New £6.85million foreign aid scheme to help workers supplying UK chains like M&S and Primark is accused of ‘funnelling aid into the pockets of wealthy firms’ Scheme promises to help workers in poorer countries during the pandemic But critics say it uses taxpayer money to ‘pick up the bill’ for rich corporations Others who will … Read more
Terrorists excluded from Troubles cash: Anyone convicted over Northern Ireland conflict should not be eligible for victims’ compensation payments, Government guidance states People convicted of terrorism offences in Troubles ineligible for compensation Details of delayed scheme to support victims of the conflict published yesterday Sinn Fein boycotting initiative as approach ‘excludes’ thousands of injured people … Read more
Sir Ian Botham was a few days shy of his 44th wedding anniversary when he received a late-night call from the Prime Minister’s office offering him a peerage. He thought someone was winding him up. ‘The call came totally and utterly out of the blue,’ he says. ‘I was with Kath in Melbourne in late … Read more
How can I get home now France is on the UK’s quarantine list? Travellers trying to return from France on Friday to avoid the quarantine restrictions face paying hundreds of pounds. Flights: Air fares are more than six times higher than normal from Paris to London today. The cheapest British Airways tickets are £452. Flight booking … Read more
This morning, like thousands of other parents, I am gnawing on my nails waiting to discover the outcome of crucial A-level exams that my 18-year-old son didn’t get to sit. Students like my son, who has a place at university which is dependent on getting the right grades, must place his fate in the hands … Read more
Officials in the UK plan to start publishing three separate daily death tolls for Covid-19 amidst confusion over statistics pushed out by the Government. The Department of Health will now release three measures including its heavily criticised count which records deaths of everyone who has ever tested positive for the coronavirus – regardless of how they … Read more
Priti Patel will today demand French co-operation in a massive new ‘blockade’ of the Channel to crack down on the migrant crisis. The Home Secretary will refuse to hand over any more taxpayers’ money to fund operations on French soil unless Emmanuel Macron’s government steps up action on illegal crossings. The French will also be expected … Read more
Hairdressers and barbers should wear face coverings and not just visors in order to help curb the spread of coronavirus, scientists advising the Government say. The experts warn that plastic face shields being used in hair salons are unlikely to be an effective control for aerosol transmission of Covid-19 – which scientists fear is one … Read more
Professor Tim Spector, an epidemiologist at King’s College London, said the UK’s mini coronavirus outbreaks are ‘ripples’ caused by a failure to completely flatten the first epidemic The UK’s mini coronavirus outbreaks are just ‘ripples’ caused by the failure to completely flatten the first epidemic and not proof of a second wave, according to a … Read more