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 [...]
Lord Geidt resignation: Ethics adviser quit after being asked for advice on steel tariffs June 16, 2022 The Prime Minister’s ethics adviser resigned after being asked to approve tariffs on steel which the government itself acknowledges would break part of a World Trade Organisation treaty. Lord Geidt resigned last night, and in his letter to the Prime Minister said he was “tasked to offer a view about the Government’s intention to consider [...]
Shapps confirms plan to use agency workers to replace striking rail staff June 16, 2022 Transport secretary Grant Shapps has confirmed he will use agency workers to cover for striking rail staff if industrial action drags on throughout the summer. Shapps today said the government was looking at a “look at a full range of options” to minimise disruption from striking workers, adding that people with “transferable skills” could be asked [...]
Prime Minister Boris Johnson aims to protect more households with £1bn energy efficiency boost June 16, 2022 Prime Minister Boris Johnson is drawing up plans to insulate hundreds of thousands more homes before winter with up to £1bn funding.
Johnson making ‘a mockery’ of Ministerial Code, says outgoing adviser Lord Geidt June 16, 2022 Boris Johnson is making “a mockery” out of the government’s Ministerial Code, according to the Prime Minister’s outgiong ethics adviser. Lord Christopher Geidt wrote that he was put in an “impossible and odious position” this week, when asked to defend what he saw as deliberate breaches of the code, which led to him quitting his [...]
France’s Macron, Germany’s Sholz and Italy’s Draghi take train to Ukraine and offer Kyiv a ‘message of unity’ June 16, 2022 German, French and Italian leaders have visited Kyiv to send a “message of unity” to Ukraine, as officials push for more weapons to be sent to the country. French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi took an overnight train, on a secret trip which reportedly took months to [...]