UK News and Discussions

[wjfox]

[Time_Traveller]

Apollo swoops for parcel delivery giant Evri in £2.7bn deal

Thursday 25 July 2024 12:07, UK



The private equity giant Apollo Global Management is on the brink of a deal to buy Evri, the British parcel delivery company, in a £2.7bn deal.

Sky News has learnt that Apollo has seen off competition to acquire the company from rivals including JD.com, the Chinese internet group, and DHL.

The deal could be announced as soon as Thursday afternoon, according to banking sources.

Apollo's agreement to buy Evri, which delivers more than 700 million parcels each year, reflects the more complex antitrust implications of a sale to another industrial buyer, the sources added.

Platinum Equity, another private equity firm, also made an offer for Evri.

https://news.sky.com/story/apollo-swoop ... l-13184733

[Time_Traveller]

Tom Tugendhat goes after human rights as he enters Tory leadership race

9 hours ago

Tom Tugendhat has become the second senior Tory to announce a leadership bid, indicating he would be prepared to quit the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) to protect the UK’s borders.

The shadow security minister, who joined James Cleverly in publicly declaring his leadership ambitions, insisted he could lead the Conservatives to victory at the next general election.

In his first round of interviews since entering the contest, Mr Tugendhat echoed Rishi Sunak’s stance on the ECHR, attempting to toe the line between appealing to right-wingers and not spooking more moderate Conservatives. He said he would be willing to quit the convention if he believed it no longer “served the interests of the British people”.

Quizzed about what went wrong, Mr Tugendhat refused to criticise the former prime minister, who led the Conservative Party to its worst election defeat in history. Instead, he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that “we need to be looking at everything that happened in the last five years and making sure we are rethinking the agenda on which we stand”.

Pressed repeatedly on what went wrong, Mr Tugendhat said the party “failed to deliver” after the 2019 general election, highlighting the spiralling tax burden and record net migration.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/p ... 85459.html

I see the Tories are turning authoritarian, if they choose Tugendhat he is willing to quit the ECHR and please Reform UK in the process.

Which one of these rights, enshrined in the ECHR, would people be happy to surrender?

The right to life (Article 2)
Freedom from torture (Article 3)
Freedom from slavery (Article 4)
The right to liberty (Article 5)
The right to a fair trial (Article 6)
The right not to be punished for something that wasn’t against the law at the time (Article 7)
The right to respect for family and private life (Article 8)
Freedom of thought, conscience and religion (Article 9)
Freedom of expression (Article 10)
Freedom of assembly (Article 11)
The right to marry and start a family (Article 12)
The right not to be discriminated against in respect of these rights (Article 14)
The right to protection of property (Protocol 1, Article 1)
The right to education (Protocol 1, Article 2)
The right to participate in free elections (Protocol 1, Article 3)

[Time_Traveller]

Jenrick becomes third Tory leadership candidate

25 July 2024, 09:49 BST

Former cabinet minister Robert Jenrick has joined the race for the Conservative Party leadership, promising to win back Reform UK voters who deserted the Tories in the recent general election.

The former housing secretary and immigration minister is the third contender to announce his candidacy, following ex-Home Secretary James Cleverly and former security minister Tom Tugendhat.

The 42-year-old was an ally of former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, but resigned from his cabinet last December arguing the government's Rwanda legislation did not go far enough.

Mr Jenrick's campaign team say he has already secured the support of the 10 Tory MPs needed to formally enter the race.

Once seen as a centrist figure and close ally of Mr Sunak, Mr Jenrick has since moved to the right.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clmypvr4p49o

[Time_Traveller]

NHS and care regulator 'not fit for purpose'

37 minutes ago

The body responsible for regulating NHS and care services in England is not fit for purpose, the health secretary says.

Wes Streeting's intervention comes after an independent review found significant failings at the Care Quality Commission (CQC), according to headline findings released by the government.

The CQC inspects everything from hospitals and GP practices through to care homes and dental surgeries, covering 90,000 different services.

Wes Streeting said he was “stunned” by the scale of the problems as he announced a set of emergency measures.

The CQC said it accepted the findings in full.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjk3p4jnnl6o

[Time_Traveller]

MPs back Labour plan to tighten outside job rules

25 July 2024

MPs have backed a plan from the new Labour government to tighten rules on what they can do in an outside job.

They approved changes to get rid of exemptions allowing them to advise employers on "public policy" and how Parliament works in general.

Commons leader Lucy Powell said the move would get rid of a potential "loophole" and ensure MPs focused on their constituents.

She said the rule tweak would help “turn the page" on standards after a series of controversies in the last parliament.

MPs have also backed plans for a new 14-member "modernisation committee" to recommend broader changes to how the Commons works.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4ng448xy7wo

[Time_Traveller]

Keir Starmer pledges landmark assisted dying vote in parliament

8 hours ago

Sir Keir Starmer has pledged that parliament will debate and vote on changing assisted dying laws if Labour wins the next general election.

In a phone call to TV presenter and assisted dying campaigner Dame Esther Rantzen, the Labour leader said he was “personally in favour of changing the law” around assisted dying.

In footage shown by ITV News, Sir Keir told the Childline founder: “I think we need to make time. We will make the commitment. Esther, I can give you that commitment right now.”

Dame Esther has been a persistent advocate for a vote on assisted dying since her terminal cancer diagnosis in 2023.

She revealed that she joined the Swiss assisted dying society Dignitas to ensure that her family’s “last memories of me” are not “painful” because “if you watch someone you love having a bad death, that memory obliterates all the happy times”.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/p ... 11370.html

More on this: -

Assisted dying bill introduced in Parliament

3 hours ago

A bill which would allow terminally ill adults with six months or fewer to live to get medical help to end their own lives has been introduced in the House of Lords, by former Labour Justice Secretary Lord Falconer.

He told the BBC his bill would apply only to people "mentally able to make the decision".

Their choice would also need to be approved by two doctors and the high court.

Private members' bills introduced in the Lords rarely become law.

However, Lord Falconer says he hopes a backbench MP will introduce a similar bill in the Commons, where it will have a greater chance of success.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3g9yvdrxzzo

[Time_Traveller]

Tory MPs warned that ‘Stop Suella’ campaign could destroy the Conservative Party

7 hours ago

Rightwing Tory MP Suella Braverman’s bid to replace Rishi Sunak as Tory leader may come to an end before it even begins despite huge support among ordinary party members.

The Independent understands that the former home secretary is struggling to get the 10 MPs needed to put her on the ballot paper to become the next Conservative leader as rightwing Brexiteers look at Robert Jenrick as an alternative candidate.

Allies have warned that a “Stop Suella” campaign is running among parliamentarians because of the “uncomfortable truths” she spoke about the state of the party and her enormous support among ordinary members.

A survey by the Conservative Post has been sent to 14,000 verified registered party members with dramatic results. From the first 3,091 respondents Ms Braverman has picked up more than 1,000 votes as the best leader well ahead of former business secretary Kemi Badenoch in second place with just over 400. The two centrist One Nation candidates on the left of the party - James Cleverly and Tom Tugendhat - are trailing in the last two places with less than 300.

The contrast between the MPs and members appears to show that the rift between the two groups is widening even after the catastrophic election defeat on 4 July.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/p ... 85995.html

[Time_Traveller]

Former defence secretary urges Lammy to listen to cross party support for recognition of Somaliland

17 hours ago



David Lammy is being pushed to urgently review Britain’s foreign policy towards a potential key ally in the Red Sea conflict with the Houthis and officially recognise Somaliland.

The former UK protectorate on the Horn of Africa has functioned as an independent state since 1991 after breaking away from Somalia following a civil war but has not received official recognition by the international community. The two countries had unified within days of the UK giving Somaliland independence in 1960 but broke up again after a civil war.

The renewed calls came this week after Labour run Liverpool City Council unanimously backed a motion recognising Somaliland in what has been hailed as a significant move in the country’s relations with the rest of the world.

Liverpool’s Lord Mayor Richard Kemp announced: “Liverpool council unanimously agreed a motion calling upon HMG to recognise the former British Protectorate of Somaliland as an independent Country free from Somalia. The Somaliland Representative to the UK and local Somaliland residents were delighted.”

Somaliland’s disapora office Tweeted: “We deeply appreciate Liverpool City Council's July 24th, 2024 motion re-recognizing Somaliland's independence. This milestone is a testament to the tireless efforts of the Somaliland community in Liverpool, the UK Mission, and advocates worldwide. We congratulate all involved!”

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/p ... 86039.html

[Time_Traveller]

John Lewis allowed to build homes for first time

26 July 2024



John Lewis has the green light to build homes in a ground-breaking first for the department store chain.

Bromley Council approved the plans for a block of 353 rental flats above an existing Waitrose shop in the London borough on Thursday.

It is a milestone for the company, which has been trying to get permission to develop housing for years as it looks for new ways to bring in money.

But it faces backlash for not delivering the number of affordable homes initially promised.

It said the "energy efficient" flats in the 24-storey Bromley development would include a mix of one to three bedroom units.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0dmyl1kvrpo

[Time_Traveller]

Are the UK's finances really worse than Labour expected?

27 July 2024, 00:09 BST



The new Labour government has been in power for just over three weeks.

In that time, it says ministers have found government departments in a much worse state than they thought.

On Monday, the Chancellor will argue the public finances are in a bad place – and that will mean tough decisions.

To use the Westminster jargon, she's rolling the pitch for announcements that might not be popular. But how much of what the government is facing is actually a surprise? And how much are these ministers trying to shape the political narrative?

The first thing to highlight is that we already had a good idea of the state of the country’s books, external. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) publishes them twice a year – we last got a full breakdown last November.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9r329y9pqxo

[Time_Traveller]

Priti Patel vows to unite Tories in leadership bid

8 hours ago

Dame Priti Patel has said she can unite the Tories and turn them "back into a winning machine" as she launched her bid for the party's leadership.

The former home secretary said her political experience meant she would be able to "reinvigorate" the party following its recent election defeat.

“I have done this throughout my 30 plus years of service to our Party, in both government and opposition. I can get us match fit to win the next general election.”

Dame Priti is the first woman to throw her hat into the ring to replace Rishi Sunak, and joins James Cleverly, Robert Jenrick, Tom Tugendhat and Mel Stride.

The 52-year-old was widely expected to run for the leadership. Other people who are expected to join her but have not yet declared include the shadow communities secretary Kemi Badenoch and Suella Braverman, another former home secretary.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2lky7z7531o

[Time_Traveller]

Lib Dems plan to ‘finish the job’ in Tory heartlands, says Ed Davey

Sun 28 Jul 2024 13.45 BST



Conservatives from their traditional heartlands at the next election, Ed Davey has promised, saying a further move to the right by a new Tory leader would make this even more likely.

In his first interview since the Lib Dems won 72 MPs in the general election, beyond party strategists’ highest predictions, Davey said this expanded Commons contingent – nearly seven times more than their 2019 total – had given them a bigger platform for their message.

Confirming that he intends to lead the party into the next election, Davey said the party would again ruthlessly target so-called blue wall seats, traditionally Conservative areas where the Lib Dems have taken advantage of perceived Tory complacency and disaffection with the party’s ideological direction.

“We need to finish the job at the next election,” he said. “We took down a lot of the blue wall, more than I expected. But there is still some left to take down. We have a real opportunity. I don’t think there has been anybody in this party for over 100 years who could credibly say that.”

With the Lib Dems now fewer than 50 seats behind the Conservatives, taking another chunk out of Tory strongholds could see Davey’s party targeting second place in the Commons.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/ar ... s-ed-davey

[Time_Traveller]

Junior doctors offered 22% pay rise in deal to end strike action

29 July 2024, 12:29 BST

The government and the BMA trade union have struck an improved pay deal for junior doctors in England worth 22% on average over two years.

The BMA’s junior doctors’ committee has agreed to put the offer to its members.

If accepted it would spell an end to long-running strike action which has led to the cancellation of hundreds of thousands of appointments since March 2023.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to announce the terms of the deal in the Commons later.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjqe82lk5g5o

[Time_Traveller]

School strikes 'now unlikely' after 5.5% pay offer

33 minutes ago

More school strikes in England are "now unlikely", teaching unions have said, as they welcomed the government's offer of a 5.5% pay rise from September.

The offer is being funded by an additional £1.2bn from the government.

The National Education Union (NEU) called it a “welcome step in the right direction”.

Others called it a "positive start", but said further work would need to be done to restore wages after a real-terms cut since 2010.

That is because teachers' pay has fallen in value since then when compared with the increased cost of living.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ceqd7885wj4o

[Time_Traveller]

Scheme to reunite separated Afghan families opens

1 hour ago



Partners and children separated from their families during the evacuation of Afghanistan can now apply to join them in the UK, under plans announced by the government.

It comes three years since the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, which led to a military operation to evacuate British nationals and Afghans, known as Operation Pitting.

A number of families became separated due to the speed and chaotic circumstances surrounding the evacuation.

On Tuesday, the government announced the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) separated families route had opened for applications for the next three months.

The route is open to the partners and children of people who escaped from Afghanistan under legal routes previously set up by the government.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce987p13rq1o

[Time_Traveller]

Royal Mail bid faces probe on potential Russia links

1 August 2024, 14:45 BST

Royal Mail's takeover by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky will face a government probe, including into potential links with Russia, the BBC understands.

Officials have "called in" the purchase of the postal service's parent company for an investigation under the National Security and Investment Act.

The bid will be suspended, a routine process anytime the government reviews a takeover, but it does not mean that Mr Kretinsky has withdrawn from the deal.

The government could block the deal, though a similar review when Mr Kretinsky increased his stake in Royal Mail found nothing. Mr Kretinsky declined to comment.

However, the BBC understands this probe will be more thorough than last time because Mr Kretinsky is trying to buy the whole parent company in a £5bn deal, including assumed debts, as opposed to a stake.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg647wnypxvo

[Time_Traveller]

Police unit to be set up to tackle violence across UK in wake of riots after Southport stabbings

Thursday 1 August 2024 17:57, UK



A police unit will be set up to tackle violent disorder across the country after rioting by far-right groups in the wake of the Southport stabbings, the prime minister has announced.

Sir Keir Starmer said he would not allow a "breakdown of law and order on our streets" following violent scenes in Southport, Hartlepool and London in the aftermath of the attack ,which killed three young girls who attended a Taylor Swift-themed dance class.

Holding a press conference inside Downing Street, the prime minister criticised a "tiny, mindless minority in our society" who had forced a "grieving" community to "suffer twice" when they staged a demonstration in the aftermath of the stabbings.

"A gang of thugs got on trains and buses, went to a community that is not their own," Sir Keir said.

"[They] then proceeded to throw bricks at police officers. Police officers who just 24 hours earlier had been having to deal with an attack on children in their community. Their community."

https://news.sky.com/story/new-police-u ... s-13188845

[wjfox]

Government shelves £1.3bn UK tech and AI plans

2 August 2024, 00:04 BST

The new Labour government has shelved £1.3bn of funding promised by the Conservatives for tech and Artificial Intelligence (AI) projects, the BBC has learned.

It includes £800m for the creation of an exascale supercomputer at Edinburgh University and a further £500m for AI Research Resource, which funds computing power for AI.

Both funds were unveiled less than 12 months ago.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) said the money was promised by the previous administration but was never allocated in its budget.

Trade body techUK said the government now needed to make "new proposals quickly" or the UK risked "losing out" to other countries in what are crucial industries of the future.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cyx5x44vnyeo

[weatheriscool]

Government shelves £1.3bn UK tech and AI plans

2 August 2024, 00:04 BST

The new Labour government has shelved £1.3bn of funding promised by the Conservatives for tech and Artificial Intelligence (AI) projects, the BBC has learned.

It includes £800m for the creation of an exascale supercomputer at Edinburgh University and a further £500m for AI Research Resource, which funds computing power for AI.

Both funds were unveiled less than 12 months ago.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) said the money was promised by the previous administration but was never allocated in its budget.

Trade body techUK said the government now needed to make "new proposals quickly" or the UK risked "losing out" to other countries in what are crucial industries of the future.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cyx5x44vnyeo

This most certainly is bad news for a.i in the uk. I hope labor can one up the conservatives in this area but we will see.