Former Tory attorney general calls for Johnson to resign over Gray report May 30, 2022 A former Conservative attorney-general has called for Boris Johnson to resign over the findings of Sue Gray’s report into the partygate scandal. The Kenilworth and Southam MP, who served as the government’s chief legal adviser under David Cameron and Theresa May, today said Downing Street’s pattern of brazen Covid rule breaking has “done real and [...]
City Lord Mayor says ‘the word London shouldn’t be an insult’ May 30, 2022 The words “metropolitan and London” should not be used as an insult and the capital needs to share in the government’s levelling up programme, according to London Lord Mayor Vincent Keaveny. Keaveny will tonight tell the annual London government dinner at Mansion House that “London is one of the UK’s strongest assets – anything which [...]
MPs set to scrutinise role of UK finance in net-zero transition as ESG debate rages on May 30, 2022 The role of the finance in driving the net-zero transition is set to be examined by MPs as a major debate rages on over the effectiveness of environmental, social and governance (ESG) investment.
Boris Johnson fighting frantically behind the scenes to appease dozens of critical Tories as partygate refuses to go away May 30, 2022 Prime Minister Boris Johnson is reportedly working around the clock to appease critical Conservative rebels as the partygate affair threatens to reignite over new rule-breaking claims. Fresh allegations have surfaced that senior civil servant Sue Gray was told about a potential gathering in the Downing Street flat on the evening of the Prime Minister’s 56th [...]
Millions of UK households could face blackouts this winter due to war in Ukraine May 30, 2022 Millions of UK households could face blackouts this winter due to global shortages of natural gas caused by Russia’s war in Ukraine, the UK government has warned. As many as six million British households could be subjected to blackouts, if Russia makes further efforts to cut off the EU’s gas supplies, according to a Whitehall [...]
Auditors make their move but their homework needs checking May 29, 2022 Compiling a list of all the scandals, cock-ups and mistakes that auditors have been implicated in over the past decade would take up more space than this column allows. Even a high bar for only the most catastrophic would still require us to pursue the errors in the audits of Patisserie Valerie, Conviviality, Carilion and [...]
Thirty-four Tory MPs have now questioned Boris Johnson’s position May 29, 2022 Thirty-four Conservative MPs have now questioned Boris Johnson’s leadership as the fallout from partygate continues for the Prime Minister. Twenty-four MPs have publicly said Johnson should leave Number 10, which is an increase of nine since the full Sue Gray report into the parties scandal was released on Wednesday. A Conservative party leadership challenge will [...]
Police chiefs row over top National Crime Agency job May 29, 2022 Two senior police chiefs are embroiled in a public row over who is chosen to be the next head of the National Crime Agency (NCA) amid claims Boris Johnson is trying to handpick his own candidate. Neil Basu, an assistant commissioner at the Metropolitan Police, has demanded an answer from the Home Office on why [...]
Ministers mull bailout of chipmaker Newport Wafer Fab May 29, 2022 The government is considering a taxpayer bailout of British chipmaker Newport Wafer Fab if its sale to a Chinese-owned firm is overturned on national security grounds. Business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng announced this week that he was using new powers in the National Security Act to review the sale of the Wales-based firm by Wingtech subsidiary [...]
Ukraine puts pressure on Germany to limit Russian gas through Nord Stream 1 pipeline May 29, 2022 Germany is under pressure to reduce its consumption from the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, as Ukraine looks to fund its war efforts through transit fees.