Air purifiers in every classroom in England would cost half the price of new royal yacht; ‘inevitable’ schools will be hit by omicron as PM says no new restrictions before NYE

Schools in England could fit air purifiers in every classroom – “which scientists and campaigners say would significantly reduce the spread of Covid” – for less than half the cost of the new royal yacht. Boris Johnson’s £200-£250 million “pet project” to replace the royal yacht Britannia (decommissioned in 1997) with a new ship, is […]

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UK on track for record levels of child poverty, warns Children’s Commissioner, yet education secretary’s focus is a culture war

The Children’s Commissioner for England has used her final speech to excoriate the people employed and paid to educate, look after and protect the children of this country, while simultaneously condemning the silence around their collective failings. Anne Longfield, whose six year tenure ends this month, delivered a devastating final report on how far children […]

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Brexit, Brazil, free school meals, ICUs and a record number of deaths – a day in the life of a PM under pressure to deliver

A single day of questions at Westminster for the prime minister has provided a glimpse of the extent and range of immediate challenges and crises that Boris Johnson has been entrusted to lead the country through. A double bill for Johnson began with PMQs and was followed by an appearance before the House of Commons […]

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‘Extreme concern’ over surge in Covid cases with NHS staff ‘back in the eye of the storm’

Matt Hancock has warned the “NHS is facing unprecedented pressures” from the coronavirus while a senior medical adviser expressed “extreme concern” about infection rates across the UK. Boris Johnson is meeting with ministers tonight (Tuesday) to discuss what changes need to be made to England’s tier system to curb the virus spreading. Concerns have been […]

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Gove warns of ‘bumpy’ moments to come as businesses and individuals get ready for charges and red tape

Michael Gove has warned UK businesses of “bumpy” moments ahead as the new arrangement with the EU comes into effect while individuals have been told to check their phone contracts, health insurance and passports if they plan to travel to the EU. British citizens not travelling to the EU have also been told they face […]

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