Boris Johnson set to only warn Priti Patel over bullying claims November 19, 2020 Boris Johnson is reportedly preparing to censure Priti Patel over bullying civil servants, but will stop short of sacking the home secretary. An inquiry into Patel’s conduct toward civil servants in the Home Department was launched nine months ago after a series of complaints. Included among the complainants was the department’s top civil servant Philip [...]
Covid cases in England spike as rapid testing picks up pace November 19, 2020 Coronavirus cases in England hiked 11 per cent in England last week, NHS Test and Trace said today, as the government rolled out rapid Covid tests across the country. Test and Trace reported 167,369 confirmed coronavirus cases between 5 November and 11 November, up 11 per cent on the previous week. London saw an average [...]
Boris Johnson vows to make UK Europe’s greatest naval power with new defence spending November 19, 2020 Boris Johnson has vowed the UK will return to its place as “the foremost naval power in Europe” through a landmark increase in military spending. Johnson said the country will benefit from a “renaissance of ship building”, while also focusing on space-based defence technologies that will destroy “targets with inexhaustiable lasers”. The government will increase [...]
English sports clubs granted £300m emergency funding package November 19, 2020 The government has announced a £300m emergency funding package to help sports clubs in England survive ongoing coronavirus restrictions during the winter. Rugby League and Rugby Union, horse racing and the lower tiers of National League football are among the beneficiaries of the support. The funding, which is largely made up of loans, comes as [...]
Government to set out post-lockdown plan next week November 19, 2020 The government will set out a plan for exiting England’s month-long lockdown next week, the Prime Minister’s spokesperson has said. Boris Johnson has repeatedly vowed the country will return to a “regional tiered approach” when lockdown restrictions are due to expire on 2 December. However, head of Public Health England Dr Susan Hopkins earlier this [...]
Road pricing can level up the nation and take our outdated transport system into the twenty-first century November 19, 2020 If the leaks from the Treasury this week are to be believed, Rishi Sunak has been presented a study on road pricing by his civil servants. He’d be a fool not to take it seriously. Shifting towards a comprehensive system of road pricing would help the chancellor level up the regions, drive down pollution, and [...]
UK and Canada ‘on the brink’ of agreeing a trade deal November 19, 2020 The UK is reportedly close to signing a trade agreement with Canada to replace the existing deal it has through EU membership. An announcement could come as early as Thursday, according to a Bloomberg report. Without it the two countries would face tariffs from 1 January once the Brexit transition period ends. The UK currently [...]
TODAY: Boris Johnson to unveil largest military spending increase in decades November 19, 2020 Boris Johnson will today announce he is tripling a planned increase of the country’s military budget in what will be the largest defence investment in decades. The government will spend an extra £16.5bn on the UK’s military over the next four years, which will take the total increase over this time period to about £24.1bn. [...]
The British government must take a stand for freedom and democracy in Hong Kong November 19, 2020 The Chinese government’s disdain for what it calls “western values” is well-known. The one-party state has been ruled by the Chinese Communist Party for decades, and its litany of human rights abuses is long — and, sadly, growing. One of the few outposts of democracy has been in Hong Kong. But no more. Last week’s [...]
British PM defends COVID-19 procurement after “chumocracy” accusations November 18, 2020 By Michael Holden LONDON (Reuters) – British Prime Minister Boris Johnson defended his government’s handling of the procurement of protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic on Wednesday, after a spending watchdog said suppliers with political links had been fast-tracked. The National Audit Office (NAO) said there had been a lack of transparency and a failure [...]