Russia report: What were the key findings? July 21, 2020 A long-awited and long-delayed parliamentary report into Russia’s interference in UK politics was finally released today by Westminster’s Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC). The report was presented at a press conference by new committee chair, and now independent MP, Julian Lewis, Labour MP Kevan Jones and SNP MP Stewart Hosie. While the report did not [...]
Russia report: Russian influence in UK politics is ‘new normal’ July 21, 2020 Russian influence in UK politics has been described as the “new normal” in Westminster’s Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC)’s long-awaited Russia report. The report said that successive governments “welcomed the oligarchs and their money with open arms, providing them with a means of recycling illicit finance through the London ‘laundromat’” and “connections at the highest [...]
UK looks to build upward with new planning laws July 21, 2020 The government will today put forward new planning laws that will make it easier for UK homeowners to add two storeys to their properties in a bid to ease the country’s housing crisis. Homeowners will be able to add extra storeys through a “fast track approvals process”, while the new laws will also allow developers [...]
Top nurse was ‘dropped’ from press conference after denouncing Dominic Cummings July 20, 2020 England’s top nurse has said she was banned from speaking at a government’s coronavirus press conferences after telling Downing Street that she would denounce Dominic Cummings’ trip to Durham. Chief nurse Ruth May said she was “dropped” from a press conference appearance in May, after saying she thought Cummings’ much publicised trip was a violation [...]
UK suspends extradition treaty, places arms embargo on Hong Kong July 20, 2020 The UK has officially suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong indefinitely and banned arms exports to the region in line with existing restrictions on mainland China. Foreign secretary Dominic Raab said the imposition of new security legislation in Hong Kong by Beijing meant that the “key assumptions underpinning or extradition treaties with Hong Kong” [...]
Coronavirus: EU leaders struggle to make progress on €750bn fund plan July 19, 2020 EU leaders are still trying to reach an agreement on a proposed €750bn (£680bn) coronavirus emergency fund, with the acrimonious talks yielding little on the first two days of the Brussels summit. Talks are deadlocked on the summit’s third day, with the more fiscally conservative EU countries – such as the Netherlands, Austria, Denmark and [...]
UK looks at ditching Hong Kong extradition treaty July 19, 2020 The UK is prepared to tear up its Hong Kong extradition treaty after the imposition of new security laws by Beijing, according to foreign secretary Dominic Raab. Raab said he would outline the UK’s further plan to deal with Hong Kong tomorrow, but said the UK had enough international clout to get rid of the [...]
Boris Johnson: UK will not need another national coronavirus lockdown July 19, 2020 Boris Johnson has said the UK will not need another nationwide coronavirus lockdown, likening the measure to a “nuclear deterrent”. The Prime Minister said today that does not want another complete lockdown, adding “nor do I think we will be in that position again”. Johnson announced on Friday that local authorities would be given powers [...]
Report to show Russia tried to interfere in Scottish and Brexit referendums July 19, 2020 A long-delayed report on Russian interference into UK politics is expected to show the Kremlin tried to influence the results in both the Brexit and Scottish independence referendums. The Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) will release the Russia report next week before parliament rises for a six-week summer break. The report comes as it was [...]
Chinese ambassador slammed for denying ‘chilling’ ethnic cleansing claims July 19, 2020 China’s ambassador to the UK has been widely criticised by MPs this morning for denying claims of ethnic cleansing against Uyghur Muslims in Northern China and instead drawing attention to the “beautiful” scenery in the region. Liu Xiaoming was shown footage during a BBC interview of hundreds of chained Uyhurs being loaded onto trains headed [...]
