UK News and Discussions

[Time_Traveller]

Fears influx of US money to stoke anti-abortion campaigns in UK will ’embolden’ pro-life groups

June 30, 2022

Reproductive rights experts fear an influx of US money to anti-abortion campaign groups in the UK will stoke pro-life sentiment following the fall of Roe vs Wade.

They are also worried anti-choice groups that typically appear outside abortion clinics in the UK will feel “emboldened” after Supreme Court judges overturned the landmark judgment last week.

I has been told by anti-abortion groups that the events in the US could provide a sense of “hope” and “inspiration for pro-lifers” in the UK.

Lisa Hallgarten​, head of policy and public affairs at Brook, which specialises in sexual health for younger people, said: “This is a massive victory for the anti-abortion movement in America, it’s something they’ve been working towards for 50 years… it’s a very well-funded movement.”

On top of concerns that striking down Roe vs Wade “emboldens people to campaign against abortion in this country”, Ms Hallgarten was worried “that there may be more money available if the anti-abortion organisations in the States are able to stop fighting their local state level court cases”.

“We already know there is a lot of money in Europe from American anti-abortion campaigners, it’s very hard to find the paper trail or to quantify it but we know organisations here are receiving funding from the States.”

https://inews.co.uk/news/us-roe-wade-mo ... ps-1713481

[Time_Traveller]

Conservative Party whip Christopher Pincher resigns after 'drinking too much' and 'embarrassing myself' on night out

Thursday 30 June 2022

Boris Johnson's deputy chief whip has resigned after drinking "far too much" and "embarrassing myself and other people" on a night out.

Christopher Pincher, the Conservative MP for Tamworth, has written to the prime minister to explain his actions.

He said in his letter: "Last night I drank far too much.

"I've embarrassed myself and other people which is the last thing I want to do and for that I apologise to you and to those concerned.

"I think the right thing to do in the circumstances is for me to resign as deputy chief whip. I owe it to you and the people I've caused upset to, to do this.

https://news.sky.com/story/conservative ... t-12643407

[Time_Traveller]

The Queen could block Boris Johnson from calling a snap election using obscure rule, senior Tories say

July 2, 2022

The Queen would, in theory, be able to block any attempt by Boris Johnson to hold a snap general election this year, senior Tories have told i.

The dramatic move could be signalled privately by Buckingham Palace to No 10 Downing Street, using an obscure constitutional convention that allows a Monarch to turn down the dissolution of Parliament if an alternative Prime Minister can be found.

Although the current Parliament can run until January 2025, Johnson refused repeatedly this week to rule out taking the country to the polls early and some Tories believe he could wipe out Labour’s current polling lead with a vigorous election campaign.

As the PM prepares for a “reset reshuffle” of his Cabinet in the wake of the resignation of his deputy chief whip Christopher Pincher, some rebel MPs believe he may still be tempted by a “cut and run” election this October.

Allies of Johnson have also “war-gamed” the option of a snap polling day should Sir Keir Starmer be served with a fine by Durham police for breaking Covid rules, a move that the Labour leader has promised would trigger his resignation.

https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/queen ... es-1718488

[wjfox]

No 10 considers 50-year mortgages that could pass down generations

Fri 1 Jul 2022 22.30 BST

Downing Street is exploring the idea of trying to tackle the housing crisis with ultra-long mortgages of up to 50 years that could pass between generations, allowing more people to build up equity rather than pay rent.

Mortgage experts said the idea could bring some benefits but flagged problems, including the potential to saddle children with debt, and the fact it would not tackle the fundamental issue of housing supply.

Under the plan being examined by No 10, a longer mortgage period would allow people to borrow larger sums, with the possibility of passing the debt on, although it remains unclear what government action would make this happen.

Other housing ideas being considered by Downing Street include trying to free up government-owned land for rapid homebuilding, and exploring whether institutions such as schools could build homes for key workers priced out of local areas.

Boris Johnson, speaking to reporters during his trip to the Nato summit in Madrid this week, confirmed that the idea of 50-year mortgages was being looked at, saying the government “wants to find all sorts of creative ways to help people into ownership”.

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2022/ ... enerations

[Time_Traveller]

No 10 considers 50-year mortgages that could pass down generations

Fri 1 Jul 2022 22.30 BST

Downing Street is exploring the idea of trying to tackle the housing crisis with ultra-long mortgages of up to 50 years that could pass between generations, allowing more people to build up equity rather than pay rent.

Mortgage experts said the idea could bring some benefits but flagged problems, including the potential to saddle children with debt, and the fact it would not tackle the fundamental issue of housing supply.

Under the plan being examined by No 10, a longer mortgage period would allow people to borrow larger sums, with the possibility of passing the debt on, although it remains unclear what government action would make this happen.

Other housing ideas being considered by Downing Street include trying to free up government-owned land for rapid homebuilding, and exploring whether institutions such as schools could build homes for key workers priced out of local areas.

Boris Johnson, speaking to reporters during his trip to the Nato summit in Madrid this week, confirmed that the idea of 50-year mortgages was being looked at, saying the government “wants to find all sorts of creative ways to help people into ownership”.

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2022/ ... enerations

That would be interesting on how this would happen.

[Time_Traveller]

NHS faces bleak future unless Government reverses ‘brutal’ £800m pre-Covid pandemic cuts, BMA chair warns

5 days ago

The NHS faces a bleak future without a Government guarantee to reverse “brutal” pre-pandemic cuts to health services, the outgoing head of the British Medical Association (BMA) has warned.

Dr Chaand Nagpaul said ministers can no longer exploit “a well of goodwill which has totally run dry”.

Around 100,000 NHS vacancies remain unfilled as the waiting list backlog, worsened by the coronavirus pandemic, continues to grow. The BMA chair of council described it as a “crisis of unimaginable proportions”.

In his final speech in the role at the Union’s annual representative meeting in Brighton, Dr Nagpaul warned the UK had 50,000 fewer doctors in England than the average among countries such as France, Germany, Canada and Japan.

He said the Government “needs to wake up, open its eyes and realise that we can’t afford to lose a single doctor if patients aren’t to suffer more”.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/health/medica ... ar-AAYTNq8

[wjfox]

[Time_Traveller]

Well that's first from a right-wing propaganda rag like the Fail.

[Time_Traveller]

Northern Ireland wants stability. Tearing up the Brexit agreement will put peace and prosperity at risk

Sun 3 Jul 2022

Twenty-four years ago, people from across the island of Ireland came out in huge numbers to vote in support of the Good Friday (Belfast) agreement. Their vote was a clear vote against conflict and violence, to ensure that all children on the island of Ireland would be able to grow up in peace. This was a genuinely remarkable and defining moment.

The agreement was explicitly built on the principles of partnership, equality and mutual respect. Its defining legacy has been to commit everyone to pursue dialogue in order to resolve differences.

The EU played a vital role in the peace process. The architects of the agreement were keenly aware of the EU itself as a peace project – one based on international cooperation and mutual understanding. To people across Ireland, EU membership and the single market opened a shared space where there was once division. Over the past three decades, the EU has invested more than €1.5bn in programmes for peace and cross-border cooperation.

When the UK took the decision to leave the EU, it was clear that both sides, the EU and the UK, would need to find a common solution to protect the Good Friday agreement and preserve the precious peace for all people.

That solution, reached through long and hard negotiations, is the Northern Ireland protocol.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfr ... ty-at-risk

[Time_Traveller]

Yet more evidence that nuclear is a waste of time and money.

Solar + wind + hydro are clearly the way to go. Much cheaper and quicker to build. Combine them with batteries, intercontinental connections and smart grids to smooth any baseload issues.

Sizewell C, like Hinkley C, will be a financial disaster. These outdated, overpriced hulks need consigning to the history books.

-----

Sizewell C ‘may cost double government estimates and take five years longer to build’

Sun 22 May 2022 10.56 BST

The proposed Sizewell C nuclear power station could cost UK taxpayers more than double government estimates and take an extra five years to build, according to research.

Ministers will decide in July whether to approve the development of the Suffolk power station proposed by the French developer EDF. The business department has estimated that the government-backed scheme will add an extra £1 a month to household bills to aid construction costs.

But research by the University of Greenwich Business School seen by the Guardian shows the average monthly cost could reach £2.12, or £25.40 a year. At its costliest point, the build could cost taxpayers nearly £4 a month. That represents the study’s gloomiest forecast, which predicts construction would take 17 years and cost £43.8bn.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment ... r-to-build

More from Sizewell C: -

Poor households face having to help foot bill for building Sizewell C

Sun 3 Jul 2022

The UK government has been criticised for exposing low-income households to the cost of building the Sizewell C nuclear power plant while letting factories “off the hook” as a crucial planning decision is due this week.

If given the green light, the government hopes to use a regulated asset base (RAB) funding model to finance the project, which is being proposed by the French energy firm EDF.

RAB reduces the risk to investors, who will receive regular payments before the project begins generating power. However, it also means customers pay for the construction costs through higher energy bills.

A consultation on using the RAB model is due to close next month and shows operators in energy-intensive industries would be exempt but households receiving universal credit would have to pay.

In the consultation, officials said the exemption for electricity-intensive users – such as factories – would avoid the risk of putting them at a “significant competitive disadvantage” when operating in international markets as they may have to add the costs to the price of their products.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/20 ... sizewell-c

[Time_Traveller]

Kellogg’s fails in court challenge against UK high-sugar cereal rules

Mon 4 Jul 2022

Kellogg’s has failed in a legal challenge against regulations that would ban it from promoting sugar-filled cereals with buy one, get one free (Bogof) offers.

The company, whose brands include Corn Flakes, Coco Pops and Frosties, had argued the government’s inclusion of Kellogg’s cereals among “less healthy” foods was unfair because it did not take into account the milk that was usually added them.

In a judgment on Monday, Mr Justice Linden dismissed the claim, finding that the addition of milk would not affect the fact that the cereal was high in sugar. He also rejected the company’s claim that the government did not consult parliament properly.

Kellogg’s UK, which is owned by the New York-listed Kellogg Company, said it would not appeal against the ruling.

The government has brought in regulations limiting the promotion of foods that are “high in fat, salt and sugar” (HFSS) in supermarkets and other large retailers as part of its efforts to curb obesity.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/20 ... real-rules

[wjfox]

[joe00uk]

Rats fleeing a sinking ship. They're preparing their suitcases full of cash for when the economy collapses in three months time and they have to flee to New York.

[Cyber_Rebel]

New York.

Please no... there are enough rats here already.

[Time_Traveller]

New York.

Please no... there are enough rats here already.

Well Johnson is technically American as he was born in New York

[Time_Traveller]

Alex Chalk has resigned as Solicitor General




Will Quince has just resigned.

[wjfox]

[Time_Traveller]

Sounds like a dictator approach by Johnson, the only think that can get rid of him is definitely the 1922 Committee or a really large protest.

[Time_Traveller]

Boris Johnson could face new confidence vote within days

Wed 6 Jul 2022

Boris Johnson could face another confidence vote within days as members of the Conservative backbench committee will consider changing the rules as soon as Wednesday night, the Guardian understands.

Two executive members said it was possible that the 1922 Committee could decide to change the rules to allow a confidence vote to take place at a meeting of the executive on Wednesday afternoon. Johnson is protected by the current rules, which grant a year’s immunity after he won a vote a month ago.

If the executive changes the rules, and enough MPs have sent letters to Sir Graham Brady to demand a new confidence vote, then one could take place immediately. “The first ballot was triggered and held same day – we can move fast if we need to,” one MP said.

However, the committee is divided about how to proceed and one said that at least six members of the committee could not make the regularly scheduled meeting at 4pm because of other commitments – including questioning Johnson at a meeting of the liaison committee of select committee chairs.

One executive member said there was a need for cool heads and for any decision to have total probity. “We have to calmly navigate our way through the position and strike a balance on what needs to happen,” the MP said. “We have to ask ourselves if we have to make a decision of this magnitude at this moment. Is it wise? What does it mean for future leaders.”

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... -committee

[Time_Traveller]

New UK chancellor Nadhim Zahawi to review corporation tax rises

Wed 6 Jul 2022

Nadhim Zahawi, the new chancellor of the exchequer, has called for a review of the UK’s corporate tax policy in a clear hint that a rise from 19p to 25p due next year could be reduced or scrapped.

Zahawi, who took up the post on Tuesday evening after Rishi Sunak’s resignation, said he wanted to examine the planned increases in corporation tax to make sure British companies remain competitive.

He told Sky News on Wednesday: “I will look at everything. There’s nothing off the table. I want to be one of the most competitive countries in the world for investment.”

He added: “I know that boards around the world, when they make investment decisions, they’re long-term, and the one tax they can compare globally is corporation tax. I want to make sure that we are as competitive as we can be whilst maintaining fiscal discipline.”

In a separate interview with the BBC, Zahawi said: “Of course I will be looking at where else can I make sure the economy remains competitive and dynamic with our European neighbours and the rest of the world as well.”

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... -tax-rises