The Liberal Democrats have demanded that the Government hold an emergency SAGE meeting to discuss surging Covid cases, and what measures may be needed to curb infections and protect the NHS and schools this winter. It comes as it emerges that Government scientists have not met to discuss Covid for weeks and cases are running […]
coronavirus
World Review: Afghanistan, child labour and vaccine passports in France
In this weekend’s World Review, Tom Arms reports the Taliban is proving to be a loose coalition that is quickly falling apart along centuries-old tribal lines and more contemporary political axes. He turns his attention to the impact that Covid is having on child labour in the developing world. And he reviews how Marcon’s insistence […]
Sunak and Johnson in “Barnard Castle on steroids” escape from self-isolation
You couldn’t make it up. It’s like reading the cover of Private Eye. Health secretary Sajid Javid gets a positive Covid-19 result. If the Prime Minister and Chancellor, who met with him on Friday, were ordinary mortals, they would have been banished into the self-isolation wilderness for 10 days. But those at the heart of […]
Is Boris Johnson gambling on tonight’s Euro final to boost herd immunity?
Crowding together. Shouting. Singing. Welcome to the excitement of football. As England and Italy prepare for the Euro final, scientists are concerned that football is helping drive up Covid-19 infection rates by allowing potentially super spreader events such as the finals at Wembley and Wimbledon. It is predicted that seven million pints will be served […]
Moran attacks Hancock on his denial that there was a PPE shortage early in pandemic
The collective memory, the memories of the front like medical workers and the records in all manner of media outlets are wrong. The PPE shortage in the early months of the pandemic was an illusion, maybe a few shortages locally. That’s according to Health Secretary Matt Hancock. He is blind to PPE shortages and the […]
World Review: Netanyahu, G7, corporation tax and going green
In this week’s look at world news, LDV’s foreign affairs editor Tom Arms reviews the situation in Israel where Netanyahu looks set to be ousted by a coalition held together, for now at least, by their opposition to the country’s leader of 12 years. Cornwall will host the G7 summit later this week. Boris Johnson […]
Local lockdowns by stealth?
The Government has been having to deal rapidly with the cock-up over the restrictions in areas where the Indian variant is spreading. Munira Wilson was in the Guardian today, after confusion reigned in Westminster: An appearance in the House of Commons on Tuesday by the vaccines minister, Nadhim Zahawi, failed to clarify the matter. “What we’re […]
Ed Davey has to self isolate
Ed Davey announced last night that he and his family have to self isolate as someone who helps him and his wife Emily care for their disabled son John has tested positive for Coronavirus. I’ve just been told someone who comes into my home, to help us care for my son, has tested positive for […]
Daisy Cooper challenges the government on return of students to university
Daisy Cooper, MP for St Albans, Deputy Leader and spokesperson for education has just been challenging ministers in the Commons on the problem students have been experiencing during the pandemic. She said that students felt forgotten, that their mental health had deteriorated and government funds for students facing hardship should be doubled. Addressing Michelle Donelan, […]
Rennie marks 10,000 deaths of people with Covid-19 in Scotland
Responding to Scotland having passed 10,000 deaths from covid-19, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said: “When I think of 10,000 deaths, I think of 10,000 broken families and friends. I think of the pain and the loss. “For their sake we must learn the lessons of what went right and what went wrong. […]