Coronavirus

Rishi Sunak has defended his Eat Out To Help Out scheme after suggestions it could have contributed to the increase in the spread of Coronavirus. The chancellor said  he felt it would be “simplistic” to connect any one thing to the rise in cases, which has prompted new restrictions aimed at preventing a second national […]

In his book on Winston Churchill, Boris Johnson wrote that “one man can make all the difference”. This biographer still had faith in the “great man” theory of history. In his admiration for a charismatic and controversial figure, Johnson seemed to be hinting, or perhaps thinking, that another latter-day controversialist might also make a pretty […]

Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s claim that the Coronavirus crisis is “on all of us” has been met with criticism. Sunak made the remarks while announcing his winter economy plan which aims to support jobs and the economy during the pandemic. He told the commons earlier: “The government has done much to mitigate the effects of the […]

Health secretary Matt Hancock has denied there is a conflict of interest in Sir Patrick Vallance holding £600,000 worth of shares in vaccine manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). Hancock said he found out from a newspaper about the UK chief scientific adviser’s shares in a drug company contracted to develop a coronavirus vaccine for the Government. The […]

Viewers have squirmed and cringed at Matt Hancock discussing how new coronavirus restrictions affect people’s sex life. The health minister was asked by Sky News’ Kay Burley how long the government had planned to stop people having “casual sex”. Burley was pointing out the restrictions allow “established couples” to meet up but bans those who […]

The government is facing imminent defeat of its bill to extend Covid-19 emergency powers, a Tory rebel has claimed. One minister and up to 50 Tory MPs are expected to withhold their support when the government’s legal extension of its lockdown powers goes to a vote in the Commons next week, The Telegraph has claimed. The paper […]

Ofcom has received 181 complaints about The Great British Bake-Off, after comedian Matt Lucas performed an impression of Boris Johnson on the opening episode of the series. The regulator says the majority of complaints made about the episode refer to Matt Lucas’ impersonation of the prime minister, which saw him wear a blonde wig and […]

Coronavirus restrictions are a “failure of government”, Labour’s Keir Starmer has claimed as he called for a ‘Plan B’ for the economic response. The Labour leader used a televised address to the nation on Wednesday to stress he supports new restrictions being brought in by the government, but that help aimed at keeping people in […]

Chauffeur-driven cars will be exempt from new laws forcing passengers to wear masks in taxis to slow the spread of coronavirus, Downing Street has said. Boris Johnson announced that passengers in licensed vehicles would have to wear coverings under new restrictions in England aimed at preventing a resurgence of Covid-19. But No 10 said the […]

The government is trying to blame the public for the imposition of new coronavirus measures, a public health export has claimed. The “punitive message” coming from Westminster around new fines for rule-breakers is the latest element and is “problematic” in terms of messaging, Professor Linda Bauld said. It comes after the public was blamed for […]

A Brexiteer commentator has claimed that it is “good” that her son has the coronavirus. Allison Pearson, a Telegraph columnist, made the claim when trying to justify her claims that the restrictions put in place by the government were hurting the young. The former Brexit Party supporter suggested there was no incentive for anyone to go to […]

Sir Keir Starmer will make a televised address to the nation following Boris Johnson’s coronavirus announcement. The Labour leader will get a “right of reply” on Wednesday evening to the prime minister’s address in which he warned tougher restrictions could be imposed if the rate does not fall. Starmer is expected to appear on the […]

Dominic Raab has admitted the government is struggling to get the coronavirus “under control”. The foreign secretary said he hoped the government could get Covid infection rates stable by Christmas. Speaking with BBC Breakfast‘s Charlie Stayt, Raab said: “A stitch in time saves nine. We want to make sure that as we go into Christmas that we’ve […]

Failure to reach an agreement with the EU in post-Brexit trade talks could hit Britain’s economy three times harder in the long term than coronavirus, a think tank has warned. Queues at the border, shortages of fresh food and medicine as well as more “hassle” travelling to the continent are also possible, according to the […]

Boris Johnson’s non-visit to Perugia in Italy was the peculiar story of the week. An Italian paper reported it as a fact. A categorical No.10 denial followed. Then it emerged that airport staff had actually seen the arrival of Tony Blair and seemingly thought he was still Britain’s prime minister. Many of us wish he were, […]

Nicola Stugeron has announced a ban on household visits across Scotland to help bring coronavirus “back under control”. The new regulations are set to come into effect on Friday, although it is being urged people comply from Wednesday. Speaking at the Scottish parliament, Sturgeon announced further measures to tackle rising Covid-19 cases including all bars and […]

Wetherspoon pubs founder Tim Martin has claimed the government’s 10pm curfew is a ‘PR’ stunt and claimed lockdowns “do not work”.Martin said pubs were not behind the rise in infections and the government was imposing the 10pm shutdown on pubs and restaurants to be seen to be doing something. Martin, a Brexiteer who founded the […]

Donald Trump’s focus on golf – rather than the coronavirus pandemic – has been given the Led By Donkeys treatment after the campaigners used soundbites from the president to make their point. The number of times the US president played golf during the coronavirus pandemic and the total Covid-19 deaths in the United States was projected […]

Boris Johnson’s chief adviser Dominic Cummings has been seen flouting coronavirus guidelines once again. Cummings was spotted heading to Downing Street walking side-by-side with his assistant Cleo Watson, ignoring the “one metre plus” rule set by his government. The breach of rules was reported on Good Morning Britain as the footage aired. “Is he off to Barnard […]

With Keir Starmer self-isolating, it was the turn of Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner to face Boris Johnson at the despatch box. It could all have been so different. Had the Labour deputy leadership election gone the Corbynistas’ way, it would have been Richard Burgon facing Boris Johnson at prime minister’s questions today. Richard Burgon, […]

Boris Johnson has refused to say when his government will launch a coronavirus inquiry. The prime minister said it would “not be a good use of official time” to launch an inquiry. Appearing in front of the all-powerful Liaison Committee, Johnson said: “Of course, we will have an inquiry into everything that has gone wrong […]

A Labour MP has pleaded with Boris Johnson to be a ‘real’ prime minister and unite the nation ahead challenges it faces concerning Brexit and the coronavirus. Chris Bryant became emotional when he begun speaking about the hardship his Welsh constituency of Rhondda faced during an appearance on Sky News. Talking to host Kay Burley, […]

Graham Brady, who runs the powerful 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers, said ministers could face backlash from their own MPs if they do not put new coronavirus restrictions to a vote in parliament. Appearing on BBC4’s Today programme, Brady said ministers had “got into the habit of ruling by decree”. “The British people are not […]

Like many of you, the other day I woke up to read headlines screaming “SCIENTISTS DISCOVER LIFE ON VENUS”. Like, I trust and expect, most of you I did not react to this by leaping to my feet and shouting “OMG LIFE ON VENUS” but rather by clicking on the link in question and saying […]

A radio presenter has warned against blaming England’s top medical expert for the country’s coronavirus woes in a monologue in which he claims the blame actually lays at Boris Johnson’s feet. James O’Brien claims ‘conspiracy theorists and fore-lock tug James O’Brien claimed people were “going after the Chief Medical Officer” out of frustration the nation […]

People should stop their “endless carping” about a lack of Covid-19 tests, Jacob Rees-Mogg has said, as Labour warned that a second spike is likely. Commons leader Rees-Mogg claimed the “phenomenal success” of Britain’s testing system should be celebrated. But after the government announced restrictions in north-east England, shadow health secretary Jon Ashworth warned: “It’s […]

Former Tory prime minister David Cameron has come under fire for suggesting his government’s austerity programme prepared Britain for a global pandemic. Cameron claimed that his austerity measures had put Britain in a better position to deal with the coronavirus pandemic. In an updated foreword of his memoirs released on Thursday, Cameron said although claims […]

Boris Johnson has urged the public to help save Christmas from the coronavirus. The PM said people have to be “both confident and cautious” and that it is “crucial” the country does not re-enter “some great lockdown again that stops business from functioning”.He told The Sun: “Christmas we want to protect, and we want everyone […]

A health minister has downplayed suggestions the country could be forced into another lockdown due to the government’s problems with testing. Minister downplays suggestion country could be forced into lockdown due to testing problemsEx-WHO expert Anthony Costello claimed that chief medical officer Chris Whitty is pushing for a two week restriction, despite Boris Johnson ruling […]

Business minister Nadhim Zahawi was forced to back down on his claims after incorrectly quoting the testing capacity figures instead of the actual daily tests carried out. Fiona Bruce calls out minister for ‘fantasy figures’ over nu Zahawai was accused of producing a “fantasy figure” during the fiery debate after giving a number three times […]

Sir Patrick Vallance said the “vast majority of the population remain susceptible” to catching coronavirus and the current situation required swift action to bring the case numbers down. In a televised press conference together with England’s chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty, Sir Patrick said there was “no doubt” the UK was in a situation […]

Boris Johnson faces a mounting Brexiteer rebellion if the government pushes ahead with plans to extend legislation giving it emergency powers to deal with the coronavirus pandemic. Prominent Brexiteers Peter Bone and Desmond Swayne have warned the prime minister could face significant opposition to extend to his emergency coronavirus legislation. The laws, introduced in April […]