Richard Moore named as new MI6 spy chief July 29, 2020 Former diplomat and ambassador Richard Moore has been hired as the next boss of the UK’s Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), also known as MI6. Moore has worked in the past as the UK’s ambassador to Turkey, the Deputy National Security Adviser in the Cabinet Office and is currently the Foreign Office’s political director. He also [...]
Wiley apologises for ‘generalising’ Jewish people in antisemitic tweets July 29, 2020 Disgraced rapper Wiley has apologised for “generalising” Jewish people after a string of offensive tweets, but has refused to acknowledge his comments were antisemitic. The British rapper went on a two-day Twitter tirade starting on Friday, calling Jewish people “cowards and snakes”, asserting they controlled the justice system and compared the Jewish community to the [...]
Belgium and Croatia may be next on UK’s quarantine list July 29, 2020 People travelling to the UK from Belgium, Luxembourg and Croatia may face 14-day quarantines as coronavirus infection rates rise across the continent. Boris Johnson said yesterday that he feared mainland Europe was beginning to experience the first stages of a second Covid-19 wave. Infection rates have been recorded as rising in 11 European countries over [...]
UK just weeks away from signing Japan free trade deal July 29, 2020 The UK is on the verge of signing a free trade deal with Japan, with the agreement set to be closed within a matter of weeks. Negotiations, which began just six weeks ago, have reportedly reached a breakthrough point with the dialogue at an “advanced stage”, according to a government source. The Sun reports that [...]
Rishi Sunak’s deputy says targeted relief an option after furlough scheme ends July 28, 2020 Treasury minister Steve Barclay has ruled out extending the government’s furlough scheme past October, but left the door open for targeted relief to some sectors. The scheme is due to end on 31 October, with government payments decreased in September and October. Barclay said today that there would be no extension to the scheme, echoing [...]
Treasury unveils plan to speed up delivery of government projects July 28, 2020 Treasury minister Steve Barclay has unveiled the government’s plan to make his department “the new radicals” and transform Whitehall’s decision making processes. Barclay told centre-right think tank Onward today that the Treasury would become more like a Silicon Valley company by ensuring public sector projects operate at greater speed and by using better data to [...]
Boris Johnson warns of second coronavirus wave in Europe July 28, 2020 Boris Johnson has warned that mainland Europe may be experiencing the start of a second coronavirus wave as he defends the government’s decision to impose a quarantine on travellers from Spain. Speaking to reporters today during a visit in Nottingham, Johnson said: “What we have to do is take swift and decisive action where we [...]
UK tax rises: How will Rishi Sunak pay down the coronavirus deficit? July 28, 2020 Rishi Sunak’s first five months as chancellor has seen him shower the UK economy with hundreds of billions of pounds, helping make him the most popular government figure. However, talk has already turned to the ballooning deficit – predicted to be around £350bn this year – and how to reduce it to more manageable levels. [...]
Former speaker John Bercow to be denied peerage July 28, 2020 Former speaker John Bercow is expected this week to be denied a life peerage, after being nominated in Jeremy Corbyn’s resignation list. Bercow is set to be denied by the House of Lords Appointments Commission due to persistent bullying allegations while he was House of Commons speaker. The commission is also expected to deny the [...]
Michel Barnier reportedly believes post-Brexit trade deal is possible July 27, 2020 EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier has reportedly expressed his belief to Brussels colleagues that a Brexit trade deal could get done with the UK, just days after publicly saying it was “unlikely”. Reuters reports that Barnier told a meeting of EU officials today that a deal could be completed before the end of the post-Brexit [...]
