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☆ UK PM Rishi Sunak suffers two historic by-election defeats as Labour opposition surges
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Labour party candidate Sarah Edwards, centre, after polls closed in the Tamworth by-election on October 20, 2023 in Tamworth, England. LONDON — U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Conservative Party suffered two historic by-election defeats on Thursday, with the main opposition Labour Party overturning huge majorities to win both seats. Labour overcame a 24,664 majority to win Mid Bedfordshire for the first time since the constituency's inception in 1931 in a 20.5% swing. In the process, it pulled off the largest Conservative numerical majority overturned in the U.K. by the main opposition party since 1945. The opposition party took on what was a 66% Conservative majority at the 2019 General Election.

Persons: Sarah Edwards, Rishi, Keir Starmer, Greg Hands, Chris Pincher, Pincher, Boris Johnson, Nadine Dorries, Johnson's Organizations: Labour, LONDON, Conservative Party, Labour Party, Tamworth, Mid Bedfordshire, Conservative, Conservatives, BBC Locations: Tamworth, England, Mid Bedfordshire, West Midlands, Bedfordshire

☆ British PM Sunak suffers crushing by-election defeats
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Andrew Macaskill | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak leaves 10 Downing Street to attend Prime Minister's Questions at the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain, October 18, 2023. "Winning in these Tory strongholds shows that people overwhelmingly want change and they’re ready to put their faith in our changed Labour Party to deliver it." The contests in Mid-Bedfordshire and Tamworth were caused by the high-profile resignations of politicians close to former prime minister Boris Johnson. The accusations against him contributed to the collapse of former prime minister Boris Johnson's government. Labour won the Mid-Bedfordshire seat with a majority of over 1,100 overturning a Conservative majority of 24,664 at the last general election in 2019.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Clodagh, Rishi Sunak's, Keir Starmer, Sunak, Boris Johnson, Nadine Dorries, Chris Pincher, Boris Johnson's, Sarah Edwards, Andrew MacAskill, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: British, REUTERS, Labour Party overturns, LONDON, Conservatives, Labour Party, Labour, Conservative, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Mid, Bedfordshire, Tamworth, England

☆ Hamas hostages: what we know so far
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Israel has responded by pounding Gaza with air strikes, killing thousands, and has said it will act to free the hostages while wiping out Hamas. Hamas has suggested the hostages could be swapped for approximately 6,000 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons. Israel has said that there will be no end to the blockade of the enclave without freedom for Israeli hostages. Israel says the hostages were taken to Gaza but their exact whereabouts within the enclave are unknown, making their rescue more complicated. U.S. President Joe Biden said his administration is "workin’ like hell" to find American hostages held by Hamas.

Persons: Rachel Goldberg, Hersh Goldberg Polin, Ammar Awad, Israel, Kan, Mia Schem, Jake Sullivan, Jim Risch, Alberto Fernandez, Rishi Sunak's, Sunak, Ofir Engel, Kibbutz Be'eri, Garcovich, Ivan Illaramendi, Benjamin Netanyahu, Gal Hirsch, Hakan Fidan, Joe Biden, Britain's Sunak, Argentina's Fernandez, Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz, Biden, Charlie Devereux, Crispian Balmer, Kylie MacLellan, Patricia Rua, John Irish, James Mackenzie, Patricia Zengerle, Grant McCool Organizations: REUTERS, Monday, Reuters, U.S, French, Tel Aviv . U.S, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Jerusalem, Rafah, Egypt, Thailand, Argentine, France, Portugal, Portuguese, Chilean, Spanish, Italy, Turkey, Germany, U.S, Franco, Berlin, Tel Aviv

☆ Scotland's leader says dream of independence alive despite his party's troubles
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Andrew Macaskill | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Scotland's First Minister and Scottish National Party (SNP) leader Humza Yousaf speaks during an interview with Reuters ahead of his party's annual conference in Aberdeen, Britain, October 16, 2023. REUTERS/Gerhard May Acquire Licensing RightsABERDEEN, Scotland, Oct 17 (Reuters) - Scotland's leader Humza Yousaf is confident his dream of independence will come true in the next decade despite his governing party haemorrhaging support over the worst crisis in its modern history. The dominant political party in Scotland for almost two decades, the pro-independence Scottish National Party has been damaged by infighting, voter fatigue and scandals, including the arrest of its charismatic former leader Nicola Sturgeon. Even with support for the SNP in decline, opinion polls show Scotland is still roughly split over independence. "Support for independence is rock solid but support for the SNP has dipped," he said.

Persons: Humza Yousaf, Gerhard, Nicola Sturgeon, Yousaf, YouGov, Scots, Boris Johnson, Rishi Sunak's, isn't, Andrew MacAskill, Kate Holton, Ed Osmond Organizations: Scotland's, Scottish National Party, Reuters, REUTERS, Rights, Labour Party won, Labour, Scotland, England, European Union, Scottish, Westminster, British, Thomson Locations: Aberdeen, Britain, Rights ABERDEEN, Scotland, Europe, European, London

☆ UK Conservative lawmaker Bone faces suspension for misconduct
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Member of the Parliament Peter Bone arrives at a private reception attended by Boris Johnson, leader of the Britain's Conservative Party, in central London, Britain July 23, 2019. The Independent Expert Panel found that Bone committed "many varied acts" of bullying and one act of sexual misconduct against a staff member in 2012 and 2013. The suspension, if backed by parliament, triggers a recall petition in Bone's constituency of Wellingborough in central England. "As I have maintained throughout the proceedings, none of the misconduct allegations against me ever took place," he said in a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter. The recommendation for Bone's suspension comes after he appealed a previous decision by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards that upheld allegations of bullying and sexual misconduct.

Persons: Peter Bone, Boris Johnson, Henry Nicholls, Rishi Sunak's, Bone, Sunak, Farouq Suleiman, Sachin Ravikumar Organizations: Britain's Conservative Party, REUTERS, Sunak's Conservatives, Labour Party, Conservatives, Labour, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Bone's, Wellingborough, England, Scotland

☆ UK Top Court Suggests Months Until It Gives Rwanda Migrant Plan Decision
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

By Sam Tobin and Michael HoldenLONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Supreme Court said on Wednesday it would be a couple of months before it gives its decision on whether the government could go ahead with its plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda. Raza Husain, a lawyer representing eight asylum seekers, said those sent there were at risk of being returned to their home countries despite having valid asylum claims. He also argued asylum seekers faced inhuman or degrading treatment within Rwanda. The United Nations' refugee agency also intervened in the appeal, with its lawyers reiterating its "unequivocal warning against the transfer of asylum seekers to Rwanda". The Rwanda plan, struck by then Prime Minister Boris Johnson in April 2022, was designed to deter asylum seekers from making the dangerous journey across the Channel from Europe.

Persons: Sam Tobin, Michael Holden LONDON, Rishi Sunak's, Sunak, Conservative Party languishes, I'm, Robert Reed, Raza Husain, Boris Johnson, Archbishop, Yolande Makolo, Michael Holden, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Lawyers, Conservative Party, European Convention of Human Rights, The United Nations, Rwandan, European Union, Labour, Rights Locations: Rwanda, East Africa, Europe, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Vietnam, Sudan, Britain, Canterbury, Rwandan

☆ London's financial heart is sizing up a win for center-left Labour party at next year's UK election
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesLIVERPOOL, England — The U.K.'s main opposition Labour party is seeking to woo London's powerful financial center as it sets its sights on winning power at next year's General Election. At the party's conference this week, lawmakers were unanimous in emphasizing Labour's renewed focus under leader Keir Starmer on spurring economic growth as its number one priority. Speaking at a fringe event on Sunday, Shadow Financial Secretary to the Treasury James Murray reiterated the party's mission of achieving the highest growth in the G7 and engaging the private sector. It really is crucial to underpin the encouragement of businesses to invest, to underpin everyone working together for economic growth," Murray added. Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced a host of new economic pledges aimed at stimulating growth, vowing to "rebuild Britain" if Labour wins the 2024 General Election.

Persons: Keir Starmer, James Murray, Murray, Rishi, Liz Truss's, Kwasi Kwarteng, Rachel Reeves, Reeves, Jeremy Corbyn, Starmer, Emma Reynolds Organizations: Bloomberg, Getty, Labour, Shadow, Conservative Party, Treasury Locations: Canary, London, LIVERPOOL, England, Britain, Liverpool

☆ Take Five: Volatile start to busy week
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., September 28, 2023. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 9 (Reuters) - Financial markets have got off to a volatile start to the week, after Hamas militants launched an assault on Israel at the weekend, triggering violent conflict that left hundreds dead. A bond market rout last week and currency gyrations already had financial markets on edge ahead of U.S. inflation numbers and the start of earnings season. Here's your week ahead in markets from Kevin Buckland in Tokyo, Lewis Krauskopf in New York, Rachel Savage in Johannesburg, and Naomi Rovnick and Dhara Ranasinghe in London. Amid these tensions, the IMF and World Bank are trying to boost their lending.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, gyrations, Kevin Buckland, Lewis Krauskopf, Rachel Savage, Naomi Rovnick, Wells, LSEG IBES, Rishi Sunak's, Sumanta Sen, Pasit, Vineet, Karin Strohecker, Kim Coghill Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Financial, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Labour, JPMorgan, Citigroup, PepsiCo, Delta Air Lines, UnitedHealth, Reuters, LABOUR, Conservative, Labour Party, MOROCCO Finance, Monetary Fund, U.S, Bretton Woods, IMF, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Israel, Tokyo, New York, Johannesburg, London, Central, Morrocan, Marrakech, China

LONDON, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Government lawyers will on Monday tell Britain's top court that it should overturn a ruling which declared unlawful a plan to deport migrants to Rwanda, one of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's key policies. The court ruled that those sent to Rwanda would be at risk of being sent home where they could face persecution despite having a legitimate asylum claim. This would make the policy unlawful under Britain's Human Rights Act (HRA), which made the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) part of British law. The decision dealt a massive blow to the Conservative Sunak's pledge to stop thousands of migrants from arriving in small boats on the English south coast. The government's first planned Rwanda deportation flight had been due to leave in June last year, but was blocked at the last minute by an injunction from the European Court of Human Rights until all the UK legal action had been concluded.

Persons: Britain's, Rishi Sunak's, Suella Braverman, Sunak, Joe Biden's, Michael Holden, Sam Tobin, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Appeal, European, Human Rights, Conservative, United, European Union, of Human Rights, Thomson Locations: Rwanda, London's, East Africa, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Vietnam, Sudan, Britain, Sunak's, West, United States, Mexico, Europe, Africa, Asia, Germany

☆ UK's opposition Labour on course for landslide election victory, poll predicts
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Britain's Labour Party Leader Keir Starmer arrives with his deputy Angela Rayner ahead of the start of, Britain's Labour Party annual conference in Liverpool, Britain, October 7, 2023. REUTERS/Phil Noble Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Oct 7 (Reuters) - Britain's opposition Labour Party is on course to win a landslide victory at a national election expected next year, according to an opinion poll published on Saturday. It predicted a range of 402-437 seats for Labour, and 132-169 seats for the Conservatives. At the last national election in 2019, the Conservatives won 365 seats and Labour 203. The polling, which took place before the Conservatives' annual conference this week, found that in every constituency, the cost-of-living crisis and the state of the National Health Service were the two most important issues to voters.

Persons: Keir Starmer, Angela Rayner, Phil Noble, Rishi Sunak's, Survation, Oliver Dowden, Grant Shapps, Kylie MacLellan, Nick Macfie Organizations: Britain's Labour, Britain's Labour Party, REUTERS, Labour Party, Labour, Conservatives, Observer, Liberal Democrats, National Health Service, Thomson Locations: Liverpool, Britain, England

☆ Britain's Labour Party hails 'seismic' win in Scottish vote
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Alistair Smout | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

People in Rutherglen and Hamilton West have sent a clear message – it is time for change. And it is clear they believe that this changed Labour Party can deliver it," Labour leader Keir Starmer said in a statement. John Curtice, Britain's most prominent pollster, said it was a "remarkable result" for the Labour party, which comes on the eve of its annual conference next week. "This is the kind of result that suggests that the Labour Party is potentially capable of winning seats again in Scotland," he told BBC News. "However, we will reflect on what we have to do to regain the trust of the people of Rutherglen & Hamilton West."

Persons: Rishi, Hamilton West, Keir Starmer, Margaret Ferrier, Michael Shanks, Katy Loudon, John Curtice, Ferrier, Humza Yousaf, Yousaf, Nicola Sturgeon, Alistair Smout, Jamie Freed, Michael Perry 私 Organizations: Labour, LONDON, Labour Party, Scottish Nationalist Party, Conservative Party, Hamilton, Hamilton West, BBC News, Scottish, COVID, Rutherglen & Hamilton, Rutherglen Locations: Scotland, Rutherglen, Glasgow, London's, Britain's, United Kingdom

REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Oct 5 (Reuters) - The British government will try next week to persuade judges at the country's top court to overturn a ruling which declared unlawful its divisive plan to deport to Rwanda asylum seekers who arrive in small boats across the Channel. The stakes for Sunak are high, as he has made dealing with immigration one of his five priorities. This year, more than 25,000 people have arrived in Britain on small boats, while a record 45,755 were detected in 2022. Housing some of those migrants in hotels costs about 6 million pounds a day. Polls show high immigration remains a major concern to voters, although conversely also suggest there is support for migrants filling labour shortages.

Persons: Suella Braverman, Paul Rwigamba, Flora Uwayezu, Stringer, Rishi Sunak's, Brendan Clarke, Smith, Sunak, Boris Johnson, of Canterbury, King Charles, Robert Reed, Clarke, Michael Holden, Kate Holton, Angus MacSwan Organizations: British, Property Management, REUTERS, Conservative, Reuters, Conservative Party, European Union, Thomson Locations: Kigali Rwanda, British, Rwanda, London's, East Africa, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Vietnam, Sudan, Europe, Britain, East, Africa, Afghanistan, Angus

☆ HS2 rail project U-turn: UK's Rishi Sunak is in a 'political fight for his life,' professor says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHS2 rail project U-turn: UK's Rishi Sunak is in a 'political fight for his life,' professor saysRob Manwaring, associate professor at Flinders University, explains why British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's cancellation of a key part of the High Speed 2 rail project is a politically "interesting" move in light of the country's next general election.

Persons: Sunak, Rob Manwaring, Rishi Sunak's Organizations: Flinders University, British

☆ UK PM Rishi Sunak's leadership on rocky ground as party rebellion mounts
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak listens to a speaker address delegates at the annual Conservative Party Conference in Manchester, northern England, on October 2, 2023. (Members) should not blindly support a Conservative Party that no longer represents our values (and is) headed for electoral disaster. Independence Party (UKIP), was also in attendance and later said that a wing of the Conservative Party is "very much coming in [his] direction." "Two-thirds [of voters] think it's time for a change, and that's the real struggle that the Conservative Party has to turn around." Medical workers marched outside of the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester, England in a dispute with the government over pay.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Oli Scarff, Sunak, Tory psychodramas, Liz Truss, —, Truss, Ronald Reagan, faithfuls, Priti Patel, Peter Cruddas, Patel, Boris Johnson —, Lord Peter Cruddas, I've, Lord Cruddas, Johnson, Nigel Farage, Farage, Gideon Skinner Organizations: Britain's, Conservative Party Conference, Afp, Getty Images, Conservative, Labour Party, Conservative Growth Group, Conservatives, Conservative Party, Conservative Democratic, Conservative Democratic Organisation —, Independence Party, UKIP, News Agents, Tories, Labour, CNBC Locations: Manchester, England, Getty Images MANCHESTER, ENGLAND

MANCHESTER, England, Oct 2 (Reuters) - British finance minister Jeremy Hunt poured cold water on growing calls for tax cuts within the governing Conservative Party on Monday, saying he could not commit to any "inflationary" reduction before the next election. But his message was overshadowed by calls from senior Conservative lawmakers, including Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's predecessor, for tax cuts to try to close the gap in opinion polls with the opposition Labour Party before an election expected next year. He said any tax cuts this year would be inflationary, making it more difficult to achieve Sunak's pledge made in January to halve inflation by the end of the year. Yes, but it means difficult decisions and we're prepared to take those difficult decisions," Hunt told Sky News, adding that voters understood "how difficult these decisions are". "So ahead of this year's Autumn Statement, we must make the Conservative Party the party of business once again, by getting Corporation Tax back down to 19%.

Persons: Jeremy Hunt, Hunt, Rishi Sunak's, Sunak, we're, Liz Truss, Alistair Smout, Elizabeth Piper, Andrew MacAskill, Kylie MacLellan, Sachin Ravikumar, Sarah Young, Emelia Sithole, Catherine Evans Organizations: Conservative Party, Conservative, Labour Party, Times, Sky News, Labour, Corporation, Tax, Thomson Locations: MANCHESTER, England, British, Manchester

☆ Britain's finance minister to announce higher minimum wage
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMANCHESTER, England, Oct 1 (Reuters) - British finance minister Jeremy Hunt on Monday will announce a rise in the minimum wage in his annual Conservative party conference speech, where he is expected to ignore a growing clamour for tax cuts within his party. On Monday Hunt will announce that the living wage, the minimum wage for workers over 23 years old, will rise to at least 11 pounds ($13.42) an hour from 10.42 pounds. Prior to Hunt's speech, former Prime Minister Liz Truss will put pressure on the government to lower taxes in her only expected intervention at this year's conference. A year ago as prime minister, she had to scale back her tax-cutting plans in a U-turn at conference, and the market turmoil she sparked forced her resignation in October. However, since then she has stuck to her message that lower tax, especially for businesses, is part of what Britain needs to spark growth.

Persons: Jeremy Hunt, Jessica Taylor, Handout, Michael Gove, Hunt, Rishi Sunak's, Liz Truss, Alistair Smout, Elizabeth Piper, Andrew MacAskill, Emelia Sithole Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Conservative, Bank of England, Low, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Rights MANCHESTER, England, British

☆ In Government Row Over ECHR, UK's Cleverly Says No Need to Leave
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - British foreign minister James Cleverly knocked back a suggestion by another government minister on Sunday that leaving the European Convention of Human Rights was needed so the country could better tackle illegal immigration. Sunak has ruled out leaving the ECHR, a treaty agreed by almost every nation in Europe after World War Two, saying Britain could curb the arrival of illegal migrants without having to quit. But some in his party, including interior minister Suella Braverman, say the international conventions governing refugees were not fit for purpose, and only served to encourage activist lawyers to block deportations. Cleverly told a fringe event organised by think tank Onward at the Conservative conference, he did not "feel that in order to achieve what we need to achieve, to protect our borders, we are necessitated to leave the ECHR". And I have no doubt that the decisions that we have made are completely within the boundaries of international law.

Persons: James, Rishi, Kemi Badenoch, Sunak, Suella Braverman, Elizabeth Piper, Emelia Sithole Organizations: European Convention of Human, British, Sunday Times, Conservative Locations: MANCHESTER, England, Europe, Britain

☆ Britain’s PM seeks to rally his party ahead of an election they are tipped to lose
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( Luke Mcgee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

London CNN —Rishi Sunak will gather with members of his governing Conservative Party on Sunday for what is likely to be their final party conference before the UK’s next general, which Sunak is currently projected to lose. Party conference season is an important date fixture in the annual British political calendar. For the governing party, conference is typically a time when members rally around the leadership and unite against the opposition, insulated from whatever is happening in the wider world of politics. Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak led the UK government through much of the Covid pandemic. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaking in June on his plan to "stop the boats."

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Sunak, Boris Johnson, Dan Kitwood, Priti Patel, Margaret Thatcher, Johnson, Rishi, Reuters Johnson, He’s, ”, Yui Mok, “, Will Jennings, it’s, Brexit, Jeremy Corbyn Organizations: London CNN, Conservative Party, Conservatives, Labour Party, for Fiscal Studies, Party, Conservatives ’, British, Conservative, Daily Mail, Greenpeace, Reuters, University of Southampton, Labour Locations: tacking, Sunak, France, “, Manchester

☆ Unfortunate timing on UK's climate U-turn, Spain's vice president says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailUnfortunate timing on UK's climate U-turn, Spain's vice president saysTeresa Ribera, Spain's vice president and minister for ecological transition, speaks to CNBC's Charlotte Reed and discusses U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's decision to take a new approach to meeting the U.K.'s emissions targets

Persons: Teresa Ribera, CNBC's Charlotte Reed, Rishi Sunak's Locations: Spain's

☆ France's Macron to Meet UK Opposition Leader Starmer on Sept. 19
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

PARIS (Reuters) - Britain's opposition leader Keir Starmer will meet French President Emmanuel Macron on Sept. 19 as he builds up his foreign policy experience ahead of a general election expected next year which opinion polls show he is likely to win. The meeting in Paris is due to take place the day before King Charles travels to France for a state visit. Since being Labour leader, he has ruled out a holding a second referendum, saying it would reopen "old wounds". Although meetings between British opposition leaders and foreign leaders are relatively rare, Starmer did meet with the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz last year. Sunak's press secretary said of Macron's meeting with Starmer: "It's not unusual for opposition leaders to meet world leaders."

Persons: Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron, King Charles, Rishi Sunak's, Starmer, Olaf Scholz, Sunak's, Michel Rose, Tassilo Hummel, Andrew MacAskill, Alex Richardson, Kylie MacLellan Organizations: PARIS, Starmer's Labour Party, Conservatives, European Union, Conservative, Britain, EU, Labour Locations: Paris, France

☆ Britain has a new big problem: crumbling concrete in schools, hospitals, airports, and theaters
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( Ryan Hogg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The "crumbly concrete" was used in hundreds of schools and some have been shut over fears of collapses. The UK government said more than 100 schools faced closure because they contained reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC), a material typically used in roof planks and wall panels. AdvertisementAdvertisementOther structures such as hospitals, theaters, universities and some apartment buildings are also being checked for the concrete. Why was the concrete used? According to the think-tank the Institute for Government, those cuts are linked with schools' RAAC closures.

Persons: Matthew Byatt, RAAC, –, Chris Goodier, What's, Keir Starmer, Rishi Sunak's, NAO, Gareth Davies, Rishi Sunak Organizations: Service, Health, Safety, National Audit Office, Guardian, Financial Times, of Structural Engineers, Labour, Loughborough University, Department for Education, Institute for Government, The Times, National Health Service, European Union Locations: Wall, Silicon, Heathrow, Gatwick, Kent, Sweden, London, he's, India

☆ Britain rejoins EU's Horizon science programme in further boost for ties
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Alistair Smout | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during a visit to Kent Scientific Services in West Malling, Kent, Britain, May 30, 2023. The agreement, which excludes the EU's Euratom nuclear research scheme, signals a further improvement in bilateral relations seven months after a row over trade was resolved. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's office said in a statement he had secured "improved financial terms of association" with the Horizon project. "This is the right deal for the UK, unlocking unparalleled research opportunities, and also the right deal for British taxpayers," Sunak said. Sunak's office said Britain would also associate with the European earth observation programme Copernicus, but not with the EU's Euratom programme, instead choosing to pursue a domestic fusion energy strategy.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Daniel Leal, Sunak, Copernicus, Rishi Sunak's, Ursula von der Leyen, Alistair Smout, Kylie MacLellan, Elizabeth Piper, John Stonestreet Organizations: Britain's, Kent Scientific Services, REUTERS Acquire, EU, LONDON, Union's, Horizon, Twitter, Northern Ireland, Thomson Locations: West Malling, Kent, Britain, Horizon Europe, Europe, EU

☆ UK could lose global climate leadership, says former energy minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Chris Skidmore is seen outside Downing Street, as uncertainty over Brexit continues, in London, Britain May 21, 2019. "We are in this global net zero race, we have been climate leaders in the past, we're about to lose that leadership," he said. There is no free rider opportunities in net zero. Asked if Sunak should attend the COP28 climate summit in person to help Britain hold onto its net zero leadership, Skidmore said it was policy outcomes which were the most important thing. "Yes, it's nice if we can have a prime minister turn up, but I don't think it's essential," he said.

Persons: Chris Skidmore, Brexit, Hannah Mckay, decarbonisation, Jobs, Rishi Sunak's, Sunak, Skidmore, William James, Sachin Ravikumar, Muvija, Sarah Young Organizations: REUTERS, Rights Companies Edf Energy Nuclear Generation, Reuters IMPACT, Thomson Locations: Downing, London, Britain

☆ UK's Labour Party has 14-point lead over Conservatives, Opinium poll shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks during the Prime Minister's Statements on the Nato Summit at the House of Commons in London, Britain, July 13, 2023. UK Parliament/Andy Bailey/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Britain's opposition Labour Party has a 14-point lead over Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's ruling Conservatives, an opinion poll by market research company Opinium showed on Saturday as lawmakers prepare to return to parliament after the summer break. The Opinium poll, based on a survey of 2,055 British adults carried out between Aug. 30 and Sept. 1, showed support for Labour had risen to 42%, up 1 percentage point since the last poll in July, while support for the Conservative Party rose by 2 points to 28%. Lawmakers return to parliament on Monday, with a general election expected to be held next year. Reporting by Sarah Young Editing by Helen PopperOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Andy Bailey, Handout, Rishi Sunak's, Sarah Young, Helen Popper Our Organizations: British, Nato, REUTERS, Labour Party, Labour, Conservative Party, Thomson Locations: London, Britain

☆ A multitrillion-dollar carbon bubble? Climate chief warns world leaders over fossil fuel plans
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

The message from the world's leading climate scientists in April last year was that a substantial reduction in fossil fuel use will be necessary to curb global heating. The burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas is the chief driver of the crisis. Indeed, the IPCC said that current fossil fuel use was already more than the planet could handle and additional projects were destined to lock in even greater emissions with devastating consequences. The U.N. climate panel also estimated that fossil fuel investors could be at risk of losing between $1 trillion and $4 trillion if governments act to limit global temperature rise. Despite this, some of the world's richest nations, such as the U.S. and China, have cited energy security as a reason for investing in additional fossil fuel projects.

Persons: Jim Skea, Fabrice Coffrini, Skea, We've, Fethi Belaid, Hoesung Lee, Rishi Sunak's, Danny Lawson, Biden, Mario Tama Organizations: Afp, Getty, CNBC, South, Imperial College London, Greenpeace, United Arab, Social, Trans, Trans Alaska Pipeline System, National Petroleum Reserve Locations: Algeria, Europe, North Africa, East, Asia, staving, China, Ukraine, Paris, Richmond , North Yorkshire, United Arab Emirates, Trans Alaska, Alaska, Delta Junction

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