Covid hotels cost taxpayer £400m as government looks to recoup costs on wasted PPE April 21, 2022 Covid hotels to house people coming into the UK during the pandemic cost £400m, and it is not clear if they were effective, according to a new report by a watchdog. The National Audit Office (NAO) released a study this week, claiming it was unknown whether they stopped new variants from entering the country and [...]
Two-in-five Brits now say they think that Rishi Sunak is ‘incompetent’ April 21, 2022 A new survey has revealed 40 per cent of Brits now think Rishi Sunak is “incompetent” – a 23 per cent increase from January. The YouGov poll also found that 38 per cent of Brits think the chancellor is “competent”, which is a 16 per cent drop from last year. It comes as Sunak’s public [...]
EU edges towards deal to share emissions cuts April 21, 2022 European Union member states are closing in on a deal to share the burden of cutting greenhouse emissions within the bloc.
UK to start signing trade deals with US states like Texas from next month April 21, 2022 The UK will begin signing trade deals with individual US states from next month, with an agreement with Texas set to be inked by October. Trade minister Penny Mordaunt said the government was in discussions with 20 US states – including California and Utah – to sign the mini-trade deals, Texas and California are priorities [...]
Brexit: Rees-Mogg wants UK to look at easing capital requirements for banks April 21, 2022 Jacob Rees-Mogg has said the UK must consider easing requirements on how much capital that banks need to hold in reserve in order to survive economic shocks. The Brexit opportunities minister told MPs today that the government “ought to look” at easing the capital requirements for the banking sector, which were brought in after the [...]
Newport Wafer Fab: Congressmen write to Biden with concerns about Welsh microchip plant bought by Chinese firm April 21, 2022 The Chinese takeover of a microchip plant in Wales has become subject to major protest by American Congressmen, who have written to President Biden. Nine politicians urged the president to demand security vetting on British investments, writing a letter calling for “urgent action” to overturn the sale of Newport Wafer Fab. The letter, signed by [...]
Wimbledon warned it could face legal challenge over ban on Russian and Belarusian players April 21, 2022 Wimbledon organisers could face a legal challenge after banning Russian and Belarusian players, according to sports lawyers. Daniil Medvedev and Aryna Sabalenka are among the leading contenders set to miss out following the All England Club’s (AELTC) decision. The men’s ATP Tour has criticised the move, while the women’s WTA Tour previously said it would [...]
City of London Corp to decide whether to let black cabs back to Bank junction April 21, 2022 A motion to allow black cabs to cross through Bank junction 24/7 will be reviewed by the City of London Corporation today. Under the local authority’s current rules, only buses and cyclists are allowed to cross the busy City junction between 7am and 7pm on weekdays. A motion brought forward by alderman Tim Hailes, and [...]
Starmer urges Tory backbenches to turn on Johnson in partygate vote April 20, 2022 Sir Keir Starmer has urged Tory backbenchers to turn on Boris Johnson tomorrow and vote for a House of Commons inquiry into the Downing Street partygate scandal. Starmer said that Tory MPs should “do the right thing” and “respect the sacrifices that their constituents made during the pandemic”. The vote, tabled by the opposition parties, [...]
Putin says new nuclear-capable missile will make West ‘think twice’ April 20, 2022 Vladimir Putin sent a stark warning to the West today as Russia tested a new intercontinental ballistic missile, which the President said will make the West “think twice”. The Sarmat missile, which can hold more than 10 nuclear warheads at a time, can reportedly hit any target on earth and is set to be in service [...]