Western Morning News

R ishi Sunak has denied that the Government is resisting the release of messages to the Covid inquiry because he fears embarassment. Speaking to the BBC, the Prime Minister insisted the Government was acting with “candour and transparency” despite a judicial challenge against the inquiry over its demands to handContinue Reading

T he Scottish Government has insisted it had “no option” other than to delay its deposit return scheme (DRS) for drinks can and bottles until October 2025 at the earliest. Scottish circular economy minister Lorna Slater announced a further delay to the scheme, which had already been pushed back from August thisContinue Reading

The risks facing the Irish financial system have increased as inflation is weighing heavily on the global economy, the Central Bank has warned. Persistent inflation and higher interest rates continue to pose challenges to an otherwise resilient Irish economy, according to the Central Bank’s financial stability review which was publishedContinue Reading

T he squeeze on real wages in Britain is set to last at least until Christmas with inflation remaining the highest among key major economies, leading economists warned on Wednesday. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development predicted that the UK’s headline inflation rate was set to be 6.9 perContinue Reading

L abour will bring a vote on the release of correspondence relating to the Government’s decision-making over an inquiry into a major development project. Shadow communities secretary Lisa Nandy has been calling for the National Audit Office (NAO) to lead the probe into Teesworks. Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove hasContinue Reading

S cotland’s First Minister has vowed to keep lobbying for the release of a Scottish Sikh blogger who has been jailed in India for more than five years. Humza Yousaf made the pledge during a meeting with the brother of Jagtar Singh Johal at the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday afternoon.Continue Reading

L ucy Frazer has said she believes the BBC is “on occasion” biased but refused to provide a specific example of partiality. The Culture Secretary told MPs the corporation has a duty as a public service broadcaster that it “doesn’t always get it right” but insisted she was broadly aContinue Reading

Kinahan cartel gang boss Liam Byrne has said he will fight extradition during a court hearing. The 42-year-old has been remanded in custody following his confirmation he would refuse to be sent back to the UK for trial. It emerged on Tuesday he had appeared before an extradition judge onContinue Reading

M argaret Ferrier has been suspended from the House of Commons for 30 days for breaching coronavirus rules. The Commons voted 185 to 40, majority 145, to approve the motion to suspend the independent MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West. Ms Ferrier, a former SNP MP, was in the CommonsContinue Reading