Government stuck in public services ‘doom loop’, top think tank warns October 30, 2023 The government is stuck in a “doom loop” with the UK’s public services “in a dire state”, a top think tank has warned. An annual report on UK public services has forecast that almost all services, other than child social care, could perform worse in 2027-2028 when compared to pre-pandemic levels. This is due to [...]
NHS data will be safe with Palantir, boss pledges amid £500m contract bid October 29, 2023 Chief executive and co-founder of the US tech giant Alex Karp told the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg the firm would have no access to the information for its own purposes.
Five pledges: How is Rishi Sunak doing after one year in No10? October 25, 2023 Just 12 months ago today, Rishi Sunak made history. Entering No10, on 25 October, 2022, he became the UK’s first British Asian and Hindu Prime Minister – and took over from his record-breaking predecessor after just 49 days. Since then, he’s lost five by-elections; visited Ukraine, the US and Israel, and seen his personal poll [...]
Lib Dems chase ‘blue wall’ voters by scrapping plan to raise income tax by 1p September 25, 2023 The Liberal Democrats have dropped their plans to raise income tax by 1p in a bid to woo Conservative voters in so-called blue wall seats during the cost of living crisis. Leader Sir Ed Davey told the BBC he ruled out tax rises even on the wealthiest as his party seeks to target former Tories [...]
Britain goes private: Record use of paid-for healthcare amid NHS chaos September 13, 2023 The expansion came mainly from insured plans, around 80 per cent of which are company-paid. Insured treatments climbed to 156,000 in the quarter, up from 149,000 at the end of last year.
UK sanctions Russia cyber gang that targeted hospitals during Covid September 7, 2023 UK sanctions have been announced against 11 members of a Russian cybercrime gang behind the hacking of hospitals during the coronavirus pandemic. Britain and the United States acted together to slap the Russian nationals with asset freezes and travel bans, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said on Thursday. The so-called TrickBot Group is [...]
How is Sunak doing on halving inflation, cutting NHS lists and stopping boats? August 16, 2023 In January, Rishi Sunak unveiled the vision for his government. Five pledges; five clear goals; five ambitions for his ministers. His aim was clear: be seen as an effective, solutions-focused administration and, hopefully, reap the electoral rewards. “No tricks, no ambiguity; we’re either delivering for you or we’re not,” he vowed. Eight months in, and [...]
‘Quit smoking’ message could be put inside cigarette packs August 14, 2023 ‘Quit smoking’ messages could be added to the inside of cigarette packs under draft proposals being considered by the government. The inserts would set out the health and financial benefits of giving up and signpost advice and support available to those trying to quit smoking, the Department of Health (DHSC) said. A consultation launched on [...]
Tribunal upholds £84m CMA fine for firm that hiked drug prices August 8, 2023 The companies behind a drug whose price was hiked from £20 to £248 per pack in just eight years will be fined a combined £84 million after a tribunal upheld the competition watchdog’s decision. The Competition Appeal Tribunal on Tuesday had endorsed “all the main elements” of the Competition and Markets Authority’s decision, the CMA [...]
Sunak accepts six per cent public sector pay rises but warns it ‘will cost all of you as taxpayers’ July 13, 2023 Government has accepted recommendations for millions of public sector workers to receive pay rises of six per cent or more, Rishi Sunak has announced. The prime minister said today reports from independent pay bodies calling for public sector pay rises of between five and 6.5 per cent for millions of medics, teachers and civil servants [...]