Britain

The Guardian reports: Senior Conservatives will this week hold talks on a “rescue mission” that would see the swift removal of Liz Truss as leader, after the new chancellor Jeremy Hunt dramatically tore up her economic package and signalled a new era of austerity. A group of senior MPs will meet on Monday to discuss the prime minister’s future, with …

The Associated Press reports: Embattled British Prime Minister Liz Truss sacked her Treasury chief and reversed course on sweeping tax cuts Friday as she tried to hang on to her job after weeks of turmoil on financial markets. At a hastily arranged news conference, she said she was acting to “reassure the markets of our fiscal discipline.” Truss also fired …

The BBC reports: Kwasi Kwarteng has been sacked as chancellor amid intense speculation Prime Minister Liz Truss is about to junk key parts of their economic plan. Mr Kwarteng met Ms Truss for crunch talks in Downing Street after cutting short a US trip. In a letter to the PM, Mr Kwarteng said her vision for economic growth was “right” …

The Independent reports: Conservative MPs are already plotting to replace Liz Truss as party leader on account of her disastrous first month in office, a senior Tory has said. Paul Goodman, the editor of the influential Conservative Home website, said Rishi Sunak and Penny Mordaunt were among MPs being tapped as possible replacements for the prime minister. It comes after …

The Guardian reports: The coronation of King Charles III will take place on Saturday 6 May 2023 at Westminster Abbey, with the ceremony reflecting the modern-day role of the monarchy, it has been announced. The King and Queen Consort will be crowned in a service that will retain some historical elements of past coronations but also recognise the spirit of …

Bloomberg News reports: Judges at the UK Supreme Court are to begin hearing arguments in a case which could allow the Scottish Parliament to legislate for a second referendum on independence. On Tuesday morning, the panel of five justices will start hearing evidence from the Scottish Government. Two days have been set aside for the hearing at the Supreme Court …

Reuters reports: Supporters of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange formed a human chain outside Britain’s parliament on Saturday to demand an end to an attempt by the United States to have him extradited to face criminal charges. Hundreds of protesters, including Jeremy Corbyn, the former leader of Britain’s opposition Labour Party, gathered in a line which stretched from parliament’s perimeter railings …

The BBC reports: The Church of England has found hundreds of new cases involving allegations of abuse of vulnerable adults and children by clergy, Church officers and volunteers. The reviewers found 383 cases relating to abuse, that the Church says require further attention. The Church says this is its most extensive review of past abuse cases. The archbishops of Canterbury …

ITV News reports: A party celebrating LGBT diversity at Conservative conference was overshadowed by several incidents of homophobic behaviour, ITV News has been told. Attendees have expressed their outrage at the actions of several participants who had to be removed for allegedly using abusive language. Two sources have described to ITV News how one attendee had to be escorted from …

The Associated Press reports: The British government on Monday dropped plans to cut income tax for top earners, part of a package of unfunded cuts unveiled only days ago that sparked turmoil on financial markets and sent the pound to record lows. In a dramatic about-face, Treasury chief Kwasi Kwarteng abandoned plans to scrap the top 45% rate of income …

Bloomberg News reports: Palantir Technologies had a secret plan to deepen its relationship with the UK’s National Health Service without public scrutiny. The US data-analytics company aimed to buy up smaller rivals that already had an existing relationship with the NHS, according to emails and strategy documents seen by Bloomberg. This approach would hopefully allow Palantir to avoid further scrutiny …

Reuters reports: Sterling crashed to a record low early on Monday as traders rushed for the exits on mounting concern that the new government’s economic plan will stretch Britain’s finances to the limit. The British pound’s searing drop helped lift the safe-haven U.S. dollar to a new two-decade peak against a basket of major currencies, while the euro hit a …

People Magazine reports: Queen Elizabeth’s beloved corgis were on hand to say their goodbyes. The late monarch’s two dogs stood with aides to welcome her coffin to Windsor Castle ahead of the committal service for the Queen on Monday. Earlier that day, they were also seen going for a walk inside Windsor Castle. An avid dog lover, the Queen was …

NBC News reports: Hundreds of world leaders have gathered, billions are thought to be watching around the world and the final members of the epically long line of mourners have paid their final respects. Britain is now ready to lay to rest its longest-serving monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, marking the end of a reign that defined an era. The royal …

The Washington Post reports: Thousands of people lined up through the night in the chilly weather on Sunday along the River Thames to pay their final respects to Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, as she lies in state at Westminster Hall. Her eight grandchildren — among them Princes William and Harry — briefly stood vigil at her coffin last night. President Biden …

Deadline reports: Police have arrested a man who broke away from the queue of mourners in Westminster Hall, and ran towards Queen Elizabeth’s coffin, where he pulled at the flag. The incident, which happened on Friday evening, shocked spectators who had been waiting for up to 12 hours to view the late Queen’s casket in the ancient hall. Photos acquired …

Politico Europe reports: U.K. Prime Minister Liz Truss will meet U.S. President Joe Biden this weekend as the pair prepare for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in London. The U.S. President is one of numerous heads of state descending on London for the global event who has booked some one-on-one time with the new U.K. PM. The pair will …

The Times Of London reports: President Biden will have dispensation to take his armoured Beast to Westminster Abbey for the Queen’s funeral next week, while lesser world leaders will have to make do with a shared bus. A unprecedented logistical and diplomatic operation is under way to prepare for the largest gathering of foreign dignitaries on British soil since the …

Politico Europe reports: Foreign heads of state and their spouses heading to London for the state funeral for Queen Elizabeth II have been asked to arrive in the U.K. on commercial flights and banned from using helicopters to get around. World leaders have also been told they cannot use their own state cars to attend the funeral at Westminster Abbey …

Reuters reports: King Charles called Britain’s parliament the “living and breathing instrument of our democracy” and pledged to follow his late mother Queen Elizabeth’s example in maintaining its independence in an address to both chambers on Monday. Charles arrived at Westminster Hall in London to a fanfare of trumpets with his wife Camilla, Queen Consort, for the address – part …