‘Mistake’ to focus on flu in pandemic preparedness, David Cameron admits June 19, 2023 David Cameron has admitted it was a “mistake” for his government to focus too heavily on preparing for an influenza wave rather than a potential coronavirus pandemic. The former Conservative prime minister told the official Covid-19 inquiry, which is currently examining the UK’s readiness to respond to a disease outbreak, the decision led to “many [...]
‘Painful’: MPs to vote on Boris Johnson report on his birthday June 15, 2023 MPs are set to vote on the Privileges Committee report which found Boris Johnson “deliberately misled” Parliament on the former prime minister’s birthday. A free vote is expected to be held in the House of Commons on Monday (19 June) – the former PM’s 59th birthday. It is also the third anniversary of the illegal [...]
Analysis: The Boris Johnson report and the end of a self-styled Cincinnatus June 15, 2023 Boris Johnson, the man who led us through an unprecedented pandemic, set his own precedent when he misled Parliament over breaking lockdown rules.
Boris Johnson ‘deliberately misled’ Parliament and faced suspension for 90 days, damning report finds June 15, 2023 Former prime minister Boris Johnson “deliberately misled” Parliament and if he were still an MP should be suspended for 90 days, a report from the privileges committee has found. The report says he also deliberately misled the committee itself, “impugned” the committee and was “complicit in the campaign of abuse and attempted intimidation of the [...]
Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group still owes £167m to unsecured creditors following collapse June 14, 2023 Philip Day’s Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group empire is understood to still owe money to unsecured creditors following its collapse almost three years ago. The cluster of retail assets, which included Jaeger, Peacocks, Bonmarché, and Edinburgh Woollen Mill, fell into administration in 2020 after sales declined during the pandemic. However, administrator reports for the brands now [...]
Government price tag for making tax digital has ballooned, report warns June 12, 2023 The credibility of the government’s plans to allow people to file their tax bills digitally has been undermined by repeated delays and a bill that has increased about sixfold, the National Audit Office (NAO) has said. The official auditors said that the final bill is currently expected to be £1.3bn, an increase of more than [...]
Government preparing for legal fight with Covid inquiry (it set up) over Boris Johnson WhatsApp messages June 2, 2023 Ministers are preparing for a high-profile legal battle with the Covid-19 inquiry as the Government seeks to challenge the request for Boris Johnson’s unredacted WhatsApp messages and notebooks. Bereaved families and opposition parties hit out at the Government after the Cabinet Office took the highly unusual step of seeking a judicial review of inquiry chairwoman [...]
Covid inquiry legal battle looms for ministers over Boris Johnson WhatsApp requests May 30, 2023 Ministers could be set for a legal battle with the Covid-19 inquiry over the requested release of unredacted WhatsApp messages and diaries belonging to Boris Johnson. The Cabinet Office has until 4pm on Tuesday to respond to the request from Lady Hallett’s official inquiry. There has so far been little sign that ministers are set [...]
Boris Johnson probed by cops over fresh lockdown breach allegations May 24, 2023 ‘Partygate’ PM Boris Johnson is under police investigation following fresh claims he allegedly breached lockdown rules, it emerged last night. The disgraced ex-prime minister has been reported to the Met Police by the Cabinet Office after new evidence came to light that he may have breached the Covid-19 pandemic rules. Johnson allegedly hosted friends at [...]
Sadiq Khan hosts crunch business talks with City figures May 23, 2023 Sadiq Khan has warned London’s businesses are facing “the most difficult period in living memory” as a result of Brexit, the Covid-19 pandemic and the inflation crisis. The Mayor of London has called for the government to devolve some immigration powers to City Hall as a means of tackling regional labour shortages sparked by the [...]