Raab refuses 11 times to say when he went on holiday in lead up to Afghanistan crisis September 1, 2021 Dominic Raab has refused 11 times to reveal when he went on holiday in the lead-up to the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in a 90-minute grilling by MPs. The foreign secretary said today that he “wouldn’t have gone away with the benefit of hindsight”, but would not reveal if he left after western intelligence had [...]
Former HSBC boss John Flint lands UK Infrastructure Bank chief executive job September 1, 2021 John Flint, the former CEO of HSBC, has been appointed as the first chief executive officer of the new government-backed UK Infrastructure Bank. Chancellor Rishi Sunak has tasked Flint with leading the Bank’s mandate to identify and finance infrastructure projects as part of the government’s “levelling up” agenda. The UKIB was first announced at the [...]
Next boss calls for UK immigration shakeup amid lorry driver shortage September 1, 2021 Lamenting the national lorry driver shortage, Next boss Lord Simon Wolfson has called on the Home Office to shape up its immigration rules to allow overseas hauliers into the UK. The trickling supply of HGV drivers has led to 94 per cent of hospitality businesses reporting problems with the delivery of products, according to trade [...]
Dominic Raab prepares to face grilling from MPs over Afghanistan September 1, 2021 Dominic Raab will today face a grilling from MPs over how he handled the Taliban’s rapid takeover of Afghanistan and the subsequent evacuation of British nationals and refugees. The foreign secretary will face questions for 90 minutes from the Foreign Affairs Committee over intelligence failures relating to the takeover of Afghanistan, British nationals who have [...]
UK deploys crisis response teams to help people cross Afghan border August 31, 2021 The UK Foreign Office has announced it is deploying three consular teams to Afghanistan’s neighbouring countries to help those seeking to flee the country for the UK. In a statement released this evening, foreign secretary Dominic Raab acknowledged the people eligible for UK support who were stuck in Afghanistan after the UK ended its evacuation, [...]
Northern Ireland economy minister calls for Covid restrictions to end soon August 31, 2021 The devolved Northern Ireland government must set out a pass to end all Covid-19 restrictions, Stormont’s economy minister has said. Gordon Lyons, a member of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), has called on first minister Paul Givan to have all restrictions to be ended by the end of next month. Givan has previously indicated that [...]
Is he or isn’t he? Number 10 refuses to confirm if Boris Johnson is on a West Country holiday August 31, 2021 Downing Street has refused to confirm whether Boris Johnson is a on a three-day holiday, after the Prime Minister travelled to the West Country on Sunday night. Johnson’s spokesman said the Prime Minister would be away from Number 10 in the West Country until Thursday, but insisted that he would still be working during this [...]
Dominic Raab denies pushing to leave Kabul airport gate open before blast August 31, 2021 The UK government coordinated closely with the United States and did not push to keep a gate open at Kabul airport where a suicide bomber killed 13 US troops and scores of Afghan civilians, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said today. Watch the full report.
EU hits Covid vaccination target with two shots for 70 per cent of adult population August 31, 2021 The European Commission announced today that 70 percent of the European Union’s adult population has been fully vaccinated against Covid-19, meeting a target set earlier this year. It marks an important milestone in the EU vaccination strategy after a slow start. However, it also reveals big differences amongst member states. While some nations hit well [...]
Sturgeon deal with Scottish Greens brings green politicians into govt for first time in UK August 31, 2021 The Scottish Government’s new power-sharing deal with the Scottish Greens will bring Green representatives into government for the first time anywhere in the UK. Nicola Sturgeon plans to set out details of her government’s deal with the Greens as Holyrood returns after the summer recess. The first day of business is also expected to see [...]