OneWeb takeover by Chinese state-backed rival raises national security concerns July 25, 2022 The proposed takeover of British satellite darling OneWeb by French rival Eutelsat has caught scrutiny over national security. The joint company, estimated to be worth around $6bn (£4.9bn), would create a satellite and communications powerhouse to compete against Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Starlink – which currently dominates the satcoms industry. Eutelsat, which is partly owned [...]
Drought Council to meet tomorrow with hosepipe bans on the table if hot weather continues July 25, 2022 The National Drought Council is set to meet this week amid a possible hosepipe ban in wake of one of the hottest and driest summers on record. The Environment Agency body will gather to discuss options should the hot weather and lack of rainfall continue into August. This comes after the UK recorded its hottest [...]
‘Just me then?’ Rishi Sunak agrees to Andrew Neil grilling on Channel 4 but Liz Truss refuses to come July 25, 2022 Channel 4 said this afternoon that former Chancellor and Tory leadership hopeful Rishi Sunak has agreed to be interviewed by veteran political journalist Andrew Neil. However, his main rival – Liz Truss – has declined, the channel confirmed. The former chancellor will be grilled live at 7.30pm on Friday on the network, where Neil hosts [...]
Exclusive: Pensioners should get stamp duty break if they downsize home, house-buyers’ group says July 25, 2022 To ease the housing crisis, pensioners may be pushed into downsizing their homes and getting a tax break on stamp duty in return. The National Association of Property Buyers (NAPB) said the incentive would free up supply of housing and cool house prices, while also redoing the need for equity release. This comes after the [...]
Number 10 says Dover border chaos ‘not necessitated’ by Brexit July 25, 2022 Downing Street has said travel chaos at the Dover port over the past few days has not been “necessitated by leaving the European Union”. Boris Johnson’s official spokesman said “there are changes following leaving the European Union which we recognised and which we have planned for”, but that the long queues at Dover were not [...]
Starmer vows there will be ‘no magic money tree economics’ with Labour July 25, 2022 Sir Keir Starmer has promised there will be “no magic money tree economics” with a Labour government as he vows to deliver “sound finances”. Starmer said in a setpiece speech in Liverpool that he would not be bound to the “nostalgic” thinking that government should direct business activity and that “modern industrial strategy is not [...]
Tonight at 9pm: Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak will go head to head on live TV in BBC debate July 25, 2022 Tory leadership hopefuls Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss will go head-to-head in a TV debate after the battle to become the next prime minister became toxic with the two rival camps clashing over immigration, China and the economy. The BBC debate at 9pm comes after a weekend that saw allies of the two Tory leadership [...]
‘For f*** sake!’: Liz Truss-supporting Nadine Dorries mocks Rishi Sunak over expensive £3,500 Herbert suit and Prada shoes July 25, 2022 Former Chancellor and Tory leadership frontrunner Rishi Sunak was today mocked over his expensive taste in clothing. The sneer came from Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries. Dorries, a supporter of Sunak’s leadership rival Liz Truss, pointed to reports that the millionaire former chancellor has been pictured wearing a £3,500 suit and £490 Prada shoes. She said [...]
Zelensky: Russia cannot be trusted to hold up grain deal after ‘barbaric’ Odessa strike July 25, 2022 Ukraine’s president condemned Russia’s “barbarism” following a strike on Odessa, as he said the Kremlin cannot be trusted to observe a grain exportation deal. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy hit out after Saturday’s attack by Moscow, in wake of an agreement facilitated by Turkey for Kyiv to resume exports from Black Sea ports like Odessa. The deal [...]
Long-term funding deal must come without too many strings attached July 24, 2022 Until we see the details of central government’s (eventual) funding offer to Transport for London, it is dangerous to be too cheered by the arrival of the long-awaited and absurdly delayed proposal. For two years, the Mayor and TfL’s commissioner Andy Byford have been making a clear case for a settlement that helps secure London’s [...]