The UK has set a new daily coronavirus vaccine record for the second day running. A further 873,784 doses were administered on Saturday, health secretary Matt Hancock confirmed. This included 686,424 first doses and 70,449 second doses in England, 9,415 first doses and 13,160
An ex-police chief says the public should be “really worried” about a new crackdown on protests – accusing the government of putting rights “fundamental to our democracy” at risk. Sir Peter Fahy said it was wrong to “rush legislation” just because ministers are angry about
Boris Johnson will put up to 1 million jobs at risk if he fails to name a date for the reopening of pubs, restaurants and other hospitality venues when he unveils his roadmap out of lockdown on Monday, industry sources have warned. Trade body UK Hospitality said it had received indications from
The UK risks a new wave of coronavirus as large as the current one if coronavirus restrictions are lifted too soon, a government scientific advisor has said. Professor Steven Riley said the “incredibly successful” rollout of the vaccine and “incredibly high vast uptake” does not mean
The Cornish fishing industry is changing the names of two of its most common catches in a bid to boost their appeal with British consumers because of post-Brexit problems exporting to Europe. Until now, 95 per cent of Cornwall’s megrim fish and 85 percent
Keir Starmer was today forced to admit blundering in the House of Commons when he accused Boris Johnson of repeating untrue claims that he wanted the UK to join the stumbling EU vaccines procurement programme. The pair clashed at prime minister’s questions after the Labour leader responded to Johnson’s
Britain appears to be suffering from an escalating dog mess crisis, with local media outlets across the country reporting on the “plague of pooch poo bags” accompanying the coronavirus pandemic. The Gloucestershire Gazette on Friday said dozens of its readers had complained about local “poo
The vaccine, made in collaboration with Johnson & Johnson, aims to make one billion doses in 2021. The UK has ordered 30 million doses of the vaccine which are expected to become available this summer if it receives regulatory approval. On average it
At least £100,000 of tariffs have been slapped on Fairtrade bananas from Africa because of Brexit, prompting mounting anger that farmers face ruin. Ministers are under pressure to explain why the levies are being charged, despite an announcement that a last-gasp deal was struck between the UK
Downing Street has said Boris Johnson continues to have “full confidence” in Priti Patel, after the home secretary revealed they clashed last spring over the decision not to close UK borders at the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Following Ms Patel’s astonishing revelation last night that she
The website of pro-Brexit pressure group Leave.EU has been suspended amid a row over its attempt to switch its registration to Ireland to avoid losing its .eu domain name. The group, founded by businessman Arron Banks and supported by Nigel Farage, moved its registration from the UK to
The spread of new Covid-19 variants could make the second year of the virus even tougher, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned. Different variants of the disease have already been found in the UK and South Africa and a third variant has been located in Japan after authorities tested four arrivals
When Theresa May appeared in US Vogue in 2017, even her deliberately anodyne choice of a posh-end-of-the-high-street dress by British label LK Bennett did not prevent this newspaper calling the Annie Leibovitz shoot a “defining moment” which, “like Margaret Thatcher in the tank
The Labour Party has been heavily split over its EU stance since the historic 2016 referendum and several of its MPs continue to promote rejoining the bloc, despite Brexit having officially taken place. In response, Express.co.uk asked its readers if it feared the Labour Party
MPs have overwhelmingly backed sweeping new coronavirus lockdown laws as official figures showed a daily death toll from the disease of more than 1,000 for the first time since mass testing was introduced. MPs voted by 524 to 16 in favour of
The size of the House of Lords has now ballooned to accommodate around 830 peers, with only the Chinese Parliament and Congress having a larger unelected legislative body across the world. Dozens of peers have been appointed this year, including Scottish Tory
Matt Hancock has confirmed more areas of England will be placed into the toughest level of coronavirus restrictions, as he warned: “We are going to have to take further action.” Following a meeting of the government’s coronavirus operations committee — chaired by Boris Johnson on Tuesday evening
The BBC has heralded its own success for its offering over the festive period, saying it has “pulled out all the stops” to offer “a range of unmissable programmes”. But with rehashed shows and re-cut repeats filling prime time slots, campaigners have
Fishing chiefs said the UK made significant concessions in order to finally secure a trade agreement on Christmas Eve. At a Downing Street press conference on Christmas Eve, Mr Johnson said “we will as a result of this deal be able to
Boris Johnson has attempted to reassure Brexit hardliners within his own party as the government races to get approval for the post-Brexit trade deal brokered with the EU. The deal is likely to pass through the commons when it is brought to a vote on 30
Ministers reversed the decision which would end the prosecution of people who do not pay the £157.50 annual fee. The move comes after concerns were raised a new harsher debt system would be created if people fall behind on payments. Chiefs at the
Boris Johnson will give another press conference today, it has been confirmed. The Prime Minister has spent the day in talks after the seriousness of the new strain of coronavirus caused dozens of European nations to issue a travel ban on flights from
Police will not set up roadblocks to stop people travelling out of tier 4 areas to areas of the country with lower coronavirus transmission rates, police leaders have said. Martin Hewitt, chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) said police would “step up visibility” to
The British government should designate Iran‘s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation, MPs have said. The House of Commons foreign affairs committee argued in a new report that the influential branch of the Iranian military should face sanctions. The US,
With less than two weeks to go until the end of the transition period, the UK is on the brink of no deal. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has even threatened to deploy Royal Navy warships to patrol British waters if no deal comes to
Vaccinating the population against Covid-19 will cost up to £12bn, Whitehall’s spending watchdog has disclosed, amid details of tensions between health bodies over the rollout. The National Audit Office said the government would spend up to £11.7bn on purchasing and manufacturing Covid-19
Dominic Cummings’s lockdown trip to Barnard Castle was “deeply unfortunate”, and undermined the government’s public health messages, one of Boris Johnson’s senior ministers has admitted. Justice secretary Robert Buckland was asked on the BBC if he thought the prime minister’s former chief adviser had broken the coronavirus
Ursula von der Leyen has dismissed Boris Johnson’s likening EU demands in Brexit trade talks to being forced to buy a new handbag on threat of “punishment”. The prime minister said on Thursday night that the bloc’s proposed “level playing field” for regulations amounted
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said her government will propose the timescale and question for a second referendum on Scottish independence by next spring. Ms Sturgeon claimed challenges of the coronavirus pandemic will act as an accelerant rather than as a brake on the
The government’s test-and-trace programme to combat Covid-19 in England has repeatedly failed to meet targets for delivering test results and contacting infected people despite costs escalating to £22bn, a damning official report has revealed. The National Audit Office (NAO) has found that the centralised
The SNP has been determined in the last four years to secure a second referendum on independence as Nicola Sturgeon aims to take Scotland back into the EU. Over 60 percent of Scots voted to remain in the 2016 referendum on the UK’s EU membership, and Brexit has therefore
Pressure has been applied on the Labour leader in a letter sent this weekend by 39 Conservative MPs after leftwing lawyers intervened to prevent all but 13 of 36 dangerous criminals being returned to Jamaica. The ones who were allowed by the
Princess Diana struggled to adapt to Christmas with the Royal Family. This was especially reflected in the amount of times royals are expected to change outfits on the big day. It is something Diana has been said to have found overwhelming. Former royal butler Paul Burrell,
A no-deal Brexit at the end of 2020 would deliver a “serious” short-term hit to the UK economy and produce a “strongly negative” effect on trade, productivity and jobs in the long term, the OECD has warned. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development said that disruption from failure to
Michael Gove has issued further clarification on what does, and does not, count as a substantial meal in pubs and bars – stating that he believes a “a couple of Scotch Eggs… with pickle on the side” would constitute a starter. Ministers have been
Nadhim Zahawi, the minister in charge of the coronavirus vaccine rollout, hinted that many venues would only accept customers who have a certificate of vaccination. The suggestion brings into question whether immunity passes will be issued to those who decide to take the jab. Speaking to
Kate Moss stars on the January 2021 issue of British Vogue, marking 28 years since the British model made her cover debut for the publication. For the new issue, the magazine has released two covers, photographed by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott. In one,
The unrest took place on Queen Street right in the city centre. South Wales Police confirmed the incident and said six people received hospital treatment. One of these sustained a head injury and remains in a “serious condition”. In a statement South Wales
At 11pm on January 31, Britain left the EU, putting an end to almost half-a-century of eurosceptic frustrations. The journey there was not an easy one, though, as Brexit day was preceded by a debilitating political period that bitterly divided the nation. Since
England will enter a stricter three-tiered system of coronavirus restrictions when the national lockdown ends on 2 December, Downing Street has confirmed. Boris Johnson is expected to reveal his plan for winter – including how families can mix with different households at Christmas
A big financial boost for tackling emissions in Britain’s homes and electric cars, and a ban on the sale of new petrol vehicles by 2030. These are among the more exciting elements of Boris Johnson’s new 10-point climate plan, the first details of which
He told senior ministers that Britain will “thrive” even if the talks collapse. Mr Johnson’s spokesman said: “The PM said that his position hasn’t changed. The UK is keen to secure a deal with the EU but not at the cost of
Schools in England are facing an exodus of headteachers, with almost half considering leaving the profession after the pandemic, according to a new survey. Headteachers interviewed by the Guardian said they were stressed and exhausted because of the enormous pressures of dealing with
Labour reinstated Jeremy Corbyn as a member after he was suspended from the party last month. The former Labour leader was punished for comments in which he said the scale of anti-Semitism in the party was “overstated” following a damning report by the
Home Office officials have expressed concern that the welfare of children and families who have crossed the Channel to the UK is being “compromised” by an intent to prosecute individuals for immigration offences, internal emails and documents reveal. At least one senior safeguarding
Calls to the UK’s largest domestic abuse helpline are rising “week on week” as new figures reveal that almost 50 suspected killings may have occurred during the first lockdown. The charity Refuge, which runs the National Domestic Abuse helpline, said it was “very
Boris Johnson remains the “hardest in the room” in his unwillingness to budge to secure a Brexit deal, government insiders said this weekend, amid warnings that just days remain to finalise an agreement. After a torrid week for Downing Street which saw two
Des O’Connor, 88, was admitted to hospital a week ago following a fall at his Buckinghamshire home. He was said to be recovering and in “great spirits” before his condition suddenly deteriorated. In a statement, the agent added: “Des, who was 88, was
Around 50 Conservative MPs have formed a backbench group to fight any further lockdowns, arguing they “risk being worse than the disease”. The Covid Recovery Group demands that Boris Johnson publish a cost-benefit analysis of the economic and wider health costs of restrictions continuing beyond the 2 December expiry
Deputy chief medical officer Professor Van-Tam dismissed the idea that England would be able to return to normality by spring following the announcement of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine’s success. During a briefing on Wednesday morning, Professor Van-Tam admitted that at this stage he and
