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LONDON, Jan 27 (Reuters) - The High Court in London ruled on Friday that a prominent Russian businessman could not pause an $850 million fraud lawsuit brought by two Russian banks because of British sanctions. Boris Mints and his sons Dmitry, Alexander and Igor are being sued by National Bank Trust, which is 99% owned by the Central Bank of Russia, on behalf of Bank Otkritie, once Russia’s largest private lender before it collapsed in 2017. The judge said her written ruling containing her reasons for refusing to pause the case would be published on Friday afternoon. She also granted permission to appeal against her decision to both the Mints family and the banks, saying: "It is plainly a case with far wider implications." Reporting by Sam Tobin; Editing by Elizabeth Piper and Mark PotterOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ UK must review decision to block UK-France power cable project - court ruling
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( Sam Tobin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Britain must review its refusal to grant development consent for a high-voltage undersea power cable project linking Britain and France, London's High Court ruled on Tuesday. A government spokesperson said: "The UK Government is disappointed by the outcome but we will be considering the judgment carefully before deciding next steps." After requesting further information, Kwarteng last year decided that Aquind had given "insufficient consideration" to an alternative connection point in Dorset in southern England, which Aquind had previously rejected. However, the High Court ruled that it was "irrational" for Kwarteng to refuse Aquind’s application without making further inquiries about the feasibility of the location in Dorset. Reporting by Sam Tobin and Elizabeth Piper, editing by William James, Ed Osmond and Angus MacSwanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ British minister met Hong Kong tycoon Lai's legal team, Downing Street says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

LONDON, Jan 10 (Reuters) - The legal team of Jimmy Lai, the pro-democracy Hong Kong tycoon sentenced to over five years in jail last month, met a British junior foreign office minister on Tuesday, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's spokesperson said. "The British government will always support rights and freedoms and the rule of law," the spokesperson told reporters. "The foreign office ... has provided support for Jimmy Lai for some time, and Minister for Asia Anne-Marie Trevelyan has met his legal team today." Reporting by Andrew MacAskill, writing by Alistair Smout, editing by Elizabeth PiperOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ PM Rishi Sunak sets out priorities for Britain, responds to critics
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( Elizabeth Piper | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON, Jan 3 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will set out his priorities for 2023 on Wednesday, using his first speech of the year to try to reassure his restive Conservative Party that he has what it takes to lead them into the next national election. Wednesday's speech will be as much a statement of intent as a reply to critics who doubt whether the man, who failed to win against Truss in the Conservative leadership race in September, has what it takes to help the party win the next election. Billed by his Downing Street office as a speech to set out his priorities for the year ahead and ambition for a better future for Britain, Sunak, 42, will set out his commitment to deliver for the long term on issues such as low numeracy rates. The speech will not come too soon for those in his governing Conservative Party who see little chance of winning the next election, expected in 2024. Reporting by Elizabeth Piper, additional reporting by Muvija M.; editing by Jonathan OatisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Four dead after migrant boat capsizes off English coast
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( Peter Nicholls | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

"At 0305 (GMT) today, authorities were alerted to an incident in the Channel concerning a migrant small boat in distress," a government spokesperson said in a statement. Some British politicians say migrants from Albania - a European Union candidate - have not suffered persecution but are moving for economic reasons. "I'm sure the whole House will share my sorrow at the capsizing of a small boat in the Channel in the early hours of this morning and the tragic loss of human life," Sunak said. The refugee charity Care4Calais accused the government of doing nothing to prevent migrant deaths, which it said were "wholly unnecessary and preventable". Data compiled by the Missing Migrants Project showed 205 migrants had been recorded dead or missing in the English Channel since 2014.

☆ Harry and Meghan decry media harassment in Netflix documentary
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Michael Holden | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/6] Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend the 2022 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope Award Gala in New York City, U.S., December 6, 2022. REUTERS/Andrew KellySummary Harry and Meghan documentary series releasedNewspapers scathing, call it 'act of war'LONDON, Dec 8 (Reuters) - Prince Harry said it was his duty to expose the "exploitation and bribery" of the media, saying members of the British royal family regarded the harassment of his wife Meghan as being a rite of passage. In the first episodes of the couple's much anticipated Netflix documentary series, Harry, who stepped down from royal duties two years ago with Meghan, said he accepted people would fundamentally disagree with that he had done. In the documentary, Harry draws comparisons with Meghan's treatment and the intense media intrusion that his mother Princess Diana had suffered. "This is about duty and service and I feel as though, being part of this family, it is my duty to uncover this exploitation and bribery that happens within our media," Harry said.

☆ British PM Sunak pledges further action on strikes to 'protect lives'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Dec 7 (Reuters) - Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Wednesday he would take more action "to protect the lives and livelihoods" of Britons during months of planned strikes by rail, health and postal workers. His spokesperson said the prime minister was looking at further measures to tackle the strikes. Sunak's choice of words that he wanted to "protect the lives" of Britons suggested he might introduce steps to protect the health service. "The prime minister thinks it's right to look at further ways to curb the impact of this disruption we're seeing," the spokesperson told reporters. "(This) shows the government is not serious right about avoiding these strikes," a spokesperson for Labour said.

☆ 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 government could bring in military to ease strikes- Conservative chairman
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Dec 4 (Reuters) - The British 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. Zahawi again blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine for fuelling energy price rises and 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. Reporting by Elizabeth Piper Editing by Gareth Jones and Susan FentonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ 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 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.

☆ Britain's Currys to avoid using Royal Mail 'for now' over strikes
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, Dec 4 (Reuters) - British electricals retailer Currys (CURY.L) will not use Royal Mail as a delivery provider "for now" to reduce any impact from strike action, the company's chief executive officer Alex Baldock said on Sunday. Asked whether the report was true, Baldock said: "For now, yes. We plan for this sort of thing all the time and the relatively few, smaller parcels that we distribute through Royal Mail are pretty easily switchable to another provider." Postal workers have already staged walk outs and plan another wave of strikes later this month over pay and conditions, arguing that they want a rise that matches increasing prices and the cost of living. Reporting by Elizabeth Piper Editing by Raissa KasolowskyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ British lawmakers say business at risk from lack of chip support
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Britain must support its semiconductor industry to win inward investment and secure supplies of the chips essential to its industrial and economic prospects, a group of lawmakers said. Spurred by a global shortage, governments in the United States and Europe have ploughed tens of billions of dollars into semiconductors, including building new manufacturing "fabs". "The government is putting UK plc at significant risk by failing to take action in support of the semiconductor industry," said Darren Jones, chair of the business, energy and industrial strategy committee. The committee said Britain should cooperate with the United States under its CHIPS act, and engage with Taiwan, which is the world's biggest manufacturer of advanced chips. The lawmakers said while Britain's semiconductor industry was relatively small, it had world-leading capabilities in fields such as design, intellectual property and compound and advanced material semiconductors.

☆ Britain must end reliance on 'cheap labour', Starmer tells businesses
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Elizabeth Piper | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

In a speech to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) conference, Starmer doubled down on that message by telling businesses that a Labour government would work with companies to "help the British economy off its immigration dependency". "But let me tell you - the days when low pay and cheap labour are part of the British way on growth must end." Britain's economy has long relied on cheap labour, particularly since the EU expanded to take on new members from eastern Europe. On Monday, CBI Director General Tony Danker said labour shortages could be addressed with a better immigration system. "But our common goal must be to help the British economy off its immigration dependency," he said.

He froze until 2028 a threshold at which employers start to pay social security contributions, which will cost companies more. Public spending would grow more slowly than the economy but rise in overall terms, he said. It now expects gross domestic product to contract by 1.4% next year compared with its projection in March for growth of 1.8%. The OBR forecasts GDP growth of 1.3% in 2024 and 2.6% in 2025, compared with previous forecasts of 2.1% and 1.8% respectively. Thursday's forecasts by the OBR showed that target would be met in the 2027/28 financial year.

The windfall tax will be expanded to electricity generators with a levy of 45% being applied from Jan. 1 to revenues the government deems "extraordinary", from low carbon power generators such as wind and nuclear. The two measures are expected to raise around 14 billion pounds for 2023/24 fiscal year, a treasury document showed. Treasury documents show the 45% tax on low-carbon power generators would apply to revenue made on power generation at an average price over 75 pounds per megawatt hour (MWh). OIL AND GAS WINDFALLThe higher windfall tax on oil and gas producers will take effect on Jan. 1. Rival BP (BP.L) plans to spend 18 billion pounds by 2030 in Britain.

☆ UK, Canada stress importance of full probe into Poland missile strike
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

LONDON, Nov 16 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to stress the importance of a full investigation into a missile strike on Poland, Sunak's office said on Wednesday. "The prime minister and Prime Minister Trudeau emphasised the importance of a full investigation into the circumstances behind missiles falling in Poland yesterday," Sunak's office said, after the two leaders spoke to Zelenskiy from the G20 summit in Indonesia. "They stressed that, whatever the outcome of that investigation, Putin's invasion of Ukraine is squarely to blame for the ongoing violence." Reporting by Farouq Suleiman and Sachin Ravikumar, editing by Elizabeth PiperOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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.

☆ UK 'urgently' looking into reports of missile strike in Poland
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Britain is "urgently" looking into reports of missiles landing in Poland, the government said on Tuesday, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak promising to remain in close contact on a call with Polish President Andrzej Duda as he expressed solidarity. "I reiterated the UK's solidarity with Poland and expressed condolences for the victims," Sunak said on Twitter. The Associated Press earlier cited a senior U.S. intelligence official as saying the blast was caused by Russian missiles crossing into Poland. Foreign minister James Cleverly had said earlier that the UK was urgently looking into the reports, adding they were in contact with Poland and NATO allies. Some hit Lviv, which is less than 80 km (50 miles) from the border with Poland.

☆ Britain wants to do more with United States on gas supplies
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

LONDON, Nov 8 (Reuters) - Britain is looking to work more closely with countries such as the United States over gas supplies to help manage volatility in energy prices, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's spokesman said on Tuesday. Asked if Downing Street would like to see a deal with the United States over gas supplies, the spokesman said that the government was open about its desire to work with a number of countries. "The U.S. (is one country) where we do feel that there is more we can do to work together to help tackle some of these energy price spikes," the spokesman told reporters. Reporting by Elizabeth Piper; writing by Alistair Smout. Editing by Andrew MacAskillOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

LONDON, Nov 7 (Reuters) - British finance minister Jeremy Hunt will seek to fill a 50 billion pound ($57 billion) hole in the country's public finances with around 30 billion pounds of spending cuts and 20 billion in tax rises, two government sources said on Monday. Hunt is due to present a fiscal statement to parliament on Nov. 17. Britain's Guardian newspaper reported on Sunday that early drafts of Hunt's statement included up to 35 billion pounds of spending cuts and 25 billion pounds of tax rises, while on Monday the Financial Times gave figures of 33 billion pounds and 21 billion pounds respectively. Last week a finance ministry source said broad-based tax rises were likely to fill a "fiscal black hole". Most of the 45 billion pounds of unfunded tax cuts which Kwarteng announced were rapidly reversed, apart from a 16 billion pound cut in payroll taxes which took effect on Nov. 6.

☆ COP 27 "Live up to your climate promises," UK PM will say
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt, Nov 6 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will on Monday use a speech at the United Nations climate summit in Egypt to tell world leaders to deliver on their promises to tackle global warming. "The world came together in Glasgow with one last chance to create a plan that would limit global temperature rises to 1.5 degrees. The question today is: can we summon the collective will to deliver on those promises?" Sunak will also meet his French and Italian counterparts on the sidelines of the U.N. conference. Reporting by William James, editing by Elizabeth Piper and Barbara LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ British PM to raise hunger striker Abd el-Fattah's case during COP27
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

CAIRO, Nov 6 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said he will raise the case of Egyptian-British hunger striker Alaa Abd el-Fattah with Egypt's leadership during the COP27 climate summit that opened on Sunday, the same day Abd el-Fattah said he would stop drinking water. Egyptian officials have not responded to Reuters' phone calls for comment on Abd el-Fattah's case, but have said previously that he was receiving meals and was moved to a prison with better conditions earlier this year. Abd el-Fattah's family said he was only consuming minimal calories and some fibre to sustain himself earlier in the year. Abd el-Fattah's family said he had told them he would stop consuming honey, tea and milk on Nov. 1 and planned to cease drinking water from Sunday. Egyptian authorities had to act within three days to save Abd el-Fattah, the head of Amnesty International, Agnes Callamard, told a press conference in Cairo.

☆ UK government faces tough budget decisions, says minister
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Britain's government is facing significant and difficult decisions on taxes and spending in an effort to plug a budget shortfall, cabinet office minister Oliver Dowden said on Sunday, declining to comment on possible measures. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and finance minister Jeremy Hunt will set out plans to cover the shortfall of at least 40 billion pounds ($45.50 billion) with their first budget programme on Nov. 17. "It's right that we take difficult decisions," Dowden told Sky News. "I have to say to you and your viewers there will be, unfortunately, more significant difficult decisions to come in the autumn statement." Dowden added that, while focusing on protecting the most vulnerable people, the government faces difficult decisions on both tax and spending.

☆ UK's Sunak stands by minister accused of sending bullying texts
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Nov 6 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is standing by a government minister who has been accused of bullying a colleague, cabinet office minister Oliver Dowden said on Sunday, saying the phone messages in question were sent "in the heat of the moment". I think he now accepts that he shouldn't have done it and he regrets doing so," Dowden told Sky News. "He shouldn't have sent those messages ... But of course the prime minister continues to have confidence in Gavin Williamson." Since being appointed as Britain's third prime minister in two months almost two weeks ago, Sunak has come under pressure for his government appointments, particularly Braverman's reappointment as interior minister.

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