‘Lavish’ spending culture of government ministers including £345,000 ‘restaurant and bar’ bill revealed February 13, 2023 Ministers are accused of overseeing a “lavish spending” culture in Whitehall with taxpayers’ money wasted on luxury items, after Labour analysis of government procurement cards. Concerns were raised over alcohol and dining purchases by the Labour Party including almost £345,000 by foreign office officials in 2021 under the heading “restaurants and bars”, as well as [...]
New hydrogen levy is ‘harmful’ and could stoke inflation, Tory MPs warn February 12, 2023 Plans for a new tax on energy bills to fund research into hydrogen have been opposed by senior Tory MPs arguing it would be “harmful."
Sharp under pressure to quit BBC after report finds ‘significant errors’ over Johnson loan February 12, 2023 BBC chairman Richard Sharp has been told that his position is “increasingly untenable” today after a report found that “significant errors of judgement” were made in helping to arrange an £800,000 loan guarantee for Boris Johnson while Sharp was applying for the top job at the BBC. Ex-JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs banker Sharp, who [...]
HMRC delays are hindering UK growth, accounting body warns February 8, 2023 Major hold ups at HMRC are “acting as a drag on the UK’s economic growth,” the head of one of Britain’s top accounting bodies has said. The “unacceptable” delays, caused by backlogs at the UK’s tax authority, “need to be addressed promptly,” ICAEW chief executive Michael Izza said, as he called for the launch of [...]
Sunak says ‘nothing is off the table’ as Zelensky asks UK for fighter jets February 8, 2023 Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said “nothing is off the table” after Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky asked the UK to supply him with fighter jets to battle Putin’s army. The two leaders spoke at a joint press conference at an army base today after the Ukrainian wartime president flew to the UK and implored the [...]
Tanks for your friendship: Zelensky and Sunak tour UK military base in Dorset where Ukrainian soldiers train February 8, 2023 President Volodymyr Zelensky and prime minister Rishi Sunak have presented medals to Ukrainian troops training in the UK. The PM and the Ukrainian wartime leader are visiting Lulworth Camp, in Dorset, where members of the Ukrainian military are being trained to use Challenger 2 tanks. Zelensky and Sunak disembarked from a helicopter after being flown [...]
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky meets King Charles at Buckingham Palace February 8, 2023 Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has held an audience with King Charles III at Buckingham Palace. The Ukrainian leader was driven through the front gates of the royal residence and into the quadrangle. It is the first time the monarch has met Zelensky and comes after Zelensky made a historic address to MPs and peers in [...]
‘World needs Britain’s leadership’: Ukrainian president Zelensky says during historic Westminster Hall speech February 8, 2023 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the “world needs Britain’s leadership” during a historic address to the Houses of Parliament in Westminster Hall. The wartime leader used his address to urge the UK and the west to provide fighter jets, telling MPs: “Combat aircraft for Ukraine, wings for freedom.” Zelensky also directly thanked former prime minister [...]
Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky to meet King Charles at Buckingham Palace today February 8, 2023 President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet King Charles at Buckingham Palace during his visit to the UK today. Buckingham Palace has confirmed the King will hold an audience with the Ukrainian wartime leader at the royal residence in central London this afternoon (Wednesday, February 8). In a statement the Palace said: “Mr Zelensky will be greeted [...]
100,000 civil servants to walk out on Budget Day, union says February 7, 2023 Around 100,000 civil servants are set to strike on Budget Day, their union has announced, amid a campaign of walkouts over pay disputes. The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) said it was escalating action after a “lack of movement” from the government over its concerns over pay, pensions and job security. Walkouts will take [...]