Sunak and Starmer have both realised just how close they are to an election July 20, 2023 Political cunning and policy gimmicks won't distract voters if their lives haven't improved, Will Cooling writes, on Sunak's war on universities and Starmer's U-turn on the two child welfare cap.
Inflation tumbles faster than expected to its lowest level in over a year at 7.9 per cent July 19, 2023 Inflation has slimmed to its lowest level in over a year and is falling faster than expected, raising the chances of the Bank of England hiking interest rates at a slower pace next month, official figures out today reveal. The rate of price growth fell to 7.9 per cent in June, down from 8.7 per [...]
Coutts treatment of Farage ‘ought to jeopardise’ Natwest’s bank licence, senior Tory says July 19, 2023 Top Tory MPs have piled pressure on Coutts and its owner Natwest after the private bank reportedly closed Nigel Farage’s account because his views do “not align with our values”. Former Brexit secretary David Davis said the decision amounted to “thinly veiled political discrimination” and called it a “vindictive, irresponsible and undemocratic action”. Speaking during [...]
Explainer: Sunak’s plan to house asylum seekers on ships and barges is sinking July 19, 2023 Rishi Sunak’s plan to house asylum seekers on ships and barges is dwindling – or rather, slowly sinking. The government had to return two cruise ships it had acquired yesterday after it found nowhere to dock them. Last month, while giving more details on the Bibby Stockholm, the barge arrived in Portland yesterday that will [...]
MI6 chief calls for Russians to spy for UK July 19, 2023 The head of MI6 has urged Russians angry at Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine to spy for the UK. Sir Richard Moore told them “our door is always open” and “we will work to bring the bloodshed to an end”. He said that while artificial intelligence (AI) is being used to help target the Kremlin’s [...]
Sunak set to delay decision on UK rejoining Horizon July 19, 2023 Rishi Sunak is expected to delay making a decision on whether the UK should rejoin the EU’s Horizon science funding programme until after the summer break, it has been reported. The prime minister will not announce whether British researchers will have access to the €95.5bn programme until the autumn,the Financial Times (FT) reported. A government [...]
Susan Hall selected as Conservative mayoral candidate July 19, 2023 Susan Hall has been selected as the Conservative London mayoral candidate. Hall, a former City Hall Tory group leader, will take on incumbent mayor Sadiq Khan, who is pursuing a record third term, in the election next year. She secured 57 per cent of the vote, beating rival candidate Moz Hossain, on 43 per cent, [...]
Confirmed: Jaguar owner Tata to build £4bn battery factory in the UK July 19, 2023 Jaguar Land Rover’s owner has confirmed it will invest £4 billion to build a gigafactory in the UK, in a major boost for the British automotive sector and following months of speculation. Tata Group – the Indian conglomerate who have owned JLR since 2008 – said that its investment in the new 40GWh battery plant [...]
Some degrees are useless, but it’s the 2:1 obsession we really need to leave behind July 19, 2023 Creeping credentialism reinforces the narrative that a degree is the most reliable route into an ever-increasing number of jobs.
Cleverly calls for global cooperation at first UN Security Council meeting on AI July 18, 2023 James Cleverly called for global governance of artificial intelligence as it “knows no borders” at the first UN Security Council meeting on the issue. The Foreign Secretary said the technology would “fundamentally alter every aspect of human life” and could “enhance or disrupt global strategic stability”. The UK chaired the first UN Security Council session on the [...]