North Korea announces fourth nuclear bomb test in 10 years – and Pyongyang claims it exploded ‘mini’ hydrogen device January 6, 2016 North Korea has reportedly tested a miniaturised hydrogen bomb, a move which will heighten tensions between the politically-isolated country and its neighbours, particularly Japan and South Korea. The nuclear test, its fourth since 2006, came to light after reports of a 5.1 magnitude earthquake near a nuclear testing site in the east Asian country. "The first H-bomb test was [...]
Emily Thornberry replaces Maria Eagle as defence secretary, as Eagle moves to culture role in Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour shadow cabinet reshuffle: Who’s in and who’s out? January 5, 2016 After over 30 hours of deliberations, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn finalised what the Conservatives dubbed the longest reshuffle in history, appointing Emily Thornberry, MP for Islington South & Finsbury, as the new Labour shadow defence secretary. The move put an end to days of speculation that Maria Eagle would be removed from the role. Eagle, MP for Garston and Halewood, has been [...]
Ban Donald Trump from the UK? MPs to debate petition to ban the Republican frontrunner from entering the country on 18 January January 5, 2016 MPs have been granted a debate on whether or not to ban controversial US presidential candidate Donald Trump from entering the UK following a petition that was signed by some 560,000 people. A Commons committee which vets all petitions that get more than 100,000 signatures approved the petition for a Westminster Hall debate, slated to [...]
EU referendum: Prime Minister David Cameron confirms ministers will be free to campaign for “remain” or “leave” January 5, 2016 UPDATE: Prime Minister David Cameron has confirmed that he will allow government ministers to campaign with their conscience in the run-up to the referendum on the United Kingdom's membership of the European Union. In a statement to MPs this afternoon, Cameron said: "It is in the nature of a referendum, that it is the people, [...]
London Conservative mayoral candidate Zac Goldsmith says he may vote to stay in the EU despite being a Eurosceptic January 5, 2016 London Conservative mayoral candidate Zac Goldsmith has said that while he is a Eurosceptic, he will vote to stay in the European Union if Prime Minister David Cameron achieves meaningful treaty change. Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Goldsmith said while the EU needs to be reformed to become more "radically more democratic", he will review the reforms [...]
Junior doctors strike dates: Action will take place 12 January, 26 January and 10 February after talks with government and health minister Jeremy Hunt fail January 4, 2016 Thousands of junior doctors will go on strike next week after last ditch talks with the government to agree new contracts failed to come to a resolution. Doctors will go on strike for 24 hours on 12 January while a second 48 hour strike is scheduled for 26 January. Only emergency care will be offered [...]
EU referendum: Societe Generale analysts say chances of Brexit are nearing 50/50 January 4, 2016 Analysts at Societe Generale have warned there is a "high risk that the UK could vote to leave the European Union" this year. In a note out last night, Soc Gen said it is placing a 45 per cent probability of "Brexit", something analysts said would result in "significant economic damages". "To date, financial markets seem [...]
2016 London mayoral election: Conservative candidate Zac Goldsmith gets housing boost from Prime Minister David Cameron January 4, 2016 Prime Minister David Cameron has given Conservative candidate for mayor of London Zac Goldsmith a boost today by announcing that he will amend the national government's housing bill to address concerns over a lack of affordable housing in the capital. Cameron said that he is incorporating an amendment put forward by Goldsmith to create a binding [...]
EU referendum: Six more Conservative MPs say they’re backing Brexit as Nigel Farage, Peter Bone, Tom Pursglove and Kate Hoey launch new cross-party “leave” campaign January 4, 2016 Six new Conservative MPs have come out in favour of Britain leaving the European Union today, piling pressure on Prime Minister David Cameron as he works to secure a reform deal by the end of the next month. Anne-Marie Trevelyan, James Cleverly, Scott Mann, Craig Mackinlay, Royston Smith and Paul Scully, all elected as MPs [...]
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is finally sitting down with Confederation of British Industry (CBI) director-general Carolyn Fairbairn January 4, 2016 Jeremy Corbyn will finally meet with one of Britain's biggest business groups this week, nearly four months after he was elected as Labour leader. Corbyn is scheduled to sit down with Confederation of British Industry (CBI) director-general Carolyn Fairbairn within days, Sky News first reported this morning. Corbyn drew sharp criticism when he declined an invitation to address [...]