https://news.sky.com/story/scottish-gre ... y-12385680Friday 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."
UK News and Discussions
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Re: UK News and Discussions
Scottish Greens close to deal to enter government for first time in UK history
“In the quantum multiverse, every choice, every decision you've ever and never made exists in an unimaginably vast ensemble of parallel universes.”
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Time_Traveller
- Posts: 3025
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Re: UK News and Discussions
Car production in July hits lowest level since 1956
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-583350608 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".
“In the quantum multiverse, every choice, every decision you've ever and never made exists in an unimaginably vast ensemble of parallel universes.”
Re: UK News and Discussions
Inside Big Ben's restoration as it nears finish
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.
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
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."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-58476632
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."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-58476632
Re: UK News and Discussions
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Last edited by erowind on Sun Sep 08, 2024 3:55 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: UK News and Discussions
Co-op to start selling groceries on Amazon Prime
57 minutes ago
The Co-op has announced a partnership with Amazon Prime, enabling customers across the UK to do their whole grocery shop online with same-day delivery.
The supermarket chain is also extending its robot deliveries, so it can push online sales up from £70m to £200m.
[...]
The supermarket chain plans to increase the number of robots operating and delivering Co-op groceries from 200 to 500 by the end of this year, extending them from Milton Keynes and Northampton to Cambridgeshire and then into northern England.
Co-op group chief executive Steve Murrells said: "The pandemic has accelerated changes in consumer shopping trends and we're driving forward with exciting plans to provide rapid kerb-to-kitchen grocery delivery services.
"We are delighted to be working with Amazon. Its reach and leading technology and innovative approach means greater convenience for people in their communities."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-58581809
57 minutes ago
The Co-op has announced a partnership with Amazon Prime, enabling customers across the UK to do their whole grocery shop online with same-day delivery.
The supermarket chain is also extending its robot deliveries, so it can push online sales up from £70m to £200m.
[...]
The supermarket chain plans to increase the number of robots operating and delivering Co-op groceries from 200 to 500 by the end of this year, extending them from Milton Keynes and Northampton to Cambridgeshire and then into northern England.
Co-op group chief executive Steve Murrells said: "The pandemic has accelerated changes in consumer shopping trends and we're driving forward with exciting plans to provide rapid kerb-to-kitchen grocery delivery services.
"We are delighted to be working with Amazon. Its reach and leading technology and innovative approach means greater convenience for people in their communities."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-58581809
Re: UK News and Discussions
Prince Philip's will to be secret for 90 years
37 minutes ago
The Duke of Edinburgh's will is to remain secret for at least 90 years to protect the "dignity and standing" of the Queen, the High Court has ruled.
It has been convention for over a century that, after the death of a senior member of the Royal Family, the courts are asked to seal their wills.
It means that, unlike most wills granted probate, it will not be open to public inspection.
There will be a private process in 90 years to decide if it can be unsealed.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-58587147
37 minutes ago
The Duke of Edinburgh's will is to remain secret for at least 90 years to protect the "dignity and standing" of the Queen, the High Court has ruled.
It has been convention for over a century that, after the death of a senior member of the Royal Family, the courts are asked to seal their wills.
It means that, unlike most wills granted probate, it will not be open to public inspection.
There will be a private process in 90 years to decide if it can be unsealed.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-58587147
Re: UK News and Discussions
Very serious energy crisis in the UK right now. Partly attributed to Brexit and our leaving the Single Market.
This is the first actual graph I've seen of the current situation – I had no idea it was this bad. The government is holding emergency talks.
This is the first actual graph I've seen of the current situation – I had no idea it was this bad. The government is holding emergency talks.
Re: UK News and Discussions
Simply astonishing.
Empty supermarket shelves, skyrocketing energy prices, child poverty, corruption and nepotism are clearly vote winners, then.
Oh, and the biggest tax rise in 40 years.
Empty supermarket shelves, skyrocketing energy prices, child poverty, corruption and nepotism are clearly vote winners, then.
Oh, and the biggest tax rise in 40 years.
Re: UK News and Discussions
And remember my friend, future events such as these will affect you in the future
Re: UK News and Discussions
Petrol giant Essar on brink of collapse
Sunday September 26 2021
One of Britain’s biggest oil refineries is teetering on the brink of collapse, piling further potential pressure on crisis-riven petrol stations.
The Stanlow oil refinery in Ellesmere Port, which supplies about a sixth of Britain’s road fuel, is in urgent talks with HM Revenue & Customs over hundreds of millions of pounds it has to start repaying this week unless it can agree a new deal.
Britain’s second largest refinery is owned by the billionaire Ruia brothers Shashi and Ravi through their company Essar Oil UK, which has been under huge financial strain during the pandemic.
The company took advantage of the government’s pandemic VAT deferral scheme last year to the tune of £356 million.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/fuel ... -k9f9zxbr5
Sunday September 26 2021
One of Britain’s biggest oil refineries is teetering on the brink of collapse, piling further potential pressure on crisis-riven petrol stations.
The Stanlow oil refinery in Ellesmere Port, which supplies about a sixth of Britain’s road fuel, is in urgent talks with HM Revenue & Customs over hundreds of millions of pounds it has to start repaying this week unless it can agree a new deal.
Britain’s second largest refinery is owned by the billionaire Ruia brothers Shashi and Ravi through their company Essar Oil UK, which has been under huge financial strain during the pandemic.
The company took advantage of the government’s pandemic VAT deferral scheme last year to the tune of £356 million.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/fuel ... -k9f9zxbr5