Plus, inside Britain's puppy boom
| PM resisted lockdown as only over-80s dying, Cummings says |
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| | | At one point he was the prime minister's closest aide, a hugely powerful figure at No 10. But Dominic Cummings has become one of Boris Johnson's fiercest critics, first via his blog, then under questioning from MPs. Now, in his first TV interview, the former chief adviser says his old boss did not want to tighten Covid restrictions in the face of rising cases last autumn because he thought those dying were "essentially all over 80". Mr Johnson had wanted to let Covid "wash through the country" rather than destroy the economy, Mr Cummings says. He tells our political editor Laura Kuenssberg the prime minister messaged him: "I no longer buy all this NHS overwhelmed stuff." A Downing Street spokesperson said Mr Johnson had three times prevented the NHS from being overwhelmed by imposing national lockdowns. "Since the start of the pandemic, the prime minister has taken the necessary action to protect lives and livelihoods, guided by the best scientific advice," they added. If you're wondering who Mr Cummings is, here's our profile of a man who was forced out of his Downing Street role in an internal power struggle. But chances are you'll remember his press conference amid public anger over him driving from London to Country Durham during lockdown, when all but essential travel was banned. He now admits: "The way we handled the whole thing was wrong." | |
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| Record 430 people cross Channel in a day |
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| The Home Office says it's taking "substantial steps to tackle the unacceptable problem of illegal migration" after a daily record of at least 430 people crossed the English Channel on Monday. About 50 landed on the beach at Dungeness, Kent, in a single dinghy. Dan O'Mahoney, who leads the department's efforts to stop small-boat crossings, says people should seek asylum in the first safe country they reach. The Nationality and Borders Bill, being debated by MPs, will "protect lives and break the cycle of illegal crossings", he says. It targets people smugglers, but also proposes jail terms of up to four years for migrants arriving without permission. The plans have been criticised by charities including Refugee Action, which has called them "extreme and nasty". | |
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| Prince Harry to publish memoir |
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| It will, says publisher Penguin Random House, be "intimate and heartfelt", "honest and moving". The Duke of Sussex is promising to share "mistakes and lessons learned" in a memoir next year. Prince Harry says it will reflect "the highs and lows" and be "accurate and wholly truthful". The duke, who stepped back from royal duties last year, hopes to show "no matter where we come from, we have more in common than we think" and will donate proceeds to charity. BBC News has been told he spoke privately with his family about the book. He would not be expected to get permission from Buckingham Palace, his spokesman says. | |
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| | | | | Hundreds of thousands of children at higher risk from coronavirus infection are to be offered a Covid vaccine in the UK. However, the vast majority of children will not be immunised. The evidence on the harms and benefits of vaccination has been reviewed by the UK's Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). It has recommended vaccinating children aged 12-15 if they are at higher risk of Covid due to severe neurodisability, Down's syndrome, a severely weakened immune system - including some children with cancer - and profound and multiple learning difficulties. Those at higher risk who are already aged 16 or 17 can be vaccinated under existing rules. | |
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| | James Gallagher | Health and science correspondent | |
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| | | | Most papers lead on the announcement only those fully vaccinated against coronavirus will be allowed into nightclubs. Picturing clubbers in Brighton, the Metro says "the party spirit may be short lived". The Daily Telegraph says it marks a "change in position" for the prime minister, who had said companies would be left to decide whether to adopt Covid status checks. The hospitality industry complained the decision turned "Freedom Day" into "an absolute shambles", says the Daily Mail. Gigs and sports events are likely to require "vaccine passports" and the scheme could be extended to pubs, according to the i. However, Conservative MPs will try to vote down the legislation, amid fears it would create a two-tier society, says the Times. | |
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| | | Covid Isolation rules loosened for critical workers |
| | | | Lobbying Cameron lacked judgement over Greensill - MPs' report |
| | | | Archives Tony Blair did not approve Irish Famine statement, files show |
| | | | Consumers Writing fake online reviews could be made illegal |
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