Analysis: When is a plan for the NHS not a plan for the NHS? January 30, 2023 As Rishi Sunak faces yet another scandal after sacking Nadhim Zahawi, his ’emergency’ plan to speed up NHS wait times in A&E falls flat of what is needed, writes Sascha O’Sullivan
Boris Johnson ‘lied’ over Putin missile attack claims, says Kremlin January 30, 2023 The Kremlin has suggested Boris Johnson told “a lie” when the former prime minister said that Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared to threaten him with a missile strike. The former Downing Street incumbent made the claim in a new three-part series for BBC Two looking at how the West grappled with Mr Putin in the [...]
Zahawi ditched by Rishi Sunak as Conservative chair over £5m tax bill January 29, 2023 Nadhim Zahawi has today been sacked by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as Conservative party chair after weeks of speculation about his tax affairs. Sunak told Zahawi, 55, that, after an independent investigation, “it is clear that there has been a serious breach of the Ministerial Code,” forcing him to ditch the MP for Stratford-on-Avon. Sunak’s [...]
£320,000 for ‘I’m A Celeb’ and £48,000 for pandemic books: Matt Hancock’s pay-days outside of Westminster revealed January 27, 2023 Matt Hancock was paid £320,000 for his controversial appearance on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, it has been revealed. The former health secretary’s fee was listed on the MP’s register of financial interests. Hancock had the Conservative Party whip suspended for taking time off to appear on the ITV reality show. He [...]
Analysis: Jeremy Hunt has been E for Everywhere, man January 27, 2023 Jeremy Hunt, the Chancellor, today said financial stability had to come before tax cuts, but said a competitive ’low tax environment’ would be the backbone of future growth. Sascha O’Sullivan looks at his speech.
‘I haven’t paid an HMRC fine’ Hunt confirms, as calls mount for Zahawi to go over tax fiasco January 27, 2023 Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said he has never paid a tax fine, as ministers’ financial affairs come under scrutiny amid growing calls from Conservatives for Nadhim Zahawi to stand down. Hunt raised suspicions by twice refusing to say whether he has paid a penalty as he took questions after an economic speech, claiming the public are [...]
Transpennine: Sunak threatens to strip train operator of contract following its spat with Aslef on overtime ban January 27, 2023 Prime Minister Rishi Sunak warned train operator Transpennine Express (TPE) it may lose a lucrative government contract, while the firm blamed the Aslef union for its ban on overtime working. The FirstGroup-owned company is caught up in a spat with the government after the PM threatened to pull its contract, because it was offering an [...]
Boris Johnson paid £500K advance for memoirs – as public foot £222K bill for his partygate legal fees January 27, 2023 Boris Johnson has picked up an advance of more than £500,000 for his forthcoming memoir, as it emerged taxpayers face a bill of £222,000 for his legal fees to defend himself in the partygate inquiry. The former prime minister’s latest entry in the Register of Members’ Interests says that he “received £510,000 as an advance [...]
‘No penalties for innocent tax errors’: Head of HMRC piles more pressure on Zahawi January 26, 2023 The boss of HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has told MPs there are “no penalties for innocent errors”, as he was quizzed on the tax furore surrounding Nadhim Zahawi. HMRC chief executive Jim Harra, appearing before the Public Accounts Committee where he was due to discuss tax compliance and the pandemic, was pressed on some [...]
Zelensky in tell-all English interview says it’s ‘not correct’ to say if ‘good guy’ Boris Johnson should return as PM January 26, 2023 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky branded Vladimir Putin a “nobody” as he suggested that it was too late for face-to-face talks with the Russian leader to make any difference. Zelensky, who turned 45 on Wednesday, also praised his “special bond” with Boris Johnson but declined to say whether he would like to see him return as [...]