Politics
Scene at the Russian Embassy as 23 diplomats are expelled
The Russian flag was temporarily lowered at their embassy in West London yesterday following Theresa May's announcement that 23 diplomats were to be expelled from the UK. A man was pictured removing the Russian flag from a pole from the roof of the diplomatic mission in Kensington. Moments later, the same man appeared with a different flag before hoisting it up the flag pole. A journalist for the BBC tweeted: "Just got all excited as a bloke jumped out of...
These are all the MPs who voted for a cruel cap on free school meals from low income families – unless it’s Northern Ireland
This is a full list of MPs who voted to remove the guarantee of a hot meal from the bellies of a million children from lower income families in England. Theresa May is ploughing ahead with changes to free school meals, childcare vouchers and free childcare as part of the flagship Conservative Universal Credit welfare policy. Shadow education secretary Angela Rayner had to fight to be granted a vote on the changes after chancellor Philip Hammond’s spring statement last night....
Britain First Facebook ban is “a long time in coming, and long overdue”
Facebook has removed the pages of the anti-Islamic group Britain First and its leaders. The social media company said the group had repeatedly violated its community standards. London's mayor, Sadiq Khan has also issued a statement. He said: "Britain First is a vile and hate-fuelled group. "Their sick intentions to incite hatred within our society via social media are reprehensible, and Facebook's decision to remove their content is welcome." Matthew Collins, head of research, HOPE not hate, said: “HOPE not...
“Spy poisoning scandal shows we can’t rely on Russia to keep Britain’s light on”
We cannot now, or in future, be reliant on Russia to heat our homes and keep the economy ticking GMB, the energy union, says the spy poisoning scandal shows the utter folly of relying on Russia to keep Britain’s lights on. Prime Minster Theresa May today announced a series of measures against Russia after it failed to meet her midnight deadline to explain how a nerve agent was used to poison a former double agent in the UK. Russia has...
“Cruel school dinner cap forces hard up families off financial cliff edge”
Thousands of families face the awful choice between cutting their working hours or losing their school dinners GMB, the union for school catering staff, has criticised the Government’s new free school meals cap for forcing hard up families off a financial cliff edge. Under the new rules, which come into force next week, children will only be eligible for a free dinner if their parents earn less than £7,400. There are no plans to raise the cap with inflation. This...
Senior Tory councillor punched neighbour after someone wrote “Die” on his front door, court hears
A senior councillor punched his neighbour after someone wrote "Die" on his front door, a court heard. Tony Cox, 38, arrived home to find the letters 'I' and 'E' had been scrawled after his flat number, D. He assumed next-door resident Jamie Waterfield was responsible and laid into him as he opened his door to say goodbye to his girlfriend. Mr Waterfield suffered a split lip and reddening to his left cheek as a result of the outburst on May...
Forget Hammond’s optimism – There is no “light at the end of the tunnel” for families across the country
Philip Hammond's Spring Statement was characterised by dangerous complacency and offers no light at the end of the tunnel for families across the country, according to Positive Money Executive Director Fran Boait. The Chancellor attempted to deliver a more upbeat statement amidst the uncertainty that surrounds the UK economy, pointing to signals for stronger growth and falling inflation. But his sentiment hasn't been as warmly received as he might have hoped. John McDonnell accused Philip Hammond of 'complacency', saying he "hasn’t he...
Rex Tillerson sacked by Trump just hours after he linked nerve agent attack to Russia
Donald Trump has sacked Rex Tillerson just hours after the Secretary of State linked the nerve agent attack in the UK to Russia. The move will fuel speculation that Trump and Putin enjoy a cosy relationship, and will scupper Theresa May's hopes of US backing in response to the attacks. CIA chief Mike Pompeo, who has in the past played down findings by the CIA that the Russians attempted to influence last year's US election, will replace Tillerson. Trump tweeted the shock sacking of...
Labour MP slams “morally wrong” civil service for favouring public school applicants
The perception that many of the elite jobs in the UK are disproportionally handed to those from a private school background were given more credence today, after a Labour MP slammed the civil service for its recruitment policy, reports The Guardian. Senior civil servants along with lawyers, judges, doctors and journalists among other professions have traditionally been seen as careers that are unfairly given to those from a privileged educational background. Dan Jarvis, who was encouraged to run for the...