A damning timeline of the EU’s vaccine shambles has revealed how smug satisfaction in Brussels turned to panic, a witch-hunt and ultimately two humiliating climbdowns within only a matter of days. Diplomatic notes and briefings by those in the room as the bloc’s vaccine roll-out fell apart show how officials were warned as far back … Read more
German media today rounded on the EU over Europe’s vaccine debacle – calling it ‘the best advert for Brexit’ while blaming chief Ursula von der Leyen for a three-month delay in ordering jabs compared to the UK. The EU is acting ‘slowly, bureaucratically and protectionist… and if something goes wrong, it’s everyone else’s fault’ fumed … Read more
German media has rounded on the EU over Europe’s vaccine debacle today – calling it ‘the best advert for Brexit’ while blaming chief Ursula von der Leyen for the delays. The EU is acting ‘slowly, bureaucratically and protectionist… and if something goes wrong, it’s everyone else’s fault’ fumed a front-page editorial in Die Zeit, one … Read more
Doctors, MPs and care chiefs have warned the Government that its vaccine programme could turn into a ‘shambles like the PPE fiasco’ if distribution issues with the rollout are not fixed. Hundreds of GP surgeries and hospitals are still waiting to receive doses of the Pfizer vaccine, while doctors warn they are having to cancel … Read more
Doctors, MPs and care chiefs have warned the Government that its vaccine programme could turn into a ‘shambles like the PPE fiasco’ if distribution issues with the rollout are not fixed. Hundreds of GP surgeries and hospitals are still waiting to receive doses of the Pfizer vaccine, while doctors warn they are having to cancel … Read more
Loyal savers are deserting NS&I as its customer service breakdown continues. National Savings and Investments yesterday slashed rates for its 25 million customers. But those trying to move their money are having to wait weeks as they struggle to navigate the bank’s new website or to speak to anyone about it on the telephone. Rates … Read more
Scepticism is a peculiarly British trait. The idea that we might actually be able to do something well seems too absurd to contemplate. Before the 2012 Olympics, the general view was it was all going to be a disaster: the stadiums would be late; the Tube drivers would go on strike; the opening ceremony would … Read more
NHS coronavirus contact tracers struggled to reach tens of thousands of potentially infectious people yesterday after phone lines crashed following an IT malfunction. As workers attempted to catch up on a backlog of calls to the 16,000 infectious people missed from the database – due to an error caused by an outdated version of Microsoft’s … Read more
NHS coronavirus contact tracers struggled to reach tens of thousands of potentially infectious people yesterday after phone lines crashed following an IT malfunction. As workers attempted to catch up on a backlog of calls to the 16,000 infectious people missed from the database – due to an error caused by an outdated version of Microsoft’s … Read more
An eerie silence suddenly befell Committee Room number six just after 4pm yesterday. Baroness Dido Harding had just explained to the Commons’ science and technology committee how she’d come to be head of our vital testing programme. The matter had been raised by Graham Stringer (Lab, Blackley and Broughton) who had politely pointed out that … Read more