A Green Party peer who suggested a 6pm curfew for men in the wake of Sarah Everard’s disappearance has told Sky News: “I just don’t think that men understand the pressure that women are under.” Baroness Jenny Jones of Moulescoomb told Sky News that the idea was “not an entirely serious suggestion” and is not
Politics
The “stay at home” order in Wales will be lifted and replaced by a “stay local” message this weekend – with people allowed to socialise outdoors in small groups. From Saturday, four people from two households will be able to meet outdoors to socialise, including in gardens. Outdoor sports facilities, including basketball courts, tennis courts
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has played down the prospect of the party making significant gains in May’s local and mayoral elections, saying the polls are going to be “tough”. Asked by Sky’s political editor Beth Rigby what would represent success for the party, Sir Keir said Labour would “fight really hard everywhere we’re putting
Sir Keir Starmer is attempting to exploit the row over the 1% NHS pay offer in elections on “super Thursday”, by claiming “a vote for Labour is a vote to support our nurses”. He is launching his party’s campaign for elections in England, Scotland and Wales on 6 May, the biggest poll since the general
The boss of Test and Trace has defended the £37bn pound service, dismissing a critical report by MPs as “old news”. In a rare interview, Dido Harding said England’s Test and Trace service was an “an essential component in the fight against COVID” and promised it would be carrying on for some time to come.
A new UK-EU row has broken out after the bloc’s chief made “completely false” claims that Britain has imposed an export ban on COVID-19 vaccines. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab is understood to have written to European Council President Charles Michel to “set the record straight” over remarks he made on Tuesday. And a top EU
Health service staff were expecting a bigger pay rise than the 1% offered by the government, the head of NHS England has said. Sir Simon Stevens told MPs that previous plans had budgeted for a 2.1% salary increase this year. Live COVID updates from the UK and around the world Please use Chrome browser for
Boris Johnson has hailed the return of schools across England as a “big” and “emotional” day – but warned it will impact on the spread of coronavirus and there is no guarantee the country will reopen on the target dates set out. Speaking at a news conference in Downing Street, the prime minister said it
A union leader has told Sky News “the jury’s out” on whether schools in England will have to close again. Asked if she was confident that pupils would not have to go back to remote learning at some point in the future, Dr Mary Bousted replied: “No, I’m afraid I’m not.” Live COVID updates from
The prime minister has defended a proposed 1% pay rise for NHS staff. “What we have done is try to give them as much as we can at the present time,” Boris Johnson said during a visit to a COVID-19 vaccination centre in north London. Live COVID-19 updates from the UK and around the world
Longer school days, shorter summer holidays and five-term years are all options under consideration to help pupils catch up on lost learning, the education secretary has told Sky News. Speaking to Sophy Ridge on Sunday, Gavin Williamson said the government is looking at a “whole range of different” proposals to help children amid the COVID-19
Boris Johnson has said the reopening of schools marks a “truly national effort” to beat coronavirus, as pupils prepare to return to classrooms across England. The first stage of the country’s lockdown easing begins on tomorrow, with indoor visits at care homes also part of the first lifting of restrictions. “The reopening of schools marks
The government has been accused of “snatching away” a previously suggested pay rise of 2.1% for NHS workers, as four major unions expressed their dismay at the 1% increase on offer. NHS Providers, which represents NHS trusts in England, said a long-term plan set out years ago by the government had assumed a pay rise
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is to set up a £35 million industrial action fund in response to the government’s recommendation of a 1% pay rise for NHS workers. RCN chief executive and general secretary Dame Donna Kinnair condemned health minster Nadine Dorries’ claim that 1% was “the most” the government could afford, calling
A 1% pay rise for NHS workers is “the most” the government can afford due to the economic cost of the COVID crisis, a health minister has told Sky News. The government is facing a furious backlash after calling for healthcare staff in England to be restricted to a pay rise of 1%. But Nadine
A former top civil servant at the Home Office has settled his employment tribunal claim against the government. Sir Philip Rutnam resigned from his role as the department’s permanent secretary last year, amid bullying allegations against Priti Patel. Announcing his departure, Sir Philip accused the home secretary of a “vicious and orchestrated briefing campaign” against