Sweden’s coronavirus cases grow more slowly than Britain’s despite lack of lockdown

Sweden is piling up coronavirus cases more slowly than Britain – without the need for an economically crippling lockdown.  Over the last three days, Sweden added an average of 50 cases per million people, whereas Britain’s figure was 73 despite a shutdown which has now been in place for a month.  Britain’s three-day average has … Read more

Coronavirus UK: Matt Hancock insists lockdown must stay

Matt Hancock tonight insisted the coronavirus lockdown must stay until there is no risk of a second peak – as scientists warned the outbreak might not be fading. The Health Secretary vowed not to compromise the national effort against the disease as Professor Jonathan Van-Tam told the daily Downing Street briefing that while hospital occupancy rates … Read more

Government launches bizarre series of corny coronavirus adverts to get them shared online

The Government has launched a series of bizarre coronavirus adverts in a bid to get them shared online.  The adverts, which include deliberate errors, are designed to be mocked online so that people share them and spread the ‘stay at home’ message. It is a repeat of the Tory party‘s general election strategy in which social … Read more

MPs juggle politics with babysitting as they take part in historic first virtual Commons from home

Andrew Gwynne, Labour MP for Denton & Reddish, watching PMQs with one-year-old grandson Lyle It was an historic moment as British MPs sat in a ‘virtual Parliament’ for the first time ever as the coronavirus pandemic rages in Britain. But politicians taking part in Prime Minister’s Questions from the safety and comfort of their own … Read more

MPs take part in first virtual Parliament (with the odd wobble over technology)

Dominic Raab faced off against Sir Keir Starmer in the Commons today as MPs returned to work in the first ever ‘virtual’ parliament.  The Labour leader and Boris Johnson‘s stand-in were among the few MPs in the chamber for Prime Minister’s Questions’ this afternoon as the hybrid legislature met for the first time. With just … Read more

Fury from Dominic Raab over mandarin claim over EU procurement scheme

A top civil servant retracted explosive claims that ministers made a ‘political decision’ to shun EU procurement schemes for coronavirus ventilators and PPE amid fury from Dominic Raab, it was revealed today.   The government is facing fresh questions about the behind-the-scenes manoeuvring in the wake of extraordinary comments by Foreign Office mandarin Sir Simon McDonald.   … Read more

Tony Blair says Boris Johnson’s government is ‘overwhelmed’ by the coronavirus crisis

Tony Blair says Boris Johnson’s government is ‘overwhelmed’ by the coronavirus crisis and that ‘mass testing must be at the heart’ of their strategy Tony Blair today said he was offering constructive advice and not criticism The 66-year-old said the current government needed to be re organised  Said it was the most ‘difficult challenge’ he … Read more

Rogue trader Nick Leeson ‘boasts he is doing very well on the stock market’

Rogue trader Nick Leeson ‘boasts he is doing very well on the stock market’ amid the coronavirus pandemic Leeson ‘said “markets exist through crises” after declared he is “back trading”‘  He boasted ‘we are continuing to have another few great and profitable weeks’ Leeson was  jailed for six-and-a-half years after Barings Bank went bust in … Read more

Boris Johnson reveals he is ‘feeling better and on the road to recovery’ in call with Donald Trump

Boris Johnson told Donald Trump that he is ‘feeling better and on the road to recovery’ from coronavirus during a call with the US president today – as the Prime Minister increasingly appears to be back in the government driving seat. Despite Mr Johnson continuing to convalesce at Chequers with pregnant fiancee Carrie Symonds, the two leaders held … Read more

Coronavirus UK: Country faces lockdown until 2021

Scientists warned that the UK’s coronavirus outbreak might not be fading tonight amid claims Boris Johnson has joined Cabinet ‘doves’ calling for lockdown measures to stay until 2021. Professor Jonathan Van-Tam told the daily Downing Street briefing that while hospital occupancy rates had dipped in in London the picture in other parts of the UK … Read more