Bills

In his triumphant Sedgefield speech, Mr Johnson expressed his glee at the prospect of having a Commons majority at the Tory party’s disposal for the first time in more than two years. The Queen’s Speech on Thursday, setting out the Government’s agenda for the new Parliament, will give legislative force to the policy priorities which secured Mr Johnson’s landslide win – delivering Brexit and pumping billions of extra pounds into the NHS. When the new batch of MPs assemble to listen to Her Majesty, they will hear her announce the plan to bring back the Withdrawal Agreement Bill on Brexit before Christmas, and to pledge that the Government will enshrine in law the first multi-year funding settlement for the NHS leading to a £33.9 billion per year increase in the health service budget by 2024. In his triumphant Sedgefield speech, Mr Johnson expressed his glee at the prospect of having a Commons majority at the Tory party’s disposal for the first … [Read more...] about Boris finally gets a Queen’s speech! Withdrawal Bill back before Christmas and £33billion for the NHS to be top of Her Majesty’s address to parliament

Energy experts are warning that household energy prices could be about to rise for the first time in two years, driven partly by higher import costs following the Brexit vote. The Co-op started the ball rolling when it told some of its 500,000 energy customers that, from 1 October, it would be raising bills by between 3% and 6% – the latter equating to a potential rise of almost £70. The price of wholesale gas has steadily risen over the last three months but Britain is facing a double hit because gas imports from the continent are about 10% higher still, due to a fall in the value of sterling against the euro. The Co-op is raising the average bill for dual-fuel customers on a standard plan from £1,152 to £1,184 a year. People with pre-payment meters could find their bills rising from £1,115 to £1,184, according to the price comparison site uSwitch. “This is a worrying warning bell that the wholesale price honeymoon may be drawing to a close. … [Read more...] about Brexit vote pushing up household energy bills, claim experts

Bill Shorten has spoken of his gratitude to Bob Hawke and how he feels lucky to have seen him one last time just days before he died. The former Labor prime minister died on Thursday, two days before the election which Mr Shorten is the favourite to win. Mr Shorten appeared on Sunrise on Friday morning to share his thoughts on his final meeting with Mr Hawke last week. Leader of the opposition Bill Shorten has spoken of his gratitude to Bob Hawke and how he feels lucky to have seen him one last time just days before he died  'We'd been in regular touch over the years - when I was in year 11 at school, he became Prime Minister of Australia, so he was my first political hero of my contemporary life,' the Labor leader said. 'I've been in touch and he's mentored me across the years.' Mr Shorten had the opportunity to recently visit Mr Hawke at his home to discuss the federal election and give his views on the Labor leader's policies. RELATED ARTICLES Previous 1 Next 'His … [Read more...] about ‘I feel indescribably lucky’: Bill Shorten speaks of his gratitude at seeing Bob Hawke one last time just days before he died – and reveals his final words of advice

Bafta-winning film-maker Mike Leigh has pulled out of a teaching trip to Israel due to his concern over the country's proposed loyalty oath bill. Leigh said he was not prepared to take part in the "great masters" programme at the Sam Spiegel Film & Television School in Jerusalem. In a letter to school director Renen Schorr, he cited several of Israel's policies, including the oath, which would require non-Jews seeking Israeli citizenship to pledge allegiance to Israel as a "Jewish and democratic state". "As you know, I have always had serious misgivings about coming, but I allowed myself to be persuaded by your sincerity and your commitment," Leigh wrote. "And it is because of those special qualities of yours that I am especially sorry to have to let you down. But I have absolutely no choice. I cannot come, I do not want to come, and I am not coming. "Eight weeks after our lunch, the Israeli attack on the flotilla took place. As I watched the world very properly condemn this … [Read more...] about Mike Leigh cancels Israel visit over loyalty oath bill

Almost half of broadband customers have been put off the idea of haggling with their provider because it is 'too much hassle', despite average savings of £120 a year. Nearly half of households have never contacted their provider to ask for a better deal, while a quarter have been with the same supplier for more than three years. Consumer group Which? asked more than 5,000 broadband customers how much they paid for their broadband, whether they had haggled for a new deal or switched in the past 12 months and if so, how much they saved. And it found that out of the 51% who had negotiated, the majority had been successful. Read More Top money stories In fact, more than three quarters were offered an incentive, discount or a better deal.  When Which? asked customers who had never asked for a better deal if they were paying more, less or the same as when they first signed up to their deal, most said they paid the same. But results varied across the providers included in the … [Read more...] about Easy way to knock £120 a year off your broadband bill – without switching