Sunak resists calls to scrap tax hikes despite lower than expected borrowing March 22, 2022 The government borrowed much less than expected over the year so far, indicating Chancellor Rishi Sunak has room for giveaways at tomorrow’s spring statement. The UK borrowed nearly £26bn less than the fiscal watchdog expected in the year to February, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said today, freeing up some room for the Chancellor [...]
Embarrassing: Watch as prank video with Defence Secretary pops up after UK blames Kremlin for hoaxes March 22, 2022 UK government ministers are said to brace themselves this morning for more awkward videos after a “prank” call with Defence Secretary Ben Wallace surfaced in the wake of Britain blaming Vladimir Putin’s Russia for attempted hoaxes. Downing Street accused the Kremlin of being behind the efforts to secure sensitive or embarrassing information in duplicitous calls [...]
‘Only in Brexit la la land Boris Johnson is seen as Putin’s leading opposition’ says Finnish prime minister March 22, 2022 Alexander Stubb, a former prime minister of Finland, has ridiculed the idea that Boris Johnson is one of Vladimir Putin’s fiercest opponents. The former Scandinavian leader was rubbishing claims by the prime minister that he is leading the opposition figure to the Russian president, dismissing the idea as “utter rubbish” and an “illusion.” Stubb, whose [...]
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny urges Italy to seize Putin’s £500m superyacht March 22, 2022 Russia’s jailed opposition leader’s team has urged Italy to seize a £500m superyacht reportedly owned by Vladimir Putin. Alexei Navalny’s anti-corruption unit called on the country to take the vessel, called Scheherazade, which according to the Telegraph is staffed by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSO). Dubbed the world’s most expensive yacht, its owner has [...]
What are the top FTSE 100 stocks to keep an eye on as the index begins to recover? March 22, 2022 Two years ago today, the FTSE 100 index closed at 5,190 points, after its 32% covid-19 pandemic-induced crash since 17 January 2020. But even as the Russia-Ukraine war rages, the UK’s premier index is back to 7,405 points, only slightly down from its 7,611 February high. And with oil, inflation, and interest rates rising, value investors are now [...]
West believes Russia may be planning chemical attacks in Ukraine as ‘Putin’s back is against the wall’ March 22, 2022 Vladimir Putin’s “back is against the wall” and he may be preparing to use chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine, US President President Joe Biden has warned. Speaking to American business leaders in Washington DC, Biden said: “Putin’s back is against the wall. He wasn’t anticipating the extent or the strength of our unity. And [...]
Food industry: Government must act to tackle cost of living crisis as prices spike March 22, 2022 A food industry leader has called on the government to intervene to ease supply chain pressures on food firms as a cost of living crisis looms. Food and Drink Federation boss Karen Betts has urged ministers to act to help millions of households as they face rising food and energy prices this spring. Measures urged [...]
S&P Global withdraws all ratings on Russian entities as US giant shuts down operations in Moscow March 22, 2022 US credit rating giant S&P Global Ratings said earlier this morning it will suspend all of its commercial operations in Russia. The company said that following the sanctions announced by the EU on March 15, which included a ban on providing credit ratings to legal persons, entities, or bodies established in Russia, it decided to [...]
Shell reconsiders decision to pull out of Cambo oilfield amid rising oil prices March 22, 2022 Shell is reportedly reconsidering its decision to pull out of the controversial Cambo oilfield amid skyrocketing energy prices.
Going Nuclear: Can Boris Johnson really ramp up nuclear power? March 22, 2022 Nuclear power requires a clear strategy - with an established pipeline of funding - to contribute to the UK's energy strategy.