London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Feb 18, 2026

Hello. Here is our news digest from London.

The Ukraine war: Liz Truss has joined growing calls for fighter jets to be sent to Ukraine, in her first speech in Parliament since resigning as prime minister. Sending fighter jets and long range missiles will allow Britain and its allies to continue using Ukraine for fighting against Russia, without officially and publicly confronting Russia. Next, the Scottish government will urge MSPs to vote for a budget later, one that it says will help people most impacted by the cost of living crisis. On the food crisis at home: The "clock is ticking" for the government to protect homegrown food supply, the National Farmers' Union president has warned. Next, Prime minister Rishi Sunak is embarking on a frantic weekend of diplomacy in attempt to break the post-Brexit deadlock. In other words, Rishi will try to do over the weekend what the government has failed to do in the past 2 years. Now, to a good news from Tesco, for a change. Tesco, Britain's biggest retailer, will raise hourly pay for about 220,000 store workers by 7% from April. It's another increase that will likely catch the attention of the Bank of England, which is worried about inflationary pressure in Britan’s failed economy. Now, on to Scottish first minister candidate Kate Forbes. Scottish finance minister Kate Forbes, who is in the running to replace Nicola Sturgeon as the country's next "semi-leader", said on Monday that she would have voted against gay marriage as "a matter of conscience" in an interview with The Scotsman. The only reason we can think of for such a stand point, is that Kate Forbes is a hidden lesbian. We cannot find any other reason than hiding her sexual orientation by pretending that she is against something that is not, and should never be, a government business. The time when the British dictatorship imprisoned people because of their sexual preferences is now long gone It is sad that there are still psychopaths in the government who think they have the right to manage what’s inside each citizens' underwear. Let's leave personal business, and get on to commercial business. The Bank of England sought on Monday to allay fears among insurers that it was dragging its feet over a long-trailed and disputed reform of its capital rules, saying a "very good sense" of the changes would emerge well before December. Why wait for the best part of another year for something so simple? With such a bunch of losers at the top, no wonder the Bank of England has failed to protect the country’s currency and stem inflation. And more news from Rishi Sunak's PR department. Downing Street said that as part of a change in law, for the first time controlling or coercive behaviour will be on a par with physical violence. This is a very interesting approach, especially coming from a government representing a country that for the past five hundred years has been controlling and coercing the Caribbean, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. And even demonstrating the same coercive behaviours towards the exorbitantly-taxed subjects of England itself. Ok, let's move on from Fishy Rishi, to the better people in our society, the healthcare workers. Thousands of ambulance workers go on strike today, as junior doctors announce when they will also stage a walkout, while the government flunkies are getting much higher salaries and benefits for doing much less important work, if work of any use at all. Speaking on behalf of ambulance workers, GMB national secretary Rachel Harrison said they will walk out "because this government is tin-eared". She is being very polite. Now from the bad news for the essential workers, to the good news for the leisured class: England thrashed New Zealand by 267 runs when they dismissed their hosts for 126 in the opening session of the fourth day of the first test at Bay Oval on Sunday, taking a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. More news from Rishi Sunak’s PR department. Rishi said "intensive work" was needed in coming days to reach a resolution to the Northern Ireland protocol issue, after what he described as a "positive discussion" with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Well, yes, he would, wouldn't he. Seating and chatting in a nice room with good food and drinks, is hard work for people who have never experienced what hard work really is. Now about the UK property market: Rightmove wrote that the average asking price for British residential property rose by just 14 pounds in February from January, the smallest rise on record, for a month which normally sees a big seasonal increase. And if you are not too worried about property prices because you have no money to buy a house anyway, there is still bad news for you too. UK supermarkets are facing shortages of fresh fruit and vegetables, as a result of worsening weather conditions that have disrupted harvests in Spain and North Africa. We can’t wait for Rishi Sunak's constructive suggestion for all those hungry people: to let them eat cake. In Downing Street in the first decade of this century we used to tally how many times New Labour had been declared dead. Rarely did a week go by without an article suggesting that the once all-conquering New Labour had bitten the dust. They may well be biting back come the next election. And here is a good news for the Abigail Tech Mafia. Meta is safe from the UK's Market Dominance Lawsuit worth 3.7 billion dollars, for now. However, a London tribunal gave the claimants' lawyers up to six months to "have another go" at establishing any alleged losses by users. That’s it for now. We really hope we can come up with much better news ....tomorrow!


References
  1. Ukraine war: Liz Truss joins Johnson in calling for transfer of fighter jets
  2. MSPs urged to back tax-raising Scottish budget
  3. Clock ticking on UK food-security action, NFU warns
  4. Sunak facing threat of Tory rebellion over Northern Ireland protocol plans
  5. Britain's Tesco raises store workers pay by 7%
  6. Scottish first minister hopeful Forbes: I would've voted against gay marriage
  7. Post-Brexit insurance reform clear before December, says BoE's Woods
  8. PM Rishi Sunak Unveils Tougher Measures Against Domestic Abuse In UK
  9. Thousands of ambulance workers go on strike today - as junior doctors announce when they will stage walkout
  10. England beat New Zealand by 267 runs in first test
  11. UK, EU have an understanding on how to resolve Northern Ireland protocol, PM Sunak says
  12. UK property asking prices show weakest February gain on record: Rightmove
  13. UK consumers warned of weeks of fresh food shortages after storms in Spain and North Africa
  14. The Tories should be truly terrified because New Labour is back
  15. Meta Safe From UK Market Dominance Lawsuit Worth $3.7 Billion, For Now
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