‘National scandal’: Record-high shoplifting driven by repeat offenders Retail Shoplifting has been branded a “national scandal” as incidents reach a record high, fuelled by a growing number of repeat offenders. More than 500,000 shoplifting offenses were recorded last year, according to official figures released in response to a parliamentary question by former Conservative Party leader Iain Duncan Smith. Fears around the worsening state of [...]
British Steel: Reynolds would view Chinese firms in ‘different way’ Politics Jonathan Reynolds has said he would “look at a Chinese firm in a different way” from those of other nations on involvement in the UK steel industry. But the business secretary has insisted the UK government took control of British Steel because of “one specific company”, and did not rule out Chinese firms being involved [...]
British Steel: No 10 won’t rule out future Chinese involvement in steel making Politics No 10 has declined to rule out future Chinese involvement in steel making, amid a race to keep the British Steel furnaces alight in Scunthorpe. The UK government has now said it is “confident” it will beat a race against time to keep the site running after taking control of the plant from Chinese owners [...]
Explainer in brief: Why this think tank wants the state to pay for your wedding May 7, 2024 State-funded weddings could help solve the UK’s loneliness epidemic and save employers more than £2bn a year, according to a think tank.
Tory MPs led by IDS: Biden’s liquefied natural gas curbs risk reliance on Russian energy April 17, 2024 A group of nearly two dozen Conservative MPs led by former party leader Iain Duncan Smith has warned that Joe Biden's decision to curb US energy exports to the UK and Europe risks making his allies reliant on Russia to meet their energy needs.
Tory MPs threaten revolt over plans to criminalise rough sleeping April 1, 2024 Ministers are facing a revolt from Conservative MPs over plans to criminalise homelessness, reports have suggested.
UK issues sanctions and summons ambassador over Chinese cyber-attacks March 25, 2024 The government has issued sanctions and summoned the Chinese ambassador over state-affiliated cyber-attacks which spies could use to target UK-based dissidents.
UK solar projects risk being ‘tainted’ by Uyghur forced labour, government told September 5, 2023 UK solar energy projects could be at risk of being “tainted” by forced Uyghur labour due to large-scale human rights abuses taking place in China, the government has been warned. Foreign Affairs Select Committee chair Alicia Kearns has tabled an amendment to the Energy Bill – which MPs are set to debate today – calling [...]
Sunak in China row over Confucius Institute U-turn May 18, 2023 Downing Street has refused to elaborate on Rishi Sunak’s decision not to ban controversial Confucius Institutes from operating in the UK. The Prime Minister previously pledged during his leadership bid to bar the 30 Beijing-linked organisations from running on UK soil. Confucius institutes are Chinese cultural and language outposts. But he has now walked back [...]
Tory rebellion grows as Liz Truss, Priti Patel and Iain Duncan Smith to REJECT Rishi Sunak’s Brexit deal March 22, 2023 Rishi Sunak is facing down a growing mutiny on his backbenches as Liz Truss, Priti Patel and Sir Iain Duncan Smith are all set to vote against his Brexit deal for Northern Ireland. The former prime minister, ex-home secretary and previous Tory leader have said they will not support Sunak’s agreement negiotiated with the EU [...]