UK military may break NATO pledges, MPs warn April 20, 2023 The UK’s plan for arming its military is a “broken system” and government ministers may struggle to meet crucial commitments to NATO, a prominent group of MPs has warned. A critical report into the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) plans to buy military equipment found a “cycle of costly delay and failure” and an ignoring of [...]
SNP treasurer Colin Beattie steps down from role after arrest April 19, 2023 SNP MSP Colin Beattie will step down as the party’s treasurer after he was arrested in connection with a police investigation into the party’s finances, he has said. In a statement released through the party, Beattie also confirmed he will be “stepping back” from his role on Holyrood’s Public Audit Committee until the probe has [...]
GSK: Hundreds of workers at British pharma giant to strike in May in pay dispute April 19, 2023 Hundreds of workers at pharmaceutical giant GSK will stage a series of walkouts in May in a dispute over pay. Unite said 750 of its members have voted for strike action after rejecting a 6% pay offer and a one-off lump sum of £1,300, describing it as “significantly below” inflation. Unite said industrial action will [...]
Sunak finally declares childcare agency his wife Akshata Murty holds shares in amid probe April 19, 2023 Rishi Sunak has declared the childcare agency his wife holds shares in as a financial interest as he is investigated over a possible breach of the rules. The delayed list of ministerial interests published on Wednesday contained for the first time a reference to “a number of direct shareholdings” owned by Akshata Murty. The Prime [...]
Sadiq Khan slams private landlords profiteering from shoddy London homes April 18, 2023 The Mayor of London has slammed thousands of private landlords who are pocketing the rent and housing benefits from tenants living in housing riddled with mould and damp, branding it “a scandal”. The reaction came in response to New City Hall analysis which shows that across the country, landlords are collecting £9bn a year in [...]
Minister Paul Scully ‘considering’ running for London mayor in 2024 April 18, 2023 Minister for London Paul Scully said today he is “considering” running against Sadiq Khan to be the next London mayor in 2024. Speaking at a Centre for London event today, Scully said: “Let me tackle this head on, am I considering running for London mayor in 2024? Yes, I am considering it. I haven’t made [...]
Two Russian fighter jets and a spy plane intercepted by RAF after flying near Nato airspace April 18, 2023 Two Russian fighter jets and a spy plane flying close to Nato airspace have been intercepted by the RAF. Eurofighter typhoons from the RAF’s IX(B) squadron and the German Air Force’s 71 Richtofen Wing were scrambled to visually identify and intercept the jets as they flew over the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Finland. One [...]
SNP treasurer Colin Beattie arrested in party finance probe April 18, 2023 The Scottish National Party’s (SNP) treasurer Colin Beattie has been arrested in a police probe into the party’s finances, according to reports. Beattie, 71, is under arrest in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the party, Police Scotland has said, the PA news agency has reported, In a statement, the [...]
Putin visits Russian troops in Ukraine as G7 leaders vow to ‘intensify sanctions’ on Moscow at Japan meeting April 18, 2023 The Kremlin says Russian President Vladimir Putin has visited headquarters of the Russian troops fighting in Ukraine. A video released by the Kremlin early on Tuesday showed Mr Putin visiting the command post for Russian forces in the southern Kherson region. It showed Mr Putin receiving reports from the top military brass. He then moved [...]
Regulators must be kept in check, Tory MPs warn April 18, 2023 Tory MPs have warned powerful regulators operating “largely unchecked” are holding back the UK’s economy and “directly hindering” the country’s growth prospects. The backbench Regulatory Reform Group (RRG) has called for increased parliamentary oversight of the UK’s regulators – from water and energy watchdogs Ofwat and Ofgem to banking supervisor the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). [...]