Have the last few weeks seen a turning point in Boris Johnson’s premiership? Dozens of Tories have refused to follow the prime minister’s orders in the voting lobbies on issues as diverse as sleaze and social care. Meanwhile a handful of Tory MPs have gone public with demands for change, with many more complaining in
Politics
The health secretary has said it is going to be a “great Christmas” as he defended not imposing stricter restrictions to combat the new COVID variant. Sajid Javid told Trevor Phillips On Sunday it would be “irresponsible to make guarantees” but the measures announced this week in reaction to the Omicron variant will “buy us
A government minister has defended Stanley Johnson, calling him “a gentleman” after a fellow Conservative Party MP accused the prime minister’s father of inappropriately touching her. Nadine Dorries, the culture secretary, said she “didn’t believe” what Caroline Nokes had accused the former MEP of. In response to the remarks, Ms Nokes said she was “sorry”
David Frum, a former speechwriter for George W. Bush, argues that non-supporters of former President Trump are using his “Russia hoax” lie to their own advantage. #CNN #News
Dr. Peter Hotez discusses the Omicron variant and when we’ll know if vaccines are effective against it. #CNN #News
Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease specialist, explains why he thinks the Omicron variant of the Covid-19 virus is likely in the US at a lower level than the Delta variant. #Smerconish #CNN #News
Prime Minister Boris Johnson outlines next steps after the first cases of the highly-contagious Omicron variant of Covid-19 were confirmed in the United Kingdom. #BorisJohnson #CNN #News
There is limited evidence that Rishi Sunak’s £2bn jobs programme for young people is working, according to a new report. The National Audit Office (NAO) watchdog warned that the government has “limited assurance” over whether the Kickstart scheme, aimed at 16 to 24-year-olds, is having any positive effect or creating high quality jobs. The government
No cases of the new COVID variant have been detected in the UK, but it is highly likely it has now spread beyond southern Africa, the health secretary has said. Sajid Javid warned the new strain could be more transmissible than the Delta variant and there is a “possibility it might have a different impact
CNN’s David McKenzie reports on the new Covid-19 variant known as Omicron and why its mutations are concerning scientists and health professionals. #CNN #News
France has cancelled a meeting with the UK to discuss Channel crossings after Boris Johnson asked the French to take back migrants arriving in Britain. French interior minister Gerald Darmanin has told Home Secretary Priti Patel “she was no longer welcome” at Sunday’s European meeting on migrant issues, a French government spokesman said. Spokesman Gabriel
Boris Johnson has offered to work with France to “move further and faster” in order to tackle small boat crossings and avoid a repeat of the “appalling tragedy” in the Channel that left 27 people dead. The prime minister has written to President Emmanuel Macron and set out five steps he thinks both sides should
The French interior minister said migrants are “often attracted” to the UK’s job market after 27 people died while attempting to cross the Channel. Gerard Darmanin said that Britain, Belgium and Germany could do more to help France tackle illegal migrants and human trafficking issues. In an interview with French radio station RTL he also
Boris Johnson has hit out at France after more than 30 people died in the English Channel when their boat capsized, as he slammed people trafficking gangs who are “literally getting away with murder”. The prime minister said he was “shocked, appalled and deeply saddened” by the “disaster”, which “underscores how dangerous it is to
Parliament is going to review its rules on bringing babies into the House of Commons after an MP was reprimanded for taking her young baby into a debate. Stella Creasy shared an email from an official on Tuesday telling her she should not have had her three-month-old son in the House of Commons while speaking
CNN’s John Berman speaks with Susan Bro about her daughter Heather Heyer, after a jury awarded more than $26 million in damages after finding the White nationalists who organized and participated in a violent 2017 rally liable on a state conspiracy claim and other claims. #CNN #News
Boris Johnson has appeared to step back from a manifesto commitment on social care, after a controversial change to his government’s reforms to the system in England were narrowly backed by MPs. The prime minister committed in the 2019 Conservative Party manifesto that “nobody needing care should be forced to sell their home to pay
A jury has awarded more than $26 million in damages after finding the White nationalists who organized and participated in a violent 2017 rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, liable on a state conspiracy claim and other claims. #CNN #News
Jared Bernstein, member of the White House council of economic advisers, joins CNN to discuss President Joe Biden’s plan to release 50 million oil barrels in order to lower gas prices. #CNN #News
Labour has criticised the government’s change to social care reforms but failed to come up with details of an alternative way to fund care. Labour MP Sarah Owen accused the Conservatives of breaking their promise that nobody would have to sell their home to pay for care. MPs last night backed a change to social