United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson has written to his own ethics chief, clearing himself of breaching the ministerial code of conduct over Partygate.

UK PM Boris Johnson denies breaching ministerial code of conduct

The partygate scandal is snowballing in the UK. Tory whips have been forced to draw up a battle plan as more Tory MPs call for PM Boris Johnson's resignation.

UK: Tory whips draw up battle plan as more Tory MPs call for PM Boris Johnson's resignation

There is certainly an improvement in the UK, where the businesses have edged higher in May except for consumer-facing companies that are most exposed to the growing cost of living.

UK business confidence tick higher in May: Lloyds bank business barometer rose in May

Virgin Atlantic becomes the first UK airline and the world’s leading career to allow its cabin crew to exhibit tattoos. For the time being, tattoos on the face and neck are prohibited for flight staff though it might get modify in future, reported by The Guardian.

Tattoos that represent cursing, culturally unacceptable, refers nudity, any sort of drugs and alcoholism are prohibited.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/rise-in-prices-globally-airline-fares-jumped-by-107-in-march-report-470778">Rise in prices globally, airline fares jumped by 10.7% in March: Report</a>

The airline will inform its employees of this policy change a month after launching its branding campaign “championing individuality,” and as the aviation sector scrambles to fill vital posts following the pandemic recovery.&nbsp;

Until now, Sir Richard Branson’s airline, like most others has prohibited visible tattoos only hiring people who could hide they’re beneath their uniforms. However, the chief police officer of the airline Estelle Hollingsworth, said that the limits a now being eased keeping focus on inclusion and their branding campaign.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;Global airline capacity peaks in 2022

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The officer said, “At Virgin Atlantic, we want everyone to be themselves and know that they belong. Many people use tattoos to express their unique identities and our customer-facing and uniformed colleagues should not be excluded from doing so if they choose.”

This is not the first time the airline has taken a decision in favour of its members, earlier the airline loosened rigorous cabin crew makeup requirements. The female cabin crew until 2019, were required to wear cosmetics when the restrictions were repealed and were given a choice to wear pants if they desired to instead of skirts. This decision was welcomed as a watershed moment by the female attendants.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/emirates-reports-significantly-reduced-loss-of-usd-11-billion-478668">Emirates reports 'significantly reduced' loss of USD 1.1 billion</a>

The embrace of body art is line with what the airline’s campaign is about, which has commercials featuring a varied range of passengers and employees including tongue piercings, which triggered the airport security. When later asked, the airline stated that such piercings are prohibited for the crew.&nbsp;

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(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Virgin Atlantic becomes the first UK airline and the world’s leading career to allow its cabin crew to exhibit tattoos. For the time being, tattoos on the face and neck are prohibited for flight staff though it might get modify in future, reported by The Guardian.

Virgin Atlantic becomes the first UK airline and the world’s leading career to allow its cabin crew to exhibit tattoos. For the time being, tattoos on the face and neck are prohibited for flight staff though it might get modify in future, reported by The Guardian. Tattoos that represent cursing, culturally unacceptable, refers nudity, any sort of drugs and alcoholism are prohibited. Also read | Rise in prices globally, airline fares jumped by 10.7% in March: Report The airline will inform its employees of this policy change a month after launching its branding campaign “championing individuality,” and as the aviation sector scrambles to fill vital posts following the pandemic recovery. Until now, Sir Richard Branson’s airline, like most others has prohibited visible tattoos only hiring people who could hide they’re beneath their uniforms. However, the chief police officer of the airline Estelle Hollingsworth, said that the limits a now being eased keeping focus on inclusion and their branding campaign. Watch | Global airline capacity peaks in 2022 The officer said, “At Virgin Atlantic, we want everyone to be themselves and know that they belong. Many people use tattoos to express their unique identities and our customer-facing and uniformed colleagues should not be excluded from doing so if they choose.” This is not the first time the airline has taken a decision in favour of its members, earlier the airline loosened rigorous cabin crew makeup requirements. The female cabin crew until 2019, were required to wear cosmetics when the restrictions were repealed and were given a choice to wear pants if they desired to instead of skirts. This decision was welcomed as a watershed moment by the female attendants. Also read | Emirates reports 'significantly reduced' loss of USD 1.1 billion The embrace of body art is line with what the airline’s campaign is about, which has commercials featuring a varied range of passengers and employees including tongue piercings, which triggered the airport security. When later asked, the airline stated that such piercings are prohibited for the crew. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. (With inputs from agencies)

UK's airline allows cabin crew to show their tattoos

The controversy around lockdown parties hosted by UK PM Boris Johnson is now snowballing with now his wife being under the scanner for Partygate.

Partygate: More trouble for UK PM Boris Johnson as his wife is now under the scanner

The killing of 19 children and two teachers has revived a push for new gun safety laws in the US. The country has more firearms than people. It also has more permissive gun laws than many other high-income countries. In 2022, over 200 mass shootings have been reported in the US. Yet there's hardly any action. But how are other countries dealing with the issue?

As US grapples with gun terror, this is how NZ, Canada, Australia changed laws after mass shootings

In pics: Final touches as UK’s village prepares for queen’s Platinum Jubilee party

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been accused of breaking the ministerial code of conduct. Johnson faced the major backlash from the opposition. Will Partygate decide the future of Tory government?

UK PM Boris Johnson alters ministerial code of conduct

UK Finance Minister Rishi Sunak on Thursday unveiled his government’s £15 billion (US $18.85 billion) cost-of-living bailout package to help millions of people struggling with the worst cost-of-living crisis&nbsp;in decades.

The announcement comes in the wake of soaring energy costs, which rose by more than 40 per cent&nbsp;following the Russia-Ukraine war.

Apart from the energy crisis, UK is also battling one of its highest inflation in 40 years that has severely dented the pockets of average consumers in the country, with average earnings seeing a drop by 1.9 per cent from a year earlier, the biggest decline since 2013.

With the shadow of Susan Grey's report&nbsp;on lockdown parties hanging over Boris Johnson’s government’s head, Sunak addressed the House of Commons,&nbsp;by talking about the inflation scenario, saying that the government cannot “solve every problem”.

But Sunak said he would not allow people to be “set so far back they might never recover” - boasting that cost-of-living support now totals £37billion this year.

He cautioned that inflation was becoming entrenched, saying: “Over the course of the year the situation has evolved and got more serious,” Daily Mail reported.

Among the slew of announcements include:

1) One-off payments of different amounts will be given to the most vulnerable - the elderly, those with disabilities, and those with the lowest incomes

2) All households will receive a £400 discount on energy bills

3) Eight million of the lowest income families will also get a one-off payment of £650, Sunak says

4) He confirms a temporary windfall tax on oil and gas giants to fund the payments - a move called for by Labour

Watch |&nbsp;UK: Rishi Sunak to unveil cost of living support package

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5) There will be a one-off disability cost of living payment of £150, and pensioners will get £300

6) The UK government has also introduced a £5 billion ($6.3 billion) tax on the windfall profits of its oil and gas companies.

7) Sunak unveiled the new 25% tax on the profits of energy producers such as BP and Shell on Thursday. The levy will be phased out once oil and gas prices fall back to more normal levels, he said.

8) He said, “The oil and gas sector is making extraordinary profits, not as the result of recent changes, risk-taking or innovation or efficiency, but as the result of surging global commodity prices."

(With inputs from agencies)

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UK Finance Minister Rishi Sunak on Thursday unveiled his government’s £15 billion (US $18.85 billion) cost-of-living bailout package to help millions of people struggling with the worst cost-of-living crisis in decades.

UK Finance Minister Rishi Sunak on Thursday unveiled his government’s £15 billion (US $18.85 billion) cost-of-living bailout package to help millions of people struggling with the worst cost-of-living crisis in decades. The announcement comes in the wake of soaring energy costs, which rose by more than 40 per cent following the Russia-Ukraine war. Apart from the energy crisis, UK is also battling one of its highest inflation in 40 years that has severely dented the pockets of average consumers in the country, with average earnings seeing a drop by 1.9 per cent from a year earlier, the biggest decline since 2013. With the shadow of Susan Grey's report on lockdown parties hanging over Boris Johnson’s government’s head, Sunak addressed the House of Commons, by talking about the inflation scenario, saying that the government cannot “solve every problem”. But Sunak said he would not allow people to be “set so far back they might never recover” - boasting that cost-of-living support now totals £37billion this year. He cautioned that inflation was becoming entrenched, saying: “Over the course of the year the situation has evolved and got more serious,” Daily Mail reported. Among the slew of announcements include: 1) One-off payments of different amounts will be given to the most vulnerable - the elderly, those with disabilities, and those with the lowest incomes 2) All households will receive a £400 discount on energy bills 3) Eight million of the lowest income families will also get a one-off payment of £650, Sunak says 4) He confirms a temporary windfall tax on oil and gas giants to fund the payments - a move called for by Labour Watch | UK: Rishi Sunak to unveil cost of living support package 5) There will be a one-off disability cost of living payment of £150, and pensioners will get £300 6) The UK government has also introduced a £5 billion ($6.3 billion) tax on the windfall profits of its oil and gas companies. 7) Sunak unveiled the new 25% tax on the profits of energy producers such as BP and Shell on Thursday. The levy will be phased out once oil and gas prices fall back to more normal levels, he said. 8) He said, “The oil and gas sector is making extraordinary profits, not as the result of recent changes, risk-taking or innovation or efficiency, but as the result of surging global commodity prices." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

UK Finance Minister Rishi Sunak unveils $18 billion cost-of-living bailout package

Another Conservative MP, John Baron, withdrew support for UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, making him the fourth Tory parliamentarian to do so in the past one week following the publication of Sue Gray report which blamed the PM for allowing parties in Downing Street and Whitehall during Covid lockdown.

Baron, David Simmonds, Angela Richardson and Julian Sturdy joined the other 22 Tory MPs demanding Johnson’s resignation over the “shameful” parties.

Baron, first elected in 2001, said he was withdrawing his support because he believed Johnson had "knowingly" misled parliament —a charge the PM denies.

"Given the scale of rule-breaking in No. 10, I cannot accept that the prime minister was unaware. Therefore his repeated assurances in parliament that there was no rule-breaking is simply not credible," he said in a statement.

"Having always said I would consider all the available evidence before deciding, I'm afraid the prime minister no longer enjoys my support - I can no longer give him the benefit of the doubt."

Simmonds, who was elected in 2019, said Johnson had lost the confidence of the public.

Watch |&nbsp;'Partygate' Report: PM Johnson's staff got drunk, brawled &amp; abused cleaning workers

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"Accordingly, it is time for him to step down so that new leadership can take forward the important work of the government," he said in a statement.

Johnson can be thrown out of power if 54 lawmakers write a letter of no-confidence motion against him. According to BBC, only 18 MPs have written the letter, well short of the required number.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-finance-minister-rishi-sunak-unveils-18-billion-cost-of-living-bailout-package-482383" hreflang="en">UK Finance Minister Rishi Sunak unveils $18 billion cost-of-living bailout</a>

Gray's report followed the conclusion of a separate Metropolitan Police investigation into lockdown parties in Downing Street and other government offices.

As many as 126 fixed penalty notices were handed out for rule breaches, with the prime minister receiving a single fine for attending a birthday party in the Cabinet Room in June 2020.

Also see |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/johnsons-partygate-pictures-revealed-alcohol-food-and-music-during-lockdown-at-10-downing-street-482113">Johnson's partygate pictures revealed: Alcohol, food and music during lockdown at 10 Downing Street</a>

But Johnson is defiant insisting that he will remain as prime minister despite the "bitter and painful" judgement of Gray’s report.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Another Conservative MP, John Baron, withdrew support for UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, making him the fourth Tory parliamentarian to do so in the past one week following the publication of Sue Gray report which blamed the PM for allowing parties in Downing Street and Whitehall during Covid lockdown.

Another Conservative MP, John Baron, withdrew support for UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, making him the fourth Tory parliamentarian to do so in the past one week following the publication of Sue Gray report which blamed the PM for allowing parties in Downing Street and Whitehall during Covid lockdown. Baron, David Simmonds, Angela Richardson and Julian Sturdy joined the other 22 Tory MPs demanding Johnson’s resignation over the “shameful” parties. Baron, first elected in 2001, said he was withdrawing his support because he believed Johnson had "knowingly" misled parliament —a charge the PM denies. "Given the scale of rule-breaking in No. 10, I cannot accept that the prime minister was unaware. Therefore his repeated assurances in parliament that there was no rule-breaking is simply not credible," he said in a statement. "Having always said I would consider all the available evidence before deciding, I'm afraid the prime minister no longer enjoys my support - I can no longer give him the benefit of the doubt." Simmonds, who was elected in 2019, said Johnson had lost the confidence of the public. Watch | 'Partygate' Report: PM Johnson's staff got drunk, brawled & abused cleaning workers "Accordingly, it is time for him to step down so that new leadership can take forward the important work of the government," he said in a statement. Johnson can be thrown out of power if 54 lawmakers write a letter of no-confidence motion against him. According to BBC, only 18 MPs have written the letter, well short of the required number. Also read | UK Finance Minister Rishi Sunak unveils $18 billion cost-of-living bailout Gray's report followed the conclusion of a separate Metropolitan Police investigation into lockdown parties in Downing Street and other government offices. As many as 126 fixed penalty notices were handed out for rule breaches, with the prime minister receiving a single fine for attending a birthday party in the Cabinet Room in June 2020. Also see | Johnson's partygate pictures revealed: Alcohol, food and music during lockdown at 10 Downing Street But Johnson is defiant insisting that he will remain as prime minister despite the "bitter and painful" judgement of Gray’s report. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Four more Tory MPs withdraw support for UK PM Johnson over ‘partygate’

UK Finance Minister Rishi Sunak unveiled US $18.85 billion worth cost-of-living bailout package to help millions of people struggling with the worst cost-of-living crisis in decades.

United Kingdom: Energy bills to be cut by hundreds for households, Rishi Sunak unveils new package

Many parts of the world are reporting the rare monkeypox outbreak. The US reported its first case, and Britain reported close to 10 cases.

Predominant in African countries, cases of rare monkeypox surface in various countries including US

Rare monkeypox outbreak: The US reports the first case of monkeypox

The UK government will announce an emergency package to help people through the cost of living crisis on Thursday. Treasury sources suggested that Sunak's fresh support would focus on the poorest households.

UK: Rishi Sunak to unveil cost of living support package

The long-awaited investigation into UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the so-called partygate was released on Wednesday. The report suggests that the staff members who were present at Johnson's birthday party got drunk, puked and engaged in fights.

'Partygate' Report: PM Johnson's staff got drunk, brawled & abused cleaning workers

An investigation report into the UK partygate scandal, that involves PM Boris Johnson, blamed top officials in his office for allowing a 'culture of rule-breaking'. Gray investigated 15 gatherings attended by Johnson and his staff in 2020 and 2021.

'Partygate' Report Out: Sue Gray report details 15 illegal parties

The much-awaited report on the lockdown parties has been handed over to the downing street. The report is prepared by senior civil servant Sue Gray who had been tasked with looking into the claims of 10 downing street parties.

Boris Johnson grilled in Parliament after 48-page Sue Gray report with images published

Sue Gray report published: UK PM Johnson takes questions in the House of Commons

The Boehly-Clearlake consortium, which agreed terms to acquire Chelsea for 4.25 billion pounds earlier this month, passed the Premier League Owners` and Directors` Test, the league said on Tuesday, paving the way for the club`s takeover.

Chelsea Football Club Sale: UK govt issues license to Todd Boehly

New photographs have emerged of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson from another party during the lockdown. These images were published by the British broadcaster ITV shows Johnson partying with 9 other people

New 'Partygate' photos leak online, UK PM under scanner

While the United Kingdom is preparing to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee, Harry and Meghan's Waxwork figures are back at Madame Tussauds.

Harry and Meghan are back for Queen's Platinum Jubilee at Madame Tussauds

Commissioned by a private collector, UK's Royal Mint has unveiled a 15-kilogram huge gold coin to commemorate Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee.

Giant gold coin unveiled to celebrate Queen’s platinum jubilee

The much-awaited report on the lockdown parties will be handed over to the downing street later today. The report is prepared by senior civil servant Sue Gray who had been tasked with looking into the claims of 10 downing street parties.

Partygate scandal: Pressure mounts on UK PM Boris Johnson over Sue Gray report

The sale of Chelsea football club has gone through after the British government has approved its takeover by Todd Boehly.

Chelsea sale goes through as British government approves takeover

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