Government news and archive

UK court rules against allegations that government failed to halt Xinjiang imports

The UK’s High Court has ruled against human rights campaigners that brought forward a case claiming British crime and customs authorities had failed to stop the importation of cotton from China’s Xinjiang region, which has been at the centre of allegations of forced labour. In the filing, the Global Legal Action Network (GLAN) and World Uyghur...

23 Jan 2023

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UK ‘now in recession’: chancellor outlines tax rises and spending cuts in new autumn budget

As part of his newly announced autumn budget, Conservative chancellor Jeremy Hunt has unveiled a slew of tax rises and spending cuts in a bid to tackle the cost of living crisis and rebuild the UK’s economy. Speaking to MPs in the House of Commons, Hunt said the government’s priorities were “stability, growth and public services”, however he...

17 Nov 2022

BusinessFeatured

Liz Truss resigns as prime minister just 44 days after appointment

Liz Truss has announced she will be stepping down as prime minister just 44 days after defeating Rishi Sunak in the Conservative Party leadership election. Truss succeeded Boris Johnson on September 6 and was immediately tasked with tackling rising inflation, increasing energy costs and general market chaos. In a press conference outside Downing...

20 Oct 2022

Business

UK government sued over failure to block Xinjiang cotton

Authorities in the UK are set to appear in court at the end of October after they were sued for their failure to block products made with forced labour from China’s Xinjiang region. Human rights watchdogs Global Legal Action Network (GLAN) and Germany’s World Uyghur Congress (WUC) said in a joint statement that the suit brought against the...

20 Oct 2022

Business

Truss makes U-turn on cancelling 25 percent rise in corporation tax

Liz Truss has reversed her initial plan to cut corporation tax by 25 percent, a move she said would save 18 billion pounds a year on the ill-received mini-budget. Revealed during a Downing Street press conference, the decision comes after weeks of pressure following a fiscal statement by chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng, who Truss revealed had been...

17 Oct 2022

Business

UK chancellor brings forward medium-term fiscal plan

The Treasury has announced that chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng has brought forward the date of his medium-term fiscal plan to October 31. The statement, which was originally planned for publication November 23, will outline how Kwarteng intends to pay for the tax cuts detailed in the mini-Budget, as announced in September. In his letter to the...

11 Oct 2022

Business

UK government outlines new framework to boost industrial emissions standards

The UK government has announced the establishment of a new regulatory framework aimed at boosting industrial emissions standards and reducing air pollution. The ‘Best Available Techniques’ programme will require manufacturing facilities in the UK’s largest sectors, including textiles and chemicals, to work together with regulators on identifying...

1 Sept 2022

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EU finds UK ‘failed to fulfill’ obligations to combat undervalued Chinese imports

The EU Court of Justice is set to enforce a hefty fine against the UK after it found negligence in the imposing of EU obligations to combat fraud and enter the correct amount of customs duties and VAT. Following an investigation by the court, it was ruled that the UK had “failed to fulfill” related EU laws, resulting in an import overflow of...

10 Mar 2022

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UK to scrap all covid restrictions from Thursday

UK prime minister Boris Johnson has set out plans for “living with covid”, including the scrapping of self-isolation when testing positive. Addressing the House of Commons, Johnson said that all remaining domestic restrictions in law will be removed from Thursday while he continued to encourage safer behaviour through public health advice,...

22 Feb 2022

Business

UK Government could be ditching plans to ban fur imports

The UK’s move to ban fur imports is reportedly in jeopardy after a number of government officials voiced their opposition to the legislation, citing consumer choice. What was to be part of the Animals Abroad Bill and would have also prohibited foie gras imports, will possibly be scrapped after several cabinet ministers raised concerns about the...

21 Feb 2022

BusinessFeatured

London’s West End granted multi-million pound investment

Following lengthy lockdowns and the lifting of Plan B restrictions, Westminster Council has revealed it will be investing 190 million pounds into the heart of London, alongside a one million pound fund to train and recruit hospitality staff. The Westminster area is home to 3,700 restaurants, bars and cafes and a further 4,000 leisure businesses,...

3 Feb 2022

BusinessFeatured

Government reveals Levelling Up plans to ‘transform the UK’

The UK government has revealed 12 levelling up missions to bring more focus on “Britain’s forgotten communities” through the ongoing decade. In the plan’s White Paper, lead by Levelling Up secretary Michael Gove, details cover the task to transform the UK by bringing opportunities and prosperity to all areas. It comes with a ‘system change’ of...

3 Feb 2022