Johnson says he will push Saudi Arabia on human rights as he lands in Middle East March 16, 2022 Boris Johnson has defended his decision to meet with the Crown Princes of Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi today, vowing to bring up their human rights records. Johnson arrived in the United Arab Emirates this morning and will hold a meeting with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed, before travelling to Riyadh to meet [...]
UK rushing to close investment deal with Saudi Arabia as PM visits Riyadh March 15, 2022 The UK is reportedly looking to close a multi-billion pound investment deal with Saudi Arabia as Boris Johnson gets set to visit Riyadh tomorrow. Sky News reports that the deal could be announced during Johnson’s visit, which will see him meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman tomorrow. City A.M. reported last year that [...]
Ukraine: UK sanctions 370 more Russian and Belarussian nationals March 15, 2022 The UK has sanctioned 370 more Russian and Belarussian nationals as a part of the government’s sanctions, including Vladimir Putin’s close political ally Dmitry Medvedev. The Foreign Office today announced the released the list of the newly sanctioned individuals, which includes 51 oligarchs, with foreign secretary Liz Truss saying “we are holding them to account [...]
Ex-minister: Billions lost in Covid fraud ‘one of biggest cock-ups’ in recent history March 15, 2022 Billions of taxpayer money lost through Covid loan fraud is “one of the most colossal cock-ups in recent government management”, the ex-fraud minister has said. Lord Theodore Agnew told MPs on Westminster’s business committee that he was told to “butt out” by Treasury officials when he tried to crack down on fraudsters taking out Covid [...]
‘Like a rogue builder’: Inside the long-delayed City Hall relocation to the Crystal March 14, 2022 Sadiq Khan’s decision to move City Hall to the Royal Docks was always going to be a tough sell for Greater London Authority (GLA) staff used to the metropolitan surrounds of Southwark and a public largely apathetic toward local politics. The abject difficulties in renovating the Crystal, and the concomitant delays, have made this task [...]
Ukrainians will need to know prospective UK sponsor to get refugee visa, says Gove March 14, 2022 Ukrainians trying to come to the UK, without family already here, will need to have a “connection” with their prospective sponsor to get a refugee visa, housing secretary Michael Gove has said. Gove said Ukrainian refugees will need to organise a sponsor themselves before they get here, but that he wants to “rapidly expand the [...]
Labour opens up 30-point lead over Tories in London, says new poll March 14, 2022 Labour has a 30-point lead over the Conservatives in London with less than two months until a crucial set of local elections, according to a new poll. A new survey by Deltapoll, and commissioned by the London Communications Agency, has Labour on 54 per cent, the Tories on 24 per cent and the Liberal Democrats [...]
Russia attack on Ukraine army base near Nato border kills 35 March 13, 2022 An attack on a Ukrainian army base near the border of Poland has killed 35 people and brought the war close to Nato territory. In the most deadly single strike of the war, Russia reportedly fired 30 rockets at the Yavoriv International Centre for Peacekeeping and Security near the city of Novoiavorivsk – a base [...]
Northern Ireland Protocol: Truss to halt plan to trigger Article 16 and provide economic support March 13, 2022 Liz Truss is set to halt threats to trigger Article 16 and suspend the post-Brexit Northern Ireland Protocol in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The foreign secretary has reportedly written to Boris Johnson to call for a series of measures to boost trade between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, including tax breaks and [...]
Rishi Sunak preparing more help for families facing rising energy bills March 13, 2022 Rishi Sunak is reportedly drawing up plans to provide more financial help to families facing further increases in energy bills in the wake of the Russo-Ukraine war. The chancellor is expected to outline details of a two-stage intervention to ease the cost of living crisis during his spring statement on 23 March, according to the [...]
