NICOLA CLINGS ON TO TOP JOB
The SUN reports that Nicola Sturgeon has clung onto her job for now – after a report ruled she didn’t break the ministerial code over an investigation into Alex Salmond. A top QC has ruled that the First Minister didn’t break the ministerial code or deliberately mislead parliament over her involvement in a government probe into harassment allegations against him. But Ms Sturgeon is still expected to face a vote of no confidence tomorrow – although it’s likely to fail after the Scottish Greens said they will not support it. Responding to the report she said she welcomed the comprehensive, evidence-based and unequivocal conclusions. ‘Mr Hamilton has considered all of the allegations against me, and I am happy that his report’s findings clear me of any breach of the ministerial code.”
ASTRA ZENECA VACCINE 100% EFFECTIVE SAYS US STUDY
The Telegraph reports that the AstraZeneca vaccine is 100 percent effective against severe or critical disease and hospitalisation, a US study has shown. AstraZeneca said an independent safety committee conducted a specific review of the blood clots in the U.S. trial, as well as cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST), which is an extremely rare blood clot in the brain, with the help of an independent neurologist. It showed that the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine was 79 percent effective at preventing symptomatic illness, and was 100 percent effective against severe or critical disease and hospitalisation. The fresh data comes after many countries resuming use of the vaccine after the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) said the benefits outweighed the risks following investigations into reports of blood clots.
POLICE FACE SUMMER OF DISCONTENT AND DISORDER
The Times reports that Police forces nationwide are bracing for a summer of disorder as warm weather combines with a frustrated population after a year of lockdown. All police forces in England and Wales have been ordered to gather and provide intelligence on protests and groups that may be planning demonstrations following Sunday night’s riots in Bristol, Yesterday the government confirmed that its temporary ban on protests — brought in to stop the spread of coronavirus — will be lifted on Monday. Senior police sources and the head of the government’s advisory group on policing and security have said they are expecting the end of the ban to trigger a surge in protests. They believe it will combine with warmer weather and growing resentment .
BORIS OFFERS TO HELP OUR EU FRIENDS WITH JABS
The Daily Mail reports that Britain will offer to share millions of doses of AstraZeneca’s Covid vaccine made at a factory in the Netherlands in a desperate peace offering to the European Union, it was claimed today. Boris Johnson is trying to defuse a vaccine stand-off with EU chiefs, who are facing a third wave of coronavirus on the continent. Mr Johnson’s comments come amid growing fears the EU will push ahead with an extraordinary export ban on Pfizer and AstraZeneca jabs made on the continent, in a move which could delay the UK’s rollout by months.
NOW FOR BOJO AIR TWO
The Independent reports that the government has acquired a second, brand new plane painted in the colours of the union flag to be used by the prime minister and other dignitaries for short-haul trips. The six-month-old Airbus A321 was photographed at Stansted airport at the weekend with the new red, white and blue paintwork. The government faced criticism last year when it emerged Boris Johnson’s primary plane, the RAF Voyager, had been repainted with the union flag at a cost to the UK taxpayer of £900,000. A government spokesperson insisted the second aircraft, which it said had been repainted with a “Global Britain livery”, represents value for money. They declined to comment on the cost of the lease or new paintwork. The aircraft will be used when Mr Johnson, cabinet ministers or members of the royal family are making short or medium-haul trips, with a range that could take them to destinations elsewhere in Europe or even as far as the US east coast. The larger RAF Voyager, an Airbus A330, will continue to be used when ministers or royals are flying further afield.
HOLIDAYS ABROAD ILLEGAL FROM MONDAY
The Express reports: Holidays abroad will be made illegal from Monday, with anyone caught trying to flee the country facing a huge £5,000 fine. New coronavirus rules will be coming into force next week which include a ban on anyone leaving the UK without a “reasonable excuse”. The new rules were published today, entitled Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Steps) (England) Regulations 2021.According to the new law, no one can “leave England to travel to a destination outside the United Kingdom, or travel to, or be present at, an embarkation point for the purpose of travelling from there to a destination outside the United Kingdom” without a reasonable excuse.The permitted reasons to leave the UK have been updated but are similar to what is currently in place.
MORE THAN 25 MILLION HOUSEHOLDS STILL PAY FOR THE BBC LICENCE
From the Express: BBC bosses are looking at licence fee figures like hawks after seeing 200,000 households cancel the payment over the past year. The broadcaster’s interim Chief Operating Officer Glyn Isherwood told MPs those deciding not to pay for the service had risen from 1.5 million to 1.7 million in 2020. The change in numbers comes as the broadcaster continues to face increased competition for viewers from subscription services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime.
IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS WE MISS
The Express reports that Britons have revealed the little things in life they no longer take for granted like shaking someone’s hand, the sight and sound of a busy high street and waiting to board a plane. Research of 2,000 adults revealed six in 10 have come to appreciate the more mundane things in life since lockdowns began last March. Pre-lockdowns, 83 percent of adults admitted they took the freedom of their daily life for granted, but those polled estimated it’ll take a further nine months following restrictions being lifted for life to feel ‘normal’ again. However, 40 percent think there will be further lockdowns due to the pandemic again in the future, while 48 percent fear they’ll find it hard to readjust to life again. A third plan to carry forward a slower pace of life, while 33 percent want to continue more quality family time while 21 percent will take more moments to stop and reflect moving forward. Among the top 20 things that people miss are: Being able to go on holiday whenever they want, seeing people without masks, a sunny pub garden along with shaking hands, smiling and such everyday things such as going with the family to a supermarket and heading out to buy DIY supplies.
THE APPALLING ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COSTS OF LOCKDOWNS
The Daily Mail reports: On the eve of the anniversary of Boris Johnson’s original stay at home order, in-depth analysis by the Mail shows the sheer extent of the economic, social, educational and healthcare damage. Pandemic measures are costing £500million a day in lost output, while adding £1billion a day to the national debt. And a feared EU blockade on vaccines could derail the phased plan to end the lockdown. The grim Covid death toll, which hit 126,155, is well known. But today’s analysis also reveals the dire impact of the past year on the nation’s health. The NHS waiting list has soared to a record high of nearly 4.6million, with 300,000 waiting more than a year for treatment. On cancer, 44,000 fewer patients started treatment last year and there were 4.4million fewer life-saving diagnostic tests. An extra 6,000 people died of heart disease and stroke. Mental health services saw a 27,000 rise in individuals seeking support, while child eating disorders doubled.
THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT
The Guardian reports that live entertainment is coming back in two halves, much like a traditional night at the theatre. First, a new breed of open-air shows, solo performances and inventive productions for smaller audiences will lead the way this spring, then in late summer and early autumn many of Britain’s grander theatres will follow, once audiences can safely be admitted again in capacity crowds.
AND FINALLY
From the Daily Mail: A maths teacher was left baffled after ordering seven calculators with her online Morrisons shop, only to receive the same amount of chicken and pasta bakes. Alison Jagger, 28, from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, added the devices for her secondary school students as part of her online food order from Morrisons. But she was left completely confused when her groceries arrived and she realised her desired item had been substituted for seven ready meals. Sharing the hilarious mishap to Twitter, she penned: ‘When you order 7 calculators from Morrisons and they send you 7 chicken and bacon pasta bakes instead as a substitution?’ Alison told the Mirror that she was buying calculators because there was a shortage in years 7-9 at the school where she teaches, after older students were given individual calculators due to Covid-19 so that they don’t have to share.
Pleeese! The steam is rising and my safety valve is about to blow.
Stop calling House Arrest – lockdown as it is sanitising a great crime by a lazy liberal government.
To relieve that pressure also stoked by the msm saying the eu are friends, I would like to slap Boris’ flabby red cheeks. A kick in the goolies would also work but I do not think he ever grew his,
I hope you look back next day Mike because I want to say a big THANK YOU. Your final sentence made me laugh!
I don’t know why Nicola is so cocky
This Hamilton verdict sounds more like “Not Proven” to me