Border security top of agenda at Montreal summit, Keir Starmer says September 16, 2023 Sir Keir Starmer said protecting the UK’s borders is an “acute security concern” as he arrived in Canada for a summit of political leaders. The Labour leader is set to declare people smuggling, terrorism, climate change and weakening democracy the four major threats to western countries during the latest in a series of engagements on [...]
Starmer: ‘I refuse to join picket lines – because I want to be a Labour PM’ August 31, 2022 Keir Starmer refused to join rail strike pickets “because I want to be a Labour Prime Minister”. The Labour leader made his comments on Channel 5’s popular Jeremy Vine show, responding to callers as thousands of workers continue to bring the country to a halt with industrial action. Starmer previously told close cabinet colleagues not [...]
Christmas chaos: Sunak threatens new widespread strike-busting laws December 7, 2022 Rishi Sunak is now looking at new widespread strike-busting legislation as the UK gets ready for a winter of disruption. Sunak announced during Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) today that “I have been working for new tough laws to protect people from” increasing strike action, with Number 10 announcing they will go beyond transport strikes. Number [...]
Brexit: Business groups and unions call for delay of EU legislation bonfire November 24, 2022 Leading British business groups and unions have called on Rishi Sunak to delay post-Brexit plans to shred all retained EU laws by 2023. In a letter signed by more than a dozen institutions – including the Institute of Directors and Trades Union Congress (TUC) – the groups said the plans would “cause significant confusion and [...]
Government accuses peers of seeking to delay controversial strike reforms June 21, 2023 The government has accused peers of trying to delay controversial strike reforms that unions fear will make it easier to sack workers. The House of Lords had made a series of amendments to the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill aimed at protecting workers and trade unions, plus requiring the government to consult further on the [...]
Stop trying to ban zero hour contracts, it helps both young people and businesses September 18, 2023 Labour's promise to ban zero hour contracts will harm a good chunk of people they're hoping to get them to vote for them, even if it does appease the unions, writes Ben Cope.
Trade Secretary touches down in Saud-Arabia to kick off talks on £33bn trade deal with six Gulf states June 22, 2022 The UK economy could receive a boost of up to £1.6bn a year via a trade deal with six Gulf stations. Talks on such an agreement kick off today with a meeting in Saudi Arabia. Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan will meet representatives of the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) in Riyadh to begin negotiations on a [...]
Shapps says unions ‘gunning’ for strikes as summer of discontent looms June 19, 2022 Transport secretary Grant Shapps has accused the UK’s unions of “gunning” for strikes as a major union boss warns that widespread industrial action is likely this summer. When asked if there could be a so-called summer of discontent, National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) boss Mick Lynch said: “I think there are [...]
Unions slam P&O Ferries owner after it announces record £600m profits August 18, 2022 Unions have slammed the “corporate gangster” owners of P&O Ferries, who sacked 786 British workers this year, after the company announced record first half profits today. DP World recorded a first-half profit of $721m (£598m) – a 51.8 per cent year-on-year increase. Frances O’Grady, general secretary at the Trades Union Congress (TUC), told City A.M. [...]
Union accuses Grant Shapps of blocking strike talks July 25, 2022 Transport secretary Grant Shapps was accused of blocking the negotiations between rail operators and unions that could end the ongoing strikes. The Trades Union Congress (TUC) called on Shapps to “stop prolonging the rail dispute” which has threatened to bring the country to a standstill. “Transport secretary Grant Shapps is giving secret instructions to rail [...]