News

The new alert level means the infection is “in general circulation, transmission is high and direct Covid-19 pressure on healthcare services is widespread and substantial or rising”.

“Many people would have had similar quiz nights around the country," Nadhim Zahawi said in the prime minister's defence.

“It is horrifying that Britain has let itself be instrumentalised by a foreign power to bring about travesty," finacee Stella Moris has said.

“He gives the general impression that he is a buffoon and that he is not taking things seriously; and what people think of that, I am sure, will come out in the election result," a Shropshire councillor and Tory mayor has said.

Overall, 36 universities admitted they received funding from eight oil firms, but others refused to say whether they received funding, meaning the total amount of funding could be much higher. 

Chancellor Rishi Sunak and foreign secretary Liz Truss reportedly have donors lined up. Other possible candidates are Michael Gove, Nadhim Zahawi, Jeremy Hunt, Tom Tugendhat and Matt Hancock.

New modelling suggests a median peak could see thousands of daily hospital admissions in England and the Omicron variant evading both vaccines and boosters.

At the time, non-essential shops, leisure and entertainment venues were closed as well as pubs, bars and restaurants, and people were urged to stay at home except for limited reasons including work if it could not be done from home.

A well-known UK lawyer said the £300-million government strategy which would punish recreational drug users is not "compliant with human rights law".