Starmer accuses Johnson of ‘winging it’ over coronavirus crisis June 3, 2020 Labour leader Keir Starmer has accused Prime Minister Boris Johnson of “winging it” in his handling of the coronavirus crisis which he says risks triggering a second wave of infections. Starmer said Johnson needed to “get a grip” of the situation and said government mishandling of the crisis risked making a “difficult situation 10 times [...]
‘A weekly test of showmanship’: Does PMQs shape public opinion? June 3, 2020 The greatest representation of Westminster’s gladiatorial spirit has to be Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs). MPs pack themselves onto the House of Commons benches every sitting Wednesday to watch and engage in the high political drama, which often has the feeling of a schoolyard brawl. The screeching interjections, snide personal attacks and fits of laughter from [...]
NHS coronavirus track and trace programme could help ease UK’s 14-day quarantine June 2, 2020 The new coronavirus test and trace programme could be used to scrap 14-day quarantines for people coming into the UK from abroad, according to a top government scientist. John Newton, who is head of the government’s Covid-19 testing programme, said that one way of getting around the newly implemented quarantine would be to test everyone [...]
BAME people up to twice as likely to die from coronavirus, says PHE report June 2, 2020 UK residents with a black and Asian ethnic minority (BAME) background are up to twice as likely to die from coronavirus, according to a new Public Health England (PHE) report. The report found that Britons with a Bangladeshi ethnicity were twice as likely to die than White Britons from Covid-19, while “people of Chinese, Indian, [...]
Facebook blasted by civil rights leaders over Donald Trump riot post June 2, 2020 Facebook has been accused of setting a “dangerous precedent” after refusing to remove a post from US President Donald Trump that has been widely condemned for inciting violence. Trump’s post, which referred to protests against the killing of George Floyd in police custody last week, was flagged by Twitter for “glorifying violence”. But Facebook boss [...]
Downing Street: Reports of UK compromise on Brexit talks is ‘wishful thinking’ June 2, 2020 Downing Street has dismissed speculation that the UK is preparing to compromise on fisheries and level playing field rules during Brexit trade talks with the EU. The Times reported today that EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier expected the UK begin to cave on the two major stumbling blocks to negotiations in this week’s negotiating round. [...]
Downing Street scraps weekend coronavirus briefings June 2, 2020 Downing Street has announced it will no longer be holding the coronavirus press briefings on weekends, due to low TV ratings. Number 10 said the briefings will continue Monday to Friday and the Prime Minister will host at least one a week, according to the PM’s spokesman. Before the Open: Get the jump on the [...]
UK statistics watchdog hits out at government use of coronavirus testing data June 2, 2020 The head of the UK’s statistics authority has written to health secretary Matt Hancock criticising the government’s use of data related to its coronavirus testing programme. In an open letter, the UK Statistics Authority chairman Sir David Norgrove said that the way the data was being analysed and presented had “limited value”. He wrote: “The [...]
UK tells China to ‘step back from the brink’ on new Hong Kong security legislation June 2, 2020 Foreign secretary Dominic Raab has told China to “step back from the brink” and to not enforce the planned security legislation in Hong Kong. Raab told MPs today that the new legislation “lies in direct conflict with China’s international obligations” and was a breach of Hong Kong’s autonomy. The UK announced last week it would [...]
MPs set to vote on parliament return after virtual proceedings June 2, 2020 MPs are set to vote on whether to drop virtual proceedings in the House of Commons amidst growing opposition to the changes. Westminster returns today after a recess, with House of Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg tabling a motion that would bring to an end the hybrid parliament of the past two months. This would mean [...]