‘‘The solution will be found not on the basis of victory for either side, but on the basis of agreement and a partnership between both.” These are not my words or those of any unionist voice. They are attributed to the late John Hume, regarded by some as the architect of Northern Ireland’s peace process.…
The current labour shortages across the UK have made headlines and left businesses crying out for staff. From joining bonuses to bids to engage untapped ‘talent pools’, the crisis has forced the hand of employers who are now viewing inclusive hiring in a new light. One such source of labour is people leaving prison. As…
A new report from the Education Policy Institute (EPI), funded by the Nuffield Foundation, has said that teacher-assessed grades masked the “real” learning losses faced by disadvantaged students in particular during the pandemic. It also found that the government has failed to improve the relative outcomes of students in long-term poverty after a decade of…
Today, the minister for justice, James Cartlidge, faced questions from the shadow minister, Steve Reed. Reed referred to the average time between a victim reporting a rape and the case coming to trial “hitting a new high of over 1,000 days” and that the government proposal to give magistrates more sentencing powers “could make the…
Labour MP, Jim McMahon, started the opposition day debate with a speech on food insecurity in the UK. McMahon referred to the “rocketing household bills and the cost of food”, suggesting that a “tax levy on oil and gas companies” would “cushion rocketing energy bills”. The MP for Oldham West and Royston also labelled the…
Speculation has recently arisen over the “nationalisation of general practice” after a letter leaked to the Times stated that health secretary Sajid Javid is planning “an independent review of the future of primary care”, to look at “workforce, business models and how GPs work with the other parts of the NHS such as hospitals”. GPs…
Following “abuse” towards Keir Starmer outside parliament last night, the Speaker of the House, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, made a statement, which reminded MPs that their “words have consequences”. This follows “reports that some abuse was directed towards the leader of the opposition related to claims made by the prime minister”. Hoyle repeated his previous remarks,…
Downing Street says the government’s position on a windfall tax for energy companies remains unchanged, despite a huge surge in profits for energy giants BP and Shell in recent days. In this morning’s Downing Street lobby briefing, the prime minister’s spokesperson said he “wasn’t aware in a change of position” on a windfall tax, despite…
Jacob Rees-Mogg has been made minister for ‘Brexit Opportunities and Government Efficiency’ in the first confirmed move in today’s reshuffle. Rees-Mogg has been serving as Leader of the Commons since January 2019. His new role will see him work from the Cabinet Office, as current chief whip Mark Spencer is set to replace him as…
Northern Ireland minister Conor Burns says the DUP’s withdrawal from the first minister post in Stormont will not “fundamentally alter” the government’s plans. Giving evidence to the Northern Ireland affairs committee, Burns said the government’s strategy to resolve the issues surrounding the Northern Ireland Protocol will remain undeterred. Burns said: “The plan is clear and…
