After Raab resigns with scathing letter Sunak brings in two allies Chalk and Dowden April 21, 2023 Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has promoted two close allies to replace the departing Dominic Raab. Alex Chalk is the new Justice Secretary and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Oliver Dowden will take over the role of Deputy Prime Minister. Mr Raab resigned from his dual roles after an inquiry found he acted in an [...]
Dominic Raab resigns from the government in wake of bullying report April 21, 2023 Dominic Raab has quit Rishi Sunak’s Cabinet following the conclusion of an inquiry into bullying allegations. He resigned after the PM received the report from senior lawyer Adam Tolley KC’s investigation on Thursday and had been considering the findings since. There was speculation as to when the Prime Minister would respond formally to the report, [...]
Sunak accused of ‘dither’ on decision to sack deputy PM Raab over bullying report April 21, 2023 Dominic Raab is determined to battle on as Rishi Sunak ponders whether to sack the Deputy Prime Minister after receiving a report into whether he bullied officials. After being accused of “dither”, the Prime Minister was taking a second day to determine whether he will kick Mr Raab out of his Cabinet as he reviews [...]
Leaseholders to gain new rights under FCA insurance reforms April 21, 2023 The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has proposed insurance reforms to protect leaseholders from paying extortionate sums for insurance. Under the new plans, leaseholders will be defined as “customers of buildings insurance” and insurance firms will be obliged to act in the leaseholders’ best interests. A leaseholder is someone who has bought the right to live [...]
Shrinking workforce limiting UK economic growth, MPs warn April 21, 2023 The UK’s shrinking and ageing population is limiting economic growth, with “outdated and static” working practices, MPs have warned. An “exodus” of over-50s from the labour market has worsened shortages, a cross-party House of Commons Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) committee report said. Chairman Darren Jones said: “Our shrinking and ageing UK labour market, and [...]
Gove urges Blackrock and other investors to push cladding firms to pay for clean up costs April 20, 2023 Housing Secretary Michael Gove has warned investors that the cladding companies they invest in will face “severe consequences” if the firms don’t come forward to discuss a settlement deal with the government to fix buildings cladded with unsafe materials. In a letter to Blackrock, Vanguard, Fidelity Management and Research and other investors, Gove urged them [...]
FCA will ‘keep its eyes’ on banks’ Q1 results for evidence of savings rate profiteering April 20, 2023 Savers are facing a rising “loyalty penalty” from high street banks, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has warned. Customers banking with the UK’s big name lenders are likely to earn less competitive interest rates on their savings over time, while new savers are given more attractive offers, the City watchdog told MPs today. “Harm” from [...]
Capita: Local authority contractor says ‘limited’ data accessed by hackers in recent cyber attack April 20, 2023 Outsourcing firm and government contractor Capita said customer, supplier or colleague data may have been accessed by hackers in a recent cyber attack on the firm. The group – a major contractor for local authorities – said investigations since the hack was discovered on March 31 have shown evidence of a “limited” data breach. It [...]
UK military may break NATO pledges, MPs warn April 20, 2023 The UK’s plan for arming its military is a “broken system” and government ministers may struggle to meet crucial commitments to NATO, a prominent group of MPs has warned. A critical report into the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) plans to buy military equipment found a “cycle of costly delay and failure” and an ignoring of [...]
SNP treasurer Colin Beattie steps down from role after arrest April 19, 2023 SNP MSP Colin Beattie will step down as the party’s treasurer after he was arrested in connection with a police investigation into the party’s finances, he has said. In a statement released through the party, Beattie also confirmed he will be “stepping back” from his role on Holyrood’s Public Audit Committee until the probe has [...]