UK immigration hits record levels despite labour shortages March 8, 2023 Immigration to the UK has hit record levels, despite labour shortages in key sectors, amid a fresh wave of public positivity towards arrivals. In the year ending in June 2022, long-term immigration into the UK was around 1.1m, up by 435,000 on the previous annual figure. Employment-related migration fell in vital sectors such as hospitality [...]
RMT urged to cancel next week’s walkouts after Network Rail action suspended March 8, 2023 Rail union bosses have been urged to cancel next week’s walkouts at train companies after suspending planned industrial action at Network Rail. The Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents operators, called on the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) to “meet us for urgent talks”. The RMT has been engaged in national rail strikes in [...]
Migrants arriving on small boats to be detained and removed ‘within weeks’, government says March 7, 2023 Migrants arriving in the UK on small boats from across the Channel will be detained and removed “within weeks”, under stringent new laws set out by the government. Home secretary Suella Braverman unveiled the Illegal Migration Bill in Parliament today, telling MPs there had been a 500 per cent increase in the dangerous journeys in [...]
Almost all London councils set to raise taxes as funding situation becomes ‘unsustainable’ March 7, 2023 More than half of local councils in England are set to make cuts to services while raising council tax by the highest possible amount amid an “unsustainable” funding system. A fifth of London councils say budget cuts will be evident to the public and almost 95 per cent will raise residents’ council tax bills, the [...]
Malware attacks on UK government devices up by 75 per cent, report reveals March 7, 2023 Malware attacks on UK government ‘internet of things’ devices have risen by 75 per cent, a new report has revealed. Attempted attacks on the so-called internet of things (IoT) devices used by UK government facilities and departments jumped from 38,334 in 2021 to 67,324 in 2022, according to a report by US cybersecurity company Sonicwall. [...]
Labour tells Jeremy Hunt to ‘get a move on’ with Solvency II reforms March 7, 2023 Labour has hit out at the government over delays to overhauling EU-era Solvency II rules demanding that it needs to “get a move on”. Shadow city minister Tulip Siddiq called on Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to reform the rules – which govern the sums of money insurers must hold on their balance sheets to protect themselves [...]
Sir Graham Brady: 1922 Committee chair to step down as MP at next election March 7, 2023 Sir Graham Brady is stepping down as an MP at the next general election, he has said. The MP for Altrincham and Sale West has sat in the House of Commons (HoC) since 1997. He has been chairman of the Conservative Party’S 1922 Committee of backbench MPs since 2010, apart from a spell in 2019. [...]
Labour backs 25 per cent corporation tax rate amid calls to scrap rise ahead of budget March 6, 2023 Labour will back the government’s bod to keep the planned corporation tax rise to 25 per cent amid “siren calls” to scrap the move ahead of the budget. It comes as the shadow chancellor is set to say Britain must be in “lockstep” with the G7 and work to “incentivise investment”, at the announcement of [...]
Labour’s business charm offensive is an attempt to right the ship March 6, 2023 As Labour headed further left under Corbyn, business ran scared from the party fearing higher taxes and heavy-handed nationalisation – all roundly rejected by voters. But Starmer has steered the ship around and is leading a business charm offensive. His efforts to win over big business have been branded the ‘Prawn Cocktail Offensive 2.0’ in [...]
Sadiq Khan urges government to commit to making all public bodies a ‘safe haven for women’ March 6, 2023 Sadiq Khan is urging the government to back his call for a review of “women-friendly” workplace policies ahead of International Women’s Day. The mayor of London is calling for public bodies to commit to supporting female workers with domestic abuse, gynaecological pain, leadership development, and the menopause. He has written to work and pensions secretary [...]