UK’s Johnson vows to spend to boost infrastructure
June 30, 2019, 1:10 pm

UK’s Johnson vows to spend to boost infrastructure

Currently the favorite against Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, Johnson told Sky News there was cash available to spend on public services. File photoReuters

Boris Johnson said he would be willing to increase government borrowing to boost Britain’s infrastructure as he set out plans to take on the opposition Labour Party if he wins the race to be the next prime minister.

Currently the favorite against Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, Johnson said the government had not spent enough on public services such as education in recent years and needed to increase spending and cut tax rates to spur economic growth.

Johnson also said he would be an evangelist for business, adding that a crude remark he made last year dismissing corporate concerns about Brexit had been taken out of context.

“At the moment there is the headroom available and we intend to use it,” Johnson told Sky News.

Asked if he would increase borrowing he replied: “If it’s borrowing to finance a great infrastructure project, and there’s the opportunity to borrow at low rates for the long-term benefit of the country, then we should do them.”

Johnson has already made a series of pledges to increase public spending if he becomes prime minister, from hiking investment in transport to demanding a national rollout of superfast broadband and increasing police numbers, while cutting taxes for the lower and higher paid.

Former foreign minister Johnson and Hunt are battling each other to succeed Theresa May as prime minister and finally deliver Brexit, which has been delayed until October 31.

With the winner decided by the Brexit-backing Conservative Party members, Hunt has toughened his language around how he plans to leave the European Union, saying he would withhold some of the divorce agreement and reiterated his desire to leave by October 31.

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”