Speaker Lindsay Hoyle demands apology if MP leaked PM’s lockdown plan

Timeline of the PM’s lockdown decision  Friday, 7am: Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab begins a round of broadcast interviews defending the government’s ‘Tiered’ system of local lockdowns.   Friday 2.30pm: Sir Patrick Vallance underlines SAGE’s support for a national lockdown at a briefing with reporters, suggesting it was getting late to arrest the spike in cases before Christmas. … Read more

Keir Starmer roasts Johnson for ignoring scientists’ lockdown advice for WEEKS

Key points in COVID lockdown Mark 2  Restrictions will start at midnight on Thursday morning and last until December 2.  People can only leave their homes for specific reasons, such as to do essential shopping, for outdoor exercise, and for work if they are unable to work from home. Non-essential shops will be told to shut, … Read more

Boris Johnson begs Tory MPs to keep faith in his coronavirus strategy

Timeline of the PM’s lockdown decision  Friday, 7am: Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab begins a round of broadcast interviews defending the government’s ‘Tiered’ system of local lockdowns.   Friday 2.30pm: Sir Patrick Vallance underlines SAGE’s call for a national lockdown at a briefing with reporters, saying it is ‘not too late to save Christmas’. Friday 3pm: Papers are … Read more

Anger that blood-curdling briefing on lockdown ‘bounced’ PM into action

Timeline of the PM’s lockdown decision  Friday, 7am: Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab begins a round of broadcast interviews defending the government’s ‘Tiered’ system of local lockdowns.   Friday 2.30pm: Sir Patrick Vallance underlines SAGE’s call for a national lockdown at a briefing with reporters, saying it is ‘not too late to save Christmas’. Friday 3pm: Papers are … Read more

Boris Johnson will tell MPs today that Covid deaths will be ‘TWICE as bad’ as Spring

Boris Johnson will today try to head off a mounting Tory revolt against his nationwide lockdown by warning coronavirus deaths this winter could be double the first wave.  The Prime Minister is set to use a statement to the Commons this afternoon to say there is ‘no alternative’ but to impose four weeks of blanket … Read more

Venezuela coup plotters claim they had Trump officials’ support

The plotters behind the disastrous attempt to topple Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro in May claim they met with two Trump administration officials and held meetings at two of the president’s hotels prior to the failed coup, according to a new report. The two Trump administration officials, Andrew ‘Drew’ Horn, at the time an aide to … Read more

Venezuela coup plotters claim they had Trump officials’ support

The plotters behind the disastrous attempt to topple Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro in May claim they met with two Trump administration officials and held meetings at two of the president’s hotels prior to the failed coup, according to a new report. The two Trump administration officials, Andrew ‘Drew’ Horn, at the time an aide to … Read more

Rishi Sunak was reluctant to accept lockdown but did NOT threaten to resign

Rishi Sunak was reluctant to agree to the second national lockdown in light of the threat to the economy and the huge £5 billion cost of furlough, sources said last night. The Chancellor was one of those at the Downing Street meeting on Friday which decided to go ahead with new restrictive measures. A source … Read more

Rishi Sunak was reluctant to accept lockdown but did NOT threaten to resign

Rishi Sunak was reluctant to agree to the second national lockdown in light of the threat to the economy and the huge £5 billion cost of furlough, sources said last night. The Chancellor was one of those at the Downing Street meeting on Friday which decided to go ahead with new restrictive measures. A source … Read more

Covid-19: Expert warns Gove schools in England may have to close

Keeping schools open during the November lockdown in England could mean infection rates stay higher for longer than when nationwide restrictions were first introduced in March, a leading scientist has warned. Former chief scientific adviser Sir Mark Walport said the new restrictions were not as ‘severe’ as the first time round, and that there was … Read more