Tories urge Sunak to cut migration amid record Channel crossings July 4, 2023 A group of Tory MPs have launched an alternative Conservative manifesto urging Rishi Sunak to slash migration figures amid a record number of Channel crossings in small boats. The New Conservatives group say their 12-point plan would see net migration down by around 400,000 before the next election and warn the PM “risks eroding public [...]
Cleverly hails ‘close and friendly’ UK-EU ties after Brexit in landmark Brussels speech July 3, 2023 James Cleverly hailed the “close and friendly” cooperation between London and Brussels in a speech to EU parliamentarians. The foreign secretary said the “level of trust” between him and European Commission diplomat Maros Sefcovic was part of the reason the Windsor Framework was secured. He accepted that it had taken “slightly longer” than many would [...]
Sue Gray: Partygate investigator broke Whitehall rules with Starmer talks July 3, 2023 Partygate investigator Sue Gray broke civil service rules “as a result of the undeclared contact” between her and the Labour Party, according to a Whitehall investigation. The former senior civil servant is due to take up the role as opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer’s chief of staff after being cleared to start the job in [...]
Ashes: Rishi Sunak goes in to bat for England after controversial Jonny Bairstow dismissal July 3, 2023 Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has given his full backing to England Men’s Test captain Ben Stokes and wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow, following a heated final day at Lord’s involving a controversial dismissal. Sunak said he would “wouldn’t want to win a game in the manner Australia did”, when asked to comment on the incident yesterday. The [...]
Cleverly to hail ‘new chapter’ in UK-EU relationship in Brussels today July 3, 2023 James Cleverly is today expected to hail a “new chapter” in the UK-EU relationship in his first speech to the European Union Parliament in Brussels. The foreign secretary will welcome a new era of refreshed “close and friendly UK-EU cooperation” as he addresses the UK-EU Parliamentary Partnership Assembly (PPA) in Brussels today. It follows the [...]
Quarter of taxpayers in London and southeast stung by higher income tax July 2, 2023 A quarter of taxpayers in London and the southeast of England now fall within the higher rate of income tax, it has been revealed. Almost 2.5m people in the capital and commuter belt constituencies now come under the 40 or 45 per cent tax bracket, analysis of HMRC data by the Liberal Democrats has shown [...]
Labour and Just Stop Oil donor says there’s “no kind of deal” on party policy July 2, 2023 Green energy industrialist Dale Vince has denied being “an eco-zealot” as he defended his £1.5m donations to Labour. Vince told Sky News he was not seeking to influence leader Sir Keir Starmer by giving cash to the party and that there was not “some kind of deal going on”. The Ecotricity owner accused the “right [...]
Gerry Murphy: Who is Tesco’s new chair? July 2, 2023 Two months after Tesco’s former chair John Allan stepped down following allegations of sexual misconduct the ‘Big Four’ grocer has appointed boardroom heavyweight Gerry Murphy to fill the role. Dr. Murphy, an Irish businessman, is already the chairman of luxury fashion brand Burberry and sugar manufacturing business Tate & Lyle, however will step down from [...]
Lord Goldsmith, accused of undermining partygate probe, quits government due to its ‘apathy’ on the environment June 30, 2023 Foreign Office minister Lord Goldsmith has announced his resignation over what he described as Government “apathy” towards the environment. In a scathing letter to the Prime Minister on Friday, the Tory peer accused Rishi Sunak directly of being “simply uninterested” in climate issues. The departure comes just a day after the peer was censured in [...]
Salesforce £3.2bn investment a ‘ringing endorsement’ in UK economy, says Sunak June 29, 2023 Salesforce has announced a major investment of $4bn (£3.2bn) in its UK business over the next five years. The software company will use the cash injection to improve AI innovation and customer growth in the UK as companies become increasingly eager to transform digitally and capitalise on AI within their business operations. Prime Minister, Rishi [...]