Category: News Story

STORY

New research from the IMF suggests that the UK will be the only G7 economy to see a shrinking GDP level in 2023. Updating its predictions, it noted that the downgrade of predicted growth was made because of the UK’s high energy prices, higher mortgage costs, increased taxation and problems with supply of labour. The IMF has though upgraded their forecast to show an increase of UK GDP in 2024 from 0.6% to 0.9%.

Jeremy Hunt, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, said:

“Short-term challenges should not obscure our long-term prospects – the UK outperformed many forecasts last year, and if we stick to our plan to halve inflation, the UK is still predicted to grow faster than Germany and Japan over the coming years”.

RESOURCES

IMF Web-Site

EXTERNAL NEWS LINKS

BBC News Story

Guardian News Story

STORY

Arthur Lamb, the youngest councillor on Cumbria County Council, has died at the age of 31. He had been elected onto the council in 2017 and was the Conservative’s Shadow Cabinet member for Customers, Transformation and Fire & Rescue. Hilary Carrick, the Conservative group leader on the council, said in a statement:

“There are no words to describe my sadness at hearing the tragic news of Arthur’s untimely passing. Quite simply, he was an amazing young man who was universally loved and respected. He was a very talented politician and hugely effective County councillor who worked tirelessly for the local community that he loved. Arthur had a maturity and wisdom that exceeded his years and his considered contributions, positivity, dedication, enthusiasm and cheeky grin will be hugely missed. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences go out to his family and friends at this very difficult time”.

The funeral will take place on 6 February 2023 at Distington’s Church of the Holy Spirit.

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Trust, who Arthur worked for, said in a statement:

“Our Arthur worked at West Cumberland Hospital in the information team and had recently taken on a secondment as a deputy service manager. He will be very sadly missed by his colleagues at the trust and our thoughts are with his family, many friends and colleagues at this very difficult time. His colleagues have shared their tribute – Just over seven years ago Our Arthur walked into the information office at the West Cumberland Hospital – a unique wonderful gentle giant of a young man at 6ft 2in (Arthur always reminded us of the two inches).

Over the years we have had many happy memories of our time together with Arthur, debating and discussing issues about work, cricket and politics – the odd friendly disagreement too which Arthur thoroughly enjoyed with a twinkle in his eyes. Arthur was a kind generous dedicated person in all aspects of his life from coaching young players at Whitehaven Cricket Club to running out of the office to quickly help a member of staff who was struggling with IT issues.

Every Friday we would go to the canteen (his favourite place) and he’d laugh about his squeaky shoes which could be heard along the corridor and everyone who passed knew him. Arthur will never be far from our thoughts, we will miss him terribly and treasure our time together with him. Thank you Arthur for being you and for being our friend”.

RESOURCES

Press Release from Cumbria County Council

EXTERNAL NEWS LINKS

BBC News Story

Cumbria Crack News Story

STORY

Nadhim Zahawi has been sacked as the Chair of the Conservative Party by Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, following an investigation by Sir Laurie Magnus, the Prime Minister’s Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests. Magnus wrote in his letter that Zahawi had failed to report numerous aspects of a tax investigation, concluding “I consider that these omissions constitute a serious failure to meet the standards set out in the Ministerial Code”. Zahawi had refused to resign from his role, but following the investigation Sunak wrote to him noting:

“Following the completion of the Independent Adviser’s investigation – the findings of which he has shared with us both – it is clear that there has been a serious breach of the Ministerial Code. As a result, I have informed you of my decision to remove you from your position in His Majesty’s Government”.

Dan Neidle had investigated tax affairs over recent years and the former Conservative Party chair had threatened him with legal action with Zahawi yet to comment on why he decided to take that approach.

RESOURCES

Letter from Rishi Sunak to Nadhim Zahawi

Letter from Sir Laurie Magnus to Rishi Sunak

Nadhim Zahawi – Letter to Rishi Sunak Following Dismissal

Nadhim Zahawi – Statement on His Tax Affairs

News Story – Prime Minister to Launch Investigation into Nadhim Zahawi’s Tax Affairs

Dan Neidle – Article on Nadhim Zahawi’s Tax Affairs

EXTERNAL NEWS LINKS

Guardian News Story

STORY

Cameron Beart, a Conservative Councillor on both Swale Borough Council and Kent County Council, has died at the age of 31. Gordon Henderson, the Conservative MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey, told the Kent Online that:

“Cameron worked very closely with us on a number of issues affecting Sheppey and helped resolve the problems of so many people on the Island. On a personal level, I will not only miss Cameron’s invaluable help, sound advice, and common sense but also his loyalty and friendship”.

Roger Gough, the Conservative Leader on Kent County Council, said in a statement:

“In his time on this council and throughout his political career, it is clear that Cameron was totally dedicated, first and foremost, to improving the lives of people on the Isle of Sheppey, and a fierce fighter for the island and all who live there. It’s hard to comprehend that someone so young and with such a promising future ahead of him is no longer here. He will be sorely missed by us all”.

RESOURCES

Cameron Beart Councillor Database (Swale Borough Council)

Cameron Beart Councillor Database (Kent County Council)

Cameron Beart’s Twitter Account

EXTERNAL NEWS LINKS

Kent Online Report of Mr Beart’s Death

BBC News Story

STORY

Vinay Talwar has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Djibouti, succeeding Jo McPhail who is moving into another role in the Diplomatic Service. Talwar was previously the Head of the Economic Team in Dublin and he will take up his new appointment in April 2023.

RESOURCES

Foreign Office Press Release

STORY

Simon Walters has been appointed as His Majesty’s Ambassador to Israel, succeeding Neil Wigan who is moving into another role in the Diplomatic Service. Walters was previously the Director National Security for Middle East and Africa and will take up his new role in August 2023.

RESOURCES

Foreign Office Press Release

STORY

Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, has announced that there will be an inquiry made by the Government’s new ethics advisor into the tax affairs of Nadhim Zahawi, the current Conservative Party chair. There are also allegations made that Nadhim Zahawi may have misled journalists when Chancellor of the Exchequer, particularly an investigation being conducted by Dan Neidle. Leaders from the Labour Party, the Liberal Democrats and the SNP have called on the Prime Minister to remove Zahawi from his current role given the allegations, but these have been rejected by Downing Street. A debate will also be held later today in the House of Commons following the Speaker’s decision to allow an urgent Parliamentary question on the matter.

Nadhim Zahawi said that he had made mistakes, but that they were careless rather than deliberate errors, saying in a statement:

“Twenty-two years ago, I co-founded a company called YouGov. When we set it up, I didn’t have the money or the expertise to go it alone, so I asked my father to help. In the process, he took founder shares in the business in exchange for some capital and his invaluable guidance. Following discussions with HMRC, they agreed that my father was entitled to founder shares in YouGov, though they disagreed about the exact allocation. They concluded that this was a ‘careless and not deliberate’ error”.

RESOURCES

Comments made by Daisy Cooper from the Liberal Democrats

Comments made by Angela Rayner from the Labour Party

Comments made by Emily Thornberry from the Labour Party

Dan Neidle – 2023 Article on the Personal Tax Affairs of Nadhim Zahawi

Statement made by Nadhim Zahawi

EXTERNAL NEWS LINKS

Tax Policy Investigation into Tax Affairs of Nadhim Zahawi

STORY

Sajid Javid, the Conservative MP for Bromsgrove and the former Health Secretary, has written an article in The Times saying that charges should be considered for people wanting to visit their GP or use A&E facilities. Citing the charges made in some other EU countries, Javid argued that the situation at the moment with waiting lists meant that “the institution faces nothing short of a 1948-style moment”.

Javid called for a debate across the political parties on the future funding of the NHS, but a spokesperson for Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, rejected the charging proposals.

Richard Murphy, the Professor of Accounting Practice at Sheffield University, said:

“Javid wants to raise £9.1 billion a year by imposing a sickness tax on those wanting to see a doctor. But that’s before exemptions and before the massive cost of actually collecting this money, which can’t be ignored. So, let’s guess it’s £6 billion after exemptions. In my new report on NHS funding out today I suggest the NHS needs £30 billion extra a year to function properly. So Javid is not proposing anything that will make any big difference to its fortunes. But he is going to hit the poorest hardest”.

RESOURCES

Section of Sajid Javid’s Article

Richard Murphy’s Reaction to Sajid Javid’s Proposals

EXTERNAL NEWS LINKS

Article by Sajid Javid in The Times

Guardian News Story

STORY

Alyson King has been appointed as His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, succeeding Emily Maltman who is moving into another role in the Diplomatic Service. King was previously the Deputy Head of the Beirut Mission and she will take up her new role in April 2023.

RESOURCES

Foreign Office Press Release

Alyson King’s Page at GOV.UK

STORY

Two new councillors have been elected at by-elections onto Plymouth City Council following the resignations of Shannon Burden and Dan Collins in November 2022. The wards up for election were Moor View where there was a 26% turnout and Plympton Chaddlewood where there was a 24% turnout, with Labour’s Will Noble winning in Moor View and the Green Party’s Lauren McLay winning in Plympton Chaddlewood.

Moor View results

Plympton Chaddlewood results

Candidate	Party	Votes	Elected
Benjamin John Davy	Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition	15
Mike Gillbard	Liberal Democrat	33
Lindsay Gilmour	Labour	147
Andrew Michael Hill	Independent	182
Lauren Elizabeth McLay	Green	653	Yes
Ashley John Ward	Conservative	425

RESOURCES

Councillor Database for Shannon Burden

Councillor Database for Dan Collins

Councillor Database for Will Noble

Councillor Database for Lauren McLay

Will Noble’s Twitter Account

Lauren McLay’s Twitter Account

EXTERNAL NEWS LINKS

Plymouth City Council Press Release and Election Results