GCHQ: MI5 to appoint first female spy chief in its 100-year history April 11, 2023 A woman will become the boss of GCHQ for the first time in its more than 100-year history when the current director steps down next month. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly announced that Anne Keast-Butler has been appointed to succeed Sir Jeremy Fleming as head of the government’s intelligence organisation. Keast-Butler, currently MI5’s deputy director-general, will [...]
UK standalone 5G rollout to be finished by 2030, ministers pledge April 11, 2023 Ministers are set to invest millions in boosting the UK’s connectivity via a nationwide rollout of 5G. All populated areas of the country will be covered by ‘standalone’ 5G – also called ‘5G-plus’, which is not reliant on existing 4G technology – by 2030, the government has pledged. Technology secretary Michelle Donelan today unveiled a [...]
Four-day junior doctor strike could impact ‘patient safety’ April 8, 2023 Up to a quarter of a million appointments and operations could be postponed due to four days of strikes by junior doctors, the NHS Confederation has warned, amid fears over patient safety. Dr Layla McCay, director of policy at the confederation, said health bosses were more concerned about the impact of the latest walkout – [...]
Thornberry defends Labour attack ad on Sunak April 8, 2023 Labour frontbencher Emily Thornberry has defended a party attack ad claiming Rishi Sunak does not think child sex abusers should go to prison. The shadow attorney general acknowledged there has been a lot of criticism, including that the social media message is “racist”, but she said the critics are “wrong”. Figures on Labour’s left have [...]
Labour steps up attack on Tories ahead of May elections April 8, 2023 Tens of thousands of offenders convicted of serious crimes have been spared jail since the Tories took office, with Labour claiming Rishi Sunak’s party is “on the side of criminals”. The figures highlighted by Labour show community punishments or suspended sentences handed to more than 16,500 adults convicted of child pornography offences and 130 cases [...]
SNP facing biggest crisis in 50 years, says president April 8, 2023 A senior figure in the SNP has said the party faces its biggest crisis in 50 years amid the police investigation into its finances. Mike Russell, the Scottish National Party (SNP) president and a former minister, also said he does not think independence can be achieved “right now”. On Wednesday, former chief executive Peter Murrell [...]
Betting firms face new tax to fund gambling addiction support, leaked report says April 6, 2023 Betting firms may have to pay a new tax to fund support for gambling addicts, according to leaked details of the government’s upcoming gambling white paper. The exact rate has not been specified, but according to a report in The Sun, which published leaked details of the white paper late last night, said it could [...]
Labour secures 40 point lead over Conservatives in London, new poll shows April 6, 2023 Labour are now seeing a 40 point lead over the Conservatives in London, YouGov pollsters have found. It’s the largest Labour lead in London since YouGov tracking began in 2010, the polling firm says. Sir Keir Starmer’s party continues to exert political dominance in the capital, with 58 per cent of the vote share, leaving [...]
Adnams Brewery in discussions about leaving under-fire CBI April 6, 2023 Adnams Brewery is in discussions about leaving the under-fire Confederation of British Industry (CBI) after a string of sexual misconduct allegations broke. Chief executive Andy Wood told BBC Radio 4 his firm were holding conversations about withdrawing from the trade body. It follows a host of corporate members, including EY and Rolls Royce, who pay [...]
‘Had enough of experts?’ Record level of Brits now want them in charge April 6, 2023 Record levels of Britons now want experts to run the country, a global democracy survey has found. Almost two thirds of the British public – 61 per cent – in 2022, said having experts, not politicians, make decisions according to what they think best, was a good way of governing. The finding comes six years [...]