Boris Johnson should force an equalities minister to apologise or sack her, the former head of Downing Street’s race unit has urged, amid a deepening row over “the politics of division”. Simon Woolley said the prime minister must intervene in the row over Kemi Badenoch, after a damning leaked letter sent by a No 10 … Read more
One of the most important things about this week’s landmark review into the value of nature may appear to be a footling detail: its publisher. The 600-page report was commissioned by the Treasury, headed by Rishi Sunak, rather than the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whose boss is George Eustice. The difference appears … Read more
The government is exploring the idea of documentation that would allow travellers to prove they have been vaccinated against coronavirus, the Foreign Office minister James Cleverly has said. Boris Johnson’s spokesperson had previously denied there were any plans for “vaccine passports” – but officials have now been asked to look at how people could comply … Read more
A parish council meeting which descended into chaos – with councillors trading insults and ultimately getting booted off the Zoom call – has become an internet sensation and a metaphor for the UK’s woes under lockdown. A video of the Handforth council meeting in Cheshire showed it starting badly when one unseen councillor apparently muttered … Read more
Young people are at risk of becoming unemployable and turning to crime amid partial school closures and rising joblessness, in a spiral that could lead to social unrest, the crime commissioner for England’s second biggest force has warned. Covid was “oiling the wheels of violence”, David Jamieson, the police and crime commissioner (PCC) for the … Read more