Ministers have rejected demands to allow more time for EU citizens to register to stay in the UK after Brexit by declaring: “Don’t delay, apply today.” The deadline for applying for post-Brexit residency under the government’s EU Settlement Scheme passes at midnight, with claims of a backlog of 400,000 cases. And some EU citizens who
Politics
Ministers are set to decide on whether to scrap self-isolation for school pupils in England if one of their classmates tests positive for coronavirus. The government has recently trialled daily contact testing for children as an alternative to an entire school “bubble” – made up of their class or even whole year group – having
Mobile phone footage has emerged of Professor Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer for England, being manhandled by two men in the street. The video, which appeared on Twitter has been condemned by vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi, who tweeted: “This is disgusting and these thugs must be found and charged. “Zero tolerance for harassing a public
Boris Johnson has suggested he decided Matt Hancock could no longer be health secretary after admitting breaking coronavirus rules. Speaking on Monday, the prime minister said Mr Hancock’s actions undermined the government’s public safety message and therefore he chose to bring in a new health secretary on Saturday – a day after the revelations were
Sky News presenter Trevor Phillips has challenged a Tory minister over the government’s “one rule for us” mentality, saying people were not allowed to attend his daughter’s funeral because of COVID restrictions. Phillips, who presents the channel’s Sunday political show, revealed how hundreds of family and friends were unable to be at the graveside for
Newly appointed health secretary Sajid Javid has said his immediate priority is ending the coronavirus pandemic, as it was warned he faces a “baptism of fire”. Paying tribute to his predecessor Matt Hancock, who was forced to quit after being caught breaking social-distancing rules by kissing an aide, the cabinet minister said he knew the
Matt Hancock has resigned as health secretary after admitting breaking coronavirus rules, Downing Street says. It comes after leaked CCTV appeared to show him kissing an aide in his departmental office. The images, published by The Sun, show Mr Hancock in an embrace with former lobbyist Gina Coladangelo on 6 May – more than a
The health secretary’s appointment of a close personal friend as an aide would have gone through an “incredibly rigorous” process, a minister has claimed. Questions about Matt Hancock’s appointment of former lobbyist Gina Coladangelo surfaced after pictures in The Sun newspaper appeared to show the health secretary, who is married, kissing the aide in his
It was never likely that Boris Johnson would fire one of his cabinet over an alleged affair. This afternoon Downing Street is busy attempting to shut down the Matt Hancock controversy and is making clear they regard the matter as closed. But there are plenty of grounds to think this issue won’t go away that
Matt Hancock has admitted breaking social distancing guidelines after pictures emerged of him kissing an aide. Questions about the health secretary hiring former lobbyist Gina Coladangelo surfaced after pictures in The Sun newspaper showed Mr Hancock, who is married, embracing the aide in his office. “I accept that I breached the social distancing guidance in
Spain’s Balearic islands, Malta, Madeira, and some islands in the Caribbean – including Barbados – have been added to England’s travel green list, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has announced. The Balearic islands are made up of Ibiza, Menorca, Majorca and Formentera. The move means those heading to some popular holiday hotspots will not have to
Boris Johnson has indicated that a relaxation of travel rules for those who have had two doses of a coronavirus vaccine is on the horizon. The prime minister said there is a “real opportunity” to “open up travel through the double jab”. “We’ve got more than 60% of our population that have now had two
The UK’s vaccination rollout has saved more than 14,000 lives, and prevented 44,500 hospital admissions in England alone, including 2,500 in the past two weeks, according to vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi. Speaking at a Downing Street news briefing, he hailed the figures as “real progress” but warned “we know there is much more to do”.
A minister has defended allowing UEFA officials and VIP fans to attend games in the latter stages of Euro 2020 at Wembley Stadium. John Whittingdale told Sky News there will be “some people coming in” for the semi-finals and final of the tournament, but they will be under “strict restrictions as to what else they
The UK’s decision to leave the EU five years ago will allow the country to “seize” its true potential when recovering from the pandemic, Boris Johnson has said. Marking half a decade to the day that UK voted to leave the bloc in a knife-edge referendum result, the Prime Minister said Brexit will act as
Since at least 2007,[i] America has been under hidden attack by cyber criminals in Russia. And the attackers have a crucial ally—Vladimir Putin. Many of the attacks on us we never hear of. For example, there have been 40 cyber-attacks on food companies in the last year alone.[ii] These attacks threaten our national security, something that became obvious Sunday, May