Tag: News Story

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

STORY

The Government has launched evacuation flights from Sudan in an attempt to get British nationals to safety following the outbreak of civil war in the country. The Foreign Office said in a statement:

“UK military flights are due to depart from an airfield outside Khartoum, supported by senior diplomats from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Flights will be open to those with British passports and priority will be given to family groups with children and/or the elderly or individuals with medical conditions.”

Andrew Mitchell, the Development Minister at the Foreign Office, told the House of Commons:

“The situation in Sudan is extremely grave. More than 427 people have been killed, including 5 aid workers. Over 3,700 people have been injured. Before this violence began, the humanitarian situation in Sudan was already deteriorating. We now estimate that approximately 16 million people – a third of the Sudanese population – are in need of humanitarian assistance. These numbers, I regret to inform the House, are likely to rise significantly.”

RESOURCES

Foreign Office Press Release on Evacuation

Andrew Mitchell’s Statement in the House of Commons

UK Government Statement on Situation in Sudan

STORY

Diane Abbott, the MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, has been suspended from the Labour Party following hate speech when she wrote that Jewish people did not face racism. A spokesperson for the Labour Party said:

“The Labour Party completely condemns these comments, which are deeply offensive and wrong. The chief whip has suspended the Labour whip from Diane Abbott pending an investigation.”

Abbott had written:

“Tomiwa Owolade claims that Irish, Jewish and Traveller people all suffer from “racism”. They undoubtedly experience prejudice. This is similar to racism and the two words are often used as if they are interchangeable. It is true that many types of white people with points of difference, such as redheads, can experience this prejudice. But they are not all their lives subject to racism. In pre-civil rights America, Irish people, Jewish people and Travellers were not required to sit at the back of the bus. In apartheid South Africa, these groups were allowed to vote. And at the height of slavery, there were no white-seeming people manacled on the slave ships.”

Grant Shapps, the Net Zero Secretary, posted on Twitter:

“Once again, Jewish people have to wake up and see a Labour MP casually spouting hateful anti-semitism. Keir_Starmer, are you actually going to do anything?”

RESOURCES

Diane Abbott Statement of Apology

STORY

Dominic Raab, the Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister, has resigned following the publication of a report written by Adam Tolley which shows that he was involved in bullying. Raab had said that he would resign of evidence was found of bullying, but noted in his resignation letter:

“Whilst I feel duty bound to accept the outcome of the inquiry, it dismissed all but two of the claims levelled against me. I also believe that its two adverse findings are flawed and set a dangerous precedent for the conduct of good government.”

Raab criticised the report in his letter, stating:

“In setting the threshold for bullying so low, this inquiry has set a dangerous precedent. It will encourage spurious complaints against ministers, and have a chilling effect on those driving change on behalf of your government – and ultimately the British people.”

Paul Nowak, the General Secretary of the TUC, posted on Twitter:

“‘Sorry, not sorry’. As classy a resignation statement as we might have expected. Beyond the non-apology, spare a thought for the civil servants who’ve had to put up with Dominic Raab’s unique brand of ‘direct oversight’ for so long.”

RESOURCES

Dominic Raab’s Resignation Letter

Adam Tolley’s Report

Rishi Sunak’s Letter to Dominic Raab

STORY

Colin Beattie, the SNP treasurer, has been arrested as part of an ongoing police investigation into the finances of the party. It follows the arrest two weeks ago of Peter Murrell, the Chief Executive of the SNP and also the husband of former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

Police Scotland said in a statement:

“A 71-year-old man has today, Tuesday, 18 April 2023, been arrested as a suspect in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National party. The man is in custody and is being questioned by Police Scotland detectives.

A report will be sent to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. The matter is active for the purposes of the Contempt of Court Act 1981 and the public are therefore advised to exercise caution if discussing it on social media. As the investigation is ongoing we are unable to comment further.”

STORY

A political demonstrator has disrupted the World Snooker Championship by vandalising a table and forcing play to be suspended for several hours. The referee Olivier Marteel intervened along with security guards to prevent anyone at the tournament from being hurt.

A spokesperson for the event said on Twitter:

“Mark Allen vs Fan Zhengyi has resumed on table two. Upon completion of the match, a decision will be made on whether Robert Milkins vs Joe Perry will resume on the same table. Table one will be reclothed overnight. Thank you for your patience. #CazooWorldChampionship”

 

STORY

Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, is under investigation by Parliament’s Standards Watchdog over allegations that he failed to disclose shares owned by his wife in a childcare firm. The investigation was launched after it was revealed that the childcare firm received a boost from the 2023 budget presented by Sunak, raising concerns about a potential conflict of interest.

The Parliamentary Standards Watchdog is an independent body responsible for ensuring that Members of Parliament adhere to the code of conduct for MPs. The watchdog investigates allegations of breaches of the code, which includes conflicts of interest, and can recommend disciplinary action. The investigation into Sunak’s undeclared shares is ongoing, and the outcome is yet to be determined.

A spokesperson for the Prime Minister said:

“The Prime Minister has set out in his response to the Liaison Committee that he is confident the appropriate process has been followed to avoid or mitigate any potential conflict of interest, and that the interest of ministers’ spouses or partners is not something that would influence their actions either as ministers or as members of Parliament”.

Angela Rayner, the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, asked on Twitter “what’s Rishi Sunak got to hide?”.

RESOURCES

Angela Rayner’s Comments