FCA investigates ‘crippling’ cladding insurance costs January 29, 2022 The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is launching an investigation into the ‘crippling’ insurance costs paid by residents with cladding issues. In letters sent today to chief executives of insurance firms, the City watchdog said it will be investigating whether “products provide fair value and premiums fairly and accurately reflect risk.” The FCA will look into [...]
Govt announces £1.4bn levelling-up devolution deal for north east including new mayor December 28, 2022 The North East of England could become the latest region to have a directly elected mayor, as the Government announced a new £1.4 billion devolution deal for the region. Hailed as a “significant step” by local politicians, Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said a new devolution deal would bring fresh powers over skills, transport and [...]
Exclusive: Sadiq Khan calls it a ‘national disgrace’ almost 10,000 tower blocks still have unsafe cladding like Grenfell June 10, 2022 Sadiq Khan has branded it a “national disgrace” that almost 10,000 tower blocks still have unsafe cladding, as the country prepares to mark five years since the Grenfell disaster. The London Mayor made his comments after data from the department for Levelling Up laid bare that hundreds of thousands are still at risk from living [...]
Truss: I should have ‘laid the ground better’ for tax cuts package October 2, 2022 Liz Truss has said she should have “laid the ground better” for her package of debt-funded tax cuts as she refused to rule out public spending cuts. The Prime Minister said “I have learnt from that and I will make sure in the future we will do a better job of laying the ground”, after [...]
A muddled India trade deal will show how this government is negotiating our future without public scrutiny December 21, 2022 Earlier this month, trade secretary Kemi Badenoch flew to India for the latest round of talks on a new trade deal. A few days previously, a leaked chapter of the deal made it into the press, showing the British government pushing India to apply harder patent standards. Various groups, including the British Medical Association, expressed [...]
Five amazing moments from Kite Festival 2023 June 12, 2023 The charming and idyllic Kite Festival of music and ideas, which ran for the second time this weekend, is well worth a visit. But for an ‘ideas’ festival, the line-up was overwhelmingly white “I never thought I’d be sharing a line-up with Michael Gove,” admitted the musician Lynks on Saturday night, playing a high-tempo set [...]
A new coal mine in Cumbria won’t save the burning problems for the UK December 9, 2022 After years of political ping-ponging, the decision has been made: we’ll have the first new coal mine in thirty years in the UK. It will be located in Whitehaven, in Cumbria, and it’s meant to bring 500 direct jobs to an impoverished area that has often felt forgotten by central government. The indirect jobs in [...]
Abrdn urges housebuilders to go further than legal requirements in coughing up cladding cash March 23, 2022 FTSE 100 asset manager Abrdn has called on housebuilders to do more than the bare minimum to foot the bill to fix blocks with unsafe cladding. According to a report from Sky News, the City investor has written a letter to big players in the construction sector, urging them to do more than they are [...]
If Europe keeps us out of Horizon and other R&I funds, our universities will suffer February 16, 2023 Post-Brexit alternatives to European funding for research and innovation must match previous sums. Without this vital cash, our universities will suffer a terrible blow, writes Paul Boyle
Up in West Cumbria, the battle for coal has yet to find a winner April 27, 2022 In West Cumbria, a long stretch of coast right by the green hills of the wealthy Lake District, people have been worrying about jobs for a long time. So when the plans for the first new deep mine since the 1980s were first announced, most locals rejoiced. Fast forward to today, the plans haven’t yet [...]