Minimum wage set to rise to £9.50 per hour October 25, 2021 The National Living Wage will increase from £8.91 per hour to £9.50 in the Budget this week. The 59p an hour boost means a full-time worker on the National Living Wage will see a pay rise of more than £1,000 a year. This is a 6.6 per cent increase in the minimum wage, which is [...]
Pandemic festivities: A ‘normal Christmas’ is on the horizon, says Sajid Javid October 25, 2021 A “normal Christmas” is on the way, providing everyone “plays our part”, health secretary Sajid Javid has said today. Responding to concerns that this Christmas could face the same fate it did last year, Javid told BBC Breakfast: “What we know about this virus is that it’s unpredictable and I don’t think any sensible health [...]
Brexit: MPs call out EU for delaying UK inclusion in Horizon R&D programme October 25, 2021 A parliamentary committee has called out Brussels for blocking the UK’s entry to the Horizon Europe research and development programme, claiming that it is damaging British businesses. A report from Westminster’s European Scrutiny Committee today said delays were leading to “increasing opportunity costs” for British businesses and research institutions as they are frozen out of [...]
Transport, research and skills: £20bn of investments announced ahead of Budget October 24, 2021 When Rishi Sunak delivers his second Budget in a year this Wednesday, there may not be many surprises left after investments totalling more than £20bn were announced over the weekend. The Chancellor will head to the Commons with a focus on levelling up transport links outside London, research and development in health, and a “skills [...]
Britain must avoid becoming strategically dependent on China, Liz Truss warns October 23, 2021 Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said the UK should not become “strategically dependent” on China, as she wants to build “a network of liberty around the world with like-minded partners.” Truss, who was promoted in the reshuffle last month and has been on a trip to India in recent days, was asked about the involvement of [...]
Leaders say ‘danke schön’ at Merkel’s farewell party with surprise appearance from Obama October 23, 2021 Angela Merkel was given a big farewell party by European leaders last night, with former US president Barack Obama making a cameo video appearance. Attending her 107th EU summit, Merkel was feted by friends and foes alike in an informal ceremony behind closed doors, where she was called everything from a “compromise machine” to the [...]
Britain to slide down tax rankings after hikes, warns Thatcherite think tank October 22, 2021 Britain risks falling behind its international rivals if it imposes a more punitive tax regime. The combination of the new health and social care levy, hiking corporation tax and withdrawing the super-deduction will push the UK down to 30th out of 37 rich nations for tax competitiveness, research by the Thatcherite think tank the Centre [...]
COP 26: Modi will attend UK climate conference October 21, 2021 India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi will go to the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow. The country’s environment minister Bhupender Yadav confirmed his upcoming attendance to Reuters on Thursday. This follows weeks of uncertainty about his participation. Yadav said, “PM is going to Glasgow.” The news will be welcomed in Downing Street, after snubs from both [...]
Hong Kong ousting over 50 opposition councillors ‘deeply concerning’, says Truss October 21, 2021 Hong Kong’s home affairs chief has unseated another 16 opposition district councillors today, bringing the total ousted local politicians to more than 50. Newly appointed foreign secretary Liz Truss has condemned the actions, calling the move “deeply concerning”, as the political climate in the former British colony remains unstable. “It is deeply concerning that 55 [...]
Covid: Number 10 denies drawing up plans to ban household mixing this winter October 21, 2021 Downing Street has firmly denied reports that the government is drawing up “Plan C” measures to ban household mixing if Covid rates get surge this winter. Boris Johnson’s official spokesman said Brits face a “very challenging winter”, but that it was “not accurate” to say ministers or officials are working on proposals for further restrictions. [...]