Keir Starmer to ‘look at’ voting rights for EU citizens and 16-17 year olds May 14, 2023 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer will “look at” expanding the franchise to EU citizens living in the UK and lowering the voting age to 16, a party frontbencher has confirmed. Shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds has said the proposals are “something we will look at”, amid reports over Labour being keen to bring in the [...]
Change in state pension age not to be decided until after next general election May 11, 2023 A decision on changing the state pension age won’t come until after the next general election, a top cabinet minister has admitted. Work and pension secretary Mel Stride said the starting age is not likely to go up to 68 until the 2040s and that there is “no reason why you need to take the [...]
Non-compete clauses slashed as ministers begin post-Brexit regulatory changes May 10, 2023 Non-compete clauses will be slashed to three months in a bid to boost competition between employers, ministers announced today, as a key EU ‘sunset’ clause is ditched. It comes as part of a move by the government to scrap its own plans for thousands of EU laws to automatically expire at the end of the [...]
First Big Oil, now the Government feels God’s wrath: Justin Welby slams ‘unacceptable’ small boats bill May 10, 2023 Justin Welby launched a stinging attack on the government’s Illegal Migration Bill, branding it “isolationist, morally unacceptable and politically impractical”. The Archbishop of Canterbury made the withering intervention as the flagship legislation on plans to tackle the small boats crisis faced its first test in the House of Lords. It came just a day after [...]
Wagner Group: UK to put Russia mercenaries on proscribed terror list alongside ISIS May 10, 2023 The UK is set to designate Russia’s mercenary Wagner Group as a proscribed terrorist organisation, it is understood. The Times quoted a government source as saying the move was “imminent” and likely to be enacted within weeks after two months spent building a legal case. Proscription would make it a criminal offence to join Wagner, [...]
Cleverly talks down hopes of US trade deal on Washington trip May 10, 2023 Foreign secretary James Cleverly has talked down hopes of a UK-US trade deal during a visit to Washington DC. Speaking in the US on Tuesday, Cleverly said the government was not “prioritising” a free trade agreement (FTA) but aiming for “real economic coordination” with the superpower. His comments came at a press conference with US [...]
Truss to Taiwan: Former PM to rile Beijing with visit to under-threat island May 9, 2023 Former prime minister Liz Truss is set to continue her comeback tour with a visit to Taiwan. She is expected to deliver a speech there next week amid fears over what the trip could mean for UK-China relations, after foreign secretary James Cleverly warned Britain should not “pull the shutters down” on the Asian superpower. [...]
Met chief says force stopped ‘fake stewards’ throwing paint May 9, 2023 Met Police chief Sir Mark Rowley has defended the force’s policing of the coronation and said officers stopped “extremely dangerous” protesters from causing disruption. Officers have faced heavy criticism after 64 people were arrested over the bank holiday weekend – including six protesters who were members of the anti-monarchy group Republic. The six campaigners were [...]
Charles crowned King at Westminster Abbey as world watches May 6, 2023 The King has been crowned the nation’s monarch and prayed to be a “blessing” to people of “every faith and conviction”. Charles became the 40th reigning sovereign to be crowned at Westminster Abbey, the nation’s coronation church since 1066, as Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby placed St Edward’s Crown on his head. The historic moment, [...]
Former prime ministers gather for King’s coronation May 6, 2023 Seven former prime ministers gathered to attend the coronation, including Liz Truss, whose brief tenure in No 10 included the late Queen’s death and the King’s accession. Ms Truss followed her predecessors Boris Johnson, Theresa May, David Cameron, Gordon Brown, Sir Tony Blair and Sir John Major into Westminster Abbey for the coronation. The UK [...]