Government watchdog calls for review of foreign CCTV technology in Whitehall after Matt Hancock leak

Government watchdog calls for review of the use of foreign CCTV technology in Whitehall after a video of Matt Hancock clinch with Gina Coladangelo was leaked Requested in letter from the Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner Fraser Sampson said ‘risks and considerations are complex and multi-faceted’ False claims blamed leak of Hancock clip on hostile … Read more

DAN WOOTTON: Covid variants are going to be a fact of life for years

‘The general rule over human history is that once powers are yielded to the state at moments of crisis or emergency, it’s never the case – or very very, rarely the case – that the state hands them back.’ The words of Michael Gove in 2009 as he railed against Tony Blair’s failed attempt to … Read more

David Cameron’s 62 messages to former colleagues pleading for help for Lex Greensill

David Cameron texted ministers and officials 62 times as he desperately lobbied for Greensill Capital, it was revealed yesterday. The former prime minister also made 11 phone calls and sent 12 emails to some of the most senior figures in the Government and the Bank of England during the four-month bombardment. He even turned to … Read more

Keir Starmer’s relaunch descends into shambles amid Rayner row

Keir Starmer’s attempted relaunch after Labour’s election disaster fell flat today after he blinked first in a standoff with Angela Rayner. The leader has suffered another major blow to his authority amid claims he wanted to shift his deputy into the health brief after stripping her of responsibility for campaigns – but she refused. In … Read more

Keir Starmer’s relaunch descends into shambles amid Rayner row

Keir Starmer’s attempted relaunch after Labour’s election disaster fell flat today after he blinked first in a standoff with Angela Rayner. The leader has suffered another major blow to his authority amid claims he wanted to shift his deputy into the health brief after stripping her of responsibility for campaigns – but she refused. In … Read more

Don’t hug too much, keep them short and wear a MASK, cautious SAGE scientist warns

Don’t hug too often, keep embraces short and avoid face-to-face contact, is the message from No10’s cautious scientific advisers ahead of the next major relaxation of Covid rules.   Boris Johnson will announce England’s next steps out of lockdown at a Downing Street press conference today, where he is expected to confirm that friends and can … Read more

Covid UK: Boris Johnson said he’d rather ‘bodies pile high’ than have third lockdown, sources claim

Boris Johnson said he would rather see ‘bodies pile high in their thousands’ than order a third lockdown, it was claimed last night. The explosive remark is said to have come after he reluctantly imposed the second lockdown, sources told the Mail. Downing Street last night strongly denied the Prime Minister made the comment, insisting … Read more

Covid UK: Boris Johnson said he’d rather ‘bodies pile high’ than have third lockdown, sources claim

Boris Johnson said he would rather see ‘bodies pile high in their thousands’ than order a third lockdown, it was claimed last night. The explosive remark is said to have come after he reluctantly imposed the second lockdown, sources told the Mail. Downing Street last night strongly denied the Prime Minister made the comment, insisting … Read more

Former Tory minister who worked for PPE firm is rebuked for taking roles without approval

Former Conservative minister who worked for PPE firm without permission is rebuked for taking on roles without approval George Freeman broke government rules when he was paid £5,000 as a consultant to Aerosol Shield without seeking permission He has admitted to the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba) that he failed to seek advice for … Read more

Former Tory minister who worked for PPE firm is rebuked for taking roles without approval

Former Conservative minister who worked for PPE firm without permission is rebuked for taking on roles without approval George Freeman broke government rules when he was paid £5,000 as a consultant to Aerosol Shield without seeking permission He has admitted to the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba) that he failed to seek advice for … Read more