Tag: British parliament

  • Lawmakers launch probe as UK meals value inflation hits 46-year extreme

    By Reuters: British lawmakers launched an investigation on Friday into the fairness of the nation’s meals present chain, on the lookout for to know why households are coping with the easiest ranges of meals value inflation as a result of the Nineteen Seventies.

    The cross-party Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee of the House of Commons, the lower chamber of parliament, talked about it’s going to have a look at how earnings and risks are shared from “farm to fork”, and the extent of regulation.

    It will even have a look at the impression of exterior elements on the supply chain, akin to imported meals and worldwide commodity prices.

    “When many people are struggling to give their families good food at a reasonable price, it’s our job as a committee to get to the bottom of what’s going on,” Robert Goodwill, chair of the EFRA Committee and a lawmaker from the ruling Conservative Party, talked about.

    “We know that clients are paying elevated prices, nevertheless the question is — are the alternative components of the supply chain unduly benefiting from that, or are just a few of them moreover feeling the squeeze?” he talked about.

    Earlier this month, France’s authorities pledged to take movement in opposition to meals retailers who fail to cross on lower wholesale prices to clients.

    ALSO READ | UK PM Sunak’s Conservatives lose seats in early native election outcomes

    In Britain, the smaller opposition Liberal Democrats event has known as for the federal authorities to investigate supermarkets’ earnings.

    Supermarket groups, along with market chief Tesco, deny claims that they are profiteering, saying they’ve taken profitable to earnings and have working margins of 4% or a lot much less, whereas predominant shopper objects companies akin to Unilever and Nestle have margins of 16-17%.

    Official data confirmed UK meals prices had been 19.1% elevated in March than a 12 months earlier, the biggest such rise since August 1977, whereas in April, grocery inflation was 17.3%, in keeping with enterprise data.

    The Bank of England talked about on Thursday it anticipated whole inflation — which remained above 10% in March — to fall additional slowly than it had hoped, principally on account of unexpectedly huge and protracted rises in meals prices.

    Food retailers have talked about they rely on prices to rise in 2023 whole nevertheless the cost of inflation will decline by the use of the 12 months.

    ALSO READ | High rent, worth of dwelling making lives of Indian faculty college students miserable in Britain

    Prices for some merchandise which have seen the sharpest rises, akin to take advantage of, butter and bread, have actually started to fall.

    The EFRA committee would not have the ability to change legal guidelines nevertheless it might properly take oral and written proof from farmers, producers, retailers, the federal authorities and clients, and problem a report with solutions.

  • Can’t we strike London? Vladimir Putin ally requires assault on British Parliament | Watch

    Russian President Vladimir Putin’s staunch supporter Vladimir Solovyov referred to as for attacking the UK parliament on Sunday after UK PM Rishi Sunak gave contemporary arms help to Ukraine.

    New Delhi,UPDATED: Feb 13, 2023 13:31 IST

    File picture of Russian President Vladimir Putin | AP

    By India Today Web Desk: Every week after Britain introduced an instantaneous surge of navy deliveries to Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s staunch supporter Vladimir Solovyov referred to as to assault the UK parliament. He additionally criticised the West in a video for supporting Ukraine.

    Britain on February 8 introduced an instantaneous surge of navy deliveries to Ukraine to assist it fend off an intensifying Russian offensive and pledged to coach its pilots as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on a uncommon go to overseas.

    Solovyov, in a video posted by Advisor to the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Anton Gerashchenko, referred to as for an assault on the UK parliament. He mentioned, “Can’t we finally strike at London? What is the problem? No, only at military targets. Well, at the parliament too. Well, they are going to give planes (to Ukraine) to strike deep into Russia’s territory.”

    ALSO READ | ‘Russia will lose struggle’: Ukraine President Zelenskyy in historic deal with to UK lawmakers

    “At the same time, they cunningly say: ‘No, well, we just don’t recognize Crimea as Russia.’ And how about Kaliningrad? What do u now want to tell us? That is, you will now determine what Russia is for you? You will determine what Russia is for us? In this case we will not recognize you. For us, there is no England at all. No France. No Germany. Instead there are Nazi states united by hatred for everything Russian,” mentioned Solovyov attacking the West.

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday predicted that Russia would lose the struggle in opposition to his nation, and thanked the British folks for his or her help from “Day One” since Moscow’s navy offensive.

    Edited By:

    Manisha Pandey

    Published On:

    Feb 13, 2023

  • Rishi Sunak declares candidacy to be new UK PM, says he needs to repair financial system

    Indian-origin former chancellor Rishi Sunak on Sunday formally declared his candidacy to contest the Conservative Party management election to switch Liz Truss as British Prime Minister and repair the financial system.

    The 42-year-old is the clear frontrunner as he raced forward with the backing of no less than 128 Tory members of Parliament, at the same time as loyalists of his former boss – Boris Johnson – claimed he has the mandatory 100 MPs wanted to make it to the shortlist.

    While the previous Tory chief and prime minister is but to formally declare his candidacy, the competition is shaping up as a three-way struggle between Sunak, Johnson and third-placed Leader of the Commons Penny Mordaunt.

    “The United Kingdom is a great country but we face a profound economic crisis,” Sunak tweeted in his marketing campaign pitch.

    “That’s why I am standing to be Leader of the Conservative Party and your next Prime Minister. I want to fix our economy, unite our party and deliver for our country,” he stated.

    In an accompanying imaginative and prescient assertion, the previous finance minister highlighted his observe file of serving within the Cabinet, serving to to steer the financial system via the hardest of occasions with the COVID pandemic.

    “The challenges we face now are even greater. But the opportunities – if we make the right choice – are phenomenal. I have the track record of delivery, a clear plan to fix the biggest problems we face and I will deliver on the promise of the 2019 manifesto,” he tweeted.

    “There will be integrity, professionalism and accountability at every level of the government I lead and I will work day in and day out to get the job done. I am asking you for the opportunity to help fix our problems,” he added.

    Prime Minister Truss on Thursday introduced her resignation after an open revolt towards her management within the Conservative Party.

  • British PM Boris Johnson faces rebel in parliament over Covid-19 measures

    British Prime Minister Boris Johnson faces a big rebel amongst his Conservative lawmakers on Tuesday in a parliamentary vote over new restrictions to attempt to curb the unfold of the brand new Omicron coronavirus variant.
    The measures, together with ordering individuals to earn a living from home, to put on masks in public locations and use COVID-19 passes to enter some venues, are anticipated to be authorised by parliament however with Johnson counting on the opposition Labour Party for votes.
    It’s one more blow to a chief minister already beneath strain over reported events in his Downing Street workplace final 12 months when such gatherings have been banned, a dear refurbishment of his condo and the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan.
    Many of his lawmakers say the restrictions are draconian, with a number of questioning the introduction of vaccination certification, dubbed COVID passports, to enter some venues, resembling night time golf equipment.
    Others are utilizing the votes as a chance to vent their anger at Johnson, believing the person who helped the Conservatives win a big majority at a 2019 election is squandering the celebration’s successes by self-inflicted missteps and gaffes.

    But regardless of the grumblings of discontent, Conservative Party insiders say there may be not sufficient of a groundswell in opposition to Johnson to dislodge him now, with no potential challenger commanding sufficient assist to switch him.
    “Boris on a bad day is better than any of the other wannabes on a good day,” mentioned one veteran Conservative.
    Lawmakers are as a consequence of begin consecutive votes on the measures in flip from 1830 GMT.
    The authorities says the measures are essential to stem the unfold of Omicron, which accounts for greater than 40% of infections in London and is predicted to change into the dominant pressure within the British capital.

    One individual has died after contracting the variant and 10 individuals have been hospitalised with Omicron throughout England.
    Ministers are transferring to attempt to win over the Conservative rebels, saying that individuals who haven’t been double-jabbed can as an alternative supply proof of a damaging lateral circulation check to realize entry to indoor venues of greater than 500 individuals.

    But a number of will not be satisfied.”It is kind of mistaken that folks ought to be anticipated to supply what is actually a well being ID card earlier than they will entry companies that ought to be accessible to all,” mentioned Conservative lawmaker and former minister, David Jones.
    “People should certainly be encouraged to have the vaccine… but ultimately people have to take responsibility for their own health,” he instructed Reuters.

  • United Kingdom UK PM Johnson visits church the place lawmaker was stabbed to demise

    British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Saturday laid flowers exterior the church the place a lawmaker was stabbed to demise a day earlier, in what police say was a terrorist assault in all probability linked to Islamist extremism.
    The assault on David Amess, from Johnson’s Conservative Party, comes 5 years after the homicide of Jo Cox, a lawmaker from the opposition Labour Party, and has prompted a overview of the safety of elected politicians.
    Amess, 69, was knifed repeatedly within the assault at about noon on Friday in Leigh-on-Sea, east of London, throughout a gathering with constituents. learn extra
    Police arrested a 25-year-old British man on the scene on suspicion of homicide, including it’s believed he acted alone.
    In a press release early on Saturday, police mentioned the early investigation had revealed a possible motivation linked to Islamist extremism.
    Police officers are seen on the scene the place MP David Amess was stabbed throughout constituency surgical procedure, in Leigh-on-Sea, Britain October 15, 2021. (Reuters)
    Johnson, inside minister Priti Patel, and Labour Party chief Keir Starmer had been amongst these to put flowers in tribute to Amess on the scene of the homicide.
    “To the memory of Sir David Amess MP, a fine parliamentarian and a much-loved colleague and friend,” Johnson mentioned in a hand-written observe positioned within the flowers, including in a Twitter publish that his ideas had been with Amess’ household and buddies.
    Johnson and Starmer stood facet by facet in a second of silence earlier than leaving. Other politicians, police representatives and members of the general public got here to put flowers and pay respects.
    Britain’s Labour Party chief Keir Starmer and Prime Minister Boris Johnson observe a second of silence as they arrive on the scene the place British MP David Amess was stabbed to demise. (Reuters)
    Cannot be cowed
    As tributes poured in for Amess, politicians described the assault as an assault on democracy, and Patel mentioned safety for lawmakers, often known as MPs, was being reviewed and strengthened.
    “All measures are being put in place for the security of MPs so that they can carry on with their duties as elected democratic members,” Patel mentioned in a broadcast clip following the go to.

    “We live in an open society, a democracy. We cannot be cowed by any individual.”
    In Westminster, the place lawmakers do a lot of their work in parliament, armed police are on patrol. But of their electoral districts, often known as constituencies, most of the time there isn’t any safety.
    Amess was stabbed whereas holding a surgical procedure – one-to-one conferences with voters, open to whoever turns up.

    Conservative lawmaker Tobias Ellwood mentioned that whereas engagement with the general public was a significant a part of the job, there was now enormous anxiousness amongst MPs and known as for a pause in such conferences.
    Patel mentioned Amess was killed doing a job he liked, and lawmakers ought to stay accessible to the general public.
    “We will continue to absolutely stand by the principles that we are elected by: to serve our constituents in the open way in which we have been doing so, but also recognising that there are safety and protection measures that we have to undertake too,” Patel mentioned.

  • UK lawmaker stabbed to demise whereas assembly constituents

    A British lawmaker from Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Conservative Party was stabbed to demise on Friday in a church by a person who attacked him at a gathering with voters from his electoral district.
    David Amess, 69, the member of parliament for Southend West in Essex, japanese England, was focused at round noon at a gathering on the Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea.
    Police officers are seen on the scene the place MP David Amess was stabbed throughout constituency surgical procedure, in Leigh-on-Sea, Britain October 15, 2021. (Reuters)
    Armed police swooped in on the church and mentioned a person had been arrested. Police mentioned they weren’t in search of anybody else in reference to the incident.
    Emergency companies fought to avoid wasting his life contained in the church, however in useless.
    “He was treated by emergency services but, sadly, died at the scene,” police mentioned.
    Police officers are seen on the scene the place MP David Amess was stabbed throughout constituency surgical procedure, in Leigh-on-Sea, Britain October 15, 2021. (Reuters)
    “A 25-year-old man was quickly arrested after officers arrived at the scene on suspicion of murder and a knife was recovered.”
    Colleagues from throughout parliament expressed their shock and paid tribute to Amess, who held common conferences with voters on the primary and third Friday of the month, saying he was diligent in his duties to his native space.
    Amess, married with 5 youngsters, was first elected to parliament to symbolize Basildon in 1983, after which stood for election in Southend West in 1997.

    “He was stabbed several times,” John Lamb, an area councillor on the scene, informed Reuters.
    The stabbing at a gathering with constituents has echoes of a 2010 incident when Labour lawmaker Stephen Timms survived a stabbing in his constituency workplace, and the 2016 deadly taking pictures of Labour’s Jo Cox simply days earlier than the Brexit referendum.
    “Attacking our elected representatives is an attack on democracy itself,” Cox’s husband Brendan mentioned on Twitter. “There is no excuse, no justification. It is as cowardly as it gets.”