Us politics

Brits will be able to buy their local pub through a £150-million fund set to be announced in Rishi Sunak's budget this week. The 'community ownership fund' will also allow locals to take over endangered sports clubs, theatres, music venues and post office buildings. The pot of cash will become available this summer, with groups being encouraged to bid for up to £250,000 matched-funding. In 'exceptional' circumstances applicants will be able to ask for up to £1 million to save beloved local treasures, such as sports clubs or grounds. Chancellor Mr Sunak said: “Pubs and sports clubs are the heart and soul of our local towns and villages – they’re the glue that keeps us together. Sign up to our newsletter to get the day's biggest news straight to your inbox The Mirror's newsletter brings you the latest news, exciting showbiz and TV stories, sport updates and essential political information. The newsletter is emailed out first thing every morning, at 12noon and every … [Read more...] about Brits to get £150m fund to help locals buy their favourite boozers and sports clubs

Rishi Sunak has been forced to deny handing Budget bonuses to Tory MPs, after it emerged almost 90% of a newly announced towns fund will go to Conservative constituencies. Of the 45 towns benefiting from the £1bn fund, unveiled by the Chancellor today, 40 have at least one Tory MP. And around half of the towns are in so-called “red wall” northern seats taken from Labour in the 2019 election - and which Boris Johnson is desperate to keep hold of. Of the £1bn in newly announced funding, some £886 million will go to towns with Tory seats - 88.6% of the total fund. But Rishi Sunak denied the fund was ’naked pork barrel politics’. At a Downing Street press conference, the Financial Times’ George Parker also noted that Mr Sunak’s constituency is in the “Priority One” list for the new Levelling Up Fund, also announced by the Chancellor today. The Chancellor denied targeting Tory seats. He said: “The formula for the grant payments for the new fund, to give them some … [Read more...] about Rishi Sunak hands 90% of £1bn new Towns Fund cash in Budget to Tory seats

Ruth Wilson was seen filming Oslo, her new HBO political drama based on the play of the same name, in a west London park on Wednesday. The actress, 39, wrapped up warm in a winter trench and black leather gloves for the scenes, as she was seen looking stern and tense for the sequence. The screen star's appearance was the first time she has been seen since Idris Elba announced there is to be a film version of Luther, the BBC cop drama Ruth stars in alongside him. On location: Ruth Wilson was seen filming Oslo in a west London park on Wednesday - her new political drama based on the play of the same name Ruth looked chic in the ensemble - a dark grey coat over a thick blue rollneck sweater and leather knee-high boots. She wore her chestnut locks loosely and displayed a natural wash of make-up. RELATED ARTICLES Previous 1 Next 'It's been a long time coming!' Idris Elba CONFIRMS he will... PICTURE EXCLUSIVE: Lady Gaga makes her first … [Read more...] about Ruth Wilson wraps up in a trench coat and leather gloves as she films scenes for HBO political drama Oslo in a London park

Germany's Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) have placed the Alternative for Germany (AfD) under surveillance, according to local media. That designation gives state agents more powers for surveillance in certain circumstances, including potentially tapping the party's communications. The BfV refused to comment on media reports from Der Spiegel magazine, the DPA news agency and public broadcaster ARD. The Interior Ministry, which oversees the BfV, said it would neither confirm nor deny them. Why has there been no official statement? The BfV is apparently unable to announce the decision officially because of an ongoing legal dispute. A court in the city of Cologne last week rejected an urgent motion by the AfD to stop the BfV from placing it under formal investigation . The party said any announcement that it was being investigated would undermine its right to fight the election on an equal footing to other political parties. In response, the … [Read more...] about Germany places entire far-right AfD under surveillance — reports

Tory Rishi Sunak today announced changes to tax, furlough and Stamp Duty in his 2021 Budget . The Chancellor said he must take "unpopular" and "honest" decisions as he reversed some Tory Corporation Tax cuts and cancelled an Income Tax break for millions of Brits. He warned next year borrowing will hit £234bn or 10.3% of GDP - “an amount so large it has only one rival in recent history, this year”. And Covid spending including fiscal support has hit £407bn. But in reality the Chancellor put off many of the most painful decisions until later and gave businesses a huge tax break for now - one he claimed was the biggest in history. He also extended several breaks and Covid support schemes beyond the end of the roadmap. Mr Sunak said more than 700,000 people have lost their jobs since March and the economy has fallen by more than 10% - the fastest fall in more than 300 years. “It’s going to take this country and the whole world a long time to recover from this extraordinary … [Read more...] about Budget 2021 summary: Key announcements at a glance as Covid spending hits £407bn