51 h. ago Sunak: I would do the same again on Covid business loans despite fraud risk

Mr Sunak, who served as chancellor during the pandemic, defended the rollout of the Bounce Back Loan Scheme as he appeared at the UK Covid-19 Inquiry.

Economics

3 d. ago Ministers were told not to go 'too early' with Covid restrictions amid fears Brits would refuse to comply, says Rishi Sunak

The former chancellor, who was in charge of the UK's economic response to the pandemic, revealed medical experts were 'quite focused on getting the timing right'.

Politics

3 d. ago Rishi Sunak says ministers told not to bring in Covid interventions ‘too early’: Latest

The former chancellor is giving evidence on the economic impact of the pandemic

Politics

6 d. ago Oil rig safety measures to be probed after Covid death in first of its kind inquiry

Donald Singer, 66, died after contracting Covid-19 in May 2020 and was airlifted from the Ninian Southern Platform to Aberdeen Roayl Infirmary.

Events

6 d. ago Inquiry into death of worker with Covid to consider safety measures on oil rig

Donald Singer, 66, died in hospital a month after being airlifted from the Ninian Southern Platform off Shetland in April 2020.

Events

2 w. ago How much the Covid inquiry is costing as figures soar to astronomical sum

The Covid inquiry set up by the Government has hundreds of staff working on it. It's expected to be the most expensive one of its kind ever

Politics

2 w. ago Planning for any future pandemic must include impact on economy – Diane Dodds

The former Stormont economy minister made the comments to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry.

Events

2 w. ago The lawyers always win: Fury as government blows £100m responding to Covid inquiry

The huge outlay by Whitehall comes on top of the near-£200million cost of the probe itself - a figure that is expected to rise significantly.

Politics

2 w. ago Covid Inquiry costs UK taxpayers £100million in Government responses alone

More than half of the figure has been spent on legal fees, including bringing in external lawyers

Economics

2 w. ago Government has spent more than £100m so far responding to Covid inquiry

Transparency data from the Cabinet Office shows the staff and legal costs associated with responding to the public inquiry.

Economics

2 w. ago Furries, 'gooning' and 'muscle mommies': What really goes on in the warped porn chatrooms that have broken the brains of young men

If the Covid Inquiry is looking for anything else to add to its expensive agenda, it might reflect on this: how pandemic-era boys cooped up in their bedrooms got hooked on the worst of the internet.

Events

3 w. ago The shameful attacks on the Covid inquiry prove it: the right is lost in anti

There is nothing wrong with questioning the mighty cost of the lockdowns, but we can’t let hardline libertarians rewrite Britain’s pandemic historyThat number will stay fixed for ever in public memory: 23,000 people died because Boris Johnson resisted locking the country down in time. As Covid swept in, and with horrific images of Italian temporary morgues in tents, he went on holiday and took no calls. With the NHS bracing to be “overwhelmed” by the virus, he rode his new motorbike, walked his dog and hosted friends at Chevening.Nothing is surprising about that: he was ejected from Downing Street and later stepped down as an MP largely for partying and lying to parliament about it. Everyone knew he was a self-aggrandising fantasist with a “toxic and chaotic culture” around him. But this is not just about one narcissistic politician. It’s about his entire rightwing coterie of libertarians and their lethally dominant creed in the UK media.Polly Toynbee is a Guardian columnist Continu...

Events

3 w. ago Covid inquiry hears from businesses as it begins examining economic response

Monday’s hearing began with an impact video featuring people who’s lives were affected by the pandemic.

Economics

3 w. ago Readers’ Letters: Boris doesn’t deserve to be the Covid fall guy

The latest from the Covid Inquiry isn’t impressing one reader

Politics

3 w. ago Boris Johnson had a four day break in crucial period before Covid pandemic struck

The official records have raised questions over whether the former prime minister may have misled the Covid inquiry

Politics

3 w. ago Revealed: Covid inquiry evidence which criticised MI6 for denying Wuhan lab leak theory was censored by security officials

The inquiry stifled any discussion of the origins of Covid, with lawyers shutting down Michael Gove when he tried to tell them 'a significant body of judgment' believed the virus was man-made

Politics

3 w. ago Boris Johnson took four days off as NHS warned Covid could ‘overwhelm’ system

Files show then PM was walking dog, riding motorbike and hosting guests as pandemic planning stalled in ‘lost month’Boris Johnson took four days off from official government business during a key period in the UK’s Covid preparation when the NHS was bracing to be “overwhelmed” by the virus.Official disclosure for the period in February 2020 – described by the Covid inquiry as a “lost month” in the country’s crisis response – reveal Johnson enjoyed an extended break during the half-term holidays at Chevening, a governmental estate in Kent, where he spent time walking his dog and taking motorcycle rides. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Boris Johnson's sister claims the Covid report makes him sound like 'the Grim Reaper'

Boris Johnson’s sister has accused the Covid Inquiry report of regarding the former Prime Minister as “the Grim Reaper himself” - dismissing the 800 page document as “expensive vindictive rubbish"

Politics

3 w. ago Boris Johnson ‘beyond contempt’ for attack on Covid inquiry’s findings and refusal to apologise

Families of the Covid bereaved have reacted to horror to the lack of contrition in the former prime minister’s weekly column

Politics

3 w. ago Johnson says Covid inquiry that criticised chaos in his government ‘muddled’

The former prime minister said the Hallett report should be ‘filed vertically’.

Politics