UK inflation tops 6 per cent as households call on Rishi Sunak for cost of living respite March 23, 2022 The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) measure of inflation marked the largest monthly increase since 2009 last month. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), CPI rose 0.8 per cent in February 2022 on a monthly basis. This was compared to a rise of just 0.1 per cent in February 2021. CPI rose 6.2 per [...]
Ukraine war may be starting to pay off for Putin as Zelensky is prepared to ‘compromise’ in apparent U-turn March 23, 2022 Reports are coming in from Kyiv this morning that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is prepared to discuss a commitment from Ukraine not to seek NATO membership in exchange for a ceasefire, the withdrawal of Russian troops and a guarantee of Ukraine’s security. “It’s a compromise for everyone: for the West, which doesn’t know what to [...]
UK ‘not protected from economic consequences’ of Russia sanctions, say MPs March 23, 2022 An influential Westminster committee has claimed the British economy is “not protected from the economic consequences” of western sanctions against Russian oil and gas, and that Rishi Sunak must bring forward help to the country’s lowest earners. A report from the Treasury Select Committee said the UK government was “right to insist” on wide-ranging sanctions [...]
Exclusive: Sanctioned Russian bank to vote in City of London Corporation election March 22, 2022 Russia’s second largest bank VTB Bank will get a share of votes in the City of London Corporation election on Thursday, despite being severely sanctioned by the UK government. The powerful local authority allows businesses located in the City to have a certain number of votes, depending on how many staff they have, as only [...]
China and Dubai cash in on roomier Russian market amid Western boycott March 22, 2022 As the West bail out of Russia over its invasion of neighbouring Ukraine, China and Dubai are seemingly cashing in on the roomier market. China’s top envoy in Moscow has urged Chinese business leaders to “fill the void” in the Russian market, Bloomberg first reported, after a growing tally of businesses and government’s have boycott [...]
Ukrainian activists try to block Abramovich’s £450m superyacht from mooring at Turkish port March 22, 2022 A group of Ukrainian activists – including at least five children – people attempted to stop sanctioned Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich’s £430m yacht from mooring in a Turkish port. The luxury vessel called Solaris was confronted in the resort of Bodrum by a rubber dingy filled with children and teens, holding Ukrainian flags with the [...]
Khan: Met needs change ‘at highest levels’ in wake of damning corruption report March 22, 2022 Sadiq Khan has vowed to change the Metropolitan Police at “the highest levels” in response to a damning report into police corruption, with the mayor putting the force’s leadership on notice. The London mayor said the “Met leadership simply must do more” to combat corruption, while also appearing to blame them for the fact that [...]
Embarrassed UK Ministry of Defence hits out at Kremlin ‘propaganda’ as second prank video of Ben Wallace emerges March 22, 2022 The UK government accused Russia this afternoon of spreading “propaganda” to distract from its atrocities in Ukraine after a second hoax video featuring Defence Secretary Ben Wallace was published. Vladimir Putin’s Kremlin has been squarely blamed for the imposters’ calls with three Cabinet ministers, as officials appear to struggle to get the clips removed from [...]
Zac Goldsmith: Spanish tax evasion dispute comes into new light following secret recording March 22, 2022 A secret recording has shed new light on claims minister Zac Goldsmith evaded millions in tax, as ruled by a Spanish judge. Obtained by The Guardian, the audio clip includes a top police officer, José Manuel Villarejo, telling businesswoman Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein he’d be “delighted” to assist the former MP in his dispute with Spanish [...]
Trevelyan claims Joe Biden now open to post-Brexit UK-US trade deal March 22, 2022 Joe Biden has changed his position and is now open to restart UK-US negotiations for a post-Brexit trade deal, according to UK international trade secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan. The international trade secretary also said the US is preparing to drop its Trump-era tariffs on British steel exports, with an announcement to come as soon as this [...]