Scottish Greens close to deal to enter government for first time in UK history
Friday 20 August 2021
The Scottish Greens are close to a deal that would see them enter government for the first time in British history.
Green MSPs will share power if they can finalise an agreement with Nicola Sturgeon's SNP administration.
Talks have been ongoing between the two parties about a formal power-sharing arrangement in Scotland.
It would stop short of a full coalition and would, instead, be a "cooperation agreement" that allows for unity on policies where they agree and divergence in areas where they do not.
A source close to the talks told Sky News that civil servants had also been involved in discussions, with regard to "where trails of responsibility will lie."
Car production in July hits lowest level since 1956
8 hours ago
UK car production fell sharply last month, marking the worst July performance for the industry since 1956, a trade group has said.
The global microchip shortage, staff being affected by the so-called pingdemic, and shutdowns meant just 53,438 cars were built in the month.
That was a drop of 37.6% compared to July last year, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said.
It comes as sales of second-hand vehicles are soaring.
Overall car production in the year to date is almost a fifth higher than during 2020 at 552,361 vehicles, but that is still 28.7% down on 2019 pre-pandemic levels.
SMMT boss Mike Hawes said the July figures "lay bare the extremely tough conditions UK car manufacturers continue to face".
The restoration of London's Elizabeth Tower, which will ultimately cost at least £80 million, is drawing to a close.
After a delay due to the pandemic, it's now been four years since Big Ben last chimed daily on the hour.
The clock hands will return this month and work will start to remove the scaffolding.
Re: UK News and Discussions
Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2021 8:56 pm
by wjfox
Boris Johnson outlines new 1.25% health and social care tax to pay for reforms
2 hours ago
A new health and social care tax will be introduced across the UK to pay for reforms to the care sector and NHS funding in England.
[...]
The tax will begin as a 1.25 percentage point rise in National Insurance from April 2022, paid by both employers and workers, and will then become a separate tax on earned income from 2023 - calculated in the same way as National Insurance and appearing on an employee's payslip.
[...]
The Institute for Fiscal Studies said the latest tax increases amounted to £14bn. Together with those announced in the March Budget, it said, 2022 had seen the highest tax rises in 40 years.
[...]
Labour's Sir Keir said the new tax broke the Conservatives' pledge at the last election not to raise National Insurance, income tax or VAT. He also said the rise would target young people, supermarket workers and nurses, rather than those with the "broadest shoulders" who should pay more.
The Labour leader added: "Read my lips - the Tories can never again claim to be the party of low tax."
"The Labour leader added: "Read my lips - the Tories can never again claim to be the party of low tax.""
Oh that won't stop them from saying it anyways. The average right-winger already changes the narrative every few months they won't "remember." It will be Starmer's or whoever's fault that taxes were raised in their eyes.
