Tag: Britain

URGENT: Rishi Sunak to be UK’s new PM

London, United Kingdom | AFP | British politician Rishi Sunak was Monday elected Conservative leader and will become the next prime minister, after rival Penny Mordaunt failed to secure the necessary 100 nominations from her fellow MPs. “Rishi Sunak is therefore elected as leader of the Conservative Party,” senior backbencher Graham Brady said, as Mordaunt vowed her “full support” for the former finance minister. jit/am/rox © Agence France-Presse

UK’s Sunak poised to become PM as Johnson quits leadership race

by Joe JACKSON Agence France-Presse LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — British Conservative Rishi Sunak was on Monday poised to become prime minister and the country’s first leader of color, after the dramatic decision by Boris Johnson to abandon an audacious political comeback. Just weeks after failing in a first attempt to lead the ruling Tories, Sunak could cap a stunning reversal in fortunes by winning the leadership as early as Monday afternoon, following ex-premier Johnson’s […]

Former PM Johnson returns to UK as Sunak qualifies for PM race

London, United Kingdom | AFP | by Joe JACKSON Former prime minister Boris Johnson on Saturday returned to Britain from a holiday to launch an audacious political comeback, as Conservative leadership rival Rishi Sunak reached the minimum threshold to contest the UK’s top job. Johnson cut short a Caribbean trip to join the seemingly three-person race to replace outgoing leader Liz Truss, with allies telling British media he was “up for it”. The divisive 58-year-old […]

Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson eyes comeback as UK Tories race to replace Truss

  London, United Kingdom | AFP | by Anna MALPAS / Jitendra JOSHI Contenders to succeed British Prime Minister Liz Truss canvassed for support Friday, with her predecessor Boris Johnson reportedly considering a sensational comeback as he picks up dozens of early nominations from Conservative MPs. Truss’s announcement Thursday that she will resign after less than seven weeks in office has also prompted renewed calls from opposition parties for an early general election to end […]

Boris Johnson comeback bid adds drama to UK political soap opera

London, United Kingdom | AFP | With supporters demanding “bring back Boris” and critics calling it “an insult” to the British people, an anticipated bid by Boris Johnson to once again become UK prime minister has stirred an already boiling political pot. By declaring “hasta la vista baby” during his last question time in parliament on July 20, Johnson had already dropped a heavy hint that he had unfinished business. According to The Times, he […]

Australia ‘concerned’ about trade deal after UK turmoil

Sydney, Australia | AFP | Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Friday voiced fears that Britain’s political convulsions and the exit of his counterpart Liz Truss could derail a pending trade deal between the two countries. “I am concerned about any delay that would occur to the Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement,” the Australian prime minister said. The agreement was finalised in December 2021 to much fanfare, but has yet to be ratified by either country. […]

Shortest-serving PM in history leaves scars on economy

  London, United Kingdom | AFP | by Roland JACKSON / Véronique DUPONT Liz Truss, the shortest serving prime minister in UK history, leaves lasting scars on the economy after her botched budget rocked markets, spiked borrowing costs and tanked the pound. The crisis-hit PM, elected Conservative leader just six weeks ago on a tax-slashing platform, announced her resignation Thursday. Her budget, peppered with tax cuts and delivered last month, sought to boost growth in […]

PM Truss quits as UK’s Tories in chaos

  London, United Kingdom | AFP | by James PHEBY British Prime Minister Liz Truss on Thursday dramatically announced her resignation just six weeks after taking office. Truss bowed to the inevitable after her right-wing platform of tax cuts disintegrated and as many MPs among the ruling Conservatives revolted. Speaking in Downing Street, Truss said she would stay on as prime minister until a successor is chosen to serve as Tory leader. “We’ve agreed that […]

Report slams ‘institutional racism’ in UK courts

London, United Kingdom | AFP | A report has said it found evidence of “institutional racism” in the UK justice system in England and Wales, particularly in the treatment of black and Asian defendants. There are currently no black judges in the High Court, Court of Appeal or Supreme Court. In England and Wales, nine percent of judges are non-white and just one percent are black, according to government statistics. Released late Tuesday, the report […]

Man Utd’s Greenwood released on bail after attempted rape charge

London, United Kingdom | AFP | Manchester United footballer Mason Greenwood was Wednesday released on bail, days after being charged with attempted rape. The 21-year-old forward was also charged with controlling and coercive behaviour and assault at the weekend. He appeared at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on Monday and was remanded in custody. A bail application was held in private at Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court on Wednesday. Following the hearing, a spokesman for the court […]

UK inflation returns above 10 percent

London, United Kingdom (AFP) British inflation jumped back above 10 percent in September on soaring food prices, official data showed Wednesday, with the country gripped by a cost-of-living crisis bedevilling the government. The Consumer Prices Index accelerated to 10.1 percent on an annual basis, up from 9.9 percent in August, the Office for National Statistics said in a statement. The September rate matched the level in July and is the highest in 40 years as […]

China lodges formal complaint with Britain over consulate clash

Beijing, China | AFP | China said Wednesday it has lodged a formal complaint with Britain over an altercation between its diplomats and a Hong Kong protester on the grounds of its Manchester consulate. British police have said a group of men came out of the consulate during a weekend demonstration, dragging one of the protesters inside the grounds and assaulting him. The incident has drawn widespread condemnation in Britain and triggered an international row […]