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The Guardian view on levelling up: a flagship policy adrift and becalmed | Editorial
More mayors and a shake-up of local government will not be enough to rebalance the economy and heal the north-south divideTwo years after Boris Johnson made “levelling up” the lodestar of his new administration, the public still struggles to understand…
PM’s flat overhaul: Labour demands inquiry findings be made public
Boris Johnson dogged by scandal amid calls for all evidence to be passed to standards commissionerBoris Johnson faces a further headache over the scandal surrounding the funding of his Downing Street flat refurbishment after Labour demanded the finding…
Johnson blamed for Covid test shortages as cases hit record 183,000
Labour criticises PM over ‘total shambles’ of some essential workers being unable to access test kitsCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageBoris Johnson has been accused of presiding over a “total shambles” as millions of people s…
Johnson reluctantly took the call. Why did everyone expect answers from the PM? | John Crace
Steve Barclay didn’t want to crash and burn like Raab, so maybe he could be told the line to take todayBoris Johnson: (picking up phone) Who’s that?Steve Barclay: It’s me. Steve.A Farewell to Calm by John Crace (Guardian Faber, £9.99). To support the G…
Mixing work with wine is a recipe for bad judgment | Letters
Readers express their disbelief at the government’s explanation for the lockdown gathering at Downing Street last yearJohn Harris’s article (The fatal weakness of the Conservatives is not seeing the kindness in most people, 19 December) carried the eve…
No new Covid restrictions before Christmas, Boris Johnson confirms
Prime minister warns rapid spread of Omicron variant could mean curbs are imposed after 25 DecemberCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageMinisters will not introduce any new Covid restrictions before Christmas, Boris Johnson has c…
Pay attention for a message from the prime minister: careless cheese and wine costs lives | Marina Hyde
As we await the known unknowns of Omicron, No 10 does more to undermine public trust than all the conspiracy theorists on YouTubeFor the rapidly unravelling winter caretaker of Downing Street, it has been another paranoia-inducing few days. What with l…
Human rights are being attacked by the government, not fine-tuned | Letters
Nick Moss says the struggle to defend and extend our rights has to be conducted on the streets, as well as in parliament and the courts. John Robinson fears that we are facing an existential attack on our democracyI agree with Martha Spurrier that this…
Covid live: UK reports 82,886 new cases in huge weekly jump; Omicron dominant in Ireland
Latest UK daily cases show a 72% jump on the 48,071 new infections recorded last Sunday; Irish officials say 52% of cases estimated to be new variantUK health secretary refuses to rule out further curbs before ChristmasThe science case for more Covid r…