Javid announces record rise in the National Living Wage ‘The National living wage will rise by 51p to help struggling Brits begin the new year with an imminent pay rise. Today, Chancellor Sajid Javid made the announcement of an increase in minimum wage from £8.21 to £8.72 an hour in April. The 6.2% hike is […]
Prime Minister ‘planning brutal reshuffle’ “Boris Johnson is plotting a brutal reshuffle of up to a THIRD of his top team after his huge election win. After the PM finally delivers Brexit and gets Britain out of the EU on January 31, he’s expected to dramatically change his Cabinet to prepare for trade talks with the EU […]
Lives ‘at risk’ after honours list fiasco “The Cabinet Office was accused of endangering lives last night after it accidentally published the home addresses of more than 1,000 politicians, military officials, celebrities and MI5 officers who received new year honours. The security breach was described as “a complete disaster” by a former leader of the […]
New agencies will be based in the North… “Ministers are preparing to develop two cutting-edge scientific research bodies in the Midlands and north of England after Boris Johnson’s promise to “level up” investment outside the southeast. Downing Street is said to be determined that an £800 million “advanced research projects agency” will be based outside the golden […]
It’s Blue Up North 1) Treasury rules that block northern investment to be torn up “Under proposals being drawn up before the spring budget, ministers will reassess how officials calculate the value for money of government investments in transport infrastructure, business development and initiatives such as free ports. Investment decisions would be less focused on […]
Christmas Message 1) The Queen will say that “small steps” can overcome division “She will say: ‘Small steps taken in faith and in hope can overcome long-held differences and deep-seated divisions to bring harmony and understanding. The path, of course, is not always smooth, and may at times this year have felt quite bumpy, but […]
Northern MPs get ‘hotline’ to pitch spending projects “Nearly 30 new Conservative MPs elected for seats in northern England have been given a hotline to a Cabinet minister to help them deliver local spending projects for their constituents. Jake Berry, the Northern Powerhouse minister, is compiling a “golden book” of Government commitments for northern seats to […]
Johnson praises ‘tireless’ British troops… “Boris Johnson has reiterated Britain’s support for Baltic states in the face of Russian aggression, pledging that the country will maintain an “unconditional commitment” to the security of the region. On a trip to a military base in Estonia, the Prime Minister told British troops that their role allowed “everybody in […]
Prime Minister says there will be ‘no alignment’ with the EU post-Brexit “Boris Johnson insisted that Britain would not follow any EU rules after Brexit as he set up a showdown with Brussels over a trade deal. The Prime Minister made clear that he would pursue a hard Brexit by saying there would be “no […]
Queen’s Speech 1) Brexit Bill has been ‘Miller-proofed’ “Boris Johnson’s new Brexit Bill has been beefed up to stop campaigners trying to scupper its progress in the courts ahead of the UK’s expected exit from the European Union in six weeks’ time. Conservative MPs cheered as the House of Commons agreed to sit on Friday to […]
Johnson prepares to unveil Queen’s Speech “Boris Johnson will announce immediate help for the high street today in the first Queen’s Speech of his ‘people’s government’. Half a million independent shops, restaurants, pubs and cinemas will benefit from a cut in business rates from April. Standard retailer discounts will rise from 33 per cent to […]
Prime Minister ‘splits Cabinet’ with policy on EU law “Boris Johnson has split the cabinet with a plan to give British judges new powers to overturn rulings by the European Court of Justice, The Times has learnt. Theresa May’s government agreed to transfer all existing European Union case law into British law after Brexit, a decision […]
Blue army’s new recruits help change face of Commons… “They came from Mansfield, Wolverhampton, Bassetlaw and Bolsover. They have been teachers, personal protection officers and dolphin trainers. The one thing they have in common is that before last Thursday most were not expecting to exchange their previous lives for jobs as Conservative MPs. “I feel […]
Johnson to address new Tory MPs “Boris Johnson will meet the Tory MPs who smashed down Labour’s “red wall” on Monday to promise billions of pounds in Government spending to keep their seats Conservative. The Prime Minister has £78 billion at his disposal to plough into transformative infrastructure projects including major road and rail upgrades […]
Johnson sets agenda in Sedgefield: “We are not the masters, we are the servants now.” ‘In a signal of his intent to colonise the centre ground of British politics, Johnson yesterday visited Sedgefield, Tony Blair’s former seat, which the Tories won on Thursday. Appropriating language used by New Labour, which Blair depicted as “servants of […]