When do the clocks go back? Big Ben prepares for first change in five years - BBC

UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor

By Jasmine Andersson

BBC News

The UK's most famous clock will be put back to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) this weekend for the first time since 2017.

The Great Clock of Westminster, widely but unofficially known as Big Ben, will be changed by parliamentary mechanics in the early hours of Sunday.

It has been largely silent for five years, after it was dismantled and repaired in a renovation project.

Clocks across the UK will go back an hour at 02:00 on Sunday, offering many people an extra 60 minutes in bed.

If you were expecting a spectacle of Big Ben's hands being wound back, you will be disappointed.

That is not going to happen - instead, it will be manually paused, with lights on the four clock faces turned off at 22:00 on Saturday.

The clock will be stopped and restarted at midnight. The lights will then come back on at 02:00, when the correct time will be displayed.

"This is so people looking up do not wonder why the hands are going round and get confused," said clock mechanic Alex Jeffrey.

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said the time change would "herald a new beginning" for the iconic London landmark.

He hailed the team behind the scenes, which will work for 24 hours to ensure all 2,000 timepieces across Parliament are changed in time.

While most of us are tucked up in bed, they will be "clocking up eight miles [13km] changing our parliamentary clocks," Sir Lindsay said.

When do the clocks go back?

This autumn, the clocks go back by one hour at 02:00 on Sunday 30 October.

The clocks are moving from British Summer Time (BST) - also known as Daylight Saving Time (DST) or GMT+1 - to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

Why do the clocks change?

Well, according to BBC Bitesize, "during World War One, the German army turned the clocks forward as a way of conserving energy. Many (but not all) European governments followed suit shortly afterwards - including the UK."

The overhaul project - which saw the Big Ben bell silenced for all but a select number of occasions over the past five years - was ordered to restore, repair and conserve parts of the clock and tower damaged by pollution, asbestos and natural wear and tear.

The Elizabeth Tower that houses the clock was finally free of its scaffolding in April this year. At that point the clock hands were restored, so Londoners and visitors alike could once again look up to check the time.

The work was due to be completed in 2021, but its finish was delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Members of the public will be able to visit Big Ben from next year.

PA Media

Around the BBC

• Why do we turn the clocks back?

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiJmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jby51ay9uZXdzL3VrLTYzNDA0Mjg00gEqaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmJjLmNvLnVrL25ld3MvdWstNjM0MDQyODQuYW1w?oc=5

2022-10-29 02:27:23Z
CBMiJmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jby51ay9uZXdzL3VrLTYzNDA0Mjg00gEqaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmJjLmNvLnVrL25ld3MvdWstNjM0MDQyODQuYW1w

Rishi Sunak will deny King Charles his trip to Cop27 in Egypt - The Times

Rishi Sunak is upholding Liz Truss’s decision to stop the King attending the Cop 27 climate conference, even though he is “champing at the bit” to go.

The prime minister faces criticism over his own decision to skip the event and has been under pressure to allow the King to attend instead.

Charles is believed to be disappointed by the advice from No 10 that he should miss the event, which starts in Egypt next weekend, with allies suggesting that Sunak should let him go to prove Britain’s environmental commitment. However, the King will not force the issue after Downing Street made clear yesterday that Sunak would not reopen any debate about it.

Thérèse Coffey, the environment secretary, said that it was up to Charles

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiZ2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnRoZXRpbWVzLmNvLnVrL2FydGljbGUvcmlzaGktc3VuYWstd2lsbC1kZW55LWtpbmctY2hhcmxlcy1oaXMtdHJpcC10by1jb3AyNy10YWxrcy1oOG54NWJnY3TSAQA?oc=5

2022-10-28 20:00:00Z
1623016927

Rishi Sunak and Emmanuel Macron vow to co-operate on Channel crossings - No 10 - BBC

PA Media

By Jessica Parker

BBC Brussels correspondent

The UK and France have pledged to boost co-operation to tackle migrant crossings in the English Channel, Downing Street has said.

Rishi Sunak held his first call, since becoming prime minister, with President Emmanuel Macron on Friday.

No 10 said the two men expressed a commitment to "deepening" their work to deter the "deadly journeys."

A statement from the Elysée Palace after the call made no specific mention of migrant boats.

There have already been promises to deepen co-operation earlier in October, after then-Prime Minister Liz Truss met with Mr Macron in Prague earlier this month.

The pair pledged an "ambitious package of measures" to be announced this autumn.

Downing Street has refused to give details on any future plans or when an announcement will be made.

But Mr Sunak is said to have "stressed the importance for both nations to make the Channel route completely unviable for people traffickers".

• Truss attacked over Macron 'jury still out' remark
• How many migrants cross the Channel in small boats?
• UK spending £7m a day on asylum hotels

In 2021, the UK agreed to pay France £54m to boost patrols along France's northern coast.

A report, in The Times, says Mr Sunak wants to close a new deal with France, including targets for how many boats are stopped.

It has been claimed that the French "pulled the plug" on a draft agreement back in the summer, after Liz Truss said the "jury's out" on whether Emmanuel Macron was a friend or foe.

The Elysée has previously declined to comment while Ms Truss and Mr Macron appeared to patch things up after their October meeting in Prague.

The new prime minister chose on Friday to strike a markedly warm tone towards the French president.

Following their phone call, No 10 emphasized areas of co-operation - including climate change, defence, the war in Ukraine and energy.

According to Downing Street, Mr Sunak "stressed the importance he places on the UK's relationship with France - our neighbour and ally".

The Elysée said Mr Macron spoke of his willingness to deepen ties in defence and energy.

The UK and France have clashed in recent years over post-Brexit fishing rights, the AUKUS security pact and migration.

In November 2021, 27 people died in the worst-recorded migrant tragedy in the Channel.

But the UK was disinvited from a ministerial meeting on the issue after Mr Macron accused Boris Johnson - prime minister at the time - of not being serious.

There is speculation that Mr Sunak may forge a more positive relationship with the French president than his two predecessors.

They are close in age, often seen as "slick" in appearance and worked in banking before turning to politics.

Reuters

"I think in terms of style, they're quite compatible," says Lord Ricketts, who previously served as the UK's ambassador to France.

However the cross-bench peer notes that in substance, they're a long way apart on certain issues.

Mr Sunak was a Brexit supporter in 2016 while Emmanuel Macron is passionately pro-European.

The new prime minister has also signalled he intends to push ahead with certain policies, strongly disliked by the Elysée.

They include sending asylum seekers to Rwanda and pursuing legislation that could allow ministers to override parts of the post-Brexit deal for Northern Ireland.

"But at least there'll be a more serious dialogue than there ever was under Boris Johnson, provided Rishi Sunak can stay away from using France as political football," says Lord Ricketts.

In August, before leaving Downing Street, Boris Johnson said Emmanuel Macron was a "très bon buddy" and described the UK-France relationship as one of "huge importance."

A France-UK summit will go ahead next year.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiL2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jby51ay9uZXdzL3VrLXBvbGl0aWNzLTYzNDMwODY10gEzaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmJjLmNvLnVrL25ld3MvdWstcG9saXRpY3MtNjM0MzA4NjUuYW1w?oc=5

2022-10-28 15:29:06Z
CBMiL2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jby51ay9uZXdzL3VrLXBvbGl0aWNzLTYzNDMwODY10gEzaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmJjLmNvLnVrL25ld3MvdWstcG9saXRpY3MtNjM0MzA4NjUuYW1w

NI election looms as devolved government deadline passes - BBC

Northern Ireland is on course for an assembly election after politicians missed the deadline set by Westminster for restoring devolved government.

Chris Heaton-Harris, the Northern Ireland secretary, now must call an election to be held within 12 weeks.

He has pledged to do that on Friday, rather than try to delay it or avoid it with fresh legislation at Westminster.

The most likely date is 15 December, although a date for a poll does not have to be set immediately.

Mr Heaton-Harris is expected to lay out his plan later on Friday.

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) is blocking the restoration of power-sharing in its protest against the post-Brexit trading arrangements called the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Unionist politicians argue that the protocol undermines Northern Ireland's position in the UK.

It keeps Northern Ireland aligned with some EU trade rules to ensure goods can move freely across the Irish land border.

Analysis: Campaign trail leads to Christmas

by Darran Marshall, BBC News NI political correspondent

Chris Heaton-Harris had repeatedly pledged to call an election if the devolved institutions were not reformed.

We can expect him to move quickly. A formal announcement may come as early as lunch time on Friday.

Politicians at Stormont had argued that a new election would not solve the impasse over the Northern Ireland Protocol.

But they are now resigned to the fact they'll be hitting the campaign trail before Christmas.

As it stands, it is far from clear that the power-sharing government will return on the other side of an election.

The DUP withdrew from the Northern Ireland Executive in February, with ministers remaining in post but with only limited powers.

The executive is made up of ministers from the largest parties under a power-sharing arrangement and is designed to ensure unionists and nationalists govern together.

Getty Images

On Thursday, politicians failed in last-ditch efforts to restore devolved government ahead of the deadline.

Assembly members met at Stormont as Sinn Féin, which won the largest number of seats in the last assembly election in May, called for the DUP to end its protest.

What happens next?

With the deadline passed, the Northern Ireland secretary must call an election "as soon as is practicable" - to be held within 12 weeks.

Chris Heaton-Harris, who has been in office since 6 September, has consistently said he will call one after the deadline passes.

Stormont's caretaker ministers were removed from office as of midnight and senior civil servants are now in charge.

The assembly - which has been meeting only for special recalls since May's election - has also been dissolved.

As the DUP has said it will continue its protest against the Northern Ireland Protocol, the election is unlikely in itself to break the stalemate.

So Northern Ireland could be set for further cycles of negotiations, up to 24 weeks, and future elections until a resolution is found or the law is changed.

Read more: Q&A: Is Northern Ireland going back to the polls?

But the DUP denounced the assembly meeting as a "flawed and failed attempt" to restore power-sharing.

The meeting failed to elect an assembly speaker, or the first and deputy first ministers, so no government could be formed.

It is the fourth time the assembly has met and failed to elect a speaker since May's election.

Pacemaker

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had urged the DUP to return to Stormont.

His official spokesman said: "The people of Northern Ireland deserve a fully functioning and locally-elected executive which can respond to the issues facing the communities there."

Irish Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar described the situation as regrettable, urging all parties, particularly the DUP, to "honour their mandate".

How have politicians reacted since the deadline?

On Friday morning Sir Jeffrey defended his party's position and said "nothing has moved forward in solving the protocol" since the last assembly election.

"We've had three prime ministers, we've had the government changed often and we haven't seen the progress that is needed.

"We need a further period now to sort this out, get a solution on the protocol... and that will see the institutions restored immediately."

Pacemaker

Sinn Féin assembly member Conor Murphy said the the DUP would represent a "minority view" after an election.

"The majority of people, the majority of parties, the majority of MLAs elected want the institutions to work," said the former finance minister.

Eóin Tennyson of the Alliance Party said reform of Stormont was needed to prevent "stop-start devolution".

"Jeffrey Donaldson is claiming that he is somehow influencing the UK government or the EU - he's not," said the assembly member.

"He's simply punishing people in communities here."

Ulster Unionist Steve Aiken said there was a need for an functioning executive due to "all the difficulties we have coming up", including the cost-of-living crisis.

SDLP assembly member Matthew O'Toole said the lack of government was "testing" the patience of the public.

"People in this place are completely bored and disgusted with politicking, particularly from the DUP," he said.

He described the prospect of another election as a "terrible idea".

Do you live or own a business in Northern Ireland? How would an election affect you? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk

Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways:

• WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803
• Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay
• Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy

If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any submission.

Read more: Stormont crisis explained

• NI politicians return to Stormont to elect Speaker
• Who is NI Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris?
• A simple guide to the Northern Ireland Protocol
• Brexit and Northern Ireland: What does each side want?

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiN2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jby51ay9uZXdzL3VrLW5vcnRoZXJuLWlyZWxhbmQtNjM0MjA5MzHSATtodHRwczovL3d3dy5iYmMuY28udWsvbmV3cy91ay1ub3J0aGVybi1pcmVsYW5kLTYzNDIwOTMxLmFtcA?oc=5

2022-10-28 08:16:44Z
1627073303

Rishi Sunak: How the US shaped Britain's new leader - BBC

Courtesy of Stanford Business School

By Natalie Sherman

Business reporter, New York

Rishi Sunak, the UK's new prime minister, points to his time in the US studying and working as a defining part of his life. So what are his American connections?

The 42-year-old has made the California chapter of his biography a key part of his public persona.

He frequently cites his time there in his 20s and early 30s to burnish his credentials as a business-savvy leader.

"I have lived and worked in California and I actually think it's one of the reasons that I would be good at this job," he told the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg last month while running for the Conservative leadership.

"Because what I will bring to this job is a way of thinking that is different. When we think about growth and in a modern economy, how do you drive growth - you drive it through innovation. Because of my experience I know how to build that type of economy."

Here's a closer look at this period which had such an impact on him.

The 'power couple' on campus

Mr Sunak started his years in America at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business as a Fulbright Scholar, heading to Silicon Valley in 2004 as the internet boom was under way.

The programme, which admits roughly 400 students per year, has a reputation as the most exclusive business degree in the country.

Among the classes Mr Sunak took was "The Paths to Power", intended to help students understand power and how to wield it effectively.

He did not earn any particular academic distinctions and his professor in that class was unable to recollect him - understandably, given he taught 100 students a year.

But a more life-changing landmark in those early US years occurred when he met his wife, Akshata Murty, daughter of the founder of Indian tech firm Infosys.

Classmates at the time have told biographer Michael Ashcroft that they were a "power couple" on campus.

HM Treasury

Derrick Bolton, who was assistant dean of admissions from 2001-2016 and remains friendly with the couple, says Mr Sunak entered the programme "very self-assured".

"He knew from a young age that he wanted to make an impact on as many people as possible."

Earlier this summer the couple invited Mr Bolton to Downing Street for tea, where they lived in Mr Sunak's capacity as chancellor. They showed their visitor exhibits on former chancellors and served biscuits marking the Queen's Jubilee.

Mr Bolton, who attended their New York wedding celebration in 2009, said he was surprised they made the time.

"Despite the lofty titles and significant responsibility, they are the same two lovely people they were as students - open and kind and humble and remarkably self-effacing," he said. "They're very low-key, very chill."

Welcome to Santa Monica

After graduating, Mr Sunak took a lucrative job at the London-based hedge fund, TCI Fund Management.

Mr Sunak focused on the US, participating in the firm's bitter 2008 fight with the leaders of America's CSX freight railroad.

Lawyer Marc Weingarten, who worked closely with Mr Sunak at this point, said he stood out as a "sponge for information".

"He was all over it," he said. "They [Mr Sunak and his boss] had studied the industry and CSX in depth for months and their mastery of the industry and CSX was astonishing."

In 2009, in the wake of the financial crisis, top leaders at TCI left to start their own firm Theleme and took Mr Sunak with them.

He became part of a team of two based in Santa Monica, a beach-side city just outside of Los Angeles, and famous as the home of celebrities such as David Beckham and Christian Bale.

Google Streetview

He invested in companies such as Rupert Murdoch's News Corp and started to put down ties to the area, joining the board of local Boys & Girls Club, a charity which runs after-school programmes and other activities for needy children.

Aaron Young, who led the organisation at the time, says he was surprised to see Mr Sunak become prime minister but that his ambition was always evident.

"I think he always had aspirations," Mr Young said.

End of the California dream

Mr Sunak ultimately left the US, won a seat in the UK Parliament in 2015 and started his rapid ascent in British politics. But his California years have remained a frequent touchstone.

He has said he tried to introduce a "start-up" mentality while leading the Treasury Department, and credited Stanford for pushing him to shed "incremental" ways of thinking.

The years in the US also informed his decision to back Brexit, he told the BBC in 2019.

"The pace of change is just accelerating around the world - that was my experience being in California," he said. "My general broad view was given the pace of change... being independent and having the flexibility and nimbleness to react would be of enormous value to us."

More on Rishi Sunak and his family

• PROFILE: The Star Wars fan turned political force
• EXPLAINER: What we know about his family’s wealth
• PROFILE: Akshata Murty: Who is Rishi Sunak's wife?
• ANALYSIS: Is political chaos the UK's new normal?

Problematic ties

Mr Sunak and his wife continue to maintain a flat in Santa Monica, which they regularly visit. But his ties to the US have at times caused an outcry.

This year, it emerged he had retained his Green Card, giving him the right to live and work in the US as a permanent resident. He returned it in October last year, ahead of his first American trip as a government minister.

The disclosure occurred around the time it was revealed his wife did not pay taxes as a UK resident.

The controversies have been used to raise questions about Mr Sunak's commitment to the country, despite his being born and raised in the UK, says Victoria Honeyman, professor of British politics at the University of Leeds.

"There are legitimate questions - if you are chancellor of the exchequer, should your wife have non-dom status? Should you own a green card? The problem is that it gets tied up with a lot of issues that are not necessarily valid," she says, adding: "I'm not sure a white politician would have to make those kinds of justifications to the same degree."

But such controversies are low-level compared to the economic and political crisis he now faces as prime minister, says Rod Dacombe, director of the Centre for British Politics and Government at King's College London.

"The thing that's going to make or break him isn't the kind of story that he presents or his ties to America.

"It's going to be how he deals with the almost impossible economic situation that he's going to face," he said. "Is it going to be fixed in time for the next election? Probably not."

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiMWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jb20vbmV3cy93b3JsZC11cy1jYW5hZGEtNjM0MDI0OTHSATVodHRwczovL3d3dy5iYmMuY29tL25ld3Mvd29ybGQtdXMtY2FuYWRhLTYzNDAyNDkxLmFtcA?oc=5

2022-10-27 20:42:41Z
CBMiMWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jb20vbmV3cy93b3JsZC11cy1jYW5hZGEtNjM0MDI0OTHSATVodHRwczovL3d3dy5iYmMuY29tL25ld3Mvd29ybGQtdXMtY2FuYWRhLTYzNDAyNDkxLmFtcA