RICHARD LITTLEJOHN: After The Two Ronnies of Doom, here’s the speech Boris Johnson SHOULD give today

Boris Johnson is today expected to announce further restrictions on our freedom aimed at preventing an upsurge in coronavirus. Like Al Pacino, as Michael Corleone in Godfather III, just when we thought we were out, they pull us back in. The new rules could include forcing pubs to close either early or altogether, rescinding efforts … Read more

BEN SPENCER analyses the dire warnings from Patrick Vallance and Chris Whitty 

Boris Johnson will unveil a major crackdown on normal life today in a bid to halt a second wave of coronavirus. He will drop his ‘back to work’ drive, announce restrictions on socialising and impose a 10pm curfew on bars and restaurants from Thursday. Pubs and other venues will be allowed to serve seated customers … Read more

HENRY DEEDES watches Patrick Vallance and Chris Whitty’s gloomy message to the nation

 Anyone awaking bleary-eyed from a weekend of grog-soaked revelry might well have assumed there had been an overnight coup.  All across the airwaves, whichever way you turned, were what looked like two mildly sinister government agents, wearing dark suits and pale shirts, both carrying that answerable-to-no-one air of officialdom. Their tone was severe, their message … Read more

Britain could still get a vaccine by CHRISTMAS, Sir Patrick Vallance says

1. GlaxoSmithKline and Sanofi Pasteur: 60million doses  The Government revealed on July 29 it had signed a deal with pharmaceutical giants GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Sanofi Pasteur If the vaccine proves successful, the UK could begin to vaccinate priority groups, such as frontline health and social care workers and those at increased risk from coronavirus, as early … Read more

Are the government’s ‘scary’ graphs as bad as they seem?

Graphs of coronavirus data presented to the public by chief scientists Sir Patrick Vallance and Professor Chris Whitty today may not be as scary as they were made out to be, according to experts. The chief scientific adviser and chief medical officer for England this morning warned that Britain is heading for a surge in … Read more

Chief scientist Patrick Vallance says he was ‘told off’ for backing lockdown

Prof Chris Whitty ‘told off’ chief scientist Sir Patrick Vallance for pushing too hard for a lockdown in March, confidential emails reveal Sir Patrick Vallance defended his performance in private email to colleagues Scientific officer said he was ‘stronger than anyone’ calling for early lockdown Sir Patrick said he was ‘told off’ by chief medical … Read more

Cabinet at war over the rule of six: Almost every minister on committee argued against stringent ban

Boris Johnson‘s Covid clampdown has divided his Cabinet, it emerged last night. He faces a fierce Tory backlash over the contentious ‘rule of six’ that bans gatherings of seven or more from Monday. A string of senior ministers opposed the measure at a crunch meeting, with Chancellor Rishi Sunak among those to speak out. A … Read more

Chief scientist Sir Patrick Vallance dashes hopes of coronavirus vaccine in 2020

1. GlaxoSmithKline and Sanofi Pasteur: 60million doses  The Government revealed on July 29 it had signed a deal with pharmaceutical giants GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Sanofi Pasteur If the vaccine proves successful, the UK could begin to vaccinate priority groups, such as frontline health and social care workers and those at increased risk from coronavirus, as early … Read more

Dominic Raab plays down ‘split’ between Boris Johnson and Sir Patrick Vallance

Dominic Raab today tried to pour cold water on growing claims of a split between Boris Johnson and his top scientist Sir Patrick Vallance over whether the UK could face a second nationwide coronavirus lockdown. Mr Johnson said he ‘certainly’ does not want to impose draconian restrictions again as he likened the ‘tool’ of national … Read more

SAGE told Boris Johnson ‘pre-Covid normality’ impossible

SAGE scientists told the Government a month ago it would not be possible to return to a ‘pre-Covid normality’ without a vaccine or a far better contact tracing system, it emerged today. In a report submitted to ministers on June 22, scientists advising Number 10 said social distancing will need to be in place until … Read more