Dominic Raab claims staff ‘relish’ ambitious agenda as bullying inquiry continues March 16, 2023 Justice secretary Dominic Raab has said the “overwhelming majority” of his staff “relish” working on his “very ambitious agenda”, as an ongoing inquiry into bullying claims continues. Adam Tolley KC is investigating bullying claims and considering a number of formal complaints made by senior civil servants against Raab, who is also deputy prime minister. Asked [...]
Budget 2023: Jeremy Hunt’s ‘growth’ plan may embrace childcare and over 50s but hike in corporation tax stays March 15, 2023 Chancellor Jeremy Hunt delivered what he claimed was a growth-focused budget centred on childcare reform, pensions and business investment, but the six per cent hike in corporation tax will remain. He unveiled what amounted to a universal childcare policy; abolished the lifetime allowance on tax-free pensions savings; and announced tax breaks for firms investing in [...]
Budget: Jeremy Hunt expected to splash £4bn on childcare expansion March 15, 2023 Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is expected to spend £4bn on childcare expansion for one and two-year-olds in today’s Budget as part of a drive to get Brits into work and boost growth. Ministers are set to provide an extra 30 free hours a week to parents of toddlers and to raise cash for the existing childcare [...]
Everything we know about the Spring Budget 2023 so far March 15, 2023 Tomorrow, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt will stand on the steps of No11 Downing Street – holding the famous Budget 2023 red box. He’ll be the first Chancellor in the political turmoil of recent months to even hold on to the job long enough to reach this crucial point. The spring statement will lay out the government’s [...]
‘Budget for growth’: Chancellor Jeremy Hunt rolls pitch for Spring statement March 14, 2023 Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has said his spring statement will be a “budget for growth” as he prepares to set out key measures to support firms and families with the cost of living crisis. Hunt will make his annual budget statement in the House of Commons on Wednesday. He is expected to focus on efforts to [...]
Business charm offensive: Reeves discusses investment plans at meeting with Lloyds, Aviva, L&G and British Land March 14, 2023 Labour’s business charm offensive is continuing as shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to discuss plans to boost investment. Keir Starmer’s Labour has positioned itself as the ‘party of business’ as it aims to exploit the Conservatives’ reputational hit following the economic chaos of Liz Truss’s calamitous mini-budget. Reeves will discuss plans to boost business [...]
British designed BAE nuclear subs will power up Australian navy as part of AUKUS defence deal March 14, 2023 Australia will operate a new generation of nuclear-powered submarines based on British designs as both countries modernise their armed forces as part of the AUKUS defence deal. The new boats will be in operation in the late 2030s as part of the AUKUS deal – involving Australia, the UK and US. It will follow a [...]
UK to respond with “swift and robust action” to any Chinese aggression March 13, 2023 Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Chinese posturing over Taiwan risk creating a world “defined by danger, disorder and division”, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has warned today. Britain is committed to “swift and robust action” to counter any threat to UK national interests from China, according to an updated blueprint for the UK’s foreign and defence [...]
<strong>SNP leadership ballot opens as Forbes, Yousaf and Regan vie to replace Sturgeon</strong> March 13, 2023 Voting in the SNP leadership election to choose Nicola Sturgeon’s replacement has opened as the race gathers pace. Candidates Kate Forbes, Humza Yousaf and Ash Regan are running to become Scotland’s next first minister, following Sturgeon’s shock resignation last month. Scottish National Party (SNP) members will choose between the finance secretary, health secretary and ex-communities [...]
MI5 spies to help firms counter China tech threats, says Sunak March 13, 2023 China poses the biggest “state-based” threat to Britain’s economic security, prime minister Rishi Sunak has said, as MI5 spies are set to help firms counter tech threats. UK organisations and businesses will receive expert security advice from the new National Protective Security Authority within MI5 to help them counter risks from hackers. It comes as [...]