Tory leadership: Shapps and Raab back Rishi Sunak to be next PM July 12, 2022 Transport secretary Grant Shapps and deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab have backed Rishi Sunak to be the next Tory party leader, with the former chancellor today vowing “a return to traditional conservative economic values” if he becomes Prime Minister. Shapps’ endorsement comes after he decided to call off his faltering campaign and throw his lot [...]
New Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi in spat with Bank of England’s Andrew Bailey: ‘I’m just setting out my stall as prime minister!’ July 12, 2022 Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi insisted this morning it was appropriate for him to set out tax proposals during his Tory leadership race after criticism from Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey. He told BBC Breakfast this a.m.: “I’m just setting out my stall as prime minister! And I have fully costed these pledges, and I’ll be [...]
Russia suffers heavy blow as Ukraine uses US-supplied high mobility rockets to destroy key weapon depot July 12, 2022 The Ukrainian military’s southern command said this morning that a rocket strike targeted a depot in Russian-held Nova Kakhovka, about 35 miles east of the important Black Sea port city of Kherson, which is also occupied by Russian forces. The Russian ammunition depot was apparently targeted by Ukrainian forces overnight, resulting in a massive blast [...]
Rishi, Penny, Kemi or Jeremy: Meet the Tory leadership runners and riders fighting to replace Boris Johnson July 12, 2022 The Tory leadership race gained momentum over the weekend, with opening gambits coming thick and fast from candidates across almost every wing of the party. Rishi Sunak, who wasted no time on Friday in publicly stating an intention to stand, remains an early favourite. But a host of hopefuls, including Nadhim Zahawi, Grant Shapps and [...]
Rail union bosses who called for biggest train strike in 25 years take home £280,000 in pay and perks July 12, 2022 With the transport unions having voted on the ‘biggest rail strike in 25 years’, it has been revealed that two Aslef trade union bosses had a combined total remuneration of £281,601 in 2021. Aslef’s general secretary, Mick Whelan, took home £151,371 in total remuneration in 2021. While Aslef’s Assistant General Secretary, Simon Weller, received £130,230 in the same year, the TaxPayers’ Alliance said [...]
Labour to table vote of no confidence as Tory leadership election deadline nears end July 12, 2022 Labour is going to table a vote of no confidence in the government today, as the Conservative leadership election heats up. Keir Starmer will put forward a motion in Parliament to try and force prime minister Boris Johnson out of office before the contest ends. The prime minister, who resigned last week following a series [...]
BBC investigation finds SAS killed Afghan detainees and unarmed men in suspicious circumstances July 12, 2022 A BBC Panorama investigation has uncovered evidence that the British SAS executed detainees and murdered unarmed people on operations in Afghanistan. It reveals disturbing new evidence of scores of secret killings by the SAS, and efforts by some of the most senior figures in UK Special Forces to conceal evidence of war crimes. Panorama [...]
UK to get new PM on 5 September as Tory leader votes start Wednesday July 11, 2022 The UK will get its 78th Prime Minister on 5 September, with the Conservative MPs to begin the process of electing a new party leader on Wednesday. Sir Graham Brady, chair of the 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers, this evening announced MPs would have their first vote Wednesday and a second on Thursday. A number [...]
Letter to Dorries: Campaigners warn Online Safety Bill amendment risks becoming ‘disinformation laundromat’ July 11, 2022 Dozens of campaigners and academics have written to the Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries to warn that the Online Safety Bill could make the UK the world’s first "disinformation laundromat", where malicious actors receive legal protections to spread hate and lies.
Number 10 says Johnson will not announce windfall tax on electricity July 11, 2022 Downing Street today said Boris Johnson will not extend the government’s energy windfall tax to electricity producers. There was speculation when the 25 per cent tax on North Sea oil and gas was announced in May that it would include electricity generators, including on wind farms and other green energy producers, however Boris Johnson’s official [...]