By Elisabeth O'LearyEDINBURGH (Reuters) - British government contracts worth 4 billion pounds to house asylum seekers have drawn few bids from private firms in a sign that the collapse of Carillion has dampened appetite for riskier projects, sources involved in the process say.gi A decision on bids for the Asylum Accommodation and Support Services Contract (AASC), in which private firms provide housing for migrants in seven UK regions is due to be made before Christmas.Britain hands out 200 billion pounds of public work to private firms every year but this is the most significant services contract since Carillion, a provider of defence, education, health and transport services, collapsed in January. Outsourcer Interserve <IRV.L> this week become the latest company to move to shore up its balance sheet, underlining the frailties of a sector where margins can be wafer-thin.The value of the government's 10-year AASC contract has doubled since the work was last tendered. However, the … [Read more...] about Ghost of Carillion hangs over housing contracts for UK asylum seekers
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Rick Santorum Cites Family As He Rejects White House Chief Of Staff Role Live On CNN
POLITICS 12/12/2018 03:42 am ET Santorum said it was "an honor even to be considered" for the role – then turned it down anyway. By Lee Moran The search for President Donald Trump’s next apprentice White House chief of staff continues after twice-failed GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum turned down the prospect live on CNN. Speaking with “Outfront” host Erin Burnett on Tuesday night, the former Republican senator for Pennsylvania said it was “an honor even to be considered.” Speculation mounted about Santorum possibly replacing John Kelly after he was seen talking with Trump at Saturday’s Army-Navy football game. It’s not clear whether Trump did in fact officially offer him the role. “I think it’s a great job and I know that there are a lot of good people out there,” Santorum told Burnett, adding that “my family situation really doesn’t allow me to do that right now.” … [Read more...] about Rick Santorum Cites Family As He Rejects White House Chief Of Staff Role Live On CNN
Lord Lester, peer accused of sexually harassing a woman, resigns from House of Lords
A peer accused of groping a woman and promising her a peerage in exchange for sex has resigned from the House of Lords, it has been reported. Lord Lester of Herne Hill told The Times he will step down with immediate effect, adding the investigation into his alleged conduct has "taken a serious toll" on his health. The 82-year-old was suspended from the Liberal Democrats after the allegations came to light, claims which the prominent QC has called "completely untrue". The Lords Privileges and Conduct Committee recommended he should be suspended until June 2022 after he allegedly offered Jasvinder Sanghera "corrupt inducements" to sleep with him. Peers backed a call last month to send his case... 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 Lord Lester, peer accused of sexually harassing a woman, resigns from House of Lords
Pelosi may win speakership on term-limit deal with House Democrats: reports
close Video Does Nancy Pelosi have the votes to win speakership? House Democrats could announce as early as Wednesday that they have reached a deal that would limit Rep. Nancy Pelosi to a term of four years if she is elected speaker in January, according to reports. In exchange, a group of Democrats who have publicly opposed Pelosi’s bid to reclaim the position she held from 2007 to 2011 would vote in support of the lawmaker from San Francisco, Politico reported. The exact number of Democrats who would change their votes was unclear. “It’s pretty much done,” a source told Politico. “The issue is, How do we wrap this up? What are the procedural steps that we need to get this done?” On Nov. 28, 203 House Democrats formally nominated Pelosi as their choice for the job, but 32 Democrats did not support her. NANCY PELOSI WINS PARTY NOD FOR SPEAKER, BUT STILL FACES UNCERTAIN FLOOR VOTE When the full House votes Jan. 3, Pelosi will … [Read more...] about Pelosi may win speakership on term-limit deal with House Democrats: reports
Pelosi on cusp of deal with Democratic rebels in her bid for House speaker
Mike DeBonis, The Washington Post Published 7:53 pm PST, Tuesday, December 11, 2018 WASHINGTON - Nancy Pelosi could be on the cusp of securing her election as House speaker next month under a term-limit deal that was in the final stages of discussion Tuesday. At least five of the California Democrat's internal critics are ready to throw her their support under terms of a deal that were discussed but not finalized in a meeting with Pelosi on Tuesday afternoon. The meeting took place in Pelosi's office, hours after she left the White House after going toe to toe with President Donald Trump over funding for his U.S.-Mexico border wall, winning plaudits from fellow Democrats for her resolve. Three Pelosi opponents attended - Democratic Reps. Bill Foster, Ill., Ed Perlmutter, Colo., and Linda Sánchez, Calif. - and discussed a deal under which Pelosi would support and advocate term limits for the top three House Democratic leaders, according to three people familiar with … [Read more...] about Pelosi on cusp of deal with Democratic rebels in her bid for House speaker