Boris and the blue wall: Can the PM hold the Tories’ new electoral coalition together? November 29, 2021 The story of Boris Johnson’s 2019 General Election landslide was the political realignment that saw swathes of traditional Labour areas turn blue across the North and the Midlands. However, Johnson’s electoral offering and tilt toward the so-called Red Wall may have had unintended consequences on the UK’s political geography. The Conservatives under Boris Johnson are [...]
Mel Stride MP urges chancellor to slash taxes to ease cost of living crisis November 29, 2021 The chairman of an influential group of MPs that scrutinises the spending plans of the government has told Tory chancellor Rishi Sunak to slash taxes to ease the cost of living crisis looming over Brits. Speaking to the PA news agency, Conservative MP Mel Stride, who chairs the Treasury Committee, called on the chancellor to [...]
Omicron: How Europe is reacting November 29, 2021 With news of a new, potentially worse strain of Covid-19 – known as Omicron – countries in Europe have been quick to shutter restrictions in a bid to limit its spread. The UK has told incoming travellers that they must take a PCR test on the second day of arrival and must quarantine until they [...]
Labour claims Boris Johnson’s Peppa Pig CBI speech may stop foreign investment into UK November 29, 2021 Boris Johnson’ bizarre speech to business chiefs at the CBI where he referenced Peppa Pig at length and lost his place for 20 seconds could jeopardise future foreign investment into the UK, shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves has said. Reeves said that “f***k business”, a quote attributed to Johnson several years ago at a private dinner, [...]
Rail unions to protest outside parliament in bid for more TfL funding November 29, 2021 Transport unions will next week stage protests outside parliament to warn that the capital will “grind to a halt” without long-term financial help for Transport for London (TfL). Wednesday’s protest will see members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) and Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) rally against the government’s refusal to offer a long-term funding [...]
Red Wall Tories Whatsapp group schemes to install Truss as party head November 28, 2021 Tory members of a Whatsapp group called ‘Liz for Leader’ exhorted colleagues to rebel against Boris Johnson, plotting to install foreign secretary Liz Truss as party leader. The group, dominated by new MPs from the Red Wall seats, is said to be “disenchanted with Boris, especially over migrants and high taxes”, believing Liz to be [...]
Restrictions make sense, but this cannot become the new normal November 28, 2021 One of the many criticisms of the Government’s handling of the Covid-19 crisis has surrounded its seeming inability to learn lessons after the first wave. In particular, the failure to put in place effective border controls once a new variant was identified in India has been held up as one example of failing to take [...]
Tory by-election candidate says levelling up agenda includes outer London November 28, 2021 The Conservative candidate in an upcoming by-election has claimed the government’s levelling up agenda includes poorer parts of outer London. Old Bexley and Sidcup candidate Louie French told City A.M. that Boris Johnson’s flagship agenda, generally thought to only encompass the Midlands and the North, “completely” includes economically deprived areas of the capital and that [...]
Swiss back government’s Covid passport laws in referendum despite protests November 28, 2021 Voters in Switzerland backed the government’s pandemic strategy by a larger than anticipated majority in a referendum today. Just under two thirds (62 per cent) voted in support of a law passed earlier this year over certificates showing proof of Covid vaccination, recent immunity or a negative test. Proof of Covid immunity is currently needed [...]
MPs amend bill to offer young Hong Kongers simpler path to UK citizenship November 28, 2021 MPs look to help young adults from Hong Kong with British National Overseas (BNO) status find a pathway to UK citizenship.