Allies fear Boris Johnson walking into a partygate ‘witch hunt’ – with a comeback at risk March 19, 2023 Former prime minister Boris Johnson could face a “witch hunt” before MPs at a grilling over his involvement in the lockdown-busting partygate scandal, a key ally has warned. Lord Greenhalgh, who was a deputy mayor during Johnson’s tenure at City Hall, said he was “concerned it will be a witch hunt” and hoped he would [...]
SNP boss Peter Murrell – Nicola Sturgeon’s husband – quits amid falling membership row March 19, 2023 SNP boss Peter Murrell has quit the party amid a row over declining membership figures, as the race to succeed first minister Nicola Sturgeon enters its final week. Scottish National Party (SNP) chief executive Peter Murrell resigned this weekend after reports of a threat of a no confidence vote by the National Executive Committee (NEC). [...]
Royal Mail referred to Ofcom after claims boss ‘misled’ MPs over tracking of staff March 17, 2023 MPs have urged regulator Ofcom to launch an enforcement investigation into Royal Mail after claiming they were “misled” by the CEO’s evidence over the tracking of staff in parliament last month. Concerns over digitally tracking productivity, “systemically” failing in its legal duty to deliver letters six days a week and issues of sick pay being [...]
NHS strike action paused as government offers ‘extra £2.5bn’ March 16, 2023 NHS strikes are set to be paused after the government offered up “an extra £2.5bn” to fund a fresh pay deal for healthcare workers. It comes the day after Chancellor Jeremy Hunt faced criticism for failing to announce any measures on public sector pay in his budget, amid widespread industrial unrest. This includes all NHS [...]
‘Wrong priority’: Labour pledges to reintroduce pensions allowance March 16, 2023 Labour says it will reverse the abolition of the lifetime pensions allowance limit, branding the move the “wrong priority”. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced plans to scrap the £1m tax free limit on lifetime savings in pensions in Wednesday’s budget. The move is aimed at keeping Brits – including top NHS staff – in work for [...]
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 [...]