View in browser

Monday January 25 2021

 
 

By Chris Evans
Editor

Dear Reader,

Were it not for the pandemic, we might be discussing that other great crisis facing Britain. The Union is in peril, with the Scottish National Party set to win an outright majority at Holyrood in May and determined to wrench Scotland from the United Kingdom. Might now be the time for dramatic action? Gordon Brown has written a thought-provoking column for The Telegraph to argue that we should become a federal nation or risk becoming “a failed state”.

The UK’s vaccination programme is proceeding at a terrific rate, yet the situation in our hospitals is parlous in the extreme. Our photographer Heathcliff O’Malley spent some time in the Covid wards of Ealing Hospital, talking to staff and patients about the grim state of affairs and photographing events. It’s sobering but essential reading.

Stock in Britain’s politicians during this crisis only seems to have gone in one direction: down. There is one minister, however, who has so far bucked the trend. Rishi Sunak, barely a middle-ranking minister 12 months ago, is now seen as the Conservative Party’s next great hope. Nick Timothy has profiled his rocket-like rise and argues that he is uniquely placed to rejuvenate Britain post-coronavirus.

Finally, the lockdown has made intrepid chefs out of many of us, but the urge to sit down to a lovingly made meal prepared by someone else is unlikely to go away. But what if that meal were prepared by a robot? William Sitwell spent a day with Moley, the world’s first “robotic kitchen” that’s capable, with a few caveats, of preparing any dish you desire. Take a look for yourself.

Chris

 
 

My Choices

Boris Johnson

Britain faces a three-month 'halfway house' lockdown after Easter as over-50s wait for second vaccine – Tony Diver has the latest.

Doctors in surgery

Read our photographer's moving dispatch from the Covid wards at Ealing Hospital, where people in their 30s, 40s and 50s are fighting for their lives. (Free to read)

Rishi Sunak

'The United Kingdom must urgently rediscover what holds it together' – Gordon Brown's thought-provoking column calls for a new inclusiveness at the heart of government as the Union faces collapse.

 
RoboChef

The 250k gadget that makes your meals: William Sitwell tries out the robotic kitchen that can prepare whatever you want. How did it do?

Rishi Sunak

Can Rishi Sunak rejuvenate the UK after coronavirus? Nick Timothy's profile of the Chancellor explores his success, popularity and future as a politician. (Free to read)

Group of over 70s including Attenborough and Biden

Over 70 and in their prime: Health specialist Sir Muir Gray, 76, explains why many of his generation are just getting started – and how you can, too.

 
 

What did you think?
Let us know how we're doing using the feedback button below or tweet me @chrisevans1. Although I am unable to respond individually to all the emails I receive, I am grateful to you for sending them to me.

 
 

We hope you enjoyed our newsletter. If you have questions or feedback, please visit our help page. If you have questions about your Telegraph subscription, including delivery issues or technical ones, please visit this page and contact us that way.

If you would like a letter to the Editor published in The Telegraph, email it to dtletters@telegraph.co.uk. Please include name, address, work and home telephone numbers.

 

See more Telegraph newsletters

 

Front Bench  |  Cookbook  |  Cars  |  Good News

 

We have sent you this email because you have either asked us to or because we think it will interest you.

 

Unsubscribe  |  Update your preferences

 

For any other questions, please visit our help page here.

 

Any offers included in this email come with their own Terms and Conditions, which you can see by clicking on the offer link. We may withdraw offers without notice.

 

Telegraph Media Group Limited or its group companies - 111 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 0DT. Registered in England under No 451593.