Conservative Party infighting heats up as rebel Tory MPs mull publishing secret recording and ‘blackmail’ text messages January 21, 2022 Rebel Tory MPs are reportedly considering publishing a secret recording and text messages linked to allegations of “blackmail” from the Prime Minister’s supporters as infighting within the Conservative Party is intensifying. Boris Johnson insisted on Thursday he had “seen no evidence” to support the claim made by senior Conservative William Wragg that his critics were [...]
Conservatives get cold feet over new City Hall, with £14m transformation unfinished January 20, 2022 London’s new City Hall opened today to mixed reviews, as the building remains unfinished amid its £14m transformation. The building, based in the Royal Docks and formerly a conference centre, is not expected to be completed until the end of February. “I’m excited today that we are opening this new chapter in City Hall’s and [...]
Reeves: UK has had a ‘lost decade’ of economic growth under Conservatives January 20, 2022 The UK has had a “lost decade” of economic growth under the Conservatives and the country is heading for another decade of “anaemic growth”, Rachel Reeves has said. Labour’s shadow chancellor used a set-piece speech in Bury today to once again position Labour as an unapologetically pro-business party under Sir Keir Starmer and herself, saying [...]
Kwarteng rejects £1.2bn Aquind energy interconnector from France to UK January 20, 2022 A proposal for the £1.2bn Aquind energy interconnector from France to the UK has been rejected by the government. Business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng today rejected the proposal for the undersea cable, writing that the adverse effects it would have on a series of Portsmouth landmarks and commercial ventures “outweighed” the need for the interconnector. He [...]
Biden’s new UK ambassador accused of being an ‘amateur diplomat’ January 20, 2022 President Joe Biden has been accused of appointing an “amateur” as his ambassador to the UK by a former diplomat. Former ambassador to France and Monaco under the Obama administration, Jane Hartley was last night announced as London’s new ambassador, who will take up a Georgian-style mansion in Regent’s Park during the role. Hartley, 71, [...]
Johnson denies knowledge of alleged Number 10 ‘blackmail’ of rebel MPs January 20, 2022 Boris Johnson has denied all knowledge of allegations that members of his government have tried blackmailing rebel MPs that are looking to force a vote of no-confidence in his leadership. The Prime Minister said he had “seen no evidence to support any of those allegations”, with Number 10 saying they would examine any forthcoming evidence [...]
EU to introduce laws to drive microchip production and fight ongoing shortages January 20, 2022 The European Commission is set to propose a draft legislation for the regulation of microchips at the start of next month, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said this morning.
UK and Australia to partner on climate-resilient infrastructure investment in the Indo-Pacific January 20, 2022 The UK and Australia have tabled an agreement which will see closer cooperation on offering finance for infrastructure in the Indo-Pacific. The new deal sets the stage for disaster resilient and climate adapted infrastructure, foreign secretary Liz Truss confirmed today. The government aims to mobilise £8bn of UK-backed financing a year by 2050, as the [...]
Ouch! Sir Tony Blair says there is no plan for Britain’s future as Boris Johnson is simply not prepared for Brexit and tech revolution January 20, 2022 Boris Johnson is lacking a coherent blueprint for dealing with the major strategic challenges facing the UK, according to former prime minister Siry Tony Blair. In an online address later today, Blair will say that whether or not Mr Johnson survives the row over Downing Street his biggest problem is the absence of a plan [...]
Post-Brexit move to replace EU state aid rules clears first hurdle January 20, 2022 A post-Brexit move to replace EU state aid rules has cleared its first hurdle in the House of Lords. The Subsidy Control Bill received an unopposed second reading by peers. The legislation sets out how central government, devolved administrations, local authorities and other public bodies should make decisions to award subsidies. The new regime replaces [...]
