The chancellor’s plan to combat the UK’s worst recession for 300 years has been attacked for its cuts to international aid spending that one former Tory minister claims will cause “100,000 preventable deaths, mainly among children.” Critics have also hit out at other parts of Rishi Sunak’s historic spending review which will see the government […]
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The highly critical National Audit Office report into the government’s awarding of £18 billion in procurement deals has been overshadowed by infighting in the Labour party and the prime minister’s green plan for the UK. The parliamentary watchdog made a number of startling findings including a lack of transparency, failures to explain why certain suppliers […]
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Chancellor Rishi Sunak unveiled his fourth winter economic plan in six weeks by announcing the extension of the furlough scheme until March. It means the government will pay 80% of workers’ wages with companies paying national insurance and pension contributions. Support for self-employed had also been extended and the amount increased from previous Treasury statements. […]
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Boris Johnson will impose a national lockdown on England on Thursday to save the NHS from the second wave of coronavirus advancing through the country. Announcing the new lockdown which will last until at least December 2, Johnson said: “We must act now to contain this autumn surge”. The prime minister was warned the health […]
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Northern Tory MPs have hit out at a letter by 20 of their southern Conservative colleagues – pushing for Manchester to accept tighter Covid restrictions – as “ill advised”. Labour mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham also hit back at what he called an “I’m alright Jack” letter signed by a score of Tory MPs […]
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Business leaders, metro mayors and northern politicians have given a mixed reaction to Rishi Sunak’s announcement that the government will pay 67% of wages for staff in businesses forced to shut because of Covid-19 restrictions. The chancellor described the expanded jobs support scheme as a safety net to protect jobs over a difficult winter period […]
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Boris Johnson’s Brexit bill “climbdown” with MPs over his contentious internal markets bill is not enough for Europe or senior members of his party. EU trade commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said the UK government must “correct” its position before talks on economic and political relations can continue, while the European Commission (EC) said their ultimatum for […]
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The UK’s logistics industry has criticised the government’s lack of border planning for Brexit, saying the UK is “sleepwalking into a disaster” when the transition period ends on December 31. Eight logistics organisations have written to Michael Gove to raise their concerns about the lack of customs agents, IT systems and physical infrastructure being built […]
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The sound of Tory knives sharpening is echoing round Westminster, Whitehall and constituency Conservative Clubs following today’s double-whammy to the party’s fortunes and future. A new poll has revealed the government’s performance has seen a surge in support for the Labour party, while reports abound that the chancellor is set to explode a tax bombshell […]
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Nicola Sturgeon has rebuked the UK government’s plan to get people back to working in offices saying she will not “countenance” any intimidation to persuade them to do so. Boris Johnson is set to warn workers face losing their jobs if they continue to work from home with the government launching a PR blitz to […]
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