Month: June 2021

PA Media The prime minister could face defeat in the Commons later over government cuts to the UK’s overseas aid budget, at the start of a week in which he hosts the G7 summit in Cornwall. More than 30 rebel Tory MPs want Boris Johnson to restore a commitment to spend 0.7% of national income

Getty Images The government is “absolutely open” to delaying the final lifting of England’s lockdown on 21 June if necessary, the health secretary has said. Matt Hancock said 21 June was a “not before” date to end restrictions under the government’s roadmap, and that No 10 “would look at the data”. He also said he

Getty Images Families are going hungry and girls are missing school because of the UK’s cuts to foreign aid spending, dozens of charities and academics have warned. Charities including Oxfam and ActionAid UK said cuts had caused “devastation” that could undermine the UK’s credibility at the upcoming G7 summit. In a letter to Boris Johnson,

The G7 group of advanced economies has reached a “historic” deal on taxing multinational companies. Finance ministers meeting in London agreed to battle tax avoidance through measures to make companies pay in the countries where they do business. They also agreed in principle to a global minimum corporate tax rate of 15% to avoid countries

Getty Images The number of people infected with coronavirus in the UK has risen by as much as two-thirds, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) says. It estimates that around 100,000 people tested positive in the week to 29 May, or one in 660 people – up from 60,000 the previous week. A growing proportion

Getty Images The UK regulator has approved the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in children aged 12-15, saying it is safe and effective in this age group and the benefits outweigh any risks. The MHRA said it had carried out a “rigorous review” of the vaccine in adolescents. The UK’s vaccines committee will now decide

Reuters Portugal has questioned the UK decision to remove it from the travel green list from next Tuesday. The move to the amber list means UK tourists should not visit the country and returnees must isolate for 10 days. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps cited rising cases and a Covid mutation found in Portugal, saying ministers

PA Media The Home Office’s decision to house cross-channel migrants in a “squalid” barracks in Folkestone was unlawful, the High Court has ruled. Six asylum seekers brought the case, claiming Napier Barracks was “unsafe” and dormitory use caused a Covid-19 outbreak earlier this year. The ruling could see a damages claim against Home Secretary Priti

Ministry of Defence The government is facing a surprise rebellion next week that could force it to reverse its cuts to the foreign aid budget, the BBC has learned. Rebel Conservative MPs say they have enough support to defeat the government and see aid spending increase in 2022. The unexpected vote in the Commons will

Crown Prosecution Service A police officer charged with murder said his “fear was through the roof” when he Tasered an ex-footballer. PC Benjamin Monk, 43, is on trial at Birmingham Crown Court charged with the murder of Dalian Atkinson in 2016. As his defence begins, he told jurors he thought he and co-accused PC Mary

Getty Images Tutoring sessions for pupils in England are being promised in school catch-up plans that will cost £1.4bn over three years. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “We will do everything we can to support children who have fallen behind.” The extra funding will help pupils whose learning has been disrupted by the pandemic. Head

PA Media Much of Scotland’s central belt is to remain under level two Covid-19 restrictions as rules in Glasgow are relaxed, Nicola Sturgeon has announced. Glasgow will move into level two from Saturday, after eight months under the stricter rules. Many areas in the north and south of the country will move down to level