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 [...]
Jeremy Hunt tax hikes and weak economy to swipe £10k from Britons while wealthy reap pension rewards March 16, 2023 Britons are poised to miss out on £10,000 of income over the coming years after Chancellor Jeremy Hunt lifted taxes to their highest sustained level in history, experts have predicted. When combined with sluggish economic growth , the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has estimated that the tax take means real incomes will be at [...]
Watch the moment a Russia warplane dumps fuel on a US drone as fears of direct conflict intensify March 16, 2023 The Pentagon has released footage of what it says is a Russian aircraft conducting an unsafe intercept of a US Air Force surveillance drone in international air space over the Black Sea. The 42-second video released on Thursday shows a Russian Su-27 approaching the back of the MQ-9 drone and beginning to release fuel as [...]
Government bans TikTok on official devices over China security fears March 16, 2023 The government has banned the TikTok app on official devices, it has confirmed today. The Chinese-owned social media video app has been at the centre of security and data protection concerns in recent weeks. It follows moves by the European Commission (EC) and the United States to take action over the app’s use on secure [...]
‘Wrong priority’: Labour pledges to reintroduce pensions allowance March 16, 2023 Labour says it will reverse the abolition of the lifetime pensions allowance limit, branding the move the “wrong priority”. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced plans to scrap the £1m tax free limit on lifetime savings in pensions in Wednesday’s budget. The move is aimed at keeping Brits – including top NHS staff – in work for [...]
Dominic Raab claims staff ‘relish’ ambitious agenda as bullying inquiry continues March 16, 2023 Justice secretary Dominic Raab has said the “overwhelming majority” of his staff “relish” working on his “very ambitious agenda”, as an ongoing inquiry into bullying claims continues. Adam Tolley KC is investigating bullying claims and considering a number of formal complaints made by senior civil servants against Raab, who is also deputy prime minister. Asked [...]
Defence spending given £11bn boost as former minister warns of new Cold War March 16, 2023 Defence spending is set to increase by £11bn over the next five years amid fears over the UK’s “hollowed out” armed forces. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt confirmed in Wednesday’s budget that the Ministry of Defence’s finances would receive an £11bn boost over the next half-decade. But Tobias Ellwood, defence committee chairman, said the Chancellor has left [...]
The Budget: Bring back George Osborne – we need a long-term economic plan March 15, 2023 The Tory benches cheered, the Labour frontbench booed, the SNP reminded us they were there: yes, it was pantomime in Parliament yet again yesterday, with a budget pre-trailed to the point that many of us could have had a stab at announcing it ourselves. What was more interesting was what wasn’t in it: a genuine [...]