Westminster’s alleged spy for China says he is ‘completely innocent’ September 11, 2023 The parliamentary researcher arrested on suspicion of being a spy for China has insisted he is “completely innocent”. The man said he had spent his career highlighting the “challenge and threats presented by the Chinese Communist Party”. The arrest under the Official Secrets Act led to the Prime Minister confronting Chinese premier Li Qiang at [...]
UK ‘flying blind’ on soaring levels of fraud which has quadrupled since pandemic September 8, 2023 The government is “flying blind” on its exposure to fraud, which has quadrupled since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, MPs have said. The cross-party Public Accounts Committee (PAC) also said that while most of the £21bn of taxpayers’ money lost to fraud during the pandemic is unlikely to be recovered, the government should be [...]
‘India’s son-in-law’: Sunak’s headache projecting Britain abroad while problems mount at home September 8, 2023 It’s the age-old headache for prime ministers, and Rishi Sunak is no different. Overseas trips – full of opportunities to appear statesmanlike, gladhand other world leaders, and represent Britain on the global stage – always seem to come at the worst possible time. At the G7 in Japan earlier this year – possibly jetlagged and [...]
Rishi Sunak at G20 in India with hopes for post Brexit trade deal talks September 8, 2023 Rishi Sunak is set to land in New Delhi for the G20 summit in what No10 called a “historic moment”, amid trade deal negotiations to land an agreement with India. The prime minister, travelling with his wife Akshata Murty, will meet Indian prime minister Narendra Modi for bilateral talks. And officials have not ruled out [...]
UK firms in the dark over regulatory ‘avalanche’ for EU trade, report warns September 7, 2023 Most businesses are in the dark about a looming “avalanche” of changes in EU/UK trade regulations, an industry group is warning.
Labour boosts election war chest raising £7.5m from business charm offensive September 7, 2023 Labour has enjoyed a boost to its books from top business leaders as accounts revealed the party took almost £7.5m in donations during the second quarter of 2023. Sir Keir Starmer’s party accumulated £10,435,900.07 between April and June this year, according to figures released today by the Electoral Commission, which keeps track of political parties’ [...]
Chris Pincher: Former Tory whip resigns as MP triggering third by-election for Sunak September 7, 2023 Conservative MP Chris Pincher has resigned as an MP triggering a third by-election for Rishi Sunak’s government to fight. The Tory MP and former deputy chief whip announced his resignation this morning after he lost his appeal against an eight-week suspension from Parliament over groping allegations. In a statement he said: “I have said already [...]
Online Safety Bill: Tech bosses slam fresh government statement September 7, 2023 The UK government has denied its stance on the controversial Online Safety Bill has changed despite admitting that the technology to access messages without compromising user privacy does not currently exist. The bill has come under intense scrutiny from tech companies as it seeks to override encryption to scan online messages sent in the UK [...]
Rachel Reeves preferred to Jeremy Hunt for Chancellor by voters, poll finds September 6, 2023 Pollsters found 21 per cent of the public opted for Reeves, versus just 14 per cent for the former health secretary.
MPs criticise government for ‘dragging feet’ over Economic Crime Bill September 5, 2023 MPs have criticised the government for “dragging its feet” over the Economic Crime Bill, after a string of measures aiming to toughen up dirty money protections were voted against or watered down. Peers had passed a series of amendments to the legislation aimed at fighting back against economic crime, fraud and illicit wealth prior to [...]