John Edmunds says variant is ‘very severe setback’ to controlling Covid pandemic and that plan B ‘absolutely not an overreaction’Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageCases of the Omicron variant could be spreading even faster in …
Government faces Tory backbench revolt over plan B Covid measures
Dozens of Conservative MPs threaten to rebel or abstain next week as Johnson struggles with fallout from No 10 party scandalDowning Street is facing a damaging revolt over planned Covid restrictions after dozens of Tory backbenchers threatened to rebel…
Covid live: people in Scotland urged to cancel Christmas parties; UK reports another 50,867 cases and 148 deaths
People and businesses in Scotland been urged not to go ahead with parties; UK daily case tally remains above 50,000South African Covid cases up 255% in a week as Omicron spreadsStricter measures than plan B may be needed to stop Omicron in UKItalian w…
Scottish health board apologises over late diagnosis of deaf children
NHS Lothian says sorry to families after independent review finds ‘horrendous’ failings over a nine-year periodA Scottish health board has apologised for “horrendous” failings after an independent review found that deaf children missed out on vital coc…
Sienna Miller says Sun forced her to make decisions about pregnancy
Actor, who believes reporter illegally obtained medical records, speaks after accepting settlementSienna Miller has said the Sun forced her to make decisions “about my own body that I have to live with every single day” after the newspaper found out sh…
Markets think Omicron plan B will delay rise in UK interest rates
Fears of economic slowdown mean Bank of England less likely to intervene to dampen inflationCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageNew restrictions to limit the spread of the Omicron variant will delay an interest rate increase fro…
MPs press for new investigation into Boris Johnson flat refurbishment
Watchdog urged to start inquiry after Electoral Commission report raises questions about whether PM misled his ethics adviserBoris Johnson could face sanctions involving suspension from the House of Commons as MPs piled pressure on the standards commis…
Durham head steps back after calling students ‘pathetic’ at Rod Liddle event
South College principal Tim Luckhurst will not attend external events while investigation into dinner takes placeThe principal of a Durham University college who called students “pathetic” for protesting during an event with the columnist Rod Liddle ha…
Charity regulator should keep out of ‘woke’ debates, says prospective chair
Commons select committee scrutinises Martin Thomas’s appointment after previous chair criticised over culture wars The charity regulator should stay as far as possible out of debates about “wokeness”, the government’s preferred candidate to head the wa…
Keep rightwing politics out of arts funding | Letters
Granville Williams abhors the threats to institutions over research into slavery, while Christopher Gordon writes that Arts Council England has presided over a climate of fearThe mindset and language of Tory politicians discussing broadcasting and the …