Is the UK about to tick one of its ‘Asia tilt’ boxes by joining CPTPP Indo-Pacific trade bloc this week? March 29, 2023 The UK is set to join the key CPTPP Indo-Pacific trade bloc later this week, according to reports. Negotiations have been ongoing to secure Britain’s entry into the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) since early 2021. And sources have now said the UK’s entry into the pact is “agreed” and “confirmed”, according [...]
Plans to house asylum seekers in military bases and barges as government pushes ahead to ‘discourage’ small boat crossings March 29, 2023 Asylum seekers will be housed in disused military bases, ferries and barges under government plans to reduce spending on hotels. Immigration minister Robert Jenrick is expected to announce the use of two RAF sites as he tries to reduce the £6.8m a day the government says it spends on hotel accommodation. The plans are likely [...]
Superloop or ‘Superflop’? Khan unveils £6m bus network connecting outer London ahead of ULEZ expansion March 28, 2023 Sadiq Khan has unveiled plans for a new “Superloop” orbital bus network linking services around outer London. Express bus routes on the network will have limited stops, faster journey times and connect outer London, City Hall says. The mayor of London is funding £6m towards the scheme, but TfL says it will cost much more. [...]
Analysis: SNP emerges weaker than ever after Yousaf’s victory March 27, 2023 Rivals scrapped bitterly over their records and castigated each other’s positions, as they fought to take up a dying cause. This isn’t about the new series of Succession, but another bruising round of political infighting and power plays in the Scottish National Party. Humza Yousaf’s election as the UK’s first Muslim leader of a (for [...]
Unions slam government’s ‘appalling decision’ to award freeport contract to firm behind P&O Ferries sackings March 27, 2023 Trade unions have hit out at the UK government over its decision to let the company that owns P&O Ferries run the new Thames Freeport development – after the Dubai-owned shipping company “chose” to break the law by firing nearly 800 staff last year. TUC general secretary Paul Nowak slammed the government’s “appalling decision” to [...]
SNP leadership race: Humza Yousaf wins battle to succeed Nicola Sturgeon March 27, 2023 Humza Yousaf has been selected as leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) after an acrimonious race to succeed Nicola Sturgeon as first minister. Yousaf, the SNP’s health secretary, 37, won against rival Kate Forbes, 32, in the second round of voting, after no candidate reached a majority in the first round. He secured 26,032 [...]
FTSE firms writing ‘ethical codes’ in droves – but few actually using them, report finds March 27, 2023 More FTSE firms than ever before have codes of ethics in place but few are using them to guide day-to-day decision making, a new corporate non-profit report has warned. Research by the Institute of Business Ethics (IBE) found 88 per cent of FTSE 100 companies have now adopted a code of ethics, City A.M. can [...]
‘Tragedy’ if John Lewis ownership changes, says ex-boss March 26, 2023 John Lewis changing its ownership model would be “a tragedy”, a former top boss has said. Reports last week suggested the retailer is considering ending its fully staff-owned structure, with the partnership’s chairwoman, Sharon White, exploring plans to sell a minority stake. West Midlands mayor Andy Street, John Lewis managing director until 2016, acknowledged the [...]
Ahead of tomorrow’s result, all SNP leadership hopefuls have net negative ratings March 26, 2023 All three SNP leadership candidates have an overall negative favourability rating, according to recent polling, as the party prepares to announce Nicola Sturgeon’s successor tomorrow. Neither Humza Yousaf, Kate Forbes or Ash Regan have a net positive rating among the Scottish public, researchers at Ipsos found in a snap poll held between March 17 and [...]
MPs should ‘put public service first’ after second jobs sting, Michael Gove says March 26, 2023 Levelling-up secretary Michael Gove said today that MPs must “put public service first” after undercover reporting revealed a handful of MPs were willing to provide advice to a foreign company in return for sizeable fees. Politicians Matt Hancock and Kwasi Kwarteng were left red-faced after anti-Brexit campaign group Led By Donkeys released footage of them [...]