Think tanks call for government to ensure secure gas supplies as market crisis deepens March 16, 2022 Think tanks call on government must ensure gas supplies are resilient this winter following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and spiking wholesale costs.
Government earmarks £200m to fight zoonotic diseases like Covid-19 February 16, 2022 The government has earmarked £200m to fight zoonotic diseases – viruses that pass from animals to humans – after Covid-19 launched the issue onto the global stage. The funding will be pumped into the UK’s Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) laboratories, which will focus on tackling high-risk animal diseases such as avian flue and [...]
Airlines call on government to reopen travel despite possible restrictions December 20, 2021 The aviation industry has called on the UK Government to either reopen travel or “come to the table with economic support.” Airlines UK, the trade body that represents British carriers, has lambasted the government for its lack to support, saying “offering more debt to a sector that has already borrowed billions of pounds is not [...]
Government doubles Magistrates’ sentencing powers to cut Crown Court backlog January 18, 2022 Magistrates will be given new powers to jail people for up to a year, therefore doubling magistrates sentencing powers, in a bid to reduce the backlog faced by Crown Courts. Under current rules, magistrates have the power to hand down six-month jail sentences, meaning any cases that warrant a longer sentence must be passed [...]
Automotive industry calls for new regulator to govern EV charge point mandate February 16, 2022 The UK automotive industry is lobbying for an independent regulator called Ofcharge to govern the mandate of electric vehicle (EV) charge points. The sector released today a seven-point plan to ensure UK drivers benefit from an affordable and available EV charging network, working alongside the government and other stakeholders to establish mandated targets for infrastructure [...]
Government wins appeal over contract given to Dom Cummings’ friends January 18, 2022 The government has won its appeal to overturn a court judgement that a contract handed to a company run by Dominic Cummings’ friends was unlawful. The High Court ruled last year that a £550,000 government contract given to Public First, a firm founded by friends of the former Number 10 aide, was unlawful due to “apparent [...]
Criminal barristers threaten nationwide strike if government fails to up their pay January 18, 2022 Criminal barristers have said they will go on strike if the government does not substantially increase their pay. In a survey put out by the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), 96.5 per cent of criminal barristers said they favour taking strike action if the Government does not agree “to a substantial increase in criminal legal [...]
Government vows to ‘drive dirty money’ out of the UK economy through new Economic Crime bill May 10, 2022 The UK government has vowed crack down on “kleptocrats, criminals, and terrorists” by driving “dirty money” out of the UK economy through its new Economic Crime Bill. The new bill is set to boost transparency, strengthen powers to seize and recover crypto assets, and bolster the investigative powers held by Companies House. Anti-corruption campaigners [...]
Queen’s Speech: Opposition leaders attack government for cost of living inaction and lack of employment bill May 10, 2022 Opposition leaders have rounded on the government for inaction on the cost of living crisis and energy security today, after ministers set out their fresh legislative agenda for the next session of parliament in the Queen's Speech.
Private equity firm set to finalise £200m deal to take over government contracts Amey Plc June 6, 2022 The London private equity firm that currently employs ex-Tory minister Philip Hammond is seeking to a finalise a deal to takeover one of Britain’s biggest civil engineering firms, Amey Plc. Buckthorn Partners, which took on Lord Hammond as a partner in 2020, has teamed up with US private equity firm One Equity Partners to buy [...]