UK News and Discussions

[Time_Traveller]

Thomas Birley: Arsonist involved in fire outside migrant hotel handed longest sentence yet in UK riots

Friday 6 September 2024 13:14, UK

An arsonist who stoked a fire outside a Rotherham hotel hosting asylum seekers during last month's riots has been jailed for nine years.

It is the longest sentence handed down so far over last month's violence, which erupted across the UK following the killing of three children in a stabbing at a dance class in Southport.

Thomas Birley, 27, of Swinton, near Rotherham, previously pleaded guilty to a charge of arson with intent to endanger life, one count of violent disorder, and possession of an offensive weapon - a police baton.

He was sentenced to nine years in custody with five years on license as part of a 14-year extended sentence.

It comes after masked rioters broke into the Holiday Inn Express hotel in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, which was being used to provide accommodation for asylum seekers, and destroyed a communal area, as violence escalated in towns and cities across the UK.

https://news.sky.com/story/thomas-birle ... s-13210468

[Time_Traveller]

Green co-leader opens party conference with scathing attack on Labour U-turns

3 hours ago

Green co-leader Adrian Ramsay has opened the party’s conference with an attack on the “lacklustre offers and U-turns” of Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party.

Kicking off the left-wing party’s campaign against Labour for next year’s local elections, Mr Ramsay painted the Greens as “an inspiring alternative to business as usual”.

And, while he promised to work with Labour on issues where the parties agree, he condemned Sir Keir’s decision to withdraw the winter fuel payment from millions of pensioners, his refusal to lift the two-child benefit cap and the approval of an expansion of London City Airport .

Mr Ramsay also attacked the “half-hearted” suspension of arms sales to Israel after foreign secretary David Lammy blocked 30 of the UK’s 350 export licences to the country.

Two months after the party’s general election breakthrough, which saw the Greens jump from having one Westminster MP to four, Mr Ramsay vowed the group would “use our voices in parliament to raise up the voices of two million Green voters who want so much better”.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/p ... 08341.html

[Time_Traveller]

Boris Johnson faces ‘serious questions’ over new business with uranium entrepreneur

Sat 7 Sep 2024 17.01 BST

Boris Johnson failed to disclose that he met a uranium lobbyist while prime minister before entering into a new business with a controversial Iranian-Canadian uranium entrepreneur, the Observer can reveal.

Johnson’s new company Better Earth Limited also employs Charlotte Owen, a junior aide with just a few years work experience whom he elevated to the House of Lords last year at the age of 29, sparking intense controversy.

Transparency campaigners say there appear to be “serious public interest questions to be answered” over the nature and timeline of Johnson’s relationship with his co-director, Amir Adnani, the founder, president and CEO of Uranium Energy Corp, a US-based mining and exploration company, championed by former Trump advisor Steve Bannon.

Amir Adnani, a Canadian citizen who is the director of a network of offshore companies based in the British Virgin Islands, incorporated Better Earth in December last year. On 1 May, Companies House filings reveal, “The Rt Hon Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson” was added as a director and co-chairman. And this summer, Charlotte Owen – now Baroness Owen of Alderley Edge – joined the company to work alongside him as its vice president.

The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba), which oversees ex-ministerial appointments, explicitly warned Johnson in April 2024 that the “broad overlap” between his roles in office and at Better Earth may entail “unknown risks” because of the lack of transparency over the firm’s clients. A statement from the Cabinet Office noted the potential for a conflict of interests particularly because of “the unknown nature of Better Earth’s clients – specifically that there is a risk of a client engaging in lobbying the UK government.” The committee also told the former prime minister it feared “that you could offer Better Earth unfair access and influence across government”.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/ar ... -owen-aide

[Time_Traveller]

NHS 'broken' by past governments, Starmer tells BBC

7 September 2024, 18:00 BST

The NHS in England has been "broken" by successive Conservative-led governments - and the state it is now in is "unforgiveable", Sir Keir Starmer has told the BBC.

In his first major interview in Downing Street, the prime minister said a review of the health service to be published on Thursday finds changes to the NHS were "hopelessly misconceived".

He said austerity in the coalition years, and then the Conservative government's handling of the pandemic, left the NHS in an "awful position".

Speaking on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Sir Keir added that the review by an eminent surgeon, Lord Darzi, is expected to reveal too many children "are being let down" by the health service.

"Everybody watching this who has used the NHS, or whose relatives have, knows that it’s broken," Sir Keir said. "That is unforgivable, the state of our NHS."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1m0vxxk7yno

[Time_Traveller]

Royal Mail considers bin collection-style website for letter delivery days

Sun 8 Sep 2024 14.00 BST

Royal Mail is considering launching a “bin collection”-type website for households to track which day they will receive mail, if the company is given the green light by the regulator to water down services.

The company is pushing to cut its services to save costs, and has proposed a reduction in second-class letter deliveries to alternate weekdays.

Industry sources told the Guardian that the company has mooted a new service where customers can input their postcode to discover which days their letter deliveries are due. It would run separately from services dedicated to tracking individual letters or parcels.

Last week, the regulator, Ofcom said second-class letter deliveries in the UK could be scrapped on Saturdays, as it considers reforms to the universal service obligation (USO), the remit held by Royal Mail to deliver nationwide at one price six days a week.

Royal Mail’s owner has proposed reducing deliveries of second-class letters to two or three days a week, cutting nearly 1,000 jobs and saving £300m a year in the process. Ofcom is studying those proposals, and said it would make a decision next year.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/ar ... ivery-days

[wjfox]

UK public debt projected to almost triple by the mid-2070s

Thu 12 Sep 2024 10.12 BST

Newflash: Britain’s national debt is on track to almost triple over the next 50 years, the UK’s fiscal watchdog has warned.

In its latest Fiscal risks and sustainability report, just released, the Office for Budget Responsibility warns that the UK – and other countries around the world – face several long-term pressures, such as an ageing population, climate change, and rising geopolitical tensions.

Based on current policy and the latest demographic projections, public debt is projected to almost triple from under 100% of GDP to over 270% of GDP over the next 50 years, the OBR says.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/li ... 5a40e6888d

[Time_Traveller]

Cumbria coalmine was unlawfully approved, government says

Thu 11 Jul 2024 17.07 BST



The government has admitted that a proposed coalmine in Cumbria was approved unlawfully, as the carbon emissions of coal from the mine should have been taken into account in the planning decision.

This follows a precedent set by a supreme court judgment last month, when Surrey county council’s decision to extend planning permission for an oil drilling well at Horse Hill, on the Weald, was quashed.

Campaigners argued it should have accounted for greenhouse gas emissions from using the oil when assessing the environmental impacts of the project, not only the drilling site itself. These are known as “scope 3” or downstream emissions.

On Thursday, another oil drilling project – this time in the Lincolnshire Wolds area of outstanding natural beauty – was quashed after a concession from Angela Rayner, secretary of state for housing, communities and local government.

Hours later, lawyers acting for Rayner’s department said there was an “error in law” in the decision to grant planning permission for the Cumbrian mine in December 2022. The government will now not be defending two legal challenges by Friends of the Earth and South Lakes Action on Climate Change (Slacc) next week, and has instead informed the court that the decision to grant planning permission should be quashed.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment ... nment-says

An update on this:-

High court blocks Cumbria plan for UK’s first new deep coalmine in 30 years

Fri 13 Sep 2024 10.36 BST

The UK’s first new deep coalmine in 30 years will not be allowed to go ahead after a ruling in the high court.

On Friday morning, Justice Holgate ruled that plans to build the facility in Whitehaven, Cumbria, would not proceed, in what campaigners called a “victory for the environment”.

New fossil fuel projects are thought to be on shakier legal ground after the precedent set by a landmark supreme court decision that quashed planning permission granted for an oil drilling well at Horse Hill on the Weald in Surrey. The judgment found the climate impact of burning coal, oil and gas must be taken into account when deciding whether to approve projects. This was the first court decision on plans for a new fossil fuel development since the Horse Hill ruling.

Holgate agreed with Friends of the Earth that Michael Gove, when he was secretary of state for levelling up, acted unlawfully in accepting a claim by West Cumbria Mining (WCM) that the mine would be “net zero” and have no impact on the country’s ability to meet the emissions cuts required under the Climate Change Act 2008, because it was relying on offsetting through purchasing carbon credits from abroad. UK government policy does not allow for reliance on international offsets to meet carbon budgets.

The new Labour government this year withdrew its support from the Whitehaven mine in the Cumbria legal case. Lawyers acting for Angela Rayner, the secretary of state for housing, communities and local government, said there had been an “error in law” in the decision to grant planning permission for the mine in December 2022.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment ... n-30-years

[caltrek]

Readout of President Joe Biden’s Meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the United Kingdom
September 13, 2024

Introduction:

(The White House) President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. met today with Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the United Kingdom at the White House. The leaders had an in-depth discussion on a range of foreign policy issues of mutual interest. They reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine as it continues to defend against Russia’s aggression. They expressed deep concern about Iran and North Korea’s provision of lethal weapons to Russia and the People’s Republic of China’s support to Russia’s defense industrial base. They reiterated their ironclad commitment to Israel’s security, the urgent need for a ceasefire deal that will free the hostages and enable increased relief in Gaza, and the need for Israel to do more to protect civilians and address the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. They also condemned Iran-backed Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea. They discussed U.S.-UK cooperation on clean energy and advanced technologies, on AUKUS, as well as opportunities to deepen our strong U.S.-UK economic ties. President Biden underscored his support for the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and its role in maintaining peace and stability in Northern Ireland.

Read more here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-ro ... ngdom-2/

[firestar464]

Home secretary to make decision on change to crossbow laws 'in the near future'

Thursday 11 July 2024 11:25, UK



The home secretary will make a decision soon on whether to change the laws around crossbow following the deaths of a mother and her two daughters.

Carol Hunt, 61, the wife of racing commentator John Hunt, and two of their daughters, Louise, 25, and Hannah, 28, were killed on Monday in an apparent crossbow attack.

Kyle Clifford, 26, who is believed to be known to the victims, was found injured by police and has been arrested following a manhunt.

Police said the killings involved the use of a crossbow and possibly other weapons.

Their deaths have led to calls for stricter laws on crossbows, possibly in line with stringent shotgun licence requirements.

https://news.sky.com/story/home-secreta ... e-13176472

The accused attacker has now been charged with murder.

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/world/a- ... r-AA1qHvz2

[Time_Traveller]

Titanic shipbuilder formally enters administration

27 September 2024, 15:16 BST



Harland and Wolff, the Belfast-based shipbuilder which built the Titanic, has formally entered administration for the second time in five years.

Last week the company’s board had warned that the move was inevitable.

The administration process is confined to the holding company, Harland & Wolff Group Holdings plc, with the operational companies which run the yards continuing to trade.

Its main yard is in Belfast with other operation at Appledore in England and Methil and Arnish in Scotland.

'Reduce the headcount'

The company’s executive chairman, Russell Downs, is optimistic that a new owner or owners will be found for the yards.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czxgn1n08k7o

[weatheriscool]

[Time_Traveller]

I am no Tory but I would rather have Badenoch than Jenrick since he wants to come out of the ECHR.

[Time_Traveller]

Saga in talks with Belgium's Ageas about insurance arm deal

Tuesday 1 October 2024 19:32, UK

Saga, the London-listed financial services and travel provider for over-50s consumers, is in detailed talks with one of Europe's biggest insurers about a deal that will allow it to repay a chunk of its huge debt pile.

Sky News has learnt that Saga is in exclusive negotiations with Ageas, a Belgian insurer which tried to buy Direct Line Group earlier this year, about a long-term partnership arrangement for its insurance division.

City sources said on Tuesday evening that Saga and Ageas were confident of concluding a deal in the near future, although they cautioned that a final agreement had yet to be reached.

Under the deal, Ageas - which abandoned a takeover of Direct Line in March - would make an up-front payment to Saga, with a series of subsequent commission payments, in return for taking over the running of parts of the British company's insurance operations.

The size of those payments was unclear on Tuesday.

https://news.sky.com/story/saga-in-talk ... l-13226065

[Time_Traveller]

Treasury asking ministers to draw up billions of pounds of infrastructure cuts

Tue 1 Oct 2024 18.02 BST

Ministers are being asked to draw up billions of pounds in cuts to infrastructure projects over the next 18 months despite Rachel Reeves pledging to invest more to grow the economy, the Guardian has learned.

Members of the cabinet have been asked to model cuts to their investment plans of up to 10% of their annual capital spending as part of this month’s spending review, government sources said.

The demands would mean big projects such as hospital improvements, road building and defence projects being slowed down or stopped altogether as the government looks for ways to repair what they say is a £22bn black hole in the public finances.

Economists warn that such cuts to capital spending could end up damaging the economy and Britain’s creaking public infrastructure.

Reeves, the chancellor, told the Labour party conference last week: “It is time the Treasury moved on from just counting the costs of investment in our economy to recognising the benefits too. Growth is the challenge and investment is the solution.”

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... cture-cuts

[Time_Traveller]

Fears over future of Falklands after Chagos Islands deal dubbed ‘strategic disaster’

2 minutes ago

Concerns have been raised over the future of the Falkland Islands after the UK gave up control of a remote archipelago - sparking anger from indigenous campaigners and MPs.

In a move which has since been dubbed a “strategic disaster”, the government on Thursday said it had reached a political agreement to hand the Chagos Islands over to Mauritius following negotiations which began in 2022.

The deal is meant to secure the future of a secretive military base on the island of Diego Garcia, but it has left the UK without sovereign territorial control over a piece of land that is crucial to Western security in the Indian Ocean.

While the US-UK base will remain on the island, the agreement has triggered fears that China could achieve its goal of setting up bases on the Chagos Islands, as well as compromising UK control over the Falklands.

It has also sparked anger from indigenous Chagossians who have accused the government of excluding them from talks.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/p ... 23809.html

[Time_Traveller]

Sue Gray quits as Sir Keir Starmer's chief of staff

6 October 2024, 12:56 BST

Sue Gray has quit her role as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's chief of staff.

A Downing Street spokeswoman confirmed Ms Gray will take up a new role as the PM's envoy for nations and regions.

She had been caught up in rows over pay, after the BBC's political editor revealed her salary was higher than Sir Keir's, and donations from Lord Alli.

Labour has confirmed Ms Gray will be replaced by Morgan McSweeney, who was previously chief adviser to the PM.

Ms Gray, who also worked with Sir Keir as his chief of staff in opposition, said it had been an honour to "play my part in the delivery of a Labour government".

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdenx2p32jxo

[wjfox]

Fears over future of Falklands after Chagos Islands deal dubbed ‘strategic disaster’

[...]

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/p ... 23809.html

I doubt we need to worry about losing the Falklands. There's overwhelming support among the island's residents for retaining their British identity.

Literally 99.8% support, according to a 2013 referendum:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_Falk ... referendum

[wjfox]

For those who don't know, Kemi Badenoch is among the candidates running to replace Sunak.

Here's Tory MP Helen Whately trying to defend her.

[weatheriscool]

[Time_Traveller]

I am no Tory but I would rather have Badenoch than Jenrick since he wants to come out of the ECHR.

I hate it when I end up predicting this, just hope Badenoch has the oomph to beat Mr. "Leave the ECHR" Jenrick.