Department of labour head office

Campaigners have welcomed a potential ban on US imports of booming fashion empire Boohoo and its suppliers after allegations over the use of slave labour. US Customs and Border Protection is studying two petitions from a British lawyer - one for a block on Boohoo clothes and another on garments from most of its manufacturers in Leicester. The agency has said there is enough evidence already to launch an investigation. Duncan Jepson who runs the charity Liberty Shared in Washington DC claims Boohoo is not doing enough to stop forced labour in the Leicester factories that make many of its clothes. Mr Jepson said: "The evidence of Boohoo and forced labour is quite compelling. I think it will be a wake-up call for British institutions about how they're handling modern slavery enforced labour, particularly in a community like Leicester East." Advertisement He added: "What we'd all like, those of us interested in improving labour conditions, is for … [Read more...] about Campaigners welcome potential Boohoo US import ban after slave labour allegations

On Monday, a letter was leaked in which Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita suggested to his prime minister that all Morocco government offices suspend their relationship with the German embassy in the capital, Rabat, as well as with other German cultural and political organizations in the country. Bourita said this was necessary because of "deep misunderstandings" on "issues fundamental for Morocco." The foreign minister said that his ministry had already suspended contact with German diplomatic representation in Rabat. Germany's embassy is in the Moroccan capital and it has two consulates in Casablanca and Agadir. Although there has been no official German government statement on the matter, the word from Berlin is that the German government sees no reason to disrupt the two nations' good relationship like this. The Moroccan ambassador had been invited to come to the German Foreign Office urgently and explain the letter, insiders said. Deliberate leak As one source, … [Read more...] about Behind Moroccan-German diplomatic crisis, a list of grudges

At least 13 people have been killed and about a dozen others were taken to hospital after a crash near the US-Mexico border in southern California, the California Highway Patrol has said. A Ford Expedition SUV carrying 27 people hit a semi-truck, or large lorry, full of gravel around 10 miles (16km) north of the border, killing 15 people, initial reports said. But, according to NBC, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) "later clarified" that 13 people, aged between 20 and 55, were dead. Some 25 people were inside the SUV. A 16-year-old was among the injured, the CHP said, with the oldest aged 55. The semi was headed north on 115, south of Norrish Road, while the Ford was traveling west on Norrish, just east of 115, officials said. Advertisement CHP Border Division Chief Omar Watson told reporters: "At this point it's unknown whether or not the Expedition stopped at the stop sign, but it did enter the intersection in front of the big rig. … [Read more...] about At least 13 people die after SUV hits truck carrying gravel near US-Mexico border

It's a long time ago and a lot has happened since then but can you remember how much money Rishi Sunak set aside to spend on COVID-19 in last year's budget? I'll give you a clue: the amount this country has now spent on coronavirus is close to £280bn and still rising. OK… as clues goes that's a bit unhelpful, because the actual amount the chancellor pledged to fight COVID-19 last March was £12bn. Track the UK economy's progress during COVID crisis Chancellor promises to use "fiscal firepower" in budget to protect jobs and livelihoods That's right: a mere 5% or so of the eventual fiscal toll over the past year came from Budget 2020. Advertisement To some extent this is a sign of how quickly events were unfolding last March. Within a few weeks of his first budget the chancellor had to return to the television cameras to announce a suite of measures which absolutely dwarfed the stuff in the budget - most notably the furlough … [Read more...] about Budget 2021: The perma-budget chancellor will not be going after your money (just) yet

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is facing calls to resign amidst fresh claims that she lied to parliament. It follows the Scottish government's publication of legal advice surrounding a court challenge by Alex Salmond in 2018. It shows that legal counsel warned the Scottish government of a "very real problem" more than two months before they were forced to concede in court. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Sturgeon denies cover-up accusations Mr Salmond has accused Ms Sturgeon of breaching the ministerial code by not halting her government's legal challenge and costing the taxpayer more than £600,000 in legal costs. Leader of the Scottish Conservatives Douglas Ross said his party would be submitting a vote of no confidence in Ms Sturgeon. Advertisement He said: "There is no longer any doubt that Nicola Sturgeon lied to the Scottish Parliament and broke the Ministerial Code on numerous … [Read more...] about No confidence vote in Nicola Sturgeon to be submitted after Alex Salmond case legal advice published