recent election win. Read more: European stocks rally as Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal is approved Formal discussions [...]
EU-UK trade deal must share social and environmental standards, says Barnier December 21, 2019 The European Union want to agree common social and environmental standards in any free trade agreement with the UK to avoid a “race to the bottom”, Michel Barnier has said. The EU’s chief Brexit negotiator wrote an opinion piece on Project Syndicate published on Friday, which said the EU wanted to make the most of [...]