UK minister urges de-escalation after Israel and Hezbollah exchange fire August 25, 2024 A major war in the Middle East is “a real danger”, a cabinet minister has warned following an escalation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah overnight. Early on Sunday, the Israeli military launched what it described as “pre-emptive” strikes against the militant group in southern Lebanon, saying it had detected plans to attack Israel. Hezbollah, [...]
‘Things will get worse before they get better’, Starmer to warn August 24, 2024 Britain will get worse before it gets better, Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to warn in his first major speech since taking office.
Labour’s North Sea windfall tax plans branded a ‘blunt response’ that will hammer businesses across the UK August 22, 2024 The government’s plans for North Sea oil and gas are a “blunt response” that could jeopardise hundreds of thousands of jobs not just in the energy sector, several of the industry’s leading figures have warned. In an open letter to the Treasury, over 40 companies with operations in the North Sea voiced their “grave concern” [...]
Government borrowing exceeds estimates as public sector spending jumps August 21, 2024 Monthly borrowing figures will be closely watched over the coming months for clues about how much Labour will raise taxes in October's Budget.
‘Right to disconnect’ plans must offer firms flexibility, experts warn August 20, 2024 The government’s plan to give workers the ‘right to disconnect’ must offer companies some flexibility when it comes to implementing the changes, experts have warned. Staff who are frequently contacted by their bosses outside of their work day could be granted thousands more in compensation cash from employment tribunals under new worker reforms, The Times [...]
Green energy plans could reduce costs for UK steelmakers, industry says August 20, 2024 Plans for the UK to become a green energy superpower could help reduce costs for British steelmaking, a supplier has said. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer visited a wind farm near Carmarthen, west Wales, today as part of a trip to promote his ambition for renewable power through setting up GB Energy. The public company [...]
Is the UK moving in the wrong direction? Bad news for Keir as 52 per cent of Brits agree August 19, 2024 Some 52 per cent of Brits think the UK is heading in the wrong direction, according to a new poll following the general election. Pollsters at Ipsos found 22 per cent of people thought the situation in Britain was going in the right direction – down three points from a survey the previous month. It [...]
Dear Keir Starmer and Labour, please double down on funding Team GB athletes August 15, 2024 Sport columnist Ed Warner reflects on the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the Team GB medal haul and UK Sport funding. Dear Sir Keir, Ms Reeves and Ms Peacock, How do you feel about Team GB’s medal tally at the Olympics? More medals, 65, than last time out in Tokyo and equal to the London 2012 [...]
Do long prison sentences work? Economics has the answer August 15, 2024 Sentences deter different groups in different ways - and behavioural economics shows how, says Paul Ormerod
Danger! Labour want all our new homes to be ugly August 9, 2024 Labour thinks it's 'ridiculous' to consider beauty when building new homes and towns. That's a travesty, says James Price