Minister James Brokenshire says he would eat chlorinated chicken in UK February 24, 2020 A Home Office minister has refused to rule out eating chlorinated chicken if it were sold in the UK after Brexit’s transition period ends. Security minister James Brokenshire did not reject the idea that he would eat chlorine-washed chicken, if authorities in the UK gave it the green light, telling LBC he was “not a [...]
Starmer refuses to comment on return to frontbench for Corbyn February 24, 2020 The frontrunner in Labour’s leadership contest Keir Starmer has refused to comment on whether the man he hopes to replace would have a role in the next shadow government. Speaking to the BBC this morning about whether Jeremy Corbyn could have a seat on the frontbench, Starmer stressed he had “not discussed that team with [...]
Priti Patel ‘deeply concerned’ by ‘false allegations’ MI5 don’t trust her February 24, 2020 The government has dismissed reports that home secretary Priti Patel is not trusted by intelligence officials and that she bullied her staff as “false”. Officials have denied that MI5 held back information from Patel after claims emerged that intelligence chiefs do not trust her. Patel has also been accused of trying to force out Sir [...]
French minister warns against London ‘blackmail’ as second stage of Brexit talks near February 24, 2020 France will not be “blackmailed” into a rushed trade deal between the UK and EU, an Elysee minister has warned, as Brussels prepares to publish its negotiating mandate for the next stage of Brexit talks. Amélie de Montchalin, France’s secretary of state for European affairs, told France24 this morning she would be bringing a “clear [...]
Chancellor Rishi Sunak bows to industry pressure on IR35 changes February 24, 2020 Chancellor Rishi Sunak has bowed to industry pressure over IR35 tax changes by promising enforcement will not be “heavy-handed”. The IR35 measures were implemented in order to prevent tax avoidance by “disguised employees”, contractors with permanent positions at companies without paying the same tax or national insurance contribution as standard employees. Under the latest reforms [...]
DEBATE: Is there a case for Britain keeping the Elgin Marbles? February 24, 2020 Is there a case for Britain keeping the Elgin Marbles? Tiffany Jenkins, author of Keeping Their Marbles: How Treasures of the Past Ended Up in Museums and Why They Should Stay There, says YES. Throughout history, art objects have passed across borders. No one is suggesting that every Italian Master belongs to the Italian government. [...]
Exclusive: Tory mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey calls for £104m ’emergency crime budget’ February 24, 2020 Tory mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey will attach an amendment to the mayor’s budget in an attempt to inject an extra £104m to the Metropolitan Police’s coffers. The London Assembly will vote on Sadiq Khan’s £17bn 2020-21 mayoral budget at City Hall today. The 25 assembly members can successfully add amendments to the budget, or over [...]
New law to force venues to prepare for terror attacks February 24, 2020 A proposed new law will require the UK’s venue operators to have measures in place to protect the public from terror attacks. The new legislation, labelled as “Protect Duty” by the Home Office, could force operators to increase physical security, conduct training and draw up incident response exercises for staff on what to do during an [...]
Emmanuel Macron ‘not sure’ a UK-EU trade deal can be reached by deadline February 23, 2020 French President Emmanuel Macron has cast doubt that the UK will strike a trade deal with the EU by the government’s 31 January deadline. Negotiations will begin between Brussels and the UK next month, with issues such as financial services regulation, fishing rights and tariffs set to be at the fore of discussions. Boris Johnson’s [...]
Acid-washed chicken could be on the menu in UK-US trade deal February 23, 2020 Environment secretary George Eustice has refused to rule out the prospect of allowing imports of acid washed chicken under a UK-US trade deal. Food standards post-Brexit has been an ongoing issue in Westminster, with opposition parties claiming the Tories are prepared to allow a diversion from the EU’s stringent rules to strike a trade deal [...]