Politics

Coronavirus: PM to review lockdown restrictions with cabinet

Image copyright EPA Boris Johnson will review the UK’s coronavirus lockdown with his cabinet later, after suggesting some rules could be eased from Monday. By law the government must review the restrictions every three weeks, and Thursday marks the latest deadline. The prime minister will address the nation at the weekend to outline plans for […]

Politics

Coronavirus: Private renters need more help to ‘ride out crisis’

Image copyright Getty Images Thousands of private renters who have lost their jobs could be facing eviction when the coronavirus lockdown ends, the government has been warned. Almost half a million people are at “high risk” of homelessness, according to 187 local councils across England. And charity Shelter says first time benefit claimants face falling […]

Politics

Coronavirus: MP Nadia Whittome ‘sacked’ as carer after ‘speaking out’ about PPE

Image copyright Nadia Whittome Image caption In March Nadia Whittome returned to the care job she had before becoming an MP An MP claims she was “effectively sacked” after speaking out about PPE at her part-time job at a care home. Nadia Whittome, Labour MP for Nottingham East, returned to work at Lark Hill retirement […]

Politics

Coronavirus: Ministers launch hardship fund for dairy farmers

Image copyright AFP Dairy farmers in England can apply for up to £10,000 in cash payments under a scheme to support the industry during the coronavirus pandemic. Demand for dairy products in the hospitality sector has dropped with the closure of many cafes and restaurants. Producers will be eligible for aid to cover 70% of […]

Politics

Nicola Sturgeon: ‘Care home situation profoundly upsetting’

The first minister has spoken emotionally of the “profoundly upsetting” situation in care homes as she set out the process of testing. At First Minister’s Questions, Nicola Sturgeon was addressing a plea to ensure those moving to care homes do not have coronavirus. Ms Sturgeon said that at “every single step of the way” the […]

Politics

Anti-abortion campaigner loses Stella Creasy poster ban appeal

Image copyright PA Media Image caption Stella Creasy previously said she had been targeted by the group for her pro-choice views An anti-abortion campaigner has failed to overturn a ban on posting images of MP Stella Creasy alongside photos of a dead foetus in her constituency. Waltham Forest Borough Council used a community protection notice […]

Politics

Coronavirus: Boris Johnson says he ‘bitterly regrets’ care home epidemic

Boris Johnson has said he “bitterly regrets” the coronavirus epidemic in care homes. Latest figures show deaths in care homes continued to rise amid a fall in Covid-19 related hospital deaths. At Prime Minister’s Questions, Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer accused the PM of failing to have a grip on the issue. Mr Johnson said a […]

Politics

Coronavirus: ‘Severe consequences’ if lockdown lifted too early

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Social distancing measures have been introduced to slow the spread of coronavirus Lifting some lockdown restrictions too early could have severe consequences, Northern Ireland’s finance minister has warned. Conor Murphy said he hopes the executive will publish a plan for “phased relaxation” in NI on Thursday. It is more […]

Politics

Coronavirus: Not possible to ‘reliably’ compare death tolls at this stage – Raab

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has insisted it is not yet possible to “reliably” compare coronavirus death tolls country-by-country. It comes as the UK reported its death total as 29,427, which is now higher than Italy’s 29,315. Answering the BBC’s David Shukman at Tuesday’s Downing Street briefing, Mr Raab said: “I don’t think you can make […]

Politics

Coronavirus: UK becomes first country in Europe to pass 30,000 deaths

Image copyright PA Media The UK has become the first country in Europe to pass 30,000 coronavirus deaths, according to the latest government figures. A total of 30,076 people have now died in hospitals, care homes and the wider community after testing positive for the virus, up by 649 from Tuesday. Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick […]