News and Opinion

Remainers have spent four years promoting the spirit of cooperation, supporting and working together. JAMES BALL says the anti-Brexit movement must not lose sight of these principles during the coronavirus outbreak. You know the world has turned on its head in the space of a few weeks when you realise the UK’s ability to get […]

Who is on Question Time tonight? Here’s your guide In these dark and frightening times, one tiny piece of good has come out of the coronavirus crisis: Question Time is without a studio audience. But while tonight’s episode – due, at the time of writing, to come from Weston-super-Mare – may lack ruddy-faced gentlemen of […]

How can you clean your house to keep it infection-free? Health expert BRETT MITCHELL has tips for cleaning surfaces, your gadgets, clothes and cutlery. How to clean your house to prevent the spread of coronavirus and other infections As the coronavirus pandemic spreads around the world, it’s a good time to understand how cleaning can […]

STEVE ANGLESEY takes a look at the staggering responses to the coronavirus from some of the most outspoken voices in the Leave camp. The race to deliver the very worst take of the coronavirus crisis has attracted serious competition from Brexiteers of every stripe. Yet it may have been won by the granddaddy of them […]

The coronavirus is likely to go down as a significant moment in our history. But how will it change our politics? ANDREW ADONIS looks at what might happen when it’s all over. Have your say Send your letters for publication to The New European by emailing letters@theneweuropean.co.uk and pick up an edition each Thursday for […]

In an era of anonymous sources and divisive press briefings, can the media and journalists rise to the occasion of responsible reporting over the coronavirus outbreak? As COVID-19 spreads globally, so has misinformation about how to counter it. From politicians downplaying the risk it poses to public health to journalists tweeting false claims about who […]

Boris Johnson’s former deputy as London mayor has been made a life peer to serve in government. Stephen Greenhalgh will become a minister of state at both the Home Office and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Downing Street confirmed. Greenhalgh served as deputy mayor of London for policing and crime between 2012 and […]

An NHS hospital worker said they have been threatened with eviction by a landlord over fears he will infect other tenants with coronavirus, a charity has said. The worker is one of tens of thousands of renters who could lose their homes during the Covid-19 outbreak if the government does not move quickly to protect […]

Government ministers are no longer to claim there has been ‘no successful examples’ of Russian interference in UK elections, just four months after Boris Johnson claimed theories about a report on the issue were ‘Bermuda Triangle stuff’. The change in official line, first reported by the Guardian, appears to be an admission that the Kremlin […]

Boris Johnson has said he would consider the introduction of an emergency universal income scheme to help those workers affected by coronavirus. Johnson said introducing a universal basic income to aid financially hit workers ‘will certainly be considered’ and agreed to hold talks with supporters of the proposed scheme. The prime minister’s comments came after […]

A report into the Windrush scandal will be published on Thursday, the Home Office has announced. Have your say Send your letters for publication to The New European by emailing letters@theneweuropean.co.uk and pick up an edition each Thursday for more comment and analysis. Find your nearest stockist here or subscribe to a print or digital […]

While a number of countries have reported rapidly increasing cases of coronavirus, there are some reported very few to no cases. JEREMY ROSSMAN tries to explain why. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began in Wuhan, China in December 2019, we have seen the virus spread to over 160 countries. Several countries have experienced large outbreaks, including […]

MPs have been told to stay away from Prime Minister’s Questions unless they are expected to be called to quiz Boris Johnson. Conservative and Labour whips are understood to have told their MPs not to attend the chamber unless they have a question listed on the order paper. The move comes after MPs expressed unease […]

The government is facing calls to do more to support the poorest in society over the coronavirus outbreak amid allegations the chancellor’s £350 billion package did ‘nothing’ to protect home renters and those on low incomes. Rishi Sunak has vowed to do ‘whatever it takes’ to buoy the economy when he set out his ‘unprecedented’ […]

The BBC has announced plans to scale back some of its news services as it focuses on ‘core’ output amid the coronavirus outbreak. The corporation’s director of news Fran Unsworth said that these are ‘unprecedented and difficult days’. The broadcaster will be operating a ‘core news service’ on the BBC News Channel which will replace […]

The government has again insisted it will not extend the Brexit transition period – despite no face-to-face talks taking place. The prime minister’s Europe adviser David Frost and Brussels’ chief negotiator Michel Barnier were due to hold talks on Wednesday, although the prospect of face-to-face discussions had already been ruled out due to the virus. […]

Trust in British society has been in short supply – and the Brexit vote did not help. As JON GOULDING explains, businesses have been trying to change public attitudes, but it requires the help of politicians too. You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who wouldn’t agree that in the run-up to the Brexit vote and […]

A majority of people across 12 different countries believe that the borders should be closed in their country to stop the coronavirus, but British people are the least supportive. UK citizens least likely to support closing the borders to stop coronavirus. Photograph: Ipsos Mori. – Credit: Archant A survey of 12,000 people across 12 major […]

Boris Johnson reportedly left manufacturers unimpressed after holding a conference call with where he joked his appeal could be dubbed ‘operation last gasp’. There are fears that the country is facing a shortage of the life-saving equipment, which is critical to help those that are suffering from the coronavirus. In a conference call, held with […]

The government should not offer billionaire Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson financial support until he has used his reserves, a shadow minister has claimed. Labour’s shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald urged Sir Richard to ‘look to his own considerable reserves’ and withdraw his proposal that Virgin airlines staff take eight weeks’ unpaid leave to mitigate […]

Boris Johnson has unveiled his top team to tackle the coronavirus outbreak, claiming that it is a ‘war’ that must be won. The prime minister unveiled a new ministerial structure tasked with convening at daily ‘C-19 meetings’ to refine measures set out at the Cobra emergency committee. It includes chancellor Rishi Sunak, health secretary Matt […]

The chairman of pub giant Wetherspoon has claimed that the government will make a tactical error if it resorts to a ‘de facto lockdown’ of pubs because of the coronavirus crisis. Tim Martin said Holland’s actions – admitting that most people will get the virus, while protecting the elderly and sick, thereby building up group […]

Parliament must find ‘modern, democratic way’ to hold the government to account during the coronavirus outbreak, the electoral reform society has said. Options being discussed by parliamentary authorities include ‘radically’ reducing the number of MPs present in the chamber or allowing party whips to act as ‘proxies’ for colleagues’ votes. But the Electoral Reform Society […]

A Tory MP has told her constituent to ‘get a life’ after he questioned whether £94 a week was enough for statutory sick pay during the coronavirus. https://twitter.com/Pauline_Latham/status/1238903676934160384 Twitter user @ML1Hughes, who describes himself as ‘a reader, a wildlife gardener and obedient servant of a cat’, tweeted his local MP fearing that the government’s statutory […]

Britain’s electoral laws are ‘out-dated, confusing and no longer fit for purpose’, according to the Law Commission. The commission has published a number of reforms aimed at modernising the Victorian-era laws and ensuring that ‘elections are fit for purpose in the 21st century’. Among their proposed reforms are responses to technological developments, such as the […]

Postponing elections can mean politicians not neccessarily good at their job stay in office for longer. But it is impossible to run them without making compromises. TOBY JAMES explains more. Local elections scheduled to take place in England and Wales in the first week of May – including the London mayoral vote – have been […]

A businessman is taking court action against the Brexit Party after failure to pay for election billboards. Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage during the general election campaign. Photograph: Dominic Lipinski/PA. – Credit: PA Wire/PA Images Victor Shields, director of Giant Advertising, has provided political billboards for the last 12 years to all major political parties. […]

For some spending two weeks in self-isolation is nothing to fear, for others it fills them with dread. Psychologist SARITA ROBINSON explains how you can avoid letting the situation affect your mental health. People who suspect they may have come into contact with the coronavirus are being advised to self-isolate (stay at home) for 14 […]