War games: UK pilots to hold joint mission with Germany in Nato member Estonia, right on Russia’s border March 6, 2023 British pilots are set to conduct joint air policing missions in Estonia alongside the German air force for the first time. It comes as the UK prepares take over from Germany to lead the Nato mission in Estonia, which borders Russia. Royal Air Force and German Air Force Typhoon jets will take part in the [...]
Chancellor to face ‘tough choices’ in delivering Spring Budget despite having to borrow £30bn less March 6, 2023 Jeremy Hunt will be forced to make tough decisions in his upcoming Budget, experts have warned, despite the Chancellor having considerably more wiggle room than previously thought. Improvements in the state of the British economy mean Jeremy Hunt will have to borrow £30bn less than the Office for Budget Responsibility’s (OBR’s) November forecast showed, according [...]
Sadiq Khan criticised for ULEZ cameras for ‘pay-as-you-drive’ charge plans March 5, 2023 London mayor Sadiq Khan has been criticised over plans to use ULEZ cameras for a possible future ‘pay-as-you-drive’ road user charging scheme. Transport for London (TfL) is looking into replacing existing schemes such as the congestion charge and the ultra low emission zone (ULEZ) with a “single, integrated road user” charge. Just 300 of the [...]
Matt Hancock tried to ‘frighten pants off’ public with new Covid-19 strain March 5, 2023 Matt Hancock said he wanted to “frighten the pants off everyone” to ensure compliance with Covid-19 restrictions, according to leaked WhatsApp messages published by the Telegraph. Revelations have continued after a tranche of more than 100,000 messages was shared by journalist Isabel Oakeshott, leading to outcry over government actions during the pandemic. The latest set [...]
Keir Starmer should publish Sue Gray WhatsApps, Tories say, amid pro-Labour poll March 5, 2023 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer should publish any WhatsApp messages with Sue Gray ahead of her becoming his chief of staff, a Conservative minister has said. Starmer should publish his messages with the civil servant and partygate investigator to clear up questions about her move to the senior role, the Northern Ireland secretary Chris Heaton-Harris [...]
Partygate inquiry: Breaches ‘obvious’ to Johnson as ex PM feels ‘vindicated’ by Sue Gray Starmer switch March 3, 2023 Evidence strongly suggests breaches of coronavirus rules would have been “obvious” to Boris Johnson during partygate, the inquiry into whether he lied to MPs has said. The cross-party Privileges Committee said the Commons may have been misled multiple times as they set up a live showdown with the former prime minister for later this month. [...]
MP Neil Coyle to be suspended from Commons over drunk tirade using ‘abusive language with racial overtones’ March 3, 2023 MP Neil Coyle has been recommended for a five-day suspension for drunkenly abusing two people in a Commons bar, using “abusive language with racial overtones” on one occasion. The Independent Expert Panel found he breached Parliament’s bullying and harassment policy in a report published on Friday over two incidents. One was the “foul-mouthed and drunken [...]
Starmer ally Powell rejects ‘stitch up’ claim: Sue Gray ‘impartial and really good at her job’ March 3, 2023 Labour’s shadow culture secretary has hit back at claims of a “stitch up”, after Partygate investigator Sue Gray joined Keir Starmer’s top team. Lucy Powell described partygate investigator Sue Gray – who plans to join Labour as Sir Keir Starmer’s chief of staff – as “impartial” and “really good at her job”. She told ITV’s [...]
UK should restore freedom of movement, says Jean-Claude Juncker March 2, 2023 The UK should restore freedom of movement, Jean-Claude Juncker said today, adding that Rishi Sunak’s Windsor Framework deal with the EU was “a real breakthrough”. In an interview with LBC, ex-European Commission president Juncker called for Britain to have a “normal relationship” with the trading bloc, including a “kind of freedom of movement for workers”. [...]
Nadine Dorries brands partygate report a ‘stitch up’ after Sue Gray joins Starmer’s team March 2, 2023 Tory MPs have reacted to reports top civil servant Sue Gray is set to join Keir Starmer as his chief of staff, with one Boris Johnson ally branding her partygate report a “stitch up”. Gray has quit her civil service job and is reportedly set to join the Labour leader’s team. Nadine Dorries, former culture [...]