Wind farm developer threatens to sue UK government over plans for ‘windfall tax’ December 28, 2022 A Cheshire wind farm developer has threatened to sue the UK government over its plans to impose a ‘windfall tax’ on renewables companies. Community Windpower – which owns 1.5 GW of UK wind generation capacity – has said it will take legal action to block the UK’s Electricity Generator Levy. The temporary tax imposes a [...]
EXCL – Sunak should lower national insurance in 2023, argues jobs chief December 28, 2022 With inflation having reached a 40-year high this year and the economy predicted to shrink in 2023, Morning Wire zooms in on the volatile, hyperactive UK jobs market by checking in with Paul Farrer, the CEO and founder of London-based recruitment giant Aspire. Sitting down with this paper today, Farrer calls on the new Prime [...]
Labour calls for new sanctions on Iran over ‘repression’ of Amini protests December 28, 2022 Britain’s Labour Party has called for new sanctions to be imposed on those engaged in suppressing protests in Iran. The UK’s shadow foreign secretary, David Lammy, called for new “sanctions against individuals and organisations involved in the suppression” of the protests that have swept Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini in September. Amini, a [...]
UK has now recouped £18m from fraudulent PPE contracts December 28, 2022 The Government has so far recouped £18m from potentially fraudulent personal protective equipment (PPE) contracts, according to Department of Health figures. Health minister Will Quince, responding to a written parliamentary question from Liberal Democrat MP Daisy Cooper, confirmed that as of December 12 the Department of Health had recovered £18 million from PPE contracts deemed [...]
Govt announces £1.4bn levelling-up devolution deal for north east including new mayor December 28, 2022 The North East of England could become the latest region to have a directly elected mayor, as the Government announced a new £1.4 billion devolution deal for the region. Hailed as a “significant step” by local politicians, Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said a new devolution deal would bring fresh powers over skills, transport and [...]
Johnson urged Ireland to adopt ‘hard egg’ approach to peace process and ‘let nationalists go to hell’ December 28, 2022 Former UK prime minister Boris Johnson urged the Irish Government to adopt a “hard egg” approach to the Northern Ireland peace process and “let the nationalists go to hell”, newly declassified documents show. Mr Johnson claimed in 1996 the IRA were close to defeat in 1994, adding “let them use the bomb and the bullet” [...]
Driving examiners launch five-day strike December 28, 2022 Driving examiners will launch a five-day strike on Wednesday as part of escalating industrial action by civil servants in a dispute over pay, jobs and pensions. Members of the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) in 71 test centres in eastern England and the Midlands will walk out. They are employed by the Driver and [...]
Russian sausage tycoon dies in India after falling out of window, police investigate December 28, 2022 A Russian sausage magnate has died after falling from a window in India, days after a friend also died at his hotel. Pavel Antov was said to have fallen from his hotel window during a trip to India, in the city of Rayagada, four days after another member of his travelling party, Vladimir Budanov, died [...]
Sunak can’t afford to lose another ethics adviser, says appointments board chair December 27, 2022 The Government cannot afford to lose another ethics adviser, the head of the business appointments watchdog has warned. The warning by Lord Pickles, chairman of the independent Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba), comes days after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak filled the six-month vacancy by appointing veteran banker and Historic England chairman Sir Laurie Magnus. [...]
Putin “knows he’s in trouble” in Ukraine: Former head of British Army speaks out December 27, 2022 The former head of the British Army has said Vladimir Putin is pushing the idea of peace talks to end the Ukraine war because he’s in a “position of weakness.” Lord Richard Dannatt said of Putin’s negotiation hints that “the reason why he’s talking about this at the present moment is that he knows he’s [...]