Government wants ‘total social control’ say rebel MPs as Commons extends emergency legislation

A group of Conservative MPs has accused the government of wanting “total social control” as the Commons overwhelmingly backed extending emergency coronavirus powers. A total of 76 MPs – including 35 rebel Tory backbenchers – voted against the extension but 483 MPs, including 176 from Labour, voted for the legislation to remain for another six […]

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Arrests at anti-lockdown protests; summer blow for ‘average holidaymakers’

Thousands of anti-lockdown protestors defied the government and Covid restrictions to take to London’s streets today, with at least 33 arrested by the Metropolitan Police after “ugly clashes”. Huge protests in Manchester passed without any arrests reported though the city centre was brought to a standstill by demonstrators against the new policing bill, violence against […]

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Johnson declares ‘the end is in sight’ while Sage says at least 32,000 more could die with Covid

Boris Johnson has laid out England’s exit from lockdown, declaring “the end is in sight” on the day the UK passed 129,498 deaths of people with Covid-19. The prime minister’s “cautious but also irreversible” road map out of lockdown is, he hopes, a “one way road to freedom” where even nightclubs could be open on […]

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UK must ‘come down hard’ on SA Covid variant says Hancock, while Isle of Mann ends all restrictions

Matt Hancock has said the UK must “come down hard” on the South African coronavirus variant after community cases were found in eight areas across England. “Surge testing” will be carried out in the eight postcodes where a total of 105 cases of the SA variant – called 501Y.V2 – have been identified. Worryingly, 11 […]

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‘Extreme concern’ over surge in Covid cases with NHS staff ‘back in the eye of the storm’

Matt Hancock has warned the “NHS is facing unprecedented pressures” from the coronavirus while a senior medical adviser expressed “extreme concern” about infection rates across the UK. Boris Johnson is meeting with ministers tonight (Tuesday) to discuss what changes need to be made to England’s tier system to curb the virus spreading. Concerns have been […]

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Gove warns of ‘bumpy’ moments to come as businesses and individuals get ready for charges and red tape

Michael Gove has warned UK businesses of “bumpy” moments ahead as the new arrangement with the EU comes into effect while individuals have been told to check their phone contracts, health insurance and passports if they plan to travel to the EU. British citizens not travelling to the EU have also been told they face […]

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