It’s long since time to bump up MPs’ pay – we need the best and brightest December 4, 2022 MPs’ pay is not up to standard It perhaps says something about being an MP that Matt Hancock would rather spend three weeks eating various less-than-pleasant parts of exotic Aussie animals than hang around in Westminster. He also felt that he could bring more light to his personal cause – screening for dyslexia in schools [...]
Brexit: German ambassador to UK ‘cautiously optimistic’ on NI Protocol deal December 4, 2022 One of Germany’s top diplomats is “cautiously optimistic” about the prospect of a UK-EU deal on the post-Brexit Northern Ireland Protocol, after a thawing in relations. Miguel Berger, Germany’s ambassador to Britain, said there is now an “openness to engage” from Downing Street and that UK-EU relations had improved since Boris Johnson was ousted. Both [...]
Zahawi: Army could be called in to ease Christmas strike disruption December 4, 2022 The army could be brought in to help with expected strike disruption over the Christmas period, Tory party chair Nadhim Zahawi has said. Zahawi said that members of the army may have to start “driving ambulances” and work on the borders as NHS staff and Border Force officers prepare to start industrial action. Many key [...]
Activists protest at British Museum and Scottish Power over rising energy bills December 3, 2022 Campaigners have staged protests in buildings including the British Museum and Scottish Power HQ against rising energy bills and “sky-rocketing” levels of fuel poverty, according to organisers. Members of the grass-roots movements Don’t Pay UK and Fuel Poverty Action said campaigners had bedded down with blankets, sleeping bags and hot water bottles in the foyer [...]
Wealthy Russian businessman held by police officers investigating oligarchs December 3, 2022 A wealthy Russian businessman has been arrested at his multi-million-pound London home by officers investigating potential criminal activity by oligarchs. The 58-year-old man, who has not been named, was held by the National Crime Agency (NCA) on Thursday on suspicion of offences including money laundering, conspiracy to defraud the Home Office and conspiracy to commit [...]
Former Tory minister has whip restored after being cleared of misconduct December 3, 2022 Former minister Conor Burns has had the Tory whip restored after being cleared of “serious misconduct” at the party conference in October. In a statement, the party said that after reviewing all the available evidence it had concluded there was “no basis on which to investigate further” and that the matter was closed. Mr Burns [...]
Labour inflicts first defeat on Rishi Sunak holding Chester in by-election December 2, 2022 Labour has inflicted the first defeat on Tory prime minister Rishi Sunak, winning the Chester by-election. Samantha Dixon took the seat with a majority of 10,974, a swing of 14 per cent on the Tory vote. Turnout was disappointingly low however at just 41 per cent. The by-election was triggered after former Labour MP Christian Matheson [...]
Joe Biden to host Emmanuel Macron for White House state dinner December 1, 2022 Joe Biden will host Emmanuel Macron for a White House state banquet tonight as a part of the French President’s three-day US trip. The pair will have a four-course meal at the lavish dinner, which will come after tensions flared between Paris and Washington yesterday. Macron hit out at America’s “very aggressive” Inflation Reduction Act, [...]
Brexit: EU ready to ‘double down’ efforts in Northern Ireland Protocol talks December 1, 2022 Brussels is ready to “double down on efforts” to broker a deal on the post-Brexit Northern Ireland Protocol, according to the European Commission’s Vice President. Maros Sefcovic said there is now a “clear window of opportunity” to come to an agreement with the UK, after he spoke with foreign secretary James Cleverly this afternoon. Cleverly [...]
Boris Johnson tells local Tories he will stand in next election December 1, 2022 Boris Johnson has told his local Conservative association in Uxbridge and Ruislip that he will run again at the next election. The former Prime Minister informed the local party ahead of next week’s deadline for Tory MPs to confirm if they are standing for their seat again. It comes as a series of rising stars [...]