UK News and Discussions

[Time_Traveller]

Fury as Green Party member quits London Assembly just three days after being elected

1 hour ago



The former leader of the Green Party has sparked fury after quitting the London Assembly just three days after being re-elected to her seat.

Sian Berry, who is standing to become an MP for the Greens in Brighton this year, passed the role to the party’s mayoral candidate, Zoe Garbett, instead.

It means Ms Garbett, who received 9,646 votes in the London mayoral contest, will take Ms Berry’s place in the London Assembly without the need for a by-election.

Ms Garbett said she was “excited to join the Assembly and get to work for Londoners”, adding that there is “so much to do”.

And Ms Berry said her colleague had “shown how much of a difference she will make in City Hall”.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/p ... 40945.html

[Time_Traveller]

Chris Mason: Another wounding Conservative defection to Labour

2 hours ago



Another defection. Another Conservative MP giving up on the Conservatives and crossing the floor to Labour.

Defections don't happen very often - or at least they don't in normal times - but barely days after former Tory minister Dan Poulter switched to Labour, Natalie Elphicke has too.

Little wonder there was chat before Prime Minister's Questions began that Sir Keir Starmer wanted to talk about small boat crossings in the Channel.

Natalie Elphicke is the MP for Dover.

Defections are head-spinning for Westminster, which is a tribal place.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-68977175

[Time_Traveller]

A week is a long time in politics: Panesar quits Workers party after seven days

Wed 8 May 2024 12.34 BST

The former England cricketer Monty Panesar has pulled out of standing for George Galloway’s Workers party of Great Britain after only one week, after admitting he needs more time to “mature and find my political feet ”.

Panesar had been selected to contest the Ealing Southall seat, currently held by Labour with a majority of 16,084, last Tuesday. But after a series of interviews where he displayed a sketchy understanding of the party’s policies he announced that he would no longer stand.

“I’m a proud Brit who has had the honour to represent my country at the highest level of cricket,” Panesar wrote on the social media platform X. “I now want to do my bit to help others but I recognise I am at the beginning of my journey and still learning about how politics can help people.

“So today I am withdrawing as a General Election candidate for The Workers party. I realise I need more time to listen, learn and find my political home, one that aligns with my personal and political values.”

“I wish The Workers party all the best,” he added. “But look forward to taking some time to mature and find my political feet so I am well prepared to deliver my very best when I next run up to the political wicket.”

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/artic ... seven-days

[Time_Traveller]

Nadhim Zahawi to stand down as MP at next general election

Thu 9 May 2024 08.40 BST



Nadhim Zahawi, a former chancellor under Boris Johnson, has become the latest Conservative MP to announce he will not be standing again at the general election.

First elected in 2010, Zahawi said on Thursday he “had come to feel that the time is right for a new, energetic Conservative to represent Stratford-on-Avon”.

Zahawi, who was sacked last year by Rishi Sunak as Conservative party chair after he was found to have breached the ministerial code by failing to declare an HMRC investigation into his tax affairs, added: “My mistakes have been mine and my successes have come from working with amazing people.”

His announcement brings the number of Conservative MPs who will be standing down at the next general election to 64.

Zahawi declined to comment on Sunak’s stewardship of government but he said “the prime minister and the Conservative party will continue to have my unswerving support into and beyond the next general election”.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/art ... l-election

[Time_Traveller]

Keir Starmer vows to scrap Rwanda asylum scheme 'straight away'

15 minutes ago

Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to scrap the government's Rwanda scheme "straight away" if his party wins the election.

The Labour leader said he would use money saved to hire specialist investigators to tackle small boats crossing the Channel.

He also wants to use counter-terror powers to "smash" people smuggling gangs.

Rishi Sunak said ministers had already recruited extra police in this area.

Speaking to broadcasters, the prime minister said "we've got a plan, and we're going to get our planes off".

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-68984778

[Time_Traveller]

Labour and unions reach agreement on workers’ rights proposals

Tue 14 May 2024 17.56 BST

Labour has reached agreement with the unions on its flagship workers’ rights proposals after weeks of tension over the prospect of the original plans being watered down.

Keir Starmer and his senior team met union leaders on Tuesday for a crunch meeting where they thrashed out a deal on the plans, which were originally agreed last July.

One union source told the Guardian the general secretaries had presented a united front and told the Labour leader he should agree to return to the language agreed at the national policy forum last summer.

In a joint statement after the talks, Labour and the unions said: “Labour and the affiliated unions had a constructive discussion today.

“Together we have reiterated Labour’s full commitment to the ‘New deal for working people’ as agreed in July. We will continue to work together at pace on how a Labour government would implement it in legislation.”

[Time_Traveller]

Royal Mail owner backs £3.5bn takeover offer by Czech billionaire

Wed 15 May 2024 16.35 BST



The owner of Royal Mail has backed a £3.5bn offer for the postal company from a Czech billionaire after he sweetened the value of his planned takeover, creating a political headache for the government.

Last month, Royal Mail’s parent company, International Distributions Services (IDS), rejected a preliminary offer worth 320p a share, or £3.1bn, from Daniel Křetínský, the part-owner of West Ham United whose company, EP Group, is the postal service’s shareholder.

However, on Wednesday the group – which also includes the international parcels arm GLS – said it was likely to recommend a higher 370p a share offer to its investors if it was formally lodged.

Keith Williams, the IDS chair, said: “The board is minded to recommend this offer price, which it considers to be fair and reflects the value of GLS’ current growth plans and … the progress being made on change at Royal Mail to adapt the business to a significant fall in the demand for letters and growth in parcels.”

IDS said its suitor had agreed to “protect employees’ current rights and continue to recognise the existing unions”, as well as keeping the Royal Mail brand and maintaining its headquarters in the UK.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/ar ... illionaire

[Time_Traveller]

Plaid Cymru withdraw from Co-Operation Agreement with Labour Welsh Government

Friday 17 May 2024, 3:26pm

Plaid Cymru has pulled out of the Co-Operation Agreement that has seen it working with the Labour Welsh Government on a programme of government for the last two and a half years.

The party’s leader Rhun ap Iorwerth said the decision was related to controversies surrounding the First Minister Vaughan Gething and what he called “a significant lack of judgement.”

In turn the First Minister said that he was “disappointed Plaid Cymru has decided to walk away from their opportunity to deliver for the people of Wales.”

The Co-Operation Agreement was signed in December 2021 by the former First Minister Mark Drakeford and the former Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price.

It was set to last for three years, which means that ending it now comes seven months early.

https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2024-05- ... government

[wjfox]

[Time_Traveller]

Oh good, right at the top of the list Severn Trent, the one thats in Gloucestershire.