The HMRC is sending private debt collectors to universal credit claimants who erroneously and, in most cases through no fault of their own, received overpayments. The government wants to reclaim the money, some of which goes back ten years. According to a Sky News report, the government is cutting benefits to over one million people […]
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Although HSBC stepped in to rescue the UK branch, the fallout from the Silicon Valley Bank collapse will likely ripple on. In an open letter to banking regulators and Rishi Sunak, technology founders and investors with a combined capital of more than £560bn expressed gratitude and relief. Nearly 900 tech industry representatives signed the letter […]
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Children’s charity Coram published its annual Childcare Survey today. The report points to significant childcare shortages, with children from disadvantaged areas missing out the most. Only half of all local areas have sufficient childcare places for under two-year-olds, down seven per cent from last year. Only 48 per cent of local authorities have enough places […]
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It was evident from the moment images of a smiling Rishi Sunak shaking Ursula von der Leyen’s hand began streaming into sitting rooms across the UK that securing the approval of the DUP and Brexiteers would be difficult. Triumphant scenes quickly gave way to DUP frowns, and now, Boris Johnson has pulled the rug from […]
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Salad ingredients like cucumbers and tomatoes are in short supply, with the government and industry blaming rising energy costs and inclement weather in North Africa and Spain. Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, and Aldi have all imposed a limit on the amount of specific fresh produce customers can buy. But top producers have hit back at the […]
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In a recently published survey, the Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner (OBSCC) has said the UK government should be concerned about using Chinese surveillance cameras and equipment. Report authors suggest that UK police forces are ‘shot through’ with Chinese-manufactured CCTV, drones, and other security equipment, which they feel raises significant ethical and security-related questions. Professor […]
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Last week, Michael Gove and David Lammy attended secret cross-party talks at Ditchley House, The Observer reports. They joined leading Brexiteers, remainers, business leaders, and diplomats for a two-day conference at Ditchley House in Oxfordshire. The paper obtained details describing the gathering as “private discussions” under the banner: “How can we make Brexit work better […]
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The authors of the recently published Durham report have urged the Prime Minister to concede that Brexit is “the main factor” responsible for the increasing number of small boats crossing the channel. The new study cites Johnson’s Brexit deal as the cause, saying that the lack of a returns agreement with the EU has resulted […]
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On the back of multiple scandals, the latest UK corruption score has fallen sharply, placing it 18th on the global corruption index table. The drop is likely due to recent sackings and the string of enquiries yet to see the light of day. Report authors have made it clear that the corruption score slump is […]
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After every whiff of corruption, commentators reiterate that Britain has long been one of the oldest chumocracies. Although the term is quite self-explanatory, you may want to look up the dictionary definition. Here is how the Macmillan Dictionary explains chumocracy: “A derogatory term for a ruling elite that is made up of people from the same social background who went to the same schools and universities and know each other socially.” Recently, […]
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