Johnson hospital

Downing Street has refused to rule out Tory cronies helping pay for a lavish revamp of Boris Johnson ’s grace-and-favour flat. The row deepened today after the Daily Mail claimed a refurbishment is costing up to £200,000 - and Tory funds could fit the bill. The Mail suggested “a large part of the bill” was, at least at one point, due to be met from the Conservative Party coffers. Today the Prime Minister’s Press Secretary denied that claim. But she pointedly did not deny that cronies or allies could pay in another way. It is likely to lead to fresh conflict-of-interest fears over the Prime Minister, whose fiancee Carrie Symonds is leading the refurb. Reports have also claimed the PM is trying to set up a charity to help refurbish the four-bedroom living quarters above No11, which are larger than the flat above No10. It is also thought the taxpayer could meet some of the costs. Boris Johnson refused to comment when grilled at the No10 press conference, saying: "All I … [Read more...] about No10 refuses to rule out cronies paying to do up Boris Johnson’s lavish flat

Boris Johnson has hailed the return of schools across England as a "big" and "emotional" day - but warned it will impact on the spread of coronavirus and there is no guarantee the country will reopen on the target dates set out. Speaking at a news conference in Downing Street, the prime minister said that it is "more vital than ever to follow the rules" so that the roadmap to easing lockdown can continue as planned. Mr Johnson said the government would be "driven by data not dates" when deciding whether to remove more restrictions in the coming weeks ahead of the next planned date of 29 March. Follow live COVID-19 updates from the UK and around the world First lockdown restrictions lifted in England today - what are you now allowed to do? Asked whether encouraging data from recent days - including daily deaths dropping below 100 - might tempt him to move forward some of his targets, he said: "We've got to remain prudent - the whole point of this … [Read more...] about COVID-19: Boris Johnson hails ’emotional’ return of schools – but repeats warning on target dates for easing lockdown

Pubs, restaurants and cafes will be able to put tables on pavements for another year to help the hospitality industry recover. Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick has sent a letter to English councils urging them to do "everything possible" to get ready for high streets to reopen when step two of the lockdown easing roadmap happens. That includes extending measures introduced last year to allow pubs, restaurants and cafes to apply for a licence, costing a maximum of £100, to put removable furniture outside their venues on pavements. Venues who applied for the licence before should not have to pay again or reapply, Mr Jenrick said. Hospitality venues will be allowed to open outside areas from 12 April at the earliest, with six people from different households or a larger group from two households. Advertisement When the speedy pavement licences were introduced last summer, local authorities were told they could grant them for a minimum of three months … [Read more...] about COVID-19: Pavement licences for pubs, restaurants and cafes extended to help hospitality when it reopens

A NEW Dutch law today bans face-covering clothing including the burka and niqab worn by Muslim women. The partial ban means people cannot cover their faces on public transportation, in government buildings and at health and education institutions. The Netherlands, long seen as a bastion of tolerance and religious freedom, is the latest European country to introduce such a ban, following the likes of France, Germany, Belgium, Austria and Denmark. Muslim rights groups have voiced opposition to the law formally called the "partial ban on face-covering clothing". And an Islamic political party in Rotterdam has said it will pay the €150 fines for anybody caught breaking it. There were no immediate reports this morning of anybody being fined under the new law, which was passed despite the fact that very few women in Holland wear a burka or niqab. In fact, estimates put the number at a few hundred in this nation of 17 million. 'PARTIAL BAN' Far-right lawmaker Geert … [Read more...] about Dutch burka ban comes into force banning ALL face-coverings on public transport, schools and public buildings

Another 65 coronavirus deaths have been recorded in the UK - the second day running that the number has been below 100. It compares to 82 posted on Sunday , which was the first time the tally had fallen to double figures since 9 October, when 79 fatalities were recorded. Live COVID updates from the UK and around the world There have been another 4,712 confirmed coronavirus cases, compared to 5,177 on Sunday. It is the first time since 28 September that daily cases have been below 5,000, when 4,044 were recorded. The latest death and infection numbers are down on last Monday's totals of 104 and 5,455 respectively. Advertisement Meanwhile, 22,377,255 people have now had their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine - an increase of 164,143 - and 1,142,643 have had their second jab, up by 20,241). The daily statistics will be watched ever more closely in the coming weeks, as all four home nations begin to ease lockdown restrictions. … [Read more...] about COVID-19: UK reports under 100 new coronavirus deaths for second day running