Category: News Story

NEWS STORY

The deadline for the UK government to hand over Boris Johnson’s WhatsApp messages has been extended by the Covid-19 inquiry. The inquiry had initially ordered the government to submit these messages but has now allowed for an extension. The deadline extension comes after a request was made to the inquiry, asking for more time to comply with the ruling. The inquiry rejected a further request to extend the deadline until June 5, but a short extension was granted. The Cabinet Office, which was tasked with providing the messages, now has until the extended deadline to hand them over to avoid facing action.

Some reports indicate that the Cabinet Office claimed not to possess Mr. Johnson’s WhatsApp messages or his notebooks, but the Covid-19 inquiry had threatened legal action against the government if the unredacted messages and diary entries were not released. Sources close to the Prime Minister have suggested that the messages aren’t relevant to the inquiry and shouldn’t need to be provided to them. The Cabinet Office said in a statement that it would meet its legal requirements in supplying the information requested.

STORY

Dominic Raab, the Conservative MP for Esher and Walton, has confirmed that he is standing down at the next General Election. Raab, who stood down as Deputy Prime Minister following a critical report on his bullying officials, said that he wanted to stand down because of the pressure on his young family. Raab has been the MP for the constituency since the 2010 General Election, but saw his 23,298 majority in 2017 reduced to just 2,743 at the 2019 General Election.

RESOURCES

Speeches Made by Dominic Raab

Esher and Walton Constituency

Report into the Bullying Allegations Made Against Dominic Raab

NEWS STORY

Vodafone, the British mobile phone giant, has announced plans to cut 11,000 jobs over the next three years. The new Chief Executive, Margherita Della Valle, aims to simplify the organisation and drive changes and reform within the telecoms group, which she believes has under-performed over recent years. This decision comes as Vodafone forecasts a €1.5 billion drop in cash flow and the announcement of job cuts has caused Vodafone shares to fall sharply in value.

Margherita Della Valle has emphasised the need for customer focus, simplicity, and growth as priorities for Vodafone as the company moves forward. The planned reduction in workforce is part of a broader effort to reshape the company and improve its performance in what is becoming an increasingly competitive market. While the specific details regarding which departments or areas will be affected by the job cuts are not yet confirmed, it is evident that Vodafone is undertaking significant restructuring measures to streamline operations and address its financial challenges.

EXTERNAL NEWS LINKS

Vodafone

NEWS STORY

Julia Crouch has been appointed Governor of Anguilla in succession to Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam, who is moving to another role in the Diplomatic Service. Crouch, who is currently the Head of Economics and Global Issues in Moscow, will take up her new role in the summer.

RESOURCES

Government Press Release

EXTERNAL NEWS LINKS

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

STORY

Conservative Tom Wootton has won the election to become the Mayor of Bedford, beating the incumbent Liberal Democrat Mayor, Dave Hodgson, by 145 votes.

The results were:

Name of Candidate	Description	Number of Votes Recorded*
ALI, SAQHIB IJTHEHAD	Labour Party	11,568
HODGSON, DAVE	Liberal Democrat	15,602
SPURRELL, ADRIAN PAUL	Green Party	3,795
THOMAS, ALBERTO GEORGE	Heritage Party	887
WOOTTON, TOM	Conservative Party Candidate	15,747

EXTERNAL NEWS LINKS

Bedford Borough Council

STORY

Chris Cooke has been elected as the Mayor of Middlesbrough, narrowly beating the incumbent Andy Preston who was first elected to the role in 2019.

The result was:

Chris Cooke (Labour) – 10,956 votes

John Henry Cooper (Conservative) – 2,997 votes

Andy Preston (Independent) – 10.196 votes

Jon Rathmell (Independent) – 3,102 votes

Electorate: 99,034

Turnout: 27.8%

EXTERNAL NEWS LINKS

Middlesbrough Council

STORY

BP’s has announced that their latest profits for the first quarter of 2023 are $5 billion (£4 billion) with a plan to purchase $1.75 billion of their own shares, on top of the purchase of $2.75 billion which were purchased in the previous quarter. The news has led to a number of political figures calling for BP to face increased taxation following the profit announcement, made at a time of hardship being caused by energy price increases.

Murray Auchincloss, BP’s Chief Financial Officer, said:

“In the first quarter, bp delivered resilient earnings and continues to execute against its unchanged financial frame. We are strengthening the balance sheet, investing with discipline to advance our strategy, and are committed to returning 60% of 2023 surplus cash flow through share buybacks with a further $1.75 billion announced for the first quarter.”

Keir Starmer, the Leader of the Opposition, said that he supported a windfall tax, saying “of course we want BP and others to make profits so they can invest but these are profits that they didn’t expect to make, these are profits that are over and above because the world price of energy is so high”.

Paul Nowak from the TUC said in a statement:

“These eye-watering profits are an insult to working families as millions struggle with sky-high bills. Oil and gas companies have been allowed to get away with treating the British public like cash machines. The government has left billions on the table by refusing to impose a proper windfall tax on the likes of BP. And even now ministers are refusing to take action to fix our broken energy market and stop this obscene price gouging. We could have lower household bills and an energy system that served the public, if government taxed excessive profits, introduced a social tariff and created public ownership of new clean power.”

EXTERNAL NEWS LINKS

BP

STORY

Richard Sharp has resigned from his role as the Chair of the BBC following a report written by Adam Heppinstall KC which stated that he had breached the governance rules when he was appointed. Sharp said following the report:

“Mr Heppinstall’s view is that, while I did breach the governance code for public appointments, he states that a breach does not necessarily invalidate an appointment. Indeed, I have always maintained the breach was inadvertent and not material, which the facts he lays out substantiate. The secretary of state has consulted with the BBC Board who support that view.

Nevertheless, I have decided that it is right to prioritise the interests of the BBC. I feel that this matter may well be a distraction from the corporation’s good work were I to remain in post until the end of my term. I have, therefore, this morning resigned as BBC chair to the secretary of state, and to the board.”

Lucy Frazer, the Culture Secretary, wrote to Sharp following his resignation stating:

“I know that you are held in high regard by the BBC Board. You have clearly demonstrated your commitment to public service, and I especially applaud the work you did during the pandemic. Your decision to step down in the wider interests of the Corporation is further testament to that commitment.”

Lucy Powell, the Shadow Culture Secretary, said:

“The report is clear: Mr Sharp breached the rules expected of candidates by failing to disclose his involvement in a personal loan to the then PM. As a result, this breach has caused untold damage to the reputation of the BBC and seriously undermined its independence as a result of the Conservatives’ sleaze and cronyism.”

RESOURCES

Text of Heppinstall Report

Lucy Frazer letter to Richard Sharp

Lucy Powell’s Comments on Richard Sharp’s Resignation

EXTERNAL NEWS LINKS

BBC Web-Site

STORY

Fiona Blyth has been appointed as His Majesty’s Ambassador to Mongolia, in succession to Philip Malone who is moving to another role within the Diplomatic Service. Blyth was previously the Russia / Ukraine Team Leader at the Cabinet Office and she will take up her new role in July 2023.

Previous Ambassadors included:

1979–1982: Thomas Haining
1982–1984: James Paterson
1984–1987: Allan Butler
1987–1989: Guy Hart
1989–1991: David Sprague
1991–1993: Anthony Morey
1994–1997: Ian Sloane
1997–1999: John Durham
1999–2001: Kay Coombs
2001–2004: Philip Rouse
2004–2006: Richard Austen
2006–2008: Christopher Osborne
2008–2009: Thorhilda Abbott-Watt
2009–2011: William Dickson
2011–2012: Thorhilda Abbott-Watt
2012–2015: Christopher Stuart
2015–2018: Catherine Arnold
2018–2023: Philip Malone

RESOURCES

Foreign Office Press Release

EXTERNAL NEWS LINKS

Foreign Office Web-Site

STORY

Andrew Bridgen, the MP for North West Leicestershire, has been permanently expelled from the Conservative Party following a suspension in January following his comments comparing vaccines to the Holocaust. The MP had also been found guilty of putting pressure on Kathryn Stone, the former Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, following his breach of Commons rules on advocacy and interests. The decision from the Conservative Party means that he will be unable to be a candidate for the party at the next General Election, but can retain his Parliamentary seat until then.

Bridgen posted on social media today:

“My expulsion from the Conservative Party under false pretences only confirms the toxic culture which plagues our political system.  Above all else this is an issue of freedom of speech. No elected Member of Parliament should ever be penalised for speaking on behalf of those who have no voice. The Party has been sure to make an example of me.”

RESOURCES

News Story – Andrew Bridgen Loses Conservative Whip

Andrew Bridgen Speech at Vaccine Harms Rally