Westminster must stop City of London ‘neglect’, says ex-Johnson adviser May 21, 2021 The government must stop its “policy of benign neglect” toward the City of London and urgently bring in financial services regulation reforms, according to Boris Johnson’s former economic adviser. In a report released by centre-right think tank Policy Exchange, Dr Gerard Lyons called for a strong stance on parting from the EU’s financial services regulations [...]
Exclusive: Sadiq Khan lags behind Boris Johnson’s housing completions record May 20, 2021 Sadiq Khan has completed just over half the amount of affordable housing in his first five years that Boris Johnson did when he was mayor of London. Numbers from the Greater London Authority (GLA) show Johnson completed 62,387 affordable homes in his first five years, while Khan has completed 34,659 in that same time period. [...]
Labour steps up pressure on Rishi Sunak over Biden’s global tax plan May 20, 2021 Labour has stepped up its push to get Rishi Sunak to agree to Joe Biden’s plan for a minimum business tax rate among the world’s biggest economies. The party is calling on the government to put together a review of the effects of Biden’s proposal to implement a 21 per cent minimum on global business [...]
Sunderland ’til I die: Labour’s Jonathan Reynolds on reviving the Red Wall May 20, 2021 The highlight of Jonathan Reynolds’ Westminster office is a 1960 election poster of John F Kennedy that hangs above his desk. JFK sits over Reynolds’ shoulder as we speak as a kind of liberal guardian angel to the shadow work and pensions secretary. “Not a perfect President, but he brought hope and optimism,” Reynolds says. [...]
Golden eagles and wildcats could return to England May 19, 2021 The UK government announced a scheme to reintroduce wildcats and golden eagles back into the country. Reintroductions and habitat restoration work will help reverse decline of wildlife and meet new legally binding biodiversity targets, said the government in a new announcement. Golden eagles have been almost completely absent from English skies for around 180 years, [...]
English farmers to be offered £100k to call it a day May 19, 2021 Older farmers in England will be paid to retire under a government scheme aimed at attracting new, younger, entrants into the industry. The plans, which are still subject to consultation, are part of a post-Brexit shift to a subsidy system and an overhaul of farm grants to encourage farmers to protect the environment. Environment Secretary [...]
Trump calls criminal probe ‘corrupt’ and claims he is ‘unfairly attacked and abused’ May 19, 2021 Former US President Donald Trump said he was “being unfairly attacked and abused” in response to reports that New York’s attorney general has launched a criminal probe into his family business. “There is nothing more corrupt than an investigation that is in desperate search of a crime,” Trump said in a statement. He added that “we will overcome” any [...]
UK launches new Covid-19 booster vaccine trial this week May 19, 2021 The UK has launched a new £19.3m trial that will trial seven vaccines to see the effects of a third booster jab in protecting patients longer term. The results of the trial “will help inform decisions by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) on plans for a booster programme from autumn this year”, [...]
Truss: When will WTO treat China as developed country to stop Beijing’s unfair trade practices? May 19, 2021 The UK and its allies have been “too soft” on China and the World Trade Organisation (WTO) needs to get tough on Beijing’s unfair trade practices, according to international trade secretary Liz Truss. Truss told a Westminster committee today that the UK wants “to improve our toolkit multilaterally and unilaterally” through putting in new subsidies [...]
Criminal investigation into Trump Organisation launched by New York state May 19, 2021 The New York attorney general’s office has opened a criminal investigation into Donald Trump’s company, it confirmed today. Attorney general Letitia James has been investigating whether the Trump Organisation has obscured property values to bag loans and tax breaks. It signals an escalation of the legal threat the former Republican president faces, just four months [...]