Politics

The marking system which threatened to downgrade the exam results was not a “mutant algorithm” as claimed by the prime minister, but contained errors that were “predictable” and “could have been foreseen”, according to a leading statistician. Boris Johnson told a group of schoolchildren on Wednesday that “I’m afraid your grades were almost derailed by

The Home Office has admitted an advert attacking “activist lawyers” who represent people fighting deportation should not have been published – but has so far failed to remove it. The department’s top civil servant, permanent secretary Matthew Rycroft, upheld complaints against the video tweeted out on Wednesday. It sparked widespread condemnation from legal figures and

Sir Ed Davey has been elected the new Liberal Democrat leader following a month-long ballot of party members. The Lib Dems had been without a permanent leader since December’s general election, in which previous leader Jo Swinson lost her seat in the House of Commons. The election was a huge disappointment for the Lib Dems,

The Liberal Democrats are about to reinvent themselves yet again. Sir Ed Davey, their fifth new leader in five years, warned in his victory speech that the party needs to “wake up and smell the coffee”. “Nationally our party has lost touch with too many voters,” he said. Image: The 2010 coalition government: Conservative PM

The top civil servant at the Department for Education will leave next month after Boris Johnson “concluded that there is a need for fresh official leadership”. Following the controversy over the awarding of A-level grades this month, Jonathan Slater will stand down as permanent secretary at the department on 1 September. He is the second

Official advice on what hand sanitiser to use against coronavirus was watered down by the government 10 days before lockdown and no longer matches World Health Organisation (WHO) standards. WHO says hand sanitiser should contain at least 60% alcohol to be effective against COVID-19 and has published tests showing it takes 20 to 30 seconds

The chief regulator of Ofqual is standing down following the controversy over the awarding of A-levels. Sally Collier has decided that the “next stage of the awarding process would be better overseen by new leadership”, the body said in a statement on Tuesday. :: Coronavirus latest news: Keep up-to-date with COVID-19 developments around the world

Downing Street has apologised for the “distress” caused by the exams U-turn, as a senior minister refused to deny he offered to resign. Boris Johnson’s spokesman issued an apology after the chaos faced by A-level, GCSE and BTEC pupils last week. The prime minister was on holiday in Scotland while the row erupted over an

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab will meet Israeli and Palestinian leaders this week as he stressed the importance of building on a “new dynamic” in efforts to achieve a more peaceful Middle East. Mr Raab will visit Israel and occupied Palestinian territories for talks with senior figures, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President

Emergency plans drawn up by the government to protect the UK if a second coronavirus spike coincides with a no-deal Brexit have been revealed. A Cabinet Office “reasonable worst-case scenario” document, dated July 2020, has been leaked to The Sun newspaper. A government spokeswoman said it “reflects a responsible government ensuring we are ready for

The education secretary has defended going on holiday a week before the A-level exams controversy. Gavin Williamson cancelled a key meeting to go on holiday in Scarborough – days before teenagers received their results, according to The Sunday Times. In a message posted on Twitter, Mr Williamson defended the trip, writing: “I cancelled our family

The reopening of schools will “put pressure” on the R number and could lead to the closure of pubs and shops at a local level, the chief medical officer for England has said. Professor Chris Whitty acknowledged the government is having to “balance risks” in relation to whether children should return to their education during

A former Conservative Party campaign manager has been spared jail after he admitted possessing indecent images of children. Mark Lerigo received a suspended jail sentence and was ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work, but walked free after a court heard he did not to pose a high risk to children. The 49-year-old,

The eviction ban in England and Wales has been extended by four weeks, the government has announced. Ministers had come under pressure to extend the ban beyond Monday – when it was due to end – amid warnings thousands of renters could lose their homes otherwise. The measure was announced in March because of the

Brexit talks did not move swiftly forward this week, EU negotiator Michel Barnier has said, adding that he is “disappointed” with the progress of the negotiations. The EU’s Brexit negotiator accused the UK of showing “no willingness” to compromise on the bloc’s priority areas in order to agree a trade deal before the end of

Britons in a number of countries are scrambling to return home to avoid having to self-isolate for 14 days – as the transport secretary ruled out regional coronavirus quarantine rules. Croatia, Austria and Trinidad and Tobago have been added to the UK’s COVID-19 quarantine list, Grant Shapps announced on Thursday. From 4am on Saturday, anybody