Ten Things You Need to Know Today: 28 August 2022

1. PM warns of ‘eyewatering’ bills

Boris Johnson said the next prime minister will tackle “eyewatering” energy bills. Writing in the Daily Mail, the outgoing PM said said the months ahead “are going to be tough, perhaps very tough” but his successor would deliver a “huge package” of support. He also predicted a “golden” future for the UK. Meanwhile, reported the Sunday Mirror, “prime-minister-in waiting” Liz Truss has claimed £4,817 in taxpayer expenses on gas and electric in the last five years.

2. Poll finds lack of faith in NHS

A new poll has found that people no longer believe the NHS will treat them quickly if they fall ill. The YouGov poll for The Sunday Times found that 58% are not confident they would receive timely treatment from the NHS if they fell ill tomorrow, with 36% not confident at all and 22% not confident. Meanwhile, 45% believe the service they receive has worsened in the past 12 months. The YouGov online poll of 1,708 adults was weighted to be representative of British adults.

3. Labour pledge to protect BBC

Labour has vowed to strengthen the BBC’s political independence and retain it as a publicly-owned, public service broadcaster at the heart of British life. Lucy Powell, the shadow culture secretary, said she is planning to end “revolving door” appointments of people in politics to top posts in the corporation, and extend the charter renewal period from 10 to 15 or 20 years. The Observer said there were signs that a Tory government led by Liz Truss would wage war on the corporation.

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4. Boosters for all ‘not good use of cash’

Annual Covid booster jabs are “not a good use” of taxpayer cash, the chief executive of AstraZeneca told The Telegraph. Pascal Soriot said that studies suggest the vaccine gives healthy people protection against severe disease for a “long time”. Research suggests immunity among most healthy people against severe disease should last “more than a year for sure,” he said, and could persist for three or four years. However, boosting elderly people may be a good strategy given they are more at risk, he added.

5. US ships enter Taiwan Strait

Two US navy warships have entered the Taiwan Strait in what is the first US naval transit in the waterway since tensions between Washington and Beijing rose over a visit to the island by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The US 7th Fleet in Japan said the guided-missile cruisers USS Antietam and USS Chancellorsville were sailing “through waters where high seas freedoms of navigation and overflight apply in accordance with international law”. Beijing considers the strait part of its “internal waters” but the US Navy said most of the strait is in international waters.

6. Charles to guest edit black paper

The Prince of Wales is to edit an edition of black newspaper The Voice. The royal, who said he was “so touched” to be asked, will edit The Voice in honour of its 40th anniversary, inviting guests Baroness Doreen Lawrence, Dame Floella Benjamin and actor Idris Elba to write for its pages. The Voice, which was founded in 1982, is the only national black British newspaper operating in the UK. Charles described it as an “institution”.

7. Pakistan appeals for more aid

Pakistan is appealing for further international help after floods caused suffering across the country. Although the US, UK, United Arab Emirates and others have contributed to a monsoon disaster appeal, more funds are needed, an interior ministry official told the BBC. Salman Sufi said more than 1,000 people have died and millions have been displaced since June. “Pakistan has been grappling with economic issues but now just when we were about to overcome them the monsoon disaster hit,” he told the BBC.

8. Rees-Mogg to sell civil service offices

Jacob Rees-Mogg is planning to sell off £1.5bn worth of government offices due to the number of civil servants continuing to work from home, noted The Telegraph. Taxpayers should not have to “fork out for half-empty buildings”, according to the minister for Brexit opportunities and government efficiency, who said expensive office space had been “under-utilised”. Rees-Mogg has been waging a high-profile campaign against civil servants working from home in the wake of the Covid pandemic.

9. Dutch commandos shot in US

Three Dutch commandos, who were in the US for training, have been shot and wounded outside a hotel in Indianapolis. The Dutch defence ministry said one of the men was in critical condition and the two others were conscious. The shooting occurred about 3.30am in Indianapolis’ entertainment district. Police said they believed some sort of altercation between the three victims and another person or people led to the shooting. No arrests have been made.

10. X Factor acts to sue Cowell

Five solo acts and one group who appeared on The X Factor are approaching a leading law firm to sue, claiming that appearing on the ITV show led to “bullying, mistreatment and neglect”. One claimant told the Sunday Mirror: “Being on the show was a horrific experience. We’ve been suffering for years as a result.” Launching the claim against Simon Cowell’s firm SyCo, they said: “Simon needs to take responsibility.” A spokesman for X Factor said: “Welfare of those taking part is our number one priority.”