Trump phone call: Democrats ask FBI to open criminal investigation January 5, 2021 Two Democrats have asked the FBI to open a criminal investigation into US President Donald Trump over a phone call in which he pressurised a top Georgian official to overturn his election defeat. In the call this weekend, Trump told Georgia secretary of state Brad Raffensperger to “find” enough votes to reverse Joe Biden’s victory [...]
Rishi Sunak rolls out more financial support after sinking businesses demand immediate lifeline January 5, 2021 Rishi Sunak has set out plans to offer more financial support to businesses struggling under England’s third nationwide lockdown. Retail, hospitality and leisure businesses are set to receive a one-off grant of up to £9,000 per property to help them survive. Taxpayers will fork out another £4bn for the business grants, which will benefit more [...]
England Covid lockdown: What does it mean for Londoners? January 4, 2021 Boris Johnson has tonight announced a new seven-week national lockdown to deal with surging Covid rates that are now higher than during the country’s first peak last March. The new measures will make little difference in London, which is already in Tier 4, however people in the capital will still have less freedoms from tomorrow. [...]
‘Stay home’: England in national Covid lockdown from tonight January 4, 2021 People living England have tonight been told to stay home for at least six weeks
Scotland set to go into Covid lockdown from midnight January 4, 2021 Nicola Sturgeon has announced that Scotland will go into a Covid lockdown from midnight tonight for the rest of the month, in what is likely a sign of things to come for England. Sturgeon said the new measures would be “similar to the lockdown of March last year” and could be extended past the end [...]
National lockdown looms as teachers go head-to-head with government January 4, 2021 Ministers have refused to rule out a third national lockdown in England, as coronavirus cases and hospitalisations surge beyond numbers seen in the peak of the first wave. Health secretary Matt Hancock said this morning that the new strain of coronavirus was spreading rapidly across the country. “We can’t rule anything out,” he told Sky [...]
Keir Starmer calls for full national lockdown within 24 hours January 3, 2021 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has called on Boris Johnson to announce a full national lockdown in the next 24 hours. The leader of the opposition said the Covid-19 pandemic was “clearly out of control” and urged the prime minister to act immediately. “There’s no good the PM hinting that further restrictions are coming in [...]
Brexit: UK to start talks on quick EU financial services agreement January 3, 2021 The UK government will next week begin urgent talks to try and reach an agreement by March on the future of the UK’s access to EU financial markets. City minister John Glen and senior Treasury civil servant Katharine Braddick will lead the talks for the UK. Boris Johnson’s Brexit trade deal does not include an EU-wide [...]
Labour to send shadow cabinet member to Joe Biden inauguration January 3, 2021 Labour will send a delegate to Joe Biden’s presidential inauguration later this month as the party tries to consolidate ties with the incoming administration. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy have made a concerted effort over the past nine months to build relationship with the incoming administration. The Sunday Times [...]
Matt Hancock clears way for retired doctors to administer Covid vaccine January 3, 2021 Health secretary Matt Hancock has demanded that red tape keeping retired doctors from administering the Covid vaccine is slashed. Former doctors who have offered to administer the Covid vaccine have been forced to jump through a series of regulatory hoops and need to provide 21 different pieces of evidence to have their applications approved. Boris [...]