Category: UK Politics

Jeremy Hunt to confirm national living wage to rise to £11 an hour Getty Images By Becky Morton Political reporter in Manchester The national living wage is set to increase to at least £11 an hour from next April, the chancellor is to confirm. In a speech to the Conservative Party conference Jeremy Hunt is… Continue reading Jeremy Hunt to confirm national living wage to rise to £11 an hour

Jeremy Hunt says UK must break out of tax rise ‘vicious circle’ PA Media By Sean Seddon BBC News Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has said he wants to stop the “vicious circle of ever-rising taxes” by reforming public services and the benefits system. His comments come on the eve of the Conservative Party conference, as some… Continue reading Jeremy Hunt says UK must break out of tax rise ‘vicious circle’

UK facing permanent higher taxes, IFS think tank says Getty Images By Joshua Nevett Political reporter Tax levels in the UK are at their highest since records began 70 years ago – and are unlikely to come down, a leading think tank says. The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) forecasts taxes will amount to about… Continue reading UK facing permanent higher taxes, IFS think tank says

Rishi Sunak refuses to say if he backs Suella Braverman multiculturalism remarks This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. By Becky Morton Political reporter Rishi Sunak has repeatedly declined to say if he agrees with his home secretary’s view that multiculturalism has “failed” in… Continue reading Rishi Sunak refuses to say if he backs Suella Braverman multiculturalism remarks

Rosebank oil field given go-ahead by regulators BP By Mary McCool & Nichola Rutherford BBC Scotland News The controversial Rosebank offshore development off Shetland has been granted consent by regulators. Located 80 miles west of Shetland, Rosebank is the UK’s largest untapped oil field and is estimated to contain up to 300 million barrels of… Continue reading Rosebank oil field given go-ahead by regulators

Chris Mason: Davey pounds Tories in election warm-up speech This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. By Chris Mason Political editor, BBC News, in Bournemouth There is a survivor elation vibe to the Liberal Democrats. Eight years on from their near death experience after… Continue reading Chris Mason: Davey pounds Tories in election warm-up speech

HS2: Backlash against scrapping Manchester link grows HS2/PA By Nick Edser Business reporter Scrapping the HS2 rail link to Manchester would be a “gross act of vandalism”, the former chancellor, George Osborne, has said. Writing in The Times, he said cancelling the extension would be an “act of huge economic self-harm”. The government has refused… Continue reading HS2: Backlash against scrapping Manchester link grows

HS2: ‘Crazy’ not to review project over soaring costs – Shapps This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. By Katy Austin & Lora Jones BBC Business The former transport secretary has said it would be “crazy” not to review plans for the HS2 rail… Continue reading HS2: ‘Crazy’ not to review project over soaring costs – Shapps

Rishi Sunak scraps home energy efficiency taskforce Getty Images By Ione Wells Political correspondent A taskforce to speed up home insulation and boiler upgrades has been disbanded, the BBC can reveal. The group – which included the chair of the National Infrastructure Commission Sir John Armitt and other leading experts – was only launched in… Continue reading Rishi Sunak scraps home energy efficiency taskforce

Lib Dems to launch conference with £5bn-a-year free social care plan Getty Images By Joshua Nevett BBC Politics A plan for free social care in England will be at the centre of the Liberal Democrats’ offer to voters as the party holds its annual conference. The party’s leader Sir Ed Davey will pledge a care… Continue reading Lib Dems to launch conference with £5bn-a-year free social care plan