Boris Johnson told public to buy £20 kettle to save £10 a year on energy bills
Liz Truss’ plans for the economy could contribute to a huge black hole in public finances by mid-decade.
Inflation, the rising cost of public debt, defense spending and tax cuts planned by the Foreign Secretary could wipe £60 billion from the public purse, according to a Financial Times analysis.
Mrs Truss is the favorite to replace Boris Johnson as Prime Minister next week after the winner of the Conservative Party leadership contest is announced.
During the campaign, Ms Truss pledged to reduce murder and other violent crime by 20% within two years if she entered No 10 Downing Street.
But a senior police chief today described his law and order plans as “foolish”, “nonsensical” and “sound friendly”.
Chief Constable Richard Lewis, the head of performance at the National Police Chiefs Council, told The Guardian that Ms Truss’ promises were “nonsense” without “further explanation”.
key points
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Who is Liz Truss?
Barring a major upset, Liz Truss will replace Boris Johnson as Prime Minister next week.
She is currently the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and previously served as Secretary of International Trade.
What else do we know about the MP for South West Norfolk? My colleague Joe Sommerlad takes a look:
Liz Truss: Who is the Foreign Secretary hoping to be Prime Minister?
‘Human hand grenade’ seen by Tories as Johnson’s continuity candidate and ahead of Rishi Sunak throughout the race thanks to questionable tax promises and neo-Thatcherite branding
Matt Mathers September 3, 2022 11:25 am
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Baby and child among 221 people to cross the Channel in small boats
A total of 221 people in five small boats crossed the Channel to the UK on Friday, according to the Ministry of Defence.
A baby dressed in pajamas and a life jacket was among those who made the crossing, along with several groups of men and another boy wrapped in a blanket.
It comes as the Home Office said it had appointed an independent panel to oversee the plan to send migrants to Rwanda.
Matt Mathers September 3, 2022 10:46 am
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Liz Truss ‘will lift fracking ban within days of becoming leader to boost UK energy supply’
Liz Truss could lift the fracking ban within days of winning the Tory leadership contest, it is said.
According to a report in The Sun, Ms Truss would follow through on one of her political promises by moving fast to lift the ban on fracking.
The paper reports that lifting the effective ban on fracking could happen in the early days of a Truss administration and under his plans would only allow fracking to happen with the support of local communities.
Truss ‘will lift fracking ban within days of becoming leader to boost energy supply’
With just days to go until the winner of the Conservative leadership race is announced, Ms Truss remains the overwhelming favorite to succeed Boris Johnson.
Matt Mathers September 3, 2022 10:05 am
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UK ‘could have to compete with Europe to avoid rationing’ after Russia steps up energy war
Gas prices could double, leaving the UK competing with Europe in a bid to avoid rationing after Russia escalated its energy war, an expert has warned.
Leon Izbicki, a European natural gas analyst, said prices could jump again now that Moscow has stepped up its battle against the West.
Our Whitehall Editor Kate Devlin reports:
UK ‘could have to compete with Europe to avoid rationing’ amid Russia’s energy crisis
Putin accused of “psychological” warfare.
Matt Mathers September 3, 2022 9:50 am
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ICYMI: Coffey tipped the health secretary
The Independent understands Therese Coffey will take on the role of health secretary under Liz Truss after holding meetings with the current permanent secretary.
Two sources said Ms Coffey, a long-time ally of Ms Truss, was a favorite candidate for the post as NHS backlogs are seen as a critical issue ahead of the next general election, due in 2024.
Our economics editor Anna Isaac has the story:
Coffey proposed health secretary as Tory MPs warn Truss over cabinet
Leader confrontation calls for a “big tent” approach.
Matt Mathers September 3, 2022 9:35 am
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UK faces ‘difficult and expensive’ winter, warns energy chief
Angela Knight, former chief executive of Energy UK, told Times Radio: “We’ve got our energy policy wrong for a long, long time.
“It’s a very unpleasant clash we’ve had.
“We can get through this winter. It’s going to be difficult, it’s going to be expensive, and it’s going to take some help to various groups of people and some help to the industry.
He added: “At the same time, there’s a great ability to reset a lot of our strategies and policies and do it quickly so that we get a little bit more of that sufficiency back, and that’s going to be helpful not just in the short term but actually in medium and long term”.
Matt Mathers September 3, 2022 9:11 am
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Manchester mayor: Avanti West Coast train company in ‘last chance saloon’
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said it is the “last chance saloon” for Avanti West Coast, after the rail company’s managing director announced he was standing down.
Phil Whittingham will step down as chief executive from September 15 to “pursue other executive leadership opportunities” amid a long-running dispute over pay, jobs and conditions at the train company that runs routes including the service main line from London to Manchester.
Mr Burnham, a Labor mayor, was highly critical of what he called a “gross management failure” after he was not given plans on how to restore the company’s timetable.
“Finally, there seems to be a recognition that major change is needed,” Burnham told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
“What this reveals is that the reason given for the initiation of these reduced hours is clearly not the real story. If you remember that the company pointed the finger at the unions, so did the government. In doing so, I believe that the Government allowed the company to be let off the hook.”
Asked if he was calling on the government to abandon the franchise operator, Burnham said: “This company is on its last chance because I cannot accept indefinite chaos on this rail line and the loss of these services.” .
He has asked for a meeting with the government, instead of “playing politics”.
Matt Mathers September 3, 2022 8:50 am
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Senior Tory MP received donation from Covid testing company
Tory MP Dr Liam Fox received a £20,000 donation earlier this year from a Covid-19 testing company for which he contacted the former health secretary.
According to an email seen by the BBC and the legal campaign group Good Law Project, Dr Fox recommended SureScreen Diagnostics to then health secretary Matt Hancock in 2020.
The Department of Health and Social Care would later award SureScreen Diagnostics a £500m testing contract.
Read the full story here:
Senior Tory MP received donation from Covid testing company
Dr Fox recommended SureScreen Diagnostics to then Health Secretary Matt Hancock in 2020.
Matt Mathers September 3, 2022 8:30 am
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ICYMI: Polls are closing in the Conservative leadership race after a long summer of campaigning
Polls have closed in the Tory leadership race, with either Liz Truss or Rishi Sunak set to be declared the winner on Monday.
Polls closed at 5 p.m., ending a long and contentious contest that dominated the summer and saw the two candidates go head-to-head over rival visions for the country.
Polls are closing in the Conservative leadership race after a long summer of campaigning
Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak sent final messages to Tory members, before the polls closed.
Matt Mathers September 3, 2022 8:14 am
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The Foreign Secretary’s promises of law and order make no sense
During the campaign, Ms Truss pledged to reduce murder and other violent crime by 20% within two years if she entered No 10 Downing Street.
But a top police chief today described his law and order plans as “foolish”, “nonsensical” and “sound friendly”.
Chief Constable Richard Lewis, head of performance at the National Police Chiefs Council, told The Guardian Ms Truss’ promises were “nonsense” without “further explanation”.
Liz Truss’ law and order plans branded ‘nonsense’ by chief constable
Richard Lewis said some of the politician’s proposals “made no sense without further explanation”.
Matt Mathers September 3, 2022 8:13 am