Formula 1 race in Rwanda would be ‘blood-stained’, says DRC February 12, 2025 Formula 1 risks having its brand “smeared by a blood-stained association with Rwanda” if it presses ahead with talks to stage a grand prix in Kigali, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has warned. DRC minister of foreign affairs Therese Kayikwamba Wagner wrote to F1 president and CEO Stefano Domenicali this week to urge him [...]
Apprenticeships: Relaxing maths and English rules welcomed by firms February 11, 2025 Firms have welcomed the government’s plans to relax rules around maths and English requirements for apprentices as improving “flexibility and inclusivity”. Apprentices aged 19 and above will no longer be forced to complete English and maths functional skills qualifications in order to qualify, which the Department for Education (DfE) said would allow some 10,000 more [...]
Steel tariffs: No10 won’t say if Trump wrong to impose import charges February 11, 2025 Downing Street has refused to say whether Donald Trump is wrong to impose 25 per cent tariffs on the UK’s steel exports to America. Trump’s executive order scrapped exemptions for the UK and all other countries, with all steel and aluminium exported to the States to face tariffs from March 12. Speaking from the Oval [...]
Progressive liberal comes out against progressive liberalism February 11, 2025 What’s keeping Keir Starmer up at night? It’s safe to assume the list is long and that we’re unlikely ever to see it in full, given the myriad security and intelligence matters that take up so much of a PM’s time without ever breaking into public view. So, aside from state secrets, what else might [...]
Farmers warn of ‘breaking point’ at Westminster tractor rally February 10, 2025 Protesting farmers at a tractor rally in Westminster have warned “we are at breaking point” as they called on the government to scrap planned changes to inheritance tax on farms. Protesters staged another tractor protest outside Parliament and Downing Street on Monday, organised by Save British Farming, as they continued to campaign against Labour’s plans [...]
‘Bitter pill’: MPs set to be on almost £94k after above inflation pay rise February 10, 2025 Plans for MPs to earn almost £94,000 after an above inflation pay rise have been criticised as a “bitter pill to swallow”. Members of Parliament (MPs) are in line for a 2.8 per cent pay increase which would put their annual salaries at £93,904, up from £91,346. It comes after the body in charge of [...]
Steel tariffs: UK ‘ready for all situations’, No10 says on Trump threats February 10, 2025 The UK is “ready for all situations” and ministers will “engage as appropriate”, No10 has said, in the wake of Donald Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on steel and aluminium imports into the US It follows a government minister saying Britain will have to “wait and see” if Donald Trump “gets more specific” about his [...]
Super Bowl: Calls for London to host NFL tournament for economic growth February 8, 2025 London should host a future NFL Super Bowl in a bid to supercharge the capital’s economic growth, politicians and hospitality groups have urged. Ahead of Sunday’s showdown between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles in New Orleans, the climax to the NFL season, the potential future impact on the capital’s economy is being talked [...]
Nandy rejects football regulator pay fears: ‘£130k is more than reasonable’ February 7, 2025 Culture secretary Lisa Nandy has dismissed concerns that the incoming football regulator’s effectiveness will be inhibited by more modest public sector pay. Recruitment for the regulator’s first chair is under way but fears have been raised that the calibre of candidate could be restricted by the salary of £130,000 for the part-time role. While still [...]
‘Unproven’ green tech to have significant impact on energy bills, MPs warn February 7, 2025 Government investment into “unproven” carbon capture schemes is set to have a “very significant effect” on households’ energy bills, an influential group of MPs is warning. Ministers have backed investment into carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) schemes in a bid to achieve the UK’s legally mandated climate goals, including net zero by 2050. But [...]