UK ‘flying blind’ on soaring levels of fraud which has quadrupled since pandemic September 8, 2023 The government is “flying blind” on its exposure to fraud, which has quadrupled since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, MPs have said. The cross-party Public Accounts Committee (PAC) also said that while most of the £21bn of taxpayers’ money lost to fraud during the pandemic is unlikely to be recovered, the government should be [...]
Chris Pincher: Former Tory whip resigns as MP triggering third by-election for Sunak September 7, 2023 Conservative MP Chris Pincher has resigned as an MP triggering a third by-election for Rishi Sunak’s government to fight. The Tory MP and former deputy chief whip announced his resignation this morning after he lost his appeal against an eight-week suspension from Parliament over groping allegations. In a statement he said: “I have said already [...]
MPs criticise government for ‘dragging feet’ over Economic Crime Bill September 5, 2023 MPs have criticised the government for “dragging its feet” over the Economic Crime Bill, after a string of measures aiming to toughen up dirty money protections were voted against or watered down. Peers had passed a series of amendments to the legislation aimed at fighting back against economic crime, fraud and illicit wealth prior to [...]
UK solar projects risk being ‘tainted’ by Uyghur forced labour, government told September 5, 2023 UK solar energy projects could be at risk of being “tainted” by forced Uyghur labour due to large-scale human rights abuses taking place in China, the government has been warned. Foreign Affairs Select Committee chair Alicia Kearns has tabled an amendment to the Energy Bill – which MPs are set to debate today – calling [...]
Darren Jones: Keir Starmer moves rising star to Labour’s shadow treasury team September 4, 2023 Labour MP Darren Jones has been appointed shadow chief secretary to the treasury, in Sir Keir Starmer’s reshuffle of his top team. Jones made headlines and viral TikToks as he clashed with Royal Mail, Amazon and P&O bosses in his role as business and trade select committee (BTC) chairman. He will now serve alongside shadow [...]
Gavin Williamson told to apologise for bullying Chief Whip over Queen’s funeral tickets September 4, 2023 Sir Gavin Williamson should apologise to MPs for bullying a Conservative colleague after he was not allocated tickets to the late Queen’s funeral, Parliament’s watchdog has said. He was forced to quit as a Cabinet Office minister just days into Rishi Sunak’s premiership last year over a series of expletive-laden messages to former chief whip [...]
Tory MP Chris Pincher loses appeal against two-month suspension September 4, 2023 Former Tory whip Chris Pincher has lost his appeal against an eight-week suspension from the House of Commons following allegations he drunkenly groped two men last year. The incidents allegedly occurred at London’s exclusive Carlton Club in 2022. His suspension exceeds the 10-day threshold that would trigger a recall petition in his Tamworth seat, which [...]
What to expect from our MPs before the end of the year September 4, 2023 The long weeks of parliamentary recess for MPs have finally drawn to a close. Next year's election campaign has already begun.
MPs criticise government’s unclear China strategy amid James Cleverly visit August 29, 2023 MPs have criticised the government for having an unclear strategy around its relationship with China, amid a high-profile visit by the foreign secretary James Cleverly. A parliamentary committee cited “confusion” and “failure to explain policy” on China, following a government announcement of the ‘Indo-Pacific Tilt’ as part of the integrated defence review. The report by [...]
Rishi Sunak breached MPs’ code of conduct by not declaring wife Akshata Murty’s shares August 24, 2023 Rishi Sunak broke the MPs’ code of conduct by failing to correctly declare his wife’s shares in a childminding company, the Commons’ standards commissioner has said. Daniel Greenberg concluded the breach arose out of the prime minister’s “confusion” around the rules on declaration, and decided to close the inquiry without the need for further action. [...]