More rail strikes coming: Aslef accuses LNER of ‘bullying’ and breaking agreements August 16, 2024 The Aslef train drivers union has called for industrial action every weekend until November, citing a “breakdown” in relations with the LNER train company. In an announcement this morning, the leader of the union said the company’s “continued failure” to sort out long-standing issues had “forced us into this position.” Drivers on the east coast [...]
Tata Steel: Ministers pledge £13.5m to protect jobs as ‘all options on the table’ August 15, 2024 The government has pledged £13.5m to help workers amid Tata Steel job losses, as a minister vowed “all options are on the table”. Funding will go to supporting supply chain businesses and workers affected by job losses in connection with the Indian-owned manufacturer changing its production systems. Tata is switching to a greener form of [...]
Workers rights: Ministers meet unions but warned on ‘unintended consequences’ of reform August 15, 2024 Unions and employers have met with the government to discuss new plans for workers rights but it comes as ministers are warned against “unintended consequences” of reforms. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and business secretary Jonathan Reynolds met unions and businesses on Wednesday to kick-start Labour’s work on employment rights. Rayner hailed the meeting as [...]
Do long prison sentences work? Economics has the answer August 15, 2024 Sentences deter different groups in different ways - and behavioural economics shows how, says Paul Ormerod
Therese Coffey: Former Tory deputy PM applied for Labour Treasury job August 14, 2024 Former Conservative deputy prime minister Therese Coffey reportedly applied for a senior role in the Treasury under Labour. The ex-MP – who lost her Suffolk Coastal seat at the general election among some 200 Tories who failed to secure re-election – put herself forward for the role of UK director at the European Bank for [...]
‘Untenable’ that average Conservative voter is 63 years old, Mel Stride admits August 14, 2024 The average Conservative voter being 63 years old is “completely untenable,” leadership hopeful Mel Stride has admitted. The shadow work and pensions secretary was asked by Times Radio about a poll which showed three in five people in the UK do not care who the next Conservative leader is. He told the broadcaster: “The way [...]
UK inflation comes in below expectations in July August 14, 2024 UK inflation jumped back above the Bank of England’s two per cent target in July, but came in below City estimates for the period. According to figures released this morning by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), prices rose 2.2 per cent in July. Meanwhile, core inflation, or price rises excluding volatile food and energy [...]
Balfour Beatty bullish on UK infrastructure outlook as profit hits £98m August 14, 2024 Investors were concerened after Chancellor Rachel Reeves unveiled plans to axe a string of UK infrastructure projects last month.
A burden or a blessing? PFIs look set for a return under Labour August 13, 2024 Reports that Rachel Reeves is mooting the use of private finance to fund the £9bn Lower Thames Crossing has fuelled chatter that Private Finance Initiatives could be set for a return.
Tory leadership race: Who is standing to be leader of the Conservative Party? August 13, 2024 Following Labour’s election victory on July 4, Rishi Sunak announced he would be standing down as leader of the Conservative Party. So, the race is on to find out who the next leader of the opposition will be, chosen by Tory MPs and party members. We’ve rounded up all the contenders, who will be whittled [...]