Suella Braverman escapes ethics probe into speeding row May 24, 2023 Suella Braverman has escaped an ethics investigation over claims she asked civil servants whether they could arrange her a private speeding awareness course. Prime minister Rishi Sunak has confirmed no “further investigation” will take place into the row and said he was “reassured [Braverman] takes these matters seriously”. In a letter to the home secretary, [...]
Boris Johnson probed by cops over fresh lockdown breach allegations May 24, 2023 ‘Partygate’ PM Boris Johnson is under police investigation following fresh claims he allegedly breached lockdown rules, it emerged last night. The disgraced ex-prime minister has been reported to the Met Police by the Cabinet Office after new evidence came to light that he may have breached the Covid-19 pandemic rules. Johnson allegedly hosted friends at [...]
Leg up for UK listings as Labour backs £50bn pension ‘growth fund’ May 23, 2023 A Labour government would push pension funds to pump cash into UK start-ups and growth firms as part of plans to boost the City and keep homegrown firms in Britain, Rachel Reeves has said. Speaking in New York today, the shadow chancellor said her party aimed to rocket-launch investment in the UK by accelerating consolidation [...]
Swelling debt interest bill fashions second highest April government borrowing on record at £25.6bn May 23, 2023 A near £10bn debt interest bill helped to push UK borrowing to the second highest monthly total for April since records began in 1993, official figures out today reveal. The government took on an additional £25.6bn of debt last month, above market expectations and up from £13.7bn in the same month last year, according to [...]
Sadiq Khan: London councils need more power to take back empty properties May 23, 2023 The Mayor of London has today called on the government to devolve powers to local councils so they can set higher rates of council tax on vacant properties. It comes as part of a bid to bring back empty flats and houses to the struggling London market. “It’s a scandal that so many much-needed homes [...]
Dominic Raab to stand down as MP following bullying scandal May 23, 2023 Dominic Raab is set to stand down as an MP at the next general election in the wake of a bullying scandal which saw him quit Rishi Sunak’s government.
Sadiq Khan hosts crunch business talks with City figures May 23, 2023 Sadiq Khan has warned London’s businesses are facing “the most difficult period in living memory” as a result of Brexit, the Covid-19 pandemic and the inflation crisis. The Mayor of London has called for the government to devolve some immigration powers to City Hall as a means of tackling regional labour shortages sparked by the [...]
Keir Starmer vows to ban ads for ‘harmful’ products like sugary snacks aimed at children May 22, 2023 Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to ban advertising for “harmful” products including vaping, junk food and “sugary snacks” to children if Labour is elected into power. He outlined his plans for reforms to the NHS, Labour’s third ‘mission’ for government, in a speech this morning, setting out a bid to shift to a prevention-focused approach, [...]
Kemi Badenoch urged to ‘walk away’ from Gulf trade deal over human rights concerns May 22, 2023 Kemi Badenoch has been urged to “walk away” from “worrying” trade negotiations with Gulf states due to concerns about human and labour rights abuses. The UK has “absolutely no reason” to discuss trade with states where “human, women’s and LGBT rights and workers’ rights abuses are so widespread”, union boss Paul Nowak said. Amnesty International [...]
Three former education secretaries back calls for urgent changes to apprenticeship levy – here’s why May 21, 2023 Calls to link the apprenticeship levy to Britain’s immigration policy have been backed by three former education secretaries. Lord David Blunkett, Sir Gavin Williamson and Nadhim Zahawi have lent support to a report calling for urgent changes to the government’s levy on firms to pay for apprenticeships – including linking the scheme to visa rules [...]