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☆ Uxbridge by-election: In Boris Johnson's back yard, Britons are desperate for a change
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Rob Picheta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

A mid-term by-election to replace Johnson is taking place on Thursday, alongside two other by-elections to replace MPs elsewhere in the country. Boris Johnson is seen on a walkabout in Uxbridge in 2020, during his time as prime minister. Inside, the owner told CNN: "They're all the same ... Johnson’s company ran the first major opinion poll ahead of the Uxbridge by-election, which found a solid but assailable eight-point lead for Labour. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer (far right) and Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves (right) on a campaign visit with Danny Beales, the local Labour candidate (back center).

Persons: Mike Okoli, ”, Okoli, Boris Johnson –, Johnson, “, ” Okoli, Rob Picheta, CNN Johnson, Manoj Supeda, I’ve, hasn’t, ‘, ’ He’s, Supeda, Johnson’s, ” Supeda, “ It’s, ” Manoj Supeda, Tony Blair, Labour's, Brexit, CNN Okoli, he’s, “ I’ve, Sonia Caetano, Boris Johnson, Stefan Rousseau, there’s, ” Caetano, Danny Beales, We've, Caetano, Keir Starmer, Steve Reed, Piers Corbyn, Jeremy Corbyn, Steve Tuckwell, ” Tuckwell, Reed, ” Reed, They’re, Mick, Starmer, “ We’re, we’re, ” James Johnson, Theresa May’s, Sir Keir Starmer, Rachel Reeves, ” Tracy Peabody Organizations: United Kingdom CNN, European Union, CNN, Labour Party –, Tories, Labour, Conservatives, Britain, Uxbridge, Beales, London’s Labour, Conservative, Hillingdon Hospital, CNN ‘ Labour, “, Press Association Locations: Uxbridge, United Kingdom, Nigeria, Caribbean, London, South Ruislip, Britain, “, Okoli, Portuguese, Yiewsley, Portugal, Covid, Ukraine, Hillingdon, Ruislip Manor

☆ Britain's Labour focuses on economy as PM Sunak faces electoral test
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Andrew Macaskill | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

He swiftly went back to concentrating his attacks on the government's handling of the economy and public services. "People are all talking about what is going on with the economy and the crisis that is affecting so many ordinary lives." Sixty-four percent of voters said the economy was the most important issue for them in a YouGov survey earlier this month. 'BUCKET FULL OF HOLES'Uxbridge and South Ruislip, on the western edge of London, is traditionally a Conservative stronghold. Labour's message is more focused on national issues such as the economy and mortgages, while the Conservatives are hammering local issues.

Persons: Danny Beales, Boris Johnson's, Susannah Ireland, Boris Johnson LONDON, Boris Johnson, Beales, Rishi Sunak, Johnson, Sunak, Maria Genjatovic, Paul Mathews, Mathews, Steve Tuckwell, Andrew MacAskill, Elizabeth Piper, Alex Richardson Organizations: Labour, British, REUTERS, London Labour, Labour Party, Conservatives, Reuters, Britain, Conservative, Thomson Locations: Uxbridge, South, Uxbridge , Middlesex, Britain, London, South Ruislip

☆ Glenda Jackson, British actor turned politician, dies aged 87
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Elizabeth Piper | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Raw-boned, pallid and angular, with striking, sharp eyes, she had starred on stage, television and film before quitting to take up politics, declaring: "An actor's life is not interesting". Jackson also won two Emmy awards for her portrayal of England's Queen Elizabeth I in the BBC's 1971 television series "Elizabeth R". After more than three decades on stage and film, Jackson quit acting and took her no-nonsense, straight-talking style into politics. In 1992, at the age of 55, Jackson won a seat in parliament representing the left-of-centre Labour Party in a constituency in north London. In parliament, Jackson was vociferous in her condemnation of the Conservative Party which she accused of instilling a "dreadful, dreadful moral malaise" in Britain.

The more than 100-page report detailed six events held at Downing Street, the prime minister's offices and residence. There is no precedent for a prime minister having been found to have deliberately misled the House (of Commons, lower house of parliament)." It recommended that he should not be entitled to a former member's pass, which enables most former prime ministers and lawmakers to gain automatic access to parliament. But so-called Partygate spelt the beginning of the end for his tenure as prime minister. They have also rowed this week over the former prime minister's resignation honours list.

Persons: Johnson, Boris Johnson, Rishi Sunak, Mr Johnson, Sunak, Thangam Debbonaire, Elizabeth Piper, Alistair Smout, Andrew MacAskill, Kylie MacLellan, Muvija, William James, Kate Holton, Frank Jack Daniel, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Conservatives, Downing, Street, Labour Party, Conservative Party, Thomson Locations: COVID

☆ Boris Johnson's shock exit reverberates through British ruling party
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-10 | by ( Andy Bruce | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/2] Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson walks at the parliament in London, Britain, March 22, 2023. He also took aim at current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. lawmaker Andrea Jenkyns wrote in a Conservative Party WhatsApp group, according to a screenshot shared by a Sky News reporter. Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats opposition party, said Johnson jumped before he was pushed. "He was never fit to be an MP let alone Prime Minister of our great country," Davey said.

Persons: Boris Johnson, Peter Nicholls, Boris Johnson's, Johnson, Rishi Sunak, Rishi, Andrea Jenkyns, Jenkyns, Dame, Boris, John Redwood, Johnson's, Henry Hill, Hill, Nadine Dorries, Angela Rayner, They've, Ed Davey, Davey, Andy Bruce, Mike Harrison, Frances Kerry Organizations: British, REUTERS, Peter Nicholls LONDON, Conservative Party, Labour Party, Conservative, Conservative Party WhatsApp, Sky News, BBC, Sunak's, Liberal Democrats, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Downing, Brexit

☆ UK sets out energy plans, critics bemoan lack of clean tech boost
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] A survey vessel sails past wind turbines at the Burbo Bank offshore wind farm near New Brighton, Britain, January 23, 2023. REUTERS/Phil NobleLONDON, March 30 (Reuters) - Britain set out plans to boost energy security and tackle emissions on Thursday, but critics said a lack of new investment and incentives meant it failed to provide any new boost for the country's green energy sector. Energy security minister Grant Shapps said the 1,000 pages of documents published on Thursday were focused on energy security, a major focus since the war in Ukraine. There were also further details on a raft of previously announced schemes such as funding for offshore wind, carbon capture, speeding up planning processes for solar and offshore wind projects, rolling out more electric vehicle charging points and encouraging heat pumps in homes. Environmental campaign group Greenpeace said the government's energy plans were not going far or fast enough to tackle climate change.

☆ UK's Labour attacks planned pension changes as giveaway to the rich
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Kate Holton | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON, March 16 (Reuters) - Britain's opposition Labour Party vowed on Thursday to reverse the government's planned pension changes, saying they were a giveaway to the top 1% of pension savers at a time when many households are being hit by tax increases and high inflation. "The budget was a chance for the government to unlock Britain's promise and potential," Rachel Reeves, Labour's would-be finance minister said. Some long-serving senior doctors have cut back their hours or retired early as they near the lifetime pension limit, adding to strains in the National Health Service (NHS). The focus on tax support for the wealthiest had echoes of the criticism that met the "mini-budget" of former Prime Minister Liz Truss and her finance minister Kwasi Kwarteng in September. They were later forced to reverse their plan to scrap the top rate of income tax for Britain's highest earners.

☆ Hunt, hemmed in by debt, set to focus on growth in UK budget
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( William Schomberg | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Instead, hemmed in by his promise to lower the burden of Britain's 2.5 trillion pounds ($3.0 trillion) of debt, Hunt will seek to tackle some of the causes of Britain's long-term economic funk. "In the autumn we took difficult decisions to deliver stability and sound money," Hunt is due to say, according to excerpts of his budget speech. "Today, we deliver the next part of our plan: a budget for growth," he adds. Labour's would-be finance minister, Rachel Reeves, sought to keep the heat on Hunt by calling for urgent action now. In an attempt to soften that tax hit, Hunt has hinted at new incentives for business investment.

☆ Japan's largest union reaches early deal for higher pay
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TOKYO, March 9 (Reuters) - Workers from Japan's largest union have struck early agreements for hefty wage hikes with employers as cost of living pressures grow and businesses scramble to secure staff amid a labour crunch, unionists said on Thursday. The 18 unions have agreed in full with their employers for average wage hikes of 5.28%, the unionists said at a news conference. The Bank of Japan is also desperate to see wage hikes strong enough to achieve sustainable demand-driven inflation. To achieve wage hikes, Kishida's government is set to hold a joint meeting with labour and management on March 15 when the major shunto results are expected. Apart from those unions under UA Zensen, some other groups including automaker unions have also announced that labour's demands for higher pay have been met ahead of a March 15 deadline.

☆ EX-UK leader Boris Johnson nominates father for knighthood - report
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Times said Johnson had put forward as many as 100 names for awards. The newspaper did not specify what service Stanley Johnson's nomination was in acknowledgement of. All departing British leaders are entitled to draw up a "resignation honours" list that bestows knighthoods and other titles. Opposition Labour's health policy chief Wes Streeting told the BBC: "I think (his resignation honours list) speaks to a pattern of Boris Johnson's behaviour around cronyism." As prime minister, Johnson in 2020 elevated his brother Jo Johnson to the House of Lords, the upper chamber of parliament, where he has a seat for life.

☆ ECB confronts a cold reality: companies are cashing in on inflation
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( Francesco Canepa | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +9 min

"It's clear that profit expansion has played a larger role in the European inflation story in the last six months or so," said Paul Donovan, chief economist at UBS Global Wealth Management. "The ECB has failed to justify what it's doing in the context of a more profit-focused inflation story." Instead, national accounts and earnings reports from listed companies are being used as proxies to paint the inflation picture. "The main story of the risks going forward is still that there's a looming wage-price spiral which should make the central bank even more aggressive in hiking interest rates." loadingloadingEven inside the ECB, labour representatives demanding higher pay for central bank staff have distanced themselves from what they described as the institution's "anti-worker bias".

☆ UK's shortest-serving PM Liz Truss blames economic 'orthodoxy' for downfall
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Former British prime minister Liz Truss blamed on Sunday the economic "orthodoxy" in the country's finance ministry, other nations and in parts of the governing Conservative Party for derailing her premiership and "plan for growth". But she was not successful, she wrote, because she had underestimated "the blob of vested interests" and orthodoxy. "As I had spelled out during the leadership campaign, I wanted to go for growth ... But this was not in line with the instinctive views of the Treasury (finance ministry) or the wider orthodox economic ecosystem." Grant Shapps, business minister, said everyone wanted lower taxes but Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's government had to focus on reducing debt, bringing down inflation and boosting growth first.

WELLINGTON, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Labour leader Chris Hipkins was sworn in as New Zealand's prime minister in a formal ceremony on Wednesday, following the resignation of outgoing Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern last week. The Labour party elected former COVID-19 Response and Police minister Hipkins, 44, to lead the party and the country on Sunday. Hipkins and his deputy Carmel Sepuloni - the first person of Pacific Islander descent to hold the role - were then sworn in, in a ceremony lasting a few minutes. Hours later, Hipkins met with journalists after his first cabinet meeting as Prime Minister. Chris Hipkins speaks to members of the media, after being confirmed as the only nomination to replace Jacinda Ardern as leader of the Labour Party, outside New Zealand's parliament in Wellington, New Zealand January 21 2023.

☆ New Zealand farmers sour on Ardern’s Labour, complicating new PM's path
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-21 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Rural voters say reforms by Ardern's Labour Party, meant to improve the environmental impact of farming, are costly and ineffective. Farmers worry that the extra costs and work will make their products more expensive and less competitive in foreign markets. The government has proposed an unpopular plan for farmers to pay for methane emissions from their sheep and cows. New Zealand farmers are some of the most efficient in the world. Andrew Hoggard, national president of Federated Farmers, said many Labour regulations were impractical and made farming difficult.

[1/2] Chris Hipkins speaks to members of the media, after being confirmed as the only nomination to replace Jacinda Ardern as leader of the Labour Party, outside New Zealand's parliament in Wellington, New Zealand January 21, 2023. We are different people though, and I'm sure that people will see that," Hipkins told a news conference on Saturday after emerging as the only candidate to lead the ruling Labour Party. First elected to parliament in 2008, Hipkins became a household name fronting the government's response to the pandemic. He was appointed health minister in July 2020 before becoming the COVID response minister at the end of the year. Hipkins is known around parliament for his sense of humour - including an ability to laugh at himself.

☆ Davos 2023-'Open for business' Labour slams PM Sunak no-show
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Brenda Goh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 19 (Reuters) - British Labour Party leader Keir Starmer set out his green growth plan in Davos on Thursday and criticised British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for not showing up at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum. "Somebody has got to be an ambassador for Britain and the prime minister and the chancellor are not here," she told a separate audience referring to finance minister Jeremy Hunt. "We are here to send a message that at the next election ... the British economy will be open for business again." Although Sunak did not attend the event, the British government did send Trade Minister Kemi Badenoch and Business Minister Grant Shapps to Davos. And former Prime Minister Boris Johnson also made an appearance, which he used to urge Britain's allies to double down on sending military equipment to Ukraine.

☆ Davos 2023: UK Labour signals pragmatism over divergence on EU
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Britain's Labour leader Keir Starmer and the party's financial chief Rachel Reeves walk to a meeting during the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2023, in the Alpine resort of Davos, Switzerland, January 19, 2023. REUTERS/Arnd WiegmannDAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Britain's opposition Labour party, ahead in polls with an election due in less than two years, said that in government it would favour pragmatism over divergence for its own sake in dealings with the European Union. Labour has ruled out seeking to re-enter the EU's single market. She added: "Having to certify things twice, once for the UK once for the EU, is another cost that frankly we could do without." Reporting by Mark John in Davos; Editing by Susan FentonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Her successor as Labour leader and prime minister faces a stern test in a general election in October, with support for the party falling and the country expected to fall into a recession next quarter. Despite her high global profile, Ardern's Labour Party has slid in the polls, hurt by rising living costs, growing crime and concern about social issues. That meant that even with traditional coalition partner the Green Party, polling at 9%, Labour could not hold a majority. Ardern most likely stepped down to give the Labour Party a chance to refresh and reposition itself ahead of an election in October, experts said. CONSERVATIVES BUOYEDThe conservative National Party may be buoyed by Ardern's resignation.

☆ UK parliament considers recalling Amazon exec after lawmaker "unhappy" with testimony
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Martin Coulter | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

An Amazon spokesperson strongly denied the executive - European policy chief Brian Palmer - misled the committee. It cited legal filings related to U.S. court cases and testimony from workers at five warehouses in the UK. "We were extremely unhappy with his testimony," McDonald told Reuters. An Amazon spokesperson said that Amazon used CCTV cameras "to ensure the safety of employees and security of products". "To suggest that the use of these standard business practices amount to surveillance of employees is wrong," the Amazon spokesperson added.

☆ Britain's Labour wins vote on COVID contracts against government
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A general view of the Houses of Parliament at sunrise, in London, Britain, February 9, 2022. REUTERS/Tom NicholsonLONDON, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Britain's main opposition Labour Party won a vote on Tuesday to force the government to release documents on COVID-19 contracts awarded to a firm with links to a Conservative member of parliament's upper house. Labour won the vote after Conservative lawmakers were told by their party they could abstain on the opposition motion which sought to force the publication of documents relating to 200 million pounds ($244 million) of personal protective equipment contracts given to PPE MedPro. Conservative lawmakers said there was no deadline in the motion to force the government's hand quickly. But since then, there has been criticism over the way the contracts were awarded.

☆ UK could use military to ease strikes, Conservative chairman says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Britain's government is looking at bringing in the military to help keep public services running if key workers, including in the state-run National Health Service, take strike action, the chairman of the governing Conservative Party said on Sunday. "We're looking at the military, we're looking at a specialist response force... a surge capacity," he said, adding that the military could be brought in to drive ambulances. Workers at post and parcel company Royal Mail have held several rounds of strikes this year in a dispute over pay and working conditions and more strikes are planned this month. Zahawi again blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine for fuelling energy price rises and double-digit inflation, calling on public sector workers to "come together". "There is a minimum safety level of delivery in place already, but the NHS will look at all contingency planning," he said.

☆ UK Labour's Starmer supports plans to spread power away from Westminster
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Dec 4 (Reuters) - British opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer will on Monday support plans to spread power away from the political centre of Westminster, aiming to offer people more control over their lives and local politicians a greater say on transport, housing and jobs. Starmer, whose centre-left Labour Party is leading the governing Conservative Party in opinion polls, is moving to outline his agenda to show voters how he might govern before an election widely expected to be held in 2024. In response to the government's effort to "level up" the country by tackling regional inequalities, Starmer will say this can only be achieved by delivering "the biggest ever transfer of power from Westminster to the British people". Starmer will say there would now be a consultation on the proposals. "Now, if you dig beneath the data, I'd be worried if I was Keir Starmer, because if you look at his numbers, it's very soft."

☆ UK's Labour comfortably beat PM Sunak's Conservatives to retain parliamentary seat
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Britain's opposition Labour Party retained a parliamentary seat in the northwest of England on Friday, comfortably winning the vote in the first electoral test for Rishi Sunak as prime minister. Labour candidate Samantha Dixon won the City of Chester constituency, securing 61% of the vote, compared to 22% for the candidate from Sunak's Conservatives. The next national election is expected in 2024. Curtice said the scale of the swing could indicate Labour winning an outright majority in parliament at the next national election, but noted that local elections were rarely a good guide. Labour have held the Chester seat since 2015, when it was the most marginal seat in the country.

Summary Raab asks PM to investigate complaintsMinister claims he never tolerated bullyingOpposition parties question Sunak's judgementLONDON, Nov 16 (Reuters) - British Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab said on Wednesday he has requested an independent investigation into two formal complaints about his behaviour, the latest case of alleged bullying to put pressure on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. In a letter to Sunak, Raab said he had "just been notified" of complaints, both relating to his behaviour when he served under former prime minister Boris Johnson. Sunak defended his deputy this week, saying he did not recognise allegations that Raab had bullied staff. With Sunak travelling from a G20 meeting, Raab instead will face Labour's deputy leader, Angela Rayner. It is not clear who will investigate the allegations against Raab as Sunak has yet to appoint a new independent adviser on ministerial standards.

Summary Williams resigns to comply with inquiryOpposition parties question Sunak's judgementLONDON, Nov 8 (Reuters) - British minister Gavin Williamson resigned on Tuesday from the government over claims that he bullied colleagues, raising questions about Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's judgement just weeks into the job. Sunak became Britain's third prime minister in two months in October, pledging to restore integrity and professionalism to the heart of government following months of turmoil under his predecessors, Liz Truss and Boris Johnson. The opposition Labour Party said Williamson's resignation was a "damning reflection of a weak prime minister". The government and fellow ministers had previously said that Williamson's messages, if true, were not acceptable but that more time was needed to investigate the situation. Reporting by Muvija M and Kate Holton, Editing by Kylie MacLellan and Rosalba O'BrienOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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