The Latest Breaking News from Whitehall

UK campaigners call for tobacco windfall tax and yearly levy on ‘lethal trade’

Rachel Reeves urged to levy ‘double whammy’ on firms’ £1bn annual profits to fund measures to end smoking

The Guardian - UK · Oct 7, 2024

OPINION - All-out nuclear war is inching closer — and now it could take place in space

Once again there is a lot of loose talk about the possibility, and practicality of nuclear war — in northern Europe, the Middle East, and maybe even the United States. “There is serious concern now that the old theories of deterrence are failing, and nuclear war is now a viable…

Evening Standard · Oct 7, 2024

Treasury asking ministers to draw up billions of pounds of infrastructure cuts

Exclusive: departments asked to model cuts of up to 10% despite Rachel Reeves’ vow to invest in growth

The Guardian - UK · Oct 1, 2024

Cabinet ministers tell Keir Starmer he must immediately remove top civil servant to regain his authority

Exclusive: Ministers have lost patience with the UK’s top civil servant Simon Case and one accused him of ‘poisoning the well of government’ with off-record briefings

The Independent UK · Sep 23, 2024

Majority of Britons want deposit added to drinks cans to boost recycling rates, poll shows

The majority Britons want the government to press ahead with a scheme that would see a deposit added to the price of drinks containers to boost recycling rates, a new poll has revealed.

Evening Standard · Sep 23, 2024

Rewrite ‘victim-blaming’ drink-spiking campaign, UK civil servants told

Minister tells Labour conference delegates that Whitehall should focus on stopping perpetrators

The Guardian - UK · Sep 22, 2024

Angela Rayner pledges 'devolution revolution' in Labour conference speech

ANGELA Rayner has outlined plans for a “devolution revolution” as she pledged to end “northerners being dictated to by Whitehall”.

The National (Scotland) · Sep 22, 2024

Wes Streeting yet to meet pledge to hold cross-party talks on social care crisis

Lib Dems and Tories say health secretary has failed to reach out to them for ideas on a solution, despite declaring he wanted to do so in the summer

The Guardian - UK · Sep 22, 2024

‘Scam and scandal’: ex-aid chief raises alarm over £4bn Tory asylum contracts

The former top civil servant at the Department for International Development has warned a lack of oversight in spending echoes corrupt contracts awarded during Covid

The Guardian - UK · Sep 22, 2024

OPINION - The Standard View: Rachel Reeves must focus on growth, not just doom

Round numbers should be no more interesting or enlightening than any other. But the revelation that Britain’s debt has hit 100 per cent of GDP is unlikely to lift the sense of gloom that has already settled above Whitehall.

Evening Standard · Sep 20, 2024