Newly appointed health secretary Sajid Javid has said his immediate priority is ending the coronavirus pandemic, as it was warned he faces a “baptism of fire”. Paying tribute to his predecessor Matt Hancock, who was forced to quit after being caught breaking social-distancing rules by kissing an aide, the cabinet minister said he knew the
Politics
So this is how it ends for Matt Hancock (for now). After months of leading the country through the pandemic and being caught in his own political crises along the way, the health secretary was brought down not by his failures but by his personal life. As soon as the bombshell photos of that embrace
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has resigned as health secretary after CCTV footage leaked of him kissing an aide in his departmental office, in breach of social distancing rules. Mr Hancock tendered his resignation in a letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Here is the text of the letter, and the prime minister’s response, in full.
Matt Hancock has admitted breaking social distancing guidelines after pictures emerged of him kissing an aide. Questions about the health secretary hiring former lobbyist Gina Coladangelo surfaced after pictures in The Sun newspaper showed Mr Hancock, who is married, embracing the aide in his office. “I accept that I breached the social distancing guidance in
The health secretary’s appointment of a close personal friend as an aide would have gone through an “incredibly rigorous” process, a minister has claimed. Questions about Matt Hancock’s appointment of former lobbyist Gina Coladangelo surfaced after pictures in The Sun newspaper appeared to show the health secretary, who is married, kissing the aide in his
Will Sir Keir Starmer face the biggest crisis of his leadership to date if he loses the by-election in the West Yorkshire constituency of Batley and Spen next week? Maybe. Will former Labour MP George Galloway, standing for the Workers Party, attract enough support from the constituency’s large Muslim community, previously loyal to Labour, to
Boris Johnson has indicated that a relaxation of travel rules for those who have had two doses of a coronavirus vaccine is on the horizon. The prime minister said there is a “real opportunity” to “open up travel through the double jab”. “We’ve got more than 60% of our population that have now had two
The UK’s vaccination rollout has saved more than 14,000 lives, and prevented 44,500 hospital admissions in England alone, including 2,500 in the past two weeks, according to vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi. Speaking at a Downing Street news briefing, he hailed the figures as “real progress” but warned “we know there is much more to do”.
Boris Johnson has apologised to victims and survivors of rape for the delays they have faced in securing justice. It came as Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer warned the prime minister that rape convictions “have plummeted on his watch”. Sir Keir questioned why, at present, 98.4% of rape cases do not end up in any
The deadline for applications to the government’s EU Settlement Scheme will not be extended beyond the end of June, a minister has warned, as tens of thousands face having their benefits cut. Home Office minister Kevin Foster said postponing the cut-off point would create “uncertainty”, adding that all those who make an application before June
The health secretary has insisted the government will deliver a plan for the reform of social care this year, as he refused to be drawn on whether a key meeting on the issue between him, the prime minister and the chancellor has been postponed. Matt Hancock told Sky News he was “not going to get
MPs and peers have warned the government that a controversial Bill which places curbs on demonstrations will restrict peaceful protest in a way that is inconsistent with human rights. The Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) has published a report raising concerns about the government’s Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, namely that it would
Edwin Poots, the DUP leader ousted after 21 days in the job, has told Sky News he nominated a First Minister against his party’s wishes to fight the Brexit Protocol. In an exclusive interview, he said: “My focus was on the Northern Ireland Protocol first and foremost because constitutionally that is what is damaging Northern
Matt Hancock did not withhold key COVID data ahead of the decision to postpone the easing of restrictions in England, the justice secretary has told Sky News. Robert Buckland defended the health secretary and said he has the “full support” of the government, denying reports that Mr Hancock held back data on the effectiveness of
Former Conservative MP and Commons Speaker John Bercow has said his switching of allegiance to join the Labour Party is “not personal against Boris Johnson”. Mr Bercow told Sky News his decision to defect away from the Conservative Party is not to do with the PM, but added that Mr Johnson has “only a nodding
Alison, a 16-year-old from Barnsley in South Yorkshire, is among the thousands of pupils across the UK who struggled to cope with the pressures of homeschooling during lockdown – with her education suffering as a result. “It was so much more difficult to concentrate at home. At school you can get your head down but