Page 31 - Despatch Box News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

By day, Sir Keir Starmer is the mild-mannered Leader of the Opposition; by night he is D.I. Starmer of the Fashion Police, his forensic gaze scanning for slobbery, sloppiness and other sartorial crimes. Or so the Westminster gossip would have us believe. Allegedly, the Labour leader’s team was appalled by the clothing choices of his deputy, Angela Rayner, on an official visit to Hartlepool ahead of the by-election last week. Jim McMahon, the Oldham MP who ran the party’s campaign, is said to have complained that Rayner was ‘dressed inappropriately’. What was Rayner’s fashion crime? ...

'Action speaks louder than words': MPs call on government to replace Green Homes Grant scheme Environmental Audit Committee writes to government slamming decision to axe grant scheme and urging Ministers to deliver replacement The Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) of MPs has offered an excoriating assessment of the government's controversial handling of the axed Green Homes Grant, warning the closure of the scheme with minimal notice could undermine progress on retrofitting homes in the owner occupied and private rented sectors. In a sharply worded letter to Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarten...

Health unions branded the sum “insulting” and threatened strike action. At Prime Minister’s Questions yesterday, Sir Keir Starmer repeatedly pressed Mr Johnson over the issue. “My mum was a nurse; my sister was a nurse; my wife works in the NHS—I know what it means to work for the NHS “When I clapped for carers, I meant it; the Prime Minister clapped for carers, then he shut the door in their face at the first opportunity,” the Labour leader said. Boris Johnson on his way to PMQs yesterday (Image: Getty) Sir Keir drew comparisons between the pay offer to nurses and a bumper sala...

And some businesses will need more time to get back on their feet, even after social distancing restrictions are lifted. That’s why unions are calling for full furlough support to remain available for longer – until at least the end of the year. Many workers will be able to return to their job sooner than that, so demand for furlough will naturally fall. But for others, if furlough ends too early, they may not have a job to return to. And we will have a surge in unemployment that will cost us all dear. The furlough scheme doesn't go far enough (Image: Getty)

Careful rather than carefree plan appears completely out of character – but that's exactly why the PM has adopted it