Scottish police decide not to use codename ‘Operation Bunter’ for Johnson visit August 2, 2021 Scottish police have U-turned on a plan to codename Boris Johnson’s trip north of the border as “Operation Bunter” out of fears that it would offend the Prime Minister. The name was a homage to chubby fictional schoolboy Billy Bunter who appeared in novels, television series’, stage plays and comic strips throughout the 20th century. [...]
Treasury appoints Unilever veteran to chair UK Government Investments August 2, 2021 The Treasury has appointed a Unilever veteran as its new chair of UK Government Investments, who will join the board in September. Vindi Banga is set to join UK Government Investments (UKGI), an arm of the Treasury, alongside his current role of chair at charity Marie Curie. The incoming chair is also a senior non-executive [...]
Tory row erupts over government plans to start amber watchlist for travel August 2, 2021 A government plan to bring in a watchlist for countries at threat of being put on the red travel list has been heavily criticised a growing group of Tory MPs. The government is expected to make the announcement later this week in a move that some say will cripple the aviation and travel industry. The [...]
Hong Kong singer Anthony Wong arrested over election rally performance August 2, 2021 Hong Kong’s anti-corruption watchdog has arrested Cantonpop singer Anthony Wong Yiu-ming and former lawmaker Au Nok-hin for breaching electoral law by singing at a pro-democracy campaign rally three years ago. Wong, 59, and Au, 34, are both charged with engaging in corrupt conduct by providing entertainment to induce others to vote at the Legislative Council [...]
Tory donors warn Boris Johnson that tax rises will kill off economic recovery August 1, 2021 Prominent Tory donors have urged Boris Johnson not to implement tax rises this autumn as they fear it could hamper the post-Covid economic recovery. Johnson and Rishi Sunak are expected to soon announce a 1 per cent increase in National Insurance in a bid to fix gaps in the health and social care sectors. Sunak [...]
Pizza and shopping discounts to be offered to boost vaccine take-up August 1, 2021 People will be offered discounts on pizza, cinema trips and ride sharing apps if they get vaccinated as a part of a campaign by the government to get more young adults to take the vaccine. The government is reportedly speaking to dozens of companies, including coffee and cinema chains, about rolling out a voucher scheme [...]
Truss: UK has made ‘great progress’ in New Zealand free trade deal negotiations July 31, 2021 International trade secretary Liz Truss said the UK and New Zealand were “closing in” on a new free trade deal after the latest round of talks between the two countries concluded. Truss met with her Antipodean counterpart Damien O’Connor for a series of trade talks between 19 and 30 July, for a new free trade [...]
Court rules Grant Shapps’ plan to build £1.7bn tunnel near Stonehenge is ‘unlawful’ July 30, 2021 Transport secretary Grant Shapps was found to have made a “material error of law” over his controversial road building plans that include a tunnel near Stonehenge. In a court ruling on Friday, Shapps’ decision to approve the £1.7bn scheme to overhaul eight miles of the A303 and build a two-mile tunnel near Stonehenge was ruled [...]
Housing fraud trial: Labour MP Apsana Begum found not guilty July 30, 2021 Jurors today found Apsana Begum, Labour MP for Poplar and Limehouse, not guilty of three charges of dishonestly failing to disclose information relating to her social housing application. Ms Begum, 31, had been accused of withholding her true living conditions from Tower Hamlets council officials in an attempt to secure a social housing flat. The [...]
One of two men charged for assaulting Chris Whitty pleads guilty July 30, 2021 One half of a duo that was caught on video in an incident involving England’s chief medical officer (CMO) Chris Whitty has pleaded guilty to assault in court. Lewis Hughes, 24, today pleaded guilty to assault at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London. It comes after Hughes was charged with common assault at the beginning of [...]