The world’s biggest talking shop proves how cheap the PM’s ‘blah, blah, blah’ really is

The private jets that carried world leaders to Glasgow are departing with thousands of negotiators left behind and tasked with diffusing the climate change ticking time-bomb. “It’s one minute to midnight on the doomsday clock, and we need to act now,” Boris Johnson told delegates at Cop26, shortly before telling the world he would be […]

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A ‘new age of optimism’ or a budget for ‘bankers on short-haul flights sipping champagne’?

Chancellor Rishi Sunak said the UK economy is entering a “new age of optimism” as he delivered a budget that Labour said only benefitted “bankers on short haul flights sipping champagne”. Sunak said the government’s tax and spending plans – details below – are focused on the “post-Covid” era and will pave the way for […]

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Sunak reveals £26bn Budget pledges and rejects need for Covid plan B despite top scientist’s advice

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced almost £26 billion of public spending commitments ahead of Wednesday’s (October 27) budget and spending review. Strong investment in public services, business support and help for working families will be at the heart of Sunak’s third budget with big spending planned for infrastructure projects, innovation and skills training. Digitalising the […]

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Inflation rate surges to record rise as autumn is set to bring ‘serious squeeze on living standards’

UK inflation has surged at its fastest rate since records began with a 3.2% rise in August carried by steep rises in food and drink and home furnishing prices. Figures released today (September 15) by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show the highest monthly rise since the Bank of England (BoE) gained independence to […]

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No 10 plot to sideline Sturgeon at Cop26 in Glasgow; Tories at war over tax hike for social care

Downing Street has drawn up plans to try and isolate Scotland’s first minister during Cop26 in Glasgow amid fears Nicola Sturgeon will “steal the limelight” and exploit the event to further Scottish independence. Number 10 has been “wargaming to stop” Sturgeon “using Cop26 as [an] ‘advert’ for Scottish independence”, declares an exclusive in the Independent. […]

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Government will break manifesto promise on tax to pay for social care reform – Javid eyes tax hike for over-40s and allies with Sunak for rise

The government is set to break a manifesto promise by raising taxes in order to pay for reforms to the UK’s crisis-hit social care system. Boris Johnson assured voters he had a plan to sort out social care two-and-a-half years ago while the 2019 election manifesto explicitly promised not to raise rates on national insurance, […]

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Johnson’s fury with Sunak highlights ‘disgraceful’ dysfunction inside Downing Street, says Labour

A furious Boris Johnson threatened to sack Rishi Sunak after a leaked letter from the chancellor calling for travel restrictions to be eased was leaked to the press. Labour have called on the prime minister to stop falling out with colleagues and “get a grip on the real challenges facing this country”, calling the dysfunction […]

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Elite Tory donors’ secret meetings with Johnson and Sunak; new lobbying allegations for Cameron; MPs’ £100k summer hospitality bonanza

Conservative prime minister Boris Johnson and his chancellor Rishi Sunak are holding secret meetings with elite Tory donors who are part of an“Advisory Board” of members who have given at least £250,000 to the Conservative party. The meetings are reported to be part of Tory co-chair Ben Elliot’s “mission to modernise” the party’s fundraising efforts […]

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Hancock and Patel referred to SFO; Test and Trace lose 600 million tests and Javid’s back as health secretary

Matt Hancock and Priti Patel have been referred to the Serious Fraud Office for their roles in awarding PPE contracts. The prime minister’s longstanding advisor Munira Mirza has also been referred to the SFO along with the home secretary and former health secretary by the Good Law Project They claim to “have uncovered evidence that […]

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