SNP boss Peter Murrell – Nicola Sturgeon’s husband – quits amid falling membership row March 19, 2023 SNP boss Peter Murrell has quit the party amid a row over declining membership figures, as the race to succeed first minister Nicola Sturgeon enters its final week. Scottish National Party (SNP) chief executive Peter Murrell resigned this weekend after reports of a threat of a no confidence vote by the National Executive Committee (NEC). [...]
Russia and Ukraine extend Black Sea grain deal in bid to lower global food prices March 18, 2023 An unprecedented wartime deal that allows grain to flow from Ukraine to countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia where hunger is a growing threat has been extended. The extension was announced by the United Nations and by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, but neither confirmed the length of the extension. The UN, Turkey [...]
What do Brits think of capitalism? Not much, it seems March 18, 2023 One of the most surprising findings of an international survey conducted on attitudes towards capitalism for the book In Defence of Capitalism is that the British – in the motherland of capitalism – are far more critical of capitalism than might be expected. Only in 12 countries are attitudes towards capitalism more negative than in [...]
International Criminal Court issues ‘war crimes’ arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin over abduction of children in Ukraine March 17, 2023 The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Putin for war crimes because of his alleged involvement in abductions of children from Ukraine. The court said in a statement that Mr Putin “is allegedly responsible for the war crime of unlawful deportation of population (children) and that of unlawful transfer of [...]
Pension pain: Savers who bought lifetime allowance ‘protection’ warned they may still find their tax-free lump sum capped March 17, 2023 Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s decision to scrap the pension lifetime allowance (LTA) in Wednesday’s Spring Budget, was heralded as an incentive for wealthier employees over 50 to stay in the workforce. But some pensions experts say for those who took out a form of LTA protection may still have to watch they do not go over [...]
OECD: UK predicted to perform worst of all G20 economies… except Russia March 17, 2023 The UK’s economy is expected to perform the worst out of any Group of 20 (G20) economies apart from Russia this year and next, new analysis has suggested. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) said that it expects a 0.2 per cent fall in UK gross domestic product (GDP) this year, followed by [...]
Russia’s war in Ukraine: China premier Xi in show of support for Putin with leaders to meet in Moscow March 17, 2023 China says President Xi Jinping will visit Russia from Monday to Wednesday in an apparent show of support for Vladimir Putin. No other details were given but China has declared a “no-limits” friendship with Russia and refused to condemn Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine — while declaring the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries be [...]
Not going anywhere: Former PM Boris Johnson re selected as Uxbridge Tory candidate March 17, 2023 Boris Johnson has been re-selected as the Conservative candidate in his Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency. It comes following speculation that the former prime minister might seek out a safer seat, ahead of the next general election. “I can confirm Boris Johnson has been reselected as the Conservative candidate in Uxbridge and South Ruislip,” a [...]
TikTok denies Chinese state collusion after UK government bans social media app use on devices March 17, 2023 Chinese-owned company TikTok has said it is “disappointed” by the government’s decision to ban the social media app on MPs’ phones. The social media video app has been at the centre of security and data protection concerns in recent weeks – with Cabinet Office minister Oliver Dowden announcing the decision in parliament yesterday. Speaking yesterday [...]
NHS strike action paused as government offers ‘extra £2.5bn’ March 16, 2023 NHS strikes are set to be paused after the government offered up “an extra £2.5bn” to fund a fresh pay deal for healthcare workers. It comes the day after Chancellor Jeremy Hunt faced criticism for failing to announce any measures on public sector pay in his budget, amid widespread industrial unrest. This includes all NHS [...]