UK News and Discussions

[Time_Traveller]

Keir Starmer ‘to be investigated by police over beer and curry lockdown meeting’

Friday 6 May 2022

Sir Keir Starmer will be investigated by the police over an alleged lockdown rules breach, according to reports.

The Labour leader has been facing mounting questions over footage of him drinking a beer with colleagues during an April 2021 by-election campaign.

Durham Constabulary have previously reviewed the incident and decided there was no case to answer but have seemingly reversed their position.

The force has been publicly pressured by senior Tories to reopen a probe into the event.

https://metro.co.uk/2022/05/06/labour-l ... -16599238/

[Time_Traveller]

Glasgow election results 2022 live: latest on who has won council - as votes counted

Friday, 6th May 2022

Of the wards announced so far, the Tories have won just one seat - that the Tory leader in Glasgow, Thomas Kerr - with the SNP on 14 and Labour on 13, and the Greens doing well on 5.

Susan Aitken, the former Glasgow council leader, has been re-elected to represent Langside - but it was the Greens’ Holly Bruce who came first on first preference votes.

There are 85 seats up for grabs in 23 wards across Glasgow.

https://www.glasgowworld.com/news/polit ... ed-3682719

[Time_Traveller]

Rare case of monkeypox confirmed in England

Saturday 7 May 2022

A rare case of monkeypox has been confirmed in England, says the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

The viral infection usually causes mild illness and most people recover within a few weeks and is similar to human smallpox.

Initial symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, backache and exhaustion.

However, severe illness can occur in some individuals.

The patient found with monkeypox has a recent travel history from Nigeria, which is where they are believed to have contracted the infection, before travelling to the UK.
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According to the NHS, Monkeypox is mainly spread by wild animals in parts of west or central Africa and the risk of catching it in the UK is very low.

https://news.sky.com/story/rare-case-of ... d-12607440

[wjfox]

Activists disrupt Priti Patel speech in protest against Rwanda refugee plan

Sat 7 May 2022 12.02 BST

A speech by the home secretary, Priti Patel, was disrupted on Friday evening after pro-refugee activists infiltrated a Conservative party “spring dinner”.

Eight young social justice and climate campaigners from Green New Deal Rising disrupted the Bassetlaw Conservative Association Spring Dinner and demanded she drop controversial plans to offshore asylum seekers to Rwanda.

As Patel started to address the party faithful, activists stood up, one by one, to condemn the offshoring plans and called on Patel to abandon them.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/202 ... fugee-plan

[wjfox]

[Time_Traveller]

In my opinion, the UK has lost it's way years ago and has now become an autocracy/oligarchy under Johnson.

[wjfox]

[wjfox]

Hmm, I wonder what happened 12 years ago.

[wjfox]

[wjfox]

More than 42m UK adults ‘will be overweight by 2040’

Thu 19 May 2022 00.01 BST

More than 42 million adults in the UK will be overweight or obese by 2040 and at higher risk of 13 types of cancer, an “alarming” report reveals, as health leaders accused ministers of “kicking the can down the road” when it comes to tackling the obesity crisis.

Data collected by Cancer Research UK (CRUK) shows that 71% of people will be overweight by 2040, a rise from 64% today. Of these, almost 36% of adults – 21 million people – will be obese. The charity described the figures as “staggering”.

“These projections should serve as a wake-up call to the government about the state of our nation’s health,” said Michelle Mitchell, the chief executive of CRUK. “Ministers mustn’t keep kicking the can down the road when it comes to tackling the obesity crisis – delaying measures that will lead to healthier food options.”

Last week, the government announced it was delaying measures to tackle unhealthy eating for 12 months. The former Conservative party leader William Hague said the weakening of the anti-obesity strategy was “morally reprehensible”.

The U-turn will mean a ban on buy-one-get-one-free deals for foods high in fat, salt and sugar will be postponed for 12 months. A ban on TV junk food adverts before a 9pm watershed has also been put on hold for a year.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/202 ... ht-by-2040

[wjfox]

[Time_Traveller]

Gene-edited mushrooms and tomatoes could hit supermarket shelves next year

May 20, 2022

Supermarket shoppers will be able to buy food produced using genetically-edited ingredients from as early as next year, the Environment Secretary has predicted.

The Government is due to present a groundbreaking bill next week that will pave the way for crops to be produced using precision genetic editing techniques that will make them naturally more resilient and require less pesticides.

Speaking exclusively to i, George Eustice said the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill will be passed into law this year, potentially enabling the first GE foods to be available by 2023.

https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/gene- ... ce-1641349

[wjfox]

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.

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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

[wjfox]

WATCH: The moment Woolwich station opens to passengers

We were there as the first passengers entered the new station at Woolwich on the Elizabeth line. Some staff were quite excited too.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-engl ... type=share

[Time_Traveller]

Energy price cap set to rise to £2,800 in October

24 May 2022



The boss of the UK's energy regulator has warned the energy price cap is set to rise to around £2,800 in October.

Jonathan Brearley told MPs that the price cap, which is currently at £1,971, will increase due to continued volatility in the gas market.

He said the recent price rises were a "once in a generation event not seen since the oil crisis in the 1970s".

The Ofgem chief executive also warned that the number of people in fuel poverty could double.

Mr Brearley said 12 million households could be placed into fuel poverty if October's expected rise happens.

A household is considered to be in fuel poverty if it has to spend 10% or more of its disposable income on energy.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-61562657

[wjfox]

Energy price cap set to rise to £2,800 in October

24 May 2022



The boss of the UK's energy regulator has warned the energy price cap is set to rise to around £2,800 in October.

Jonathan Brearley told MPs that the price cap, which is currently at £1,971, will increase due to continued volatility in the gas market.

He said the recent price rises were a "once in a generation event not seen since the oil crisis in the 1970s".

The Ofgem chief executive also warned that the number of people in fuel poverty could double.

Mr Brearley said 12 million households could be placed into fuel poverty if October's expected rise happens.

A household is considered to be in fuel poverty if it has to spend 10% or more of its disposable income on energy.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-61562657

This is now a very serious crisis for the UK, unless the government does something – anything – to help out the poorest.

I mean, people are already at the cliff edge, struggling to cope as it is. We're gonna have millions going hungry and without heating by year end.

How the hell has Britain, supposedly one of the world's richest countries, got to this state in the 21st century??????

[wjfox]

[Time_Traveller]

Energy price cap set to rise to £2,800 in October

24 May 2022



The boss of the UK's energy regulator has warned the energy price cap is set to rise to around £2,800 in October.

Jonathan Brearley told MPs that the price cap, which is currently at £1,971, will increase due to continued volatility in the gas market.

He said the recent price rises were a "once in a generation event not seen since the oil crisis in the 1970s".

The Ofgem chief executive also warned that the number of people in fuel poverty could double.

Mr Brearley said 12 million households could be placed into fuel poverty if October's expected rise happens.

A household is considered to be in fuel poverty if it has to spend 10% or more of its disposable income on energy.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-61562657

This is now a very serious crisis for the UK, unless the government does something – anything – to help out the poorest.

I mean, people are already at the cliff edge, struggling to cope as it is. We're gonna have millions going hungry and without heating by year end.

How the hell has Britain, supposedly one of the world's richest countries, got to this state in the 21st century??????

Exactly but do the Tories actually care about us in the first place and i think no they do not. The only way it will be fixed is to get rid of this government once and for all and fix what the Tories have messed up over the last 12 years.

[wjfox]

[Tadasuke]

More than 42m UK adults ‘will be overweight by 2040’

It's a huge problem! I think the only real solution is an anti-fat pill that Kurzweil was prophecising back in the 1990s. I see more and more overweight people. They are unfortunately unable to control themselves. A real shame, only science can save us. Being obese is also more taxing on environment. It's bad through and through.