Boris johnson novichok russia

Boris Johnson is set to reveal this week whether Plan B Covid restrictions in England will be scrapped – as the rules are due to expire next Wednesday, January 26. Downing Street said today that it was keeping a ‘very close eye’ on the data with ‘encouraging signs’ infections are falling across the country. But the decision will be weighed up based on the NHS, which remains ‘under significant pressure’. The ‘maximum amount of time possible’ will be given to prepare for any rule changes, the PM’s spokesman said. ‘In terms of the data, there are some encouraging signs that infections are falling across the country. ‘Obviously we want to see that mirrored in the latest ONS data as well. ‘There are also some signs of falls – or at least plateauing – in admissions and occupancy in hospital, which is good to see. ‘But it still remains the case that our NHS is under significant pressure, there are over 16,000 Covid patients in hospital in England alone. ‘So we are … [Read more...] about Boris Johnson could announce update on Plan B Covid rules this week

The newly introduced five-day isolation period is being followed up with plans to scrap all legal penalties for Covid rule breaches, it has been reported. A rules update on Monday means people can now stop self-quarantining after five full days, so long as they test negative on the fifth and sixth days. It comes a day after a Cabinet minister said ‘signs are encouraging’ for the lifting of further restrictions by the end of the month. Citing ‘very promising data’ on infections and hospital admissions, Oliver Dowden, the Tory party chairman and Cabinet Office minister, said a review expected on January 26 could see several ‘plan B’ measures scrapped. These include work-from-home guidance, which ministers want scrapped as a priority for economic reasons, and vaccine passport requirements, which fuelled a revolt by a large minority of Tory backbenchers last month. Mask requirements are seen as more likely to remain in force, at least on public transport. Boris … [Read more...] about Boris ‘plans to scrap fines for Covid breaches’ as five-day isolation introduced

Carrie Johnson has admitted to breaking Covid rules by hugging a friend at a 2020 engagement party. The PM’s wife said she regretted a ‘momentary lapse in judgement’ after a photo emerged showing her with chef Anna Pinder on September 17, 2020. The pair were seen giggling together while celebrating Ms Pinder’s upcoming marriage outside at The Conduit, a private members’ club in London ’s West End. In a picture obtained by The Telegraph , Mrs Johnson appeared to have her arm around Ms Pinder, while one of her legs was over her friend’s knee. Days earlier, her then-fiancé had warned ‘you should keep your distance from anyone you don’t live with’ as the nation faced a second wave of infections. Coronavirus guidance at the time stated people should stay two metres apart from those in other households and banned people from meeting in groups of more than six. Millions had painstakingly followed the rules, with one NHS worker revealing how she couldn’t even hug … [Read more...] about Carrie Johnson caught breaking Covid rules at West End club

A Tory MP’s office has been vandalised as anger grows over alleged rule-breaking in Downing Street. Pictures of Robert Largan’s constituency office in Whaley Bridge, Derbyshire, have emerged showing the word ‘lies’ was repeatedly sprayed on the side of the building, apparently by someone angry at the latest revelations of parties in No 10. A photograph of the politician which adorned the office was also covered in orange graffiti, as were the words ‘I’m here to help’. The building was trashed despite Mr Largan’s criticism of recent controversies surrounding parties held in the heart of Westminster, when everyone else was expected to remain at home. Several other MPs have spoken out about the angry messages filling their inboxes as more and more revelations are revealed. Mr Largan, who represents the marginal seat of High Peak, is one of a new generation of MPs elected in 2019. He was previously critical of government ‘sleaze’ last year after MPs overturned the … [Read more...] about ‘Lies lies lies’ sprayed on office of Tory MP as anger grows over partygate

Sir Keir Starmer has revealed Gary Neville told him off for not being ‘strong enough’ standing up to Boris Johnson . The football pundit joined the Labour Party last week but Sir Keir admitted they’ve disagreed on a few issues in the past. The Labour leader said he preferred ‘robust conversations’ to the ‘warm bath’ of speaking with people who agree with him, adding he believes the Manchester United legend could go ‘as far as he wants’ in politics . During an interview on the BBC’s Political Thinking podcast, Neville, 46, said Labour’s opposition ‘should have been a lot stronger’ at the end of 2020. He said: ‘I think Labour had them at that point. I would be open with Keir about this, I don’t think that he was strong enough at that point. Now I think he realises he needs to take the gloves off.’ Sir Keir later confirmed the pair have had a ‘number of conversations’ and disagreed on Labour’s support for the tier system. ‘When he says, “I’ve been open with … [Read more...] about Gary Neville confronted Keir Starmer and told him ‘you’re not strong enough’

The government has been accused of attacking the BBC to distract from the "partygate" scandal ahead of an expected licence fee freeze announcement. As part of "Operation Red Meat", designed to quell angry Tory backbenchers and voters, the government is expected to announce the licence fee could be replaced when the current deal ends in 2027. Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries is also expected to confirm the annual payment will be frozen at £159 until 2024. Follow live 'partygate' updates This licence fee announcement will be the last. The days of the elderly being threatened with prison sentences and bailiffs knocking on doors, are over. https://t.co/sXtK25q27H — Nadine Dorries (@NadineDorries) January 16, 2022 Ms Dorries, reacting to the claims, tweeted on Sunday the next review of the BBC's funding model, in 2027, "will be the last". Advertisement It has angered Labour politicians and the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), who both … [Read more...] about Government accused of attacking BBC to distract from ‘partygate’ ahead of expected licence fee freeze

LABOUR leader Sir Keir Starmer refused to apologise for downing beers with colleagues indoors during Covid restrictions - calling it a work event just like Boris Sir Keir was angrily branded a “hypocrite” by a caller on LBC this morning but he hit back saying No10 was running a campaign “to drag everyone into the gutter with them." He insisted he didn’t break any rules while he had a takeaway in a constituency office while working on the election campaign in 2021 - saying it was a break during a work event. His excuse echoes the PM who said his 25 minutes stint at a Downing Street party was within the rules as it was a for work. The Labour leader has demanded Boris Johnson resign over the dozens of Downing Street parties held during various Covid lockdowns. But he insisted the clip of him was totally different in the tense radio exchange. He said: "The picture of me was in a constituency office up in the North East, it was I think, three or four days before the May … [Read more...] about Labour leader Keir Starmer refuses to apologise after being pictured drinking beer during lockdown

So after a report concluding that she broke the ministerial code by bullying civil servants, Priti Patel has not been sacked from her job as home secretary or given so much as a wedgie by her boss, Boris Johnson, who mumbled something like “just go and say sorry or something and we’ll say no more about it”, before bumping into a door. The complaint against her was made by various civil servants and the report on the matter concluded that Patel did indeed break the ministerial code which, though not legally binding, insists on ministers not behaving like utter rogues towards civil servants they work with. Who would have imagined that this woman, who exudes such warmth and compassion toward her fellow man, would ever have ended up in such a pickle in the first place? The prime minister, a man with all the wisdom of a hedgehog crossing the road, has stood by her and said as far as he was concerned, the “matter is closed”, prompting his ministerial code adviser Alex … [Read more...] about Priti Patel’s ‘I’m sorry you were upset’ is not a proper apology

The UK may have a ‘flu-type’ relationship with Covid by next year, a leading expert has suggested. Professor Mike Tildesley, who advises the government on the pandemic, welcomed the recent data as ‘cautiously good news’ – and believes it may mean that the Omicron wave is ‘turning around’. But he warned that hospital admissions are still high and that the return of schools could yet prolong the surge of the new variant. The Warwick University professor – who is also a member of the SAGE sub group the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Modelling group (Spi-M) – told BBC breakfast: ‘My hope is that, as we get further into this year and next year, we are dealing with milder versions of Covid and hopefully we have more of a flu-type relationship with Covid where potentially we protect the vulnerable as we get into the colder weather, but we don’t see a return of restrictions.’ His intervention comes after the latest government figures showed a 38% drop in infections over the last seven … [Read more...] about Sage expert says UK to have ‘flu-type’ relationship with Covid by 2023

There’s been an awful lot of leaking about “Partygate”, and I now have my very own exclusive. A copy of the text of the prime minister ’s next public apology to parliament* has reached me, and it is only right that I now publish it, and damn the Official Secrets Act. For a change, he’s going to tell us the truth. I hope you’ll agree it’s dynamite. *** “Mr Speaker, I would like to make an apology. It has come to my attention that there may have been a handful of days – I cannot yet be more specific – during the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021 when social gatherings and boozy parties were organised in Downing Street, without my being there, or knowing about them. “I wish to acknowledge at the outset, Mr Speaker, that many people feel angry to see me, a man they trusted always to do the wrong thing, lapsing in this way. People expect me to be dishonest and lack integrity, and be a massive hypocrite, and I recognise they may be disappointed. “Mr Speaker, Fear Of Missing … [Read more...] about An apology from the prime minister: ‘I really should have partied harder’