UK sets up Ukrainian refugee centre in Lille, 70 miles away from Calais March 8, 2022 The government’s handling of Ukrainian refugees was plunged further into farce today as it was announced the UK will set up a “pop up” refugee centre in the French city of Lille, which is 70 miles away from Calais. Home secretary Priti Patel yesterday said a centre to process refugees was being set up in [...]
John Bercow given parliament life ban for bullying House of Commons staff March 8, 2022 John Bercow has been given a life ban from holding a parliamentary pass, after being found guilty of bullying House of Commons staff by Westminster’s standards watchdog. The parliamentary commissioner for standards today found Bercow had been a “serial bully” during his time as Commons speaker and a “serial liar” during the investigation into his [...]
Ukraine: Johnson to set out UK energy strategy ‘in days ahead’ as EU clings to Russian oil and gas March 7, 2022 Boris Johnson has vowed to set out a new UK energy strategy to deal with the fallout of the Ukrainian invasion as EU leaders declare they cannot cut off Russian oil and gas yet. Johnson said the plan will be set out “in the days ahead” and that the UK is looking at “using more [...]
UK, Netherlands and Canada create International Ukraine Support Group to provide coordinated aid March 7, 2022 The UK, Netherlands and Canada today created the International Ukraine Support Group to ensure there is “unwavering assistance now and in the future” to Ukraine. Boris Johnson, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau and Dutch PM Mark Rutte made the announcement today, after the trio met in London today. The Prime Minister said “we will be encouraging [...]
PM denies he overruled Mi5 and Mi6 to get Russian billionaire Lebedev a peerage March 7, 2022 Boris Johnson has today flatly denied claims he intervened to get his Russian billionaire friend Evgeny Lebedev a life peerage, after warnings from security services. Johnson said it’s “not the case” he told the independent House of Lords Appointments Commission (Holac) that its assessment the media mogul should not get a peerage – after warnings [...]
Labour calls for investigation of claims PM intervened to help get friend a peerage March 6, 2022 Labour is calling for a parliamentary investigation into claims that Boris Johnson intervened to get his Russian billionaire friend Evgeny Lebedev a peerage, after security services initially recommended against it. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer today told the BBC that a Westminster committee should probe the “very concerning” case and that “there’s at least the [...]
Sunak under pressure to drop NI rise in wake of Ukraine invasion March 6, 2022 Rishi Sunak is under increased pressure to drop his 1.25 percentage points increase of National Insurance next month in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It is expected the war will lead to higher inflation than expected due to Europe’s large reliance on Russian gas and Ukrainian agricultural products, like wheat. Annual growth in [...]
Johnson promises Ukraine more defensive weapons in call with Zelensky March 6, 2022 Boris Johnson has promised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky more “defensive equipment” to fight off the Russian invasion in a call today. A Number 10 spokesperson said the pair “discussed the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Ukraine, precipitated by Russia’s indiscriminate attacks and ceasefire breaches” and “the increasing threat Russia’s barbaric attacks pose to Ukrainian civilians and [...]
Ukraine invasion: Zelensky warns Russia gearing up for ‘historic’ attack on Odessa March 6, 2022 Russia is preparing to unleash an “historic” attack on the major Ukrainian city of Odessa in the coming days, according to Volodymyr Zelensky. Zelenksy said during a Facebook broadcast today that Putin will soon drop “bombs against Odessa”, a key port city in Ukraine’s south, and that this “will be an historic war crime”. Around [...]
Lord Frost calls for increased defence spending in wake of Ukraine invasion March 6, 2022 The UK must boost its defence spending in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to former cabinet minister Lord David Frost. Frost last night said “we are going to have to spend more on defence and that will mean tough choices … we need to reform and liberalise so that investment keeps coming”. [...]
