Minister: Reports that Matt Hancock kept PM in the dark over vaccine success ‘are wrong’ June 20, 2021 Reports that Matt Hancock withheld information from Boris Johnson about the success of vaccines against the Delta variant are incorrect, according to justice secretary Robert Buckland. Johnson and three senior ministers – Hancock, Rishi Sunak and Michael Gove – met last Sunday before making a decision the next day to delay the next step of [...]
Tensions rise between Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak behind closed doors over spending June 20, 2021 Tensions are reportedly increasing between Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak over the Prime Minister’s myriad of recent spending promises. Two recent major spending announcements – of a new Royal Yacht and a new G7 green infrastructure programme for developing countries – were reportedly announced by Johnson without even consulting Sunak or the Treasury. The green [...]
DUP leader Edwin Poots facing potential no confidence vote June 17, 2021 Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Edwin Poots is facing an insurrection from his party that may see him face a vote of no confidence as early as today. Multiple media outlets are reporting that the party’s officers will tell Poots today that they no longer have confidence in him. Poots, who was elected DUP leader [...]
UK businesses pay £1bn of furlough money back to the Treasury June 17, 2021 British firms have paid back the government more than £1bn in previously claimed furlough payments, after weathering the Covid recession successfully. A Freedom of Information request, sent by the Financial Times, revealed that £709m of money claimed through the coronavirus job retention scheme has now been repaid to HM Revenue and Customs by businesses. Another [...]
Voters go to the polls in ‘neck and neck’ Chesham and Amersham by-election June 17, 2021 Voters will go to the polls today for the Chesham and Amersham by-election, with the Liberal Democrats aiming to secure an upset victory. City A.M. first revealed on Tuesday that internal polling by the Lib Dems had the party just four points behind the Tories, who have held the constituency since it was formed in [...]
UK and US agree to end long running Airbus-Boeing trade dispute June 17, 2021 The UK and US have agreed to a truce over the 17-year Airbus-Boeing trade dispute, with both sides set to suspend tariffs for five years. International trade secretary Liz Truss and US trade representative Katherine Tai agreed to create a new working group to consult on subsidies given to the aviation sector and non-market practices [...]
Exclusive: Labour MPs have backroom row over by-election candidate doing Sun interview June 16, 2021 A group of Labour MPs have hit out at the party’s candidate in a crucial by-election for doing an interview with The Sun, claiming the piece will cost Labour the constituency. Kim Leadbeater, the sister of murdered Labour MP Jo Cox, recently did an interview with The Sun in the lead-up to the Batley and [...]
Government traffic light travel policy attacked from all sides June 16, 2021 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has stepped up his attacks on the government’s traffic light system, calling for more stringent travel restrictions and an end to the amber list. The government is also facing attacks on its border policy from right-wingers and moderates alike in the Tory party who want to see more lax travel [...]
Downing Street denies reports that working from home is here to stay June 16, 2021 Downing Street has denied reports that working from home will be encouraged even after the next round of restrictions are eased next month, saying that no decisions had been made yet. Politico reported today that ministers will advise people to still work from home where possible in the long run under plans being drawn up [...]
England commercial eviction ban extended until March 2022 June 16, 2021 The government has extended the commercial eviction ban until March 2022 in the wake of Monday’s decision to push back so-called freedom day to 19 July. The news, delivered in the House of Commons today by chief secretary of the Treasury Steve Barclay, will offer business some breathing space in light of Covid restrictions continuing [...]
