Rishi Sunak to extend energy bill support for all businesses December 18, 2022 All British businesses are set to benefit from an extension of the government’s energy support package for up to 12 months. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is set to sign-off on the extension, however it is expected that most businesses will be given a smaller discount on their energy bills from April. The Sunday Times reports [...]
Dowden says ‘our door always open’ to striking unions December 18, 2022 A senior minister has insisted that “our door is always open” to union bosses, despite refusing to engage in pay negotiations with striking nurses. Cabinet Office minister Oliver Dowden said today that “we’re always willing to talk” with the Royal College of Nurses (RCN), but that its 19 per cent pay increase demand is “not [...]
Qatar has spent nearly £200,000 on trips for British MPs since 2017 December 15, 2022 British MPs have accepted £190,000 worth of trips from Qatar over the past five years, it has been revealed. Research from the Financial Times showed that 37 MPs accepted paid trips in the lead up to this year’s World Cup as Qatar pursued a European charm offensive. All trips were legal under parliamentary rules and [...]
Hunt considers extending energy support for all businesses past March December 15, 2022 Jeremy Hunt is considering proposals to extend energy support for all businesses past March, instead of targeting a package at “vulnerable” industries. The chancellor may scrap his plan to target certain industries from April due to difficulties in getting information on sector-by-sector energy usage. The Financial Times reports that another universal support package would be [...]
Boris Johnson has made £1m since leaving Number 10 from speaking gigs December 14, 2022 Boris Johnson has already made more than £1m from speaking engagements since leaving Number 10 just three months ago. Johnson made the cash from just four speeches, which included a speaking gig at a CNN event in Portugal and a keynote speech for American boutique investment banking firm Centerview Partners. He received £261,652 from Indian [...]
EU-Qatar corruption scandal: Eva Kaili’s first hearing postponed December 14, 2022 The most high-profile suspect in the EU corruption scandal has had her first court hearing postponed, after being hit with money laundering and corruption charges this week. Eva Kaili’s pre-trial hearing was postponed until 22 December tonight due to striking workers in Belgian courts. It came as MEPs today called for an investigation into whether [...]
Brexit: UK and EU eye Northern Ireland Protocol deal by February December 14, 2022 UK and EU officials are hoping to seal a deal on the post-Brexit Northern Ireland Protocol by February, after more than a year of wrangling. Talks over a deal have intensified over the past month, after relations have thawed between London and Brussels during Rishi Sunak’s premiership. Bloomberg reports that foreign secretary James Cleverly and [...]
It’s beginning to look a lot like chaos: Rail strikes hit London as businesses shed Christmas bookings December 14, 2022 Parts of London resembled a ghost town yesterday as rail workers kicked off the first of several days of strikes. Bars in the capital warned they are haemorrhaging tens of thousands of pounds in lost bookings due to mass walkouts deterring commuters, raising the threat of businesses missing out on their third ever-critical golden quarter [...]
Chinese diplomats pulled from UK after Manchester consulate attack December 14, 2022 Six Chinese diplomats have been removed from Britain by Beijing, just months after a protester was beaten at a Manchester consulate. Consul general Zheng Xiyuan was among the group to leave the country, which came after police last week said they wanted to interview the six diplomats over the incident. Foreign secretary James Cleverly said [...]
Sunak calls on Khan to scrap Ulez expansion to all London boroughs December 14, 2022 Sadiq Khan should “listen to the public” and scrap the planned expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) to all of London, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said. Sunak said during Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) today that it is the “overwhelming” view of London residents that the levy should not be expanded. Ulez will [...]
