Christmas

Families who lost loved ones to coronavirus have spoken of their fury and devastation at the new revelations of partying by the Prime Minister and staff at No 10 Downing Street in the Sue Gray Report . While those who set the Covid rules were carousing until 4am, singing karaoke and drinking until they were sick, the families were unable to spend those last precious moments with their dying relatives. The 37-page document includes damning details of the revelry that took place at the heart of Government, in flagrant disregard for the rules. Lobby Akinnola, spokesperson for Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice, said: “When they were texting colleagues about getting away with it, we were having to text our families telling them they couldn’t come to their loved ones’ funerals.” Sue Gray's report has been published ( Image: PA) Here some of the families talk of their pain: Colin Jones Tiffany Jones’ father Colin died of Covid late on December 18, 2020, the … [Read more...] about ‘My father died of Covid while Boris Johnson’s staff held a Christmas party’

Dover: Heavy traffic as Easter weekend begins Sign up for FREE now and never miss the top politics stories again SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info The line of lorries waiting to get to Dover has reached such disastrous proportions that a charity used to working to provide relief to earthquake victims has been forced to intervene. RE:ACT Disaster Response has agreed a £180,000 six-month contract with Kent County Council (KCC) to ease stuck truckers’ nightmare waits to board ferries and Eurotunnel shuttles. Related articles Fury over plan to build huge Berlin Wall-style fence next to main road British car production plummets AGAIN: drops 11 percent KCC warned that lockdowns imposed due to the … [Read more...] about Angry lorry drivers trapped in post-Brexit lines beg for help as disaster charity steps in

HOLLY Willoughby couldn’t stop laughing as she interviewed a prosthetic penis maker on today’s This Morning. Matthew Mungle appeared on the programme to talk about his talent – and revealed the ins and outs of making fake members for some of Hollywood’s most famous faces. He revealed he made one for Chris Hemsworth in 2015 for his film Vacation because "they wanted to have a bigger penis" for the scene where he poses in just his pants. Phillip Schofield interjected: "If you're going to do it with a prosthetic, I'd want a proper shlong." Matthew told them: “That's usually what they want, a bigger shlong, maybe bigger testicles too." Holly couldn’t stop laughing as she asked a series of questions about the process. Read More on This Morning joe's pain Joe Wicks fights back tears as he recalls dad's heroin addiction on This Morning GAME ON This Morning fans all say same thing as Holly Willoughby returns to show … [Read more...] about Holly Willoughby in hysterics as she interviews prosthetic penis maker

The first clip from a new documentary about Queen Elizabeth shows the monarch like we've never seen her before. Ahead of the upcoming documentary from BBC Studios Productions, they have released a first look clip at the documentary, which features a multitude of never before seen footage to celebrate the upcoming Platinum Jubilee. Elizabeth: The Unseen Queen will feature a number of private videos which have been shot by the Royal Family themselves and have never been seen by the public until this day. This new clip shows Queen Elizabeth relaxing with her family on HMS Vanguard in the 1940s. The documentary has been released to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee ( Image: BBC / Royal Collection Trust) In the clip, The Royal family can be seen relaxing on board the Royal Navy's latest battleship, HMS Vanguard in 1947. It was the vessel which transported them from South Africa for their tour that year. On the clip, the audio comes from extracts from The Queen's … [Read more...] about First look at BBC’s Elizabeth: The Unseen Queen as monarch shares private family videos

Published 15 hours ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Related Topics Coronavirus pandemic Boris Johnson has insisted he will remain as prime minister despite the "bitter and painful" judgement of a report into parties held in Downing Street during Covid restrictions. Excessive drinking, mistreatment of cleaners and security staff and Covid rule-breaking was highlighted in civil servant Sue Gray's report. She said the leadership in No 10 "must bear responsibility" for its culture. Some opponents have repeated their calls for Mr Johnson to quit. However in a press conference on Wednesday, the prime minister ruled out resigning, saying: "I've got to keep moving forward." Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer had earlier called on Conservative MPs to remove him, saying it was time for Mr Johnson "to pack his bags". Sue Gray report’s key findings at a … [Read more...] about Partygate: PM says he will not resign following Sue Gray report

Published 27 minutes ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing People are gambling to try to pay off soaring gas and electric bills, a trade union leader has warned on the day extra help with charges was unveiled. All UK households will get an energy bill discount of £400 this autumn, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced. Earlier, the Wales TUC's Shavanah Taj said pensioners were "being forced to return to work" to make ends meet. She said teaching staff were working extra shifts in shops and hospitality to cope with the cost of living crisis. How plans to tackle cost of living will affect you Live page: Millions to get support with energy bills Typical energy bill set to rise by £800 a year After mounting pressure on UK ministers to do more to help people with the cost of living, Mr Sunak told MPs the poorest households would get a one-off payment of £650. … [Read more...] about Cost of living: People gambling to pay energy bills, says union leader

Published 20 December 2021 comments Comments Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Related Topics Coronavirus pandemic Boris Johnson says a photo of him, his wife and 17 staff members in the Downing Street garden with bottles of wine and a cheeseboard shows "people at work". The Guardian, which published the image , said the gathering took place in May 2020, after a press conference held during the first lockdown. At the time, there were strict restrictions on mixing. No 10 said work meetings often took place outside during summer months. Asked about the image on Monday, Mr Johnson told reporters: "Those were people at work, talking about work." Pressed on whether it was acceptable for people to be drinking whilst working, he replied: "I have said what I have to say about that." Bereaved mum's anger at No 10 garden photo Which … [Read more...] about Downing Street garden photo shows people working, says Boris Johnson

STUFF Kaiapoi builder John Adair has debt collectors after him after failing to pay several Canterbury suppliers. On a quiet, riverside road in Christchurch, suppliers come to hunt down the elusive John Adair. But at 229 Waimea Tce, they find only a half-built house and debris. Often they will knock on neighbour Ken Horlor’s door, wanting to know where they can find the Kaiapoi, North Canterbury, builder. One was Secure Scaffold manager Nathan Applegarth. Enraged after battling to be paid $3000, he took the matter into his own hands. READ MORE: A dearth of dwangs: Four-by-twos run dry, cost of building supplies soar Land Homes saga: Christchurch's 'worst builder' won't let go Platinum Homes client waits a third Christmas for home completion He erected a large sign on his scaffolding at the site. “I don’t pay my bills” it said in fluorescent pink. Originally Adair hired the scaffolding for “a couple of weeks”, but months later and without payment … [Read more...] about The ‘ghost’ builder: Tradie buys then flies, suppliers say

It’s widely accepted (and discussed, at least amongst my friendship group) that if you are thinking of dating someone, pay attention to how they treat those who serve them: cleaners, waiters, porters, receptionists, delivery drivers. It tells you a lot about what kind of person they are. This theory even has a name (and a Wikipedia page ): the Waiter Rule. A word, then, to those in Downing Street . We now know, thanks to Sue Gray ’s damning report , that a “culture of disrespect” was allowed to proliferate inside No 10 , far beyond what we have already heard ( and seen ) of the partygoing during lockdown; the booze and the fighting and being sick . We have discovered a different and peculiar unpleasantness – reports from those who work hardest and matter most, who probably have the longest hours and the most arduous tasks of all of Downing Street: its cleaners and security guards. We have read abhorrent acounts of how one cleaner had to scrub red wine … [Read more...] about How you treat cleaners and other service staff says everything about you

Britain’s favourite cake has been revealed – as the humble cheesecake. A study of 2,000 Brits also saw lemon drizzle, carrot, and chocolate fudge cake fall within the top 40 most popular cakes. But surprisingly, cheesecake topped the poll with 37% of the vote – beating some UK classics including coffee and walnut cake, and fruitcake. Chocolate cake took second spot, ahead of the classic Victoria Sponge. Other varieties of bake to make the list were Christmas cake and Battenburg, as well as fondant fancies, madeira loaf, spotted dick, apple cake, and flapjack. The research was commissioned by Dr. Oetker Baking, which recreated iconic pictures of the Queen from each decade of her 70 year-reign entirely from cake, using cake ingredients and decorations. Each cake portrait was made from a different style of cake that was fashionable during the era pictured. The portraits were displayed at a pop-up gallery, Cakes of the Crown, today [May 26, 2022] in Royal Windsor. … [Read more...] about Britain’s favourite cakes revealed – with cheesecake topping the list