Alok Sharma says questions on Covid restrictions are ‘gotcha’ journalism September 30, 2020 Business secretary Alok Sharma has said questions about new Covid restrictions amount to “gotcha” journalism, just one day after Boris Johnson could not explain his own rules at a press conference. Sharma said this morning that “there is an element of slightly gotcha about this” when asked about the latest Covid restrictions and that the [...]
UK sanctions Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko for vote rigging September 29, 2020 The UK has imposed sanctions on Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko and seven allies for “a string of human rights violations against opposition figures, media and the people of Belarus in the wake of rigged elections”. The sanctions mean that Lukashenko and his allies – including his son Victor Lukashenko – are banned from entering Britain [...]
Boris Johnson confused about his own rule of six coronavirus rules September 29, 2020 Boris Johnson was left red faced at a press conference today when he was unable to correctly identify his own coronavirus rules. The Prime Minister incorrectly said the rule of six – where only six people can meet up at a time – only applied indoors, after being asked a question by a journalist. It [...]
Boris Johnson vows to end ‘bogus’ UK discrimination against further education September 29, 2020 Boris Johnson has vowed to end the “bogus distinction” between further and higher education by providing £2.5bn in skills training and increasing access to loans for technical courses. This will include free courses to any adult that does not have an A-level, or similar, qualification from April and increased funding to SMEs to take on [...]
Tory minister backs ‘1984’ ban on singing and dancing September 29, 2020 A government minister has backed the government’s ban on singing and dancing in public venues, warning that some jobs in the UK’s night-time economy will take a “long time” to return in the wake of the pandemic. Skills minister Gillian Keegan told Sky News’ Kay Burley this morning that emergency laws implemented yesterday to curb [...]
Labour MP Claudia Webbe suspended from party over harassment charge September 28, 2020 Labour backbench MP Claudia Webbe has been suspended from the party, after being charged with harassing a woman. Webbe has also had the whip temporarily removed, meaning she cannot represent Labour in parliament, according to Labour List. The Crown Prosecution Service announced today that it had charged Webbe, MP for Leicester East, with “an offence [...]
Government looks to quell Tory rebellion over Covid restrictions September 28, 2020 The government is looking at ways at stopping a Tory backbench revolt over the implementation of new Covid restrictions, according to health secretary Matt Hancock. Hancock said he would meet with the revolt’s leader Graham Brady, chair of the powerful 1922 committee of backbench Tories, while also announcing that indoor mixing between households is now [...]
Brexit: EU renews legal threat against UK over controversial bill September 28, 2020 The EU has doubled down on its threat to take legal action against the UK unless it withdraws its controversial internal market bill that could breach the Brexit withdrawal agreement. European Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič said the EU would “not be shy” in using legal methods to stop the UK implementing the legislation after [...]
Liz Truss sets mid-2021 deadline for UK-US trade deal September 28, 2020 The UK is aiming to get a US trade deal completed by midway next year, according to international trade secretary Liz Truss. Truss revealed the deadline on trade talks during a virtual Spectator event today, saying any potential deal will need to be agreed before the US Congress’ power to approve trade deals expires mid-2021. [...]
Boris Johnson facing parliamentary defeat over Covid powers September 27, 2020 Boris Johnson is facing his first parliamentary defeat since winning the 2019 election, with up to 60 Tory MPs prepared to defy party whips and vote for an amendment to new Covid legislation. Legislation to extend powers allowing the Prime Minister to unilaterally impose coronavirus restrictions by a further six months will come before the [...]