‘Expensive triple lock’ needs to be reformed to get UK finances in order, OECD says September 16, 2024 "The current fiscal trajectory is unsustainable in the long term," the Paris-based organisation said.
‘Open for business’: Ministers head to Gulf states in bid to boost UK trade links September 16, 2024 Senior ministers are heading to the Gulf states for talks on boosting the UK’s economy via expanding trade links with the region and attracting international investment. Business secretary Jonathan Reynolds and trade minister Douglas Alexander are flying to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on their first joint international visit since the election, with Alexander then set to [...]
UK will become less attractive for firms if workers’ rights reforms are passed, CBI survey finds September 15, 2024 The UK is likely to become a less attractive place to do business in the coming years if Labour’s workers’ rights reforms are implemented in their current form, a new survey has suggested. Some 62 per cent of respondents to a survey by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) survey and recruiters Pertemps said they [...]
Donated clothes helped Starmer’s ‘look their best’, Lammy claims September 15, 2024 Donated clothes given to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria were to help them “look their best” to represent the UK, David Lammy has argued. Speaking to the BBC, the foreign secretary said in countries like the US, leaders “have a huge budget paid for by the taxpayer so that they look [...]
Lammy: West won’t be bullied by Putin over Ukraine missile talks September 15, 2024 The West will not be bullied by Vladimir Putin’s threat of all-out war with Nato if Ukraine is given permission to use Western weapons to strike inside Russia, David Lammy has said. The foreign secretary said talks were continuing with the US and allies about giving Kyiv permission to use UK-supplied Storm Shadow missiles to [...]
Government accused of trying to hide ‘horrific’ impact of winter fuel squeeze September 14, 2024 Sir Keir Starmer’s government faced accusations of trying to hide from the “horrific” impact of the decision to strip winter fuel payments from millions of pensioners. More than 80 per cent of people aged 80 and over will lose out, as will more than 70 per cent of pensioners. Even among those who should still [...]
Lib Dems push for changes to Commons rules to boost their influence September 14, 2024 The Liberal Democrats will push for changes to Parliament’s procedures to give them more influence as the third biggest party. Lib Dem chief whip Wendy Chamberlain questioned the fairness of the current rules, which give a “special platform” to the Tories as the largest opposition party. The Conservatives have 121 MPs while the Liberal Democrats [...]
Plans for UK’s first coal mine in 30 years quashed by High Court September 13, 2024 The decision to grant planning permission for what would have been the UK’s first coal mine in 30 years at Whitehaven in Cumbria has been quashed by a High Court judge. The Government first granted permission for the new coal mine in December 2022. Then-levelling up secretary Michael Gove greenlit the Whitehaven mine, in line [...]
Analysts see ‘path to approval’ for Vodafone and Three deal September 13, 2024 Although Britain’s competition watchdog has raised fresh concerns over the proposed £15bn tie-up between Vodafone and Three’s UK operations, analysts have suggested the findings of the latest probe are more positive than expected. In its provisional findings, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) flagged potential price increases for millions of mobile customers and warned of [...]
National Grid agrees sale of Electricity System Operator to government September 13, 2024 National Grid has struck a deal to sell its Electricity System Operator (ESO) to the government for £630m, paving the way for the division to transition into public ownership. The FTSE 100 utility said on Friday that it expected the transaction to be completed on 1 October, when the government and regulator Ofgem aim to [...]