The Huw Edwards scandal has blown the lid off the BBC’s HR practices. In the wake of Edwards’ disgrace, employees are stepping forward to reveal that complaints about top BBC talent are routinely swept under the carpet. Whistleblowers against Edwards report their evidence was flat-out “ignored”. Some workers are more equal than others…
It’s odd, then, that the BBC’s HR department is so ineffective, considering that as of February, they boasted a staggering 331 HR staff members. Just the top four HR directors alone pocketed a whopping £815,000 last year. All this on the taxpayers’ tab…
Starmer might be plotting a ‘reset’ in UK-EU relations, but top economists are sounding the alarm, urging him to reject the siren calls to rejoin the EU, Single Market, or Customs Union. The real key to growth is in harnessing the benefits of Brexit: redefining regulations and strike better trade deals outside the bloc…
A report from the Centre for Policy Studies today notes that strengthening ties with Brussels is far from the solution to the UK’s growth challenges. Despite this, Starmer said he wants to negotiate an agri-food agreement with the EU to ease border checks, a move that would inevitably require alignment with EU rules, as well as abolishing the decades-old European Scrutiny Committee. Meanwhile, while the Euro area remains the main source of weakness in manufacturing as the UK surges, and UK’s GDP is expected to grow by 07.% in Q2, while the Eurozone only grew by 0.3%. If Labour is truly “pro-growth,” Starmer would be wise to remember the EU isn’t where he’ll find it…
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley reacted rather forcefully when asked a simple question from a journalist today. While leaving the emergency COBRA meeting, a reporter asked “are you going to end two-tier policing?”. Rowley’s response was to grab the microphone and throw it on the floor. Let’s hope there wasn’t any criminal damage…
Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has resigned and fled the country after weeks of violent protests triggered by student demands to dismantle the government’s job quota system. Strong and brave…
Hasina’s connections hit closer to home than some might realise. Her niece is none other than Labour MP and Economic Secretary to the Treasury and City Minister, Tulip Siddiq. Guido imagines Siddiq’s aunt will be casting hopeful glances towards her niece for a bit of familial support…
UPDATE: Unconfirmed reports suggest Hasina will head to London. Hope Siddiq has the spare room ready…
MPs across the benches are calling to recall Parliament as streets of Britain burn in the wake of the Southport stabbings. Reform leader Nigel Farage has called for a more “honest debate” about immigration, while several veteran Labour backbenchers have taken to X to demand a recall: Diane Abbott, Dawn Butler, Ian Byrne, Zarah Sultana and Clive Lewis. Though Yvette Cooper said this morning that this will not happen “right now”…
Meanwhile, Number 10 are desperately trying to downplay Keir Starmer going on holiday, saying that he won’t be going…at the “start of this week” – not a denial that he will be going some time soon. While riots grow to levels last seen in 2011, the pressure is piling on Starmer to act swiftly – this is not the time to prioritise “family time”. So much for any honeymoon period he may have hoped for…
Viewers this morning were left with eyebrows-raised as they saw Ed Balls of Good Morning Britain fame interviewing…his wife, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper. Funnily enough, Balls refrained from his usual “talking over the top” bit, asking some soft questions to Cooper, one of which (about social media and rioters) opened with “We’ve talked about this a few times in the last few days”. Presumably Yvette would know the question already then….
While watching Mr. Yvette Cooper give the Home Secretary an easy ride this morning, Guido was reminded of when Balls interviewed James Cleverly when he was in post. He was much more keen to look tough than actually get any answers. Meanwhile, Cooper couldn’t find the time to go on GB News this morning. Guido can’t possibly imagine why…
UPDATE 7 August: Today Ofcom said the Monday programme attracted 8,201 complaints about Balls questioning Ms Cooper, and an exchange with Coventry South MP Zarah Sultana.
Former leader of the SNP in Westminster Ian Blackford told Times Radio why he believes Nicola Sturgeon’s claim that she spent no time in the kitchen and therefore didn’t see any of her husband’s purchases:
“She doesn’t have a passion for cooking.”