Scottish Tories fume about PM’s ‘disastrous’ devolution comments as Scotland levels-up restrictions

Scottish Conservatives are furious about Boris Johnson’s latest gaffe saw him call devolution “a disaster” just months before the Holyrood election. From his self-isolation in Downing Street the prime minister managed to send – via the power of a Zoom meeting with 67 Tory MPs comprising the Northern Research Group – political shock waves across […]

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Delight at new vaccine tempered by fears of tighter tiers after lockdown

The UK has secured five million doses of the Moderna coronavirus vaccine which claims to have almost 95% effectiveness against the virus. Health secretary Matt Hancock confirmed the UK has “an initial agreement” for five million doses from the US drugmaker, but added they will not be available until spring 2021. “Absolutely brilliant news,” hailed […]

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Vaccine and mass testing boost for UK but Covid deaths hit highest daily toll since May

Doctors and soldiers have been put on notice to prepare for a national immunisation and mass testing drive across the UK following yesterday’s announcement of a coronavirus vaccine. Some 1,500 GPs and drive-through centres will deliver “at least 1,000 jabs a week” of the Pfizer and BioNtech vaccine from December 1, with health officials saying […]

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Covid mass testing in Liverpool – an ‘incredible opportunity’ or an ‘expensive, dangerous mess’?

The first Covid mass testing trial in the UK is underway in Liverpool with the city’s 500,000 people urged to take part in what the mayor called “an incredible opportunity to turbo-charge our efforts to reduce coronavirus in the city.” Some 2,000 soldiers have been called on to assist the trial and administer tests in […]

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Sunak U-turns on furlough – 3 million workers still excluded; Bank of England’s (extra) £150bn to bolster UK economy

Chancellor Rishi Sunak unveiled his fourth winter economic plan in six weeks by announcing the extension of the furlough scheme until March. It means the government will pay 80% of workers’ wages with companies paying national insurance and pension contributions. Support for self-employed had also been extended and the amount increased from previous Treasury statements. […]

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Priti Patel’s ban on ‘two-or-more’ people protesting will ‘cause a lot of trouble’

Priti Patel wants to ban protests of more than two people during the second lockdown and has briefed senior police officers to enforce coronavirus law banning marches and demonstrations. Chief constables are concerned the home secretary’s move is too oppressive for a liberal democracy while a civil law barrister warned the ban could breach human […]

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PM warns deaths will be ‘twice as bad’ as spring while Farage rebrands as anti-lockdowner

The prime minister will warn MPs that Covid-19 deaths could be “twice as bad” this winter compared to the first wave of the virus in spring. Boris Johnson’s Commons statement today (Monday, 3.30pm) will see the PM say there is “no alternative” to the four-week lockdown being introduced in England on Thursday. Labour leader Keir […]

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