Ministers shelve plans to lift state pension age due to fear over backlash from middle-aged voters March 22, 2023 Ministers have reportedly shelved plans to raise the UK’s state pension age, over concerns of a backlash from middle-aged voters in the run-up to the next general election. The UK’s state pension age is currently set to rise from 66 to 68 after 2044. The UK government had, however, planned to bring this date [...]
Partygate: Johnson ally admits ‘bring your own booze’ email invite was ‘totally inappropriate’ March 22, 2023 An email inviting No10 staff to “socially distanced drinks” during the Covid-19 pandemic was “totally inappropriate” in its wording, the senior official who sent it has admitted. Martin Reynolds, then Boris Johnson’s principal private secretary, emailed staff inviting them to come for drinks in the No10 garden during the “lovely weather” on May 20, 2020. [...]
Tory rebellion grows as Liz Truss, Priti Patel and Iain Duncan Smith to REJECT Rishi Sunak’s Brexit deal March 22, 2023 Rishi Sunak is facing down a growing mutiny on his backbenches as Liz Truss, Priti Patel and Sir Iain Duncan Smith are all set to vote against his Brexit deal for Northern Ireland. The former prime minister, ex-home secretary and previous Tory leader have said they will not support Sunak’s agreement negiotiated with the EU [...]
All you need to know about Boris Johnson’s return as he defends himself over Partygate March 22, 2023 Boris Johnson will be grilled by the Privileges Committee on Wednesday as he aims to defend himself against claims he lied to Parliament over the partygate scandal. The former prime minister is expected to offer a robust defence when he appears before MPs to give evidence. Before the highly anticipated session, here is what you [...]
Brexit: Boris Johnson set to vote against Rishi Sunak’s Windsor framework as PM facing Tory resistance March 22, 2023 Boris Johnson has said he will vote against Rishi Sunak’s Brexit deal. The former prime minister, who had already voiced concerns about the deal brokered with Brussels, confirmed that he will not be backing the deal when MPs vote on the Stormont brake in the Commons later on Wednesday. In a statement, Mr Johnson said: [...]
Brexiteer Tories waver on support for Rishi Sunak’s Brexit deal March 21, 2023 A key group of Brexit-supporting Conservative MPs are yet to say whether they will vote for Rishi Sunak’s Brexit deal. Parliament will vote tomorrow on the so-called Stormont brake – a key part of the prime minister’s Windsor Framework agreement that would allow the Northern Ireland Assembly to reject new incoming EU rules. European Research [...]
Boris Johnson claims reason for partygate fines ‘remains unclear’ March 21, 2023 Boris Johnson has claimed it “remains unclear” to him – and possibly to Rishi Sunak – why they were fined for breaching lockdown laws after the Met Police investigation into partygate. The former prime minister has released his defence dossier ahead of a marathon evidence session before the cross-party parliamentary privileges committee tomorrow. In the [...]
Boris Johnson admits misleading Parliament over Partygate but says it was ‘unintentional’ March 21, 2023 Boris Johnson has denied “intentionally” misleading parliament over alleged breaches of lockdown rules during parties at 10 Downing Street. Johnson acknowledged his claims to MPs, that Covid rules had been “followed at all times,” did not “turn out to be correct.” However, the former prime minister denied deliberately misleading parliament, as he claimed he immediately [...]
Hunt must commit Treasury and BoE to review of rate rise impact, Labour shadow City minister urges March 21, 2023 Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has been urged to commit the Treasury and the Bank of England to a review of “sharp interest rate rises” in light of the ongoing banking turmoil. Shockwaves have rocked the financial sector in the past weeks with the collapse of the US arm of tech bank SVB – plus the buyout [...]
Bacon in Muslim officer’s shoes and rape kits in fridges: Five shocking takeaways about the Met from the Casey Review March 21, 2023 London’s Met Police force has been found to be “institutionally racist, misogynistic and homophobic” by a blistering landmark review. Crossbench peer Baroness Louise Casey was commissioned to look into culture and standards at the Met after the murder of Sarah Everard by serving cop Wayne Couzens. Her review – which has been branded “damning” by [...]