Boris Johnson has said the Government’s emergency cost-of-living support package is a “big bazooka” which will support families until the surge in energy prices abates. The Prime Minister acknowledged the country still faced a “bumpy time” due to the soaring costs of oil and gas, but said he was confident it would emerge in a “much, much stronger position”. Earlier, Chancellor Rishi Sunak – who on Thursday announced a further £21 billion of support for households – indicated that he could not rule out the need for further measures if global prices remain high. But speaking during a visit to Stockton-on-Tees, Mr Johnson appeared to suggest the measures set out in the Commons – with up to £1,200 for eight million homes across the country – should be enough. “What we are doing now is making sure we support people through tough times. It’s a big bazooka,” he said in a pooled clip for broadcasters. Recommended What Rishi Sunak announced to tackle the … [Read more...] about ‘Big bazooka’ support package will get UK through energy crisis, says PM
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We must defeat Putin – the fate of civilisation depends on it
Since the last annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, the course of history has changed dramatically. Russia invaded Ukraine, shaking the European Union, which was established to prevent war from returning to the continent, to its very core. Even when the fighting stops, as it eventually must, the situation will never revert to the status quo ante . Indeed, the Russian invasion may turn out to be the beginning of World War III, and our civilisation may not survive it. The invasion of Ukraine did not come out of the blue. The world has been increasingly engaged over the past half-decade, or longer, in a struggle between two diametrically opposed systems of governance: open society and closed society. Let me define the differences as simply as I can. In an open society, the role of the state is to protect the freedom of the individual; in a closed society, the role of the individual is to serve the rulers of the state. Other issues that concern all humanity – … [Read more...] about We must defeat Putin – the fate of civilisation depends on it
Gang jailed after trafficking and exploiting hundreds of women across London
Members of a modern slavery gang have been jailed for trafficking and exploiting hundreds of women across London. Husband and wife team Sebastian Zimoch, 48, and Anna Zimoch, 46, along with Grzegorz Borowka, 44, Micheal Lozinski, 52, and Rafal Lacki, 41, were sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court in west London. The five had been convicted at the same court in March of conspiracy to arrange or facilitate human trafficking and conspiracy to control prostitution for gain between 1 January 2015 and 9 February last year, following a 10-week trial. Lozinski alone was also convicted of a second count of controlling prostitution for gain between 1 January 2017 and 9 February last year, in relation to a massage parlour business called Massage Bunnies. The trafficking gang was run by Sebastian Zimoch, with his wife Anna running it during a period when he was absent. Advertisement Sebastian Zimoch was sentenced to eight years in jail, Micheal Lozinski got seven … [Read more...] about Gang jailed after trafficking and exploiting hundreds of women across London
Three-homes Rishi Sunak ‘doesn’t need’ bills help and will give it to charity
Three-homes Rishi Sunak today said he "doesn't need" up to £1,200 in energy bills help from his own government - and will give it to charity. The Tory Chancellor admitted he is borrowing another £10bn for a £400-per-household discount from October that the wealthiest do not need. People with second homes will even get £800 and people with third homes £1,200 - if they pay all those homes' energy bills. But instead of denying them a payment, Mr Sunak challenged them to "set an example" and donate the money to charity. Mr Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty have entered the Sunday Times Rich List as the 222nd-wealthiest people in Britain with a joint £730m fortune - mostly thanks to his wife's shares in her father's firm. They are thought to have three UK homes - a listed manor with a swimming pool in Yorkshire, and a flat and townhouse in London. The Tory Chancellor admitted he is borrowing another £10bn for a £400-per-household discount that the wealthiest do not need ( … [Read more...] about Three-homes Rishi Sunak ‘doesn’t need’ bills help and will give it to charity
Sunak refuses to rule out new cost-of-living support next year
Rishi Sunak has refused to rule out a further emergency cost-of-living package next year despite alarm among some Tories at the impact on the public finances of the latest measures. The Chancellor responded to weeks of mounting pressure over soaring energy bills with the announcement of a £21 billion giveaway to households, partly paid for by a £5 billion levy on the profits of oil and gas companies. In the Commons on Thursday he told MPs the Government could not “sit idly by” while families across the country struggled to make ends meet. However there was anger from some Conservatives , who said the “windfall tax” on the energy giants – which Labour had been pressing for since the start of the year – was “throwing red meat to socialists”. There were also concerns that a £400 discount on energy bills for every household in the country, regardless of how well off they are, would further fuel inflation which is already heading towards 10%. Recommended … [Read more...] about Sunak refuses to rule out new cost-of-living support next year