UK smoking ban for younger generations passes first parliamentary hurdle
London, UK Reuters British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s plan to ban anyone aged 15 and under from ever buying cigarettes passed its first parliamentary vote on Tuesday, although dozens of his own lawmakers voted against it. Sunak’s plan to impose some of the world’s strictest anti-smoking rules has angered some members of his governing Conservative […]
Former UK PM Johnson denies he wanted to let COVID “rip”
London, UKReuters Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson told Britain’s COVID inquiry on Thursday that any suggestion he wanted to allow the virus to “let rip” was “rubbish” and “completely wrong”. Johnson, Prime Minister between 2019 and 2022, faced a second day of questioning which examined the weeks before the country’s second national lockdown in November, […]
Tens of thousands march against anti-Semitism in London including UK ex-Prime Minister Boris Johnson
London, UKAP Tens of thousands of people including former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson gathered in London on Sunday for a march against anti-Semitism, a day after large crowds turned out for a pro-Palestinian rally. Johnson was joined by UK Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis and other senior government officials at the march to express solidarity with the Jewish […]
UK PM Sunak reportedly said “just let people die”, COVID inquiry hears
London, UKReuters Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was quoted as saying the government should “just let people die” during the COVID-19 pandemic rather than impose a second national lockdown, the inquiry into how Britain handled the crisis heard on Monday. Patrick Vallance, who was the government’s chief scientific adviser during COVID, made a note in his […]
“Terrible”: UK minister sorry for lockdown-breaking party video
London, UKReuters Senior British minister Michael Gove on Sunday described a video showing a party at the ruling Conservative Party’s headquarters during a lockdown in 2020 as “terrible”, as COVID rule-breaking gatherings continue to hang over the government. The video was published by the Mirror newspaper just days after a parliamentary committee ruled that former […]
Boris Johnson deliberately misled parliament, says UK report dubbed “a charade” by ex-PM
London, UKReuters Boris Johnson deliberately misled the British parliament in an unprecedented way over rule-breaking parties at his office during COVID-19 lockdowns, a committee said on Thursday in a damning verdict that further tarnished the former Prime Minister. Almost a year ago, Johnson was talking about remaining prime minister into the 2030s. But the privileges […]
Decrying “witch hunt”, Boris Johnson resigns from UK parliament
London, UKReuters Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson abruptly quit as a member of parliament on Friday in a furious protest against lawmakers investigating his behaviour, reopening deep divisions in the ruling Conservative Party ahead of a general election expected next year. Johnson had been under investigation by a parliamentary inquiry looking into whether he […]
Essay: What Britain’s government needs to know about its faith communities
In an article first published on Religion News Service, COLIN BLOOM, an independent advisor to the UK Government, says the UK Government needs to be bolder, more discerning and more open to faith engagement…
UK report finds Britons’ lack of faith knowledge deeply disturbing
London, UKRNS To outsiders watching the leader of Britain’s established church crown its new monarch, King Charles III, in a deeply religious ceremony, it might seem faith still looms large in the country. But a newly published report, commissioned four years ago by then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson, cites a profound need for improving Britons’ knowledge of […]
Boris Johnson says “I did not lie” over lockdown parties
London, UK Reuters A combative Boris Johnson fought for his political career on Wednesday, as the former British prime minister said “hand on heart” he did not lie to parliament over COVID-19 lockdown parties at a hearing with lawmakers. Parliament’s Committee of Privileges is investigating whether Johnson, who was ousted from Downing Street in September, […]