Only Labour politician George Bush had heard of before Tony Blair was Michael Foot: World view limited to ‘Texan and Mexican horizons’ December 30, 2021 Former US President George W Bush knew little about global affairs when he first met with Britain’s ambassador to the US, according to newly released official papers. Mr Bush’s presidency was dominated by US military action in Iraq and Afghanistan following the 9/11 attacks on the Twin Towers in New York in 2001. But when [...]
Michael Gove urged to explain why £330,000 was spent on fixing driveway of Tory peer Lord Gage December 30, 2021 Michael Gove is urged to explain accusations his department approved £330,000 to fund pothole repairs on the driveway of a former Tory peer. The public money was spent fixing a track leading to Charleston Farmhouse, an independently-run museum and art gallery within the grounds of a country estate owned by the 87-year-old aristocrat Lord Gage, [...]
Disclosed: Tony Blair Blair wanted to ‘kiss the Lib Dems to death instead of kicking them to death’ December 30, 2021 Files released by the National Archives today show that former Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown was keen to expand co-operation between New Labour and his own party – dubbed “the project” – following Tony Blair’s landslide general victory in 1997. In fact, Ashdown wanted to redesign the House of Commons as a symbol of his [...]
NHS to open eight ‘Nightingale’ hospitals as Omicron cases surge December 30, 2021 Eight temporary "Nightingale" units are being built this week as Omicron surges across the UK.
Johnson pressured to trim self-isolation time as staff absences swamp the NHS December 29, 2021 Prime minister Boris Johnson has been facing increasing pressure to trim self-isolation time in a bid to ease the pressure staff absences are putting on the NHS. It comes as new Covid-19 hit a new record high yesterday, surpassing 117,000. The US also hit new record infections, as it halves the isolation time for those [...]
London Mayor Sadiq Khan pumps additional £50m into fighting crime as knife and gun incidents across capital start to fall December 29, 2021 The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, announced this morning an additional £50m will be reserved to tackle crime across the capital. The investment, which will run over the next three years, will fund grassroots crime prevention projects across the city and promote positive opportunities for Londoners in every borough in the capital through the London Crime Prevention Fund, [...]
Poverty looms for millions of UK families as energy bills climb by £1200, inflation rises and taxes jump 1.25 per cent in 2022 December 29, 2021 Soaring energy bills, inflation and rising taxes are likely to lead to a ‘cost of living catastrophe’ for millions of UK families, an economic think tank warned this morning. The Resolution Foundation (RF) said from next April families would typically face a £1,200-a-year hit to their incomes as the energy price cap is raised and [...]
NHS sends out 650,000 text messages and 50,000 letters in fresh drive to get Covid booster jabs into Brits’ arms December 29, 2021 The NHS will be sending around 650,000 text messages and 50,000 letters to people who have not yet received their top-up dose, encouraging them to roll up their sleeve and have a “jabby new year”. The efforts are part of a fresh drive to get Covid booster jabs into arms to protect against the fast-spreading [...]
Hong Kong national security police arrest six in media outlet raid December 29, 2021 Hundreds of Hong Kong national security police arrested at least six current and former staff at the office of an online pro-democracy media outlet in the early hours of this morning. It forms part of the Beijing’s independent media crackdown, with Stand News its latest target for its alleged “conspiracy to publish seditious publications”. The [...]
Officials float ‘rule of six’ comeback whilst study suggests Omicron provides more immunity to Delta December 28, 2021 One of the potential restrictions being considered by government officials is a return of the "rule of six", which would limit gatherings to six people or two households.