Andrew Marr

Home secretary Priti Patel has denied a claim by Dominic Cummings that the government’s original response to the coronavirus outbreak was to pursue a strategy of “herd immunity”. In a series of explosive tweets, the prime minister’s former top adviser said the policy – to build up resistance in the population by allowing some spread […]

A senior government minister has told the SNP it cannot expect a second referendum to be approved after failing to secure a majority in the Scottish Parliament elections. The SNP fell one seat short of an overall majority during the Super Thursday elections, securing 64 seats in Holyrood. However, the final result still means that […]

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer will carry out a reshuffle of his shadow cabinet team on Sunday as the fallout over the party’s dismal election performance continues. Sir Keir has come under fire after opting to sack his deputy Angela Rayner from her role as party chairman and national campaign co-ordinator on Saturday, with Greater […]

Calls have intensified for an inquiry into David Cameron’s involvement with a scandal-hit banker after allegations surfaced that Lex Greensill was given privileged access to Whitehall departments. An investigation by the Sunday Times alleged that Greensill enriched himself through a government-backed loan scheme he designed after the then prime minister gave him access to 11 […]

Wetherspoon boss Tim Martin has said vaccine passports would be “the last straw” for struggling pubs and force bar staff into a “bitter civil liberties war” with customers. Conservative backbenchers, publicans and some scientists have raised concerns over the possible introduction of coronavirus health certificates as England’s lockdown is eased. Ministers are studying their potential […]

Boris Johnson is expected to ask European leaders this week to dismiss any proposals to block coronavirus vaccine exports to the UK. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has ramped up the rhetoric this weekend, saying the EU has the power to “forbid” exports, adding: “That is the message to AstraZeneca.” The warning reflects […]

Matt Hancock has declined to apologise after the High Court ruled the government unlawfully failed to publish details of billions of pounds’ worth of coronavirus-related contracts. The health eecretary has faced calls for greater accountability after a judge said he did not publish redacted contracts in accordance with the transparency policy. However, Hancock insisted legal […]

Foreign secretary Dominic Raab has urged people to wait a decade before judging whether Brexit has worked or not. Raab, appearing on The Andrew Marr Show, insisted that businesses take a “10-year view” to the troubles sparked by Brexit, before blaming the European Union for new bureaucracy. “We have always been clear that there are changes […]

The Liberal Democrats are not the party of rejoining the European Union, Sir Ed Davey has said. The Lib Dem leader said that whilst his party are “very pro-European” and want to see the closest possible relationship with the EU following Brexit, they are “not a rejoin party”. Sir Ed added that he believes the […]

The foreign secretary has denied that the collapse of fishing businesses would be the result of Brexit. Dominic Raab claimed delays to fishing exports are just “teething problems” and that thee trading agreement will “create huge, sustainable opportunities” for the fishing sector. Exports of fresh fish and seafood have been severely disrupted by delays since […]

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has said he does not think there is a case for rejoining the EU, or “major renegotiation” of the trading arrangements set out in Boris Johnson’s trade deal. Sir Keir, who was a prominent voice in the campaign for a second referendum and in his leadership election promised to “defend […]

A senior Tory MP has called on Matt Hancock to resign after he introduced a new round of strict coronavirus measures across London and much of South-East England days before Christmas. Sir Charles Walker, vice chair of the 1922 Committee of Tory MPs, made the remarks following the government’s latest lockdown plans. The public has been advised against […]

Andrew Marr has ripped into health secretary Matt Hancock over the government’s coronavirus response as millions were forced into a new Tier 4 for Covid-19 restrictions. Playing back a clip of Boris Johnson mocking Keir Starmer for wanting to “cancel Christmas” days before the prime minister announced plans to do that, Marr accused Hancock of […]

Ed Miliband has dismantled Andrew Marr’s defence of Boris Johnson’s ‘oven-ready’ Brexit pledge that was made during the general election campaign. Referring to a clip of Johnson at Nissan days before the vote, he said that Marr’s claim this only related to the Withdrawal Agreement was “nonsense”. He explained: “He went to Nissan in Sunderland – very […]

A shadow minister has claimed that Labour would be “minded to support” any Brexit deal Boris Johnson secures with the EU, as he claimed that the prime minister is playing Russian roulette with people’s jobs and livelihoods by threatening a no-deal scenario. Shadow business secretary Ed Miliband warned that leaving the EU without a free trade agreement […]

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has said he is confident about the British economy “in all circumstances” – whether there is a Brexit deal or not. Sunak was appearing on Sunday shows when he said that the government should not agree on a deal “at any price”. With the transition period due to end on December 31, […]

Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove has been challenged over his claim back in April 2016 that the UK will “holds all the cards” in Brexit talks. During a campaign speech, the Brexiteer had claimed: “The day after we vote to leave we hold all the cards and we can choose the path we want”, a clip that […]

A government minister has admitted local councils are “bound to be better” at contact tracing than Westminster. Robert Jenrick has admitted that after outsourcing the test and trace system to the private sector, and running it centrally, it would have been better to let local authorities run their own scheme. The communities secretary said councils […]

Labour has demanded a top-level investigation into communities secretary over how government funding was allocated to his constituency over others in the UK. Robert Jenrick said he and a junior minister approved payments to towns in each other’s constituencies from a government fund earmarked for deprived areas, with his Newark constituency selected for a £25 million […]

Piers Morgan just had the perfect response to Edwina Currie when she tried to goad him on his programme. Currie, who was trying her hardest to defend the government over test, track and trace, was left stumbling over a question over the figures relating to the system. In an attempt to deflect attention away from the […]

The chancellor has said he has “no regrets” over the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme, despite reports it could have spread coronavirus infections. Rishi Sunak was dubbed Dishi Rishi after unveiling his August scheme of subsidised meals out to help a pub and restaurant sector badly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Treasury figures show more […]

Boris Johnson has claimed Brexit will provide a “huge opportunity” for Scotland – suggesting it will have a positive impact on the country. The prime minister made the comments following a speech by Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross, who spoke about the party’s “defeatism” over Scottish independence. The Moray MP said: “The case for separation is now being […]