Georgia goes to the polls in make-or-break vote for country’s future October 26, 2024 Georgians headed to the polls on Saturday in a ballot many citizens see as a make-or-break vote on the opportunity to join the European Union. The pre-election campaign in the South Caucasus nation of 3.7m people has been dominated by foreign policy and marked by a bitter fight for votes and allegations of a smear [...]
Hundreds gather for Tommy Robinson’s protest which he will miss in custody October 26, 2024 Hundreds of Tommy Robinson supporters are gathering in central London for a planned protest which the political activist will miss after he was remanded into custody by police. Chants of “Oh Tommy, Tommy” and “We want Starmer out” were heard outside Victoria station ahead of the Unite The Kingdom rally on Saturday. The demonstration is [...]
Chancellor to cut back Right to Buy discounts in Budget October 26, 2024 The Chancellor will cut back Right to Buy discounts as part of next week’s Budget to boost council housing supply. Rachel Reeves will announce plans to consult on a new five-year social housing rent settlement and to reduce Right to Buy, which allows tenants renting local authority-owned homes to buy them at a discounted rate, [...]
Starmer denies misleading the public over tax rises in Labour manifesto October 26, 2024 Sir Keir Starmer has denied misleading the public at the general election over tax plans after he suggested people who make money from shares and property could face greater levies. The Prime Minister rejected claims he was waging a “war on middle Britain” amid pre-Budget speculation he could increase the burden for those who have [...]
Government: Israel’s escalation in the Middle East ‘in no one’s interest’ October 26, 2024 The government said it is monitoring the unfolding situation in the Middle East “closely” after Israel launched a series of airstrikes targeting military sites in Iran. The attacks did not target nuclear or oil facilities, two Israeli officials confirmed to the Associated Press. A government spokesman said on Saturday morning: “We are monitoring this situation [...]
Budget 2024: Warning pubs and breweries could face extra £310m bill October 25, 2024 Pubs and breweries could face an extra £310m bill after the Budget, an industry lobby group has warned. The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has warned Chancellor Rachel Reeves that a hike in business rates and beer duty could leave Britain’s drinking spots struggling. Additional costs could stifle growth and threaten jobs, with some [...]
‘Wasteful’ disposable vapes to be banned by next June October 24, 2024 Disposable vape sales will be banned by next summer, the government has said, branding the e-cigarette products “wasteful”. Fresh legislation to ban the sale of single-use vaping devices from June 2025 was introduced before Parliament on Wednesday. The government says an estimated five million single-use vapes were littered or thrown away each week last year [...]
Businesses paying living wage ‘do better’, Sadiq Khan says October 23, 2024 Businesses paying their staff the living wage “do better”, Sadiq Khan has argued, as he welcomed a rise in the London living wage. The Mayor of London spoke to City AM at an event marking the five per cent increase for 140,000 workers, who will see their pay increase to £13.85 an hour. Speaking in [...]
Column: Water, water everywhere… October 23, 2024 Or why the latest twist in the sewage tale suggests a rebalancing of Labour’s priorities England’s water system made a splash again this week, hitting the headlines as the government announced their latest move to – as they put it – clean up the industry. An independent review, led by none other than the former [...]
Millions pumped into anti-fraud work as DWP staff costs jump almost 200 per cent October 23, 2024 The Department for Work and Pensions has increased its anti-fraud staff costs by nearly 200 per cent since 2021, as it seeks to crackdown on fraud