Montana has become the first US state to ban TikTok, leading many to ask how the ban will work, and where else TikTok is banned in the US. 

TikTok is one of the world’s most popular social networks, with more than 100 million US users. But concerns over the app have been growing - partly due to potential threats to national security, and partly due to the need to help kids stay safe online in the wake of dangerous internet trends such as the blackout challenge.

And while there's no denying that some good has come out of the app - with many independent creators able to make a platform for themselves on TikTok, while others have used it to share hacks and helpful tips such as the looking loudly technique for parents - many US legislators have decided that the app poses too much of a risk. Here's everything you need to know about the TikTok ban...

What state banned TikTok?

Montana became the first US state to completely ban TikTok, after the governor signed legislation prohibiting mobile application stores from offering the app within the state by next year.

The new law is set to take effect on January 1, 2024. After lawmakers passed a bill banning the app on personal devices by 54 to 43 in April, Governor Greg Gianforte signed the ban into law on Wednesday 17 May.

Mr Gianforte, a Republican, said the ban will further "our shared priority to protect Montanans from Chinese Communist Party surveillance."

Meanwhile, TikTok said in a statement that the Montana bill "infringes on the first amendment rights of the people of Montana by unlawfully banning TikTok", and that the company intends to "defend the rights of our users inside and outside of Montana".

The company said: "We want to reassure Montanans that they can continue using TikTok to express themselves, earn a living, and find community as we continue working to defend the rights of our users inside and outside of Montana."

Has TikTok been banned in the US?

No, TikTok hasn't been banned in the US. However, limitations are being put on the app across the country, with the federal government and more than half of US states banning TikTok on government devices.

Meanwhile, the Biden administration has threatened a national ban unless the company's Chinese owners divest their stakes in it. But this won't be easy to implement - back in 2020 then-President Donald Trump also tried to ban TikTok, but the move was blocked by the courts.

Other countries that have banned the app on government phones include the UK, Canada and Australia, while the European Parliament, European Commission, and the EU Council have all banned TikTok on staff devices.

In addition, a number of public universities have also chosen to restrict access to TikTok on their on-campus WiFi networks. These include University of Florida, University of Idaho, University of Oklahoma and University of Texas.

Which states have banned TikTok on government devices? Full list

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• Delaware
• Florida
• Georgia
• Idaho
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine 
• Maryland
• Mississippi
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

Why did Montana ban TikTok?

Montana banned TikTok over concerns around the app's ties to China, which are thought to pose a national security threat. Legislators fear that US user data held by the company could be passed on to China’s government.

TikTok is owned by Chinese tech company ByteDance, and the company has repeatedly denied being controlled by the Chinese government.

The app has also come under fire for  the harmful content that it gives teenagers and young people access to. In 2022, research from the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) found certain accounts were repeatedly being served content around eating disorders and self-harm just minutes after joining the platform.

The Montana bill refers to encouragement of "dangerous activities" among young users of the app, such as "throwing objects at moving automobiles" or "lighting a mirror on fire and then attempting to extinguish it using only one's body parts".

How will Montana enforce the TikTok ban?

The new law prohibits downloads of TikTok in the state. Any entity - i.e. app store or TikTok itself - that allows access to the app will be fined $10,000 per day each time someone "is offered the ability" to download or use it. 

The fines do not apply to the app's users, and will not forbid those who already have TikTok from using it.

However, Montana's ban is expected to face legal challenges, with its opposers saying the crackdown amounts to censorship. In addition, some have pointed out that the ban could easily be evaded by using a VPN to encrypt internet traffic.

Video of the Week

Donald Trump is the first former US president to face criminal charges - leaving many wondering if he will go to jail.

On Thursday 30 March, a New York grand jury voted to indict former President Donald Trump. It marks the first time a former president has been charged criminally in American history, and has thrown up many questions - such as will Trump go to jail, has he been arrested and what exactly did Donald Trump do?

After a Manhattan grand jury determined there was enough evidence to proceed with a case against Trump, the charges were made public and the former President made a court appearance. Following his 'not guilty' plea, we explain what could happen next - and whether he can still run for president.

Will Trump go to jail?

While we don't know for certain just yet, in theory, yes, Trump could go to jail. But this will only happen if he's convicted - and even then it will be up to the judge to decide the sentence. 

He's charged with falsifying business records, which in New York on its own is a misdemeanour punishable by no more than one year in prison. However, falsifying records to cover up a crime - such as election fraud - is a felony and punishable by up to four years in prison.

That said, to secure a conviction of a felony prosecutors would have to prove that records were falsified with the intention of committing or concealing a second crime. 

In addition, if Trump is convicted it would be a first offence for a non-violent crime, making the prospect of jail less likely. At 76, Trump's age might also provide grounds for a compassionate sentence.

Has Trump been arrested?

Yes, Trump has been arrested. The former president was formally arrested following his arrival at a Manhattan Courthouse on Tuesday 4 April, where he was fingerprinted and processed.

He entered a plea of 'not guilty' during his arraignment - the formal reading of the criminal charging document in the presence of the defendant - which followed his arrest.

He then flew back to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, where he held an event with his supporters. He said at the event, "The only crime that I have committed is to fearlessly defend our nation from those who seek to destroy it."

The judge overseeing the case has set the next in-person hearing for December 4, which comes just weeks before the start of the 2024 Republican presidential primary calendar.

What did Donald Trump do?

Trump is accused of 34 counts of falsifying business records in order to conceal a series of alleged hush money payments - including a $130,000 (£106,000) payment to porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016.

At the time, Trump was running for president and Daniels contacted media outlets offering to sell her account of what she said was an adulterous affair she had with Trump in 2006 - claims which Trump denies.

As a result, Trump's attorney at the time, Michael Cohen, paid $130,000 to Daniels to keep quiet. While this is not illegal, when Trump paid the money back to Cohen the record for the payment says it was for legal fees.

Prosecutors say this is falsifying business records, which is a misdemeanour (a criminal offence) in New York. In an accompanying statement of facts filed with the court, prosecutors allege that Mr Trump "repeatedly and fraudulently falsified New York business records to conceal criminal conduct that hid damaging information from the voting public during the 2016 presidential election."

Trump has pleaded 'not guilty' to the charges.

What does indictment mean?

An indictment is a formal charge of a crime, and differs from an arrest because the person charged is not taken into custody. On Thursday 30 March, the grand jury decided to bring charges against Trump.

In this process, the grand jury, which in New York is composed of 23 members of the public, hears evidence from witnesses presented by prosecutors, who then decide whether to ask the jurors to vote on an indictment.

The grand jury process is secret, and the indictment is generally not made public until it is filed in court or until the defendant makes their first court appearance.

A majority of jurors must vote to indict the person for charges to be brought.

Glenn Kirschner, a former prosecutor, previously told USA TODAY that authorities often negotiate the surrender of a high-profile defendant - like Trump - to avoid the spectacle of a "perp walk", in which the person is walked past the media as they enter the courthouse. Instead, Trump is likely to be given a private entrance.

Can you run for president from jail?

Yes, Trump could still run for President if he is in jail or prison. The US Constitution doesn't mention anything about pending criminal charges or a conviction preventing a person from entering office.

In fact, there is nothing in US law that prevents a candidate who is found guilty of a crime from serving as president - even if they are governing from prison.

Therefore, an indictment or even a criminal conviction would not necessarily prevent Trump from continuing his presidential campaign - and he has indicated that he plans to go ahead with it regardless of the outcome.

Video of the Week

Humza Yousaf has been sworn in as Scotland's new first minister, leaving many keen to know more about the politician's career and family life.

When Nicola Sturgeon resigned back in February - in much the same manner as New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern resigned just one month before - the UK public were shocked. Despite the nation having become somewhat used to political turmoil  (after all, it's only been a few months since Liz Truss resigned after a mere 44 days in office), Nicola Sturgeon had been Scotland's longest-serving leader.

What followed was a five week leadership contest between Humza Yousaf, Ash Regan and Kate Forbes. With Yousaf taking 52% of the vote after the second stage, it was announced he had won the contest on Monday 27 March, and a day later he was sworn in at Court of Session in Edinburgh. Now, the public want to know more about Scotland's new first minister.

Who is Humza Yousaf?

Humza Yousaf has been a member of Scottish Parliament (MSP) since 2011, previously representing Glasgow Region before he became MSP for Glasgow Pollock in 2016. He was born in Glasgow in April 1985 to Shaaista Bhutta and Muzaffar Yousaf.

Yousaf was educated at the Hutchesons' Grammar private school in Glasgow before going on to study politics at Glasgow University. He then briefly worked in a call centre before becoming a parliamentary assistant to SNP MSP Bashir Ahmad and later an aide to former SNP leader Alex Salmond.

Humza Yousaf's father is originally from Pakistan and emigrated to Scotland with his family in the 1960s, while his mother was born into a South Asian family in Kenya, and Mr Yousaf has often spoken of the racist abuse he has received.

Now, he has made history as the first ethnic minority leader of a devolved government and the first Muslim to lead a major UK party. In a press conference in February he said Scotland "should be proud that a grandson of an immigrant can seek to become the next first minister".

Humza Yousaf career history

Mr Yousaf was elected as a list MSP for the Glasgow region in 2011, and just a year later he was promoted to minister for Europe and international development by then SNP leader Alex Salmond.

He became transport minister in 2016 after winning the Glasgow Pollok seat from Labour, though six months later he was fined £300 and had six penalty points added to his license for driving a friend's car without insurance.

In 2018, Yousaf was promoted again by Nicola Sturgeon, who made him justice secretary as part of a reshuffle of her cabinet team. In the role, he introduced the Hate Crime and Public Order bill which made "stirring up hatred" on religion, sexual orientation, age, disability and transgender identities an offence - though it faced controversy over fears it could have a major impact on freedom of speech.

Yousaf was appointed as health secretary in 2021, at a time when hospital waiting times have soared. However, this problem is not unique to Scotland, and Yousaf has pointed out that the country is the only part of the UK to have avoided NHS strikes.

He launched his leadership campaign shortly after Nicola Sturgeon announced she would be resigning in February 2023, and was widely regarded as the favourite candidate by the SNP establishment as well as Nicola Sturgeon herself.

On 27 March Humza Yousaf was revealed as winner of the SNP leadership vote. His pledges for his time in office include challenging Westminster on its block on Sturgeon's controversial gender reforms, preserving the coalition with the Scottish Green Party, and delivering Scottish independence.

Is Humza Yousaf married? The politicians family life

Humza Yousaf is married to Nadia El-Nakla. The pair got married in 2019 and have a young daughter together named Amal. El-Nakla also has a daughter called Maya from a previous relationship.

The family live in Broughty Ferry, a suburb a few miles east of Dundee, and El-Nakla is an SNP councillor at Dundee City Council, representing the city’s West End.

Humza Yousaf and his wife ended up in the news recently after launching a £30,000 legal claim - which they have since dropped - against a nursery they had accused of discrimination.

The couple claimed to have been told there was no space for their daughter at the nursery, but that applicants with "white Scottish-sounding names" were accepted.

The nursery had said any claim that it was not open and inclusive to all was "demonstrably false" and that it had been forced to spend tens of thousands of pounds "defending our small nursery against their false claims".

Previously, Yousaf was married to former SNP worker Gail Lythgoe from 2010 to 2016.

Video of the Week

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt will soon announce the Spring Budget, and many are starting ask when it will be and what to expect.

Just like the public wanted to know when the autumn budget was back in winter 2022, the ongoing cost of living crisis has many keen to know more about the Government's fiscal plans for the future, and the Spring Budget is one way to get an insight into these.

The announcement will be Mr Hunt's second statement since he became Chancellor, the first of which came just weeks after his predecessor Kwasi Kwarteng's heavily criticised mini budget. The Spring Statement will provide an update on the economy since the last budget, and here we reveal when the 2023 budget is.

When is the budget 2023? Date of the spring budget

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced on 19 December that the Spring Budget will be held on Wednesday 15 March. You can watch live coverage of the budget on BBC Two or on ITV.

The Spring Budget is a statement made to the House of Commons on the subject of the nation's finances and any proposed changes to taxation. Jeremy Hunt's speech will accompany a lengthy budget document containing more detail about policy changes, and it will be broadcast live.

The announcement comes alongside an updated economic forecast for growth and the public finances from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), which which assesses the impact of government policy decisions.

What time is the budget?

An exact time for the budget hasn't been announced, but it usually takes place around 12.30, after Prime Minister's Questions.

BBC Two will be broadcasting live coverage - including the reaction from opposition party leaders - from 12.30pm, while ITV will start their broadcast at 12.15pm.

What to expect from the Spring Budget 2023

Energy bills

The Energy Price Guaranteed (EPG) - which limits the amount suppliers can charge - is due to rise from £2,500 to £3,000 on 1 April. But with charities and money saving expert Martin Lewis urging the government not to increase the EPG, it's possible that we may see a change to this policy.

The Chancellor is expected to extend the current Energy Price Guarantee until July, rather than increasing it, and the Treasury has already confirmed a £45 energy bill cut for families with prepayment meters.

Fuel and alcohol duty

In last year's Spring Statement, a 5p cut per litre to fuel duty was announced, which is due to finish at the end of March 2023. Though fuel prices have come back down again after 2022 saw a huge increase, the Office for Budget Responsibility has forecast that 12p a litre would be added to pump prices if the government don't act.

This has led to speculation that the chancellor could extend the fuel duty freeze in his Spring Budget.

Pensions

It is expected that Jeremy Hunt will announce a rise in the state pension age. Currently, people can start drawing their state pensions when they turn 66, but this is due to increase to 67 between 2026 and 2028, and to 68 from 2044-2046.

However, there is speculation this could be brought forward to the mid-2030s, amid a back to work drive that aims to tackle worker shortages in many industries.

Childcare

Families on universal credit could get more help - receiving childcare funding upfront, instead of having to claim it back - and there's also talk that an expansion to free childcare could be announced, to help parents get back to work.

However, Jeremy Hunt has previously indicated that more childcare support for other families is unlikely as it would be "expensive".

What is the difference between the Autumn Statement and Spring Budget?

The Government typically announces significant policy changes in the Autumn Statement and lesser changes in the Spring Budget, as the two announcements serve different purposes.

While the November budget outlines the government's spending and taxes, the Spring Budget gives an update on the economy as well as outlining any further government changes - though these are usually minor in comparison to the ones made in autumn.

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• How much does the TV Licence cost and can I get a reduction?

Video of the Week

Scotland's first minister shocked the public with the news that she will be stepping down, leaving many wondering why Nicola Sturgeon has resigned.

The UK has seen a number of political leaders come and go in recent months. It started with Boris Johnson's resignation in July 2022, and his successor Liz Truss announced her resignation mere weeks later, after just 44 days in office. Now, things are changing in Scottish Parliament too, after first minister Nicola Sturgeon has revealed she plans to step down. 

Much like the world wanted to know why Jacinda Ardern resigned when she announced her intention to step down just a few weeks ago, the same is being asked of Nicola Sturgeon, who after close to a decade in office has stunned the public with a shock resignation speech.

Why has Nicola Sturgeon resigned?

Nicola Sturgeon said "In my head, and in my heart, I know that the time is now, that it’s right for me, for my party and my country," in her resignation speech.

The news came in a surprise press conference on Wednesday 15 September. She went on to explain that her decision to step down now was partly made by the SNP conference taking place next month, which will aim to decide the party's strategy on Scottish independence. 

She said: " I cannot in good conscience ask the party to choose an option based on my judgement whilst not being convinced that I would be there as leader to see it through."

Sturgeon has campaigned for Scottish independence throughout her time in office, and was essentially in charge of the independence referendum in 2014, before becoming first minister just one month after the vote and leading the country through the aftermath.

However, she faced a blow to her campaign when a Supreme Court ruling in November 2022 dashed hopes of a second independence referendum without Westminster’s approval.

In her resignation speech, Sturgeon touched on the issue of independence, saying: "We are at a critical moment. The blocking of a referendum as the accepted, constitutional route to independence is a democratic outrage.

"But it puts the onus on us to decide how Scottish democracy will be protected and to ensure that the will of the Scottish people prevails."

She added: "To achieve that we need to reach across the divide in Scottish politics, and my judgement now is that this needs a new leader."

In addition, Nicola Sturgeon has recently been under pressure over a trans-rights row, which saw proposed legislation to make it easier for Scots to legally change their gender blocked by the UK government. 

However, the Scottish first minister said her resignation was not a "reaction to short-term pressures".

Who will replace Nicola Sturgeon?

We don't yet know who will replace Nicola Sturgeon, as her resignation has triggered a contest for the position of leader of the Scottish National Party. 

Alex Salmond, who was Scotland's first minister before Sturgeon, said the next first minister is "more likely to be somebody from the new generation rather than the previous Nicola generation." 

There are already a number of MSPs who are expected to be in the running:

• Kate Forbes: Kate Forbes is the MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, a position she has held since 2016. She is also cabinet secretary for finance and considered the rising star of the party.
• Keith Brown: The Clackmannanshire and Dunblane MSP has sat in Scottish Parliament since 2007 and is currently serving as justice secretary - though he has held a range of briefs from transport to the economy.
• Angus Robertson: Edinburgh Central MSP Angus Robertson is currently Scotland’s constitution secretary and has previously held roles in Westminster as well as Holyrood - though he did take a brief break from frontline politics after losing his Moray seat in 2017.
• Humza Yousaf: Hamza Yousaf is the MSP for Glasgow Pollok and has been at Holyrood since 2011. He's Scotland's health secretary and led the country through the pandemic, and has held a number of other senior posts in government.
• John Swinney: The Perthshire North MSP has sat in Scottish Parliament since 1999 and is one of the most experienced potential candidates. He is deputy first minister and has led the party before, between 2000 and 2004, but left due to disappointing election results.
• Mairi McAllan: First elected as MSP for Clydesdale in 2021, Mairi McAllan stepped into government as environment minister and has previously served as a special advisor to Nicola Sturgeon.

How long has Nicola Sturgeon been in power?

Nicola Sturgeon has served as Scotland's First Minister for over eight years, having succeeded Alex Salmond on 20 November 2014 and becoming the first woman to hold the position.

In addition, she has been a member of Scottish Parliament since it was established, standing in its first election in 1999 and serving as a a list MSP for the Glasgow region, before winning election to the Glasgow Southside seat in 2007.

After serving as Alex Salmond’s understudy and deputy from 2004 - during which time she was the SNP’s leader at Holyrood - she was crowned party leader in 2014 without a contest.

When will Nicola Sturgeon step down?

Nicola Sturgeon said she will remain in office as Scotland's first minister until her replacement is elected. However, the timetable for the election of a new SNP leader has not yet been set.

Sturgeon added that she plans to continue on the back benches as an MSP "until, certainly, the next election" for Holyrood, which is due to take place in 2026.

Video of the Week

The Conservative Party Chairman and his tax affairs have been in the headlines recently, leading many to ask how did Nadhim Zahawi make his money?

The finances of politicians are often a popular topic among members of the public. From what is Rishi Sunak's net worth when he became Prime Minister to how much do ex-Prime Ministers get paid when Liz Truss left office, there are many questions that people want answering. Now, the politician being scrutinised is Nadhim Zahawi, Chairman of the Conservative Party and former Chancellor of the Ex-Chequer.

The MP is facing allegations that he failed to pay his taxes by using an off-shore company, and amid the current cost of living crisis it's no surprise that the public are eager to know the truth of the issue. While Zahawi maintains that this was a "careless and not a deliberate error", it's not the first time that his finances have been the subject of scrutiny, and now many want to know how did Nadhim Zahawi make his money?

How did Nadhim Zahawi make his money?

Nadhim Zahawi has made his money through his career in politics and co-founding the polling company YouGov. Alongside Stephan Shakespeare, Zahawi grew the business and within five years of founding it floated on the London Stock Exchange valued at £18m.

In 2008, Nadhim Zahawi was named Entrepreneur of the year by Ernst & Young for his work on YouGov, but in January 2010 he stood down from the market research company to run for election as MP for Stratford-on-Avon, which he won. He has held the seat in the West Midlands ever since.

Born in Baghdad in 1967, Zahawi comes from an influential family. His grandfather had been the governor of the Central Bank of Iraq, his father a businessman-entrepreneur and his mother a dentist.

However, he and his family was forced to flee the country in 1976 after Saddam Hussein came to power and the dictator began to target the Kurdish minority. They arrived in their new home in London when Zahawi was 11 years old. 

He was privately educated at both Ibstock Place School and then King's College School, but his family lost everything except for their Vauxhall car following a failed investment by his father just before Zahawi was set to go to university.

His mother pawned jewellery to cover the cost of his fees, and Zahawi went to study chemical engineering at University College London.

After graduating in 1988 he reportedly set up a firm selling T-shirts and Teletubbies merchandise, before meeting former MP Lord Jeffrey Archer in 1991 at an event. Lord Archer recognised his skills as a "born organiser", and Zahawi became an aide to Archer, who helped him win a seat as a Conservative councillor Putney in the London Borough of Wandsworth.

After setting up YouGov in 2000 and working as the firm's CEO, Zahawi re-entered the world of politics in 2010 when he was elected as the MP for Stratford-upon-Avon.

Since then, Zahawi has held prominent positions in government, including Education Secretary and Chancellor of the Ex-Chequer. He is currently in the Cabinet as Minister without Portfolio and Conservative Party Chairman.

Nadhim Zahawi net worth

Nadhim's Zahawi's net worth is widely reported to be between £30million and £100million, and he is believed to be one of the richest MPs in the House of Commons.

The Mirror has previously reported that the Tory Party Chairman and his family have a £100million property portfolio, which includes a country home with stables, a £20m townhouse in London, a number of high-street properties and an industrial estate.

The Zahawi's personally own five residential properties worth at least £17m - three in London, one in Dubai and one in Warwickshire where his constituency is, which was reportedly bought for £875,000 in 2011.

Nadhim Zahawi: Tax allegations explained

In January 2023, The Sun On Sunday published a report claiming Nadhim Zahawi had paid a seven-figure sum to settle a dispute with HMRC over the sales of his YouGov shares.

The questions which have been raised concern whether or not the former Chancellor should have paid capital gains tax on his founding share in YouGov, and whether he tried to avoid paying tax by using an offshore company.

The Tory chairman said this was a "careless and not a deliberate error" and it is understood that he paid a penalty to HMRC.

This prompted Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to instruct his ethics adviser to investigate Zahawi's tax affairs, but so far he has resisted calls from Labour leader Keir Starmer to sack Zahawi.

Zahawi's tax affairs first hit headlines in July 2022, when it was reported that HMRC were investigating him, but at the time he said such stories were "inaccurate, unfair and […] clearly smears."

In light of the recent allegations from The Sun, Zahawi has said he is "confident I acted properly throughout" and that he looks forward to "explaining the facts of this issue" to the ethics adviser, Sir Laurie Magnus.

It's not the first time Zahawi has found himself in hot water over his finances. In 2013, he was caught up in an expenses scandal when it emerged he had claimed £5,822 to pay for the heating of the stables in which he kept his horses. He apologised for the error and repaid the money. 

Video of the Week

Those who have been watching PMQs or saw ministers out and about are wondering what are the badges MPs are wearing today?

Prime Minister Questions in London's Houses of Parliament are never a dull affair, with politicians being held to account and the Prime Minister often having to answer some difficult questions about the state of the country. Amidst the drama of the backbench squabbles and MPs standing up though are occasionally an important badge or brooch that has been deliberately worn by ministers to promote a significant cause, events or charities.

In the past we've seen the tl badges worn by ministers and Boris Johnson wearing wheat in parliament for Back British Farming Day. But today, viewers have been fascinated to learn more about the pink and purple badge worn by the likes of Keir Starmer and co to raise awareness of an important anniversary this week.

What are the badges MPs are wearing today?

The badges worn by MPs in parliament today are ones that commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day on Friday 27 January 2023. The badges promotes the day dedicated to remembrance.

"27 January marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp," states The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust (HMDT) on their website.

The day is taking place to "remember the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust, alongside the millions of other people killed under Nazi persecution of other groups and during more recent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur."

This year's theme for Holocaust Memorial Day 2023 is Ordinary People. 

"Our theme this year, though, highlights the ordinary people who let genocide happen, the ordinary people who actively perpetrated genocide, and the ordinary people who were persecuted," states the HMDT website.

"Our theme will also prompt us to consider how ordinary people, such as ourselves, can perhaps play a bigger part than we might imagine in challenging prejudice today."

What is happening on Holocaust Memorial Day 2023?

A number of events are taking place to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day 2023 in the UK, including the nationwide 'Light the Darkness' campaign.

Remembrance starts on January 26, when an UK Online Commemoration will take place online from 7-7:45pm. You can register to watch and stream from your computer or phone at home. The ceremony will be hosted by Kirsty Wark and will feature stories and learnings from survivors of the Holocaust and genocide.

On Holocaust Memorial Day itself - January 27 - the nation is asked to take part in the special 'Light the Darkness' campaign. The HMDT are asking people up and down the country to light a candle to commemorate the day and safely place them in windows for people to see.

Some key landmarks will also feature a special light display on the night. The Great Tower at Magdalen College in Oxford is one building that will be illuminated by purple light.

Local schools, libraries and museums across the UK have also held special events and talks to mark this year's Holocaust Memorial Day.

For further details please visit Holocaust Memorial Day Trust for information and resources.

Video of the Week

She led New Zealand through the Covid pandemic and became the world’s second elected head of government to give birth while in office. As her time as Prime Minister comes to an end, many want to know why is Jacinda Ardern resigning?

Here in the UK we've had our fair share of political turmoil over the last year, with Boris Johnson's resignation and then Liz Truss resigning just mere months later, and now Scotland's first minister Nicola Sturgeon has resigned too. Many of us have probably looked across to the other side of the world and envied New Zealand for their resilient Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern.

But, like most world leaders over the last few years, Ardern has faced unprecedented challenges in her role - not to mention the fact that she gave birth while in office and has a 4-year-old daughter to look after. Now, the trailblazing politician has shocked the world by announcing her intention to step down, leaving many wanting to know why is Jacinda Ardern resigning?

Why is Jacinda Ardern resigning?

Jacinda Ardern announced her resignation on Thursday 19 January, saying she no longer has "enough in the tank" to seek re-election. Ardern has been in office for six years, during which time she has given birth to her daughter and steered the country through the Covid pandemic.

Though Ardern is popular globally for her progressive credentials, her approval ratings have recently plummeted in New Zealand over concerns around the cost of living and a perceived surge in crime. 

Her Labour government's drop in the polls jeopardises her chances of re-election later this year, and has also intensified the abuse and threats of violence directed at the New Zealand Prime Minister.

Over the past year in particular, Ardern has faced threats from conspiracy theorists and anti-vaccine groups infuriated by the country’s response to Covid. However, Ardern has made it clear that the increased risk associated with the her job was not a factor in her decision to resign.

She said: "I don’t want to leave the impression that the adversity you face in politics is the reason that people exit. Yes, it does have an impact. We are humans after all, but that was not the basis of my decision."

What did Jacinda Ardern say when she resigned?

At the party’s first caucus meeting of the year, Ardern explained that she no longer feels she has enough energy to do the job of Prime Minister justice, and that the Labour Party needs a "fresh set of shoulders".

"The decision was my own," Ardern said in the shock announcement. "Leading a country is the most privileged job anyone could ever have, but also the most challenging. You cannot and should not do the job unless you have a full tank, plus a bit in reserve for those unplanned and unexpected challenges."

She went on to say, "With such a privileged role comes responsibility - the responsibility to know when you are the right person to lead, and also when you are not.

"I know what this job takes, and I know that I no longer have enough in the tank to do it justice."

Though recent polls have suggested that Ardern's Labour Party is now falling behind the centre-right National Party, Ardern said this had not affected her decision to step down.

"I’m not leaving because I believe we can’t win the election, but because I believe we can and will, and we need a fresh set of shoulders for that challenge,” she said.

Ardern also mentioned her partner, TV presenter Clarke Gayford, and her 4-year-old daughter Neve, saying they were the ones "that have sacrificed the most out of all of us."

She added: "To Neve: Mum is looking forward to being there when you start school this year. And to Clarke - let’s finally get married."

Ending her speech on a hopeful message, Ardern said: "Thank you to New Zealanders for giving me this opportunity to serve, and to take on what has and will always be the greatest role in my life.

"I hope in return I leave behind a belief that you can be kind, but strong. Empathetic, but decisive. Optimistic, but focused.

"That you can be your own kind of leader - one that knows when it’s time to go."

When will Jacinda Ardern resign?

Jacinda Ardern has said she will resign as New Zealand Prime Minister no later than February 7, though an exact date has not yet been announced.

She also said she will not seek re-election to Parliament, ending her time as an MP.

In her resignation speech, she said: "I intend to remain the member for Mt Albert through until April. This will give me a bit of time in the electorate before I depart, and also spare them and the country a by-election."

The next general election in New Zealand will be help on Thursday 14 October 2023.

What will Jacinda Ardern do next?

Ardern said that once she leaves Parliament her focus is on spending time with her family. She plans to remain in Parliament until April, to avoid the need for a by-election in her Auckland electorate. 

"Beyond that, I have no plan," she said in her speech. "All I know is that whatever I do, I will try and find ways to keep working for New Zealand and that I am looking forward to spending time with my family again."

Who will be the next New Zealand Prime Minister?

We don't know yet who will be the next New Zealand Prime Minister, as the Labour Party needs to hold a vote for their new leader. The vote is scheduled for Sunday 22 January.

If one candidate receives more than two-thirds of the party's support, Ardern said she will resign soon after and the new leader will be sworn in as prime minister. However, if no one receives a two-thirds majority of support, the vote will go to the wider party membership.

It's not yet clear who from the Labour Party plans to stand in the leadership contest. Deputy leader and finance minister, Grant Robertson, has said that he has no plans to put himself forward.

What did Jacinda Ardern do?

Jacinda Arder was elected as New Zealand's Prime Minister in 2017. At 37 years old, this made her the world's youngest female leader at the time she took office. 

During almost six years in the role, Ardern faced unprecedented challenges and won global praise for the way she handled them. These included the 2019 mass shooting at two mosques in Christchurch that killed 51 people, after which Ardern's government swiftly introduced gun law reforms.

Her pandemic strategy aided her party's landslide win in the 2020 election, though it was also criticised for being too strict, with the entire country going into lockdown in August 2021 after a single case was reported. 

Her critics also argue that she has done little to deliver the transformational government she promised when first elected, which included increasing the housing supply and reducing child poverty.

In 2018, Jacinda Ardern became the world’s second elected head of government to give birth while in office.

She said at the time: "I am not the first woman to multi-task, I’m not the first woman to work and have a baby. I know these are special circumstances, but there will be many women who will have done this well before I have."

Video of the Week

Members of the public are wondering how he got his knighthood and why is Keir Starmer a Sir?

Sir Keir has been at the helm of the Labour Party since 2020 and in that time has faced three Conservative Prime Ministers - Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak - and after the next general election there's a chance that he could be the one leading the country. 

It's no surprise, then, that the public want to know more about the man that holds one of the highest positions in British politics. Just like people want to know everything about Prime Minister Rishi Sunak - including what is his net worth - many are also asking why is Keir Starmer a sir?

Why is Keir Starmer a Sir?

Keir Starmer was previously the Head of the Crown Prosecution Service and Director of Public Prosecutions, a role that traditionally comes with a knighthood. He obtained the role through his work as a human rights defence lawyer, before he was a politician.

After he became Queen's Counsel and joint head of Doughty Street Chambers in 2002, he was appointed head of the Crown Prosecution Service in 2008. The position lasts for five years and plays a vital role in deciding which prosecutions are pursued by the CPS.

One of the most notorious cases Sir Keir worked on during this time was the Stephen Lawrence case, where he brought the prosecution against two men - Gary Dobson and David Norris - accused of murdering the 18-year-old.

The CPS came under fire during the same period for failing to prosecute Jimmy Savile. However, it has since surfaced that Keir Starmer was not the reviewing lawyer for the case and that the suggestion of a link between the handling of the cases and Starmer is baseless.

Why was Keir Starmer knighted?

Sir Keir received his knighthood for "services to law and criminal justice" in 2014, following his time as Head of the Crown Prosecution Service and Director of Public Prosecutions.

However, the Labour leader chooses not to use the title himself, as he has previously said that he doesn't like formal titles.

It's also likely that using the title wouldn't be well received with other Labour Party members and voters

What is a knighthood?

A knighthood or a damehood is known as a GBE, which stands for Grand Cross of the British Empire. Knighthoods are given to men, while damehoods are given to women.

Other Honours include CBE (Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire), OBE (Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire), and MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire).

Nominating someone for an honour award can be done online via the GOV.uk websites, or by email. The honours committee then decide which honour will be awarded.

Keir Starmer: His career so far

Keir Starmer studied Law at university, before qualifying for the bar and working as a defence lawyer. He graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Leeds in 1985 and went on to complete a postgraduate Bachelor of Civil Law degree at the University of Oxford in 1986.

After qualifying for the bar, Starmer acted exclusively as a defence lawyer and specialised in human rights issues as a member of Doughty Street Chambers.

He was then named a Queen’s Counsel (QC) in 2002, and became Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and Head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in 2008, roles that he held until 2013.

In 2015, Sir Keir won his seat in Parliament as MP for Holborn and St Pancras, and became Shadow Minister for Immigration later the same year. In 2016, he was appointed as Shadow Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union by then Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

After Labour's defeat in the 2019 general election, Corbyn resigned. Sir Keir won his bid for Labour leadership with 56 per cent of the vote in the first round, going on to become Leader of the Opposition.

Keir Starmer lives with his wife Victoria Alexander in his constituency in Kentish Town, North West London, with their son and daughter.

Keir Starmer net worth

It's difficult to know Keir Starmer's net worth, as varying sources have suggested it could be anywhere between £1million and £7.7million.

Keir Starmer has previously shared his annual salary, telling Sky News, "I earn just over £80,000 as an MP, and I earn more than that for being leader of the opposition." He estimated that in total he earns somewhere between £130,000-£140,000 per year.

Video of the Week

While rail workers across the country strike for a better pay deal, members of the public have begun to wonder how much does Mick Lynch earn? The man who many consider the face of the ongoing industrial action.

Months of train strikes have caused havoc on Britain's railways and disrupted many travellers' plans. The reason why rail workers are striking is no secret, as the cost of living crisis has left employees across a range of industries taking to strike action to try and secure a pay rise that's in line with inflation.

Mick Lynch, general secretary of one of the unions staging strikes and one of the faces of the Enough is Enough campaign - which aims to fight the cost of living crisis - has suddenly become a well-known public figure as a result of the ongoing dispute. And just like many wanted to know how much train drivers earn after many in the profession decided to strike, similar questions are now being asked of Mick Lynch's salary.

How much does Mick Lynch earn?

Mick Lynch has been open about his salary in the past, explaining on Talk TV that his salary is £84,000 a year, plus national insurance, tax and pension contributions.

Mr Lynch shared his salary with host Piers Morgan following previous reports that the union leader made £124,000. Morgan repeated the claim several times in the interview, to which the union leader revealed the real figure.

Mick Lynch also set the record straight while in a live interview with Good Morning Britain. GMB presenter Paul Brand asked Lynch: "What support are you giving members? Because you’re on a six-figure salary. I’m not going to demonise you for that this morning, there is many a politician on a six-figure salary."

Lynch was quick to shut down this claim, saying, "I’m not. I’m not on a six-figure salary. That’s completely untrue. Where did you get that from?"

Does Mick Lynch get paid on strike days?

According to the RMT's official Twitter page, "Mick Lynch donates his salary on strike days to the dispute hardship fund".

The RMT's National Dispute Fund makes hardship payments to support striking members taking part in disputes through donations made to the union.

What is Mick Lynch's job?

Mick Lynch is the general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT), a position which he has held since May 2021. The RMT represents members from almost every sector of the transport industry.

The general secretary is essentially the leader of the union, and they attend high profile meetings and negotiations on behalf of the union and its members, and make decisions for the organisation that ensure its members are represented.

Lynch first became a member of the RMT after he started working for Eurostar in 1993, and worked his way up the union. Prior to being elected as general secretary, he served two terms as assistant general secretary.

What is Mick Lynch's background?

Mick Lynch was born is West London in 1962 and grew up near Paddington, though his parents were from Ireland. 

After leaving school at 16, Lynch qualified as an electrician and began working in construction, but when he joined a union he was black listed from the trade (he later received a large settlement from this).

During the ongoing strike action, Lynch has been a prominent figure, participating in many TV and radio interviews.

Video of the Week

Jeremy Hunt, Chancellor of the Exchequer, will soon announce this year's Autumn Statement, and many are starting to ask when is the budget?

The cost of living crisis and a turbulent few months in politics means that Mr Hunt has quite the task on his hands, and only a few days to go until he reveals how he plans to restore Britain's finances. Just like the public wanted to know when was the mini budget and what was announced in the mini budget a mere two months ago, many are now asking the same of the upcoming autumn statement.

Speaking on  the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, the Chancellor said: "We are going to see everyone paying more tax. We’re going to see spending cuts," and political forecasters are expecting changes to income tax, council tax and public spending among other things. We've taken a look at what else is predicted and what both the Chancellor and the Prime Minister have said, to answer your questions about when is the budget and what could be announced.

When is the budget?

The new budget is set to be announced in the House of Commons on Thursday 17 November. Originally, the announcement was due to take place on 31st October, but it was postponed after Rishi Sunak was appointed as PM on the 25th, to give the Chancellor more time to prepare.

The Autumn Statement will lay out how Chancellor Jeremy Hunt plans to manage Britain's finances, and will also outline the state of the economy. It is widely expected that the budget will include around £35bn of spending cuts and £25bn of tax rises, in order to fill a £60bn funding hole. The timing of the statement is yet to be confirmed, but it usually happens around lunchtime. 

Cabinet Office Minister Oliver Dowden told Sky News: "We are going to have to face difficult decisions both on the tax side - we haven’t got to the end of the difficult decisions there - and difficult decisions on the spending side.

"Now, of course, in terms of the specific decisions that will be made, that conversation is ongoing between the Prime Minister and the Chancellor.

"We need to bear down on spending first and eliminate waste, excessive spending and only go to tax rises if it’s the last resort but given the difficulty of the public finances, there is likely to be a mix of the two."

Budget predictions 2022

Income Tax

According to multiple sources, it's likely that income tax bands will be frozen for a further two years. This means that as wages grow in line with inflation, more people could find themselves paying higher tax brackets for the first time.

While it had already been decided that the threshold to start paying 20p Income Tax and 12p National Insurance (£12,570), and the threshold to pay 40p Income Tax (£50,270) are both frozen until 2026, it's expected that Hunt will extend the freeze until April 2028.

This is known as a stealth tax, and according to the the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) will net the Treasury £35bn a year.

Though this change is not officially confirmed, Jeremy Hunt has told the BBC "I've been explicit that taxes are going to go up," leaving little room for doubt about this measure. Meanwhile, Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves has criticised Mr Hunt, saying that he is choosing to tax working people, while doing "little to close tax loopholes which mean some of the wealthiest don't pay their fair share".

Plans for Corporation Tax, however, are unlikely to change, as it has already been confirmed that it will rise to 25% from April 2023.

Pensions

It is widely expected that Jeremy Hunt will raise pensions and benefits in line with inflation, though it  is one of the bigger decisions that the Chancellor will have to weigh up.

According to the Mirror, sources suggest the state pension will rise by 10.1% in April 2023, to protect pensioners from the rising cost of living. This is known as the triple lock - part of the 2019 Conservative manifesto - which promises to raise the state pension each year in line with whichever is highest out of earnings (5.5%), inflation (10.1%), or 2.5%.

Rishi Sunak has spoken a lot about the triple lock in the past, and when he himself was Chancellor promised that the benefits increase would be in line with inflation. In addition, the triple lock is popular with Conservative voters, and if the prime minister decided not to follow it, he might be risking rebellion from Tory MPs.

On his way to the G20 summit in Bali, Rishi Sunak dropped heavy hints that his government will protect the triple lock, saying: "My track record as chancellor shows I care very much about those pensioners, particularly when it comes to things like energy and heating because they are especially vulnerable to cold weather."

He added: "Conservative governments have got a good track record of protecting pensioners and, in fact, the state pension today is about £700 higher than it otherwise would be as a result of the triple lock."

Energy bills

When Liz Truss was PM she had promised to deliver the Energy Prince Guarantee, which meant that typical households would have its energy bills capped at £2,500 annually. However, Jeremy Hunt has already said that this will be scaled back from April 2023.

There will be a Treasury review to decide how the scheme will continue beyond this point, with the help to be more targeted toward those who need it most.

It is expected that a cap of some sort will be announced in the upcoming statement, and according to the The Times average bills are expected to rise to between £2,850 and £3,100.

Jeremy Hunt told the publication: "In the end, if we want to be a low-tax economy we’ve got to find a way of not ending up with an entire second NHS in terms of the cost of our energy bills." He added that there would be no "rabbits" pulled out of hats in Thursday’s budget, and added it was "not possible" to support people’s energy bills indefinitely.

Council Tax

At the moment England’s town, county and city halls aren't able to increase council tax by 3% or more without holding a referendum. However, it is now thought that the government plans to either raise this threshold or remove it entirely.

Average Band D council tax bills are already £1,966, but increasing the bill by the current rate of inflation would add £198 to properties in this band - meaning the bill for the average household will rise to over £2,000 for the first time. The money raised would go towards the council's costs, and therefore cut the funding provided by central government.

A recent briefing by the Local Government Association warned that for authorities to meet cost pressures "income from council tax would have to increase by well over 10 per cent next year," adding that this is "neither sustainable nor desirable given the current cost of living crisis."

An LGA spokesperson said: “While council tax is an important funding stream, it has never been the solution to the long-term pressures facing councils.”

Windfall tax

As Chancellor, Rishi Sunak passed the Energy Profit Levy - also known as windfall tax - which increased the rate of tax on oil and gas companies' profits to 25%, unless oil goes under $70 per barrel or by the end of 2025.

Ever since it was introduced, there have been calls for it to be extended and such options include extending the temporary 25% levy to 2027/28, raising it to 30% or 35%, and extending it to electricity suppliers.

Critics of the government have previously said the current windfall tax does not go far enough, with Shadow Secretary of State for Net Zero and Climate Change Ed Miliband saying: "Rishi Sunak should be hanging his head in shame that he has left billions of windfall profits in the pockets of oil and gas companies, while the British people face a cost of living crisis." 

Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesperson Sarah Olney said: "These sums are an embarrassingly small fraction of oil and gas profits, and show just how weak and inadequate the government’s energy levy is. The sad truth is that while people across Britain struggle to make ends meet this out of touch government is refusing to make oil and gas giants pay their fair share."

Spending cuts

Jeremy Hunt has warned no government department will be exempt from cuts - with even health and defence likely to be told they won't see any increase in their budgets - in an attempt to raise roughly £35bn.

The BBC reports that government departments are expected to be told on Thursday that they'll have to stick to the budgets they were allocated in 2021, to last up until 2025 - so while the amount of money will stay the same, it might not go as far, thanks to inflation.

The Chancellor has also warned that not even NHS spending will be exempt from cuts.

Video of the Week

Members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) have voted to strike for the first time in their 106-year history. The decision has left many anxious to know when will nurses strike?

The ongoing cost of living crisis has caused discontent to mount across the UK, with Royal Mail strikes set to continue throughout the winter, along with train strikes and bus strikes causing repeated travel disruption. Now, nurses have voted to strike too, and with hospitals all over the UK likely to be affected, the public are concerned about the impact of the industrial action.

Just like many have been asking how much do train drivers earn in the wake of disruption to the transport system, people are now asking similar questions about nurses' pay scales, and are eager to know more about why they are taking action and what will happen on the strike days.

When will nurses strike?

The Royal College of Nursing has confirmed that nurses will strike before Christmas, and it is expected that industrial action will run into next year, as the strike mandate will continue until May 2023.

The RCN has not yet announced the exact date of the first strike, but it's expected to be in early to mid-December and that it will take place over two days. It is likely to be the first of a prolonged period of industrial action from the union.

RCN general secretary and chief executive Pat Cullen has said: "Anger has become action – our members are saying enough is enough." She urged ministers to meet the RCN's demands in order to avoid strike action, saying, "While we plan our strike action, next week’s budget is the UK government’s opportunity to signal a new direction with serious investment. Across the country, politicians have the power to stop this now and at any point."

Health minister Steve Barclay has responded to the announcement of strike action, and has said that while he is "hugely grateful" for nurses' hard work, he "deeply regrets" that some union members have voted for industrial action.

He added: "These are challenging times, which is why we accepted the recommendations of the independent NHS Pay Review Body in full and have given over one million NHS workers a pay rise of at least £1,400 this year. This is on top of a 3% pay increase last year when public sector pay was frozen and wider government support with the cost of living."

Nurses in every service in Scotland and Northern Ireland voted for action, while in Wales all but one health board did. In England, however, the turnout was too low in nearly half of NHS trusts for strike action to take place.

How many nurses voted to strike?

The RCN has not disclosed how its 300,000 members voted, or how many of them were balloted.

However, a statement on the union's website says: "Overall results show members at the majority of NHS employers across the UK have voted to take strike action in their fight for fair pay and safe staffing. Strikes will now take place at the NHS trusts or health boards that have met the relevant legal requirements."

What will happen when nurses strike?

At UK hospitals where nurses voted to strike, services will have to be scaled back. The action won't affect all hospitals, however, because at least 50% of the members at each trust must have either taken part in the workplace-based ballot or backed the strikes in order for the action to go ahead.

NHS bosses in England have said they will prioritise A&E and emergency surgery during the strikes, but hospitals will be offering a similar service to that which they provide during a weekend or bank holiday. This means that treatments such as planned operations, outpatient appointments, chemotherapy sessions and kidney dialysis are likely to be postponed.

However, minimum staffing levels will be adhered to on strike days and determined by the life-preserving care model - which ensures that that emergency treatment and care still takes place and that patient lives are not put at risk - while the RCN has said that strike action will be carried out legally and safely at all times. 

Steve Barclay has said: "Our priority is keeping patients safe during any strikes. The NHS has tried and tested plans in place to minimise disruption and ensure emergency services continue to operate."

Why are nurses striking?

As is the case with the potential teacher strikes, nurses are striking over pay. They are campaigning for a pay rise of 5% above inflation, to overcome real-terms pay cuts and to support nurses through the cost-of-living crisis.

Experienced nurses’ salaries have fallen by 20% in real terms since 2010, according to research the RCN commissioned from the consultancy London Economics, meanwhile the government has refused to increase an offer it made in July of a pay increase of at least £1,400 to roughly a million people working in the NHS in England - which is worth between 4% and 5%.

In Scotland, RCN members voted to strike after rejecting a £2,200 pay increase from Scottish ministers, which would increase the pay of a newly qualified nurse by about 8%. The union said it would still mean a real-terms cut for a large majority of nurses,  and that they wanted at least 10% across the board. However, Scotland’s acting finance secretary, John Swinney, has said the government could not afford higher public sector pay deals unless services were cut.

How much are nurses paid?

NHS nurses pay is operated on a banding system, meaning salaries vary massively depending on what band a nurse is in and how many years of experience they have.

According to nurses.co.uk, a qualified nurse in the UK - which starts at Band 5 - can earn anywhere between £27,055 up to as much as £109,475 for the most qualified and experienced nurses in Band 9. 

Which NHS trusts will strike?

England

• Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
• Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust
• Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust
• Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust
• Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
• East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust
• East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
• Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust
• Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
• Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
• Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust
• Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
• Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
• Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
• Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
• West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
• Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
• Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
• Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust
• Hounslow and Richmond Community Healthcare NHS Trust
• St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
• Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
• Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust
• University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust
• Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
• Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Found Trust
• Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Found Trust
• The Christie NHS Foundation Trust
• Wrightington Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust
• Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
• North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust
• Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
• Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust
• Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Found Trust
• Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust
• St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
• Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust
• The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust
• Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
• North East Ambulance Service NHS Trust
• University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust
• Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
• County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
• Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust
• The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust
• East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust
• University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust
• South East Coast Ambulance Service
• Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust
• Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
• Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
• Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust
• Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust
• University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
• South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust
• Solent NHS Trust
• Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
• Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
• Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
• Devon Partnership NHS Trust
• South Western Ambulance Service NHS Found Trust
• Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust
• Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• North Bristol NHS Trust
• Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust
• University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
• University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust
• Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
• Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust
• Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
• Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust
• Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust
• University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust
• Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
• Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
• Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust
• Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
• Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust
• The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
• Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
• Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust
• University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
• Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust
• Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
• Dudley Integrated Health and Care NHS Trust
• Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust
• Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
• York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust
• Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust
• The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
• Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Sheffield Children’s NHS Trust

Wales

• Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
• Powys Teaching Local Health Board
• Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust Headquarters
• Hywel Dda University Health Board
• Swansea Bay University Health Board
• Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board
• Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health Board
• Velindre NHS Trust

Scotland

• NHS Borders
• NHS Education For Scotland
• NHS Fife
• NHS National Services Scotland
• NHS Shetland
• NHS Western Isles
• NHS Dumfries and Galloway
• NHS Orkney
• NHS Golden Jubilee
• NHS 24
• The State Hospitals Board for Scotland
• NHS Grampian
• NHS Tayside
• NHS Ayrshire and Arran
• The Highland Council
• Healthcare Improvement Scotland
• Public Health Scotland
• NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
• Scottish Ambulance Service
• NHS Lothian
• NHS Lanarkshire
• NHS Highland
• NHS Forth Valley

Northern Ireland

• Practice and Education Council
• Southern Health and Social Care Trust
• Western Health and Social Care Trust
• Belfast Health and Social Care Trust
• Business Services Organisation
• Regulation & Quality Improvement Authority
• Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service
• Public Health Agency
• Northern Health and Social Care Trust
• South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust
• Northern Ireland Ambulance Service

Video of the Week

After Liz Truss resigned, thoughts quickly moved to who would next take on the role of British Prime Minister. Now the dust has settled, people are beginning to ask where is Liz Truss now?

She may have only been in office for 50 days, but a lot happened during Liz Truss' time as Prime Minister. A heavily criticised mini budget saw her first Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng sacked, and the annual Conservative Party conference was marred by infighting ahead of a chaotic vote on fracking.

Now, Rishi Sunak has taken over as leader of the Conservative Party. Though the attention she was afforded while she was PM seems to have resided - with people no longer asking so many questions like does she have children or where does she live - much like the public wanted to know where will Boris Johnson live when he resigned, many are now asking the same of Liz Truss.

Where is Liz Truss now?

Liz Truss has kept out of the public eye since she stepped down, but her Twitter shows that she has been back working in her constituency of south west Norfolk.

Over the past few months, Liz Truss has visited local businesses, as well as the Queen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn - where she is campaigning for a new hospital to improve facilities - and met the people welcoming Ukrainian refugees to Norfolk.

Truss' fellow Conservative MP Therese Coffey - who has since been appointed as environment minister by Rishi Sunak - has said Truss is "enjoying a well-deserved break", following her resignation as Prime Minister.

Coffey told Sky News: "I have of course been in touch with Liz. She’s a good friend," adding in a separate interview with BBC Breakfast that she is spending "good quality time with her family" after what has "clearly" been a "high tempo time" for them.

She added: "I believe that she will continue to be a strong advocate of key Conservative principles. I look forward to seeing her again when she's come back from her short break with her family."

But, despite her low profile, Liz Truss has not been absent from the headlines. Claims emerged shortly after her resignation that her phone was hacked while she was foreign secretary, prompting calls for the government to open an investigation. 

Meanwhile, extracts from a new biography - Out of the Blue: the Inside Story of the Unexpected Rise and Rapid Fall of Liz Truss - made headlines due to demands that have seen her compared to a 'rock star'. These include her insistence on bagels or sushi for lunch and double espressos served in a flat-white-sized takeaway cup.

Is Liz Truss still in Parliament?

Yes, Liz Truss is still an MP. She has been the Conservative MP for south west Norfolk since 2010 and will remain in this position until the next general election, when she will stand for re-election.

However, as she has not been appointed to the new cabinet, Liz Truss is now a backbench MP. This means she holds no official position in Government and sits towards the back in the House of Commons. 

Before her resignation, Liz Truss had been in government since September 2012, when she was appointed to the post of parliamentary under-secretary in the Department for Education.

What will Liz Truss do now?

Liz Truss will continue to serve as MP for south west Norfolk. Though many Prime Ministers go on to secure book deals or are often asked to speak at events, it's less likely that this will be the case for Liz Truss, given her short time in office.

However, she won't need to worry about her finances. Not only will she continue to receive her MP's salary of £84,144, the question of how much do ex-Prime Ministers get paid has been a hot topic recently, as it emerged that Liz Truss is entitled to a £115,000 a year allowance for her her short time in office.

Liz Truss net worth

According to the Express, Liz Truss has a net worth of around £8.4 million. Not only has she made her money through a career in politics, she first worked in the oil and telecom industries before being elected as an MP.

From 1996 to 2000, Truss worked for Shell, during which time she qualified as a Chartered Management Accountant, and then went on to work for Cable & Wireless as economic director.

Video of the Week

With the annual event now just weeks away, people are beginning to ask what is COP27?

There's been a lot to keep up with in the world of politics recently, with Liz Truss resigning after just 44 days in office followed by Rishi Sunak appointing the new cabinet ministers and the public wanting to know everything else about the new Prime Minister.

Now, there's another political event on the horizon, COP27. You might remember COP26, which was led in Glasgow last year, but as the annual summit rolls round again many are still asking what exactly is it and why is it important?

What is COP27 and what does it stand for?

'COP' is short for 'Conference of the Parties' and refers to the annual UN climate summits where governments agree measures to tackle the climate crisis. 2022 sees the 27th conference, hence 'COP27'.

The word 'parties' refers to the countries that attend, which are those that signed up to the original UN climate agreement in 1992. The first COP meeting was held in Berlin, Germany, in March 1995.

COP27 is expected to focus on three main areas: reducing emissions, helping countries prepare for climate change, and securing technical support and funding for developing countries to deal with climate change.

Last year, at COP26 in Glasgow, a plan was agreed to reduce coal usage, world leaders agreed to phase-out subsidies that artificially lower the price of coal, oil, or natural gas, and there was an agreement pledged to significantly increase money to help poor countries cope with the effects of climate change.

When is COP27?

The 27th annual UN meeting on climate is set to take place from 6 to 18 November 2022. The UN climate summits usually take place around the same time each year, some time between November and December.

Who will attend COP27?

More than 200 governments from around the world are invited to COP27, and environmental charities, community groups, think tanks, businesses and faith groups will also take part.

However, not everyone accepts the invitation. For example, China have not confirmed whether their leaders will take part in this year's conference, while Russian President Vladimir Putin is not expected to attend as he didn't take up the invite to last year's event in Glasgow - though a Kremlin spokesperson said climate change was an "important" priority for Russia.

New PM Rishi Sunak has confirmed that he will be skipping this year's event, to the criticism of Labour leader Keir Starmer, who tweeted: "Britain showing up to work with world leaders is an opportunity to grasp. Not an event to shun."

Where is COP27 being held?

COP27 will this year take place in will take place in Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt. Sharm el-Sheikh is a resort town known for sandy beaches, clear waters and coral reefs, and is situated between the desert of the Sinai Peninsula and the Red Sea.

The hosts of COP27 have issued a plea for invited attendees to set aside any tensions that have arisen over the Ukraine war for the sake of focusing on the climate crisis, with Wael Aboulmagd, the Egyptian government’s special representative for Cop27, saying, "Animosity will have a cost. We as responsible diplomats ask everyone to rise to the occasion and show leadership. Put political differences aside and come together."

However, the decision to host COP27 in Egypt has attracted some controversy. Human Rights Watch (HRW) has said Egypt has severely curtailed the work of environmental groups - though officials in Cairo said the report was "misleading". In addition, some human rights groups have said the Egyptian government have prevented them from attending the summit because of their criticism of Egypt's rights record.

What has Rishi Sunak said about COP27?

Rishi Sunak has confirmed that he will not be attending COP27. Downing Street said the PM had "other pressing domestic commitments including preparations for the autumn Budget".

In a video recorded for Sky News, Sunak said: "At the moment, it's right that I'm also focusing on depressing domestic challenges we have with the economy," adding that his government will "continue to deliver" on tackling the climate crisis.

Sunak's predecessor, Liz Truss, had been due to attend the conference, and then-PM Boris Johnson attended last year's summit.

Environment Secretary Therese Coffey told the BBC she was planning to to attend along with the outgoing Alok Sharma, who was president of COP26 in Glasgow. Coffey defended Rishi Sunak's decision, and said that "protecting the planet is absolutely a priority for the government". She added: "We remain committed to net zero and to leading international and domestic action to tackle climate change. The UK is forging ahead of many other countries on net zero."

But the decision has been criticised by opposition parties, with Green Party MP Caroline Lucas saying it made "a mockery of any government claims on continued climate leadership," while Rebecca Newsom, head of politics at Greenpeace UK, tweeted: "Would Sunak rather prioritise climate change or allow the world to face catastrophe?"

Video of the Week

Rishi Sunak has officially stepped into his new role as Prime Minister, so who is in the new Cabinet helping him do the job?

Rishi Sunak has some tough tasks ahead of him - uniting the Conservative Party, addressing the cost of living crisis and tackling the UK's economic challenges to name just a few. His appointment has many asking questions about his credentials and those of the rest of his Cabinet, from what is Rishi Sunak's net worth and how he voted on Brexit to how did Nadhim Zahawi make his money.

But he won't be alone in leading the country, as his first order of duty was to assemble a new cabinet. From how many cabinet ministers are there to who'll be taking over each role, we've got all the details on who are the faces of Rishi Sunak's government.

Who is in the new Cabinet?

Taking on the top jobs in the new Cabinet are Jeremy Hunt, Dominic Raab, Suella Braverman and James Cleverly. All in all, there are a total of 33 appointees that Rishi Sunak has made - though many are familiar faces.

Ahead of the reshuffle, former business secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg resigned, while Brandon Lewis quit as Justice Secretary, Wendy Morton left her post as Chief Whip and Chloe Smith stepped down as Work and Pensions Secretary. Read on to find out who replaced them.

Jeremy Hunt - Chancellor

Previously: Foreign Secretary

It won't come as a surprise to many that Jeremy Hunt has kept his job as Chancellor, a post which he was given after former PM Liz Truss sacked her first appointee, Kwasi Kwarteng, following a heavily criticised mini budget.

Not only did Hunt reverse the majority of Truss' economic proposals - policies Rishi Sunak had warned against - he is also seen as a stabilising figure who will keep the markets calm.

He's a long-serving Conservative MP, first elected in 2005 to represent his constituency of South West Surrey and since then has held a number of senior government positions, including culture secretary, foreign secretary and health secretary. His time in the latter was marred by a policy decision that prompted medics to strike on two days, which left emergency care uncovered for the first time in the health service's history.

Taking to Twitter, Jeremy Hunt has said: "Honoured to serve our country, and @RishiSunak, as Chancellor of the Exchequer. It is going to be tough. But protecting the vulnerable - and people's jobs, mortgages and bills - will be at the front of our minds as we work to restore stability, confidence and long-term growth."

Dominic Raab - Deputy PM and Justice Secretary

Previously: Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Deputy Prime Minister

Dominic Raab has returned to both the roles he held under Boris Johnson: justice secretary and therefore Lord Chancellor, and deputy Prime Minister. Other roles Raab has held in government include Brexit minister and minister for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

He's been a loyal Sunak supporter, having backed him in the previous two leadership elections and defended Sunak over accusations that he betrayed Boris Johnson for the chance to become Conservative leader. He told The Times: "Anyone who thinks Rishi stabbed Boris in the back is kidding themselves. Rishi worked hard to make the relationship with the prime minister work; he explained why in the end he couldn’t stay."

Raab has been the Conservative MP for Esher and Walton since May 2010.

Steve Barclay - Health Secretary

Previously:  Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

Steve Barclay held the position of Health Secretary for a brief period before Boris Johnson left office, following the resignation of Sajid Javid. Prior to this, he served as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and minister for the Cabinet Office, and has also been chief secretary to the Treasury and secretary of state for Exiting the European Union during his time as an MP.

During his previous stint as health secretary, Barclay approved a 4.5% pay increase for NHS staff, including salaried GPs. He was first elected to Parliament in 2010, as the Conservative MP for North East Cambridgeshire.

On Twitter, he has said: "Delighted to return to @DHSCgovuk as Secretary of State. Looking forward to working with colleagues across health and social care."

Suella Braverman - Home Secretary

Previously: Attorney General

Suella Braverman has been reappointed to the role she held in Liz Truss' government, despite being forced to resign after she sent secure information from her private email, therefore breaching the ministerial code.

Sunak's decision to reappoint Braverman has not come without criticism, with Labour accusing the new PM of "putting party before country" in an attempt to win over the right wing members, while Liberal Democrat MP Alistair Carmichael⁩ said it "makes a mockery of Rishi Sunak's claims to be bringing integrity to Number 10".

However, foreign secretary James Cleverly has defended the decision, saying Braverman has "very, very clear ideas about how we improve the performance of the Home Office," adding, "She has shown a willingness to take responsibility for what happened - but ultimately [the PM] has decided that he wants to see the agenda that she has set out, that very important crime fighting agenda, back in the heart of government."

Suella Braverman has been in Parliament since 2015, when she was elected as Conservative MP for Fareham. During her time as home secretary, she showed unwavering support for the Rwanda deportation scheme - something that Rishi Sunak has also supported in the past - and pursued the Public Order Bill, which will crackdown on disruptive protests.

James Cleverly - Foreign Secretary

Previously: Secretary of State for Education

Cleverly has kept his role as foreign secretary. Prior to taking over Liz Truss' old role, Cleverly was appointed as education secretary by Boris Johnson after a slew of ministers resigned in protest to his handling of the Chris Pincher scandal. He took over from Michelle Donelan - who held the post for just 35 hours. Donelan has now been appointed as culture secretary.

Since he was first elected as the Conservative MP for Braintree in May 2015, Cleverly has served as a minister for Middle East and North Africa and minister of state in the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, meaning he has spent much of the last year working under Liz Truss either in the Foreign Office or in Cabinet.

The decision by Sunak to keep Cleverly in his post may be an attempt to help unite the Conservative Party, as Cleverly was an ally of Truss. He is also a Brexiteer and well-liked by the Eurosceptic wing of the Party.

Taking to Twitter, Cleverly said after his re-appointment "I’m honoured to be reappointed as Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs. Continuing to protect UK interests overseas and support to our friends and allies around the world".

Gillian Keegan - Education Secretary

Previously: Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Foreign Office

Gillian Keegan has replaced Kit Malthouse as education secretary, meaning the sector now has its fifth secretary of state in four months. Keegan is the MP for Chichester, first elected in 2017, and has previously held roles in the Foreign Office and Department of Health and Social Care.

She takes on the role of education secretary as the National Association of Head Teachers reveals 50% of heads say their school will be in deficit this year - with almost all expecting to be in the red by next September- according to The Guardian.

Some of the issues Keegan will be taking on include potential teacher strikes, recovery from the effects of the pandemic on education and a depleting teacher supply pipeline, as well as the funding issues.

On Twitter, she has said of her appointment: "I’m deeply honoured to have been appointed as Secretary of State for Education by the PM @RishiSunak. Education transforms lives - I know that talent is spread equally around the country and I will work tirelessly to ensure opportunity is also."

Michael Gove - Levelling Up Secretary

Previously: Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Michael Gove is taking back the role of levelling up secretary from Simon Clarke, a role that Boris Johnson sacked him from after Gove told the former PM that he should resign.

He then put his support behind Rishi Sunak in the leadership campaign, resulting in him being left out of Truss' Cabinet. However, rather than disappear onto the backbenches, he made noise during the annual Conservative Party conference when he slammed the Government's mini budget, branding it as "not Conservative". He said: "Ultimately, at a time when people are suffering … when you have additional billions of pounds in play, to have a principal decision, the headline tax move, cutting tax for the wealthiest, that is a display of the wrong values."

Gove is a long-standing Member of Parliament, having served as MP for Surrey Heath since 2005, and has held a number of senior roles in the Cabinet, including education secretary, justice secretary and environment secretary. 

Ben Wallace - Defence Secretary

Previously: Minister of State for Security at the Home Office.

Ben Wallace has kept his position as defence secretary, which he has held since Boris Johnson first became Prime Minister, in July 2019. He is one of the longest-standing MPs in the new cabinet, having first been elected to the UK House of Parliament in 2005 - though he first entered politics as a Member of the Scottish Parliament in 1999. He was a favourite among MPs and Conservative Party members to run for PM in both leadership contests, but he decided not to participate.

He has spent the past few months dealing with the war in Ukraine, and said on Twitter: "It is a privilege to have the opportunity to lead Defence again. I am very grateful to the new Prime Minister for appointing me, and I look forward to working with @RishiSunak to deliver a safe and prosperous United Kingdom."

Other new Cabinet ministers:

• Business, energy and industrial strategy secretary: Grant Shapps
• Work and pensions secretary: Mel Stride
• Transport Secretary: Mark Harper
• Environment secretary: Therese Coffey
• COP26 president: Alok Sharma
• Climate minister: Graham Stuart
• Culture secretary: Michelle Donelan
• Trade secretary: Kemi Badenoch
• Minister for Security: Tom Tugendhat
• Armed forces and veterans minister: Johnny Mercer
• Attorney General: Victoria Prentis and Michael Ellis
• Northern Ireland secretary: Chris Heaton-Harris
• Scotland secretary: Alister Jack
• Wales secretary: David TC Davies
• Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster: Oliver Dowden
• Development minister: Andrew Mitchell
• Immigration minister: Robert Jenrick
• Chief whip: Simon Hart
• Lord president of the council and leader of the House of Commons: Penny Mordaunt
• Lord privy seal, and leader of the House of Lords: Lord True
• Minister without portfolio: Nadhim Zahawi, Gavin Williamson
• Chief secretary to the Treasury: John Glen
• Paymaster General and minister for the Cabinet Office: Jeremy Quin

Video of the Week

Rishi Sunak is making history as one of Britain's youngest and richest Prime Ministers, and the first person of colour to lead the country. So how did he get to where he is today?

The former Chancellor is no stranger to the limelight, his face well-known during the pandemic for schemes such as furlough and Eat Out to Help Out, while more recently he's been in the headlines for his participation in both of the Conservative leadership races.

It's hardly surprising that the public want to know more about both the new PM's personal life and policies - from what is Rishi Sunak's net worth to how did he vote on Brexit, just like they were asking does Liz Truss have children when she took up office. But while he's not one to shy away from the spotlight, there remains some questions about Rishi Sunak that people want answered.

Rishi Sunak: Background Q&As

How tall is Rishi Sunak?

Rishi Sunak is 5ft 6. That makes him roughly six inches shorter than the average man in the UK and one foot and 3 inches shorter than the tallest man in Parliament, Daniel Kawczynski. 

As Prime Minister, Sunak is now the shortest male PM in the UK since Winston Churchill, who was also around 5ft 6.

How old is Rishi Sunak

Rishi Sunak is 42 years old, making him Britain's youngest Prime Minister in modern political history. Previously, David Cameron and Tony Blair were jointly the youngest Prime Minister of modern times, as both were 43 when appointed. 

Other than Liz Truss, who is 47, only two other Prime Ministers have taken office under the age of 50: John Major and Harold Wilson.

However, during the 18th Century there were a number of Prime Ministers appointed in their 30s, while William Pitt the Younger holds the record of youngest British Prime Minister in history, just 24 years old when he was appointed.

Where is Rishi Sunak from?

Rishi Sunak was born in Southampton on 12 May 1980. He is the eldest of three siblings and from a Hindu family - a religion he still practices. Rishi Sunak takes the Oath of Allegiance at the House of Commons on Bhagavad Gita.

According to Tatler, Sunak worked as a waiter in a curry house in Southampton the summer before he went to university.

Sunak has also lived in Oxford, where he studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) and California, where he studied at Stanford University for his MBA.

He now lives in Kirby Sigston, near Northallerton, where he has been the MP for Richmond (Yorkshire) since 2015, succeeding another Conservative Party leader, William Hague.

However, he maintains a connection with his home town and is a supporter of Southampton Football Club.

Which school did Rishi Sunak go to?

Rishi Sunak first attended a preparatory school in Southampton called Oakmount, before moving to the prestigious Stroud School in Hampshire, after his first school closed down.

He then went on to attend Winchester College, an independent boarding school for boys, where he was head boy and edited the school newspaper, The Wykehamist.

Sunak went on to graduate from Lincoln College Oxford in 2001, and then became a Fulbright Scholar - which allowed him to study at Stanford University in California and earn a Masters degree in Business Administration.

In an interview with Sky News in April 2022, Sunak talked about his prestigious education at Winchester College, saying: "I was really lucky… it was something that was really extraordinary. It certainly put my life on a different trajectory… it’s part of the reason I’m sitting here. I’m really grateful.

"I look back on that time, it’s helped make me who I am as a person. I’m sure it helps me do the job [of Chancellor] in the way I do it."

Who are Rishi Sunak's parents?

Sunak's father was a GP and his mother ran a local chemist shop in Southampton, which he worked in when he was young.

His parents, Yashvir and Usha Sunak, were both born in East Africa and had since moved to the UK. In a video Sunak released to kick of his initial campaign for the Conservative leadership on Twitter, he talks about his mother first arriving in the UK. He said, "Let me tell you a story about a young woman almost a lifetime ago who boarded a plane armed with hope for a better life and the love of her family."

Sunak's paternal grandfather, Ramdas Sunak, was from Gujranwala (in present-day Pakistan), but moved to Nairobi in 1935 to work as a clerk and was later joined by his wife Suhag Rani Sunak from Delhi, in 1937.

According to Business Standard, Rishi Sunak speaks basic Hindi and Punjabi, though growing up his links with India were tenuous because all of his close relatives had emigrated.

In a BBC TV debate during the previous Conservative leadership campaign, Rishi Sunak talked about his experience growing up in an immigrant family: "My parents were part of an immigrant family that came here. They didn’t start with very much, but they worked day and night, saved and sacrificed to provide a better future for their three children.

"And I am nothing but enormously grateful for everything that they did for me. I’m certainly not going to apologise for the fact that they worked hard, and they aspired to do that for their kids."

Who is Rishi Sunak's wife?

Rishi Sunak is married to Akshata Murthy. The couple met while studying at Stanford - where they were both studying for an MBA - and got married in 2009 in Murthy's home town of Bengaluru. 

Murthy is believed to be richer than King Charles, and it is largely her wealth that propelled the couple onto the Sunday Times Rich List earlier this year. She is the daughter of the sixth richest man in India, billionaire N.R. Narayana Murty, who is co-founder of Infosys. As well as having shares in her father's company, she has her own fashion label called Akshata Designs.

Akshata was recently embroiled in scandal after it emerged she had potentially avoided up to £20m in UK tax by being non-domiciled. She has since said she will now pay UK tax on overseas income.

The couple's wealth has been a hot topic, with Rishi drawing attention ahead of the 2020 budget when he was photographed with a £180 'smart mug', while Akshata made headlines when she offered tea and coffee to journalists camped outside their house in £39 designer mugs.

It was also revealed that the new PM owns four cars - a Volkswagen Golf, a Range Rover, a Lexus and a BMW - after he faced backlash for borrowing a Kia Rio worth about £12,000 to promote a temporary 5p fuel duty cut in his Spring Statement.

Does Rishi Sunak have children?

Sunak and Murthy have two daughters, Krishna and Anoushka. Though he keeps his daughters out of the public eye, Sunak says on his website that his two girls keep him and his wife "busy and entertained."

Video of the Week

Why did Liz Truss resign is the question many people are asking, as the Conservative Party searches for its third leader in two months.

Liz Truss has resigned as Prime Minister, creating yet more political chaos for Britain - which is still getting to grips with the recent policy and personnel changes within the Government. With Labour taking a solid lead in the opinion polls, many are hoping for a change, with some asking can the King call a general election?

And while political commentators are already looking ahead to who could be the next Prime Minister, and the public wonder how much an ex-PM gets paid, others are still reeling from the short time Truss spent in office. So, how long was she actually Prime Minister and why did Liz Truss resign?

Why did Liz Truss resign?

Liz Truss resigned following in-fighting in her party and a failed mini budget, which culminated in chaos at a vote on fracking. On 20 October 2022, she met with Sir Graham Brady, chair of the 1922 committee, which oversees the election of party leaders and votes of confidence.

The PM was not scheduled to meet with Sir Graham, and his sudden arrival at Number 10 came as the number of Conservative MPs calling for Truss to resign reached 13. However, Downing Street said the meeting had been requested by the Prime Minister herself.

Criticism of Truss from her own party came following the delivery of the mini budget, which saw the value of the pound plummet and the Bank of England forced to step in due to the programme of tax cuts and borrowing. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) also criticised the plan, saying it would "increase inequality".

The receival of the mini budget was followed by rebellion within the Tory party, forcing the Government to U-turn on the measures announced, such as the plan to scrap the 45p top rate of tax. Then Home Secretary Suella Braverman accused her colleagues of staging "a coup", which then prompted trade minister Kemi Badenoch to accuse her of using "inflammatory language".

On 19 December, a vote on fracking descended into chaos in the House of Commons, with Conservative MPs claiming they were "bullied and manhandled" into backing Liz Truss. Labour introduced the vote on whether MPs should get a say on the government's fracking plans, and Conservative whips said it was essentially a "confidence motion in the Government".

Labour MP Chris Bryant told the BBC: "People were shouting very aggressively, they were pointing at them," adding that what he saw from the Tories was "bullying like I've not seen since I was at school".

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has announced an investigation by Parliament’s authorities into the chaos surrounding the vote.

Which Tory MPs called for Truss to resign?

• Crispin Blunt - MP for Reigate
• Andrew Bridgen - MP for North West Leicestershire
• Jamie Wallis - MP for Bridgend
• Angel Richardson - MP for Guildford
• Sir Charles Walker - MP for Broxbourne
• William Wragg - MP for Hazel Grove
• Johnny Mercer - MP for Plymouth Moor View
• Maria Caulfield - MP for Lewes
• Steve Double - MP for St Austell and Newquay
• Sheryl Murray - MP for South East Cornwall
• Henry Smith - MP for Crawley
• Miriam Cates - MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge
• Matthew Offord - MP for Hendon
• Jill Mortimer - MP for Hartlepool
• Ruth Edwards - MP for Rushcliffe

How long was Liz Truss Prime Minister?

Liz Truss was Prime Minister for 44 days before announcing her resignation. However, she will continue in office until a new leader of the Conservative Party is appointed.

During her time as PM, Truss has served under two monarchs, and appointed two different Chancellors and two Home Secretaries. She also visited the US to attend the UN general assembly, where she held a bilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and met with US President Joe Biden.

It wasn't long after that the divides within the Conservative Party became clear, following the widely criticised budget that ultimately led to the sacking of Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng.

The annual party conference saw Truss hit with more divisions in her party, with former minister Michael Gove saying her Government's plan to  fund tax cuts from borrowing was "not Conservative".

Shortly before Truss announced her resignation, Suella Braverman resigned as Home Secretary after sending an official document from her personal email to a fellow MP.

Who is the shortest serving Prime Minister?

Liz Truss is now the shortest serving British Prime Minister, and is expected to spend less than two months in office before the next Prime Minister is announced just a week after her resignation.

Previously, the title was held by George Canning, who was in office for 119 days before he died on August 8, 1827.

Other British PMs with short tenures include Viscount Goderich, who resigned in 1828 after 144 days, and Bonar Law, who resigned after 209 days in 1923, due to ill health.

When was the last general election?

The last general election was held in 2019, when Boris Johnson's government called a snap election to try and obtain the majority needed to get their Brexit plan through Parliament.

Before that, there was an election just two years prior in 2017, which saw Theresa May lose the Conservative Party majority and govern with the support of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) of Northern Ireland - though her motivation for calling the snap election was to increase her majority.

The last time an election was held after the normal five year period was in 2015, which saw David Cameron's Conservative Party win a small majority of 12 seats.

Related features:

• Why has Nicola Sturgeon resigned and who will replace her?

Video of the Week

Britain has seen three Prime Ministers in the last four years - and there's about to be a fourth - leading people to ask how much do ex-Prime Ministers get paid?

Many of us are asking what happens when a Prime Minister resigns, following Liz Truss stepping down and Boris Johnson handing in his resignation just a few months beforehand. While many are preoccupied with what will happen next in the world of British politics, there have been questions about what happens to those who have given up the role - such as what will Liz Truss do next.

And just like people were wondering what is Rishi Sunak's net worth and how did Nadhim Zahawi make his money, there have been lots of questions about the finances of the previous leaders of the country. Here's what we know about the income of Britain's ex-Prime Ministers.

How much do ex-Prime Ministers get paid?

Ex-Prime Ministers can claim up to £115,000 a year after leaving office. This is an allowance rather than a salary, called the Public Duty Cost Allowance (PDCDA). The amount was set in 2011 and is fixed until 2023.

The Government website says that the PDCA was set up to "assist former Prime Ministers still active in public life" and that "the costs are a reimbursement of incurred expenses for necessary office costs and secretarial costs arising from their special position in public life. The allowance is not paid to support private or parliamentary duties."

In addition, former Prime Ministers are entitled to claim a pension allowance to contribute towards their staff pension costs, limited to a maximum of 10% of the allowance.

All former Prime Ministers are entitled to the allowance - even if they continue serving in Parliament - though if they accept any public appointment then the amount will be reviewed. This means that former Prime Ministers who continue to serve as MPs, such as Theresa May and Boris Johnson, are paid the allowance on top of their £84,144 salary.

However, Truss has faced calls to turn down the allowance, due to her short time in office. Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services Union - which represents civil servants - said: "At a time when one in five civil servants are using food banks and 35% have skipped meals because they have no food, it’s grotesque that Liz Truss can walk away with what is effectively a £115,000 bonus."

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is of the same opinion, telling ITV's Good Morning Britain, "She should turn it down. I think that’s the right thing to do. She’s done 44 days in office, she’s not really entitled to it."

Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Ed Davey, has also said she should turn down the allowance.

Does the Prime Minister get paid for life?

The PDCA is paid for the duration of a former Prime Minister's life. Upon a claimant's death, staff salaries will be paid for the next three months and any office expenses incurred will also be met.

The PDCA was introduced in 1991 - with Margaret Thatcher as its first recipient - and since then six Prime Ministers have made use of it. In 2018, the Sunday Times reported that ex-Labour PM Tony Blair had claimed more than £1m from the allowance since he left office in 2007.

More recently, the Mirror revealed that David Cameron claimed £113,423 in 2020-21, while Theresa May claimed £55,381 that same year.

What benefits do former Prime Ministers get?

Former Prime Ministers are entitled to a chauffeur-driven official Government car. Until very recently, Jaguar had been the official car of choice since the 1980s, before which other British brands such as Rover and Humber were used. 

However, Jaguar has paused production of the XJ, and as no British alternatives were available the Met police reportedly ordered a batch of Audi A8s instead, making this the first time a non-British model has been used by the PM. These will now also be the vehicle of former PMs.

Do ex-Prime Ministers get security?

Former Prime Ministers continue to receive security, with Former Home Secretary Lord Douglas Hurd telling the BBC that your security "expects to know what you're going to be doing all of the time".

This entitlement to security is not without controversy. In 2010, a motion was tabled to review the cost of protecting former Prime Ministers, with the suggestion that "former politicians should pay towards the cost of their own police protection when they receive income from commercial activities when they are accompanied by bodyguards paid for by the UK taxpayer."

In 2015, the The Telegraph reported that Tony Blair was costing the taxpayer millions of pounds a year in police protection.

Video of the Week

Liz Truss has resigned as Prime Minister of the UK - following mounting pressure from Tory MPs, members of the public, and the media.

The Conservative Party leader faced immense pressure to step down following a tumultuous two weeks in Westminster that saw the sacking of Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng and the resignation of Home Secretary Suella Braverman.

Giving an official statement outside of 10 Downing Street, Truss announced her resignation, declaring she could no longer deliver the mandate she was elected on by Tory members. She also confirmed that a leadership election would take place in the coming week. 

"I recognise though, given the situation I cannot deliver the mandate on which I was elected by the Conservative Party. I have therefore spoken to His Majesty the King to notify him that I am resigning as leader of the Conservative party," she said.

Liz Truss, who was previously Foreign Secretary under Boris Johnson's administration, became Tory leader and subsequent Prime Minister of the UK on 6 September 2022. She was appointed following a Conservative party vote, which saw Truss beat fellow Tory MP Rishi Sunak to the role with 81,326 votes (57.4%).

During her time as UK Prime Minister, Liz Truss announced a new £2,500 cap on energy prices - amongst the ongoing cost of living crisis. Originally fixed for two years (now in place to April 2023) the initiative was introduced whilst the government worked on resolving supply issues and bringing about more affordable energy prices.

Most recently, the Prime Minister faced public criticism for the 2022 mini budget delivered on September 23 by the then-Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng. Proposals included cutting both income tax and stamp duty, in addition to reversing the National Insurance hike. A YouGov poll later confirmed that the mini budget was the worst received of any financial statement since the Conservatives took power in 2010. Market volatility arose in wake of the new budget, leading the Bank of England to intervene.

In response to the backlash, Liz Truss sacked Kwasi Kwarteng as chancellor, with Jeremy Hunt later stepping up into the role. The new chancellor went on to U-turn a number of mini budget decisions, which called into question the stability of Truss's leadership.

Truss's authority was again undermined as events unplayed yesterday. Home Secretary Suella Braverman was forced to step down for having been found in serious breach of the ministerial code, for an email sent from her personal account to a fellow MP of an official document. In her resignation letter to the Prime Minister, Braverman shared her "concerns about the direction of this government".

"Not only have we broken key pledges that were promised to our voters, but I have had serious concerns about this government’s commitment to honouring manifesto commitments," the letter continued.

Braverman's departure also coincided with a controversial Commons vote on fracking - where allegations were made of Tory MPs being "bullied" into backing the Prime Minister's stance on the issue.

In the wake of Truss's resignation, chancellor Jeremy Hunt has since confirmed that he will not stand to be the next Conservative leader and UK prime minister.

Related politics features:

• Why has Nicola Sturgeon resigned and who will replace her?

Can the King call a general election is the question many people are asking, as Liz Truss struggles to hold on to her position.

Liz Truss appeared to rule out the possibility of a snap election when she took office, saying she "will deliver a great victory for the Conservative Party in 2024". But now that she's resigned after just 45 days in office, many are frustrated with the current Government and beginning to ask when is the next general election and what happens when a Prime Minister resigns.

With no news of an early election just yet, questions are also being raised about who might be able to call one. And just like people were asking can the Queen sack the Prime Minister during the final days of Boris Johnson's government, many are again wondering what power the sovereign has - including whether the King can call a general election.

Can the King call a general election?

The King cannot call a general election. While it is the monarch who officially dissolves Parliament for an election, in modern times the King would not do this without the request of the Prime Minister.

The Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022 allows a Prime Minister to request a dissolution from the Sovereign which, if granted, would enable a Prime Minister to call a general election at a time of their choosing. So, technically, the King could block a general election, but not call one. 

How can a general election be called?

The Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022 repealed the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 and handed the power to call a general election back to the Prime Minister.

The Fixed-term Parliaments Act meant that a PM could only call an election in three circumstances: it had been 5 years since the previous election, a no-confidence motion had been passed by a simple majority in the House of Commons, or if two thirds of MPs had passed a motion for a general election. 

Now, however, the new Act has revived "the power of the monarch to dissolve Parliament, at the request of the Prime Minister of the day." Meaning it is only the Prime Minister who can call an election.

The last time an early election was called was in 2019 - and before that was just two years earlier, in 2017 - and both were called under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act. In both cases, the early elections were brought about by two thirds of MPs voting for them.

Can Labour force a general election?

Labour cannot force a general election. The only way Labour could have an influence on an early election being called is by instigating a no-confidence vote against the Government.

If the Government lost the vote, the Prime Minister would be expected to resign or call an election. However, the chances of this happening are unlikely, as it would mean a large number of Tory MPs would have to vote against their own government.

Can the public force a general election?

The public cannot force a general election, though they may be able to influence the Prime Minister's decision to hold one.

An e-petition that has received over 640,000 signatures forced the Government into debating the possibility of an early general election on 17 October, with the Government responding to the petition by saying, "The United Kingdom is a Parliamentary democracy, not a Presidential one. Following the general election of December 2019, Members of Parliament of the governing party (the Conservative Party) were elected, such that there is a majority in the House of Commons. This remains the case. A change in the leader of the governing party does not trigger a general election – this has been the case under governments of successive political colours."

Who is calling for a general election?

The Labour Party, some media organisations and some members of the public are calling for a general election.

In an interview with the Guardian, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said he believed an immediate general election is necessary, adding, "We are in the absurd situation where we are on the third, fourth prime minister in six years and within weeks we have a got a prime minister who has the worst reputational ratings of any prime minister pretty well in history.

"For the good of the country we need a general election."

The Independent has launched a petition calling for a general election, saying, "Liz Truss had no mandate for her abrupt change of direction when she became prime minister – except from 81,000 Conservative Party members, a tiny and unrepresentative section of the population."

They added, that whoever replaces her as PM should put their case to the British people.

The petition reached 20,000 signatures in just under a day, while a recent poll has given Labour a 36-point lead over the Conservatives.

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The former Chancellor was hitting the headlines daily when he was running against Liz Truss to be the next PM. But after failing to turn up to the Conservative Party conference, many are asking where is Rishi Sunak now?

For a long time, Rishi Sunak held a high profile job in British government, with people all over the country scrutinising both his policies and his personal life, much like they have been asking who is Jeremy Hunt and who is Kwasi Kwarteng of his successors.

But since losing the Tory leadership contest, there has been little news of the former Chancellor. Much like people wondered where will Boris Johnson live after he resigned from his role in Number 10, many are now asking what has happened to Rishi Sunak.

Where is Rishi Sunak now?

Rishi Sunak is believed to be in his Richmond constituency in Yorkshire, where he lives with his wife - the fashion designer Akshata Murthy - and two daughters, Krishna and Anoushka.

Questions around Sunak's whereabouts were raised when he revealed that he would not be attending the Conservative party conference - along with other Senior Tories Sajid Javid, David Davis and Mel Stride. While no official reason has been given for Sunak not attending, many have speculated that it could be a sign of a lack of support for new PM Liz Truss.

Sunak was critical of Truss' plans to cut taxes during the Conservative leadership party contest, telling her during a TV debate that the UK will not be able to "borrow its way out of inflation".

Since the announcement of the new government's mini budget, several other Tory MPs have publicly criticised the Government's economic policy, with former Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Michael Gove, telling the BBC that borrowing money to fund tax cuts was "not Conservative".

Is Rishi Sunak still in government?

Rishi Sunak is not longer in government. Previously, Sunak served as Chancellor of the Exchequer from February 2020 to July 2022, but he was one of the many ministers that resigned from Boris Johnson's government following the Chris Pincher scandal.

The role of Chancellor was then taken over by Nadhim Zahawi, until September 2022 when Liz Truss took up office as Prime Minister and appointed Kwasi Kwarteng to the role.

Though Sunak no longer has a place in government and lost the Conservative leadership race, he ruled out leaving politics, telling BBC Political Editor Chris Mason, "I am very committed to my constituents in North Yorkshire... and as long as they will have me I plan to keep serving them not just in the immediate future but also at the next election."

What role does Rishi Sunak have?

Rishi Sunak is still a Member of Parliament, and serves as the Conservative MP for Richmond, Yorkshire - a role which he has held since 2015.

Speaking on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, the former chancellor told the programme that his job "now is just to support a Conservative government" - though he didn't rule out another run for PM in the future, adding that he would need time "to recover" from his previous campaign.

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It's one of the harshest punishments that a party can inflict on its own MPs, but what does losing the whip mean?

The mini budget that has set out the tax and spending plans of Liz Truss' new government has caused uproar among many, with with the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) calling it "unsustainable" and the Bank of England launching an emergency intervention.

In addition to this, the new PM has seen dissatisfaction with the plan that was announced by Kwasi Kwarteng from her own MPs. While former Prime Minister Boris Johnson's controversial decisions ultimately ended up in a swathe of MPs resigning, Liz Truss has avoided such a fate thus far. And it looks like she has no plans to back down, as party chairman Jake Berry has now said that Tory MPs who vote against the budget will lose the whip.

What does losing the whip mean?

When an MP loses the whip, it means they are expelled from their party but remain as an MP. They will therefore sit as an independent member until their party restores the whip.

Losing the whip is also referred to as having the whip removed/withdrawn, and it happens either because of misconduct or if an MP does not vote in line with their party on an issue that is deemed to be important. It is one of the most serious forms of punishment for an MP.

MPs who have had the whip withdrawn

In 2019, the Conservative Party withdrew the whip from 21 of its MPs who rebelled against then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson in an attempt to block a no-deal Brexit. Those MPs were:

• Guto Bebb
• Richard Benyon
• Steve Brine
• Alistair Burt
• Greg Clark
• Kenneth Clarke
• David Guake
• Justine Greening
• Dominic Grieve
• Sam Gyimah
• Philip Hammond
• Stephen Hammond
• Richard Harrington
• Margot Hames
• Sir Oliver Letwin
• Anne Milton
• Caroline Nokes
• Antoinette Sandbach
• Sir Nicholas Soames
• Rory Stewart
• Ed Vaizey

More recently, in July 2022, Senior Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood had the whip removed after he failed to take part in a confidence vote in the Government.

What is a Chief Whip?

The Chief Whip - also known as Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury - is responsible for carrying out the whipping system. This means that they make sure that MPs of their party attend and vote in Parliament, and that they vote following the party’s agenda.

Whips may give instructions on votes, and underline each vote depending on how serious the issue is. An instruction underlined once is a one-line whip, twice a two-line whip, and three times a three-line whip. Three-line whips are most important, and MPs who defy a three-line whip may have the whip removed.

However, some votes aren’t whipped at all: these are known as free votes, and MPs can vote as they please without any instruction from the party whips.

Whips are MPs or Lords who have been appointed by their party to the role, and Chief Whip is a role held by a whip for the party that is in Government. 

Who is the Tory Party Chief Whip?

The current Chief Whip for the Conservative Party is Wendy Morton, and she was appointed on 6 September 2022.

Morton has been the Conservative MP for Aldridge-Brownhills since 2015, and prior to her appointment as Chief Whip she served as Minister of State in the Department for Transport.

Before Morton was appointed, the role was held by Chris Heaton-Harris, who is the MP for Daventry and has since been appointed as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

Sir Alan Campbell is the current Shadow Chief Whip for the Labour Party.

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As borrowing is predicted to increase, the questions on many people's minds are where does the Government borrow money from and what will happen when borrowing goes up?

On Friday 23 September, new Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng announced the Government's mini budget. His speech revealed a plan of sweeping tax cuts in an attempt to boost the economy and help with the cost of living crisis, which includes a reversal on the National Insurance increase.

The decision has been heavily criticised, with the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) calling it "unsustainable" and the Bank of England launching an emergency intervention. The proposed tax cuts will see Government borrowing go up by billions, leaving many wondering where does the Government borrow money from?

Where does the Government borrow money from?

The Government borrows money by selling bonds - also known as gilts - which are promises to pay the lender the money back over a certain period. These bonds are primarily bought by pension funds and insurance companies.

When the Government borrows money it adds to the national debt, which is the total amount of money that the government owes. According to BBC News, the latest figures show the national debt to be £2.4tn - nearly as much as the value of all the goods and services produced in the UK in a year.

There are differing argument around Government borrowing, with some fearing that it is too great and will prove costly in the long term, while others say it will help the economy grow faster and generate more tax revenue in the future.

The recently announced mini budget will see an increase in borrowing, because of the sweeping tax cuts that have seen changes in income tax and stamp duty. Overall, the planned tax cut is £45 billion, and the IFS expects government borrowing to rise to £190 billion this year.

The scale of tax cuts in the mini budget had investors worried about how much UK Government would need to do borrow, which caused the value of the pound to reach a record low.

Who is Government debt owed to?

When the government borrows money, it owes that money back to the institutions that bought the bonds. These are usually pension funds, investment funds, banks, insurance companies and private savers from the UK and abroad.

These institutions buy the bonds because UK Government bonds are seen as very safe, with little risk that the money won't be paid back - which makes them appealing.

With that being said, it's unlikely that the national debt will ever be paid off, because any spare money is more likely to be used to either cut taxes or invest in public services.

Why does the Government borrow?

The Government borrows money so that it can enable higher spending without having to increase taxes. When taxes are cut, the Government receives less money and therefore needs to borrow money to make up the difference.

However, money borrowed by the Government has to be paid back - with interest - which means that it is taxpayers who ultimately pay for it.

According to the IFS, the Government is expected to spend over £100 billion this year and next on debt interest payments.

What is the effect of Government borrowing?

While borrowing enables the Government to cut taxes in the hope that it will increase spending, it can lead to higher interest rates and 'crowding out'.

If interest rates are pushed up by borrowing, this is because markets are nervous about the Government's ability to repay, and therefore demand more yield on the bond they've purchased. This then tends to push up other interest rates in the economy, therefore reducing spending and investment.

This can in turn result in 'crowding out', which is a term used to describe how government borrowing diverts money away from private sector investments, because Government bonds compete with private sector investments for funds.

High rates of borrowing can also increase taxes in the future, as the Government tries to reduce debt levels.

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He's made headlines following the delivery of a controversial mini budget, but many want to know more about who is Kwasi Kwarteng?

With a new PM and a new cabinet too, it's understandable that people want to know more about those who lead the country. Just like many have been asking does Liz Truss have children, a similar attention has turned to Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng.

After the delivery of a mini budget that saw the biggest programme of tax cuts since 1972 and has been criticised by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) - with Tory MPs now told that they will lose the whip if they don't vote for it - people want to know more about the man behind the plan, and are asking who is Kwasi Kwarteng?

Who is Kwasi Kwarteng?

Kwasi Kwarteng has been Chancellor of the Exchequer since 6 September 2022. He was born in East London in 1975 - the same year as the PM - and his parents came to the UK from Ghana as students in the 1960s.

His father is Commonwealth Secretariat economist Alfred K. Kwarteng, and his mother is barrister Charlotte Boaitey-Kwarteng. While growing up, Kwarteng attended independent preparatory school Colet Court, where he won the Harrow History Prize in 1988.

He then went on to Eton College, where he was a King's Scholar and awarded the Newcastle Scholarship prize, before reading classics and history at Trinity College, Cambridge.

In 1995, Kwarteng was part of the Cambridge team that won University Challenge, and made headlines during the contest for swearing after he buzzed in and forgot the answer to a question.

According to his Government biography, Kwarteng's passions include history, music and languages.

Kwasi Kwarteng career history

After earning a PhD in economic history from the University of Cambridge in 2000, Kwarteng went on to work as an analyst in financial services before his career in politics.

In 2005, he stood for election for the first time as the Conservative candidate for Brent East in the 2005 general election, where he came third. He missed out again in 2008 when he was sixth on the Conservative list of candidates for the London Assembly, but was not elected.

Then, in 2010, Kwarteng first became an MP. He was selected as the Conservative candidate for Spelthorne after the incumbent Conservative MP, David Wilshire, announced he would be retiring.

From 2010 until 2013 he was a member of the Transport Select Committee, and in 2013 he joined the Work and Pensions Select Committee where he was a member until 2015. Kwarteng has also been a member of the Public Accounts Committee and Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Leader of the House of Lords and to the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

In Boris Johnson's government, Kwarteng was appointed Secretary of State at the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, where he remained until Liz Truss appointed him as Chancellor of the Exchequer as one of her new Cabinet ministers.

Kwarteng has also authored several books, including Ghosts of Empire, War and Gold and Thatcher’s Trial.

Is Kwasi Kwarteng married?

Kwasi Kwarteng is married to Solicitor Harriet Edwards. The pair got married in December 2019 after a seven month engagement.

Edwards, who is reportedly in her 30s, attended Cheltenham Ladies' College before graduating from Trinity College, Dublin, in History and Modern Languages. She then worked for auctioneers Christie's in Geneva and then UBS investment bank in New York, before qualifying as a solicitor.

The Daily Mail reported that Kwarteng had proposed to Edwards at her mother's house in Derbyshire, and that he said "we're very happy."

Prior to marrying Edwards, Kwasi Kwarteng reportedly had an on-off romance with former Home Secretary Amber Rudd.

Does Kwasi Kwarteng have children?

Kwasi Kwarteng has one child, a daughter named Ida who was born in October 2021.

Kwarteng has previously been described as 'intensely private'. He keeps his personal life out of the public eye and avoids sharing photos of his wife and daughter online.

Kwasi Kwarteng net worth

According to LADBible, Kwasi Kwarteng's net worth is somewhere between £800,000 and £1.5 million.

As an MP, Kwarteng's annual salary will be £81,932, according to the House of Commons Library, and as Chancellor of the Exchequer he receives an additional £67,505.

While an impressive figure, it doesn't come close to his predecessor Rishi Sunak's net worth, who's fortune is valued at £730 million, according to The Sunday Times Rich List.

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The government has decided to lift a ban on fracking in England, and the highly controversial move has got many wanting to know what is fracking?

Despite the recent energy bill freeze that effectively cancelled out the planned October energy price cap rise, the cost of living still bites for many households in the UK. 

People are searching for ways to save energy in their homes, and under mounting pressure for the Government to take action, a decision has been made to take a second look at the controversial practice of fracking. The Prime Minister has now announced that the ban on fracking in England will be lifted, but the move has sparked controversy, and many are now asking what is fracking and will it bring down energy bills?

What is fracking?

Fracking - or hydraulic fracturing - is a method of extracting oil, natural gas, geothermal energy, or water from underground. It involves injecting a high pressure mixture of water, sand and chemicals down into the rock layer.

The term fracking refers to the way the rock is fractured apart by the high pressure mixture, and the result is that the gas inside is released, which can then be used to supply for energy demand.

In 2019, a moratorium (temporary ban) was placed on fracking in the UK, over concerns from the Oil and Gas Authority in a report that said that it is "not currently possible to accurately predict the probability or magnitude of earthquakes linked to fracking operations". 

But the ban on fracking has been lifted, in an announcement new PM Liz Truss made as part of a broader package of measures to tackle energy prices - though she added developers will be only given permission "where there is local support".

Labour leader Keir Starmer has been critical of this move, saying that it will not boost UK energy supplies in the short term and branding the decision as "ludicrous".

Fracking vs drilling

Drilling uses a traditional vertical drilling technique to reach reservoirs of oil and gas, while fracking can be drilled horizontally or vertically. 

The method of fracturing the shale rock allows the release of oil and gas from the porous rock, so the composition of the layers of rock and the geographic location are factors in deciding whether traditional drilling or fracking should be used.

Is fracking bad for the environment?

Fracking involves using large amount of water as well as toxic chemicals, so it is generally considered to be bad for the environment.

There are risks that the chemicals used could leak into water supplies or surrounding areas, which would have a negative impact on the wildlife and natural habitats near the fracking sites.

The campaign group Greenpeace says, "The impact [of fracking] on the British countryside would be enormous. Thousands of wells would be needed to produce just half of the UK’s gas demand. This industrial operation would also require huge numbers of trucks delivering chemicals and taking away contaminated waste water."

Additionally, fracking is considered to be controversial because the high pressure injections can cause earth tremors. In 2019, a 2.9-magnitude quake was recorded near Cuadrilla’s site near Blackpool, which raised further alarm about the practice.

Is fracking good for the environment?

While fracking isn't good for the environment, it is less harmful than some other methods of meeting energy demand.

Natural gas emits around half the greenhouse gas emissions per unit of energy compared to coal, according to the US Energy Information Administration. Additionally, Vox says that fracking doesn't take up as much land as coal mining, and it doesn’t produce pollutants like ash and mercury, which can pose long-term health and environmental hazards.

One of the biggest benefits of fracking is the creation of jobs, as the US has seen an employment boom in states such as Pennsylvania, which had previously suffered from the closure of coal mines. 

Does fracking happen in the UK?

Before the ban in 2019, the company Caudrilla drilled two wells in Lancashire, though they faced repeated protests and legal challenges from local people and campaigners, on both climate and safety grounds.

Eventually, The Oil and Gas Authority told Cuadrilla to permanently concrete and abandon the wells by the end of June 2022, but the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) has said the firm now has until the end of June 2023 to evaluate options.

Previously, the Government awarded more than 100 exploration and drilling licences across the UK, many of which were across Yorkshire and Lancashire, and some in the south east.

The Scottish and Welsh governments have both confirmed that the ban on fracking will not be lifted in these nations.

Will fracking bring down energy bills?

It's not clear whether fracking could bring down the cost of energy bills, though Caudrilla claims 10% of the gas from the shale deposits in Lancashire "could meet UK gas needs for 50 years".

However, Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng has been accused of a U-turn on fracking, and not long ago told the Daily Mail, "The UK has no gas supply issues. And even if we lifted the fracking moratorium [ban] tomorrow, it would take up to a decade to extract sufficient volumes – and it would come at a high cost for communities and our precious countryside."

And six months ago the Chancellor, who was then Secretary of State at the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, tweeted: "No amount of shale gas from wells across rural England would be enough to lower European price any time soon.

"With the best will in the world, private companies are not going to sell the shale gas they produce to UK consumers below the market price."

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Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng will be setting out the Government's plans to tackle the cost of living crisis. Find out when is the mini budget and how it might affect you...

As we head into the colder months, the cost of living crisis is beginning to bite, with many searching for ways to cut household bills and trying to work out which is the cheapest supermarket. 

Now that new PM Liz Truss is in charge, many are hoping positive change is on the horizon, following her energy bill freeze announcement shortly after taking office. And this week Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng will be setting out further plans to tackle the rising cost of living in an emergency announcement. Find out here when is the mini budget and what it could entail.

When is the mini budget?

The mini budget will be announced on Friday, September 23. Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng will be delivering the fiscal statement in the House of Commons, at some time in the morning.

The budget is normally only announced by the Chancellor once a year - the last one was delivered by Rishi Sunak at the end of October 2021 - but this 'mini' budget has been announced to help tackle the cost of living crisis. The budget sets out how the government plan to spend their money, and Friday's announcement is likely to focus on tax cuts.

Mini budget predictions

Stamp duty

According to The Times, Whitehall sources have said that government officials have been working on stamp duty cuts for months. It comes a year after the stamp duty holiday that was imposed during the pandemic, which many have blamed for increased property prices.

There are conflicting arguments over the effects of cutting stamp duty, with some saying the tax restricts markets and that a cut will allow more people to move house and give a boost to first time buyers, while critics say the move will actually punish first time buyers and make the housing crisis "even worse".

Ex Lib Dem leader Tim Farron tweeted about the rumoured cut, saying: "I hope this isn’t accurate. How to make the housing crisis in Cumbria even worse: give an extra incentive for people to buy homes they don’t need, pushing them even further out of reach for those who do need them…"

Energy bills

Liz Truss has already announced an energy bill freeze, meaning energy costs for a typical home will be frozen at £2,500 a year for the next two years. However, it's possible more help for those struggling to pay their bills will be announced in the mini budget.

The most likely announcement to be made regarding energy bills is the removal of the green levies. Green levies are a tax on energy firms in relation to their eco credentials, and this cost is often passed on to customers via their energy bill. 

The government said the removal of green levies will save households around £150 a year, but Paul Johnson, director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, described the policy as "somewhere between meaningless and pointless," owing to the small amount households will save.

National Insurance

Previous Chancellor Rishi Sunak increased National Insurance by 1.25 percentage points, and Liz Truss made it clear throughout her campaign to become the next PM that she plans to reverse this.

She previously told the BBC "I’ll always work to make sure that we are helping those who are struggling. That’s why we took the action that we took on energy bills because we didn’t want to see households facing unaffordable bills.

"And that’s why we’re going to take the action on National Insurance, reversing that increase as well. So, yes, we do have to take difficult decisions to get our economy right."

According to The Telegraph, the move to reverse the National Insurance hike will mean that someone earning £50,000 would save £468 a year in tax, while someone earning £180,000 would get an annual tax cut of more than £2,000.

Other tax cuts

Other tax cuts that Kwasi Kwarteng could announce to tackle the cost of living crisis will affect income tax, corporation tax, inheritance tax and VAT.

Under previous Chancellor Rishi Sunak's plans, a 1p cut to income tax was planned to come into effect in 2024. However, Liz Truss' government are reportedly planning on bringing this forward, as well as raising the higher rate threshold for income tax in England to  to £80,000 from its current £50,270.

According to The Telegraph, this move combined with the reversed National Insurance rise would meant that anyone earning £60,000 would save £2,539 a year, while someone on £50,000 would save £468 a year, and anyone earning £30,000 would save £218.

There is also expected to be a freeze in the current corporation tax rate to encourage companies to invest more in the UK and therefore stimulate growth, and Liz Truss has also committed to a review of inheritance tax. Inheritance tax brought in £6bn for the Government in the recent tax year, though it is generally seen as a tax on the wealthy.

It has also been reported that Liz Truss is considering cutting VAT, which would mean each household would see a drop in their spending.

The PM has defended her tax cutting approach, telling Sky News, "I don't accept this argument that cutting taxes is somehow unfair. What we know is people on higher incomes generally pay more tax so when you reduce taxes there is often a disproportionate benefit because those people are paying more taxes in the first place.

"We should be setting our tax policy on the basis of what is going to help our country become successful. What is going to deliver that economy that benefits everybody in our country."

However, US President Joe Biden has hit out at Truss' approach, with a tweet saying: "I am sick and tired of trickle-down economics. It has never worked. We're building an economy from the bottom up and middle out."

The criticism came just a day before the two leaders were due to meet for a full bilateral meeting with at the United Nations General Assembly.

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After Liz Truss travelled to Balmoral to be officially appointed by Her Majesty, many are wondering how many Prime Ministers did the Queen have?

It's a busy time in the world of politics, with new PM Liz Truss appointing her new Cabinet ministers to deal with the pile of tasks that have arisen as a result of the cost of living crisis. The public are eager to know more about their new leader's policies, as well as details of her home life such as does she have children.

Most will be hoping that Truss' time in the role will be less drama-ridden than the final few months of her predecessor Boris Johnson's time in office, who's ongoing scandals left many wanting to know if the Queen can sack a Prime Minister. And while it's highly unlikely this would happen, the monarch is responsible for appointing the new PM. And after Liz Truss returned from her meeting at Balmoral, people were keen to know how many other Prime Ministers the Queen had during her reign.

How many Prime Ministers did the Queen have?

Over the course of her time on the throne, the Queen worked with 15 different Prime Ministers, and appointed all but one of them: Winston Churchill.

Churchill was elected for his second stint as Prime Minister in October 1951, just four months before Her Majesty's father, King George VI, died and she became Queen. Churchill was waiting on the tarmac when the Queen stepped of the plane from Kenya, just after her father's sudden death.

1. Winston Churchill

Churchill was the Queen's first and reportedly favourite PM, best known for leading the country through World War Two.

He lost his second election in 1945, but became Prime Minister once again in 1951, shortly before the Queen ascended to the throne.

Churchill's second term as PM was marred by health problems, which eventually led him to resign in 1955.

2. Anthony Eden

Anthony Eden succeeded Churchill as Conservative leader, but was Prime Minister for just two years before resigning due to ill health.

He was leader during the 1956 Suez crisis, and there was speculation at the time as to how much he confided in the Queen about the government's approach to the crisis.

3. Harold Macmillan

Harold Macmillan was Prime Minister from 1957 to 1963, and is said to have got on well with the Queen.

On one occasion, Her Majesty and the PM were seen together huddled over a transistor radio as US astronaut John Glenn was hurtling through space.

4. Alec Douglas-Home

Alec Douglas-Home was only PM for one year, after losing the 1964 election to the Labour Party.

He was a family friend of the Queen before becoming Prime Minister, and the pair reportedly bonded over their love of dogs, with one aide saying: "He was an old friend. They talked about dogs and shooting together. They were both Scottish landowners, the same sort of people, like old schoolfriends."

5. Harold Wilson

Harold Wilson was the Queen's first Labour Prime Minister, and the pair reportedly got on well.

According to one long-standing member of the Labour Party, Wilson and the Queen 'got on like a house on fire', while author Ben Pimlott said Wilson treated Her Majesty as an equal and talked to her as if she were a member of his cabinet.

Wilson served two terms as PM, 1964-70 and 1974-76.

6. Edward Heath

Between Harold Wilson's two terms, Edward Heath ran a Conservative government.

He was said to have struggled with small talk and his weekly meetings with the Queen were described as 'frosty', which may have been because of their differing views on the Commonwealth.

7. James Callaghan

Harold Wilson shocked the nation when he announced his resignation - just two years into his second term - saying he had always planned to step down when he turned 60. James Callaghan then took over as Labour leader.

However, Callaghan lost his position in 1979 after a vote of no confidence following the strikes of ‘the winter of discontent’.

He once said of the Queen: "One of the great things about her is that she always seems able to see the funny side of life. All the conversations were very enjoyable."

8. Margaret Thatcher

Thatcher served as Conservative Prime Minister from 1979-1990. She was the first woman to take on the role, and eventually resigned after being challenged by Michael Heseltine for the Tory leadership. 

She and the Queen reportedly clashed over some issues, but maintained a mutual respect for one another.

9. John Major

John Major served as Prime Minister from 1990 to 1997 - including during the Queen's 1992 'annus horribilis' (horrible year) - before suffering a major defeat to Labour in a general election.

He is said to have got on well with the Queen and the wider Royal Family.

10. Tony Blair

Tony Blair was Prime Minister for ten years and led New Labour, before his resignation in 2007. He is perhaps best remembered for the decision to invade Iraq in 2003.

Blair is said to have rubbed the Royal Family the wrong way when he revealed details of his private conversations with the Queen in his memoirs, published in 2010.

11. Gordon Brown

Gordon Brown took over from Tony Blair and led the Labour government for three years, until an electoral defeat in 2010 led to him resigning after his party failed to form a coalition with the Lib Dems.

It doesn't seem that the Queen was fond of Brown, as he - along with Tony Blair - was not invited to Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding in 2011.

12. David Cameron

David Cameron was the youngest PM to take office since 1812 when he took on the role in 2010. He was leader during the 2016 EU referendum, after which he resigned due to supporting the remain campaign.

He was once forced to apologise to the Queen, after he was caught on camera telling then New York mayor Michael Bloomberg that Her Majesty had 'purred down the line' when he called to tell her the result of the Scottish independence referendum.

13. Theresa May

Theresa May took over from David Cameron to become the second female Prime Minister in 2016 and held the post until she resigned in 2019, after to failing to get support for her Brexit deal. 

Ahead of the Platinum Jubilee, May told the House of Commons the Queen "has seen prime ministers come and go, I was number 13. She has greeted us all with charm and consideration and with an impressive knowledge and understanding of the issues of the day."

14. Boris Johnson

Boris Johnson won the 2019 Conservative leadership contest in 2019, and solidified his mandate with an election a few months later. He remained as PM until July 2022, when he resigned after a a number of scandals rocked his party and a slew of ministers resigned from his government.

Johnson revealed that when he first took on the role the Queen said to him she didn't know 'why anyone would want the job.'

15. Liz Truss

Liz Truss is the most recent Prime Minister to be appointed by the Queen, in September 2022. In a break from tradition, Truss travelled up to Balmoral for the appointment, to accommodate the Queen's episodic mobility issues.

Liz Truss is King Charles' first Prime Minister. But following heavy criticism of her Government and many asking can the King call a general election, speculation is growing as to whether it won't be long before we see the second Prime Minister under the new King.

Who was the Queen's favourite Prime Minister?

Most sources claim that the Queen's first Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, was her favourite.

When he resigned in 1955, she wrote a letter to the wartime PM expressing how much she would miss him, saying no successor "will ever for me be able to hold the place of my first prime minister.”

When she was once asked who has been her favourite PM, the Queen replied: "Winston, of course, because it was always such fun.”

Other Prime Ministers the Queen was said to get on well with include Harold Macmillan, Alec Douglas-Home, Harold Wilson, and John Major - the latter of which was reportedly popular with the Royal Family because of the genuine concern he expressed for the young princes William and Harry, first on the divorce of their parents and then on the death of Princess Diana.

On the other hand, Edward Heath's audiences with the Queen have been described as 'frosty', while Margaret Thatcher famously found her stays at Balmoral rather painful. According to the Queen's biographer, Ben Pimlott, Thatcher referred to the trips to Scotland as 'purgatory'.

Tony Blair also reportedly had a difficult relationship with the Queen, and it's widely thought that this is partly because he persuaded the Queen to address the nation after the death of Diana, following public outcry over her supposed hard-heartedness.

Royal expert Dominic Sandbrook said in an episode of Royals Declassified, "That sort of ritual display of empathy, which [Blair] was very good at, and the Queen wasn’t very good at, that was, he could see, an important part of our political culture that’s becoming.

"Nobody likes to be in somebody else’s debt. And I think the Queen probably did feel simultaneously he had saved her, but at the same time, she didn’t like the fact that he’d done it or like him for it."

How often did the Queen meet with the Prime Minister?

The Queen met with the Prime Minister once a week as part of her official duties, in which the PM kept her informed of government matters.

The meetings usually happened on Wednesdays, and saw the Queen welcome the Prime Minister in Buckingham Palace's audience room, with no special advisers and no record kept of what was said.

In a 1992 documentary, the Queen said of her meetings with Prime Ministers "[they] unburden themselves or tell me what is going on or if they have any problems, and sometimes I can help in some way as well. They know I can be impartial and it is rather nice to feel one is a sponge.

"Occasionally one can put one's point of view and perhaps they have not seen it from that angle."

Video of the Week

Liz Truss has been declared the new occupant of Number 10, so where will Boris Johnson live now and what will he do next?

All eyes are on new PM Liz Truss, as the former Foreign Secretary takes up office following a long and heated Tory leadership contest. The public are keen to know more about the country's new leader, from her political views to her home life and if she has children.

Much like people have been asking where is Rishi Sunak now, her competitor in the Tory leadership race, Liz Truss' appointment has many wondering what will come of the former PM and how much are ex-Prime Ministers paid? He'll have to vacate his Downing Street flat, leaving many wondering: where will Boris Johnson live now?

Where will Boris Johnson live now?

Boris Johnson and his wife, Carrie Johnson, have reportedly bought a five-bedroom family home on the border of Herne Hill and Dulwich Village in south east London.

According to iNews, properties in the area routinely sell for more than £3m. Dulwich Village is home to top-end private schools, recherché boutiques and offers the suburban seclusion needed to raise the Johnsons' two children - two-year-old Wilf and eight-month-old Romy - while being just a 30 minute commute from Westminster.

Nearby Herne Hill recorded the sixth-highest remain vote in the country during the 2016 EU referendum, while the surrounding constituency, Dulwich and West Norwood, elected Labour MP Helen Hayes to Parliament in the last election, with the Green Party candidate coming in second.

As one local put it when talking to the i "I can see Carrie fitting right in – everyone with kids has a dog, we’re not far from Dulwich Park, but we all read The Guardian and voted against Brexit round here, I think Boris might feel like a fish out of water."

Why did Boris Johnson resign?

Boris Johnson decided to step down after a slew of ministers resigned under his leadership. He announced his resignation on 7 July, though remained in office until the new PM was appointed on 6 September.

His resignation came shortly after the former Conservative deputy chief whip Chris Pincher was accused by two men of drunkenly groping them, which led to a flurry of other allegations. Initially, Downing Street said that Boris Johnson had not been aware of any of the allegations against Pincher before appointing him, but it was later revealed that this was not true, with Mr Johnson then admitting he had been told in 2019, and apologising for appointing Pincher as deputy chief whip.

The scandal was one of several that had weakened Boris Johnson's leadership in the months leading up to his resignation. Others included partygate - which saw the former PM fined for breaking lockdown rules in June 2020 - and the Owen Paterson row. Then-Conservative MP Owen Paterson had broken lobbying rules to try to benefit companies who paid him, resulting in a House of Commons committee recommending a 30-day suspension. However, the PM was at the helm of a decision to instead set up a new committee to look at how investigations were carried out. After fury over this decision in the House of Commons, Owen Paterson resigned.

How long was Boris Johnson Prime Minister for?

Boris Johnson was Prime Minister for just over three years. He first took office on 24 July 2019 and left on 6 September 2022.

Johnson was first appointed as PM after Theresa May resigned and he won the ensuing Tory leadership contest, beating runner up Jeremy Hunt by 92,153 votes to 46,656. 

A few months after taking office, Johnson called a general election to cement his leadership, which the Conservative Party won with 43.6% of the vote and a large majority of 80 seats.

By the time Johnson resigned, this majority had dwindled slightly after the Conservatives lost a number of by-elections.

In his resignation speech, Boris Johnson said he was sad to be giving up 'the best job in the world', adding "I want to thank you the British public for the immense privilege you have given me and I want you to know that from now until the new Prime Minister is in place, your interests will be served and the government of the country will be carried on."

What will Boris Johnson do next?

Boris Johnson is still a sitting MP for his constituency Uxbridge and South Ruislip. After leaving office, it is likely he will return to the backbenches.

He has also made his name in the world of journalism, and before becoming Prime Minister he made £275,000 a year from his column for the Daily Telegraph. In recent weeks, he has been writing articles for the Daily Mail.

Boris Johnson is also expected to take up jobs as a public speaker and may even finish off a book he's supposed to be writing, Shakespeare: The Riddle of Genius. According to the FT, he was paid an advance of £88,000 to write the book in May 2015, but was forced to shelve the project due to his commitments in politics.

Could Boris Johnson make a comeback?

Rumours have been circulating that Boris Johnson may attempt to make a political comeback, partly fuelled by his own resignation speech, in which he said "mission largely accomplished, for now."

Professor Bale, who has written a history of the Conservative Party, told BBC News that a return couldn't be ruled out, but added "It would make me seriously worried about the future of the Conservative Party if they returned to Boris Johnson."

Lord Edward Lister, a close ally of Johnson, told Sky News that he would 'never write him off' when asked if he thought Boris Johnson would make a comeback.

Video of the Week

Many are wondering where is Shamima Begum now? The former London schoolgirl who travelled to Syria in 2015.

At just 15-years-old, Shamima Begum left her home in Bethnal Green along with two other schoolgirls - Kadiza Sultana, 16, and 15-year-old Amira Abase - and travelled to Syria to join Islamic State, also known as ISIS. She first made headlines in February 2019 when she announced her desire to return to the UK - news which divided opinion across the country and further afield. 

While some believe Begum was groomed and should be allowed to return to the place she grew up in, others think she should face the consequences of her decision to join Islamic State. Four years on from her plea to return to the UK, many are wondering what happened to the former Bethnal Green schoolgirl. So, as the BBC releases a new documentary allowing Begum to tell her own side of the story, we take a look at where is Shamima Begum now.

Where is Shamima Begum now?

Shamima Begum is currently being held in a detention camp in north-east Syria. Speaking from the Al-Roj prison camp in July 2022, she told iNews that she expects to spend the rest of her life in Syria.

The publication said that Begum "lives in the so-called 'de-radicalised' side of the camp alongside other female prisoners and their children." They add: "She has ditched traditional Islamic garb and wanders its dusty streets wearing a t-shirt, leggings and large sunglasses."

Shamima Begum has been imprisoned in the Al-Roj camp since 2019, when coalition forces defeated Isis in Baghuz.

More recently, Shamima Begum has reappeared in the news after the BBC released a 10-part podcast called The Shamima Begum Story and an accompanying documentary available on iPlayer, in which she tells the story of how she joined the terror group and her experience of life in a refugee camp.

In the podcast, Begum tells journalist Josh Baker: "This is, I feel, worse than a prison I think it’s because at least with prison sentences you know that there will be an end but here you don’t know if there’s going to be an end."

The podcast has been criticised by people who see it as 'giving terrorists a platform', and writer Wasiq Wasiq tweeted, "While the victims of grooming gangs are still trying to be heard and get justice, Shamima Begum manages to land 10-part podcast on the BBC."

However, the broadcaster has defended the project, saying: "This is not a platform for Shamima Begum to give her unchallenged story. This is a robust, public interest investigation into who she really is and what she really did."

What did Shamima Begum do?

Shamima Begum left the UK in 2015 to join IS with two other schoolgirls. Once in Syria, the 15-year-old married a Dutch man, Yago Riedijk, who was a convert to Islam and a convicted terrorist.

In the new BBC documentary, Shamima describes how her and her school friends became religious at around 15, after another friend's mother died. She explained how her friend told them about other teenagers had already left the UK to join ISIS, and that they should go too.

After the friend left, Shamima kept in contact with her and was eventually persuaded to join her in Syria.

In February 2019, The Times’ war correspondent, Anthony Loyd, found Begum in the al-Hawl refugee camp in north-east Syria. She was nine months pregnant and shared that she hoped to return to the UK to raise her child, but said at the time that she doesn't regret joining IS. She also reveals that she had had two other children who died of malnutrition.

Shortly after Begum gave birth, then-Home Secretary Sajid Javid announced plans to strip Begum of her citizenship on the grounds that she posed a danger to the UK. 

In October 2019 Begum started an appeal against the Home Office’s decision, and in July 2020, the Court of Appeal ruled that Shamima Begum should be allowed to return to the UK in order to contest the decision to revoke her citizenship. 

However, in February 2021 the ruling went to the Supreme Court, which voted unanimously against the decision to allow Begum back to the UK to fight her case.

What happened to Shamima Begum's two friends?

Kadiza Sultana and Amira Abase left the UK with Shamima Begum, and both are believed to have died in Syria during separate air strikes.

In the documentary, Shamima explains how she met her friends when she was 11, with an anonymous participant in the film describing Amira as "outspoken" and a member of several clubs and societies, while Kadiza was "tall" and "beautiful".

Shamima added, "We were all different, but we fitted together like pieces of a puzzle."

Sultana married an American Islamic State fighter and told her family - who she kept in contact with - that she was a housewife. However, intelligence sources believe she was involved in stitching explosives into suicide vests.

She is believed to have died in a Russian air strike in 2016, though this has never been confirmed.

Amira Abase married 18-year-old Australian Islamic State fighter Abdullah Elmir, who was killed soon after following a drone strike in December 2015. Abase also kept in contact with family, using social media to talk to her mother. However, when these messages stopped abruptly Amira Abase’s mother told press that she believes her daughter is dead.

Does Shamima Begum have UK citizenship?

No, Shamima Begum does not have UK citizenship. In February 2020, a tribunal ruled that removing Ms Begum's citizenship was lawful because she was 'a citizen of Bangladesh by descent'.

However, Begum has never visited Bangladesh. Authorities in the country have said she does not have citizenship, and she would not be allowed in, leaving Shamima Begum stateless.

In the documentary, Shamima describes how during her school years she "didn't feel British of Bengali."

She said: "I didn't feel Bengali because I didn't want to be Bengali, and I didn't feel British because I feel like I wasn't able to be British - even though I wanted to be."

She added, "I didn't feel like I was accepted by society because of racism and other things."

What is happening to Shamima Begum now?

Shamima Begum is currently appealing to restore her UK citizenship. But when asked as part of the documentary where she sees herself in seven years, Shamima replied, "I'll still be in this camp."

In July 2022, Begum made a new plea to be allowed to return to the UK. Speaking to iNews, she said she should be used as an example to counter extremism. "The problem is at the age of being a teenager you're very arrogant and you don't listen to people, so sometimes you really do have to learn the hard way. 

"I could be used as an example, like you don't want to end up like her. If it stops children making the same mistake that I made of course use me as an example."

In November 2022, Begum's appeal over the removal of her UK citizenship for joining Islamic State began in a London court. Her appeal is based on claims that she was a victim of child trafficking, because she was allegedly smuggled into Syria by a Canadian spy - a revelation that was uncovered in the book The Secret History of the Five Eyes by Richard Kerbaj.

Begum's lawyers say that she is a victim of grooming and child trafficking, and that she has been left in "exile for life." However, the British Government maintains their position that she is a threat to security, and that she willingly joined the terror group.

Video of the Week

After barristers voted to strike indefinitely from September, many are asking how much does a barrister earn?

Summer 2022 has seen huge numbers of workers striking as unions demand more pay amid the cost of living crisis. We've had train strikes, nurses strikes and Royal Mail strikes announced, and now the Criminal Bar Association has voted for barristers to walk out too.

Much like the train strikes left people wondering how much do train drivers earn, the industrial action from criminal barristers has prompted many to ask how much does a barrister earn? Here's everything you need to know about their pay, why they're striking and more...

How much does a barrister earn?

According to an independent review, the median salary for a barrister in 2019-20 was £79,800. However, the difference in barristers' earnings can vary dramatically, depending on their area of practice and the clients they attract.

According to The Lawyer, while the majority of barristers earn in excess of £60,000, nearly 12% earn less than £30,000 and only the top 2% earn over £1m per year. The top level of barrister is a Queen's Counsel (or QC), and these command the highest pay.

How much does a junior barrister earn?

Job search engine Jobted puts the average salary for a junior barrister in the UK at £42,000.

However, while a junior barrister at a commercial chamber may earn over £70,000, their counterparts in criminal or family law may make less than £20,000. In some cases, juniors have been leaving the profession because they can't make enough money to live on.

Why are barristers striking?

Barristers represented by the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) are striking in a dispute with the government over legal aid funding, pay and conditions. Legal aid is funding granted to help cover legal costs for defendants who could not otherwise afford lawyers.

The Government is due to increase criminal barrister wages by 15% from the end of September, but the pay rise will only apply to new criminal cases and not those already backlogged, of which there are more than 58,000 cases. The CBA has rejected this offer, and are asking for a 25% pay rise for legal aid work.

Jo Sidhu QC, chair of the CBA, has said: "Last year, we lost another 300 criminal barristers, why? Because they could not do this job anymore on what they were being paid, and for the hours that they were toiling.

"These shortages in manpower are causing increasing misery to victims and those accused who are desperately waiting, sometimes for years, to get justice and to see their cases finally resolved in court."

Dame Vera Baird, the Victims' Commissioner for England and Wales, said more victims could drop out of cases due to backlogs.

She told the BBC "The under-funding of the courts, which has been systemic since long before the pandemic, is already leading to a lot of people thinking that their lives can't remain on hold any longer and they are dropping out." 

When are barristers striking?

Since the end of June, barristers have been striking on alternate weeks. However, the new strike will see member of the CBA walk out for an indefinite, uninterrupted strike beginning 5 September.

Out of 2,273 votes cast, more than 79% voted to escalate the strike, while 258 were in favour of continuing the current action, and 207 in favour of stopping all action.

Justice Minister Sarah Dines said the decision by barristers was 'irresponsible', adding "The escalation of strike action is wholly unjustified considering we are increasing criminal barristers' fees by 15%, which will see the typical barrister earn around £7,000 more a year."

What does a barrister do?

A barrister is a type of lawyer that represents a case. They plead the case on behalf of the client, which often means appearing in court, and can give legal advice.

The work barristers do depends on their area of practice. There are 24 difference areas of law, from family law and property law to environmental law and shipping law.

Lawyers, barristers and solicitors: What's the difference?

The term 'lawyer' is used to refer to any legal professional, while the main distinction between barristers and solicitors is that solicitors don't represent their clients in court.

Solicitors take instructions from clients and advise on courses of legal action, as well as dealing with the paperwork involved in the case. If a case goes to court a solicitor will then refer the work to a barrister, who appears in court to represent the client.

What qualifications do you need to become a barrister?

Barristers need to have an undergraduate degree in law or they can complete a law conversion course if they achieved a degree in a different subject.

They will then need to complete the Bar Practice Course, which is the vocational component of the training, followed by a pupillage. The pupillage is normally taken in chambers and takes a year to complete. The first six months are non-practising and the second six are practicing months.

Video of the Week

Everything you need to know about the London bus strikes, including when the buses are running and which routes are affected.

Londoners are set for more transport chaos, as bus drivers plan to walk out on several days in January - some of which coincide with train strikes - across the capital. It's not the first time that travellers are facing disruption as a result of strikes, as several rail industry unions have been walking out over pay since June, while the London tube strike saw the Underground grind to a halt around the same time.

But it's not just rail workers that are showing signs of unrest this. Back in July, members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) voted for a Royal Mail strike, and now London bus drivers are joining the industrial action. Here's everything you need to know about the London bus strike, including the dates and which services are affected.

What dates are the London bus strikes?

The London bus strikes in 2023 take place between Wednesday 4 January and Thursday 26 January. There will be seven days of strikes in total, and upcoming dates include Thursday 19, Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 January.

Bus strikes also took place in December, on the 24, 27 and 31 of the month. The industrial action has been organised by the trade union Unite, which represents workers across all sectors of the economy in the UK and Ireland. 

Previously, London bus drivers have been involved in a pay dispute with Arriva bus company, which saw drivers walk out on 11 May 2022. However, the remaining strike days were suspended after an improved pay offer. 

More recently, London bus drivers walked out for two days in August as part of a dispute with London United, after the bus company failed to meet the union's pay demands.

This current strike involves the bus company Abellio, which operates services in Greater London.

London bus strikes dates - the full list

• Wednesday 4 January
• Thursday 5 January
• Tuesday 10 January
• Thursday 12 January
• Monday 16 January
• Thursday 19 January
• Wednesday 25 January
• Thursday 26 January

Why are London bus drivers striking?

Much like the strikes taking place across other areas of the public sector, such as the nurses strikes and teacher strikes, London bus drivers are striking over a dispute about pay and working conditions. 

Unite the union has said that Abellio hasn’t offered its drivers a fair pay rise in the wake of the cost of living crisis, despite pay rises being due to take place in January. 

General secretary Sharon Graham said: "Abellio is a vastly wealthy multinational company that could and should be paying its workers a fair pay increase. With workers struggling to cope with rampant inflation, Abellio’s failure to even enter into meaningful pay talks is cold-hearted and callous."

Meanwhile, Abellio London’s managing director Jon Eardley has said: "We urge Unite to recognise Abellio's 12 percent pay deal and encourage their members to resume normal services... We are deeply disappointed that despite this offer Unite plan to continue strike action over Christmas and into the New Year, bringing further disruption to hundreds of thousands of Londoners."

How much do London bus drivers get paid?

According to Glassdoor, the average yearly salary for a bus driver in the London area is £27,973. By contrast, Glassdoor puts the average London salary across all sectors at £37,579.

Meanwhile, Payscale calculates the average hourly rate for London bus drivers to be £12.77. London living wage is currently at £11.05 per hour.

Most bus drivers work around 40 hours a week across five days.

Which London bus routes are on strike?

• Day routes: 3, 27, 45, 63, 68, 109, 130, 156, 195, 196, 201, 207, 267, 270, 278, 315, 322, 350, 367, 381, 407, 415, 427, 433, 464, 482, 490, 969, C10, E5, E7, E10, E11, H20, H25, H28, H26, P5, P13, R68, R70, S4, U5, U7, U9
• Route 481 will operate but with fewer services on weekdays from 07:30-08:00, and from 15:00-16:00. 
• 24-hour routes: 24, 111, 159, 285, 344, 345
• Night routes: N3, N27, N63, N68, N109, N207, N381
• School routes: 671

Find out more information about strike days and how bus routes will be affected on the Transport for London website.

Video of the Week

What is the Enough is Enough campaign? The new movement trying to fight the rising cost of living in the UK.

It's being called the 'summer of discontent', as people around the UK show their frustration at the rising cost of living with train strikes, protests and petitions. While the government has announced a cost of living support package - with millions of families having already received their first cost of living payment - some members are calling on the government to do more.

Now, a new campaign has been set up to try and hold those profiting from the crisis to account. The Enough is Enough campaign has already received thousands of signatures - so many that the website briefly crashed - with support from trade unions and MPs alike. But exactly what is the Enough is Enough campaign and should you be getting involved?

What is the Enough is Enough campaign?

Enough is Enough is a campaign that aims to fight the cost of living crisis and "push back against the misery forced on millions by rising bills, low wages, food poverty, shoddy housing – and a society run only for a wealthy elite."

The campaign has set out five demands: a real pay rise, slashed energy bills, an end to food poverty, decent homes for all, and taxing the rich. It aims to meet these demands by holding rallies across the UK, forming community groups, organising picket line solidarity and taking action against the companies and individuals who are profiting from the cost of living crisis. The campaign also wants to cancel the October energy price cap, introduce universal free school meals, and restore the £20-per-week Universal Credit supplement.

Enough is Enough was set up on 8 August by trade unions and community organisations, and is supported some big names such as RMT Union general secretary Mick Lynch and MP Zarah Sultana. 100,000 people joined the campaign within the first 24 hours of its launch, causing the website to temporarily crash as people rushed to sign up.

Dave Ward, general secretary of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) - the same union that has voted for a Royal Mail strike - told ITV News that 'the country is on its knees'.

He said: "More food banks than McDonalds, millions of people unable to pay bills, millions more taking second jobs to even survive. All of this while the rich get richer. This campaign is about rebalancing the economy and winning back dignity for working class people.

"It’s time for trade unions, community groups and workers to come together like we haven't seen in decades – because that is the scale of this crisis."

A spokesperson for the treasury told the Evening Standard "We know that rising prices caused by global challenges are affecting how far people’s incomes go and we have continually taken action to help households by phasing in £37 billion worth of support throughout the year."

How to join the Enough is Enough campaign

Supporters can sign up to join the Enough is Enough campaign via its website.  Those who choose to sign up will be sent details of rallies, community groups and picket lines happening in their area.

The Enough is Enough website says "It's time to turn anger into action," and is supported by the CWU union, which represents postal, telecoms, financial services and tech workers, the community union ACORN, and socialist magazine Tribune. Ex-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has also shown his support for the campaign on Twitter.

Mick Lynch has urged the public to join the campaign, saying "It’s no good just being p***ed off. You’ve got to say, I’m going to turn that into an organisation with a set of demands and a way to fight for them."

Who is Mick Lynch?

Mick Lynch is the general secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime, and Transport Workers (RMT) and has been the face of the UK's ongoing rail strikes.

Lynch left school at 16 and qualified as an electrician, before moving into construction. After joining a trade union he found himself 'blacklisted' from the trade, and began working for Eurostar in 1993 - at which point he became active in the RMT.

The 60-year-old has held his post as general secretary since May 2021, and has made his demands for better pay and working conditions for rail workers clear in his many TV news interviews over the past few weeks. 

Who is Zara Sultana?

Zarah Sultana in a Labour Party MP and has represented Coventry South since 2019. She is also co-chair of the Socialist Campaign Group, a grouping of left-wing Labour MPs responsible for the launch of the campaign that saw Jeremy Corbyn become party leader in 2015.

Sultana joined the Labour Party in 2011, whilst doing her A-levels, following the coalition government's decision to increase university tuition fees. She went on to study International Relations and Economics at the University of Birmingham.

Sultana has said in support of the Enough is Enough campaign "Things can't go on like this: record profits for big businesses, record number of billionaires, record wealth for the top 10%. But life is getting harder for everyone else."

What is the cost of living crisis?

The prices of daily essentials are going up, but wages are not increasing at the same rate, meaning many households are struggling to make ends meet.

In response to this, the Bank of England has raised interest rates from 1.25% to 1.75% - the largest increase for 27 years - in attempt to slow the rate at which prices are rising and encourage people to spend less.

However, this means that not only are the prices of goods higher before they begin to decrease, consumers will now also be spending more on their mortgages and loans, while they will receive less return on their savings.

The UK is not the only country where interest rates have been raised. The European Central Bank has raised rates for the first time in more than 11 years, while the US, Brazil, Canada, India, Australia and Switzerland have increased rates too.

To help with the crisis, ex-Chancellor and current Tory leadership contender Rishi Sunak announced a number of measures to help households during his time in office. These include a £400 energy rebate, a £650 one-off payment to low-income households, £300 for those over the state pension age and £150 for those on disability benefits.

Why is there a cost of living crisis?

One of the main reasons for high inflation is high oil and gas prices. This has led to energy prices going up and gas bills increasing for homeowners across the UK.

During Covid lockdowns, the price of oil crashed due to the drop in its use, but as the world opened up again the price began to soar along with demand. Suppliers struggled to cope with this after reducing production during Covid, which has pushed up prices.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine is another factor, as not only is Russia one of the largest oil exporters, but Ukraine plays an important part in the supply of grain, which has contributed to rising food prices. Cupboard favourites like Lurpak butter have become more expensive, whilst pasta prices are up 50%.

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Tensions have escalated dramatically between China and Taiwan, with a Chinese invasion of the island increasingly looking like a possibility.

After the arrival of US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi in Taiwan sparked outrage in the Chinese government, many have been asking themselves: why does China want to invade Taiwan? Much like Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the source of tension is about one country's power over another. And while Taiwan is not a member of NATO, the support it has received from the US and the G7 has angered officials in China.

From why does China want to invade Taiwan to how big is the island, we've put together this simple guide to answer all your questions about the ongoing tensions.

Why does China want to invade Taiwan?

The Chinese government sees Taiwan as a breakaway province that will eventually become part of its country. But the people of Taiwan consider the self-ruled nation to be separate from China, whether it is granted independence or not.

Tensions have been heightened further recently, after the US indicated it would defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion and, more recently, after House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the island. To add fuel to the fire, research conducted by the National Chengchi University shows that that the proportion of people in Taiwan who identify as Chinese, or both Chinese and Taiwanese, has fallen considerably since the 1990s, and that most people consider themselves as Taiwanese.

Since the 80s, relations between China and Taiwan had seemed improved, with the war between the two declared officially over in 1991. However, when China proposed 'one country, two systems' - which would allow Taiwan significant autonomy if it agreed to come under Beijing's control - tensions rose again after Taiwan rejected the offer, leading China to insist that the government in Taiwan was 'illegitimate'.

Since then, Taiwan has elected leaders openly backing independence from China, and the current president, Tsai Ing-wen, leads the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

When did Taiwan gain independence?

The history between Taiwan and China is complex, but the election of Chen Shui-bian as the island's president in 2000 marked the first transfer of power from the Republic of China to Taiwan. 

Taiwan was first governed by China under the Qing dynasty from 1683 to 1895, after which point the Japanese took over power of the island. However, following World War Two, Japan surrendered and handed control of Taiwan back to China, which was, at the time, the Republic of China (ROC).

Civil war broke out in China not long after, and the ROC troops were defeated by the Communist army. Mainland China then became the People's Republic of China (PRC), while the remnants of the ROC government fled to Taiwan. 

Local people in Taiwan formed a growing democracy movement, which led to the election in 2000.

 Where is Taiwan and how big is Taiwan compared to the UK? 

Taiwan is an island in the Pacific Ocean, roughly 1,300 miles south east of China. It has a population of 23.1 million and an area of 13,826 square miles.

For comparison, the UK has an area of 93,628 square miles, making it roughly seven times bigger than Taiwan.

The Taiwan Strait separates the island from continental Asia. At its narrowest point it is just 130km wide and is a major international shipping channel.

On Thursday 4 August 2022, Taiwan confirmed there had been multiple Chinese missile launches into the waters of the Taiwan Strait during military drills.

What did Taiwan used to be called?

Portuguese sailors passing by the island in the 16th century named the island 'Formosa' - meaning 'beautiful island' - and the name was adopted by residents many years later.

When China gave up the island to Japan in 1895, many Chinese people in Taiwan decided to resist the transfer of power and declared independence, establishing what they called the free and democratic Republic of Formosa.

However, the Republic of Formosa was short-lived, as after five months the Japanese regained control of the island.

Does the UK recognise Taiwan?

The UK does not recognise Taiwan as a state and has no diplomatic relations with the island.

In 1950, the UK broke of its recognition of the ROC, and became the first Western power to recognise the People's Republic of China (PRC). The UK went on to close down its consulate in Taiwan in 1972 and signed an agreement that "acknowledged the position of the government of the PRC that Taiwan was a province of China and recognised the PRC Government as the sole legal government of China."

In July 2020, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon set out the UK government's policy on Taiwan, saying "The United Kingdom’s long-standing policy on Taiwan has not changed. We have no diplomatic relations with Taiwan, but a strong unofficial relationship based on dynamic commercial, educational and cultural ties. 

"We regularly lobby in favour of Taiwan’s participation in international organisations where statehood is not a prerequisite, and we make clear our concerns about any activity that risks destabilising the cross-strait status quo," he continued. "We have no plans to recognise Taiwan as a state."

Which countries recognise Taiwan?

• Belize
• Guatemala
• Haiti
• Honduras 
• Paraguay
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Lucia
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• The Marshall Islands
• Nauru
• Palau
• Tuvalu
• Eswatini
• Vatican City

Though Taiwan only has full diplomatic relations with these fourteen states - none of which are major powers - the nation has received support from the G7.

In a statement released on August 3, the foreign ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America said: "We are concerned by recent and announced threatening actions by the People’s Republic of China (PRC), particularly live-fire exercises and economic coercion, which risk unnecessary escalation. There is no justification to use a visit as pretext for aggressive military activity in the Taiwan Strait."

They added: "We call on the PRC not to unilaterally change the status quo by force in the region, and to resolve cross-Strait differences by peaceful means."

Is Taiwan in NATO?

Taiwan is not a member of NATO, and nor is China. This means that as a non- member, there is no guarantee of support and aid from NATO members if China were to invade Taiwan.

NATO usually provides support, security and a united front when one of its member countries is threatened, but countries hoping for NATO membership must meet certain political, economic and military goals before they can join.

However, Joe Biden has previously said that the US would defend Taiwan in the even of a Chinese invasion. Speaking at a joint news conference with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Biden said "That’s the commitment we made. We agree with the ‘One China’ policy. We signed on to it. All the attendant agreements [were] made from there. But the idea that [Taiwan] can be taken by force, it’s just not appropriate.”

Why is Taiwan not part of the UN?

Taiwan is currently unable to apply to the United Nations because of its complex relationship with China.

In 1971, the Republic of China - of which Taiwan was part of - was expelled from the United Nations by a vote of the General Assembly and replaced by the People’s Republic of China, because it had taken over the mainland of China in 1949.

The PRC has so far been able to block Taiwan's participation in the UN, and the UN does not recognise Taiwan as an independent country.

Why is Taiwan important to the world?

Taiwan's economy is hugely important to the wider world. A large portion of electronic equipment - such as phones, laptops, watches and games consoles - is powered by computer chips that come from Taiwan.

The BBC reports that, in 2021, 65% of the global production of computer chips was in Taiwan, and that one Taiwanese company, the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has over half of the world's market.

If China successfully invades Taiwan, they could control one of the world's most important industries.

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