Public v private sector pensions

Royal Family LIVE: 'Smear campaign' Reason Meghan bullying probe not public pinpointed (Image: Getty) 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 Meghan Markle and Harry: Koenig shares doubts over UK return While Camilla Tominey, writing for the Telegraph, said “no one expected” the report to be published in full, refusing to reveal the announced changes to the Firm’s HR department as a result of it represented “more than a missed opportunity”. When the allegations were first brought to light, a spokesperson for Harry and Meghan described it as a “calculated smear campaign”, adding the Duchess was “saddened by this latest attack on her character, particularly as someone who has been the target of bullying herself and is deeply … [Read more...] about Royal Family: ‘Smear campaign’ Reason Meghan bullying probe not public pinpointed

Liz Truss was not ruling out future cost of living support when she said she would reject "handouts", her supporters have said, with prominent backer Penny Mordaunt claiming the comments were "misinterpreted". Leadership rival Rishi Sunak attacked the comments saying the foreign secretary needs to "get real", while claiming her plan to cut taxes immediately will do little to help the most vulnerable. But Penny Mordaunt , who is backing Ms Truss to become the next prime minister after her own leadership bid failed, claimed on Sky News that her remarks had been "misinterpreted". Ms Truss told the Financial Times that as prime minister she would "look at what more can be done" to help families facing spiralling fuel bills. But she added: "The way I would do things is in a Conservative way of lowering the tax burden, not giving out handouts." Advertisement Ms Mordaunt insisted Ms Truss was making a "general point about the merits of enabling … [Read more...] about Liz Truss ‘misinterpreted’ over ‘no handouts’ remark, her supporters say

The next prime minister is facing calls to immediately increase Universal Credit payments to stop vulnerable people spiralling further into poverty when fuel bills increase again this winter. The poorest in society are suffering three major blows to their income in the year to October 2022, according to a report commissioned by former prime minister Gordon Brown. As well as losing the £20-a-week uplift to Universal Credit, benefits are failing to keep up with inflation - and a jump in the energy price cap is expected this autumn. It means some families are up to £1,600-a-year worse off because of the cost of living crisis - even after government help is taken into account. Poverty expert Professor Donald Hirsch, who wrote the report, says the package of measures offered by the government falls far short of what low income households need - and urgent action is required. Advertisement He told Sky News that "exceptional measures" are needed, like an … [Read more...] about Calls for emergency increase to Universal Credit as report finds some families £1,600 worse off

Just over a decade ago, the “Harry Potter” effect was credited for sparking something of a renaissance for British boarding schools, which had seen a steady decline in numbers over the previous twenty years. Several of the country's leading institutions set about building new boarding houses to cope with the surge in demand from a generation of children - and parents - who wanted to re-create the enchantment of boarding schools conjured by J. K. Rowling’s novels. But now the chair of the Boarding School Association (BSA) has said that the Hogwarts-inspired wave of popularity is waning, and institutions must think about ways to modernise their image to attract new students. Leo Winkley, headmaster of St Peter’s School in York, one of the oldest boarding schools in the country, said that the “Harry Potter effect created something of a boarding school revival but it cast a false spell”, adding that schools need not seek to “bamboozle” children or their parents into boarding. … [Read more...] about Boarding schools no longer need ‘Harry Potter effect’ to inspire children, leading headmaster says

The following is the full transcript of an interview with Taiwanese Rep. to the U.S. Bi-khim Hsiao that aired Sunday, Aug. 7, 2022, on "Face the Nation." MARGARET BRENNAN: Representative Hsiao, thank you so much for coming here today to talk to us. It's an intense week. Speaker Pelosi is the highest ranking US official to visit Taiwan in about 25 years. Why is Beijing so furious? BI-KHIM HSIAO: Well, there's no reason for them to be so furious. We have had decades of welcoming congressional delegations to Taiwan. And this has been a norm in our culture. The Taiwanese people are warm and hospitable. We're visiting friends is part of our tradition. And actually one of the most quoted Confucian Analects in Taiwan is "isn't it a pleasure to welcome friends from afar" and so having this as part of the norm of our engagement with the United States, codified in a strong foundation of the Taiwan Relations Act, there's really no reason for them to be so upset. BRENNAN: Well, the US was … [Read more...] about Full transcript: Taiwanese Rep. to the U.S. Bi-khim Hsiao on “Face the Nation,” Aug. 7, 2022

I was raised in a very specific American faith. This American faith is not patriotism, not a love of this country—though it contains some of that. Nor is it Christianity—though it contains some of that too. It is the belief that Church and state should never have been separate in American life, despite all the un-Christian aspects of the Founders, such as their distinctly secular philosophies and their explicit, repeated commitment to that separation. Today’s Christian nationalists have fought for this particular faith over decades. And that fight paid off when, at the end of June, the Supreme Court released its long-awaited decision in Kennedy v. Bremerton School District . Joseph Kennedy, a high-school coach, had sued the Bremerton School District for firing him for praying on the field at the conclusion of football games. Prayer in schools, a practice that had been considered illegal since Engel v. Vitale was decided in 1962, was instantly legal again. Conservative-Christian … [Read more...] about The American Faith I Was Raised In

A furore erupted this week over the news that art history will no longer be taught at A-level . AQA confirmed the decision on Thursday, sending the world of academe to the ramparts in outrage. Rembrandt weeps. Can you believe that art history is no longer being offered at A level? Philistines must not prevail #arthistory#alevels — Sir Anthony Seldon (@AnthonySeldon) October 13, 2016 "Rembrandt weeps", blubbed Anthony Seldon. "Philistines must not prevail." "It’s the new class war’" exclaims Simon Schama. "Classics and art history OK for private school students but state school kids, hey why bother?". The director of the Courtauld Institute is no less indignant : "The demise of its existence as an A-Level seriously misunderstands a subject which is enormously important to the economy, culture and well-being of this country." It's the new class war, as in classroom war: classics and art history OK for private school students but state school kids, hey why … [Read more...] about Art history can’t just be the preserve of the middle class in a nation of art-lovers

The misuse of workshops to keep the public in the dark about council issues will be investigated by Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier, with Palmerston North one of eight councils under the microscope. Boshier has launched his study because he was concerned councils were using workshops and other informal meetings to undermine local democracy. The Palmerston North City Council came to his attention after Stuff complained about the withholding of information about the Nature Calls wastewater project presented at a workshop in 2020. The material was eventually released 10 months later. READ MORE: Ombudsman criticises Palmerston North City Council secrecy Ombudsman calls for more transparency from Invercargill City Council City council criticised for keeping wastewater workshops secret In that case, Boshier found the council was not entitled to withhold the information, and instructed then chief executive Heather Shotter to apologise, which she did. He said it was … [Read more...] about Secret council workshops investigated by chief ombudsman

Peter Stringfellow helped “shape British history”, the Oxford University Press has said, as the self-styled “King of Clubs” is inducted into the nation’s biographical bible. The Oxford Dictionary of Biography (ODB) details the lives of those who made significant contributions to British life, from William Shakespeare to Sir Winston Churchill, and it has now been updated with entries on luminaries such as Prof Stephen Hawking. The ODB’s latest iteration also includes an entry on Stringfellow , best known for his nightlife empire and for opening the first topless table-dancing venue in the UK. Stringfellow, who died in 2018 , takes his place in the ODB alongside genuine royalty, together with a host of actors, artists, scientists and politicians. His entry states that the entrepreneur from Sheffield was “the first club owner to be granted a fully nude licence”. His more conventional nightclubs played host to The Beatles, City bankers and Conservative Party … [Read more...] about What links Peter Stringfellow and Stephen Hawking? They ‘shaped British history’

Prince Charles  has been reportedly taking over the royal duties at Queen Elizabeth’s Sandringham Estate in Norfolk. According to Daily Mail , the Prince of Wales has established himself as Sandringham’s steward as the 96-year-old Monarch is taking a step backwards amid mobility problems as Her Majesty prefers to spend her time at the Wood Farm. A source told the outlet, “The Prince is very respectful that it is his mother's private residence and very much the Queen's home." The insider also added that Duke is “excited about the plans.” Another source spilt the beans to the outlet: “In the recent heatwave Charles really wanted to go out for a swim to the outdoor pool sandwiched at Highgrove between some beautiful flower beds. “The Prince was about to put his trunks on but then he thought better of it because there were members of the public milling around.” … [Read more...] about Prince Charles ‘excited’ to establish himself as Sandringham’s steward