‘It would lift the spirit of the nation’: Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab reveals plans to play Premier League games behind closed doors are under ‘active consideration’ as he reinforces government’s desire to see Project Restart succeed Dominic Raab has assured that a Premier League return is under consideration He says it ‘would lift the spirits … Read more
A close ally of Jeremy Corbyn has today quit as Labour’s general secretary declaring it is the ‘right time’ to resign while new leader Sir Keir Starmer reshapes the party. Jennie Formby said that her two years in the role had been a ‘huge privilege’ and wished Sir Keir the ‘very best of luck’ in leading Labour … Read more
The Health Secretary last week announced that some 18,000 staff will be put in place as part of the mass-testing scheme Health Secretary Matt Hancock last night admitted that Britain may not hire its ‘army’ of 18,000 contact tracers until mid-May. Ministers last week announced a three-step battle plan to ease the UK out of lockdown, which … Read more
Minister tells furloughed workers they should get fruit-picking jobs to help farmers who are struggling to fill vacancies George Eustice expects there to be a need to recruit British harvest workers ‘A third of the migrant labour that normally comes to the UK is here,’ he says Up to 80,000 workers, mostly from Eastern Europe, … Read more
Health Secretary Matt Hancock – who has recovered from Covid-19 – shares photo of himself taking part in ‘painless’ clinical trial with plans to give it to 5,000 patients a week if tests are successful Health secretary posted the image on Twitter as a nurse took blood from his arm In the caption he implored … Read more
Health secretary Matt Hancock has avoided saying how low coronavirus cases will have to drop before the lockdown can be eased. At the daily coronavirus briefing on Thursday, Mr Hancock announced a huge programme of testing in an effort to get a picture of the spread of the disease. Testing and tracing lines of transmission … Read more
In the House of Commons today, Mr Hancock admitted he ‘can’t promise’ all Britons would receive a free face mask if they became mandatory Health Secretary Matt Hancock today admitted he ‘can’t promise’ all Britons will receive a free face mask if they become mandatory. In the House of Commons, Mr Hancock warned it was vital … Read more
Civil servant Sir Philip Rutnam launches unfair dismissal claim against Home Secretary Priti Patel weeks after quitting and accusing her of bullying Sir Philip Rutnam is taking the Home Secretary to an employment tribunal He accuses her of unfair dismissal and claiming he was a whistleblower Raises prospect of Ms Patel having to give evidence … Read more
Britain’s coronavirus testing programme appears to be in crisis – as health bosses have just ten days to increase the number of daily swabs fivefold. Ministers yesterday insisted they will hit their target of testing 100,000 people a day by the end of April. But just 21,626 tests were performed on Saturday – the highest … Read more
Gavin Williamson tonight dismissed calls to spell out an ‘exit strategy’ from coronavirus lockdown – despite claims ministers want schools to reopen after May 11. The Education Secretary defied a growing clamour for clarity, insisting he could not ‘give a date’ for pupils to get back to the classroom. The comments came amid the first … Read more