News

News 29th June
Big scandal developing around Robert Jenrick who is the Secretary of State for housing. He met up with a building developer and he arranged for a planning approval to build flats in London, even though it broke the regulations. Turns out he had meetings with the developer who also had meetings with Boris.  They rushed to approve to reduce costs to the developer. At the moment he is refusing to resign but Labour says he should be sacked.  Also news that when Boris was mayor of London, he approved building projects.  In the last year, the builders have given nearly £1 million to the conservative party.
There are big concerns about the ending of lockdown.  Health scientists say the country is on “a knife-edge” because the virus could suddenly expand again.  This is due to the way people have been meeting up outside, going to the beach, having marches and parties.  It will take about two weeks before we know.  Government says its plans are reasonable.  Police chiefs did warn the Government that its plans would lead to the overcrowding and bad behaviour.  The warning was ignored.
Conflict between the Government and the Civil Service.  Now the head of the Civil Service has resigned.  The Government has made a political appointment for part of the job.  This is bad news as the Civil Service has to be independent of the Government so that it can work with all political party.  A political person will not understand the complex administration in the Civil Service.