Boris johnson bridge

Boris Johnson planned to build a £150,000 treehouse at Chequers for his son Wilf but plans were rejected over security concerns. Despite the cost of living crisis, the prime minister and his wife Carrie Johnson wanted to build the treehouse in the grounds of Chequers. The treehouse would have included bulletproof glass and could be seen from the road, sparking security concerns from police, The Times reported. Lord Brownlow, a Tory donor, ranked 521st richest person in the UK, was set to fund the treehouse for Wilf. Many of Boris Johnson’s aides warned against the plans because of the price, with the treehouse costing more than some houses across the country. A government source said: ‘He was told it would look terrible.’ It is unclear whether the Chequers Trust, the body which runs the Buckinghamshire estate, would have accepted the plans because of protected trees in the grounds. A government spokesman commented: ‘We do not comment on private or family … [Read more...] about Boris Johnson planned £150,000 treehouse for son Wilf amid cost of living crisis

The low point of yet another chaotic 24 hours for Boris Johnson came when disgraced “tractor porn MP” Neil Parish popped up on the airwaves to give him a lecture on moral standards in government. As the Prime Minister and his aides were holed up in Number 10 deciding how to respond to the growing Chris Pincher scandal , the “very cross” former backbencher was giving them both barrels on television. “I can’t believe they haven’t done it,” he said incredulously, when asked why the whip had not been removed. Referring to his own punishment for watching pornography in the House of Commons, he added: “It’s double standards. Come on, let’s be fair.” His righteous outrage encapsulated how untenable Downing Street’s insistence that Mr Pincher would be able to remain a Conservative MP, despite accusations he drunkenly groped two men, had become. Just over two hours later, Chris Heaton-Harris, the Chief Whip, put out a statement reversing that decision , following a day of growing … [Read more...] about The ‘disturbing’ call about Chris Pincher’s lurid behaviour that forced Boris Johnson to act

KIGALI: Pakistan and the United Kingdom have agreed to further deepen trade and economic cooperation. The understanding was reached during a meeting between Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar and United Kingdom’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson on the sidelines of the 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kigali, Rwanda. In a brief statement on Twitter, Khar said at the CHOGM, the two leaders agreed on "deepening of Pak-UK trade, economic partnership and leveraging the dynamic diaspora bridge further". “…also exchanged views on Afghanistan and other issues of common concern,” the minister of state added. Khar led the Pakistan delegation at the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministerial Meeting (CFAMM), where she stated that as a family of democratic nations, the Commonwealth must reaffirm the centrality of the UN, and recognise the salience of democracy, rule of law, good governance and respect for human rights as the bedrocks of … [Read more...] about Hina Rabbani Khar meets Boris Johnson: Pakistan, UK agree to bolster trade, economic ties

Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday celebrated the opening of the country’s longest bridge, which took eight years to build amid setbacks involving political conflict and corruption allegations. The 6.51-kilometer (4.04-mile) bridge spanning the Padma River cost an estimated $3.6 billion and was paid for with domestic funds after the World Bank and other global lending agencies declined to finance the project following a graft scandal involving a Canadian construction company. The bridge, which will open to the public on Sunday, will slash the distance between the capital, Dhaka , and Bangladesh’s second largest seaport, Mongla, by 100 kilometers (62 miles). “The bridge belongs to the people of Bangladesh. It encapsulates our passion, creativity, courage, endurance and perseverance,” Hasina said at a ceremony in Mawa, about 31 kilometers (19 miles) southwest of Dhaka. While not directly part of China’s Belt and Road infrastructure initiative, … [Read more...] about Bangladesh marks opening of country’s longest bridge

On Monday, MPs voted to give the Government’s Northern Ireland Protocol Bill a second reading in the House of Commons. There were some genuine arguments against the legislation from the backbenches, as it cleared its first parliamentary obstacle, but others seemed less sincere and honest. You can understand why some Conservatives, who are worried about keeping their Westminster seats, allowed exasperation with Boris Johnson to shape their attitudes to the bill; even if, for now, they were not prepared to vote against it. However, its most strident Tory critic was Theresa May and her intervention deserved only contempt. After all, the former prime minister was in office when the government first entertained the notion of cutting Northern Ireland off from the rest of the United Kingdom by erecting a political and economic border down the Irish Sea via the backstop arrangements. Now a group of Mr Johnson’s critics in the Conservative party, and some of his political opponents, have … [Read more...] about Theresa May has no right to lecture anyone on Northern Ireland

Dilbar is one of the world’s largest superyachts. The 512-foot vessel weighs almost 16,000 tonnes and boasts a swimming pool, two helicopter pads, a sauna, a beauty salon, and a gym. According to the US Treasury, it is worth around £650 million. In April, after Russia’s illegal invasion of my country, the German authorities seized Dilbar as it was docked in Hamburg. They moved to act because the owner is Alisher Usmanov, a Russian oligarch once estimated to be the richest person in the UK . Following the invasion, Mr Usmanov, who used to co-own Arsenal Football Club, was placed on Western sanctions lists because of his close ties to Vladimir Putin, the Russian president. The US Treasury said his links to the Kremlin “enrich him and enable his luxurious lifestyle”. It is not yet known what will happen to Dilbar. Legions of lawyers are now reportedly involved. But for Ukraine, it is very clear. The superyacht and all of its 1,000 sofa cushions should be confiscated from … [Read more...] about The West should confiscate Russian assets – and use them to rebuild Ukraine

Grant Shapps clashes with host over ‘optional’ travel advice Sign up for our news briefing, including a daily special Russia-Ukraine edition SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info Stanley Johnson has been criticised by MPs after flying to Greece despite Government advice urging Britons against all but essential international travel. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps argued Boris Johnson 's father was within his right to travel abroad. He insisted that he will have to quarantine for 14 days on his return as Greece is not on the UK's list of safe countries. Trending Speaking to Sky News, Mr Shapps said: "When you say restrictions, he will have ignored travel advice, not restrictions. "The advice says you have to make … [Read more...] about ‘It’s optional?!’ Sky News host loses it with Shapps over No10’s COVID-19 travel advice

Charlie Stayt and Dominic Raab clash over petrol prices Get pensions news and advice plus latest money alerts for FREE now SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info Petrol and diesel prices are rocketing right now, as the global market struggles to adapt to a spike in demand and western countries block Russian fuel imports. Today, the average price of unleaded petrol is 191.5 pence per litre, according to the RAC , and 199.03 for diesel - a record high. Related articles Drivers warned of huge chaos as fuel protests set to take place M4 chaos as fuel protests close motorway in both directions Which motorways are affected by the fuel protests? Demonstrators are mostly targeting three-lane motorways, … [Read more...] about Fuel protests: Every road in the UK affected by delays today

Putin wants to 'destroy Ukraine' says Ukraine's top prosecutor Sign up for our news briefing, including a daily special Russia-Ukraine edition SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info The Ministry of Defence added that despite the Kremlin making some territorial gain, Ukrainian troops had "inflicted significant cost" against Russian forces. It added that Russia’s morale had become “poor” and that troops had “limited time to reconstitute, re-equip and reorganise forces from prior offensives”, all factors which are said to be “likely hindering Russian combat effectiveness." It comes as the latest findings from Kyiv show 21,800 troops have been "liquidated" while Putin’s “special military operation” continues. The General Staff of the … [Read more...] about Russian morale battered as renewed assault fails – 21.8k troops ‘liquidated’

The celebrations of the 70 th anniversary of Her Majesty’s accession to the throne have now subsided. Here in Bury St Edmunds, it was marked with a Jubilee Service at our cathedral attended by the great and the good of the county of Suffolk. It was a truly great ceremony. Even the majority of those who are not monarchists have acknowledged the skill, devotion (and good humour) of Her Majesty, not just throughout these celebrations, but over the past 70 years. I had hoped that Prince Charles would take the opportunity of the Queen's long reign to prepare himself to take the throne. Centuries ago, the life of a Crown Prince used to be a very hazardous one. Even today it is not an easy life, particularly for a man known to hold such strong views on many matters, especially on the protection of our natural environment. His marriage to the Duchess of Cornwall in 2005 might have helped him to contain some of his more controversial views, but by some accounts it seems not. Boat … [Read more...] about Prince Charles does not make life easy for himself