Pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong jailed as media tycoon Jimmy Lai writes from prison April 13, 2021 Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong has been jailed for four months today for ‘unauthorised assembly’ and breaching an anti-mask law during a demonstration in October 2019. Among 47 others charged under a national security law, Wong is currently serving a separate 13.5-month jail term for organising an unauthorised assembly outside police headquarters in June [...]
Former Labour minister Baroness Shirley Williams dead at 90 April 12, 2021 Former Labour cabinet secretary and Liberal Democrat life peer Baroness Shirley Williams has died today at the age of 90. Williams was one of the original “gang of four” that broke with the Labour Party in 1981 to create the Social Democrat Party (SDP), after unhappiness with Labour’s left-wing turn under Michael Foot. The SDP [...]
Boris Johnson calls for Prince Philip monument in parliament tribute April 12, 2021 Boris Johnson has called for a monument to Prince Philip, who he said would be remembered for generations to come in a tribute in the House of Commons today. The Prime Minister said that he knew “the House [of Commons] and the country will want to consider a suitable memorial for Prince Philip”. Johnson’s statement [...]
Support for Brexit soars after UK-EU vaccines war, says new poll April 12, 2021 A new poll has revealed that two-in-three Britons think Brexit helped the UK’s vaccine rollout and that support for leaving the EU has risen in the wake of a row over vaccines. A poll by JL Partners/Bloomberg today showed 67 per cent of Britons thought the EU had acted in a “hostile” way during the [...]
UK and EU move closer to agreement on Brexit rules in Northern Ireland April 12, 2021 The UK and EU are reportedly close to resolving a dispute over post-Brexit trade rules in Northern Ireland in a breakthrough that could help halt rising tensions in Belfast. Brussels launched legal action against the UK earlier this year over its decision to unilaterally postpone new checks on goods going from Great Britain to Northern [...]
Optimism over reopening of pubs and shops tempered by concerns over next month’s elections April 12, 2021 In a week that saw the FTSE100 close at its best levels in over a year, optimism over this week’s economic reopening of outdoor pubs, shops, gyms and hairdressers, appears to be being tempered by concerns over next month’s local and regional elections. There is particular focus on how well the SNP might do in [...]
Boris Johnson urges people to ‘behave responsibly’ as pubs open tomorrow April 11, 2021 Boris Johnson has urged people to “behave responsibly” as thousands of pubs across England are set to open their doors tomorrow. Covid restrictions will be eased for large parts of the economy tomorrow, with non-essential retail, hairdressers, beauty salons, gyms and outdoor hospitality allowed to reopen in London after four months of forced closure. However, [...]
Boris Johnson to lead MP tributes to Prince Philip as parliament resumes April 11, 2021 Boris Johnson will tomorrow deliver an address in the House of Commons on the death of Prince Philip, before MPs and peers also deliver tributes to the deceased 99-year-old. Parliament was due to come back from a two-week recess on Tuesday, but was recalled early for parliamentarians to pay their respects to the Duke of [...]
David Cameron ‘accepts’ contact with government should be done through ‘formal channels’ April 11, 2021 David Cameron has broken his silence on his role in lobbying the government on behalf of failed Greensill Capital, saying he “accepts” communication with the government “needs to be done through only the most formal of channels”. Cameron, who was a senior adviser at Greensill, denied any wrongdoing and said “I was breaking no codes [...]
Northern Ireland: Special forces deployed in Belfast as riots continue April 11, 2021 Undercover special forces soldiers have been deployed in Belfast as rioting by gangs of young unionists continued over the weekend. Dozens of officers have been injured over the past two weeks in Northern Ireland as violent rioting in Belfast has gradually escalated. Images of petrol bombs and fireworks being thrown at police and over Belfast’s [...]