News

Alarm over NHS patients records being placed in hands of US private equity firm

Doctors and MPs urge more scrutiny of £300m deal for company behind system used by most GPs in England A US private equity firm will take control of NHS patient records in a deal experts say should “ring alarm bells” amid concerns sensitive health data is increasingly being handed to private companies. The investment firm TPG has bought Optum UK, the healthcare technology business behind the electronic patient record system used by most GP practices in England, in a deal worth about $400m (£300m

UK's iconic Jodrell Bank telescope faces axe in science cuts

Astronomers warn it would tear the heart out of UK science, and leave a generation untrained.

Stephen Goss: Chris Bryant means more of the same for Northern Ireland

Sir Chris arrives with significant parliamentary experience but no track record on Northern Ireland specifically. His instinct so far: vague commitments, rejection of constitutional changes, a studied caution about legacy legislation, suggests a Secretary of State who understands he has little to gain from bold moves and much to lose from them. The post Stephen Goss: Chris Bryant means more of the same for Northern Ireland appeared first on Conservative Home.

POLL: Will Andy Burnham's bombshell plan for 0.48% annual property tax crash UK economy?

Supporters of reform, including the Fairer Share Campaign, claim a flat-rate annual charge could save households in areas such as Hartlepool around £950 a year.

EXC: Burnham Could Swerve Downing Street Council Tax Bill by Keeping His Primary Residence In Manchester

If Andy Burnham registers his Manchester home as his main residence, the council tax on his Downing Street flat would fall to the taxpayer rather than the PM. Saving Burnham a handy £2000 a year… As then-Cabinet Office minister Ruth Anderson said in a written PQ answer last year: “…where a minister occupies an official…

Andy Burnham just kicked state pensioners off a cliff - he's just like Rachel Reeves

Former chancellor Rachel Reeves set up a tax trap for pensioners. Andy Burnham quickly shoved them into it.

WATCH: EU Relations Minister Suggests Rejoining Could Be On Next Labour Manifesto

The new Intergovernmental Relations and European Relations minister, Hamish Falconer, has suggested that rejoining the EU could be on the next Labour manifesto. That’s what they’re von der Sayin’… Falconer said of Starmer’s ‘reset’ efforts that he wants “to consolidate some of that work, but we also need to see how we can go further.”…

Andy Burnham teases migration U-turn as Labour civil war erupts

The Prime Minister told the BBC he wants to bring a "new pair of eyes" to the immigration row engulfing Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood.

Tories and Reform UK tell Burnham they will fight any plan to reform adult social care involving tax rises – UK politics live

Defence secretary Wes Streeting says the country will see a prime minister that ‘runs towards big and difficult issues’ Good morning. Yesterday Wes Streeting, the defence secretary, told Sky News that, while Andy Burnham spent his first week as PM focusing on cost of living issues, this week the public would see “a prime minister that runs towards big and difficult issues rather than runs away from [them]”. Those challenges include reforming social care and, as Peter Walker reports, Burnham has

Rich’s Monday Morning View

Andy Burnham considers Freeview switch off as key August deadline highlighted

Consultation taking place with 4 weeks to go over Freeview, which services 12.9 million UK households

Andy Burnham announces 'big decisions' on council tax

No 10 denied the Government was considering replacing council tax and stamp duty with a tax based on property or land values.