Union to ballot 150,000 civil servants on plans for public sector strike September 26, 2022 The public sector workers’ union is set to ballot more than 150,000 civil servants on plans to strike over pay and working conditions. The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) said it is urging its members in 214 government departments to vote in favour of taking industrial action, after the UK government set out plans [...]
Attention turns to Starmer as Labour conference kicks off tomorrow September 24, 2022 Attention has turned to Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer as the party’s annual conference kicks off tomorrow. Taking place in Liverpool from Sunday until Wednesday, the conference will provide an opportunity for Starmer to assert himself as the next prime minister. Supporters hope Starmer will use the meeting to mark the stark divide between his [...]
Treasury denies allegations of gambling with economy as pound falls below $1.10 September 24, 2022 The Treasury has denied allegations of gambling with the UK’s economy as the pound fell below $1.10 for the first time in almost 40 years following yesterday’s mini-budget. Paul Johnson, director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, said Britain will go on an “unsustainable path” of borrowing following the reforms – the most radical in [...]
Kwarteng ditches corporation tax hike in bid to lure investment September 23, 2022 Kwasi Kwarteng has scrapped the formerly announced six percentage point hike in corporation tax - keeping the rate at 19 per cent.
UK’s new housing minister vows to crack down on ‘immoral’ insurance deals September 22, 2022 The UK’s new housing minister has vowed to crack down on “immoral” practices in the insurance sector that “drive up prices for consumers,” after tower block leaseholders were hit with surging premiums in the wake of the Grenfell tower disaster. In a comment piece in The Telegraph, Housing secretary Simon Clarke said his department [...]
UK government to open negotiations with striking barristers following ‘constructive’ meeting September 21, 2022 The Criminal Bar Association (CBA) has said it will call off a demonstration, planned for this Thursday, following an introductory meeting with the UK’s new justice secretary Brandon Lewis. In a joint statement, the CBA and Bar Council said the introductory meeting had been “constructive” as the barrsiters’ trade bodies said “detailed conversations now will [...]
London businesses still not sure what ‘Levelling Up’ means, new survey shows September 20, 2022 London businesses are still unclear on the details of what the UK government’s ‘Levelling Up’ agenda actually entails, according to new research from the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI). First set out in the Conservative Party manifesto in 2019, the Levelling Up policy aims to reduce disparities between regions and social groups inside [...]
Trade unions launch legal challenge against UK government’s ‘strikebreaking’ law September 20, 2022 Eleven trade unions, including RMT, Unite and GMB, are seeking permission for a judicial review to overturn the UK government’s strikebreaking law, which lets firms bring in temporary staff to replace striking workers. The trade unions are seeking permission for a judicial review in arguing the law breaches Article 11 of the European Convention of [...]
China blocked from attending Queen Elizabeth II’s lying in state September 16, 2022 A Chinese government delegation has been blocked from attending Queen Elizabeth II’s lying in state. House of Commons speaker Lindsey Hoyle has refused a request for Chinese officials to be allowed access to Westminster Hall, where Queen Elizabeth II will lie in state until her funeral on Monday, Politico first reported. The refusal comes after [...]
BBC urged to cancel Bain & Co contract following UK government ban September 12, 2022 The BBC has said it will “consider” calls for it to cancel its contract with Bain & Co, following the UK’s government’s decision to ban the consultancy from competing for government contracts. The broadcaster said it will consider calls from veteran anti-apartheid campaigner Lord Hain for the BBC to cancel its contract with Bain over allegations [...]