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☆ Britain bans 'laughing gas' to curb anti-social behaviour
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Policing Minister Chris Philp hosts a roundtable in Downing Street with senior policing figures and UK's biggest retailers to set out a joint plan of action to tackle the rise in shoplifting and to catch more prolific offenders, in London, Britain October 23, 2023. "For too long the use of this drug in public spaces has contributed to anti-social behaviour which is a blight on communities. We will not accept it," Britain's policing minister Chris Philp said in a statement. In September, interior minister Suella Braverman said people were "fed up" with the use of drugs in public spaces, with discarded gas canisters being littered across Britain's streets. Under the ban, nitrous oxide will be prescribed as a "Class C" drug and classified in "the least harmful" category of drugs under Britain's laws alongside anabolic steroids, benzodiazepines and growth hormones.

Persons: Chris Philp, Aaron Chown, Suella Braverman, Farouq Suleiman, Michael Holden Organizations: Thomson Locations: London, Britain

☆ British lawmakers call for pause in live facial recognition surveillance
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Martin Coulter | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Reuters TV via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Oct 6 (Reuters) - A cross-party coalition of 65 British lawmakers called on Friday for a pause in use of live facial recognition surveillance on the country's streets. British police have previously deployed live facial recognition at a number of large-scale public events, including the recent coronation of King Charles II. In a joint statement published on Friday, lawmakers from across the political spectrum said: "We call on UK police and private companies to immediately stop using live facial recognition for public surveillance." Signatories included veteran Conservative MP David Davis, Labour politicians Diane Abbott and John McDonnell, and Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey. "There must be an urgent stop to live facial recognition, parliamentary scrutiny, and a much wider democratic debate before we introduce such privacy-altering technology to British life."

Persons: King Charles II, Chris Philp, David Davis, Diane Abbott, John McDonnell, Ed Davey, Silkie Carlo, Martin Coulter, Alex Richardson Organizations: Reuters, REUTERS, Amnesty International, European Union . British, Conservative, Labour, Liberal, Big Brother Watch, Runnymede Trust, Big Brother, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Runnymede

LONDON, April 19 (Reuters) - Britain said on Wednesday that any intimidation on British soil of foreign nationals by China or other states was unacceptable and that it was investigating the matter, responding to a media report about a so-called secret Chinese police station. Britain has previously said that reports of undeclared police stations in the country were "extremely concerning," and that the police were looking into the issue. Earlier this week, U.S. federal agents arrested two New York residents for allegedly operating a Chinese "secret police station" in the Chinatown district of Manhattan. On Wednesday, Britain's policing minister Chris Philp said the government was aware of about 100 such stations around the world. "This government takes interference with foreign nationals here, transnational intimidation, extremely seriously.

☆ Jeremy Hunt replaces Kwarteng as Britain's finance minister
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, Oct 14 (Reuters) - Former foreign minister Jeremy Hunt has been appointed Britain's finance minister, Prime Minister Liz Truss's office said on Friday, following Kwasi Kwarteng's resignation from the post after less than six weeks in the job. A former foreign minister, Hunt has twice been unsuccessful in running for the governing Conservative Party's leadership, once losing to Boris Johnson and then being knocked out in the first round of voting in a contest which saw Truss take the prize. Seen as on the centre-right of the party, Hunt endorsed Truss's leadership rival, former finance minister Rishi Sunak to become prime minister, and is seen by many in the party as a safe pair of hands. Hunt, who has also previously served as health minister and culture minister, becomes Britain's fourth finance minister in as many months. Truss's office also said Edward Argar had replaced Chris Philp as Chief Secretary to the Treasury, the second most important job in the department.

☆ UK Finance Minister Kwasi Kwarteng fired after market chaos and tax-cutting plans
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-14 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Kwasi Kwarteng, UK chancellor of the exchequer, speaks at a fringe event during the Conservative Party's annual autumn conference in Birmingham, UK, on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. LONDON — British Finance Minister Kwasi Kwarteng was fired on Friday after less than six weeks in the role, amid mounting political pressure and market chaos. "The economic environment has changed rapidly since we set out the Growth Plan on 23 September. The Medium-Term Fiscal Plan is crucial to this end, and I look forward to supporting you and my successor to achieve that from the backbenches." Jeremy Hunt — a former Health Secretary and Foreign Secretary — was announced as Kwarteng's successor.

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register"We have announced that we will be out by the end of this week. "My message to the funds involved and all the firms involved managing those funds: You've got three days left now. Investors are nervous that Friday's halt to the BoE's bond-buying might come too soon for some pension funds. But a BoE spokesperson said it had been made "absolutely clear in contact with the banks at senior levels" that the Friday deadline would hold. On Wednesday, it said it was "closely monitoring" liability-driven investment (LDI) funds, which are key to pension funds, ahead of Friday's deadline.

British financial markets have been under strain since Sept. 23 when finance minister Kwasi Kwarteng announced 45 billion pounds ($50 billion) of tax cuts, without saying how they would be paid for. The Institute of Fiscal Studies think-tank has said the strategy will require 62 billion pounds of spending cuts or tax rises to stop the public debt growing - a daunting proposition after more than a decade of tight government spending. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterTruss and Kwarteng say their tax cuts will boost economic growth and restore the public finances over the medium term. Asked if she was sticking to a pledge not to cut spending made during the Conservative leadership contest, she said: "Absolutely, absolutely." Her spokesman later said that although public spending overall would rise, "there will be deeply difficult decisions to be taken given some of the global challenges we're facing".

☆ UK Treasury minister rejects IMF concern over tax-cutting budget
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, Sept 29 (Reuters) - Chris Philp, Britain's chief secretary to the Treasury, said he disagreed with concerns raised by the International Monetary Fund about the government's tax-cutting budget that has roiled markets, saying it would lead to long-term economic growth. "I saw the IMF comments. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterThe pound sank and British government bond yields soared, forcing the BoE to revive its bond-buying programme in an emergency move on Wednesday to shore up pension funds. Asked if the government regretted its handling of the economy, Philp said interest rates had been rising around the world in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Kate Holton and Muvija M Editing by William SchombergOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

LONDON, Sept 29 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Liz Truss broke her silence on Thursday following nearly a week of chaos in financial markets triggered by her plans for tax cuts, saying she was willing to take "controversial" decisions to reignite growth. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register"But I'm prepared to do that as prime minister because what's important to me is that we get our economy moving." Truss became prime minister on Sept. 6 after winning the leadership of the governing Conservative Party with promises to cut taxes. "This is the right plan that we've set out," Truss said, adding it would put Britain's economy on a better trajectory for the long term. Some financial analysts have said the government might have to bring forward that announcement to settle the nerves of investors.

☆ UK market meltdown? Nothing to see here, minister says
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Chris Philp walks outside Treasury building, in London, Britain September 7, 2022. REUTERS/Hannah MckayLONDON, Sept 24 (Reuters) - Britain's deputy finance minister on Saturday played down a historic collapse in the pound and government bonds in response to the country's new economic growth plan, which sent international investors heading for the exit. The pound slumped 3.6% on Friday below $1.09, a new 37-year low against the dollar, while gilts suffered their worst day in decades as the market digested finance minister Kwasi Kwarteng's announcement of a borrowing-funded drive for growth. "Let's be clear, the interest rates payable on government gilts is about the same in the United Kingdom now today as it is in the United States," Chris Philp, Britain's deputy finance minister, told Sky News when asked about the market moves. "(The reason) we're doing this isn't for intraday moves in the currency market, Philp said.

☆ UK market meltdown? Nothing to see here, Treasury minister says
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Chris Philp walks outside Treasury building, in London, Britain September 7, 2022. REUTERS/Hannah MckayLONDON, Sept 24 (Reuters) - Britain's deputy finance minister on Saturday played down a historic collapse in the pound and government bonds in response to the country's new economic growth plan, which sent international investors heading for the exit. The pound slumped 3.6% on Friday below $1.09, a new 37-year low against the dollar, while gilts suffered their worst day in decades as the market digested finance minister Kwasi Kwarteng's announcement of a borrowing-funded drive for growth. "(The reason) we're doing this isn't for intraday moves in the currency market, Philp said. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Andy Bruce Editing by Frances KerryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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