Shapps says unions ‘gunning’ for strikes as summer of discontent looms June 19, 2022 Transport secretary Grant Shapps has accused the UK’s unions of “gunning” for strikes as a major union boss warns that widespread industrial action is likely this summer. When asked if there could be a so-called summer of discontent, National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) boss Mick Lynch said: “I think there are [...]
Boris Johnson: We must avoid “Ukraine-fatigue” June 18, 2022 Boris Johnson has said we must avoid “Ukraine-fatigue”, as the Prime Minister touches down after his impromptu visit to Kyiv. The PM visited the war-torn country yesterday in a surprise visit and told reporters at RAF Brize Norton on his arrival back in the UK that we need to show Ukraine that “we are with [...]
Priti Patel lashes out against ‘scandalous’ ECHR decision blocking Rwanda migrant flight June 18, 2022 Priti Patel has lashed out against the “scandalous” European Court of Human Rights after it grounded the government’s first deportation flight to Rwanda. Speaking toThe Daily Telegraph, the home secretary said: “The opaque way this court has operated is absolutely scandalous. That needs to be questioned.” “They’ve not used this ruling previously, which does make you [...]
Let’s hope the second Brexit battle is less exhausting than the first June 18, 2022 The sequel is rarely as good as the original. Jaws 2, for instance, was beset by problems from the off. Steven Spielberg said he had already directed “the definitive shark movie” and refused to take part – a replacement director, John Hancock, was then booted out, not before complaining that the mechanical shark provided by [...]
Boris Johnson touches down in Kyiv for surprise meeting with Ukraine’s president Zelensky June 17, 2022 Prime Minister Boris Johnson touched down in Ukraine this afternoon meeting with President Vlodymyr Zelensky. The embattled Tory leader shared an image on social media which said: Mr President, Volodymyr, It is good to be in Kyiv again”, adding that “Great Britain’s support for Ukraine is firm and resolute.” This comes after leaders from Italy, [...]
DWP: Decades old IT system errors over ‘successive governments’ meant millions paid wrong pensions June 17, 2022 IT system failings over “successive governments” led to millions of people getting the wrong pensions for decades. The department for work and pensions (DWP) is investigating how to rectify the situation to ensure ‘every pensioner receives the financial support to which they are entitled”. The discrepancy was revealed by the BBC this morning, which cited [...]
Eurovision ‘to begin discussions with BBC’ as UK set to host next year’s contest due to Ukraine war June 17, 2022 The United Kingdom will likely host next year’s Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) because of the ongoing war in Ukraine, it has been announced. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) issued a statement this morning saying it will “begin discussions with the BBC” about broadcasting the event from the UK, as this year’s runner up to the [...]
Home Office signs order to extradite WikiLeaks’ founder Julian Assange on US espionage charges June 17, 2022 WikiLeaks’ founder Julian Assange will be face espionage charges in the United States, after the Home Secretary Priti Patel signed an extradition order this morning. This comes after a UK judge ordered the extradition in April following a long legal battle, after a UK judge ordered him stateside to face a 175-year sentence. WikiLeaks published [...]
‘It would be quite a big mistake’ to scrap ethics adviser role after Lord Geidt quit, PM’s ex anti-corruption chief says June 17, 2022 The Prime Minister’s former anti-corruption chief has warned against scrapping the role of ethics adviser following the shock resignation of Lord Geidt. John Penrose made his comments after Downing Street hinted yesterday that the government could get rid o the position altogether, launching a review. Speaking to the BBC, Penrose, who left the job earlier [...]
UK space industry to benefit ‘very positively’ from Russian sanctions June 17, 2022 The UK’s space industry stands to benefit “very positively” from sanctions against Russia, which have pushed its rocket launching capabilities off the global stage, one space chief has told City A.M. Russia’s launches once rivalled SpaceX in both frequency and success. But a mixture of bans and boycotts after its invasion of Ukraine has seen a [...]