Cabinet minister Therese Coffey hints taxes should be CUT in the Budget

Rishi Sunak has given a stark warning that tax rises are in the pipeline as he desperately tries to reassure angry Tories that they will not turn into a ‘horror show’. The Chancellor revealed his tough message to MPs as he failed to cover up a sheaf of speaking notes while leaving Downing Street. The … Read more

Health insurers urged to cut premiums for five million Britons who pay for care

Health insurers urged to cut premiums for five million Britons who pay for care after almost all 8,000 private hospital beds were seconded to the NHS during pandemic Former Pensions Minister Baroness Altmann called on insurers to cut premiums  Five million Britons pay a monthly average of £120 to access swift private care Almost all … Read more

Matt Hancock praises ‘DANIEL Rashford’ in live Sky TV blunder 

Matt Hancock blundered as he praised Marcus Rashford’s campaign for free school meals calling him Daniel Rashford instead today – but the football star saw the funny side and admitted it was not the worst thing he’s been called this week. The Health Secretary has been widely lampooned and criticised over the mistake on Sky News … Read more

Corbynistas rage at ‘treachery’ of Keir Starmer’s new welfare chief

Corbynistas rage at ‘treachery’ of Keir Starmer’s new welfare chief after he suggested benefits should be linked to contributions MPs faithful to Crobyn reacted in fury after Jonathan Reynolds MP’s remarks Mr Reynolds is Sir Keir’s new Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary He appeared to suggest benefits should be based on what people paid in … Read more

Some 130,000 older married women may be owed £100m in state pension

Investigation reveals that 130,000 older married women could be owed up to £100million in state pensions after government blunders were exposed Older wives may be owed up to £100million after government blunders exposed Investigation suggests that around 130,000 are receiving less than they should Some wives were mistakenly reassured they were being paid enough Probe … Read more

Some 130,000 older married women could be owed up to £100million

Some 130,000 older married women could be owed up to £100million in state pensions after government blunders were exposed Older wives may be owed up to £100million after government blunders exposed Investigation suggests that around 130,000 are receiving less than they should  Some wives were mistakenly reassured they were being paid enough By Ben Wilkinson … Read more

STEPHEN GLOVER: If there were more scientists in Cabinet, they might not swallow what boffins say 

Follow the science. It has become a mantra for Boris Johnson and senior ministers throughout this crisis. There are variations. One of them is: ‘We are guided by the science.’ Sometimes it’s ‘the best scientific advice’. Rather as in the Star Wars movies when the goodies constantly say ‘May the force be with you’ to … Read more

No10 disowns Therese Coffey in row over ‘wrong’ science advice

No10 has disowned Cabinet minister Therese Coffey after she blamed government blunders on coronavirus testing and care homes on ‘wrong’ science advice. Downing Street heaped praise on its experts and insisted ‘ministers decide’ after the comments by the Work and Pensions Secretary caused a storm.  As a furious blame game erupted yesterday, Ms Coffey appeared to … Read more

Ex-health secretary Jeremy Hunt says ministers SHOULD publish Sage advice

Jeremy Hunt has ratcheted up the pressure on Downing Street to publish its scientific advice and put an end to Whitehall’s coronavirus blame game. A flurry of finger-pointing erupted yesterday as both ministers and experts shirked responsibility for blunders which have hamstrung the ability to fight the crisis. The decision to abandon contact tracing early … Read more

HENRY DEEDES watches baffled boffins at the Downing Street briefing 

Yvonne Doyle, medical director of Public Health England, looked mildly blank when the thorny issue of care homes was raised at yesterday’s Downing Street press briefing. Someone had made the not unreasonable point that NHS Nightingale hospital was largely empty, so why couldn’t it be used to provide support for elderly patients from care homes? … Read more