Author: Miles Donavan

Tom Hayhoe has landed the covid counter-fraud job, with an initial focus on reviewing PPE contracts Rachel Reeves has appointed Tom Hayhoe to the ‘high-profile new role’ of scrutinising contracts that were awarded during the covid-19 pandemic.  Hayhoe will start by reviewing £8.7 billion of personal protective equipment (PPE) contracts that were written off by the Department for Health and Social Care in the 2020/21 financial year. This included £674 million spent on defective PPE, £2.6 billion for items not suitable for NHS use, £4.7 billion from paying inflated prices and £750 million for “excess” inventory that passed its expiry…

‘115 (out of 149) UK universities have now publicly committed to divest from fossil fuels, representing 77% of the UK Higher Education sector’ Over three-quarters of UK universities have pledged to exclude fossil fuel companies from their investment portfolios, new research has revealed. According to People & Planet, a student network running co-ordinated campaigns against oppression and injustice, Birmingham City University, Glasgow School of Art, Royal Northern College of Music and the University of Bradford have become the latest universities to incorporate fossil fuel industry exclusions into their Ethical Investment Policies. The campaign group states: “115 (out of 149) UK…

Let’s build the future we want to see, not destroy it. Christopher Worrall is a housing columnist for LFF. He is on the Executive Committee of the Labour Housing Group, Co-Host of the Priced Out Podcast, and Chair of the Local Government and Housing Member Policy Group of the Fabian Society.  Degrowth architects are the apostles of decline, pushing an agenda of scarcity that threatens to derail Britain’s future. Their vision—endorsed by figures like Phineas Harper and showcased at events like the Oslo Architecture Triennale—rejects growth as the enemy of the planet. With proponents like Phineas Harper, advocates of the Corbynite…

As a politician, I want nothing more than a fair and accessible society for all. However, as stated above, I fear the implications for my profession. Shabina Qayyum is a GP, Labour Party Councillor in Peterborough and Cabinet Member for Adults and Health I take the deepest breath before I can put thoughts to written word. The second reading of the Assisted Dying Bill has now been passed in Parliament amongst voices of rejoicing, and in contrast, those voices that are somewhat less so, seeking clarification as to what the next steps will entail. From 2010 to 2011, I worked…

‘Well good luck with that, because I think last time I saw, Musk was a United States citizen so to give it [the donation] to Reform would be illegal’ Left-wing journalist Paul Mason has hit out against reports that Elon Musk is planning on giving a $100 million donation to Reform UK.  Appearing on Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips yesterday, Mason dismissed the Tesla and X owner’s alleged plans to provide financial backing to Farage’s party to the tune of $100 million, or around £78 million, ahead of the 2029 election.  Addressing the claims, Mason said: “Well good luck with…

The poll findings come after Trump’s win in the U.S. election, with many urging the Labour government to adopt a closer trading relationship with the EU following Trump’s intentions to engage in a trade war. Voters prefer closer ties to the European Union (EU), a new poll for LFF has found. The poll, carried out by Savanta for LFF, found that 46% of voters want closer ties to the EU, compared to 16% who want looser ties. Support for closer ties was highest among those aged 45-54 at 50%, while 48% of those aged 18-24 also backed closer ties. When…

Bosses at the channel are reported to have been so furious at the “woke” bathrooms at their Paddington studio that they spent eye-watering sums to “fix” them. Right-wing channel GB News has spent £100,000 getting rid of ‘woke’ gender neutral toilets after posting an operating loss of £42.4 million. Bosses at the channel are reported to have been so furious at the “woke” bathrooms at their Paddington studio that they spent eye-watering sums to “fix” them. The Mirror, which first reported the story, states: “It was revealed in March that GB News’ rented Paddington studio features unisex facilities – prompting…

‘This is not a minor change, it is a significant one, and the proposed changes need to be urgently U-turned.’ A publicly-owned rail company has faced a backlash over its plans to reduce ticket office hours. The Association of British Commuters (ABC), a passenger advocacy group, unveiled the changes in a report entitled: “Exposed: Secret Ticket Office Cuts at Southeastern.” According to the ABC, a freedom of information request revealed that 14 stations are set to have their ticket office hours cut by half, resulting in a daily loss of 6 to 7 staffing hours for 5 to 7 days…

Tune into GB News (if you dare), and you’d swear Christmas was on the brink of collapse, with its flood of headlines about “banned carols,” Santa volunteers being “sacked,” and “Christian outrage” over drag performances. “Don’t let American Bolsheviks cancel Christmas,” warned Russian-born author Rebekah Koffler in a Fox News article last December. The piece paints a picture of an America under siege by left-wing radicals pushing an agenda to erase traditional values, including religious celebrations. The UK right-wing media, which is increasingly influenced by American outlets like Fox News, is embracing the same ‘moral panic.’ Tune into GB News (if you dare), and you’d swear Christmas…

The ‘government needs to go “much further and fast” on its forthcoming Warm Homes Plan’ With another rise in gas and electricity bills confirmed for the new year, there is mounting pressure on the government to take action. After a decline in the price cap in April and July 2024, rates increased in October and will rise again in January. From January 1 to March 31, 2025, gas prices will be capped at 6.34p per kilowatt hour (kWh), and electricity at 24.86p per kWh. The annual bill for a typical dual-fuel household will increase to £1,738, a £21 rise from…