- Friday, April 26, 2024
The head of the government's advisory body on climate change, Chris Stark, has expressed concerns that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's actions are setting Britain back in its efforts to tackle climate change. Stark, who is set to step down as chief executive of the independent Climate Change Committee, highlighted that…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak wants to eliminate the “sick-note culture” which he claims has become a lifestyle choice for some and was taking a heavy toll on the country's welfare bill. Sunak wants to strip GPs of their power to sign people off work and said that if the Tories…
The United Kingdom's (UK) annual inflation rate decreased to a two-and-a-half year low of 3.2 per cent last month, a smaller decline than analysts had forecast, according to data released on Wednesday by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This outcome may complicate the economic outlook and influence the timing…
THE International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Tuesday (16) raised India’s growth projection to 6.8 per cent from its January forecast of 6.5 per cent citing bullish domestic demand conditions and a rising working-age population. With this, India continues to be the fastest growing economy of the world, ahead of China’s…
BRITISH unemployment has risen as wage growth has eased, official data showed Tuesday, leaving the door open for an interest rate cut according to analysts. The UK unemployment rate rose to 4.2 per cent in the three months to the end of February, up from 3.9 per cent in the…
US vice president Kamala Harris travels on Friday (12) to Arizona, three days after a court there upheld a 160-year-old abortion ban, igniting a charged issue in one of 2024's most competitive election states. Arizona's conservative Supreme Court sent a shockwave through the narrowly divided state that could swing the…
BRITAIN'S biggest retailer Tesco reported Wednesday that its annual net profit surged 61 per cent as easing UK inflation helped cost-conscious shoppers buy more products. Tesco's profit after tax rallied to £1.2 billion in the 12 months to February, the company said in a statement, while sales increased 4.4 per…
PEOPLE from ethnic minority backgrounds and women are still struggling to cope with the cost-of-living crisis, along with other groups, though the situation has improved over the past year, a new survey released on Wednesday (10) revealed. The Financial Lives cost-of-living survey by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) found that…
Train drivers in the United Kingdom (UK) have gone on strike, affecting rail services across the country, including routes to key tourist destinations and airports. The strike, organised by the Aslef (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen) union, is due to cost-of-living pressures and high inflation. Union chief Mick…
OAKNORTH BANK has partnered with HSBC to provide a £232 million club loan to Splendid Hospitality Group to support its future expansion plans, a statement said. Founded three decades ago, Splendid Hospitality Group is one of the UK’s fastest growing privately-owned hotel groups, with a portfolio of 24 hotels from…
AN unprecedented rise in child poverty happened across the UK, government figures released Thursday (21) revealed. Previous research indicated that escalating social disparities within the G7 country are negatively impacting children's well-being, leading to an increased reliance on food banks. An estimated 4.33 million children were living in low-income households…
Britain's annual inflation rate fell more than expected in February, official data showed Wednesday, fuelling speculation that the Bank of England may cut interest rates in coming months. Inflation reached 3.4 per cent last month - the lowest level since September 2021 - after hitting 4.0 per cent in January,…
Britain's Conservative government unveils a pre-election budget Wednesday that could feature voter-friendly measures as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's party badly trails main opposition Labour in polls. Huge giveaways are not expected, however, as stubbornly-high inflation hikes repayments on state borrowing, undermining the ability to stimulate the recession-hit UK economy. Finance…
Britain's competition watchdog on Monday launched a probe into eight housebuilders, citing evidence that they may have shared information and "influenced" prices in a property market plagued by shortages. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it had opened an investigation "into the suspected sharing of commercially sensitive information by…
Hospital junior doctors in England started a five-day strike on Saturday (24), continuing their extended dispute over pay with the government which shows little indication of resolution. Junior doctors -- those below specialist, consultant level -- started joining picket lines from 0700 GMT, as part of a walkout that will…
Most British household energy bills will fall from April after regulator Ofgem cut its domestic price cap by 12.3 per cent to its lowest level in more than two years. The drop, prompted by lower wholesale energy prices, will provide some respite for households struggling to contend with a cost…
Creators, influencers, buyers, and celebrities are set to gather in London on Friday (16) to mark the 40th anniversary of the UK capital's Fashion Week with a five-day extravaganza. Organisers aim for the event to offer some cheer to young designers who have been affected by the gloomy economy. Around…
LABOUR dealt a crushing blow to prime minister Rishi Sunak's Tories on Friday (16), winning contests for two new lawmakers in votes that suggested the opposition party was on track to win a national election later this year. The double defeat underlined the flagging fortunes of the governing party and…
Despite her shortcomings as the prime minister, Liz Truss continues to maintain her presence on the political stage. On Tuesday (6) she launched a new movement dedicated to steering the ruling Tories in a more rightward direction. Truss spent just 49 days in office before she was ousted by her…
In an innovative approach to adult education, Greater Manchester has rolled out a unique initiative offering budgeting and numeracy classes in Urdu and Punjabi, directly addressing the needs of its diverse community. This initiative is a part of the Multiply programme, introduced by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) in…
Indian-origin filmmaker Gurinder Chadha on Tuesday said she is working on a festive film in the same vein as Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, but her Scrooge will be “an Indian Tory who hates refugees”. Appearing in front of the Culture, Media, and Sport Committee at Westminster, Chadha said it…
The rising number of UK employees needing time away from work due to mental health concerns has sparked alarm, with a charity warning that the nation could be heading towards widespread burnout, The Guardian reported. Mental Health UK's chief, Brian Dow, has highlighted the role of global issues like climate…
LONDON mayor Sadiq Khan on Thursday (18) announced the extension of the free holiday meals programme for another year. Khan would spend £4 million in his 2024/25 budget to continue the programme that provides free meals to families during schools holidays and at weekends, a statement said. Under the initiative,…
In a bid to alleviate cost-of-living pressures and support the retail and hospitality sectors, London's mayor Sadiq Khan announced on Friday (19) that the majority of public transport fares in the city will remain unchanged this year. In London and across Britain, households have tightened their purse strings due to…
THE frontrunner party for Pakistan’s delayed elections began campaigning on Monday (15), after a weekend court decision effectively pushed the opposition party of ex-prime minister Imran Khan out of the race. Pakistan’s vote next month has been marred by claims of pre-poll rigging, with analysts saying that the army establishment…
BILLIONS of voters across south Asia, the UK and the US will go to polls in the next 12 months in what will be a test of democracy, analysits have told Eastern Eye. In the UK, prime minister Rishi Sunak has to call a general election by January 28, 2025,…
Ahead of the upcoming general election this year, the ruling Conservatives find themselves once again challenged by a fringe right-wing political party, originally founded by the eurosceptic populist Nigel Farage. Reform UK -- formerly called the Brexit Party and whose current leader admires former US president Donald Trump -- rails…
BRITAIN’S economy unexpectedly shrank in the third quarter and flatlined in the previous three months, official data showed last month, raising fears of a recession before an election due this year. The downbeat news delivers a blow to Tory prime minister Rishi Sunak, who trails Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer…
A record-breaking sum of over £62 million was withdrawn from Post Office branches nationwide, on the Friday (22) before Christmas, marking the highest single-day cash withdrawal to date. This surge surpassed the prior record of just over £51 million, recorded on the same day last year, across the 11,500 branches…
Homelessness in rural England has risen by 40 percent in five years with many sleeping in the open air, tents or makeshift shelters, a British rural charity said on Tuesday. A cost-of-living crisis in the G7 nation and the world's sixth-biggest economy, fuelled by high inflation, has left many Britons…
BRITAIN'S economy unexpectedly shrank in the third quarter, official data showed Friday (22), raising fears of a potential recession before an election due next year. Gross domestic product contracted 0.1 per cent between July and September, down from a prior estimate of zero growth, the Office for National Statistics said…
MPs and immigration experts have criticised ministers for “deliberately targeting” British Asian families in their quest to get immigration figures down. Home secretary, James Cleverly, announced last week (13) that from April 2024, the minimum salary threshold for UK nationals and permanent residents applying to bring family members to join…
INFLATION has slowed sharply to the lowest level in more than two years on falling petrol prices, official data showed Wednesday (20), easing a cost-of-living crisis after aggressive interest-rate hikes. The Consumer Prices Index hit 3.9 per cent in November from 4.6 per cent in the previous month, attaining the…
LABOUR leader Sir Keir Starmer on Monday (4) said his government would not “turn on the spending taps” if he becomes prime minister next year, an increasingly likely outcome according to the polls. Sir Keir said a Labour government would be “ruthless” on public spending, as he seeks to wrestle…
RAJESH AGRAWAL, the deputy mayor of London for business, is stepping down from the role to focus on Leicester East, where he is the Labour candidate for the next general election. The 46-year-old India-born entrepreneur-politician announced his departure on social media on Monday (27) after serving two terms in mayor…
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, on Sunday (19) said that tax cuts raising inflation would not be implemented. This statement comes shortly before his scheduled unveiling of a major budget update, widely anticipated to contain tax reductions. The Sunday Times reported that Hunt was considering cutting income tax…
BRITAIN's Sikh population, whose ancestors first migrated from the Punjab more than a century ago, have long been admired as a model of integration and for maintaining a strong identity. Lauded in their country of origin and beyond for their valour, industriousness and charity, Sikhs took those values to Britain,…
SUPERMARKET chain Asda, owned by brothers Zuber and Mohsin Issa, has recently settled a hefty £300 million debt. It paid off a £200m loan acquired for the purchase of 132 convenience stores and petrol stations from the Co-op last year. Also, it cleared an additional £100m in borrowings. As a…
LONDON mayor Sadiq Khan celebrated Diwali at Neasden Temple with thousands of others from the local community. Khan inaugurated the fireworks display on Sunday (12) evening, which brought a fusion of light and sound into the night skies, a statement said. Inspired by the selfless service and charity of His…
The government announced plans on Monday (6) to introduce legislation enforcing "minimum service levels" in essential sectors during strikes. The legislation is set to be unveiled in parliament on Tuesday (7), sparking criticism from unions, who have expressed discontent with the proposed measures. The new legislation, which builds on a…
ASDA, owned by billionaire brothers Mohsin and Zuber Issa, has pledged to reduce prices for customers by generating up to £412 million to alleviate the debt burden of its petrol station empire. Following a £2 billion acquisition deal of EG Group's UK and Ireland operations, Asda aims to extend its…
ETHNIC minorities in the UK are significantly under-pensioned compared to white British people, according to new research. Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM) found that at £52,333, the average minority ethnic person’s pension pot was less than half the size of the average white British person’s £114,941. Insufficient disposable income…
A first anniversary in office is normally a moment for a leader to celebrate, but Rishi Sunak hits the milestone this week with a mountain to climb to retain power in a general election expected next year. Two by-election losses to the main opposition Labour on Thursday (19) underscored how…
The Conservative Party lost two parliamentary seats to Labour on Friday (20), marking another ominous setback for prime minister Rishi Sunak and his party in the lead-up to the expected general election next year. The by-election results -- the latest in a string of traditionally safe Tory seats lost to…
FIRST MINISTER Humza Yousaf is facing opposition from his own council members following the announcement of a council tax freeze in Scotland, which he failed to communicate to town halls in advance, The Telegraph reported. Cosla, which represents Scottish councils, expressed "real anger" about this unexpected move, which was the…
THE billionaire co-owner of Asda has rejected claims of withdrawing funds from the company, and also justified the supermarket's complicated ownership structure, reported The Telegraph. Mohsin Issa's rebuttal comes in response to allegations that he and his brother Zuber had paid themselves dividends from Asda following their £6.8 billion takeover…
BRITAIN's biggest food bank network warned on Wednesday (18) it was expecting its worst ever winter, with over 600,000 people likely to need support as a cost-of-living crisis now in its second year curtails spending power. The Trussell Trust, which supports a network of 1,300 food bank centres across the…
Humza Yousaf, the leader of the Scottish National Party, successfully quelled a party rebellion by MPs by compromising on his independence strategy during the party's 89th annual conference in Aberdeen (from Sunday 15 to Tuesday 17 October 2023). The compromise states that if the SNP secures a majority of Scotland's…
An interfaith service was held at Manchester Cathedral in celebration of Mahatma Gandhi's 154th Birth Anniversary on October 2, uniting people from diverse backgrounds in the spirit of love, peace, and unity. More than 350 delegates from various faith-based organisations including Afro-Caribbean, Christian, Hindu, Jain, Jewish, Muslim, and Sikh communities…
A LEADING Tory parliamentarian has accused home secretary Suella Braverman of “betraying” her own culture and background with her claim that multiculturalism in Britain has “failed”. Braverman, in a speech last week at the American Enterprise Institute, in Washington DC, described multiculturalism as a “misguided dogma” that had allowed people…
LABOUR gathers this weekend for its annual conference, with the centre-left party currently on course to return to power in a general election expected next year. Labour, led by Keir Starmer, goes into the four-day event -- which starts on Sunday (8) in Liverpool, northwest England -- well ahead of…
INDIA's Reliance Retail is set to acquire UK-based Superdry's licenses and brand assets in three Asian countries, including Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and India, for £40 million, media reports said. This move expands Reliance Retail's portfolio of foreign brand partnerships and provides a financial boost to the struggling UK fashion retailer.…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak is set to fire the starting gun Wednesday (4) on Britain's next general election campaign, with a much-anticipated keynote speech closing his ruling Tories' annual conference. He faces a daunting challenge rallying his beleaguered Tories to win the election -- due some time in 2024 --…
A proposed visa fee hike announced by the government will become effective from Wednesday (4), when a visit visa for under six months will cost £15 more and student visas will be £127 more expensive for travellers from around the world, including Indians. Following the legislation tabled in Parliament last…
CONSERVATIVES opened their annual conference on Sunday (1), with the party's chairman conceding they were "the underdogs" heading into a general election expected next year amid widespread economic woes. The gathering in Manchester will be prime minister Rishi Sunak's first since he became Tory leader last October, and likely the…
DISILLUSIONED retailers have told Eastern Eye they have stopped reporting crime after a lack of action by the police. Violence and abuse against those working in retail, including racial and sexual attacks, physical assault and threats with weapons have almost doubled from pre-pandemic levels to over 850 per day, according…
Almost a year into his role as prime minister, Rishi Sunak faces a shrinking timeframe to achieve an increasingly challenging endeavour: securing the Conservatives' continuation in power during the upcoming election. He will conclude the party's annual conference with a keynote address next Wednesday, aiming to galvanise the ruling Tories…
In North West London, a group of Asian women are breaking down taboos surrounding cancer with the help of Macmillan Cancer Support. The Asian Women Cancer Group, recently awarded nearly £11,000 by Macmillan to fund a series of taboo-busting workshops is embarking on a mission to empower Asian women living…
The nation's inflation-driven cost-of-living crisis could have dire consequences potentially "cut lives short" and "significantly widen the wealth-health gap" a study published by the open-access journal BMJ Public Health on Monday (25) warned. According to the modelling for the study, there is a projected increase of nearly 6.5 per cent…
THE Home Secretary said on Wednesday (20) the country needed to take a pragmatic approach to reaching net zero because it could not "save the planet by bankrupting the British people". The comment by Suella Braverman comes ahead of a speech by prime minister Rishi Sunak this week where he…
LABOUR has pledged to clamp down on costly hidden fees associated with international remittances from the UK to countries, such as India, as it makes its pitch to voters in the lead up to a general election, expected next year. Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy hosted a special “Connecting Communities”…
Amidst the ongoing Cabinet reshuffle led by Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour Party celebrated 'Britain’s global bonds and bridges', a reception for diaspora communities, where the party outlined its objectives to mitigate hidden fees on remittances sent overseas as a means to combat poverty. The reception held on Monday (4)…
A COMMONS panel has sought details from Asda co-owners about the finances of their business empire, following concerns about the retailer’s ability to help its customers through cost-of-living pressures. The entrepreneur Issa brothers - Mohsin and Zuber - together with the private equity firm TDR Capital bought Asda for an…
This week marks the first-year milestone of King Charles III's reign, marked by a seamless transition from the late Queen Elizabeth II's rule. The anniversary on Friday (8) is anticipated to be observed privately, considering it coincides with the date of his mother's passing at the age of 96. Charles,…
British development and relief NGO based in Manchester, Human Appeal, has unveiled new research, shedding light on the substantial contributions of BAME (Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic) individuals to the UK's volunteer community. The research was released on August 28, 2023. This research highlights the adverse effects of the cost-of-living…
THE Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar, has alleged that first minister Humza Yousaf has prioritised independence over the economy, as reported by The Telegraph. Scottish GDP declined by 0.3 per cent in the second quarter from April to June. Yousaf assumed the top post on March 28. While addressing a…
BROADCASTER and former EHRC chair Sir Trevor Phillips has said ministers should do more to encourage integration among communities. Sir Trevor, who in his previous role as head of the Commission for Racial Equality, warned in 2005 about Britain sleepwalking into segregation, said in an interview this week that minority…
BOSSES running Britain's biggest listed companies enjoyed payrises of 16 percent last year as workers' wages struggled with the worst cost of living crisis in a generation, research published Tuesday (22) found. According to independent think-tank the High Pay Centre, the median FTSE 100 chief executive officer was paid 118…
HUNDREDS of cameras installed on London's roads to enforce a clean-air zone that imposes a daily charge on some motorists have been vandalised amid fierce opposition to its upcoming expansion, police said. The Aug. 29 expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) has been championed by mayor Sadiq Khan as…
A one-day strike next month is set to be staged by thousands of train drivers, their trade union announced on Friday (18). This action, which is part of a pay dispute spanning over a year, will have repercussions for passengers across the country during the bustling summer season. Workers in…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak maintains that he is the right candidate for the UK's highest leadership position, particularly during a period characterised by swift technological advancements and formidable economic obstacles. During an interview with 'The Times' on Wednesday (16), the 43-year-old British Indian leader highlighted the most recent official statistics,…
There was a more significant decline in British retail sales than originally expected in the month of July, official data revealed on Friday (18). The decline was attributed to adverse weather conditions, as the nation endeavours to revive its sluggish economy. Retail sales volumes fell by 1.2 per cent last…
Mayor Sadiq Khan has unveiled a fresh addition of £3 million in funding aimed at supporting grassroots initiatives combatting violence against women and girls in London. This funding boost seeks to bolster projects offering essential services to women and girls dealing with domestic abuse and sexual violence, a press release…
UK unemployment jumped to a two-year high in the three months to the end of June, official data showed on Tuesday (15), as the country grapples with high inflation and a cost-of-living crisis. The number of people out of work increased to 4.2 per cent compared to 4.0 per cent…
LABOUR has ditched plans to roll out clean air zones across the country aimed at cutting carbon emissions after Uxbridge by-election defeat, reported The Telegraph. A narrow by-election loss last month in outer London has been blamed on London mayor Sadiq Khan's expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez),…
The government said the strike launched by hospital doctors in England on Friday (11) to demand a 35-per cent pay increase served "only to harm patients". The four-day stoppage comes with health chiefs estimating that the repeated industrial action had cost the health service £1 billion. The British Medical Association…
HOSPITAL doctors in England on Friday (11) launched a new walkout in a dispute with the government over pay in the latest strike action to hit the NHS.The four-day strike by junior doctors comes amid record patient waiting times due to a large pandemic backlog and strikes across the economy…
THE Bank of England on Thursday (3) hiked its key interest rate for a 14th time in a row, by a quarter-point to 5.25 percent as UK inflation stays high, prolonging a cost-of-living crisis. Policymakers "will continue to monitor closely indications of persistent inflationary pressures", the BoE said in a…
THE Bank of England is set to raise its key interest rate for a 14th time in a row Thursday (3) as UK inflation stays high, adding to a cost-of-living crisis. The BoE is seen hiking borrowing costs by at least a quarter-point to 5.25 per cent, which would be…
BARCLAYS posted a jump in half-year profits on lower litigation costs and higher interest rates but the bank warned that the benefits of rising interest rates has begun to fade. Profit after tax (PAT) grew 26 per cent year-on-year to £3.1 billion in the six months to the end of…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak has backed plans to permit new fossil fuel exploration off Britain's coast, as he pledged to be "pragmatic and proportionate" about achieving net zero in an interview published Saturday (29). The stance is set to intensify criticism from environmental campaigners, who accuse the British leader of…
The climate change mitigation policies in Britain may face challenges due to the intersection of political worries about the cost-of-living crisis, soaring energy prices, and other factors, all while aiming to achieve decarbonization by the middle of the century, say observers. Last week's unexpected by-election outcome has raised concerns that…
LONDON mayor Sadiq Khan intends to expand the ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) to the whole of the city on August 29 – barring a last-ditch high court bid to stop it. The scheme – first introduced in inner London in 2019 and separate from the two-decades-old congestion charge – requires…
The number of families and individuals confronting homelessness in England has surged to its highest level since 2018 data released on Tuesday (25) showed. This concerning development has prompted appeals for the government to expedite the reform of renting laws and increase the construction of affordable housing. The entire country…
Award-winning charity Open Door has announced applications for their Acting and Behind the Scenes programmes are open, with auditions and interviews set to take place in September and October. Boasting 178 offers at leading drama schools so far and with a growing number of Open Door participants securing roles across television, film…
In the Uxbridge by-election, the Conservative Party narrowly retained Boris Johnson's former constituency, defeating Labour by a mere 495 votes. The expansion of London's Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez), proposed by Labour mayor Sadiq Khan, was cited as a contributing factor to the Tory victory, The BBC reported. The Ulez…
The ruling Conservatives on Friday (21) held the former seat of ex-prime minister Boris Johnson but saw hefty majorities in two other seats blown away as scandals and high inflation took their toll. Rishi Sunak was expected to become the first prime minister to lose three parliamentary seats on one…
SCOTTISH Labour leader, Anas Sarwar, and shadow minister for international development, Preet Kaur Gill, on Monday (17) visited Glasgow Central Mosque and Gurdwara Singh Sabha, a statement. They met local diaspora communities to hear about their experience of sending remittance payments to friends and family abroad as part of the…
THE UK economy shrank slightly in May, hit partly by an extra public holiday for the coronation of King Charles III, official data showed Thursday (13). Gross domestic product decreased by 0.1 per cent in May, the Office for National Statistics said in a statement. That beat expectations for a…
DOCTORS in England on Thursday (13) staged the biggest walkout in the history of the UK's state-funded National Health Service, prompting fears for patient safety. The unprecedented five-day stoppage over pay and staff retention is the latest in eight months of industrial action across the NHS, which is already reeling…
UK court last week began considering contentious plans to extend a scheme obliging the most polluting vehicles to pay for using London’s roads, as opponents engage in protests – and even sabotage. The high court case comes just weeks before London mayor Sadiq Khan’s expansion of the Ultra-Low Emission Zone…
A new poll revealed that half of Scots believe the first minister is doing a bad job, while only a small minority (23 per cent) believe that he is performing well. According to the YouGov survey, fewer than a fifth of voters said that Humza Yousaf is performing well in key…
THE chief constable of West Yorkshire Police, John Robins, has called for a change in the law, allowing police forces to engage in positive discrimination to increase the number of ethnic minority officers, reported The Telegraph. Robins has become the first in England and Wales to address this issue. He…
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe, one of the greatest celebrations of arts and culture in the world, is round the corner. The official dates for Fringe 2023 are Friday, August 4 to Monday, August 28. As you gear up for the festival, here are some must-see comedy shows by British-Asians and…
LONDON mayor Sadiq Khan has received more racial abuse from India in the first six months of 2023 than he did all of last year, new analysis has shown. Khan, who has armed security detail and is among the most heavily guarded politicians in the UK, has been targeted by…
Individuals increasingly seek ways to secure their financial future and achieve long-term stability in an uncertain financial landscape. One powerful tool that can help unlock this financial security is the annuity. Annuities are financial products designed to provide a steady income stream during retirement, offering a range of benefits to…
LONDON Mayor Sadiq Khan's plans to expand a contentious clean-air zone for motorists has driven a surge in online racist abuse against him, according to an analysis published by his office on Wednesday (5). Khan, who is of Pakistani descent, was elected the first Muslim mayor of London - and…
PAKISTAN'S headline inflation eased for the first time in seven months in June, figures released Monday (3) showed, a bright spot for a beleaguered government that must call an election this year. Year-on-year inflation was 29.4 per cent last month, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics data showed, compared with a record…
UK retail sales growth slowed in May as soaring food prices hit shoppers hard, official data showed on Friday (23). Total retail sales by volume rose 0.3 per cent after climbing 0.5 per cent in April, the Office for National Statistics said in a statement. Food stores sales volumes fell…
BRITAIN'S annual inflation rate unexpectedly remained at 8.7 per cent in May, official data showed on Wednesday (21), piling pressure on the Bank of England and government to act over the cost-of-living crisis. Markets had forecast a drop from April's level, while the BoE was already widely expected to raise…
RISING food prices during the cost of living crisis have had a bigger impact on south Asian families and businesses, according to experts. They have highlighted that the inflation of products – including rice, cooking oil and spices – has disproportionately affected Asian households. The Runnymede Trust think-tank said the…
BRITAIN'S main business lobby, the CBI, won a survival vote on Tuesday (6) as members backed a cultural reset under new leadership after allegations of sexual misconduct threw the group into crisis. Ninety-three per cent of voting members backed a resolution to put their confidence in the Confederation of British…
BRITAIN'S scandal-hit business lobby group, the CBI, faces a vote crucial to its survival on Tuesday (6), with members urged to back reform under new leadership after allegations of sexual harassment by staff. The Confederation of British Industry risks folding after claims that more than a dozen women were sexually…
Pakistan's year-on-year inflation hit a record 37.97 per cent in May, official data revealed on Thursday (1), with the nation on the brink of economic collapse and crucial bailout talks stalled. Non-perishable foods and transport costs climbed more than 50 per cent over May 2022, while average inflation for the…
Britain's biggest business lobby group on Wednesday (31) pledged a significant shakeup following allegations of sexual harassment by staff that could reportedly cause it to fold. The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has been mired in a scandal since the claims were made public this year, sparking an exodus of…
The unemployment rate for black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) workers is more than double that of white workers, a new analysis published last Friday (26) by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) revealed. The study of the most recent ONS labour market statistics pointed out that the BAME unemployment rate…
THE unemployment rate for black, minority and ethnic (BME) workers is currently more than double (2.2 times) that of white workers, a new analysis published on Friday (26) by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) revealed. The study of the most recent ONS labour market statistics pointed out that the BME…
Britain has a chronic growth problem. Average annual growth rates have more than halved since the 2007-2008 global financial crisis, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has forecast that this year we will be the worst performing large, advanced economy in the world. Underlying this is a productivity crisis, which…
UK regulators took action to reduce the cap on domestic energy bills on Thursday (25), aiming to alleviate the cost-of-living challenges faced by consumers. This decision came shortly after data revealed a slowdown in heightened inflation. Ofgem, the regulatory body, announced that starting from July, the maximum amount suppliers can…
The Bank of England on Thursday (11) lifted its key interest rate to the highest level since the 2008 financial crisis, noting inflation remained stubbornly high but that the economy would now avoid recession this year. The BoE hiked the rate by a quarter-point to 4.5 per cent, its 12th…
The Conservatives suffered high-profile losses as results poured in Friday (6) in what is seen as prime Minister Rishi Sunak's first major electoral test since he took office last year. Local council elections held across swathes of England on Thursday (4) with Britons experiencing the worst cost-of-living crisis in decades. …
The Conservatives, led by prime minister Rishi Sunak, are anticipating significant losses in Thursday's (4) local council elections, marking their first major electoral challenge since Sunak assumed leadership in the midst of a tumultuous period last year, which saw the UK with its third leader in a matter of weeks.…
King Charles III would like to visit India “at the earliest opportunity”, a prominent British Indian businessman has said. Lord Karan Bilimoria who met the King at a reception in parliament ahead of Saturday’s coronation ceremony, said the monarch “genuinely” wants to make a state visit to India which he…
A prominent Indian spiritual leader is on a five-week visit to the UK to promote “global harmony.” His Holiness Pujya Mahant Swami Maharaj, who heads the spiritual organisation BAPS (Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha), will participate in various programmes during his trip which began on Tuesday (2). Pujya Mahant…
Rishi Sunak faces his first big electoral test as the Prime Minister next week in local polls where the opposition Labour Party hopes to capitalise on a year of chaos for the governing Conservatives, ahead of a national election expected next year. Sunak has tried to restore the credibility of…
British bank Barclays said on Thursday (27) that its net profit jumped 27 per cent in the first quarter, with the lender boosted by rising interest rates. "This is a strong first quarter," chief executive CS Venkatakrishnan said. Profit after tax rose to £1.8 billion compared with the first three…
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak sought to repair the government's tarnished economic record, reaching out to the business community rocked by a scandal engulfing the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). Sunak's Tories and the main opposition Labour Party are jockeying for position ahead of next year's national election. The Tories, long…
As the coronation of King Charles III approaches, a new poll by YouGov conducted and published on Tuesday (18) has revealed that over half of the British population is against the idea of funding the ceremony with taxpayers' money. The poll found that 51 per cent of the respondents believed…
UK unemployment edged higher in the three months to the end of February, official data showed on Tuesday (18), as the economy continues to be impacted by high inflation. The rate increased to 3.8 per cent from 3.7 per cent in the three months to the end of January, the…
London’s mayor Sadiq Khan has announced new £875,000 funding to empower communities in the capital to tackle hate and radicalisation.His office said the latest funding, which takes the total support for the causes to £3 million, will help 25 projects run workshops and educational activities “to challenge racist and hateful…
Labour has attacked prime minister Rishi Sunak, suggesting he has no qualms about his family benefitting from a “loophole” in the UK’s taxation. A digital poster of the opposition party, posted on social media on Tuesday (11) with a photo of the prime minister reads: “Do you think it’s right…
Despite the enticing produce in their windows, Muslim-owned retailers on east London's Brick Lane are unusually quiet as a cost-of-living crisis bites into Ramadan earnings. The historic street is the hub of London's Bangladeshi community, and normally a vibrant destination for shoppers during the Islamic holy month, which in Britain…
Supermarket chain Asda has allowed its employees to keep track of their earnings in real-time and access their pay flexibly to cope with the cost-of-living pressures.It has tied up with the financial wellbeing app Wagestream to enable its 140,000 workers to get paid up to 50 per cent of their…
The increase in the national minimum wage and national living wage hike came into effect on Saturday (1), benefiting around three million people. The national living wage will see an increase of 9.7 per cent, up to £10.42 for workers aged 23+, as well as an increase for younger workers…
A study has revealed that almost 50 per cent of employees in Britain face the possibility of burnout due to the added anxiety brought on by the cost-of-living crisis. The study, conducted by French insurer AXA and UK think tank CEBR, also found out that work-related stress incurred a cost…
A union has declared that a day of extensive strike action by civil servants and public workers will occur in late April, following a month of sector-wide walkouts, which will impact the UK significantly. Millions of individuals in the country are currently experiencing a cost-of-living crisis due to persistently high…
Scotland's next first minister Humza Yousaf has pledged to deliver independence for his country and return it to the European Union. In his acceptance speech on Monday (27), when he became the first Asian elected to lead the Scottish National Party (SNP), Yousaf also paid tribute to his grandparents and…
The Chancellor’s Spring Budget this week was a welcome breath of fresh air: sensible and measured policies to help steady the ship after years of choppy economic waters. Mr Hunt’s overarching message was that this was a budget to help deliver growth. To that end, he outlined a series of…
As the chancellor of exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, presented the government's budget in an hour-long speech to Parliament on Wednesday (15), one tiny announcement made a big splash among opposition lawmakers: new funding for public swimming pools. Hunt's £63-million funding for pools came days after a media report about prime minister…
Jeremy Hunt, chancellor of the exchequer, announced on Wednesday (15) that most working parents in England will be offered 30 hours of free childcare for their under-fives, to ease cost-of-living pressures on families. The policy, part of the government's tax and spending plans unveiled in the budget, will eventually apply…
The BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, based at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, also popularly known as the ‘Neasden Temple’ in London, observed International Women's Day (IWD) by hosting an inspiring conference on Sunday (12). The organisation's celebration of IWD (celebrated on 8th March every year) demonstrates its ongoing commitment to women…
Britain will unveil a cost-of-living budget on Wednesday (15) as the government seeks to keep a grip on public spending in the face of a fresh wave of strikes over pay. Chancellor of the exchequer Jeremy Hunt will deliver his tax and spending plan to parliament, as teachers, junior doctors,…
First, he broke lockdown law. Then he was fined for not wearing a car seatbelt. Now Britain's prime minister is again in trouble with the police - because of his dog. Rishi Sunak and his family were filmed walking Nova the Labrador in central London's Hyde Park, where signs clearly…
BANK OF ENGLAND Monetary Policy Committee member Dr Swati Dhingra has said that managing the impact of inflation on families and firms, and attempting to cool inflationary pressures without deepening any resulting economic downturn, are immediate policy priorities. However, she warned that it is not ‘going to be easy’. Speaking…
BRITISH finance minister Jeremy Hunt looks set to keep his grip on the public finances in next week's budget, refraining from big tax cuts or spending increases until the next election comes closer into view. Tory lawmakers want Hunt to halt April's sharp jump in the corporate tax rate to…
The Newham Trading Standards service has carried out several visits to retailers in Green Street to ensure that buyers get a fair treatment in local shops especially at a time of the cost-of-living crisis. The service officials conducted 151 visits, including in clothing, hardware and pound shops, to assess price…
You don’t need me to tell you that our country is in a cost-of-living crisis. At the start of Q4 2022, inflation reached a 41-year high, topping 11%. Real household income is expected to fall by the end of this fiscal year. And over 90% of adults in Great Britain…
Britain and the European Union were on Monday (27) poised to agree to a crucial overhaul of trade rules in Northern Ireland, in a breakthrough aimed at resetting strained relations since Brexit. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen were set to hold "final talks"…
INDIA and the UK have agreed to make further progress on the ongoing negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) and also to swiftly organise the next bilateral Economic and Financial Dialogue soon, the British government has said. At the conclusion of UK chancellor Jeremy Hunt's India visit last week,…
London mayor Sadiq Khan on Sunday (19) announced an emergency scheme worth £130 million to help families tackle the spiraling cost-of-living crisis by ensuring that every primary school-going child in London receives free meals at their place of education in the next academic year. With the move, Khan steps in…
Hundreds of youngsters on Thursday (16) put forward ideas and solutions to some of London's biggest challenges in a special 'Voice of Young Londoners' report for Sadiq Khan, the capital's mayor. More than 250 young participants gathered at the iconic London Stadium along with the mayor for the 'London Hope…
London mayor Sadiq Khan on Thursday (9) announced a new investment to support women and girls, who have been affected by violence, access support during the cost-of-living crisis. The total investment is worth £4 million. A cost-of-living fund worth £1 million was launched by the mayor to support vital VAWG…
Britain's economy avoided recession after flatlining in the last three months of 2022, but finance minister Jeremy Hunt warned Friday it was "not out of the woods yet" over surging inflation. Gross domestic product registered zero growth in the fourth quarter, in line with expectations after shrinking 0.3 percent in…
THE current cost-of-living crisis is affecting all areas of life, including romance. That is why many will be stuck for ideas when trying to get their partner or someone they love a gift that isn’t going to break the bank this Valentine’s Day. With that in mind, Eastern Eye decided…
Former UK prime minister Liz Truss on Sunday criticised her successor Rishi Sunak's "detrimental" tax policies, as the current leader also faced pressure from another predecessor Boris Johnson over his Ukraine strategy. Truss came to power in September, immediately implementing a radical tax-slashing agenda. But her plans spooked the markets…
Rishi Sunak has spoken of his motivation behind taking on the top job at 10 Downing Street in the wake of intense political turmoil last year as his “dharma”. In a televised interview with ‘Talk TV’ host Piers Morgan at his Downing Street home to mark 100 days in the…
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Friday the government would have to agree to IMF bailout conditions that are "beyond imagination". An International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation landed in Pakistan on Tuesday for last-ditch talks to revive vital financial aid that has stalled for months. The government has held out…
London mayor Sadiq Khan and MoneySavingExpert founder Martin Lewis CBE have joined forces for a one-off live event to help Londoners tackle the cost-of-living crisis. On Thursday (2), Khan and Martin were set to be joined by an audience at City Hall to discuss everything from managing soaring energy costs…
James Watkins, head of Policy and Public Impact at London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) welcomed the move made by London mayor Sadiq Khan to launch the biggest vehicle-scrappage scheme worth £110 million to help organisations and individuals to replace or retrofit their old, pollution-causing vehicles. He said the…
London mayor Sadiq Khan on Monday (30) launched the biggest scrappage scheme worth £110 million to help charities, sole traders and business with 10 or fewer employees or those city dwellers on lower incomes or disabled, to replace or retrofit their old, polluting vehicles. To accompany the scrappage scheme, Khan and…
Member parliamentarians of the Women and Equalities Committee of the UK parliament was on Wednesday (18) told that that game of football has been 'used to fuel racism, far right activity and misogyny'. According to a report by the Mirror, campaigner Shaista Aziz told the committee that there were "two…
MONEY – a word that is often feared more than the word sex. Whether people have it in abundance, are just geting by or struggling, many shy away from having conversations about finances because it is just really uncomfortable. With everything including food and energy prices continuing to rise, many…
Nurses across England began two days of strikes over pay on Wednesday, threatening fresh disruption for patients in the creaking state-run health service, as new figures showed inflation still surging. The walkout comes after nurses held their union's first stoppage in more than a century last month, joining a wave…
The Greater London Authority (GLA) and Shout Out UK (SOUK) have launched an unprecedented and impartial public awareness campaign about forthcoming changes to the voting system to ensure every eligible Londoner can continue to access their civic and democratic rights. The campaign, which is backed by boroughs, civil society groups,…
British prime minister Rishi Sunak will travel to Scotland and meet first minister Nicola Sturgeon on Thursday (19) for a private working dinner, as part of efforts to reset the two nations' strained ties. Sunak makes his first official visit to Scotland since taking office in October at a time…
Britain's top bosses earned more in the first few days of 2023 than most ordinary workers will all year, a study showed Thursday, as many grapple with a cost-of-living crisis. Chief executives of London's FTSE 100-listed firms earn 103 times the median annual wage, the High Pay Centre think-tank said…
THE bosses of 20 mental health organisation have written an open letter to the prime minister to step in and stop suicides which are being caused by the cost-of-living crisis. The message, seen by Eastern Eye, warns Rishi Sunak that “people living in the most deprived 10 per cent of…
Sadiq Khan will seek re-election as the mayor of London as the Labour party has chosen him as its candidate for the 2024 election. If the incumbent succeeds in his bid to win a third term, he will be the first person to achieve the feat in the history of…
Britain's health minister Steve Barclay on Wednesday said people should use their common sense as the healthcare system will be under pressure as ambulance workers strike on Wednesday. "I think just use their common sense the system will be under very significant pressure," he told BBC News. "I think people…
UK nurses on Thursday staged an unprecedented one-day strike as a "last resort" in their fight for better wages and working conditions, despite warnings it could put patients at risk. Up to 100,000 members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are stopping work…
Fashion retailer Boohoo’s co-founder Carol Kane has parted with about a per cent of the group’s shares to settle her divorce.The entrepreneur transferred more than 13.3 million shares in the group worth about £5.4m to Mark White, an interior designer, who she had married in 2016 after 30 years together.Following…
The government has granted mayor Sadiq Khan’s request to add £20 to council tax to help the struggling Transport for London (TfL). While Khan says the additional levy for three years is the only way to save the transport network from collapsing, Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove called the move…
British Conservative politicians on Sunday launched two campaigns to address concerns about the direction of the party and the government, the latest challenge to new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s attempts to unite a fractured party. The Conservative Party has already ousted two prime ministers in 2022 – Boris Johnson and…
London mayor Sadiq Khan has warned that police officers will be forced to pay £25 a day to travel to work under the London Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) expansion plans, according to a report. More than half of Metropolitan Police officers live outside of London, and many drive to…
London mayor Sadiq Khan on Wednesday (7) announced a record £725,000 investment for grassroots community groups with the goal of empowering them to counter extremism; tackle the rise in hate crime offences; and protect Londoners from radicalisation. The investment is part of the mayor’s fund of more than £2 million…
A survey comprising 1, 400 people conducted by the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) has found that two-thirds of those suffering from ear wax were told that the removal of ear wax services was no longer available on the NHS. Therefore, as many GPs are no longer offering…
The Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) UK has hosted activities in 44 shakhas (branches) across the country as part of the UK Parliament week observations for the sixth year, a statement said. UK Parliament week, which takes place in November, targets to involve the entire young population, including members of the…
The UK capital’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) targeting the most polluting vehicles with a daily surcharge will be expanded London-wide from August 2023 as part of measures to clamp down on air pollution, the Mayor of London announced on Friday (25). Sadiq Khan claimed the move will mean five…
One month on since Rishi Sunak took charge as Britain’s first Indian-origin Prime Minister, indications on Friday are that his popularity with the UK electorate remains on stronger ground than that of the governing Conservative Party. The 42-year-old former chancellor had pitched himself as a steady hand to steer the…
"We're tired. We're fed up. We need a pay rise now to make a living," said Ameera, a senior nurse in a London hospital who is going on strike. Dates for the nursing's first strike in 106 years were announced on Friday, as union leaders and health workers blamed overwork,…
London mayor Sadiq Khan on Thursday (24) urged the government to immediately increase benefits and provide free school meals to all primary schoolchildren to help Londoners through the winter. During his visit to London’s Community Kitchen in Harrow, Khan said that the spiralling cost of living is leaving the most…
Britain needs more migrant labour to boost productivity as it faces a toxic mix of soaring inflation and shrinking growth, the country's main business lobby group warned Monday. The verdict from the Confederation of British Industry came at its annual gathering in Birmingham, Britain's second-biggest city. The CBI conference comes…
INSPIRATIONAL grocers were recognised for their achievements during a period of economic challenges and personal loss for the sector at the 33rd Asian Trader Awards, which took place at London’s Park Plaza Westminster Hotel last Wednesday (9). The top award of the evening – the Asian Trader of the Year…
UK financial watchdog boss has said that the consumer duty, which will come into force on 31 July 2023, puts the onus on firms to act to deliver good outcomes for consumers. "Parliament debated and explicitly mandated the consumer duty due to falling public confidence in retail financial services. It…
London mayor Sadiq Khan on Monday (14) said 40 per cent of Londoners think that they will struggle to meet their rent payments as he sought to bring together private renters, charities, advocacy groups, and politicians to call on the government to tackle the capital's spiralling rental crisis urgently, a…
It has been anything but a smooth ride for the Rishi Sunak led UK government, with the latest official data released this week reflecting a shrinking economy and a looming two-year-long recession. The British Indian former finance minister, who took charge at 10 Downing Street last month with the promise…
Experts have warned that the way Brits heat their homes this winter could damage their health, especially for those with heart and lung conditions. With the cost-of-living crisis continuing across the UK, many people are trying to reduce their gas and electricity bills by turning the heating off. However, this…
LABOUR does not take the British south Asian vote for granted, party leader Sir Keir Starmer told Eastern Eye. He also revealed his determination to work as “grown up” partners with the communities and his ambition to be the next prime minister. In an exclusive and wide-ranging interview prior to…
London’s mayor Sadiq Khan has called for a rent rebate to support vulnerable people as the cost-of-living outpaced earnings in the UK.While the overall price rise has topped 10 per cent, the rental inflation in the British capital shot up by almost 18 per cent by July.Khan said an effective…
Nikhil Rathi, the chief executive (CEO) of Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) on Thursday (27) evening delivered an address in which he spoke about the role of the FCA in a changing regulatory landscape. Speaking at Lord Mayor's City Banquet at Mansion House, he highlighted the body's shifting approach and commitment…
Being the first ethnic minority in any job brings a lot of pressure and becoming Prime Minister, particularly in the current climate, is no easy feat. As the first woman of colour in the Welsh Parliament, I have no qualm in saying that any role where a person bears the…
In a momentous day, Britain’s first south Asian prime minister, who became the Conservative Party leader on Diwali day [24], has vowed to unite the country and his riven party. Speaking on the steps of Number 10, Rishi Sunak, a practising Hindu, told the country that he would be a…
Conservative rivals Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak held face-to-face talks late Saturday (22), reports said, as the feuding pair who once headed Britain's government were poised to battle for the leadership of their fractured ruling party. Former prime minister Johnson, who returned from a Caribbean holiday earlier in the day…
Veteran Indian-origin economist Sushil Wadhwani has been invited to advise the UK government on the economy and financial markets as the country grapples with surging inflation and a weakening sterling. Jeremy Hunt, the chancellor of the exchequer in the outgoing government, announced the formation of the Economic Advisory Council comprising…
Millions of Britons are skipping meals in current the cost-of-living crisis, a consumer group warned Thursday, having already forecast that many risk fuel poverty after the UK curbed its energy price freeze. The news came after data showed UK inflation jumped back above 10 percent in September on rampant food…
British inflation jumped back above 10 percent in September on soaring food prices, official data showed Wednesday, with the country gripped by a cost-of-living crisis bedevilling the government. The Consumer Prices Index accelerated to 10.1 percent on an annual basis, up from 9.9 percent in August, the Office for National…
Lubna Shuja became first Asian, first Muslim and seventh female president of the Law Society of England and Wales. She assumed office on Wednesday (12) as the 178th president of the 200-year organisation that works globally to support and represent solicitors, promoting the highest professional standards, a statement said. Shuja…
Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the opposition Labour Party, on Tuesday (11) visited the Bhaktivedanta Manor Temple in Hertfordshire to mark the beginning of the Hindu holy month of 'Kartik'. The visit came a week after the politician took part in 'Navratri' festivals in London. He was given a warm…
Prime minister, Liz Truss, and chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng, have “risked” the Conservative Party’s election chances because of their “incompetent handling” of the mini budget, Asian parliamentarians have told Eastern Eye. In a so-called mini budget on September 23, Kwarteng abolished the 45p higher tax rate. However, on Monday (3) the…
British Prime Minister Liz Truss has refused to rule out cutting benefit payments by less than soaring inflation to help fund her tax-cutting growth plan in what is likely to spark the next political rebellion over her economic plans. Truss and her finance minister Kwasi Kwarteng are racing to set…
While the cost-of-living crisis in the UK has hit hard B&M European Value Retail SA, the erosion of wealth has been relatively modest for the family that runs the company because of the trimming of their shareholding and diversification of investments. The market capitalisation of the Luxembourg-based company has halved…
New UK Prime Minister Liz Truss's early missteps have prompted turmoil in her personal poll ratings, as well as financial markets, with a survey Friday finding half of Britons think she should resign. Less than four weeks into the top job, and a week after the disastrous unveiling of a…
The period between September 14 and 25 was one when Britain faced a gloomy situation. While it marked a phase when the country mourned the death of HM Queen Elizabeth II, culminating in the state funeral on September 19, the common people continued to cope with the rising cost of…
Nurses are skipping meals to feed and clothe their children, and staff are finding it hard to make the journey to work due to rising living costs, a new survey (weblink) reveals. Every trust that responded reported concerns about the mental, physical, and financial wellbeing of staff as a result…
The pound hit a record low against the dollar Monday on surging fears about the UK economy after the government unveiled a huge tax-cutting budget. The selloff came as equity markets across Asia and Europe fell again owing to a growing expectation that central bank interest rate hikes to fight…
The UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador said “all is not well with our world”. With just under eight years left to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), actor-producer Priyanka Chopra Jonas said "a just, safe and healthy world" is the right of every individual which can become a reality with global solidarity.…
British Prime Minister Liz Truss is preparing to scrap sugar taxes on soft drinks and ditch some anti-obesity measures to ease the cost-of-living crisis in the country, The Times reported on Thursday (15) citing government sources. British finance minister Kwasi Kwarteng has ordered health officials to review obesity control measures,…
Minority ethnic workers are disproportionately paid the lowest wages in the UK, new research has revealed amid the deepening cost-of-living crisis. Some 33 per cent of Bangladeshi-origin workers are paid below the real living wage, followed by 29 per cent of people of Pakistani heritage and 25 per cent of…
SENIOR TORIES have urged the new prime minister, Liz Truss, to continue “engaging, consulting, and listening to” south Asian communities. They have told Eastern Eye that they are concerned the new PM will undo the progress made by her predecessors. “The problem with Liz is that she doesn’t listen,” said…
It's good news for millions of households in UK. The new British prime minister Liz Truss is planning to freeze household energy bills at the current level for 18 months, media reports said. Queen Elizabeth appointed Truss as new leader on Tuesday (6). She is tasked with steering the country…
Only one in seven Britons say that Liz Truss will be a better Prime Minister than Boris Johnson, according to a snap poll by YouGov on Monday, with around a quarter of people feeling she will be worse. Truss, who will formally take over from Johnson on Tuesday, faces a…
Boris Johnson on Tuesday promised unswerving support for his successor Liz Truss, as he left Downing Street for the final time as British prime minister to tender his resignation. Johnson, whose tenure was dominated by Brexit and Covid and cut short by scandal, bid farewell to cheers and applause from…
Britain's Rishi Sunak, who lost the race to become Britain's prime minister on Monday, said the party must now unite behind winner Liz Truss. "It's right we now unite behind the new PM, Liz Truss, as she steers the country through difficult times," Sunak said on Twitter. Truss, 47, will…
Liz Truss, Britain's next prime minister, is expected to begin making key ministerial appointments soon after her formal appointment as leader on Tuesday. Below is a brief overview of the people likely to serve in key roles in her government. FINANCE MINISTER - KWASI KWARTENG Truss is expected to appoint…
An extra 270,000 children in London could receive free school meals, saving families struggling with the cost of living up to £440 a year per child, if provision was extended to all primary school pupils, a research initiative taken by London mayor Sadiq Khan has revealed. The mayor has reiterated…
British Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi has said that he is 'deeply concerned' that people could freeze this winter, media reports said. He revealed that the Treasury has been finalising plans to extend support to people to help pay their energy bills. Meanwhile, Liz Truss, the frontrunner to replace Boris Johnson as…
Rishi Sunak struck a personal note in the final hustings event before the election for a new Conservative Party leader and British Prime Minister concludes, as he thanked his parents and wife Akshata Murty for their support. Addressing a teeming concert venue at Wembley in London on Wednesday night, the…
Liz Truss the frontrunner to replace Boris Johnson as Britain's prime minister said she would deliver "immediate support" to ensure people are not facing unaffordable fuel bills going into the winter. "I will also deliver immediate support to ensure people are not facing unaffordable fuel bills. I will be robust…
BRITAIN is ready for an Asian prime minister, Rishi Sunak has said, as the prime ministerial hopeful revealed he was “stung” by racism as a child, but now believes Conservative voters will judge him on his policies, rather than his ethnicity, in the leadership race. In a wide-ranging, exclusive interview…
The UK's leading animal charity on Tuesday blamed spiralling costs and the huge upsurge in pet ownership during the pandemic for a 24-per cent rise in pet abandonments this year. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) reported 22,908 abandonments in the first seven months of…
Rishi Sunak pledged to work "night and day" for the “best country in the world” as the election campaign to take over from Boris Johnson as the Conservative Party leader and the new British Prime Minister entered its final stage on Wednesday, with the very last hustings event set for…
British Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi is visiting New York and Washington this week to discuss global economic challenges and collaboration in areas such as energy security and financial services, his office said on Monday. Britain and Europe are facing a sharp rise in power bills driven by sky-rocketing gas prices, as…
About a quarter of people in the UK think the soaring energy bills would not allow them to turn on heating during the upcoming winter. According to a survey conducted by the London-based market research consultancy firm Savanta ComRes, 23 per cent of adults would not turn their heating on…
The race to become Britain's next prime minister is in its final week, with Liz Truss appeared poised to secure the top job, along with daunting challenges. Foreign Secretary Truss, 47, has consistently outrun 42-year-old former finance minister Rishi Sunak by wide margins in polls of Conservative party members who…
Around half the backers of Britain's governing Conservative Party support renationalising the country's energy industry, according to a survey published on Monday, as soaring energy prices put pressure on household budgets. The government has been facing growing calls to do more to help Britons facing energy bills which are set…
In July 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that sex addiction is a mental-health disorder. However, many experts disagree about whether this is an actual diagnosis. According to NHS Choices, the WHO, states that compulsive sexual behaviour disorder is defined as an inability to control intense sexual urges leading…
Rishi Sunak's team on Monday launched a renewed attack on his Conservative Party leadership contest rival, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, for pushing through magic money tree promises to address the cost-of-living crisis faced by the British public. The British Indian former Chancellor's prime ministerial campaign headquarters and supporters highlighted that…
People responsible for misleading 'buy now, pay later' adverts could face two years in prison, Britain's financial watchdog warned on Friday as it told firms offering the loans to stop encouraging "impulse buying" and spell out late repayment fees. As Britain's cost-of-living crisis worsens, the Financial Conduct Authority has told…
Britain faces a "humanitarian crisis" this winter when the difficult choices forced upon low-income households by soaring energy bills could cause serious physical and mental illness, a healthcare lobby group said on Friday. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has resisted calls to provide more support to households struggling with higher bills,…
London mayor Sadiq Khan on Wednesday (17) announced £2 million of new funding to support children and young people at risk of being exploited by criminal gangs. With millions of Londoners being impacted by the cost-of-living crisis and low-income families in the capital being hit hardest as food and energy…
British inflation surged to a new 40-year high in July on rising food prices, official data showed Wednesday, adding to a cost-of-living crisis as the country faces the prospect of recession. The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) accelerated to 10.1 percent last month from 9.4 percent in June -- a 40-year…
Outgoing British prime minister Boris Johnson drew fresh criticism Monday (15) over his handling of multiple crises afflicting Britain, after taking a second summer holiday just weeks before he leaves office. The main opposition Labour party accused Johnson, who is due to leave office on September 6, of having "one…
Stood on her hind legs to greet any prospective owner who might approach her glass-doored kennel, Harriet is a black English cocker spaniel abandoned as a deepening cost-of-living crisis pushes growing numbers of Britons to part with their pets.She was found running along a busy road in London after witnesses…
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, today urged the Government to focus on tackling the spiralling cost of living and stop this from becoming a national disaster. This comes as a new online poll comprising 1,245 adults, reveals that 20 percent of lower-income Londoners have regularly or occasionally gone without…
Just 1% of British businesses have offered their staff a one-off cost-of-living payment, something the Bank of England had recently flagged as an upside risk for inflation pressure, an official survey of businesses showed on Thursday. The Office for National Statistics said 5.5% of companies employing more than 250 staff…
WE ARE currently at a critical juncture for our country, living through arguably some of the most difficult challenges we have faced for a generation. There was great hope as we emerged from the tragic consequences of the pandemic, yet in February, a dark shadow was cast across our continent…
As the cost of living crisis threatens to reverse reductions in violent crime, closer partnership between the Met Police and communities is key to preventing and tackling violence, London mayor Sadiq Khan said on Thursday (11), a release from his press office said. He visited Engine Room youth centre in…
Britain's prime ministerial candidate Rishi Sunak has insisted that he would rather lose the Conservative Party leadership race to replace Boris Johnson than win on a false promise on how he plans to tackle the economic crisis.In an interview with the BBC, the British Indian former Chancellor said he was…
Outgoing British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has defended leaving his successor, either former Chancellor Rishi Sunak or Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, to deal with the soaring inflation and cost-of-living crisis, saying he is confident the government will have the fiscal firepower and the headroom to look after people. Addressing a…
A minority of racists among Conservative grassroots members could stop Rishi Sunak from becoming the first non-white prime minister. That is the concern among some south Asian Tories who have spoken to Eastern Eye. They are concerned that Britain is “not ready to take orders from a brown boy”. They…
A British cabinet member admitted Friday "I don't know where Boris is" as the prime minister checked out on holiday, in a week that saw the Bank of England warn a year-long recession is coming. Boris Johnson has since Wednesday been on a belated honeymoon with his wife Carrie, according…
The former president of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), Lord Karan Bilimoria, is urging Rishi Sunak to cut taxes now, and not, as he has declared, in seven years. He has told Eastern Eye that reducing rates will not necessarily mean that inflation will rise. Speaking in a personal…
The Bank of England is expected Thursday to follow other major central banks with an aggressive interest rate hike to tackle surging inflation. The BoE is tipped to lift its main rate by 0.50 percentage points -- the biggest amount in more than a quarter of a century. British inflation…
The frontrunner to become British prime minister, Liz Truss, said she would scrap plans to restrict multi-buy deals on food and drink high in fat, salt, or sugar and would not impose any new levies on unhealthy food. Britain already taxes sugar in soft drinks, and in May delayed until…
As a seven-year-old in 1983, Liz Truss played the role of Britain's then prime minister Margaret Thatcher in her school's mock elections but failed to get a single vote. Four decades on, the foreign secretary is again bidding to emulate the Iron Lady to become Conservative party leader and prime…
British Conservatives Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss Thursday underwent their first grilling in front of party members as they wage a bitter duel to succeed Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The hustings in Leeds, northern England, were the opening bout of 12 nationwide events as the grassroots members elect a new…
MY FAMILY and I have been staunch Tory supporters for the past 40 years. Former chancellor Rishi Sunak is like Margaret Thatcher, willing to work hard and determined to put in the effort until he reaches the top. He is fiscally disciplined by way of economic background and has the…
Around 40,000 British railway workers staged a walkout on Wednesday, a month after the largest strike in 30 years as the UK battles its worst cost-of-living crisis in decades. The nationwide walkout over pay and conditions brought the rail network to a virtual standstill with only one in five training…
Rishi Sunak, trailing in the race to become Britain's prime minister, pledged on Wednesday to temporarily scrap taxes on energy bills paid by households, part of a "winter plan" to ease the cost-of-living crisis.The year-long hiatus on paying value-added tax (VAT) on energy bills would save the average household 160…
Britain's two prime ministerial contenders clashed fiercely over tax, China and character on Monday night in their first head-to-head televised debate, as Rishi Sunak seeks to peg back the frontrunner Liz Truss.The primetime debate kicked off a crucial 12-day period featuring three such live TV duels and four husting events…
It has been dubbed a bruising blue on blue battle, a reference to attacks within different factions of the governing Conservative Party as they turn on each other in the leadership contest to replace Boris Johnson as Tory leader and British Prime Minister.Ahead of a key head-on televised BBC debate…
FORMER health secretary Matt Hancock has described Rishi Sunak as an “incredible talent” and a proven decision-maker who would make a “great” prime minister. Sunak, who resigned as the chancellor earlier this month, is expected to be in the final two in the race to become prime minister after he…
ELECTIONS divide – and the race to determine the next leader of the Conservative party is no different. Every candidate for prime minister has reminded the Tories they will need to unite around whoever emerges as leader. But calls for a clean contest have been honoured more in the breach…
Rishi Sunak will claim credit for steering Britain's economy through the COVID-19 crash but must overcome accusations that he is too rich and too willing to raise taxes to win the race to be the next prime minister.After coming first in successive rounds of voting by Conservative Party lawmakers, Sunak…
BRITISH annual inflation surged to a new 40-year high in June on rising motor fuel and food prices, official data showed Wednesday (20), adding to a cost-of-living crisis. The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) jumped to 9.4 percent last month from 9.1 per cent in May, the Office for National Statistics…
Britain’s climate minister Alok Sharma said Conservative leadership hopefuls should be mindful of the environment “emergency” and show their commitment to meeting the decarbonisation target.He said the extreme heat the UK is experiencing should alert the candidates to the enormity of the situation and they come up with a programme…
Barbs flew and derisive laughter rang out as the Conservative contenders battling to succeed UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson clashed in a live TV debate Sunday, heading into a pivotal week for the acrimonious race.Rising global temperatures were among the policy areas under contention after Britain's climate minister, COP26 president…
The race to replace Boris Johnson as Conservative leader and Britain's prime minister is down to five candidates after the second round of voting among Tory MPs on Thursday.While former finance minister Rishi Sunak is leading the way with his MP colleagues, second-placed Penny Mordaunt is polling out front with…
Senior Conservative parliamentarians have told Eastern Eye the country is ready for its first south Asian prime minister. They believe the days of the Tories being considered as the “nasty and racist” party are over. Four candidates of colour were among the eight nominated in the leadership race as Eastern…
THE race to replace Boris Johnson as Conservative leader and Britain's prime minister is heating up, with eight candidates facing a first vote among Tory MPs on Wednesday (13). While several possible successors are seen as frontrunners, there is no clear favourite -- and such contests are notoriously volatile. Rishi…
Britain's economy rebounded in May, official data showed Wednesday, dampening fears of a slowdown despite surging inflation and rising interest rates. Gross domestic product expanded 0.5 per cent, the Office for National Statistics said in a statement, beating expectations of zero growth. "The economy rebounded in May with growth across…
Promises of tax cuts from candidates to succeed British Prime Minister Boris Johnson pose another inflationary risk which could pressure the Bank of England to raise interest rates more aggressively, cancelling out any potential boost to the economy. Most of the 11 contenders, trying to portray themselves as defenders of…
PRIME MINISTER Boris Johnson has called his promise to "level up and unite" Britain his government's "defining mission". But critics say it was a vague slogan lacking a coherent strategy for delivery -- even before Johnson announced his resignation as Conservative leader this week. What is levelling up? Broadly, it…
Former chancellor Rishi Sunak’s allies are believed to be trying to prevail upon his former cabinet colleague Sajid Javid to back his candidacy for the Conservative Party leadership.They have reportedly reached out to Javid’s friends to convince the former health secretary that it would not help either of them if…
Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government is in suspended animation, including on economic policy, just as a cost-of-living crisis worsens for millions of Britons. But tax cuts are inevitable under a new leader, to confront the financial pain that is rapidly spreading in the world's fifth-largest economy, analysts say. Low taxes…
Almost half of British people have cut back on food purchases as prices surge, while others are having to spend more on their shopping, according to official figures on Friday which show the scale of the current cost-of-living squeeze. British consumer price inflation hit a 40-year high of 9.1% in…
BRITAIN's Boris Johnson will reportedly announce his resignation as Conservative leader, paving the way for an internal party contest to replace him and become prime minister. While several possible successors have been suggested, there is no clear favourite. Rishi Sunak The UK's first Hindu chancellor of the exchequer, who quit…
Boris Johnson lasted just three years as British prime minister. Weakened by scandals, he refused for months to resign but on Thursday was poised to quit, forced by his own colleagues.July 2019: triumphant victory After Theresa May's resignation, Brexit figurehead Johnson is elected head of the Conservative party in July…
Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid were two of the biggest hitters in UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government until they quit on Tuesday in protest at his scandal-hit leadership. Sunak, 42, had been on a meteoric trajectory to power that could have made him Britain's first Hindu prime minister. Javid,…
Britain's finance and health ministers resigned in quick succession on Tuesday, in moves that put the future of Prime Minister Boris Johnson in peril after a series of scandals that have damaged his administration.Below is a summary of some of those who could be in the frame to replace him…
THE UK government has announced ambitious new plans to improve the cost, choice and availability of childcare that will benefit hundreds of thousands of parents across the country. The country has some of the highest-quality childcare provision in the world with 96% of early years settings rated by Ofsted as…
The chancellor must do more to help families and business. The call comes from Lord Karan Bilimoria, who is stepping down as the president of the Confederation of British Industry after two years at the helm. In an exclusive interview with Eastern Eye, the peer said the cost of living…
MORE than 323,000 customers in the UK are yet to renew their tax credits ahead of the July 31 deadline and the HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has reminded them to do it on time or else, their payments will stop. Tax credits help working families that have targeted financial…
Britons are shifting to cheaper food alternatives in their supermarket shopping as they try to navigate a worsening cost of living crisis, industry data showed on Tuesday. Market researcher NielsenIQ said that over the four weeks to June 18 sales of frozen poultry rose 12% year-on-year, sales of rice and…
Priti Patel may be moved “sideways” from Home Office to being Conservatives Party chief to replace Oliver Dowden whose resignation has taken the Tories by surprise.Dowden put in his papers as the Conservatives chair earlier this week after the ruling party suffered crushing defeats in the by-elections to two parliamentary…
BRITISH retail sales by volume dropped in May as soaring inflation caused consumers to limit spending, especially on food, official data showed Friday (24). Sales fell 0.5 per cent compared with a rise of 0.4 per cent in April, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. April's data was sharply…
Oliver Dowden, the chairman of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative party, resigned on Friday, saying it could not carry on with business as usual after two crushing by-election defeats and someone had to take responsibility."Yesterday's parliamentary by-elections are the latest in a run of very poor results for our…
SURGING debt interest costs triggered by the leap in inflation forced the British government to borrow more than expected in May at £14 billion ($17.14 bn), according to official data published on Thursday (23). Economists polled by Reuters had a median forecast of £12bn for borrowing excluding public sector banks.…
Britain's worsening cost-of-living squeeze is pushing some people into gambling and cryptocurrency investments in last-ditch attempts to make ends meet, a gambling charity warned on Thursday.GamCare said it had increasingly received calls from people receiving state welfare payments who had gambled in the hope they could cover soaring energy and…
British annual inflation has hit a fresh 40-year high, official data showed Wednesday, further eroding workers' wages and pressuring the Bank of England to keep on raising interest rates.The rate edged higher to 9.1 percent in May from 9.0 percent in April, remaining at the highest level since 1982, the…
RUSH-HOUR commuters in the UK faced chaos on Tuesday (21) as railway workers began the network's biggest strike action in more than three decades, with a cost-of-living crisis threatening wider industrial action. Last-ditch talks to avert the strike broke down on Monday, meaning more than 50,000 members of rail union…
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson could this week lose two parliamentary seats that once illustrated his broad appeal, showing his declining popularity that could spur his party to try to find a way to oust him.His Conservative Party are contesting two by-elections on Thursday: one in Tiverton and Honiton, a…
Britain faces its biggest rail strike in 30 years this week when tens of thousands of staff walk out in a pay dispute that unions warn could lead to coordinated action across other industries due to the mounting cost of living crisis. British households are already experiencing the biggest economic…
THE government has warned that employees cannot expect pay rises to keep up with the soaring cost of living, according to a report. Treasury chief secretary Simon Clarke has said matching salaries to inflation risked causing prices in the shops to surge even higher, the Sky News reported. According to…
HAVING been elected as the first woman of colour to the Welsh parliament in May 2021, I know there has been immense pressure on the Labour government to see more diversity in the Senedd. Labour and Plaid Cymru are determined to squeeze more politicians into the Senedd, a contentious move…
Britain is staring at the prospect of wide rail traffic disruptions this summer as a prominent trade union said it has served notices to ballot over 6,000 staff at Network Rail.Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) said its members will vote on whether to go on strikes over pay, work conditions…
BRITAIN's unemployment rate has risen slightly while soaring inflation is causing the value of wages to fall at the fastest pace in more than a decade, official data showed Tuesday (14). Unemployment rose to 3.8 per cent in the three months to the end of April, but remained close to…
Britain will set out its first national food strategy on Monday, focused on increasing domestic production to boost food security rather than on tackling obesity after a recommendation to tax salt and sugar in processed food was rejected.The government said Russia's invasion of Ukraine had hit food supplies and caused…
A British minister on Friday denied a claim that the Treasury's decision not to insure against Bank of England interest-rate rises had cost taxpayers £11 billion ($13.7 billion) during a cost-of-living crisis. "The Treasury has inaccurately been accused of wasting billions of pounds," John Glen, a junior Treasury minister working…
BRITAIN's oldest independent economic research firm has alleged that chancellor Rishi Sunak wasted £11 billion of taxpayers’ money by paying too much in interest on UK debt, according to a report. The national institute of economic and social research (NIESR) has said that the losses were the result of Sunak's…
ROCKED by a major revolt against his leadership this week, British prime minister Boris Johnson will on Thursday (9) promise to rejuvenate a flagging economy and make it easier for young people to buy homes. Johnson will pledge "fiscal firepower" to help ease a worsening cost-of-living crunch for households, in…
Britain's railway network faces its biggest strike action in more than three decades later this month in a row over pay as inflation erodes earnings, a union has announced. Rail union RMT said more than 50,000 workers will take part in a three-day national strike coinciding with major events including…
A UK MP has said that she was gravely concerned by the 'shambolic mismanagement of Missguided' and urged the government and the new owners to help Leicester garment workers unpaid for their labour. Leicester East MP Claudia Webbe in a statement said that the firm 'gambled recklessly' with the livelihoods…
A survey published on Tuesday (7) revealed that shoppers in the UK cut their spending in May by the most since the coronavirus lockdown in early 2021. The British Retail Consortium (BRC) said total retail spending was 1.1 per cent lower than a year earlier, the biggest fall since January…
UK prime minister Boris Johnson convened his cabinet on Tuesday (7), vowing to "get on with the job" after surviving a confidence vote of Conservative MPs that has left him severely weakened. The beleaguered leader has claimed that Monday (6) evening's dramatic ballot, which saw 211 Tory party lawmakers support…
Britain’s opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer said the jeering faced by prime minister Boris Johnson reflected the public sentiment about the government.Johnson was booed when he arrived at St Paul's Cathedral in London for a Service of Thanksgiving for Queen Elizabeth on Friday. But the prime minister, who was accompanied…
British pop superstar Ed Sheeran was on Sunday set to bring the curtain down on four days of momentous nationwide celebrations to honour Queen Elizabeth II's historic Platinum Jubilee.The multi-award-winning singer-songwriter will perform at the finale of a day-long pageant lauding the 96-year-old monarch's record seven decades on the throne,…
"MUMSNET" claims eight million users and is known for frank discussions on its forum, and users were typically forthright as its founder Justine Roberts relayed their questions to Johnson in Downing Street. User "Tim Booth's Eyes" -- an apparent reference to the lead singer of The Charlatans -- set the…
Former England captain Michael Vaughan has slammed Lord's for the "astronomical prices" charged for tickets to the first test against New Zealand, saying fans were being priced out amid a cost-of-living crisis. The first test of the English summer at the 'Home of Cricket' begins on Thursday but hundreds of…
British house prices surged again last month but a slowdown, caused by the worsening cost-of-living crunch, is likely on the way, mortgage lender Nationwide said on Wednesday (1).House prices rose by 0.9% month-on-month in May after a 0.4% rise in April, marking a 10th consecutive month of gains, Nationwide said.A…
MOST vulnerable households in UK will receive at least £1,200 this year, including a new one-off £650 cost of living payment, as part of targeted government support to help with the rising cost of living crisis, it was announced on Thursday (26). British chancellor Rishi Sunak also announced a 25…
CONFEDERATION OF BRITISH INDUSTRY (CBI) president Lord Karan Bilimoria said the government must act on the cost-of-living crisis and help firms invest in uncertain times.In view of a negative growth in March and forecasts of a weak outlook for the rest of 2022, the government should extend the Recovery Loan…
BRITISH chancellor Rishi Sunak has insisted that the state "cannot protect people completely" as he warned the next few months "will be tough"after inflation rate has surged to a 40-year high. Reacting to Wednesday's (18) data, he blamed the situation on "global challenges" and noted Britain was not alone in…
BRITAIN'S worst cost of living crisis in three decades won't peak until the tail end of this year but the Bank of England will be more aggressive in raising interest rates than was thought as it battles soaring inflation, a Reuters poll found.Renewed coronavirus lockdowns in China and Russia's invasion…
THE cost of living crisis is leading to more British Asians from poorer backgrounds being unable to own a home and living with their parents for longer, say experts. They have also noted many from middle class backgrounds are staying in the family home after marriage to look after their…
BRITAIN will delay by a year new rules banning multi-buy deals on foods and drinks high in fat, salt, or sugar (HFSS), with the government saying on Saturday (14) it needed more time given the cost of living crisis. The ban on the deals, including "buy one get one free"…
RISING student debt is severely affecting students across Britain, who are already struggling with a cost-of-living crisis. Britons heading to university next year face major changes that critics argue will worsen the financial pain. The pressure is "exhausting, especially for someone in their 20s who has just started thinking about…
HEAD of state Queen Elizabeth II missed Tuesday's (10) ceremonial opening of the UK parliament for the first time in nearly 60 years, handing the duty to her heir Prince Charles in a clear sign of the looming transition of power. The 96-year-old monarch usually presides over the pomp-filled event…
QUEEN Elizabeth II will miss Tuesday's (10) ceremonial opening of Britain's parliament, as prime minister Boris Johnson tries to reinvigorate his faltering government by unveiling its plans for the coming year. The 96-year-old monarch, who usually presides over the pomp-filled event and reads out her government's legislative programme from a…
UK SUPERMARKET giant Morrisons announced on Monday (9) it had agreed a rescue deal for British convenience store chain McColl's that will preserve all 16,000 jobs.Morrisons, Britain's fourth-largest supermarket chain, beat off competition from forecourt giant EG, whose co-owners - the billionaire Issa brothers - also run UK supermarket group…
BRITISH prime minister Boris Johnson's Conservative Party lost control of traditional strongholds in London and suffered losses elsewhere in local elections, early results on Friday (6) showed, as voters punished his government over a raft of scandals. Johnson's party was ousted in Wandsworth, a low-tax Conservative stronghold since 1978, part…
Polls opened across the UK on Thursday in local and regional elections that could prove historic in Northern Ireland and heap further pressure on embattled prime minister Boris Johnson. The contest for the devolved assembly in Belfast could see a pro-Irish nationalist party win for the first time in the…
SALARIES in Britain's financial sector have surged in recent months, widening inequality amid the nation's cost-of-living crisis, a study showed on Wednesday (4). Average monthly pay in the industry jumped 31 per cent in February from December 2019, propelled by high-earners, the Institute for Fiscal studies (IFS) said in a…
RECKITT posted a revenue growth of 5.6 per cent in the first quarter of the year, driven mainly by a rise in its product prices."We have made a strong start to the year… despite a challenging operating environment”, company CEO Laxman Narasimhan said, but the maker of the Dettol warned…
PRIME minister Boris Johnson said on Tuesday (3) the government could not help everyone through the current cost-of-living crisis and had to remain prudent with its spending to avoid stoking an inflationary spiral.Surging prices are contributing to the biggest squeeze on household incomes since at least the 1950s, putting pressure…
IN 2019, Johnson upended conventional British politics by winning in both the traditional Conservative southern heartlands and more industrial areas in central and northern England. But his support has waned as the government grapples with a cost-of-living crisis and revelations about his conduct. Now many Conservative lawmakers are wondering if…
The British government's ethics advisor said on Wednesday he had cleared embattled chancellor Rishi Sunak of breaching ministerial codes after investigating his family's tax affairs. Sunak earlier this month asked the adviser on ministerial standards, Christopher Geidt, to review whether he followed all the rules after revelations about his family's…
ALMOST a quarter of people in Britain said it became harder to pay household bills even before increases in regulated energy prices took effect, according to an official survey that underscored the breadth of a cost-of-living crisis. Some 23 per cent of people surveyed in March by the Office for…
BRITISH prime minister Boris Johnson gave his backing to his under-fire chancellor Rishi Sunak, saying he will remain in his job as the country's second most powerful politician after the next cabinet reshuffle expected later this year. Sunak, once seen as a strong candidate to succeed Johnson, has faced a…
A growing number of Britons are using personal finance apps to budget as rising energy and food costs push inflation to a 30-year high. Rising outgoings appear to be driving thousands of people to try money management apps for the first time. Tools such as Monzo app, Emma, which was…
PRIME MINISTER Boris Johnson on Tuesday (19) apologised to MPs after he became the first British leader fined for breaking the law, but faced opposition calls to quit for the sake of integrity in politics. Addressing parliament for the first time since the April 12 fine, he reiterated that he…
BRITISH prime minister Boris Johnson will face angry lawmakers on Tuesday (19) for the first time since being fined for breaking his own coronavirus laws by attending a party at his Downing Street office.An embattled Johnson last week became the first modern British leader to be fined for breaking the…
BRITAIN'S annual inflation rate soared to the highest level in three decades last month as energy prices rocket, official data showed Wednesday (13), worsening the cost-of-living crisis.Inflation surged to 7.0 per cent in March from 6.2 per cent in February, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said in a statement."Broad-based…
PRIME minister Boris Johnson has agreed to a request from the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, for a review to determine whether he stuck to the rules on ministerial declarations.The move caps days of criticism over the financial arrangements of Sunak’s family and the allegation of “political hypocrisy” as questions emerged over…
British prime minister Boris Johnson has agreed to a request from his chancellor Rishi Sunak for a review to determine whether he had stuck to the rules on ministerial declarations following criticism over Sunak's family financial arrangements. Sunak said on Sunday he had written to the prime minister asking him…
Chancellor Rishi Sunak said on Sunday he had asked prime minister Boris Johnson for a review to determine whether he had stuck to the rules on ministerial declarations following criticism over his family's financial arrangements. Sunak said he had written to the prime minister asking him to refer Sunak's ministerial…
BRITAIN's embattled finance minister Rishi Sunak stood accused of political hypocrisy as new questions emerged over offshore tax havens reportedly held by his Indian wife. Sunak was also criticised for a lack of transparency, after he admitted to holding a "Green Card" for US permanent residents until last year. Sunak's…
AKSHATA MURTY, wife of Britain's chancellor Rishi Sunak, announced on Friday (8) she will start paying UK tax on "all worldwide income," amid controversy over her non-domiciled status.Sunak has accused critics of mounting a "smear" campaign against his wealthy Indian wife, whose substantial foreign earnings have been shielded from UK…
Britain's chancellor Rishi Sunak has accused critics of mounting a "smear" campaign against his wealthy Indian wife, whose substantial foreign earnings are shielded from UK taxes. The Labour party has accused Sunak of "breathtaking hypocrisy" after he raised taxes on ordinary Britons in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis. But…
UK chancellor Rishi Sunak, once a leading contender to become prime minister, faced new criticism on Thursday after it emerged his Indian wife holds non-domiciled status, shielding her from UK taxes. Akshata Murthy, daughter of Indian billionaire NR Narayana Murthy, confirmed she "is treated as non-domiciled for UK tax purposes"…
BOTH main parties in the UK have traditionally had loyal supporters from different parts of the Asian diaspora, but there is growing unease that neither can be trusted or represent the values and aspirations of the Asian community. Prime minister Boris Johnson has a long history of making racist and…
British chancellor of the exchequer Rishi Sunak is being accused of being out of touch with ordinary voters, in a sudden fall from grace just months after he was tipped as the next prime minister. The star of the 41-year-old had been in ascendancy for his handling of public finances…
AN INFLUENTIAL doctors’ leader has raised concerns about the pressure GPs are likely to face as the imminent cost of living crisis bites, while a leading business figure said higher taxes will stifle economic recovery as he also urged ministers to continue free lateral flow tests beyond March. Dr Chaand…
CHANCELLOR Rishi Sunak denied his family is benefiting from Russia when his government has imposed sanctions on Moscow.Sunak’s wife Akshata Murthy is the daughter of Infosys co-founder NR Narayana Murthy. She is believed to have a stake in the IT services company which has operations in Russia.“I don’t think so,"…
BRITAIN'S economy will grow more slowly this year than previously predicted and inflation will be much higher, chancellor of exchequer Rishi Sunak said as he gave a budget update which included measures to ease a cost-of-living squeeze.Sunak, announcing forecasts drawn up by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), said on…
BRITAIN unveils on Wednesday (23) a mini-budget update aimed at easing a cost of living crisis, as data revealed inflation spiking to a three-decade high on soaring energy prices.Annual inflation accelerated to 6.2 per cent in February from 5.5 per cent in January, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said…
Business and doctors’ leaders have criticised the government’s decision to stop free lateral flow tests in April. The prime minister, Boris Johnson, announced the decision in his “living with Covid” statement to parliament on Monday (21). He told MPs that all Covid restrictions would end in England on Thursday (24)…
BRITISH finance secretary Rishi Sunak underscored his faith in low taxes on Wednesday (23) ahead of an increase in social security contributions in April that will take the government's tax take to the highest since the 1950s. "I firmly believe in lower taxes," Sunak, widely seen as a possible future…
Britain's chancellor Rishi Sunak is on a meteoric trajectory that could, if Boris Johnson is forced out, propel him next door to 10 Downing Street to become Britain's first Hindu prime minister. It would mark a historic landmark, for a descendant of immigrants from Britain's old empire in India and…
AN Indian supplier to UK fashion brands has paid out an estimated £3 million in unpaid wages to about 80,000 workers after two years, according to a media report. India’s largest garment company Shahi Exports agreed to pay nine months of back pay in January, the Guardian reported. According to…
CHANCELLOR Rishi Sunak has admitted to attending prime minister Boris Johnson's lockdown birthday party in 2020 but refused to say what happened when he entered the room and claimed that he was there for a meeting to discuss the Covid-19 situation. His comments came after Johnson's five aides, including longstanding…
BRITISH prime minister Boris Johnson suffered four staff defections on Thursday (3) as pressure intensified on the embattled leader over lockdown parties and his loose-lipped style of politics.One of the departures – that of the head of policy Munira Mirza - was linked to an inflammatory remark made by Johnson,…
The president of the organisation which speaks for UK businesses has urged the government to lower taxes immediately to help the country’s “very fragile economy”. Speaking exclusively to Eastern Eye, Lord [Karan] Bilimoria, founder of Cobra Beer, said that families and businesses were suffering from a triple whammy of higher…
BRITAIN will aim to shift all of its energy production to renewable sources by the middle of the next decade, prime minister Boris Johnson said on Monday (4). "Looking at what we can do with other renewable sources, carbon capture and storage, with hydrogen, potentially we think we can get…
