News and Opinion

Germany’s health minister has struck down claims UK officials were able to swiftly authorise the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine because of Brexit. Jens Spahn said the claims had been ‘misplaced’ as he reminded Westminster politicians that the vaccine had been partly developed by German biotech start-up. In a briefing on Wednesday, Spahn said although Britain had already approved […]

Joe Biden will be an infinitely tougher prospect for Vladimir Putin than Donald Trump. Yet the Russian president still has time on his side, says JOHN KAMPFNER. George W Bush, not a man commonly thought of as soft, said this of Vladimir Putin at their first meeting in 2001: “I looked the man in the […]

So as I type this it’s the morning of December 1, and I’ve just done something I always do on this day each year; put my earphones in, hit up the Christmas songs playlist for the first time and hit ‘shuffle’. I think I’ve mentioned before that I operate a strict embargo system where Christmas […]

It suits various politicians to stay quiet on Brexit. But that must end now. On January 1st, Brexit goes from an idea to reality. The repercussions will come in waves. First comes the chaos at the border, which will take place regardless of whether there’s a deal or not. Our frictionless trading network with the […]

The country might consider itself the cradle of liberty, but, says CONSTANCE KAMPFNER, a controversial proposed ‘security’ law has emphasised the uneasy relationship between the state and its citizens. A policeman is kneeling on a man’s neck. He tries to tell the officer that he can’t breathe while passersby look on, horrified. They shudder. And then […]

Neil Kinnock is laughing heartily. “Oh God! I never knew about that,” he says. I’ve just informed him that there’s a punk band that plays around Cardiff by the name of Surreal Kinnock. “Bloody hell,” he laughs. “My wife thinks she’s been married to him for 50-odd years.” We speak by phone, Kinnock from his […]

Nadine Dorries has been reported to Twitter’s complaints department after users protested about a message she wrote suggesting Britain fast-tracked the Pfizer vaccine thanks to Brexit. Several Twitter users have reported the Brexiteer minister after she said Britain would “still be waiting” for the approval of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine had it not left the EU earlier this […]

A Brexiteer MP has issued expletives to convey his amazement at the number of customs declarations expected between Great Britain and Northern Ireland after Brexit. Northern Ireland committee member Bob Stewart was shocked to find out that the HMRC are expecting traders on both sides of the Irish Sea to lodge 11 million customs declarations after […]

Sir Keir Starmer has said Boris Johnson has a habit of “running away” from tough issues after being confronted over Labour’s abstention from a vote on new lockdown measures. In his first session of Prime Minister’s Questions since having to self-isolate, Johnson sought to pin some of the economic turmoil behind the collapse of clothing giant Arcadia onto Labour. Johnson […]

Matt Hancock has been rebuked by members of the public after suggesting the speedy approval of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine was due to Brexit. Hancock caused controversy after insisting Britain’s exit from the EU meant it could rapidly approve new vaccines. This comes after Britain became the first country in the world to approve a jab for coronavirus on […]

Matt Hancock has said a former neighbour who was awarded millions of pounds worth of Covid contracts after texting him went through “the normal channels”. Hancock deflected criticism that he was personally involved in handing government contracts to Alex Bourne whose company was given work to supply test tubes two weeks after contacting the minister by […]

England is set for a strengthened tiered system of coronavirus restrictions after MPs backed the measures, despite Boris Johnson suffering the largest Tory rebellion of this parliament. Their support means 99% of England will enter the toughest Tier 2 and 3 restrictions, preventing them from mixing indoors with other households when the second national lockdown […]

Desmond Swayne has been mocked after coining his own term to describe Britain’s Covid-19 vaccination programme. The Brexiteer backbencher caused a ruckus in the House of Commons when he suggested the barring of people who were not immunised from public spaces was a form of discrimination he termed “vaccinationism”. Prominent Brexiteers like Swayne and fellow Tory backbencher Steve […]

The chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life has hinted he believes the behaviour of Boris Johnson’s ministers are causing “long-lasting damage” with the public as he prepares to conduct an inquiry into public standards. Lord Evans, a former head at MI5, said he had received messages expressing “concern” about ministerial conduct following […]

The Netherlands has caused hilarity after it used a Brexit “monster” to issue a warning to its citizens. A picture of Netherland’s Brexit mascot handing out ‘Get Ready’ flyers at an EU port has stirred up a hilarious reaction online. The giant Muppet, dubbed by British media as Project Fur, has appeared at the port […]

Boris Johnson’s Covid-19 strategy poses a “significant” health risk and is “highly unlikely” to see restrictions eased in parts of the country before Christmas, Labour has claimed. Sir Keir Starmer accused the prime minister of “over-promising and under-delivering” by pursuing an approach of short-term decisions that then “bump into the harsh reality of the virus”. […]

A group of Tory peers have lashed out at the current series of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! over the use of “non-native” insects in certain challenges. The group has said the use of non-native bugs in Wales, where this season’s show is being filmed, was “irresponsible” and “stupid”. The popular TV show was forced to relocate from […]

Labour leader Keir Starmer has mocked a Tory heckler who said he was speaking “in hindsight” for his prediction about the coronavirus tier system. Opposition MPs were left laughing at the government benches after the leader of the opposition pointed out that it was a prediction for the future, rather than him talking about something […]

Scotland should aim for full EU membership if it becomes independent, the country’s constitution secretary has said. Mike Russell said he would not like a “halfway house” of European Economic Area (EEA) membership. The EEA consists of members of the EU along with Liechtenstein, Iceland and Norway, through the European Free Trade Agreement (EFTA) which […]

British expats have blasted post-Brexit travel rules which will prevent them spending more than three months at a time in the EU. When the transition period ends on January 1, Britons intending to stay in a European country longer than 90 days will have to apply for a visa in every sixth month spell. There […]

Piers Morgan has slammed the government’s coronavirus response, pointing out that the “disastrous” death toll was higher than the number of civilians who died in the Second World War. Morgan criticised the handling of the pandemic as he interviewed minister Michael Gove, as the MP denied that it had been a bad response. The Good […]

Michael Gove has been accused of going “full Trump” after he attacked Good Morning Britain‘s rating figures. Gove attacked the show after he was accused of telling a “blatant lie” about Boris Johnson’s polling numbers. Responding to Piers Morgan’s question about becoming prime minister, Gove responded: “I don’t want to be prime minister, Piers. “Firstly, I think […]

A former Brexit Party MEP has claimed that it will take a quarter of a century before the UK gets sovereignty back after the UK departs from the European Union. Ben Habib claimed that Boris Johnson’s proposals for a withdrawal from the EU “undermines sovereignty” and that the wishes of Brexiteers will not be resolved […]

Britain’s economy would suffer a “serious” short-term hit from a no-deal Brexit as it also grapples with the impact of a second wave of coronavirus, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has warned. The OECD said the resurgence of the pandemic comes at a “historic and critical moment” for the UK as the […]

Michael Gove has inflamed tensions with Piers Morgan after he said he received “good advice” from colleagues to boycott Good Morning Britain (GMB). Morgan accused Gove of “suppressing free speech” after the minister admitted he he had been “told” to avoid the show. Referencing a Scottish anecdote, Gove said: “When you get good advice from your colleagues, […]

Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove has said that it is for “common sense” to decide what a “substantial meal” is that will enable people to have a drink in pubs as lockdown lifts in England. Gove was challenged by Good Morning Britain presenter Piers Morgan as to whether a Scotch egg fitted the criteria after […]

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has said the party would be abstaining in Tuesday’s Commons vote on the coronavirus restrictions, prompting accusations from the government the opposition is “playing politics”. Starmer said: “Coronavirus remains a serious threat to the public’s health and that’s why Labour accept the need for continued restrictions. We will always act […]

Boris Johnson is bracing himself for a damaging Tory rebellion as MPs vote on a new toughened system of tiered coronavirus controls for England. The government is expected to win Tuesday’s Commons vote on the new rules – which are due to come into effect the following day – after Labour said it would abstain. Sir […]

Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove has said he is confident another lockdown in England could be avoided, but that the government could not rule one out. Appearing on Kay Burley at Breakfast, he said: “I am as confident as confident can be that we won’t need one because the tiers that we have now are […]

The government’s post-Brexit farming proposals are a “full-throttle attack” on English family farms, according to Labour. Shadow environment secretary Luke Pollard told the Commons: “Labour supports public money for public good, of course we do, but that’s not what this is about. “Strip away the green coating and these proposals are a full-throttle attack on […]

Another Vote Leave veteran has walked out of Downing Street following the resignation of ally Dominic Cummings. Special adviser Cleo Watson handed in her resignation to Number 10 just weeks after former Vote Leave mastermind Cummings and communications expert Lee Cain resigned. Watson worked on the Brexit campaign before joining government under Theresa May, before […]

A radio presenter has said Tory MPs opposing Boris Johnson’s latest lockdown plans are doing so because they “don’t like being told what to do”. The LBC’s James O’Brien has said the 100-strong group of Tories resisting the prime minister’s regulations were jeopardising the public’s safety. The band of MPs, known as the Covid Recovery Group (CRG), […]