Chinese embassy: ‘Alarm bells’ over security fears for London mega-site January 16, 2025 MPs have warned of “serious alarm bells” for the UK’s security over reports senior cabinet ministers have intervened on a Chinese planning application for a huge new London embassy. Foreign secretary David Lammy, who visited China last year, and home secretary Yvette Cooper have indicated their support for the proposed new 20,000 square metre mega-site [...]
No need for City minister to recuse herself over past lobbying, No10 says January 16, 2025 There is no need for new City minister Emma Reynolds to recuse herself from any duties because of her lobbying past, Downing Street has said. The Wycombe MP has taken over the Treasury minister role from Tulip Siddiq, who stepped down over allegations linked to her aunt’s political movement in Bangladesh. Questions had been raised [...]
Badenoch refuses Reform merger as she says UK ‘getting poorer’ January 16, 2025 Kemi Badenoch has said Britain is “getting poorer” and “living off the inheritance” of past generations, as she refused any suggestion of a merger between the Tories and Reform UK. The Conservative leader made her first speech of 2025 in central London on Thursday. She focused on the past mistakes of her party in what [...]
Sadiq Khan to hike his share of London council tax bills January 16, 2025 Sir Sadiq Khan is set to hike Londoners’ average council tax bills by almost £19 a year – with City Hall’s share of the yearly total reaching almost £500. The London mayor is planning to increase his average ‘precept’ – or the amount he adds onto residents’ bills from their local councils – by four [...]
Reeves has dodged a bullet but she’s surrounded by landmines January 16, 2025 After all the excitement of a ministerial resignation, it’s time to check in on the government’s growth agenda. After all, the fate of individual politicians is of no significance when viewed against the major economic challenges facing the government, and the country. Talking to City CEOs, particularly those in the pension and investment sectors, it’s [...]
Malaysian firm YTL to invest £4bn in UK and former Concorde development January 15, 2025 The Malaysian firm YTL has announced plans to invest £4bn in its UK businesses and a brownfield housing development in Bristol at the site of the former Concorde hangars. The firm will spend £2bn on redeveloping the former Filton airfield in South Gloucestershire into an arena and housing development north of Bristol, the UK government [...]
No 10 won’t confirm new City Minister’s role in China policy January 15, 2025 Downing Street has declined to confirm whether new City minister Emma Reynolds will be able to make decisions about the UK’s relationship with China. She was appointed to the post of economic secretary to the Treasury yesterday, after Tulip Siddiq resigned over allegations of corruption linked to the former government in Bangladesh. Bloomberg reported that [...]
PMQs: Starmer insists Reeves will be Chancellor for ‘many years to come’ January 15, 2025 Sir Keir Starmer has insisted Rachel Reeves will be Chancellor for “many years to come” as Kemi Badenoch lambasted her for losing the confidence of the markets. During Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons, the Conservative leader hit out at Reeves, arguing: “The Prime Minister claims he has full confidence in the Chancellor, [...]
Tulip mania was only ever going to end one way January 15, 2025 Yesterday, I asked whether Tulip Siddiq would still be the City minister by the end of the day, and just as the sun went down we got an answer: nope. Here in the City AM newsroom we shall miss the standing agenda item in our editorial meetings, checking the latest twist of an international corruption [...]
Criminal Case Review chief ‘scapegoat’ resigns after historic failures January 14, 2025 The chair of the Criminal Cases Review Commission Helen Pitcher has resigned, claiming she was made a “scapegoat” for the failures over a wrongly convicted man