Refugees

The meaning of Christmas, according to Natalie.

— Being kind to people, helping those in need? No, a carefully-worded tweet by Tory MP Natalie Elphicke on Christmas day that never accidentally says that refugees are not welcome in the UK, and yet implies it quite violently.

COVID-19

Omicron. The worst part of the pandemic before it ends in 2022. – Bill Gates.

— According to American super billionaire Bill Gates, the Omicron variant may mean the worst part of the pandemic, but he thinks that by taking the right steps – vaccination, mask-wearing, social distancing, the pandemic could be over in 2022.

What The Experts Say

We have learned from our mistakes... in order to repeat them.

— The views of experts and health professionals on the current UK situation with the Omicron variant.

What The Experts Say

This virus has got so many surprises in store for us.

— Experts and health professionals on virus predictions, the spread of Omicron, the government’s Plan B restrictions, and that false sense of security that vaccines have ended the pandemic...

What The Experts Say

The rise of Omicron – The consequences of not acting early could be devastating.

— The views of experts and health professionals on the Omicron variant, its spread, and the consequences of the government’s response.

Education

Examining the financial sustainability of mainstream schools in England.

— Some schools have reduced staffing levels or changed the support provided to pupils with special educational needs and disabilities because of financial pressures on schools’ provision.

COVID-19 & Hydroxychloroquine

Falsification of biological results led to the conclusion that hydroxychloroquine works – Professor Raoult staff admit.

— Damning documents and testimonies from researchers working with Professor Didier Raoult claim that biological results were falsified in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine against COVID-19.

Watch Now

It’s the newspapers’ fault if Boris Johnson was pictured on a train maskless – Business minister.

— On Monday morning, Good Morning Britain’s co-host Adil Ray asked Paul Scully, the Minister for small business, whether he thought PM Boris Johnson had no common sense after he was recently photographed maskless on a busy train and already maskless a few days before that in a hospital.

What The Experts Say

COVID never left. Now, it’s firmly back on the agenda.

— Experts and health professionals on the current rise in COVID infections in Europe, what it means for the UK, and what happens with children.

COP26

Either we kill coal or coal will kill us.

— Shauna Aminath, Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Technology of the Maldives, tweeted on Saturday her deep disappointment at the failure of world leaders to come to a proper agreement at COP26.

Survey

63% think MPs should not be allowed to work outside of their parliamentary roles.

— After the Owen Paterson scandal, a recent YouGov survey shows that a majority of people (63%) in the UK think Members of Parliament (MPs) should not be allowed to take on extra paid work outside of their current role.

Brexit

More work needed to resolve Northern Ireland’s Brexit position – watchdog.

— A report by the NAO has found that while the government was able to deliver an initial operating capability at the GB-EU border by the end of the transition period, much more work is needed to bring in import controls, reduce the burden on traders, and resolve the position for Northern Ireland.

Survey

70% say pupils at secondary schools should wear masks.

— According to a recent YouGov survey, most people (70%) in the UK think pupils at secondary schools should be required to wear masks in communal areas at school.

What The Experts Say

“We are now storing up trouble for the future” – Experts.

— Experts and health professionals on the rise in infections in secondary-age children, on whether the worst effects of the pandemic may not just be over yet, and on the lack of face coverings at the Conservative Party Conference.

What The Experts Say

The 2021 Spring Budget.

— On Wednesday Rishi Sunak presented the government’s latest budget. What do experts and professionals think about the government’s 2021 Spring Budget?