The NHS coronavirus contact tracing app will not be rolled out nationwide until winter at the earliest, a senior health minister admitted today. Lord Bethell, the health minister responsible for the Covid-19 testing programme, said the app – which was supposed to be the UK’s saving grace for easing lockdown – is no longer the … Read more
Downing Street insists it has ‘no plans’ to axe the state pension ‘triple lock’ amid fears the Treasury could suspend the policy over predicted 20% wage surge next year caused by coronavirus furlough Triple-lock links pensions increases to highest of inflation, earnings or 2.5% But wages have been affected by furlough and experts predict a 2021 surge … Read more
Matt Hancock blundered today as he praised Marcus Rashford’s campaign for free school meals – calling him Daniel Rashford instead, before blaming it on his seven-year-old son for reading the Harry Potter books at 5.30am. The Health Secretary, who is a Newcastle United fan, was widely lampooned and criticised over the own goal on Sky News … Read more
England striker Marcus Rashford has revealed Boris Johnson thanked him for using his status as a world class footballer to speak on behalf of underprivileged families. Manchester United star Rashford spoke with the Prime Minister on Tuesday, after the government agreed to continue handing out food vouchers during the summer holidays. Speaking to the BBC, … Read more
Boris Johnson signalled tonight he wants the two-metre coronavirus social distancing rule axed as soon as possible as he admitted it was poisoning Britain’s economic recovery. The Prime Minister appealed to the nation for patience as he told anxious workers and business owners ‘we hear you’ as he fronted tonight’s Downing Street press conference. Answering … Read more
Send protesters who vandalise public memorials to ‘battle camp’ so they understand the Armed Forces, says minister Penny Mordaunt Penny Mordaunt said those who vandalise memorials should go to ‘battle camp’ Paymaster general said they needed to learn about work of the Armed Forces Statue of Churchill was targeted in the London race protests earlier … Read more
Spain threatens to quarantine holidaying Britons unless UK government drops own 14-day isolation rule for arrivals – just hours after saying they would NOT enforce the restrictions Spain is set to open up its sun-drenched tourist destinations from this weekend UK had expected to be included in lifting of restrictions from most of Europe Madrid … Read more
A decision on relaxing the two-metre rule will take ‘weeks’ and might not come before pubs and restaurants are due to start reopening on July 4, No10 admitted today. Downing Street played down the chances of a swift decision despite warnings a million jobs are at risk unless there is an easing, with mass redundancies expected … Read more
England should not ease lockdown until the NHS contract tracing system aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus is ‘effective’, the World Health Organization has said. As the UK government prepares to launch a ‘comprehensive review’ of the strict two-metre social distancing regulations currently in place, WHO’s director for Europe, Dr Hans Kluge, has voiced … Read more
Pubs, restaurants and shops could be allowed to ignore the two-metre rule when they reopen but should ban singing and shouting because it spreads coronavirus. It means businesses could have staff working closer together as long as they can show they’ve taken measures to lower the risk of catching the bug. Government scientists also said … Read more