Government gives parliament say over future Covid restrictions September 30, 2020 The government has agreed to give parliament a level of oversight over future Covid restrictions that affect the whole country in a bid to quell a rebellion from backbench Tories. Health secretary Matt Hancock said the government would “consult parliament” before announcing future England or UK-wide Covid restrictions and would “wherever possible…hold votes before such [...]
Tory rebellion amendment will not be voted on by MPs September 30, 2020 An amendment by Tory MPs that could have provided Boris Johnson with an embarrassing defeat over the government’s power to implement Covid restrictions will not be voted on by MPs. Sir Graham Brady’s amendment, which would have forced the government to consult parliament on all future coronavirus restrictions, was denied by Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle [...]
One-third of London Tory MPs ready to rebel against PM on Covid powers September 30, 2020 At least one-in-three London Conservative MPs are supportive of a potential parliamentary rebellion led by a group of powerful backbenchers. City A.M. understands that at least seven out of the capital’s 21 Tory MPs support a tabled amendment that would see Boris Johnson’s powers to implement new Covid restrictions curbed. Graham Brady, chair of the [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
