In a development raising eyebrows and sparking public interest, a company founded by Rishi Sunak's father-in-law recently entered into a significant billion-dollar deal with BP merely two months before the Prime Minister unveiled numerous licenses for oil and gas extraction in the North Sea.
As reported by the Times of India in May, Infosys, an Indian IT giant, secured a monumental deal with the global energy powerhouse, marking one of the largest transactions in the firm's history. Notably, Infosys is under the ownership of the Prime Minister's wife's family, although Sunak has been swift to dismiss any suggestion of "legitimate public interest" in the matter.
Nevertheless, emerging revelations disclose that the IT behemoth has been actively engaged in public sector contracts worth a staggering £172 million in the United Kingdom. Observers are quick to point out the fortuitous timing of the government's push to ramp up oil and gas exploration in the North Sea.
Adding to the intrigue, Infosys counts Shell, another prominent energy giant, among its major clients. Recently, Shell's CEO joined Rishi Sunak's newly formed business council, pledging an open and "candid collaboration" with the government.
Despite mounting concerns, Sunak vehemently defends the granting of fresh oil and gas licenses, asserting that such actions are in complete alignment with the UK's commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. The Prime Minister himself reiterated the nation's reliance on oil and gas, predicting that they would still fulfil 25 percent of the country's energy needs even in the net-zero future. It was Boris Johnson who emphasised the government's aim to domestically power Britain, aiming to reduce dependency on unfriendly foreign sources. However, 80% of British oil is exported overseas, while a mere 4% of British gas imports come from Russia, with Norway supplying the vast majority. What's more, export gas production will in no way contribute to lower gas prices as those prices are set by the international gas markets.
The intricate interplay between government policy, energy giants, and major corporations has evoked widespread debate on the implications for the UK's energy landscape and environmental ambitions. As scrutiny intensifies, the public remains keen on understanding the broader ramifications of these developments for the nation's path towards sustainability.
]]>It looks like former Prime Minister Boris Johnson is in hot water again for some alleged comments made during a lockdown. Reports say he joked about an alcohol-fueled leaving party at 10 Downing Street being "the most unsocially distanced party in the UK right now." These comments were reportedly made during a staff gathering in November 2020, when England was under a second national lockdown and indoor gatherings were banned, except for certain work-related exceptions.
The remarks are being looked into as part of a parliamentary inquiry into whether Johnson misled MPs about any law-breaking parties that occurred during the pandemic. This could be a serious breach of parliamentary rules and could potentially harm his career as an MP.
A spokesperson for Johnson didn't deny the comment but stated that he had "worked constantly" to protect lives and livelihoods during the pandemic. But, there are multiple new allegations arising from an ITV podcast series, Partygate: the Inside Story, which includes accusations that some No 10 staff "corroborated their stories" before filling out Scotland Yard questionnaires about their potential role in rule-breaking parties, and that Downing Street staff deliberately destroyed evidence of partying before investigations by Sue Gray and the Metropolitan police.
It's worth mentioning that last year there were a series of explosive allegations of lockdown-breaking social gatherings in Downing Street, which multiple sources claimed Johnson either "turned a blind eye" to, encouraged and in several cases joined. He was also fined as part of police investigations into these events, making him the first Prime Minister to have broken the law while in office.
So, while the investigation continues, it's sure to keep things interesting.
]]>A Twitter user with only 15 followers has seen his account explode in popularity after engaging in a humorous exchange with Nadine Dorries, a former culture secretary in the UK.
Bob Roberts initially had a small number of followers, but that number has now grown to over 40,000 following his interaction with Dorries on the platform.
Starmer surely can’t do any more to ensure there will never be another Conservative government than Johnson, Truss and Sunak have already done.
— Bob Roberts (@BobRobPolitico) January 8, 2023
The incident began when Dorries wrote a column for the Daily Mail in which she claimed that the Conservative Party would "die" without Boris Johnson, who has recently been the subject of speculation regarding a potential return to the role of Prime Minister.
In response, Roberts tweeted that Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, "surely can't do any more to ensure there will never be another Conservative government" than Johnson and his colleagues have already done. Dorries replied by telling Roberts to "go discuss with your 15 followers." The post has since gained widespread attention and Roberts has gained a significant following on social media of over 40 000.
17 hours late Nadine seemingly aware of her error blocked Roberts and his huge new crowd of followers, presumably now aware of that sometimes it's better to keep your mouth firmly closed, both on Twitter and in life.
I think Nadine just conceded defeat… pic.twitter.com/Z0tpwRcKGg
— Bob Roberts (@BobRobPolitico) January 9, 2023
Happily, despite everything, we’re still members. So if, like us, you’d like to celebrate that here’s 7 ways to express your love in fine style.
Rebel against the breakup in style with this no-nonsense T-shirt. Get your friends to wear one too and start a protest wherever you go.
Unfortunately, the word bollocks isn't accepted or appreciated in some circles. But with the "I'm quite cross" T-shirt, you can express your annoyance about leaving the EU everywhere. Even better, with the "I'm quite cross” mug, you can get your message across in the workplace or at fancy tea parties.
Tinder lets you get rid of sleaze merchants, oddballs and weirdos with one swipe. Unfortunately, we have to wait about four years to do the same with the Conservative Party.
Better jobs, better education and even better holidays, the EU did a lot for us. So wear your love for Europe with pride with this colourful T-shirt. Or, you can start your own EU fan club and sip tea with fellow remainers with this timeless mug.
Fascism is cured by reading, and outfits are made cooler with this trendy T-shirt. Encourage the nation to read more to prevent a silly thing like Brexit from happening again.
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If the history books have taught us anything, it’s that many leaders have gone down the wrong path. And with the slew of incompetent nimrods waltzing through Number Ten, this T-shirt will be in style for decades to come.
But that’s nothing new. The UK has always been divided in many different ways. These fantastic maps, created by Reddit user generalscruff take a tongue-in-cheek look at twelve.
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