Starmer hails ‘seismic’ Scotland by-election win as pressure mounts on SNP October 6, 2023 Sir Keir Starmer has hailed a “seismic result” for Labour after his party overwhelmingly won Scotland’s first recall by-election. Labour candidate Michael Shanks won the Rutherglen and Hamilton West seat after securing more than twice the votes of his SNP rival Katy Loudon. The result will pile more pressure on SNP leader and Scottish First [...]
Mark Harper: Transport secretary ‘proud’ of decision to axe Manchester leg of HS2 October 5, 2023 Transport Secretary Mark Harper said he was “proud” of the decision to cut HS2 north of Birmingham as he shrugged off criticism from Tory former premier David Cameron and ex-chancellor George Osborne. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak used his speech at the Conservative Party conference on Wednesday to confirm he has axed Phases 2a and 2b [...]
Russia may attack civilian ships with sea mines and blame Ukraine, Cleverly warns October 5, 2023 Russia may use sea mines to target non-military ships and blame Ukraine for any attacks, the UK Government has said. Declassified intelligence warned last month that the Russian military had attempted a missile strike against a cargo ship in the Black Sea. The UK believes Russia could continue targeting civilian shipping, including by laying explosive [...]
Sunak faces backlash from Johnson and Cameron over HS2 axing – as he’s reported to the police in Scotland October 5, 2023 Rishi Sunak has faced criticism from his predecessors in Number 10 for losing a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” by cancelling the northern leg of HS2. The Prime Minister defied senior Tories and business leaders to scrap HS2 from Birmingham to Manchester saying “the facts have changed” and the cost of the high-speed rail scheme had “more than [...]
Just Stop Oil protesters disrupt West End performance of Les Miserables October 5, 2023 Just Stop Oil protesters disrupted a performance of Les Miserables at the Sondheim Theatre in London’s West End on Wednesday night. The protesters entered the stage during a performance of Do You Hear The People Sing? Just Stop Oil said that four protesters then locked themselves to the stage using flexible bicycle locks at around [...]
Five things we learned from Tory conference: The return of Farage and Trumpification October 5, 2023 This week, top Tories, councillors, activists and party members gathered in Manchester for their annual get-together. With journalists also swarming the panel events, hotel receptions and late night bars, there was little that went unreported. But amid the not-so warm white wine, dodgy dance moves, and endless speeches, there were a few things that became [...]
‘What Brexit was about’: How Tories in the conference hall saw Sunak’s speech October 4, 2023 Rishi Sunak was praised by Tory delegates for an “amazing” conference speech which saw him cancel the Manchester leg of HS2, scrap A-Levels and announce a long-term smoking ban. Attendees leaving the packed Manchester conference hall were effusive in their reactions to the Prime Minister – and vowed they were “confident” he could win the [...]
Sunak strips HS2 bosses of London Euston responsibility: ‘There must be accountability for mistakes made’ October 4, 2023 HS2 Ltd has been stripped of responsibility for Euston station as there “must be some accountability for the mistakes made”, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said. Rishi Sunak used his speech at the Conservative Party conference to confirm that the high-speed railway will reach the central London station after developing a plan that will generate cost [...]
‘Done the unthinkable’: HS2 northern leg scrapped, Rishi Sunak confirms in Tory conference speech October 4, 2023 The northern leg of HS2 from Birmingham to Manchester has been scrapped, Rishi Sunak has announced. The Prime Minister confirmed the decision to axe the route as he made his keynote speech at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester today. Sunak said: “I am ending this long running saga. I am cancelling the rest of [...]
Outgoing Canada Lord Mayor Nicholas Lyons will return to Phoenix Group as chair October 4, 2023 The outgoing Canada Lord Mayor Nicholas Lyons will return to insurance giant Phoenix Group as chair, when his term ends next month. Lyons will resume his role with FTSE100 pension firm following a sabbatical for his mayoralty, which ends in November. He will be made chair of the board of directors on 1 [...]