The Integrated Review 1) Johnson attacked for pushing trade links with China… “Boris Johnson warned that a cold war with China would be a “mistake” yesterday as he faced a backlash from his backbench MPs over plans to build deeper trade links with Beijing. The prime minister said that Britain had to strike a balance […]
Security 1) China identified as the biggest threat “Sensitive sites and technology will be made more secure to allow Britain to trade with an increasingly powerful China, a landmark defence, security and foreign policy review says today. China poses the “biggest state-based threat” to the UK’s economic security and presents a “systemic challenge” to British […]
Johnson calls for unity in Sarah Everard’s name after seeing ‘deeply concerning’ footage of police clashing with demonstrators “Boris Johnson has called for unity in Sarah Everard’s memory as he voiced his ‘deep concern’ over footage of police officers arresting screaming women during a vigil on Clapham Common. Met Commissioner Cressida Dick was today fighting […]
Government faces a ‘new Tory rebellion threat’ over pre-Easter vote to extend lockdown laws “Boris Johnson is facing yet another Tory rebellion over lockdown rules today with backbenchers planning to vote against extending the laws for a further six months. The legislation governing the current shutdown has to be approved again by MPs on or before […]
Coronavirus 1) Britain set to give vaccines to all adults by early June “Britain is on course to immunise all adults against the coronavirus about two months before the European Union, an achievement forecast to be worth tens of billions of pounds, according to an analysis for The Times. Every adult will be offered at […]
Johnson will not grant a second Scottish independence referendum “Boris Johnson will make clear on Sunday that he will not grant a second Scottish independence referendum, even if the SNP wins a majority in May’s Holyrood elections. In a speech to the Scottish Conservative Party conference, the Prime Minister will argue holding a referendum during the […]
Coronavirus: MPs demand clarity on foreign holidays… “Ministers are under pressure to confirm the return of foreign holidays after Spain said that it would reopen to vaccinated tourists. MPs on the transport committee said that the initial target date of May 17 for restarting international travel should be confirmed to provide certainty for consumers and […]
Monarchy 1) A majority want the Sussexes stripped of their titles “Most Britons think the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were wrong to have given their explosive interview, a poll reveals today. A majority of the public believes they have let down the Queen – and should be stripped of their royal titles. The survey […]
Johnson praises Queen’s ‘unifying role’ “Boris Johnson today praised the Queen’s “unifying” rule as he dodged questions on the Prince Harry and Meghan Markle interview. It comes after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex lifted the lid on their time in the Royal Family in a tell-all chat with Oprah last night. The PM told […]
Coronavirus 1) Schools return in England: Johnson hails first steps to freedom “Boris Johnson has hailed the return of pupils to school today as the first step on his “road map to freedom” and insisted that the country is ready for it. With all nine million pupils in England due back in class, the prime […]
The beginning of the end of lockdown? Pupils return to school tomorrow. “Boris Johnson said the return of millions of pupils to the classroom was made possible only by collective efforts to cut infections. It marks step one of his plan to unlock the country after a year of restrictions to tackle the pandemic. He […]
Budget 1) Nurses threaten strike over one per cent NHS pay rise “Nursing unions have threatened to go on strike after the government offered NHS staff a below-inflation pay increase of 1 per cent. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has set up a £35 million fund to support industrial action. The union, which represents nurses, […]
‘Tax-raiding’ budget gives Conservatives 13-point poll lead over Labour “The Conservatives have enjoyed a significant bounce in the polls since Wednesday’s budget despite announcing the biggest tax rises in 30 years. A survey by YouGov found that the Tories had established a 13-point lead over Labour. Their budget was the most popular in a decade, […]
Budget 1) Chancellor keeps Covid spending but charts course to post-pandemic policy “The cameras were there to capture the transition of Sunak from the Covid-19 “handout” chancellor — a further £65bn of economic support was set out in the Budget — to the fiscally tough custodian of the nation’s finances, prepared to raises taxes on […]
The Budget 1) Sunak plans to extend furlough until September “Rishi Sunak will announce today multibillion-pound plans to extend the furlough scheme until September, and pledge to use the “full measure of our fiscal firepower” to save jobs as Britain emerges from the lockdown. The chancellor will say that the country is facing a “moment […]