High Speed 2 will cost almost double the amount claimed by Theresa May, an official review panel has been told, as a new analysis put the overall bill at £106.4 billion. A paper submitted to an inquiry set up by Boris Johnson suggests that the official estimate maintained by Mrs May's government fell some £50 billion short of the likely final costs of the scheme. It comes amid growing disquiet among members of the panel itself about the handling of the review, including that it had so far failed to examine the overall costs of the scheme, despite reaching its half way point. Their final report is due to be drawn up next month. Sources close to members of the 10-strong inquiry team said some were... To continue reading this article Start your free trial of Premium Access all Premium articles Subscriber-only events Cancel any time Free for 30 days then only £2 per week Try Premium Access one Premium article per week Register for free … [Read more...] about High Speed 2 will cost £106.4 billion
politics
Bernie Sanders releases plan to eliminate all medical debt
close Video Fox News Flash top headlines for Sept. 21 Fox News Flash top headlines for Sept. 21 are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com U.S. presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders released a plan Saturday to eliminate $81 billion in medical debt for Americans, going a step beyond his Democratic rivals who have called for a government-run health insurance program. “In America today, it is unacceptable that one out of every six Americans have past-due medical bills on their credit report, totaling $81 billion,” Sanders said in a statement. Medical costs account for 66.5 percent of all bankrupticies, Sanders added. SUPREME COURT COULD HEAR GROUNDBREAKING CASE THAT CHALLENGES UN IMMUNITY Sanders promised to pay off overdue medical bills that have been reported to credit agencies and end harassing debt collecting practices, which would prohibit the collection of debt beyond a statute of limitations. Sanders also vowed to reform … [Read more...] about Bernie Sanders releases plan to eliminate all medical debt
Hard Left plans for life after Corbyn
Jeremy Corbyn's allies have begun triggering succession plans after concluding that Labour has “passed the high-water mark of Corbynism”. Representatives of the hard-Left Momentum campaign group stripped Tom Watson of his automatic right to become acting leader if Mr Corbyn quits, as part of a move the deputy leader described as a “drive-by shooting”. While Jon Lansman, the Momentum leader, failed on Saturday in an attempt to remove Mr Watson’s role altogether, his position will now be subject to a review designed to weaken the West Bromwich MP. The moves were described by allies of Mr Corbyn as an attempt to secure the hard-Left’s grip over the party’s leadership when he departs. They came after... To continue reading this article Start your free trial of Premium Access all Premium articles Subscriber-only events Cancel any time Free for 30 days then only £2 per week Try Premium Access one … [Read more...] about Hard Left plans for life after Corbyn
Labour backing Remain would be a betrayal of Brexit voters
Jo Platt Follow 21 September 2019 • 8:00pm There is no shortage of loud voices in Westminster dominating the scene with their miraculous solutions to the Brexit debate. We have become almost accustomed to their daily sermons, preaching their preferred plan of leaving without a deal or revoking article 50. No deal or No Brexit – it is that simple, we just need to trust them and see how quick, easy and painless their path will be. It is in many ways understandable that after three years of extreme division and polarisation, extreme options like these have gained cult like support, all claiming on the tin that they will bring an immediate end to the crisis. But we must be honest with ourselves. Offers like these are always too good to be... To continue reading this article Start your free trial of Premium Access all Premium articles Subscriber-only events Cancel any time Free for 30 days then only £2 per week Try … [Read more...] about Labour backing Remain would be a betrayal of Brexit voters
Cory Booker could soon quit the presidential race, aide says
In a frank admission of his failure to gain much voter support, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker suggested Saturday that he might quit the race for the Democratic presidential nomination if he falls short of his fundraising goal for September.If he can’t reach $1.7 million in donations by the end of the month, Booker wrote on Twitter, “we don’t see a legitimate long-term path forward.”“We’re at a crossroads in this campaign,” he said.Booker has been campaigning for nearly nine months, but less than 3% of Democratic primary voters support him for president, according to a Real Clear Politics aggregate of national polls. In the early-voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire, Booker is performing slightly worse, roughly on par with Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii and New York businessman Andrew Yang.In an unusually blunt memo posted online Saturday morning, Booker campaign manager Addisu Demissie said Booker “might not be in this race for much … [Read more...] about Cory Booker could soon quit the presidential race, aide says