Politics

– Rutland (Unitary authority): £2,175.41 5.14%– Gateshead (Metropolitan borough): £2,174.00 4.99%– Northumberland (Unitary authority): £2,173.47 4.55%– Nottingham (Unitary authority): £2,155.33 4.99%– Dorset (Unitary authority): £2,123.10 4.96%– Bristol (Unitary authority): £2,095.69 4.99%– Walsall (Metropolitan borough): £2,084.55 4.99%– Cornwall (Unitary authority): £2,068.04 5.52%– Liverpool (Metropolitan borough): £2,045.17 4.99%– Durham (Unitary authority): £2,044.83 5.07%– Isle of Wight (Unitary authority): £2,029.27 5.33%– Reading (Unitary authority): £2,016.88 4.99%– Newcastle-upon-Tyne (Metropolitan borough): £2,016.64 5.00%– Coventry (Metropolitan borough): £2,004.90 4.95%– Wolverhampton (Metropolitan borough): £2,004.27 4.99%– Hartlepool (Unitary authority): £1,987.16 2.99%– Brighton & Hove (Unitary authority): £1,978.62 4.99%– Stockport (Metropolitan borough): £1,977.39 4.99%– Middlesbrough (Unitary authority): £1,976.82 4.99%– Wiltshire (Unitary authority): £1,974.06 5.25%– Sefton (Metropolitan borough): £1,963.46 4.97%– Oldham (Metropolitan borough): £1,962.10 4.99%– Rochdale (Metropolitan borough): £1,960.99 4.99%–Continue Reading

Kwasi Kwarteng’s Surrey seat was a relatively safe one PA The 48-year-old, who represents Spelthorne in Surrey, told his constituency association this week he would not run in the next general election. The former chancellor served a short-lived tenure in the role under Liz Truss and confirmed his upcoming departure on social media. “It has been an honour to serve the residents of Spelthorne since 2010, and I shall continue to do so for the remainder of my time in Parliament,” he wrote.  Kwarteng holds a relatively safe Conservative seat and has served as an MP for 14 years.  However, he is best remembered for the disastrous mini-budget of September 2022 that sent the British economy into meltdown under the watchContinue Reading

Thirteen candidates have already declared an interest in running, and more are expected to throw their hats into the ring in the coming weeks SADIQ KHAN (Labour) Seeking a historic third term. Announced that his free school meal programme will continue for another year if re-elected. Tight-lipped on the rest of his pledges. Says focus is on making London “safer, more prosperous, affordable and fairer”. SUSAN HALL (Conservative) Campaigned hard against the expansion to the Ultra Low Emission Zone last year. Vows to scrap the expansion “on day one”, saying it has “been devastating for people”. She also plans to invest £200 million of additional funding into the police and to set up specialist units to tackle burglaries and thefts.Continue Reading

Thirteen candidates have already declared an interest in running, and more are expected to throw their hats into the ring in the coming weeks SADIQ KHAN (Labour) Seeking a historic third term. Announced that his free school meal programme will continue for another year if re-elected. Tight-lipped on the rest of his pledges. Says focus is on making London “safer, more prosperous, affordable and fairer”. SUSAN HALL (Conservative) Campaigned hard against the expansion to the Ultra Low Emission Zone last year. Vows to scrap the expansion “on day one”, saying it has “been devastating for people”. She also plans to invest £200 million of additional funding into the police and to set up specialist units to tackle burglaries and thefts.Continue Reading

Lewis Goodall | Global Lewis Goodall | Global When is the election most likely to be? November 14 or 21. I’ve always thought the chances of a spring election were being massively overplayed. The fundamentals haven’t changed. The Conservatives remain around 20 points behind in the polls and that hasn’t changed in a long time. If Sunak wanted a spring election he’d have to dissolve Parliament by mid-March. No prime minister would go to the country when they’re so far behind. They always hang on and hope for the best, and opt for almost certain defeat later rather than certain defeat now. So I think the latest possible date that isn’t too close to Christmas is most likely — whichContinue Reading

“The Prime Minister has asked me to serve as his Foreign Secretary and I have gladly accepted. “We are facing a daunting set of international challenges, including the war in Ukraine and the crisis in the Middle East. “At this time of profound global change, it has rarely been more important for this country to stand by our allies, strengthen our partnerships and make sure our voice is heard. “While I have been out of front-line politics for the last seven years, I hope that my experience – as Conservative Leader for eleven years and Prime Minister for six – will assist me in helping the Prime Minister to meet these vital challenges. Britain is a truly international country. “OurContinue Reading

Five justices at the Supreme Court heard the Home Secretary’s appeal and are due to give their decision on Wednesday morning. The Illegal Migration Act brought into law the Government’s policy of sending some asylum seekers to Rwanda. However, the policy announced in April 2022 has been held up in the courts, with no deportation flights having taken place. Speaking to Sky News during a visit to the island of Samos in the Aegean Sea on November 4, Home Secretary Suella Braverman said it was “impossible to give a specific timeline” on when deportation flights could take off should judges give the Rwanda plan the green light. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has set stopping small boats of asylum seekers from arriving in BritainContinue Reading

PA Wire Rishi Sunak has set out a fresh legislative programme for the coming parliamentary session while seeking to draw dividing lines with Labour going into the next general election. In all, the package featured 20 bills and one draft bill, including some that have been carried over from the last session to complete their passage in the next. Here is a whistle-stop tour of each one: Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill This will mandate licenses for oil and gas projects in the North Sea to be awarded annually. The Government has argued this would enhance the UK’s energy security, but it also causes a headache for Labour which has said it would ban new exploration licences to focus on renewableContinue Reading

The MP for Ashfield on Monday retweeted a link to a MailOnline article: Militant union leader at the heart of doctors strikes is a Labour activist who boasted of charging the NHS for a strike cover shift. It is thought Mr Anderson added his own feelings to the Mail’s headline, although his original tweet has now been removed.  Mr Anderson has now said he accepted his tweet aimed at Dr James Dolphin was misleading and offered his apologies for “any distress caused”. He has posted a new message where he pledged a donation.  His second tweet read: “I accept that my words were misleading as the subject in question, Dr Tom Dolphin, was not on strike on the date ofContinue Reading