Grant Shapps replaces Ben Wallace as defence secretary taking fifth post in a year August 31, 2023 Grant Shapps has been made defence secretary, in a mini-reshuffle sparked by predecessor Ben Wallace stepping down from cabinet. It comes after Wallace announced in July he would be leaving the role and stepping down as an MP as the next election – after a political career spanning almost a quarter century. Shapps, who has [...]
Don’t be TWaTs: Councils urged to dodge four-day week plans at risk of being ‘part time town halls’ August 31, 2023 Councils have been urged to swerve introducing four-day work week schemes in a bid to dodge “part-time town halls”. Campaigners at the Taxpayers Alliance (TPA) have written to every council leader in the UK asking them to pledge not to bring in a four-day work week. Many City firms have been accused of a Tuesday, [...]
Rishi Sunak won’t offer further support to motorists hit by ULEZ charges August 31, 2023 Rishi Sunak has ruled out offering further support to motorists hit by the expanded ULEZ charges across London. The Prime Minister told GB News the policy was the “sole responsibility” of Labour and criticised the scheme as not “the right priority”. His comments come the day after the ultra low emission zone (ULEZ) charging scheme [...]
UK creative industries under threat as AI won’t be subject to copyright rules August 30, 2023 The UK government is under mounting pressure to scrap plans that would grant artificial intelligence (AI) developers free access to use copyrighted artistic materials in training their AI algorithms. Last June, the government’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) proposed a copyright exemption for the AI industry that would allow the unrestricted use of existing music, literature [...]
Kwarteng offered advisory role at Aussie giant Fortescue Metals August 30, 2023 Kwasi Kwarteng has reportedly been offered an advisory role at Aussie commodities giant Fortescue Metals Group.
Cleverly will not ‘shy away from tough conversations’ while in Beijing August 30, 2023 James Cleverly has met senior officials in Beijing in a visit aimed at easing tensions with China but which risks deepening divisions in the Tory party. The Foreign Secretary insisted the visit would allow him to have “tough conversations” with the Chinese on issues including repression in Hong Kong, and human rights abuses in Xinjiang [...]
MPs criticise government’s unclear China strategy amid James Cleverly visit August 29, 2023 MPs have criticised the government for having an unclear strategy around its relationship with China, amid a high-profile visit by the foreign secretary James Cleverly. A parliamentary committee cited “confusion” and “failure to explain policy” on China, following a government announcement of the ‘Indo-Pacific Tilt’ as part of the integrated defence review. The report by [...]
Brexit border checks on food delayed for fifth time August 29, 2023 The implementation of post-Brexit border checks on food products coming from the EU has been delayed for a fifth time.
Pimlico Plumbers founder says he will pay nurses’ ULEZ charges and calls for policy to be binned August 29, 2023 Plumbing tycoon Charlie Mullins says he will pay nurses’ ULEZ charges and called for the scheme to be “abolished immediately”.
Labour more trusted than Tories on Brexit and the economy, new poll finds August 29, 2023 Voters place more trust in Labour than the Conservatives on issues including the economy, tax policies, Brexit and unemployment, new polling has revealed. Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party secured a higher trust rating than the Tories on nine out of ten issues that voters were polled on by YouGov for The Times. Prime Minister Rishi [...]