Watchdog extends investigation into PM’s declaration of interests April 24, 2023 Parliament’s standards watchdog has expanded the investigation into Rishi Sunak’s potential breach of the rules on declaring financial interests. The Prime Minister is also being investigated over whether he broke the MPs’ code of conduct relating to disclosing details surrounding active inquiries, it emerged on Monday. Standards commissioner Daniel Greenberg opened the inquiry following concerns [...]
Sunak pledges £100m ‘world leader’ AI boost as firms wooed at business summit April 24, 2023 Prime minister Rishi Sunak has insisted his government is undertaking “the most transformative changes to financial services regulations since the Big Bang”. Sunak insisted the Financial Services and Markets Bill was a “very significant piece of legislation”. He pledged that once the law was implemented, Solvency II reforms would “unlock tens of billions of pounds [...]
Hunt for Britain’s next top lobby begins as CBI crumbles under scandal April 24, 2023 The hunt for the heir to the CBI’s throne has begun as industry chiefs begin casting around for Britain’s next top business lobby organisation. It comes as the “hopefully temporary” stand-in group BizUK emerged this weekend, in a bid to help steer political parties’ approach to industry ahead of the general election. City grandees suggested [...]
Civil service could see ‘politicisation’ in wake of Raab row April 23, 2023 The government’s civil service advisor is considering plans to increase the “politicisation” of Whitehall, in the wake of Dominic Raab’s resignation following a report into bullying claims. Writing in the Observer, Tory peer and ex-Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude said the government should be “more robust and less mealy mouthed about ‘politicisation’”. Maude, who is [...]
UK borrowing tipped to have jumped to £23bn in March but Hunt and Sunak are on course to hit OBR forecasts April 23, 2023 Britain is tipped to have borrowed nearly £23bn last month to help pay for capping energy bills at £2,500, according to City analysts’ consensus forecast. Fresh numbers out from the Office for National Statistics on Tuesday are expected to show the gap between what the government generates in revenue from taxes and spends on public [...]
After Raab resigns with scathing letter Sunak brings in two allies Chalk and Dowden April 21, 2023 Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has promoted two close allies to replace the departing Dominic Raab. Alex Chalk is the new Justice Secretary and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Oliver Dowden will take over the role of Deputy Prime Minister. Mr Raab resigned from his dual roles after an inquiry found he acted in an [...]
Dominic Raab resigns from the government in wake of bullying report April 21, 2023 Dominic Raab has quit Rishi Sunak’s Cabinet following the conclusion of an inquiry into bullying allegations. He resigned after the PM received the report from senior lawyer Adam Tolley KC’s investigation on Thursday and had been considering the findings since. There was speculation as to when the Prime Minister would respond formally to the report, [...]
Sunak accused of ‘dither’ on decision to sack deputy PM Raab over bullying report April 21, 2023 Dominic Raab is determined to battle on as Rishi Sunak ponders whether to sack the Deputy Prime Minister after receiving a report into whether he bullied officials. After being accused of “dither”, the Prime Minister was taking a second day to determine whether he will kick Mr Raab out of his Cabinet as he reviews [...]
Sunak finally declares childcare agency his wife Akshata Murty holds shares in amid probe April 19, 2023 Rishi Sunak has declared the childcare agency his wife holds shares in as a financial interest as he is investigated over a possible breach of the rules. The delayed list of ministerial interests published on Wednesday contained for the first time a reference to “a number of direct shareholdings” owned by Akshata Murty. The Prime [...]
Business groups ‘welcome’ maths focus to plug ‘skills gap’ April 17, 2023 Business groups say Rishi Sunak’s focus on maths is a “welcome” measure to plug key “skills gaps” as Britain goes for growth, despite concerns over a lack of teachers. The Prime Minister has unveiled plans to transform the UK’s approach to maths education, including an expert advisory group, maths hubs and a new primary teaching [...]