News in the Fast Lane: Your essential UK and global news and politics
In the days following a tragic airstrike in which 7 aid workers lost their lives, international pressure on Israel has forced them to open up humanitarian corridors. International Community Turning on Israel Whilst Western democracies have been largely sympathetic to Israel following the attacks by Hamas in 2023, recent actions taken by the IDF and … Read more
A key promise made by Boris Johnson after his 2019 election has been a complete failure. The Tories promised to close the gap between London and the rest of the UK, but little to no progress has been made. ‘Northern Powerhouse’ a Long-Standing Tory Promise The original version of the levelling-up agenda was introduced by … Read more
As the country fights for its survival, President Zelenskiy has signed a bill to lower the draft age to allow greater recruitment to the forces. He has also permitted fresh assessment for anyone who has skipped military service based on ill health. Draft Age Reduced to Boost Military Size In the latest bill, the age … Read more
A new bill aimed at reducing homelessness in the UK has been criticized for being cruel and heartless. Elements of the Criminal Justice Bill have come under fire from various angles, including MPs and charities. Bill First Introduced by Suella Braverman The Criminal Justice Bill was introduced to Parliament by former home secretary, Suella Braverman. … Read more
March will be a month Rishi Sunak will be glad to see the back of. Party defections, racism rows, worse NHS satisfaction levels on record, local election defeats and now… the economy is still shrinking. Revised Official Figures Confirm Bad News The corrected figures show that GDP (gross domestic product) shrank by 0.3% between October … Read more
Although heavily criticised at the time, 25 years on the minimum wage policy has been deemed a huge economic success, increasing the income of the UK’s lowest earners by £6,000 per year. Introduced by Labour in 1999 The policy was first introduced 25 years ago, and was heavily criticised by businesses and political opponents at … Read more
After over a decade of cutbacks, staff shortages, record waiting times and lack of infrastructure spending, public satisfaction with the NHS is at its lowest-ever levels. Only 24% of people said they were ‘satisfied’ with the NHS in 2023. British Social Attitudes Survey Shows Dissatisfaction The long-running survey is used as a benchmark to assess … Read more
Figures from the UK show that up to four million smart meter owners are suffering from inaccurate bills. This is due to meters not working properly in ‘smart’ mode, and significantly overcharging customers for their energy. Official Figures Released Show the Scale of the Problem Official figures from the Department for Energy Security and Net … Read more
Four men arrested on suspicion of committing the terror attacks in Moscow this weekend have appeared in court. The men are believed to have acted on behalf of the Islamic State (IS) terror group. So far 137 died and over 100 injured as a result of the attack. Accused Men Appear in a Moscow Court … Read more
Evidence has directly linked a large-scale cyber attack to Beijing. Whilst the Electoral Commission has played down the impact of the attack, it highlights potential global security concerns at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions. Data Breach Occurred in 2021 Findings suggest that the original breach happened in August 2021. The public has only been … Read more