Wallace: UK to review security after ‘airspace intrusions’ in US by alleged Chinese ‘spy balloon’ February 13, 2023 Ben Wallace has announced the UK will conduct a security review after a series of objects in Western airspace were shot down by the US military, including a suspected Chinese spy balloon. The Defence Secretary announced the intended review on Sunday. It comes after US fighter jets shot down an “unidentified object” over Lake Huron [...]
Tensions sharpen after US jet downs fourth ‘unidentified object’ in eight days in wake of China ‘spy balloon’ February 13, 2023 A US fighter jet shot down an “unidentified object” over Lake Huron on Sunday on orders from President Joe Biden. It was the fourth such downing in eight days and the latest military strike in an extraordinary chain of events over US airspace that Pentagon officials believe has no peacetime precedent. Part of the reason [...]
New hydrogen levy is ‘harmful’ and could stoke inflation, Tory MPs warn February 12, 2023 Plans for a new tax on energy bills to fund research into hydrogen have been opposed by senior Tory MPs arguing it would be “harmful."
Sharp under pressure to quit BBC after report finds ‘significant errors’ over Johnson loan February 12, 2023 BBC chairman Richard Sharp has been told that his position is “increasingly untenable” today after a report found that “significant errors of judgement” were made in helping to arrange an £800,000 loan guarantee for Boris Johnson while Sharp was applying for the top job at the BBC. Ex-JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs banker Sharp, who [...]
Brexit: Signs of progress suggest hope NI Protocol row could finally end February 11, 2023 The UK Government and the EU have reiterated their commitment to finding “joint solutions” to differences around the post-Brexit Northern Ireland Protocol. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris held a video call with European Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic on Friday. The protocol was agreed by the UK and EU in [...]
Best and brightest: Could international students be set for exemption from migration targets? February 11, 2023 The Education Secretary may challenge the Home Office’s plan to cut migration, arguing that the financial boost from international students to British universities was “hugely valuable”. Gillian Keegan said she is wanting to expand education export revenues from about £26bn to £35bn by 2030. Speaking with the Financial Times, Ms Keegan said the university sector [...]
Union rejects ‘dreadful’ pay deal as Lynch promises to prolong strike misery February 11, 2023 The biggest rail workers’ union has rejected what the Transport Secretary has described as the “best and final offers” aimed at resolving the long-running disputes over pay, jobs and conditions. Mark Harper described the move by the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) to reject the proposals from Network Rail and the train operating companies [...]
Brexit: UK makes final EU payment in £2.3bn China import fraud dispute February 10, 2023 The Government has paid £2.3bn to the EU as part of a long-standing dispute over textiles and footwear imported into the UK from China. The final payment of £1.1bn made this week, brings the case to a close. Chief Secretary to the Treasury John Glen confirmed the payment in a written statement to the Commons. [...]
Ukraine: Russia unleashes barrage of bombers, drones and rockets amid speculation Putin still wants Kyiv February 10, 2023 Russia has unleashed strategic bombers, killer drones and rockets in a barrage of attacks on Ukrainian targets. The assault comes as a Russian military push that Kyiv says has been brewing for days appeared to pick up pace ahead of the one-year anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine. The Kremlin’s forces focused their bombardments on [...]
Brexit and Boris supporter Nadine Dorries will quit as an MP at next election February 10, 2023 Former culture secretary Nadine Dorries has announced she is standing down as an MP at the next general election. Ms Dorries, who represents Mid Bedfordshire and has been an MP since 2005, hit out at her party’s decision to remove Boris Johnson as Prime Minister as she used her new TalkTV show to confirm her [...]