Rishi Sunak’s March budget will be a fresh Covid rescue package that will defer plans for significant tax increases as the chancellor throws his weight behind a cautious approach to reopening the economy, government sources have confirmed. Boris Johnson signalled on Wednesday that the government would take a slow path …
Read More »Biden’s Medicare pick would be 1st Black woman to hold post
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has picked a former Obama administration official to run the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The agency oversees government health insurance programs covering more than 1 out of 3 Americans and is a linchpin of the health care system. If confirmed by the …
Read More »Senate to Consider Witnesses in Twist to Trump’s Trial
The Senate voted to consider a request for witnesses at Donald Trump’s impeachment trial, injecting a chaotic new element that could end up prolonging proceedings that had appeared to be on track to wrap up on Saturday. Five Republicans joined with Democrats and independents in a 55-45 vote to allow …
Read More »N.L. delays election after COVID-19 outbreak linked to U.K. variant
Liberal Leader Andrew Furey, left to right, Progressive Conservative Leader Ches Crosbie and NDP Leader Alison Coffin pose for a photo following their televised debate from the floor of the House of Assembly in St. John’s on Feb. 3, 2021. Paul Daly/The Canadian Press All in-person voting in Newfoundland and …
Read More »Torbay MP asks Royal Mail to avoid delay on Crossways regeneration
Torbay’s MP Kevin Foster is calling on the Royal Mail to withdraw its objection to the compulsory purchase of Crossways shopping centre in Paignton. The concrete complex including a multi-storey car park is almost empty of shops and has been described as an ‘eyesore’. Torbay Council has drawn up plans …
Read More »Edinburgh move for Prince Edward was considered by Number 10 in bid to ‘save UK’
Number 10 apparently considered sending Prince Edward to live in Edinburgh in a bid to save the UK amid growing support for indyref2. With growing calls for a second referendum and surging support for Nicola Sturgeon’s SNP, aides at Number 10 reportedly considered relocating the Queen’s youngest son to live …
Read More »Councils told to consult more local people before imposing green road plans
Town halls have been ordered to consult more with local people after an outcry in The Telegraph over the way some roads have been shut and replaced with cycle lanes. Grant Shapps admitted some local authorities had “got it wrong” and “had not thought through” plans before shutting roads to …
Read More »Work starts on super-sized Royal Mail parcel hub able to process a million items a day
Royal Mail has started work on a super-sized parcel hub – with the capacity to one day process more than a million items a day. The 840,000 sq ft Midlands parcel hub will be its biggest yet, covering an area the size of more than 10 football pitches and reflecting …
Read More »Police could be drawn into row over political leafleting in Derby
Derbyshire police say they are willing to follow-up any complaints they receive relating to canvassing by political parties during lockdown, such as leafleting or door-to-door campaigning. This follows recent action by the Government which has written to all parliamentary parties saying that campaigning during lockdown it is not an “essential …
Read More »Royal Mail in discussions with MPs to make NHS letters blue, so they can be prioritised in Covid ‘black spots’
Some 130,000 letters have already been sent to invite people to book a vaccination appointment, while 500,000 more are being sent out this week. Last night, Royal Mail said they were “exploring a range of options with the NHS to help identify key mail items in the network even more …
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