Tag: UK

HMS Queen Elizabeth to Replace Sister Ship in Exercises Off U.S. Coast

HMS Queen Elizabeth is heading across the Atlantic Ocean to replace her sister ship, HMS Prince of Wales, in joint manouevres with the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marines, and the Royal Canadian Navy. The Prince of Wales had been due to take part in the Westlant 22 exercises but suffered a “mechanical failure,” which turned out…


UK Can’t ‘Tax Its Way to Growth,’ Says Truss as She Rejects Labour’s Call for Windfall Tax

New UK Prime Minister Liz Truss has rejected the idea of using a windfall tax on oil and gas giants to reduce energy bills for households, saying the country will not be able to “tax its way to growth.” At her first Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons on Wednesday, Truss pledged to…


Custody Time Limits Under Pressure as Striking Criminal Barristers Offer to Negotiate

The new justice secretary, Brandon Lewis, has been implored by striking barristers to negotiate with them over pay as the industrial action delays more trials and increases daily the size of the prison population in England and Wales. The Howard League for Penal Reform said there are currently more than 81,000 people being held in…


Scottish Lawyers Question Wisdom of Scrapping Historic ‘Not Proven’ Verdict

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has pledged to scrap the verdict of “not proven,” which is unique to Scotland and dates back to the 17th century. But the Law Society of Scotland said it was “deeply concerned” about the announcement and Thomas Ross, QC, a defence advocate in Glasgow, told The Epoch Times the evidence…


Truss Meets New Cabinet After Rewarding Allies in Major Reshuffle

The UK’s new Prime Minister Liz Truss has held her first Cabinet meeting after a major government reshuffle, in which her close allies were rewarded with top Cabinet posts while supporters of her leadership rival Rishi Sunak were expelled. Truss became the UK’s third female prime minister on Tuesday after an audience with Queen Elizabeth…


New UK Prime Minister Puts Trust in Australia Ties: Envoy

Britain’s engagement with Australia and the Indo-Pacific will remain a top priority despite the changing of prime minister, the UK envoy in Canberra says. The bilateral relationship will continue to go “from strength to strength” as the like-minded nations continue to pursue cooperation in industries such as defence and clean energy, high commissioner Vicki Treadell…


England Winding Down Offering COVID-19 Vaccines to Children Under 12

Authorities are winding down COVID-19 jabs for children aged 5–11, except for those in clinical risk groups, as they said this offer was only applicable to children who only recently turned five years old. In line with previous plans, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed that children who had not turned five by the…


UK Can ‘Ride out the Storm,’ Liz Truss Says in First Speech as Prime Minister

Britain’s new Prime Minister Liz Truss has said she is confident that the UK will “ride out the storm” as she prepares to tackle the soaring energy costs and other economic challenges facing the country. Truss became the UK’s third female prime minister on Sept. 6 after an audience with Queen Elizabeth at Balmoral Castle…


Can British PM Liz Truss Really Defeat China?

Commentary It’s official: Liz Truss is the new prime minister of the United Kingdom. On Sept. 5, when the announcement was made, very few, if any, were really surprised. She was always the favorite to replace the much-maligned, rarely-boring Boris Johnson. Like her predecessor, Truss, 47, is no stranger to criticism. Unlike her predecessor, however, she has repeatedly…


Justice Secretary Dominic Raab Has Refused Meeting Over Barristers’ Strike Three Times MPs Told

The Chair of the Criminal Bar Association has warned a committee of MPs that if the barristers’ strike is not resolved there could be a situation where “you have people on the streets who you would rather not be on the streets.” Kirsty Brimelow QC, giving evidence to the Justice Select Committee on Tuesday, said…