Coronavirus outbreak
The Guardian view on Covid failures: PM eroded trust when he needed it most | Editorial
October 12, 2020Boris Johnson’s decision to give English local councils and metro mayors a role in suppressing the spread of coronavirus is a small step in the right direction. Mr Johnson has been outpaced by the virus for months while touting plans to defeat the disease. None have worked, which is why he is having to ask […]
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Covid-19 lockdowns have improved global air quality, data shows
October 8, 2020Around the world, Covid lockdowns have led to improvements in air pollution. In northern India, the Himalayas were visible in the distance for the first time in a generation. And during the first nine weeks of the UK lockdown, nitrogen dioxide along London’s roads decreased by an average of 31% compared with the pre-lockdown period. […]
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Time to die? British cinemas fear ruin without latest James Bond film
October 4, 2020He’s best known for sweeping in at the last minute to save the day – but James Bond’s latest act could be the death knell for many British cinemas. The announcement that the release of No Time to Die, the 25th film featuring the secret agent, would be delayed again has left cinemas facing financial […]
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Home Office moved Covid-affected asylum seekers against orders
October 2, 2020The Home Office moved dozens of asylum seekers involved in a Covid outbreak more than 120 miles despite an enforcement order saying they should remain in self-isolation for 14 days, the Guardian has learned. Home Office contractors have been accused of being “beyond reckless” in their handling of the initial outbreak. Among those who were […]
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Coronavirus has thrown the political battle over British cities into sharp relief | Owen Hatherley
September 30, 2020The shock of the 2019 election has tended to obscure its implications for the future of British cities. This was the first “American” election in the UK’s history, in that it produced an electoral map that appeared to resemble the political geography of Republicans and Democrats. In England and Wales, multicultural cities and inner suburbs […]
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More firearms finding way on to UK streets, Police Federation warns
September 26, 2020More firearms are finding their way on to Britain’s streets with devastating consequences, the head of the body representing rank-and-file police officers has warned. John Apter, national chair of the Police Federation, which speaks for more than 120,000 officers in England and Wales, spoke out amid growing concerns about the welfare of frontline officers. He […]
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New lockdown measures for London ‘increasingly likely’, says Sadiq Khan
September 18, 2020It is “increasingly likely” that lockdown restrictions will soon be needed to slow the spread of coronavirus in London, the capital’s mayor has warned. London mayor Sadiq Khan said he was of the “firm view” that action should be taken before the virus spirals out of control, and leaders were considering measures already imposed in […]
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Bank of England warns mass return to UK offices ‘not possible’
September 2, 2020The Bank of England has undermined the government’s drive to get workers back to offices, after a senior official warned it was impossible for large numbers of staff to return to central London and other big cities while risks from Covid-19 remained. Pouring cold water on the government campaign, Alex Brazier, the Bank’s executive director […]
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Revive London’s West End with culture vouchers, urges thinktank
September 2, 2020Discount vouchers, outdoor performances and reduced rent for artist residencies are some of the measures being proposed to kickstart the economic recovery and stem job losses in London’s West End amid the coronavirus pandemic. The absence of international tourists and the slow return of office workers to their desks have led to stubbornly low footfall […]
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Coronavirus sceptics, conspiracy theorists and anti-vaxxers protest in London
August 29, 2020Thousands of protesters from across the UK gathered in London’s Trafalgar Square on Saturday afternoon to protest against coronavirus restrictions and reject mass vaccinations. The event, which began at noon, drew a broad coalition including coronavirus sceptics, 5g conspiracy theorists and so-called “anti-vaxxers”. Carrying placards railing against the World Health Organization, Bill Gates and the […]
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