THERE are chances of a cabinet reshuffle as Boris Johnson is expected to hand £34 billion to the NHS as part of a reform of health and social care.
According to a report by The Sunday Times, the first ministreal reshuffle by the prime minister in more than 18 months could happen on Thursday (9). Reports suggest the shake-up is done as a possible distraction from the likely rows over social care.
The ministers likely to be moved or removed include Gavin Williamson, the education secretary and Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, who was criticised for his Afghanistan handling. If Raab is moved, there are reports of him getting replaced by Liz Truss, the trade secretary, Sajid Javid, the health secretary or Michael Gove.
Meanwhile, Williamson is expected to be demoted to Leader of the House.
Johnson's health and social care boost announcement is likely to give health service extra £10bn every year for the next three years, plus a premium of £3bn to £4bn for the rest of this year to tackle the backlog.
NHS leaders say they need £10bn more a year to cover the rising costs due to the pandemic. One said failure to deliver “will put patients’ lives at risk and could result in the waiting list hitting 13 million.
How are the social care plans going to be paid for? There would be an increase in national insurance by 1.25 percentage points that will raise between £10 billion and £11 billion each year.
However, there is big backlash from Tory MPs, who say the move breaks one of Johnson's 2019 manifesto pledges.
In another manifesto commitment, it said pensioners would get and 8.8 per cent rise this year, but on Tuesday (7), chancellor Rishi Sunak is due to announce that he will temporarily suspend the "triple lock" on state pensions.
Sunak has instead planned to give the pensioners a 2.5 per cent rise, that would save more than £4bn.
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)