The disparity in pay across the UK is growing. For many workers, pay increases have failed to keep up with rising costs, but for many people on high wages, the last two and a half years have been very lucrative. The incoming Chancellor of the Exchequer is likely to face criticism over his move to […]
UK energy suppliers are preparing to “wargame” emergency plans to avert blackouts this winter with warnings that low gas supplies could see power stations shut off. Government officials and sources at two power stations say they have been asked to review their plans to deal with threats of dangerously low supplies in order to prevent […]
UK supermarkets are rationing cooking oil due to supply-chain problems caused by the war in Ukraine, the world’s biggest supplier of sunflower oil. The British Retail Consortium said restricting supplies is a temporary measure with the rationing introduced to ensure there is availability for everyone. Demand on limited supplies is pushing prices higher with an […]
Labour has called for the government to take contingency measures in case fuel rationing is needed in the UK as Russia’s war in Ukraine deepens. Shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds said “there’s a lot of complacency in this country” about the UK’s exposure to Russian gas and urged the government to plan for fuel rationing […]
Chancellor of the exchequer Rishi Sunak has stalled the prime minister’s already delayed energy security strategy. It is nearly three weeks since Boris Johnson pledged the government’s energy plan will be published “in the next few days”. However, Sunak “doesn’t want to provide any new money” for schemes to help wean the UK off its […]
Boris Johnson “has paved the way” for another major policy U-turn with speculation the recently announced fracking ban is to be reversed. The prime minister has suggested that sealing the UK’s two shale gas wells does not make sense in light of the energy crisis following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Johnson’s spokesperson said today (March […]
France has accused the UK of “lacking humanity” in its response to helping Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war. In a strongly worded letter to Priti Patel the home secretary, French interior minister Gerald Darmanin called the UK’s response “completely unsuitable” after it emerged that 150 Ukrainians were turned away at Calais and told to get […]
Russian oligarch billionaire Roman Abramovich has put Chelsea FC up for sale and written off £1.5 billion in loans to the club after being named by Sir Keir Starmer during Wednesday’s (March 2) PMQs. In the Commons, Starmer asked Johnson why Abramovich has not yet faced any sanctions, stating: “[H]e is a person of interest […]
Foreign secretary Liz Truss has fired back at Kremlin claims her rhetoric and actions led to Vladimir Putin’s order to escalate nuclear operations. The Russian leader instructed his “deterrent forces” – including nuclear weapons – to a “special mode of combat duty” because of “aggressive statements” by the West. The foreign secretary told MPs that […]
MPs are calling for Boris Johnson to impose tougher sanctions on Russia after the prime minister announced the UK’s “first barrage” of strikes in response to the Ukraine crisis. Johnson told the Commons today (February 22) that the UK is imposing an asset freeze and travel ban on three Russian oligarchs, and sanctions on five […]