Work and pensions minister quits for ‘personal reasons’ January 1, 2023 Work and pensions minister Baroness Stedman-Scott has stepped down for “personal reasons”, Downing Street has said. Lady Stedman-Scott, 67, has been a minister in the department since 2019, having previously been a Government whip in the House of Lords. She is replaced by Viscount Younger of Leckie, who moves from the whips’ office where he [...]
Putin’s forces shell Ukraine as war continues in 2023 January 1, 2023 Ukrainians have had a grim start to 2023, with yet more sirens and fresh missile attacks on their territory, as the death toll from Russia’s massive New Year’s Eve assault across the country climbed to at least three. Night-time shelling that battered parts of the southern city of Kherson killed one person, wounded another and [...]
Trump tax returns released ending long effort to keep them private December 30, 2022 Former US president Donald Trump’s tax returns have today been published by a Democrat controlled House Committee after he long tried to keep them out of public sight. The documents shed more light on reports from the House Ways and Means Committee earlier this week that revealed Trump and his wife Melania Trump reported negative [...]
Business energy support set to be halved to reduce taxpayer bill December 30, 2022 Support for businesses to help them cope with swelling energy bills will halve in the spring to avoid taxpayers holding the bag if oil and gas prices surge again, according to The Times. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt next month will announce a 12-month extension to a scheme that caps energy costs for businesses, similar to a [...]
2023 set to be just as ‘horrendous’ as 2022 with falling pay and soaring energy bills December 30, 2022 Next year looks set to be just as “horrendous” for many families’ living standards as this year, as they are hit with falling pay and soaring energy, tax and mortgage bills, a think tank has warned. Households face a cost-of-living “groundhog year” with disposable incomes plummeting even further than in 2022, which saw the biggest [...]
Influencer Andrew Tate ‘detained in Romania on suspicion of human trafficking and rape’ December 30, 2022 Social media influencer Andrew Tate has reportedly been detained in Romania on suspicion of human trafficking and rape. The former kickboxer was held alongside his brother, Tristan, and two other suspects while his house was raided in the capital, Bucharest. “The four suspects … appear to have created an organised crime group with the purpose [...]
Tony Blair: Vladimir Putin should have got seat at international ‘top table’ December 30, 2022 Tony Blair argued that Vladimir Putin should be given a seat at the international “top table” despite deep misgivings among officials about the new Russian president, according to newly released official files. Papers released to the National Archives in Kew, west London, show Mr Blair, as prime minister, believed the former KGB man was at [...]
Supertax on private jets could raise £1.4bn a year December 30, 2022 A supertax on private jets should be introduced to fund public transport improvements, according to a pressure group. Campaign for Better Transport (CBT) wants private jet passengers to pay £780 in air passenger duty (APD) for every flight from the UK. That could raise around £1.4 billion each year, CBT said. Currently, private jet passengers [...]
Revealed: Blair wanted to regulate papers for ‘accuracy’ of reporting, former top aide says December 30, 2022 A key official in the team of former prime minister Tony Blair wanted to regulate newspapers for the “accuracy” of their reporting, according to newly-released official papers. Files released by the National Archives show Mr Blair’s principal private secretary Jeremy Heywood (a future cabinet secretary) became exasperated by what he regarded as the inaccurate reporting [...]
In memoriam: The Queen, Pele, Shane Warne, business leaders and celebs who died in 2022 December 30, 2022 The death of Her Majesty the Queen punctuated a year dominated by economic turmoil, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and political upheaval. As 2022 winds down, it’s time to reflect on those who passed on, from the world of politics, sport, entertainment and, business. Queen Elizabeth’s death aged 96 after more than 70 years on [...]