Grab ’em by the Porsche: EU plans to confiscate and sell Russian oligarchs’ cars, villas and other assets May 25, 2022 The EU’s executive body, the European Commision, is planning to roll out proposals to allow EU countries to confiscate assets belonging to Russian oligarchs, and then to sell them off. Assets that are currently frozen by authorities across EU member states should be sold, rather than merely frozen, two EU officials told the publication Politico. [...]
European round up: Germany puts coal power on standby while EU pushes for Russian oil ban May 24, 2022 Germany is preparing to extend the life of coal-fired power stations which would have been discontinued over the next two years.
Partygate: Khan writes to Met to demand answers on why PM only received one fine May 24, 2022 Sadiq Khan has written to the Metropolitan Police to demand a “detailed explanation” of why Boris Johnson was not given a second Covid fine, after pictures yesterday emerged of him drinking at a work event. The London mayor invoked his powers as London’s police and crime commissioner to ask acting Met commissioner Sir Stephen House [...]
EC chief Von Der Leyen lashes out at Putin as she calls out ‘Russia’s blackmail’ on food and fuel May 24, 2022 Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, today denounced Russian aggression and its use of “hunger and grain to wield power”, in an address at the World Economic Forum in Davos. “Global cooperation is the antidote to Russia’s blackmail,” she said. Her message focused on strategic priorities for Europe since the invasion. Boosting military spending [...]
Ukraine’s Zelenskiy says he is prepared to meet Putin, but no other Russian official May 24, 2022 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said that President Vladimir Putin was the only Russian official he was willing to meet with to discuss how to end the war. Watch the full report.
Kwarteng says windfall tax on electricity firms would be ‘challenging proposition’ May 24, 2022 Slapping a windfall tax on electricity generators would be a “challenging proposition” and could hamper the UK’s net-zero ambitions, according to business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng. The business secretary also came out firmly against a windfall tax on oil and gas companies, saying the policy is “not a good idea” in comments that will put him [...]
Number 10 denies Johnson asked for Gray to drop partygate report May 24, 2022 Number 10 has denied claims that Boris Johnson asked Sue Gray to drop her report into the partygate scandal at a recent meeting. Johnson’s official spokesman told journalists today that the “Prime Minister wants the report to be published, he’s looking forward to the conclusion of the report and for it to be put in [...]
Partygate: Sadiq Khan urges Met to provide ‘urgent clarity’ on picture showing Downing Street lockdown drink May 24, 2022 Sadiq Khan has called on the Met Police to provide “clarity”, as to why Boris Johnson was not fined for a November 2020 Downing Street gathering revealed in a leaked picture yesterday. The Mayor of London made his comments after ITV News published an image of the prime minister raising a glass during a gathering, [...]
Fresh woes for Boris Johnson as Tory MPs renew calls for PM to step down over Partygate May 24, 2022 Boris Johnson faces fresh woe today after Tory MPs renewed calls for the Prime Minister to resign. Peter Aldous said he had not withdrawn his letter of no confidence in Mr Johnson to the 1922 Committee as others are reported to have. “I haven’t, no. I thought long and hard back in late January, early [...]
Public sector borrowing hit £18.6bn last month, fourth-highest April since 1993 May 24, 2022 Government borrowing stood at £18.6bn last month, down by £5.6bn from a year ago, but still the fourth highest April borrowing since records began in 1993, according to official figures. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said this morning that, despite the fall, government borrowing was £7.9bn more than in April 2019 before the pandemic [...]