Latest updates: amid concerns over suspected spy balloons and as part of review of global security, PM urged to deliver hawkish view
Liz Truss oversaw a major jump in spending on government credit cards at the Foreign Office when she took over, a Guardian analysis shows, with spending on restaurants, bars, leisure activities and hotels all rising sharply during her time in office.
An analysis of data collated by the Labour party shows officials spent far more on procurement cards under the former prime minister than they had under her predecessor, Dominic Raab.
Liz Truss’s track record of disrespect for taxpayers’ money and reckless spending should have rung warning sirens, but instead the Conservative party elected her as leader.
Everyone who spends taxpayers’ money is aware that they are doing just that. As a government we are very responsible in how we use these cards, but it’s important to understand that they are there to serve a purpose and the [National Audit Office] estimates that using these cards typically saves about 35% in transaction costs.
University staff are preparing once again to vote yes in an industrial action ballot which could see the rest of the academic year impacted by strikes. That we have ended up in this place is entirely the fault of university bosses who refuse to use the sector’s over £40bn reserves to meet staff demands.
Staff are striking because they are sick of being denied a decent pay rise, secure employment, and proper pensions. And students are standing with us because they know that staff working conditions are their learning conditions.
It is disappointing that UCU has confirmed it will reballot on the day that these Acas talks have started.
It is saddening if even a single student is impacted by the 18 days of strike action that UCU has already asked its member to take, and we hope that these Acas talks will help to resolve this dispute.
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