There is a “high degree of confidence” that vaccines protect against the Indian variant of COVID-19 – but it can “spread like wildfire” among those who haven’t had a jab, Matt Hancock has told Sky News. The health secretary urged those who are eligible for vaccination – but have not yet booked an appointment –
Politics
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is trailing Boris Johnson as the British public’s preferred prime minister by 17 percentage points, according to a new poll. Sir Keir had started to close the gap in April, pollsters Opimium said, but in a survey held on 13 and 14 May, he garnered just 23% support as preferred
Easing restrictions in England next week is the right thing to do, the government has said, after a warning that it might cause a “substantial resurgence” in hospital admissions. Health minister Edward Argar urged people to behave responsibly as lockdown measures are relaxed across England on Monday. It comes amid mounting concern over the spread
This was a news conference that earlier in the week probably wasn’t in the prime minister’s diary. What was in his diary was a convivial lunch with the Taoiseach Micheal Martin at his Chequers country retreat. The prime minister has grown fond of Chequers, we’re told, and missed escaping to the peace and quiet of
A minister has told Sky News that step three of England’s lockdown easing will still go ahead on Monday, despite soaring cases of the Indian variant of coronavirus in the UK. Latest figures show there are 1,313 cases of the variant in the UK, up from the 520 recorded the previous week. Live COVID updates
It was always going to be a long and painful afternoon for David Cameron. And it couldn’t have been much worse. But he didn’t help himself by being evasive, long-winded and giving some answers to questions that will be challenged and disputed. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Greensill paid ‘far
David Cameron has said he was paid a “generous annual amount” which was “far more than I earned as prime minister” to lobby on behalf of a now-collapsed financial services firm. Mr Cameron is appearing in front of two Commons committees to answer questions about his actions on behalf of Greensill Capital. Follow lives updates
Former prime minister David Cameron is set to face a long afternoon of questions from MPs over his lobbying for a now-collapsed finance firm. The ex-premier is due to appear on Thursday before two separate House of Commons committees over his actions on behalf of Greensill Capital. Mr Cameron has already been revealed to have
An independent public inquiry into the government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic will begin in the spring of next year, the prime minister has announced. Boris Johnson revealed the news in a COVID-19 statement to MPs in the Commons on Wednesday. He said that the government will launch a consultation on its terms of reference.
The government has promised to tackle obesity and improve mental health support, but there is no sign of long-promised legislation to reform adult social care. Boris Johnson has set out his legislative agenda for the new parliamentary session in the Queen’s Speech. Follow live updates from the Queen’s Speech Proposals on social care will be
The government has set out its legislative agenda for the new parliamentary session in the Queen’s Speech today. Its usual pomp and ceremony was scaled back drastically due to the COVID-19 restrictions that remain in place. It is also the Queen‘s first major public ceremonial duty since the death of her husband, the Duke of
Lex Greensill, the billionaire founder of the now bankrupt finance firm Greensill Capital, is to be questioned by MPs later in relation to the ongoing Westminster lobbying scandal. The treasury select committee is conducting an inquiry into the links between Mr Greensill, the government, and David Cameron – who was employed by Greensill Capital as
Boris Johnson is under investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards over his £15,000 trip to Mustique. The prime minister took the trip with his partner, Carrie Symonds, at the end of 2019 in the wake of his general election victory. Downing Street has previously said “all relevant transparency requirements” were met around the trip
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is to stage a frontbench reshuffle amid a row over the sacking of the party’s chairman in the wake of dismal election results. He is seen to have been bounced into the move after a backlash over removing his deputy Angela Rayner from her role as national campaign co-ordinator, with
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has revamped his frontbench team in the wake of dismal election results. Anneliese Dodds has been sacked as shadow chancellor and will become party chair. Replacing her as Rishi Sunak’s opposite number is Rachel Reeves. Honoured to accept the role of Shadow Chancellor. Our economic recovery must be fair. We
Nicola Sturgeon has issued a warning to Boris Johnson over a second independence referendum, declaring the prime minister will be “picking a fight with the democratic wishes of the Scottish people” if he tries to block another vote. Speaking as votes continue to be counted in the Holyrood elections, Ms Sturgeon said: “You will not