thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-21--Nigel Farage Is Angry That France Has Taken Control Of Its Borders

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If there’s one thing the UK is learning at this very moment, it’s that it is most definitely possible to be part of the EU and control your own borders.
This is being amply demonstrated by France, which has banned lorries carrying freight from Britain amid fears over the new mutant coronavirus strain.
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It’s even written in lights on big signs at the Port of Dover.
Police and port staff turn away vehicles from the Port of Dover in Kent. PA
If this sounds eerily familiar, it’s because Brexiteers have spent the last five years harping on about just how important controlling our own borders is.
We've just spent 5 years at war with each other, devalued the £ by 20%, savaged our economy, quit the world's largest free trade zone, created a mountain of red tape & flushed £200bn down the drain to 'control our borders'. 6 EU states just did it in 24 hours with a press release — Howard Goodall (@Howard_Goodall) December 21, 2020
At the forefront of the Brexit charge was one Nigel Farage.
The British people voted to Leave so that we can control our borders like every normal country in the world does.https://t.co/tyQMR0iNj5 — Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) July 20, 2016
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Yet now that France has done just that, Farage is more than a little annoyed, accusing European countries of acting like “thugs and bullies”.
We are dealing with thugs and bullies who want to make us sign a bad deal.
Time to walk away, to hell with the EU. https://t.co/6LFjA3mvaq — Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) December 20, 2020
His tweet drew a scathing response.
Wonder how @Nigel_Farage explains Canada, Chile & El Salvador cutting us off too? Are they also ‘thugs and bullies trying to make us sign bad deals’ - or like our neighbours in Europe, simply nations trying to protect their citizens? https://t.co/sme6IdfWyA — Ian Birrell (@ianbirrell) December 21, 2020
Yesterday you were wanking on about how China let the disease spread and now you’re crying your tits off about France closing their borders because of a potentially fast-spreading new strain in the UK, you grifting charlatan bag of shit. — James Felton (@JimMFelton) December 20, 2020
Nigel Farage complains that the EU have closed borders against the UK.
Nigel Farage campaigned for decades for the UK to close borders against the EU.
Nigel Farage is a bit thick, isn't he? #BrexitIsland https://t.co/k2ycn4w5xz — Jane Carnall (@EyeEdinburgh) December 21, 2020
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Farage wasn’t alone in his Brexiteer outrage – Tory MP John Redwood called the chaos “bad news” and then suggested we pave one half of the country while using the other half to grow all the fruit and vegetables we import because they aren’t suited to a British climate.
French closure of ports owing to CV19 whilst we are in the single market is bad news. Time to use the lorry parks we have built. We rely on imports too much. Let’s grow and make more at home. — John Redwood (@johnredwood) December 21, 2020
Another Tory MP, Andrew Bridgen, called the move a “massive overreaction” and accused “dictator” France of “trying to hold the UK to ransom”.
He then suggested there was a grand fish-based conspiracy and not just general concern over the spread of an even more contagious strain of a highly-contagious virus.
Massive over reaction by France in closing borders and interrupting trade due to the new strain of Covid 19. Trying to hold the U.K to ransom is the modus operandi of successive dictators we have defeated. Definitely something “fishy” about all this. — Andrew Bridgen (@ABridgen) December 21, 2020
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In the latest developments, France appears set to end a ban on hauliers crossing the Channel that was imposed due to fears about the spread of the new coronavirus strain.
Its transport minister Jean-Baptiste Djebbari said a protocol would be adopted at an EU-wide level “to ensure that movement from the UK can resume”.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-21--It's A Wonderful Life Tops List Of UK's Favourite Ever Christmas Films

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The UK’s favourite Christmas film of all time has been revealed, following a poll of BBC Radio 2 listeners.
Some of our all-time favourites have made the list, including The Muppet Christmas Carol, Elf and Love Actually, but the number one spot has gone to a much-loved classic from a little further back.
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It’s A Wonderful Life – first released way back in 1946 – has topped the list, with Radio 2 movie critic James King praising the fact that the festive offering is “what Christmas is all about: friendship, kindness and the importance of family, even in the toughest times”.
Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed in It's A Wonderful Life Rko/Kobal/Shutterstock
The number two placement is bound to raise a few eyebrows, though, with action film Die Hard coming ahead of more traditional suggestions like Miracle On 34th Street, Home Alone and White Christmas.
Die Hard has long been the centre of debate about whether it should even be considered a Christmas film, as while it does take place on Christmas Eve, the cheeriness pretty much begins and ends there.
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James said: “[This] should finally answer the question as to whether John McClane’s antics in the Nakatomi Plaza constitute a Christmas film or not.”
Bruce Willis as seen in the UK's second favourite Christmas film ever Moviestore/Shutterstock
Take a look at the top 12 below:
1. It’s A Wonderful Life 2. Die Hard 3. The Muppet Christmas Carol 4. Home Alone 5. Elf 6. Love Actually 7. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 8. Miracle On 34th Street 9. White Christmas 10. The Polar Express 11. Santa Claus: The Movie 12. Scrooge


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-21--Rebekah Vardy Hints There Could Be A 'Resolution' With Coleen Rooney After WAGatha Christie Saga

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Rebekah Vardy has said 2021 could be the year we see the end of the WAGatha Christie saga, suggesting she hopes to settle her differences with Coleen Rooney.
The pair have been locked in a legal battle after Coleen accused Rebekah’s Instagram account of leaking “false stories” about her private life to the press last year.
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Rebekah has always firmly denied she is responsible, and is suing Coleen for damages for libel.
Rebekah Vardy and Coleen Rooney Ken McKay/ITV/Paul Greenwood/BPI/Shutterstock
Speaking about the saga in an interview with Hello! magazine, Rebekah said “The new year could potentially see a resolution between us.
“I’m pretty sure the public are sick of reading about it, too.”
Rebekah, who is married to Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy, won the first stage of her libel case against Coleen last month.
In his judgment, Mr Justice Warby ruled that the “natural and ordinary” meaning of Coleen’s posts was that Rebekah had “regularly and frequently abused her status as a trusted follower of Ms Rooney’s personal Instagram account by secretly informing The Sun newspaper of Ms Rooney’s private posts and stories”.
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Announcing his decision, the judge said that the meaning he had determined was “substantially the same as the claimant’s meaning”, rejecting Coleen’s contention that she simply referred to Rebekah’s Instagram account, rather than Rebekah herself.
Coleen was subsequently ordered to pay Rebekah just under £23,000 in costs.
Rebekah and Coleen have agreed for a “stay” of the proceedings until February, so there could be “one final attempt to resolve the matter without the need for a full trial”.
The full interview with Rebekah is in Hello! magazine, out now.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-21--7 Elf On The Shelf Ideas To Get Through The Final Week

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It’s been a bleak few days, but the elf isn’t leaving town yet either – not until Christmas Eve, anyway.
Here are seven ideas to get you through the final week – pick and choose which ones you fancy trying. Some are easy, others require a bit more effort.
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Now, let’s get ready to say a big goodbye to this elf, shall we?
1. Selfie elf
This elf likes Googling himself to see how popular he is. Very popular indeed.
2. Sugar powder elf
Fancy making a (bit of a) mess and creating some of your elf’s very own magic powder? You’ll need actual sugar and some sparkly bits (glitter, tinsel, beads, etc). Tell them the special sugar can transform things into chocolate – like this egg into a chocolate one the next day.
3. Greedy elf
Position your elf near a chocolate tin, advent calendar or selection box to show he’s as much of a chocolate fan as your kids.
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4. Climbing elf
Make your very own climbing wall for elves on the fridge using present bows and magnets.
5. Toilet roll elf
Yes, this is a little more effort. But none of us are going anywhere, so have some fun.
6. Pizza elf
Leftover pizza? Draw a fake elf pizza and pretend he’s eating it the next morning.
7. R&R elf
Let’s be honest, this is what we all want to be doing. Grab some cotton wool, a candle, and let him relax.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-21--Senior Tory Suggests PM And Scientists Kept MPs In Dark Over Covid Strain

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A senior Tory MP has suggested Boris Johnson and scientific advisers deliberately withheld information about the more virulent new Covid variant in order to avoid parliament being given a vote on new Christmas restrictions.
Sir Desmond Swayne was one of several Conservative backbenchers demanding an urgent recall of the Commons to discuss and approve the raft of new emergency regulations over the festive period.
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Parliament broke up for its Christmas recess on Thursday, the day before the PM hosted a cabinet subcommittee meeting that discussed the extent of the new coronavirus mutation that has a much higher transmission rate and has led to rocketing cases in London and the south-east.
MPs have been told to be on standby for any urgent breakthrough in the Brexit trade talks, with a recall of parliament possible between now and December 31, the deadline for the UK leaving its “transition period” under EU rules.
But the new Covid regulations which came into force at midnight on Saturday night do not need Commons approval as they are part of emergency laws used by health secretary Matt Hancock to police the pandemic.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Swayne said the new variant had been known about for weeks and suggested the timing of the announcements was designed to keep MPs out of the process.
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Transport secretary Grant Shapps disputed the claim, saying the government “literally” couldn’t have acted any faster.
“They’ve been looking at it since September and how convenient when Parliament went into recess on Thursday suddenly they were then able to produce this revelation,” said Swayne.
“Let’s see the evidence then, let’s have Parliament back and show us and convince us. Come clean.
“I want Parliament to be recalled so we can scrutinise properly in a democracy decisions that are being made which affect our economy radically and our liberty.
“The recall of Parliament requires a request by the government to the Speaker. Why would the government be so reluctant to recall Parliament?
“Is it that it’s not sure of the evidence that it has and that its case isn’t as convincing as it ought to be? What’s government frightened of? Frightened of its Parliament?”
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Swayne said MPs had been once again “bounced” into dramatic changes to public liberty.
“it does have all the characteristics of the government being bounced by the science, as it was right at the beginning of the arrangements when we first went into lockdown last March,” he said.
“The arrangements for Christmas were explicitly voted on by Parliament. If they’re to be changed then in my view, Parliament should vote again.”
Former minister Tim Loughton also demanded the recall of Parliament.
“I think Parliament does need to go back and discuss this and be able to scrutinise the government much more closely,” he told Radio 4′s Westminster Hour.
“We need to be much more transparent on this and there needs to be logic and consistency in some of the measures being brought forward and I don’t think there’s complete logic and consistency in some of the changes to Christmas itself, for example.”
But transport secretary Grant Shapps insisted that the government had acted as quickly as it could on the new evidence of the precise extent of the new variant within the south-east.
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“On Friday the scientists came to us and said: ‘Actually we’ve now analysed the data, we’ve now done more of the science on this and there is a real problem,’ he said.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-21--BBC News Presenter Ben Brown Apologises After Being 'Caught Out' Yawning Live On Air

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BBC News presenter Ben Brown has apologised after accidentally summing up the mood of the entire nation when he was caught yawning live on air.
Listen, it’s been a long old year, Ben. We’re with you.
During a live broadcast on Sunday afternoon, Ben was caught off guard when a news segment was suddenly cut short, revealing he was in the middle of a massive yawn.
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“Oh, caught out there” he said with a smile, realising the candid moment had just been beamed to viewers across the nation, before going back to his usual presenting duties.
Ben Brown realising he's been caught yawning during a live broadcast on Sunday BBC
After the yawn began doing the rounds on Twitter, Ben apologised for the gaffe, suggesting he wasn’t actually supposed to have been on camera during the moment in question.
“Apologies for this dear viewers,” he wrote, in response to one tweet suggesting that “tier 4 fatigue” had set in at the BBC.
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“I was at the end of a long shift after a 5am start when the director cut to me by mistake. The perils of live TV!”
Apologies for this dear viewers - I was at the end of a long shift after a 5am start when the director cut to me by mistake. The perils of live TV! https://t.co/hBp36V7JIQ — Ben Brown (@BenBrownBBC) December 20, 2020
OK, be honest. You’re yawning now after watching that clip, aren’t you?
The errant yawn is the latest BBC News gaffe that’s had people talking in 2020, with the events of the year leading to a number of mishaps, both technical and otherwise.
Back in May, the broadcaster inadvertently had a live interview cut short when they ran out of free minutes on the video chat service Zoom, while last month saw Matthew Amroliwala accidentally discussing a tweet that had “just been put out” by Margaret Thatcher, despite the former prime minister having been dead since 2013.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-21--Rosalind Knight, Star Of Gimme Gimme Gimme And Friday Night Dinner, Dies Aged 87

Rosalind Knight, the veteran actor known for her various comedy roles over the years, has died at the age of 87.
On Sunday, Rosalind’s family said in a statement: “It is with huge sadness that the family of Rosalind Knight announce her death following a glorious career as a well-loved actress in theatre, TV and film.”
Paying tribute to her various on-screen roles, they continued: “She was known to so many generations, for so many different roles, and will be missed as much by the kids today who howl at Horrible Grandma in Friday Night Dinner as by those of us who are old enough to remember her in the very first Carry On films.”
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Rosalind Knight pictured in 2017 Dan Wooller/Shutterstock
In the late 1950s, Rosalind played roles in Blue Murder At St Trinian’s and two Carry On films, Carry On Nurse and Carry On Teacher.
More recently, she had a role in the film About A Boy and the comedy Gimme Gimme Gimme in which she played Beryl, an elderly neighbour of the central characters.
The sitcom’s creator Jonathan Harvey tweeted on Sunday: “So sad to hear that Rosalind Knight has died. She was just perfect as [...] Beryl in Gimme Gimme Gimme, and of course she had a very distinguished career before and after.”
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Co-star Kathy Burke also paid tribute, calling Rosalind “simply glorious”.
As well as playing Princess Alice Of Battenberg in an early episode of the Netflix drama The Crown, Rosalind could also be seen in the Channel 4 comedy Friday Night Dinner as “Horrible Grandma”.
Rosalind was married to theatre producer Michael Elliott from 1959 until his death in 1984. Together they had two children, Marianne and Susanna.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-21--LadBaby On Course To Beat Mariah Carey In 2020 Christmas Number One Race

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After two weeks at the top of the UK singles chart, it looks like Mariah Carey could be about to lose her grip on the number one spot in the lead-up to Christmas.
It may have taken 26 years, but Mariah’s festive hit All I Want For Christmas Is You finally reached number one in the UK charts earlier this month, and due to high streaming numbers, managed to hold its reign for two weeks running.
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However, with the race for the Christmas number one now officially on for 2020, the Official Charts Company has revealed that LadBaby has made a “flying start”.
LadBaby pictured earlier this year PinPep/Shutterstock
They said that the duo – made up of husband and wife Mark and Roxanne Hoyle – “have an impressive lead” on the Christmas number one race with their new parody song Don’t Stop Me Eatin’, a rewritten version of Journey’s Don’t Stop Believin’.
LadBaby has topped the UK charts at Christmas for the last two years, with their hits We Built This City and I Love Sausage Rolls.
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Like their previous two songs, proceeds from Don’t Stop Me Eatin’ will once more benefit food bank charity The Trussell Trust.
The rest of the top five looks set to be made up entirely of Christmas songs, with pop singer and Sexy Fish frequenter Jess Glynne’s This Christmas on course to reach number two.
Jess Glynne Samir Hussein via Getty Images
Mariah and Wham! look set to fall to numbers three and four with their Christmas staples, All I Want For Christmas Is You and Last Christmas.
Meanwhile, the release of physical copies of Liam Gallagher’s All You’re Dreaming Of has boosted its sales figures, with the song currently on track to hit number five, up 54 places from the previous week’s chart.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-21--Elliot Page Thanks Fans In First Instagram Post Since Coming Out As Transgender

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Elliot Page has thanked fans for their support, in his first Instagram selfie since coming out as transgender.
The Oscar-nominated actor came out earlier this month, explaining: “I want to share with you that I am trans, my pronouns are he/they and my name is Elliot.”
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“I feel overwhelming gratitude for the incredible people who have supported me along this journey. I can’t begin to express how remarkable it feels to finally love who I am enough to pursue my authentic self,” he wrote in a moving open letter.
“I’ve been endlessly inspired by so many in the trans community. Thank you for your courage, your generosity and ceaselessly working to make this world a more inclusive and compassionate place.
“I will offer whatever support I can and continue to strive for a more loving and equal society.”
Sharing a new selfie on Sunday night, the Canadian star thanked fans for their well wishes since his initial post, and teased that he would “see you in 2021”.
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Elliot wrote: “From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Your love and support has been the greatest gift. Stay safe. Be there for each other.”
He also asked those who are able to support the organisation TranSanta and the US and Canadian support helpline Trans Lifeline.
Elliot rose to fame in 2007 as the lead in the film Juno, for which he was nominated for an Academy Award.
His other big-screen credits include the thrillers Hard Candy, Inception and the comedy Whip It.
More recently, he appeared in the Netflix series The Umbrella Academy and Tales Of The City.
He also fronted and executive produced the Viceland documentary Gaycation, which explored queer culture around the globe.
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Useful websites and helplines:


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-21--Travel Restrictions: What They Mean For You And The UK At Christmas

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Warnings of “significant disruption” around the Channel ports in Kent have raised fears about the UK food supply and the rollout of the Covid vaccine – but ministers have moved to dispel these.
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The French government on Monday announced it would “establish a solid health protocol to ensure that movement from the UK can resume”, though no timeframe was given.
#COVID19: "In the next few hours, at European level, we're going to establish a solid health protocol to ensure that movement from the UK can resume. Our priority: to protect our nationals and our fellow citizens," - French Minister Delegate for Transport: https://t.co/Jz4fbKlfq1 — French Embassy UK (@FranceintheUK) December 21, 2020
Kent Police said they were implementing Operation Stack – essentially a system for parking heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) on the M20 when the Channel crossings are disrupted – in a bid to ease potential congestion,
And the Department for Transport said Manston Airport was also being prepared as another contingency measure against the anticipated level of disruption.
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On Monday morning, Grant Shapps said the public will not notice any disruption in terms of supermarket shortages “for the most part”, saying hauliers were “quite used to anticipating disruption”, and there were variations in supply “all the time”.
Why is this all happening?
A mutant strain of coronavirus sweeping across London and the south east of England has prompted EU nations to start restricting inbound flights from the UK.
On Saturday, Johnson said there was “no evidence” the new variant “causes more severe illness or higher mortality” but “it does appear to be passed on significantly more easily”.
He said the new strain could be up to 70% more transmissible than the old virus variant.
Police and port staff turn away vehicles from the Port of Dover in Kent on Monday morning. PA
Which European countries have banned flights from the UK?
More than 40 countries including France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Belgium, Austria, Bulgaria, Finland, Denmark, Spain and the Netherlands, have all said they will halt flights arriving from the UK.
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The Czech Republic has imposed stricter quarantine measures for people arriving from Britain.
Which other countries have implemented travel bans?
India, Russia, Jordan, Hong Kong, Turkey, Israel and Morocco have suspended travel for Britons.
Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau said from midnight Sunday, Canada was putting a 72-hour stop on flights from the UK.
Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Oman have closed their borders completely over fears of the mutant strain.
El Salvador is barring entry to anyone who has visited the UK in the preceding 30 days.
Lorries queue to enter the Port of Dover on Friday. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Will this affect the rollout of the Covid vaccine?
So far, the only Covid-19 vaccine approved for use in Britain is made by Pfizer in Belgium, and requires sophisticated logistics to transport and store at ultra-cold temperatures.
The Department of Health and Social Care has said if the bans stay in place for longer than 48 hours, there are contingency plans to airlift the Pfizer vaccines from Belgium using military aircraft.
Grant Shapps told Sky News on Monday that the disruption around the Channel ports in Kent “won’t have an impact” on the vaccine supply.
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“Most vaccine doesn’t come via what is called ‘Ro-Ro’, roll-on, roll-off, which is what we are talking about here,” he said.
“In other words, it’s not usually accompanied by a driver, by a haulier. It comes on those containers. To put this into context, there are about 6,000 vehicles we would expect, just under in Dover today, probably 4,000 would have gone across from Dover, just under about 2,000 on the Eurotunnel.
“But there is probably something like 32,000 units that would have been the daily total, so the vast majority – including virtually all the vaccine – actually comes via container and there are good supplies in the meantime.
“So this won’t have an impact on the vaccination programme.”
A spokesman for Pfizer UK said robust plans were in place to ensure supplies would not be interrupted in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
“We are continuing to work with the UK government in this process and we are confident of our capability to deliver doses,” he said.
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What could this mean for food and goods stocks in the UK?
It is possible that these border restrictions could affect the flow of key goods into the UK.
Andrew Opie, of the British Retail Consortium, said: “The closure of France to UK traffic, including accompanied freight, poses difficulties for UK capacity to import and export key goods during the busy Christmas period.”
He suggested that while goods can still enter the UK from France, it may be that few haulage firms will be willing to send trucks and drivers across to the UK without a guarantee they can return to the EU in a timely manner.
It is believed that many retailers will have already stocked up on Christmas goods, which should prevent immediate supply problems.
But any prolonged closure of the border with France would present difficulties for businesses, Opie said.
Asked if rapid testing of goods lorry drivers could be a solution, Shapps told the BBC’s Today programme: “We will look at all the various different solutions of which lateral flow testing could be an option. It’s very much less expensive and readily available – we’ve got a lot of tests [...]. So that would be a possibility.”
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The transport secretary added that lorry driving was of its nature a solitary profession and therefore less risky for spreading Covid-19. “Having said that [...] they actually don’t see anyone.
“They are probably, in a virus that we know spreads through contact, the least likely people to pick up the virus and that’s why other countries haven’t banned the hauliers because it’s actually a pretty solitary profession, and they’re unlikely to therefore spread the virus around.”
When do the flight bans start and how long do they last?
The Netherlands ban came into force on Sunday morning, with it due to last for at least the rest of the year.
Belgium’s prime minister Alexander De Croo issued a flight ban order for 24 hours starting at midnight on Sunday.
Italy’s health minister Roberto Speranza said an order was signed on Sunday blocking flights from Britain and preventing anyone who had been to the UK in the last 14 days from entering Italy. The order bans plane travel until January 6.
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Austria and Italy have not specified when their plans to halt flights from the UK would take place.
Germany said it was banning flights from the UK starting at midnight, Berlin time, on Sunday, with the German dpa news agency reporting it would remain in place until at least December 31.
France has banned all travel from the UK for 48 hours from midnight on Sunday.
Bulgaria said it was temporarily ceasing flights to and from the UK from midnight on Sunday.
Finland is due to suspend all passenger flights with the UK for two weeks from Monday.
Poland is also due to halt flights from midnight on Monday, though it is not yet known how long the ban will be in place.
Denmark said all flights from Great Britain would be halted for 48 hours from Monday.
What is the situation with Ireland?
The Irish government said on Sunday that it was imposing a 48-hour ban on flights from Britain to Ireland.
The restrictions come into force at midnight on Sunday.
Is anyone exempt from the bans?
Ireland’s transport minister Eamon Ryan said ferries will continue to operate for freight between Britain and Ireland.
“We need haulage coming in to keep our shelves full but other passengers will be restricted,” he said.
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The German government said exemptions from its flight ban include repatriation flights of planes and their crews, postal, freight or empty flights and aircraft carrying medical personnel.
The Bulgarian embassy in London said on its website that Bulgarian citizens and their families, as well as permanent residents in Bulgaria, were able to enter the country subject to a 10-day quarantine if they fly through a different country or enter Bulgaria on land or by sea.
The White Cliffs are reflected in the windscreen of a lorry whilst the driver sits his cab and queues to enter the port of Dover. Gareth Fuller - PA Images via Getty Images
What discussions are taking place between governments?
An EU crisis meeting has been called for Monday to discuss the coordination of the response to coronavirus among the 27 member states.
The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) regards other countries’ travel restrictions as a matter for their own governments.
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It was previously understood to be in touch with international partners and monitoring the situation closely.
But late on Sunday night No 10 revealed that Prime Minister Boris Johnson is due to chair a meeting of the UK government’s Cobra civil contingencies committee on Monday.
Are international train and ferry links running?
Eurostar said it was unable to run trains from London to Paris, Brussels, Lille or Amsterdam on Monday or Tuesday.
Trains to London from Paris will continue to operate, with the rail company saying it planned to resume services to and from the UK on Wednesday.
Eurotunnel said access to its UK site prohibited from 10pm after its last train left at 9.34pm.
Dover’s ferry terminal has also closed to “all accompanied traffic leaving the UK” after France moved to shut its border.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-21--Ariana Grande Announces She's Engaged To Boyfriend Dalton Gomez

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Ariana Grande has announced that she and her boyfriend Dalton Gomez are engaged.
The chart-topping singer revealed the news in an Instagram post on Sunday night, sharing a number of pictures of herself and the California real estate agent.
“Forever n them some,” she wrote alongside a slideshow of photos, including a close-up of her eye-catching engagement ring.
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According to TMZ, the two began dating earlier this year, with Ariana first choosing to confirm the relationship in the music video for her Justin Bieber collaboration Stuck With U.
She’s largely kept the romance private from her fans, but has shared occasional snaps of Dalton on Instagram, including a special birthday post back in August.
“HBD to my baby my best friend my fav part of all the days,” she wrote at the time. “I love u.”
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It’s been another big year for Ariana, both in her personal and professional life.
As well as teaming up with Justin Bieber for the charity single Stuck With U, she also topped the charts on both sides of the Atlantic with her Lady Gaga collaboration Rain On Me, and recently appeared on a festive remix of Mariah Carey’s Oh Santa! with Jennifer Hudson.
Ariana Grande at the Grammys earlier this year Steve Granitz via Getty Images
She also released her sixth studio album Positions in October, preceded by the number one single of the same name, which was reportedly inspired by her relationship with Dalton.
Her engagement news came the night before her concert film Ariana Grande: Excuse Me, I Love You – filmed during her Sweetener world tour last year – debuted on Netflix.
Ariana was previously engaged to Saturday Night Live comedian Pete Davidson, and was in a long-term relationship with the late rapper Mac Miller prior to that.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-21--Here's The Covid Risk Of Licking Envelopes, According To Experts

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Every Monday, we’ll answer your questions on Covid-19 and health in a feature published online. You can submit a question here.
This week, HuffPost UK reader Jill asked: “Could licking envelopes before posting Christmas cards spread the virus?”
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We all know by now that the virus behind Covid-19 can live on surfaces for up to 72 hours (or three whole days). A well-cited study found SARS-CoV-2 can survive for up to 24 hours on cardboard and up to three days on plastic and stainless steel.
This means that, hypothetically, the virus could be lurking on your Christmas card envelopes. However, there are some important things to remember before you dust off the hazmat suit prior to opening your post.
While the virus can last on surfaces for a long time, it doesn’t necessarily mean that there would be enough viable virus on your Christmas card envelope to infect you or postal workers. A study conducted early on in the pandemic found the virus lost infectivity on paper within three hours, says Professor Mark Harris, from the School of Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Leeds.
The average Christmas card envelope will probably have spent more than three hours sitting in a postbox alone, waiting to be collected. By the time it’s been through the postal service, three hours will most definitely have passed.
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Prof Harris tells HuffPost UK it is “highly unlikely” you’d spread Covid by licking an envelope – or catch it by touching an envelope that had been licked. Phew.
Paula Winkler via Getty Images
It’s widely agreed the main way the virus spreads is through person-to-person contact. “Inanimate surfaces play a very small part in transmission of Covid. The vast majority of cases are person-to-person, spread through respiratory droplets,” Dr John Segreti, medical director of infection control and prevention at Rush University Medical Centre in the US, told The Chicago Tribune.
And on the risk of sending and receiving Christmas cards, Dr Segreti added: “If there is any risk at all, it’s got to be incredibly low.”
Professor Sally Bloomfield, honorary professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and chair of the International Scientific Forum on Home Hygiene, agrees the risk is very small. But it’s also not zero, she points out.
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“The risks from ‘surfaces’ are mainly associated with surfaces frequently and recently touched by other people who, if they happen to be infectious, may have virus on their hand,” she says. “This is why over Christmas it is important to avoid touching these surfaces as much as possible.”
The Christmas cards you receive in the post will probably have been handled by a few different people to get to you safely, so you’re best off washing your hands after opening your mail – regardless of whether it’s been sealed with a lick or not. Royal Mail workers are also urged to maintain good hand hygiene to keep themselves safe.
“If people are worried, leave the post in your letter box or on the doormat for three hours before opening it,” suggests Professor Harris. “If you want to open it immediately ensure you wash your hands afterwards.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-21--I’m Muslim, But 2020 Has Made Me Want To Celebrate Christmas For The First Time

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December is a month like no other. The cold morning fog blankets the city before the night swallows the skyline as early as 4pm, when the streets become gold with festive lights. The air becomes mellow as rows of houses glisten and public squares fill with cheery spree shoppers in the lead-up to Christmas.
This is a magical time of year, especially for children. But as someone who lived two childhoods – a British one and a Pakistani one – it’s complicated.
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My parents are from Pakistani descent, so at home I was raised with a Pakistani Muslim culture. Because our home would remain the same – there would be no lights, no holly hugging the mantelpiece, and no presents under a tree – every Christmas, I would immerse myself in our school’s version of Winter Wonderland. I can still picture the canteen dinners transformed into Christmas feasts, and the corridors decked with paper chains and tinsel.
Generally speaking, a lot of Muslims don’t celebrate Christmas – it’s a Christian festival after all, even if the holiday has grown beyond religion into a national cultural event. It’s become a time of year for everyone to reconnect with your loved ones, and spend time with people who care about you the most.
However, 25 December still marks a poignant day for families like mine. It’s the day Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the man who founded the country my ancestors call home, was born. So each year we celebrate the day with authentic Pakistani cuisine, cardamom chai and cake served with flavours belonging to another world. We consistently chose our Pakistani roots over Christmas; how could we share an event when our cultures were so misaligned?
But this year changed everything.
“I am British. It’s undeniable. And it’s more than being born here – it’s something seeped into my habits.”
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2020 was plucked straight from a horror film: the world was ravaged by coronavirus as countries went under lockdown and we felt the strain of society practically collapsing into itself. Living in my childhood bedroom, freshly graduated with a MSc and job hunting, my plans unravelled like an old Christmas jumper. This was supposed to be my ‘gap’ year, with travel plans carrying me to six cities on three continents and an exciting potential job to start in the New Year.
Amid the chaos, however, people banded together. June made history in its own right, when the world confronted racial injustice on a global scale after the death of George Floyd. Rallies rippled across the globe, uniting people in showing truth behind police brutality and systemic racism, urging us all to reflect on our history and society.
The intense focus on race sparked a personal epiphany for me too. I took advantage of this rare opportunity of a string of lazy Sunday afternoons to actively appreciate my family’s culture.
I realised I had been dismissing my roots, tearing them away in hope I would be accepted into a white society. All this time at home made me realise I am a product of both cultures – so why not celebrate every festival within these cultures, especially with Christmas sharing a day with Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s birthday?
I am British. It’s undeniable. And it’s more than being born here – it’s something seeped into my habits: in my ‘at every crisis, have a cup of tea’ mode; in my discussing the weather at every opportunity; in my being forever grateful to the NHS.
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“I’ve decided to embrace who I am by celebrating Christmas for the first time. As an ode to every part of me, marking a breakthrough and joining my two cultures for the first time ever.”
But I am also Pakistani in more than just blood. I speak a language of love and elegance, albeit at a seven-year-old level. I eat food with so much spice my eyes water, but what is life without proper seasoning? I am late (but not always) and I have a fixation on finding the cheapest deals.
What I’m saying is that I am a British Pakistani woman. And with that in mind, I’ve decided to embrace who I am by celebrating Christmas for the first time. As an ode to every part of me, marking a breakthrough and joining my two cultures for the first time ever.
So now our family home twinkles with Christmas lights. Hot chocolate and gingerbread men perfume our gloomy evenings. Badly-wrapped presents are scattered across the house. Tinsel has claimed the walls, climbing up like silver ivy, echoing my school years.
Convincing my parents to celebrate Christmas also means knowing when to cut your losses, though I guarantee a dusky pine tree will proudly sit in our living room next year. Celebrating Christmas, especially during this turbulent time, has tied us together, leaving us warm and smelling of baked goods.
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Of course we’ve added a South Asian twist. Our Christmas dinner will be inspired by Pakistani cuisine – samosas and the mandatory biriyani will complement a turkey (smothered with seasoning) and our side dishes of sprouts and roast potatoes (maybe to be turned into an aloo gobi?) Dessert won’t be an alcohol-drenched Christmas pudding, but a birthday cake for the man who made our home.
2020 has been turmoil, from the lockdown fights to heart-breaking news to not knowing what the future holds. But it’s also been a year where my family has grown together. We’ve combined British culture with Pakistani, accepting who we are with no compromises. So with the rest of the country, we will celebrate. We will feast, we will watch bad films, we will hold our breath for snow, and yes we will fight.
But we will be together for the most wonderful time of the year.
Hiyah Zaidi is a freelance journalist. Follow her on Twitter at @hiyahzaidi


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-22--Foot Disease Cases Are Surging. Here's What You Need To Know

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A worrying surge of advanced foot disease cases have been reported by clinicians during lockdown, prompting a warning from charity Diabetes UK.
The charity is urging people with diabetes not to delay in seeking medical help if they experience problems with their feet. At least one diabetes-related amputation occurs every hour in England.
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Clinicians across the UK are seeing greater-than-expected numbers of people presenting for urgent care with unusually advanced and severe foot disease, while the UK has been under lockdown.
For people with diabetes, foot ulcers and infections can develop and deteriorate very quickly to more advanced foot disease. Seeking early treatment could prevent the need for amputation. However, due to delays reported, Diabetes UK has learned of patients needing to go straight to major amputation.
Nicholas O’Brien, 68, from Chipping Norton was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in February this year, but his GP suspects he may have been living with the condition for up to 10 years.
In May, he developed a small verruca on his foot, which began to get worse, but O’Brien’s fear of going to hospital stopped him from getting it checked out.
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By August, his foot had become so painful that he visited a GP, who advised him to go to hospital as soon as possible. He managed to avoid amputation, but still had to have a significant part of his foot cut out.
“I was hesitant to seek help, especially with everything that has been happening this year,” he said. “I want to urge everyone with diabetes to take good care of their feet and to seek help if, and when they need it – you can potentially save yourself from a lot of pain.”
Jodie Buckingham, lead podiatrist at Oxford University Hospitals, said over the past few months, she has seen for herself the “sudden surge” of people with diabetes and advanced foot disease being admitted to hospital.
“Unfortunately, some people are presenting to foot care services at a point that their foot condition is so severe that they require immediate admission under surgical teams,” she said.
Dan Howarth, head of care at Diabetes UK, said it’s “perfectly understandable people are afraid to seek medical attention”, but the consequences cannot be underestimated.
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“It is crucial that people with diabetes know how important it is to seek medical attention if they spot any signs of foot problems,” he says. “A matter of hours can make the difference between losing and keeping a foot, or worse. The NHS is and remains open, and the health service is still there for you.”
It’s vital all people living with diabetes know how to look after their feet, the charity said. This includes checking feet daily and reducing the risk of problems by managing blood sugars, blood pressure and living a healthy lifestyle.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-21--Will Boris Johnson Ever Change His Prevaricate-Then-Panic Style Of Government?

Vallance Johnson
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There were three “alas”s, two “brill”s and one mimed guffaw. The last Boris Johnson No.10 press conference before Christmas was a classic mix of the Wodehousian bluster, denial and optimism bias that has come to define many of his televised briefings on 2020.
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Just as typically, it was left to the scientists in the room to tell us just how bad things really were. Sounding like a lab-coated Jeeves to Johnson’s Bertie Wooster, Sir Patrick Vallance said what the PM apparently dared not: that the new Covid variant was so virulent that the whole of England now faces more draconian restrictions known as “Tier 4”. It’s a question of when, not if.
Vallance was keen to point out that of course decisions on future tiering were a matter for ministers not himself. But in a No.10 news conference with little other actual, you know, news in it, the chief scientific adviser’s message was as clear as it could be: the variant numbers will grow across the country “and I think it’s likely therefore that measures need to be increased in some places in due course, not reduced”.
True to form, Johnson himself repeatedly sidestepped questions about when or even whether tougher restrictions would be extended beyond London and the south east. Having already torn up his claim that it would be “inhuman” to “cancel Christmas” in some parts of the country, he seems unwilling to risk any further public backlash by changing the advice yet again. Some may call that a sensible balance of risks, others may call it political cowardice.
It felt very much like the PM wants for now to stick with his most recent tiering decisions, at least for the next few days until after Boxing Day. The problem with “hanging on” is that this new Covid variant doesn’t hang around. With a doubling rate of nearly every seven days, it doesn’t recognise optimism or pessimism, it just recognises organisms (in particular a vulnerable species called homo sapiens).
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And with hospitalisation rates now higher in some areas (the north east, east of England) than in the first wave of the pandemic, many argue there’s no time to waste. That’s why public health directors have been taking matters into their own hands in greater Manchester and the midlands, warning anyone who travels from Tier 4 to self-isolate for 10 days as if they were arriving from a foreign country.
Speaking of which, Johnson’s tone on potential Brexit trade disruption probably sounded as jarringly upbeat to his critics as it did on Covid. The spectacle of more than 40 countries all over the world closing their borders to the UK (thanks to our new coronavirus variant) was not the metaphor for post-Brexit global Britain any government would want. But that didn’t stop him trying to turn the Dover lorry tailbacks into an asset.
The PM’s two utterances of ’brill!” came when transport secretary Grant Shapps said that the government’s handling of the Covid Kent chaos (try saying that when you’re drunk) had shown “we are ready” for any delays to freight come January. And when Robert Peston asked “You must know by now whether we’re going to get a free trade deal, will we?”, Johnson grinned knowingly at Shapps as if the whole thing was a jolly jape on those pesky Brussels types.
Tricky questions about the reliability of lateral flow tests were similarly brushed aside, though there was a clear hint that mass testing in schools may not be ready for the New Year. That was perhaps more proof of Johnson’s lastminute-itis, a habit that could be described as prevaricate-then-panic. The impracticability of Gavin Williamson’s shockingly late guidance to headteachers seems to be a dawning realisation even for No.10.
Many of the PM’s supporters point out that the very creation of Tier 4 shows he does indeed act quickly, when the science demands. He also said on Monday that “the commonsensical thing to do is follow the path of the epidemic and keep things under constant review.” Yet some believe he should be doing more to direct that path, rather than follow it.
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Johnson was notably tetchy when the Mirror’s Pippa Crerar pointed out his repeated over-promising and under-delivery this year risked undermining public trust and confidence in his health messages. He’s of course right that it’s a fine achievement for the UK to already have half a million people vaccinated (though as I’ve written before, it was Matt Hancock who pushed the vaccine route in the face of No.10 scepticism).
But the PM’s answer underlined his constant desire to sell certainty as much as optimism. Thanks to the vaccine “we can certainly look forward to a very, very different world for this country from Easter onwards”, he said. Anyone who remembers last summer’s promises that this will be all but over by Christmas could be forgiven for remaining unconvinced. If the NHS gets overwhelmed in January, the vaccination programme itself could be delayed.
Amid a surge in deaths and hospitalisations over the past few weeks, Johnson’s press conference claim that “the virus is being steadily defeated” seemed premature at best, crass at worst. I’ve mentioned in the past that he jokes about the “blessed sponge of amnesia” helps to “wipe the slate of memory”. For those struggling in the here and now, his attempt to forget the scarily surging Covid charts in favour of a sunlit Easter upland may be an act of faith too far.
This may not have been the final No.10 press conference of the year. It may well be that a triumphant Johnson chairs a briefing on December 30, after parliament urgently ratifies a new Brexit trade deal. He will undoubtedly want to usher in 2021 on a high. But 2020 has taught us that if “getting Brexit done” is hardly straightforward, getting Covid done is much, much harder.
When the “lessons learned” public inquiry finally arrives, Johnson may talk about asymptomatic Covid transmission, about care homes, about testing. But he is unlikely to talk about the main takeaways many think overarches it all: his own failure to plan and his habit of leaving things to fester (Cummings, exams, contact tracing, free school meals) until events force him into change.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-21--British Airways Agrees To 'Pre-Departure Testing' For Passengers Flying To New York From UK

British Airways planes at Heathrow Airport PA
British Airways says it has agreed to “pre-departure testing” for passengers flying from the UK to New York from Tuesday amid attempts to prevent the spread of a new, more transmissible, coronavirus variant.
It comes after New York governor Andrew Cuomo called on the US government to mandate testing on people flying to the US from the UK or “halt the flights from the UK now”.
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At a press conference on Monday, Cuomo said he had asked three airlines which take passengers to New York from the UK – British Airways, Delta and Virgin Atlantic – to do voluntary testing of passengers.
In a statement, British Airways said: “We have agreed pre-departure testing for passengers on flights from the UK to New York from tomorrow in line with the request. We continue to work closely with local health authorities around the world.”
Starting tomorrow @British_Airways will require passengers on UK flights to NY to show a negative COVID test before departure.
We are in conversations with Delta and Virgin Atlantic to do the same.
We can't let history repeat itself with this new virus variant. — Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) December 21, 2020
The Reuters news agency reported that Delta had also agreed to the new screening.
A number of countries around the world – including France, Germany and Belgium – have already brought in strict travel restrictions over the new Covid strain, which has seen London and the south-east of England plunged into severe tier 4 lockdown restrictions.
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Royal Mail has suspended almost all mail services to Europe and DHL has cancelled many of its services in the UK and Ireland amid the travel restrictions.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-21--Royal Mail Suspends Almost All Mail Services To Europe Amid Covid Travel Restrictions

STAFFORD, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 22: The Royal Mail logo is seen outside a Delivery Office on November 22, 2020 in Stafford, England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images) Nathan Stirk via Getty Images
Royal Mail has suspended almost all of its mail services to Europe amid a series of new transport restrictions over worries about a new – more contagious – strain of coronavirus in the UK.
A number of countries in Europe have banned travel from the UK in a bid to halt the spread of the new Covid variant, which Boris Johnson has said could be up to 70% more transmissible than the old virus strain.
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In a statement on Monday, Royal Mail said it had “temporarily suspended” all mail services to Europe – apart from those to the Republic of Ireland – due to “coronavirus transport impacts”.
“Items that are already in the system will be processed as normal and made ready for dispatch,” it said. “These items will be held securely until we are able to get them to their relevant destinations.”
“We’re closely monitoring the situation and are ready to open our services as soon as we are able to once the restrictions have been lifted. We continue to explore all options.”
The postal service also warned that “severely limited” air capacity meant that services to Canada and Turkey were also experiencing delays.
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But it is not just Royal Mail affected by the transport restrictions – DHL warned that a number of its parcel services would also be suspended in the UK.
In a statement on its website, DHL said that moves by European governments to restrict travel links from the UK – including the closure of ferry ports – had disrupted the business’ transport links.
“As a result, we have unfortunately been forced to discontinue all DHL Paket International, DHL Paket Connect, DHL Europaket and Warenpost International service to the UK and Ireland, effective immediately and until further notice,” it said.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-21--More Tier 4 Lockdowns 'Likely' As New Variant Causes Covid Surge, Says Patrick Vallance

Screen grab of Chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance during a media briefing in Downing Street, London, on Covid-19. PA
More tier 4 lockdowns are “likely” as the new and more infectious strain of Covid-19 means the virus “will spread more”, Patrick Vallance has said.
The chief scientific officer, speaking at a Downing Street press conference on Monday, said the virus is resurgent and “measures need to be increased” in the coming days “not reduced”.
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Scientists estimate the new variant, which first emerged in Kent, is up to 70% more infectious.
“Evidence of this virus is it spreads easily, it’s more transmissible,” Vallance said.
“We absolutely need to make sure we have the right level of restrictions in place.
“I think it is likely that this will grow in numbers of the variant across the country and I think it’s likely therefore that measures need to be increased in some places in due course, not reduced.
“It is the case that this will spread more.”
Last week, the government effectively cancelled Christmas for millions of people with strict new curbs covering London and huge swathes of the south-east in tier 4.
In other tiers areas, which include much of the north, up to three households can mix on Christmas Day, however.
Boris Johnson chaired an emergency Cobra meeting on Monday amid travel chaos at Dover after France imposed a travel ban on UK freight.
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The prime minister said he and French president Emmanuel Macron had spoken about the block and were committed to resolving it, amid fears the UK could face food shortages.
Johnson aimed to strike an upbeat tone and revealed that 500,000 people had been vaccinated against Covid so far.
Prime minister Boris Johnson ASSOCIATED PRESS
But amid calls from scientists for the government to consider closing schools again, Johnson appeared to water down the government’s commitment, saying ministers would keep schools open “if we possibly can”.
Adding the UK “can certainly look forward to a very, very different world” from Easter, he said: “It’s very, very important, not just for people’s morale, but it’s also totally realistic.
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“We have every reason to be extremely hopeful about this country’s ability to bounce back next year from Covid, and I think that is the right thing to say then and now.”
Vallance also attempted to reassure the public by saying there was no evidence the new strain was more fatal.
He said: “Evidence that this can transmit more readily is becoming clear in terms of the data of the rapid spread of this virus across areas.
“The transmission is increased, but we can’t say exactly by how much, but it is clearly substantially increased, so it is more transmissible, which is why we see it growing so fast and spreading to so many areas.
“There is no evidence that the disease course is any different, so if you catch it the disease looks the same as any other form of Covid infection.
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“In terms of the immune response, there is nothing to suggest that this won’t have the same susceptibility to antibody attack from vaccine or pre-existing infection as any other form.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-21--Watch Live: Boris Johnson Holds Press Conference Amid Covid Freight Chaos

Watch Live: Boris Johnson Holds Press Conference Amid Covid Freight Chaos
The press briefing comes after after France banned lorries carrying freight from the UK and countries around the world ended flights.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-21--Eddie Izzard To Use 'She' And 'Her' Pronouns: 'It Feels Very Positive'

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Eddie Izzard declared that she will use the pronouns “she” and “her” from now on.
“This is the first programme I’ve asked if I can be ‘she’ and ‘her,” the Ocean’s Twelve and Ocean’s Thirteen actor said in a clip of Sky Arts’ Portrait Artist of the Year posted on Sunday. “This is a little transition period.”
Eddie, one of the portrait subjects of the show, added that “it feels great because people just assume that they just know me from before ... but I’m gender fluid. I just want to be based in girl mode from now on.”
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Eddie Izzard Twitter
“It feels very positive,” Eddie added.
The Human Rights Campaign tweeted support, writing: “Thanks for allowing us on this adventure with you, Eddie, and for encouraging others to live their life openly and authentically!”
For anyone who was confused, here is what Eddie said about her pronouns from now on. #EddieIzzard #TransIsBeautiful pic.twitter.com/m0ZxhqtmRb — Sam (@spamvicious) December 20, 2020
Eddie, an LGBTQ rights advocate, told the Windy City Times previously: “I have boy mode and girl mode. I am kind of gender fluid. I want to express both sides of myself, which has always been there. I am a tomboy and tomgirl kind of person.”
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-21--New York Governor Andrew Cuomo Calls For Ban On UK Flights

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo Calls For Ban On UK Flights
The American politician is calling on the Trump administration to set new restrictions on flights from the UK.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-21--How The New Coronavirus Strain Is Spreading In The UK

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The new variant of SARS-CoV-2, which goes by the name B.1.1.7, has also led to drastic new tier 4 restrictions in areas affected amid fears it is spreading rapidly across the country.
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London and parts of the east and south-east of England are already in tier 4. And on Wednesday, it was announced that Sussex, Oxfordshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, all of Essex, Waverley in Surrey, Hampshire including Portsmouth, and Southampton excluding the New Forest would be escalated to tier 4 on Boxing Day.
Here’s what we know so far about how the new mutation – nicknamed Covid-20 – spreads.
How fast is it spreading?
The new variant of Covid-19 is believed to have first appeared in mid-September in London or Kent. By the middle of November, it is thought to have accounted for about 26% of cases in London and other parts of south-east England. Over the past week, that proportion has now risen to more than 60% of new cases in London.
Meanwhile the latest figures show cases have risen by 57% over the past week and hospital admissions are at 1,909 a day - the highest figure since April. A further 744 daily deaths were recorded following a positive Covid-19 test, also the highest number since April.
Professor Chris Whitty, chief medical officer for England, has said the new variant could be up to 70% more transmissible than the original strain of the disease and could increase the R-value by 0.4 or more.
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In a summary by the government’s New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (Nervtag), experts said they had “moderate confidence” that the variant has shown a substantial increase in transmissibility compared with other variants.
But what does a 70% increased transmissibility actually mean?
Dr Andrew Lee, a public health and disease control specialist at the University of Sheffield, explains: “Let’s say if the current effective reproductive number is one, that means if 10 people were infected it would infect 10 others.
“If 10 people were infected with this new strain, instead of infecting 10 others they would be infecting 14 other people. That’s basically what 70% more transmissible means.”
Dr Justin O’Grady, group leader at the Quadram Institute and a medical microbiology professor at the University of East Anglia (UEA), says the transmissibility of this new mutation is due to its spike protein’s receptor-binding domain. In other words...
“One of the mutations appears to enhance how well a virus is able to attach itself to human cells in the body, while the other seems to be helpful in evading the immune system,” he told HuffPost UK.
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How serious is it?
As Whitty said during Saturday’s press conferences, “viruses mutate all the time”. Based on the data so far, there is no evidence that the new strain increases the risk of severe illness or the mortality rate.
The new strain was first detected in mid-September in London or Kent and has mushroomed exponentially since. Stefan Rousseau - PA Images via Getty Images
There is also no evidence to suggest the UK mutation affects coronavirus treatments and vaccines. “Our working assumption at the moment, from all of the scientists, is that the vaccine response should be adequate for this virus,” Whitty said. “That obviously needs to be looked at going forward, and we need to keep vigilant about this.”
However, even if the new strain doesn’t raise the risk of severe disease, the danger is that it does put our health system at risk. “We’ve been trying to slow down the increase of cases in the country so that we can protect the NHS, so this means the problem is going to raise its head again,” says O’Grady.
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“The disease severity could stay the same, but the virus will transmit faster among people. The higher the transmission rate, the higher the [number] of people who will not react well to the infection and therefore will have to go to hospital.
“If hospitals are being overrun very quickly, that will mean doctors will have to make very difficult decisions as to who lives, and who dies.”
Who is it infecting?
In the report by Nervtag, experts concluded there is “currently insufficient data to draw any conclusion” on the age distribution of cases, adding that better data would arrive later this week on which age groups were impacted by this variant.
“We don’t know if there’s a predilection for any particular age group or ethnicity yet,” says Lee. “So watch this space.”
But speaking on BBC Radio 4′s Today programme, Professor Neil Ferguson said there was a possibility that children were being “slightly” more affected by this new strain.
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When asked about possible school closures, he replied: “So undoubtedly increased transmissibility limits our options for manoeuvre even more, and there is a hint from the data that this variant may infect children slightly more effectively than the previous variants, so it’s very difficult to prove causality.
“It’s just too early to tell. It is going to be difficult, no doubt about that [...] but it’s too early to say precisely what additional measures might be needed.”
O’Grady agrees that there isn’t sufficient evidence to say whether the new strain has a greater impact on certain age groups than previous ones.
“What we do know is that previous lineages did transmit through kids, so if we assume that this new lineage is more transmissible then it’s potentially more transmissible in children as much as in adults,” he says. “But we don’t have the data yet to show that.”
Could it become the dominant variant?
As Lee describes it, the new strain has “mushroomed exponentially” since it was first detected around September. “Genomic surveillance in the south has shown that it has a selective advantage over the other strain and is rapidly displacing it.
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Shoppers walk along a busy Oxford Street in London. NurPhoto via Getty Images
“If the strain has a selective advantage, it becomes the dominant strain. What will happen is that it will evolve and become much more widespread throughout the UK – and probably elsewhere, which is why Europe and other countries are so concerned about it. It wouldn’t surprise me if it is a matter of time before it becomes the dominant strain.”
O’Grady adds: “At the current rate, it appears to be transmitted around 1.5 times to two times faster than other lineages, therefore there’s a strong possibility that it will go on to dominant the lineages that we see in the UK.”
On Wednesday, health secretary Matt Hancock said another new strain linked to South Africa has been detected in the country – one that could be even more infectious than the B.1.1.7 strain.
Speaking at a Downing Street briefing, he said the two cases of the new variant had travelled to South Africa “over the past few weeks”, adding: “This new variant is highly concerning because it is yet more transmissible and it appears to have mutated further than the new variant that has been discovered in the UK.”
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Transport secretary Grant Shapps has now stopped flights entering the UK from the country.
Does this change our safety measures?
For now, no. “I don’t think there are going to be any changes in that regard,” says O’Grady. “Continue to do what you’ve been advised to do: wash your hands, keep your two-metre distance, try to avoid indoor socialising with multiple households, don’t go to work if you can possibly avoid it, don’t go to restaurants or bars.
“We know those things will reduce transmission – the issue is that people haven’t been complying to those guidelines. If everybody follows those rules, we could bring down R value significantly. We just have to get people to take it really seriously again and for people to realise that it will have a major impact on the NHS if we don’t.”
What don’t we know yet?
Aside from who precisely is most susceptible to the new strain, and how that differs from previous strains, we can’t yet say for sure exactly how much it is directly responsible for the spikes in different parts of the country.
Dr Muge Cevik, a member of Nervtag, has cautioned that the data we have so far is preliminary and based on modelling. “We don’t know how much and we don’t have absolute certainty,” he said. “Right now, we can’t make a causal relationship – it’s only an association effect.”
O’Grady believes we will know a lot more about this new variant very soon. “It won’t be long before we can answer some of these questions,” he says. “I think we’ll find out a lot of these things in a week, and within two weeks we’ll know the answers to a lot more.
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“People are working extremely hard over the Christmas period to try to answer a lot of these questions. We’ll be working all the way through the holidays to try and sequence as many genomes as we can to add to the data that’s required to understand more about this strain.”
Should we be worried?
“Don’t panic,” Lee says. “We just need to be cautious because there’s a lot we don’t yet know about this new virus mutation at this point in time. For now, we don’t believe it’s more lethal, we don’t think it’s going to affect the vaccine, and our tests are still able to detect it in the PCR [polymerase chain reaction] tests.
“A lot of what we’re doing now carries on the same. It’s just a matter of being more cautious rather than unnecessarily worrying about it.”
O’Grady adds: “I’m not more concerned about this strain [than the previous ones],” says O’Grady. “It’s no more of a potential threat than it was to an individual.
“The issue is that it may spread quicker and so more people will end up in hospital and therefore die. We were hoping to protect those people by getting the vaccines out quickly and not letting them get this in the first place. If the virus transmits faster than those people are more in danger now because they will end up in hospitals and the hospitals may be overrun.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-21--Covid Restrictions 'May Be Needed Until 50% Of UK Population Is Vaccinated'

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Social restrictions may have to continue until around 50% of the population has been vaccinated, an expert has said, and inoculations alone will not be enough to bring coronavirus in the community down to “very low levels”.
Many have been hoping for a return to normal once the elderly and those most at risk from Covid-19 have received the jab.
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But scientists say this might not be enough to see an end to measures such as social distancing and wearing face masks.
They suggest restrictions may be needed until at least half of the UK’s population has been vaccinated.
Stephen Evans, professor of pharmacoepidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said vaccination alone would not be enough to bring the virus circulating in the community to “very low levels”.
Speaking at a Science and Media Centre press briefing, he said: “We actually need to have the absolute amount of virus circulating to be very low.
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“And we won’t do that by vaccination alone until we’re getting 50% of the population vaccinated or more, and that’s going to be quite a bit of a long way off yet.
“So I fear that the sort of restrictions we have, the non-medical interventions, are going to need to be carried on.”
PA Media
Prof Evans added: “I think if people take these seriously, then it’s possible for various economic activities to go ahead, but you have to make sure that you are keeping to the non-medical interventions, being aware and behaving as if every person you contact has got the virus. And that you have it as well.
“And when you behave in a way that realises that, and that the consequences for either you or the person around you getting the virus can be very serious, then it changes people’s behaviour.
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“And we’re going to have to go on doing that for quite a long time.”
Health secretary Matt Hancock has said that, as of 8am on Saturday morning, 350,000 people had been vaccinated.
Adam Finn, professor of paediatrics at the University of Bristol, also said that even if the elderly are vaccinated, social restrictions may have to continue for some time.
He explained: “I think the modelling is very clear that even if you had high coverage and high levels of protection in the high-risk groups, you would still see epidemics, and large numbers of hospitalisations and deaths if you relax the measures before you have a broader control of viral circulation in the population at large.
“So I think the idea that you can immunise a large proportion of the elderly and then kind of go back to normal is misguided.
“I think that none of the models suggest that that’s going to be possible.”
Peter Openshaw, professor of experimental medicine at Imperial College London, explained that – as well as the elderly – there has to be concern about the effects of long Covid in relatively young people.
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He said he found the idea of his colleagues or his relatives becoming affected by long Covid “terrifying”.
Prof Openshaw added: “We shouldn’t stop vaccinating once we have just vaccinated the high-risk.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-21--New Covid Variant Identified Amid Rising Infections In London And The South-East

New Covid Variant Identified Amid Rising Infections In London And The South-East
A new variant of coronavirus, which causes Covid-19, has been identified in the UK and may be growing faster than existing variants of the virus, according to health secretary Matt Hancock. It’s thought the new variant could be the cause of rising infection rates in London and the south of England, which will be put under more stringent Covid restrictions from midnight Wednesday as a result.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-22--Peaky Blinders Star Sophie Rundle Reveals She Was Hospitalised After Contracting Covid-19

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Peaky Blinders star Sophie Rundle has revealed she was recently hospitalised after contracting coronavirus.
The actor told her Instagram followers that she has been experiencing severe Covid-19 symptoms, including what she described as a “cough to rival a Dickensian workhouse orphan boy” and a loss of her sense of taste.
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She also said that she had burst a blood vessel in her eye due to repeatedly vomiting while in hospital.
“GREETINGS FROM MY SICK BED!” she wrote on Monday evening, alongside a glum-looking selfie. “So for Christmas this year I got myself a nice juicy bout of Covid-19. I also have a very festive bloodshot eye from all the hardcore vomiting I did in hospital.”
She continued: “I can taste NOTHING, I have a cough to rival a Dickensian workhouse orphan boy and the angel on top of my festive sickness tree is the TOOTHACHE from my gnarly little wisdom teeth at the back there. Quite the feast of festive ailments!”
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After asking her followers what they’re doing to “cheer themselves up”, Sophie added: “If you’re feeling low or at the end of your tether, please know you are not alone. You can join my gang.”
The 32-year-old is best known for her portrayal of Ada Shelby in Peaky Blinders, a role she has played since 2013, as well as appearing as Suranne Jones’ love interest in the drama Gentleman Jack.
Earlier this year, she also appeared in the five-part BBC drama The Nest.
Sophie Rundle at the Peaky Blinders red carpet premiere last year Mike Marsland via Getty Images
Sophie isn’t the only star to share her unpleasant experiences of Covid-19.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-22--Peter Cruddas: Boris Johnson Hands Peerage To 'Cash-For-Access' Scandal Ex-Tory Treasurer

Peter Cruddas Steve Russell via Getty Images
Boris Johnson has defied an independent commission to hand a peerage to a Tory donor and Vote Leave board member who was caught in a “cash-for-access” scandal nearly a decade ago.
The prime minister nominated Peter Cruddas for a seat in the House of Lords, despite past accusations that he had offered access to David Cameron in exchange for party donations. He denied this claim, but the Court of Appeal found it to be true following a defamation case.
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Cruddas was one of 16 appointments to the Lords – including seven recommendations from Johnson, five from Keir Starmer and five crossbench nominations.
This list will bring the total in the House of Lords to over 830 – almost 200 more than the House of Commons.
The scale of the nominations list sparked criticism from Lord Speaker Lord Fowler, who said he had a “fundamental concern” about “the number of new peers that have been appointed by the prime minister in his first 12 months in office” and called for a review of the powers of the appointments commission.
But Fowler did welcome the elevation of former Archbishop of York John Sentamu to the Lords, who was reportedly snubbed by Downing Street for an automatic life peerage because Johnson wanted to scale back on numbers in the Lords.
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1/9 My response to the announcement today that @10DowningStreet has appointed 16 new peers to the @UKHouseofLords:
My fundamental concern is about the number of new peers that have been appointed by the Prime Minister in his first 12 months in Office. — Lord Speaker (@LordSpeaker) December 22, 2020
4/9 Unlike other senates in democratic countries, there is no limit on the number of members there can be. Any Prime Minister can appoint as many as he or she likes. To her great credit the previous Prime Minister, @theresa_may , committed her govt to a policy of ‘moderation.' — Lord Speaker (@LordSpeaker) December 22, 2020
5/9 In a massive U-turn, those words seem to have been forgotten. It may also now be the time to review the role and the powers of the House of Lords Appointments Commission (HOLAC.) — Lord Speaker (@LordSpeaker) December 22, 2020
Johnson’s decision to nominate Cruddas came in defiance of the recommendation of the Lords appointment commission, which said it could not support Cruddas’s nomination due to a Sunday Times story revealing the allegations in 2012.
Parliamentary records show Cruddas donated £50,000 to the PM in June 2019, when Johnson was embarking on his campaign to replace Theresa May as Tory leader and in Downing Street.
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Cruddas has also recently made several donations to Tory MPs.
In 2012, Sunday Times reporters went undercover to film Cruddas explaining how donations to the Tory Party could secure access to politicians and influence over policy making.
Cruddas denied allegations he was offering access to leading politicians like then-PM Cameron in return for cash for the party.
But in a 2015 libel case, the Court of Appeal found the allegation to be true and branded Cruddas’s behaviour “unacceptable, inappropriate and wrong”.
“Cruddas was effectively saying to the journalists that if they donated large sums to the Conservative Party, they would have an opportunity to influence government policy and to gain unfair commercial advantage through confidential meetings with the prime minister and other senior ministers,” the judgment said.
Commenting on Cruddas’s appointment, deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner said: “From Dominic Cummings’s eye test to handing out contracts to their mates, it’s one rule for the Tories and their chums, another for the rest of us.”
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Boris Johnson cronyism latest - cash for access former Tory Party Treasurer appointed to the House of Lords.
From Dominic Cummings's eye test to handing out contracts to their mates it's one rule for the Tories and their chums, another for the rest of ushttps://t.co/mBgA0tyl8u — 🌈 Angela Rayner 🌈 (@AngelaRayner) December 22, 2020
In a letter to Lord Bew, chair of the appointments commission, Johnson justified Cruddas’s nomination by saying the former Tory treasurer had made “outstanding contributions” to charity and business since being caught up in the cash-for-access scandal.
The PM also insisted an internal Tory investigation “found that there had been no intentional wrongdoing” on the part of Cruddas, who was born in Hackney.
Johnson went on: “Cruddas was born without the advantages of many of those in the House of Lords and has gone on to become one of the country’s most successful business figures.
“His broad range of experiences and insights across the charitable, business and political sectors will, in my view, allow him to make a hugely valuable contribution.”
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Here is a full list of the peerages approved by the Queen on Tuesday:
Boris Johnson’s nominations:
Sir Richard Benyon – former Tory minister and MP for Newbury. Peter Cruddas. Dame Jacqueline Foster – formerly deputy leader of the Conservative Party in the European Parliament Stephanie Fraser – chief executive of Cerebral Palsy Scotland. Dean Godson – director of Policy Exchange. Daniel Hannan – formerly Tory MEP. Syed Kamall – formerly leader of the Conservative Party in the European Parliament.
Keir Starmer’s nominations:
Judith Blake – leader of Leeds City Council. Jenny Chapman – close ally and former Labour MP. Vernon Coaker – former minister and Labour MP. Wajid Khan – former Labour MEP. Gillian Merron – chief executive of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, former minister and former Labour MP.
Nominations for Crossbench Peerages:


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-22--Jaw-Dropping Aerial Video Shows 900 Lorries Parked Up Amid French Border Chaos

On Tuesday morning, Andrew Opie, director of food and sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, said the “borders really need to be running pretty much freely from tomorrow” or supplies of fresh produce like “salad, vegetables, fresh fruit” won’t reach shelves in time.
“The problem actually is empty lorries, so the empty lorries which are now stuck in Kent, they need to get back to places like Spain to pick up the [next] consignment of raspberries and strawberries and they need to get back within the next day or so otherwise we will see disruption,” he told the BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
“As long as it can be cleared today there’ll be minimal impact for consumers – remember the shops are shut on Christmas Day which takes one day of buying out of the equation, but those lorries that are stuck in Kent, they do need to get back within the next day.”
Supermarket giant Sainsbury’s warned that disruption in Kent could hit supplies of lettuce, some salad leaves, cauliflowers, broccoli and citrus fruit, all of which are imported from mainland Europe in the winter.
A spokesperson for the Port of Dover said: “Nothing has changed, the port is still closed, we are waiting to hear any updates.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-22--Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson Saves Christmas For Widowed Father In Feel-Good Christmas Video

Hollywood star Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s latest role has seen him transform into a real-life Santa Claus to save one family’s Christmas.
The former wrestler came to the aid of a widowed father-of-two as part of fellow actor John Krasinski’s YouTube series, Some Good News.
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“Super dad” Jay Abel was invited on John’s show, after the host learned Jay – who lost his wife three years ago – was selling off memorabilia on eBay to raise money for his children’s Christmas presents.
Dwayne Johnson YouTube
John had actually been posing as a buyer on eBay, offering to buy up Jay’s items under a pseudonym, but had been banned after Jay suspected the account was fraudulent and pulled out of the sales.
Still wanting to help, John enlisted Dwayne after noticing that Jay had previously tweeted The Rock to help raise awareness of his memorabilia sale.
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@TheRock Hi Rock! I'm like your biggest fan! So I could use your help please. I'm trying to raise some money to be able to provide my children with a Christmas this year. If it's not to much to ask, Would you please consider retweeting this please. Thank Uhttps://t.co/X84mxELnQ1 — Jays Nerdy Life (@JaysNerdyLife) December 10, 2020
Dwayne then popped up on the video call, revealing he had been really moved by Jay’s attempts to provide for his family.
The Hollywood actor then instructed him to take all his items off the auction site, as he would personally be sorting Christmas for Jay and his two kids, Elisa, eight, and AJ, 11.
He said: “I also want your kids to know what kind of father they have. So, I hear that you like comics… when this whole thing is done and when it’s safe, I want you to come down to Southern California and I want you to visit us at the DC Universe and we’ll show you around, give you a whole bunch of cool DC swag. But! It ain’t done there, either...”
The Rock then revealed he was going to get his official Black Adam script bound and signed once the upcoming movie had wrapped filming.
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“I’ve got to tell you, you deserve it all, man,” Dwayne told a speechless Jay. “Your story is an inspiration. You are an inspiration, not only to myself, to Dwanta Claus, but certainly to John, certainly to everybody who hears your story.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-22--Strictly Come Dancing Judge Craig Revel Horwood Dismisses 'Bitter' James Jordan Jibes

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Strictly Come Dancing star Craig Revel Horwood has brushed off former professional James Jordan’s criticism of the judging during this year’s series.
The two have swapped digs at one another multiple times in the past, with James once again calling the judges’ comments into question over the course of the last nine weeks.
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Following Saturday’s final, James – who was axed from Strictly in 2014 – praised the cast and crew, but couldn’t resist a swipe at the panel.
“[Strictly] gave us all some needed joy,” James tweeted on Saturday night. “All the pros and celebs have been brilliant and worked their socks of to entertain us all.
“The hair, makeup and costume team and everyone behind the scenes. However, the judges need a bit of improvement.”
How Craig could give that a 9 is beyond me...
RIDICULOUS
Maisie is already a better dancer than he ever was 🤷🏼♂ Fact! — James Jordan (@The_JamesJordan) December 19, 2020
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Brilliant job this year @bbcstrictly
Gave us all some needed joy
All the pros and celebs have been brilliant and worked their socks of to entertain us all
The hair, makeup and costume team and everyone behind the scenes xxx
However, the judges need a bit of improvement 🤪 — James Jordan (@The_JamesJordan) December 19, 2020
“He would say that,” Craig told OK! of James’ jibes. “Honestly, we won’t make amends until he stops slagging me off!
“His comments and scores on Twitter always tally up with mine. He thinks the same as I do and it makes me laugh because he clearly wants my job!”
On whether he sees a spot on the panel in James’ future, Craig continued: “Not in a million years. He’s too bitter, he’s too twisted!”
Craig Revel Horwood and James Jordan Brian J Ritchie/Hotsauce/Shutterstock/John Phillips/Getty Images
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Craig did concede that he and James would probably “have a laugh” if they were to judge Strictly together, though, adding: “I’d put him in his place!”
The most recent series of Strictly wrapped over the weekend, with comedian Bill Bailey being awarded the Glitterball trophy.
James seemed pretty pleased with the result at the time, congratulating him on Twitter, despite having been more of a HRVY and Maisie Smith fan in the lead-up to the final.
Bill
This was one of their best dances from very early on
Another couples choice but this one for me was exceptional
Bill was my favourite when he was pulling out dances like this at the beginning. I just feel HRVY and Maisie have been better throughout
#10 brilliant fun — James Jordan (@The_JamesJordan) December 19, 2020
Well done Bill 👏 — James Jordan (@The_JamesJordan) December 19, 2020
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-22--Televangelist Pat Robertson Tells Trump: 'You've Had Your Day And It's Time To Move On'

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Pat Robertson has a unexpected message for Donald Trump: He should forget about overturning the election.
On “The 700 Club” Monday, the evangelical leader and former Republican presidential candidate discussed Trump’s slim and unrealistic chances of nullifying President-elect Joe Biden’s win and suggested the president face reality.
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Robertson praised Trump’s ability to raise money and draw crowds but also said the president “lives in an alternate reality,” adding, “He doesn’t lie ― to him, that’s the truth.”
Robertson then conceded that Trump is “very erratic,” which makes dealing with him “a mixed bag” before suggesting the president’s day is done.
“I think it will be well to say, ’You’ve had your day and it’s time to move on,’” he said.
While Robertson conceded Biden was going to be the next president, he didn’t sound confident that the president-elect would be in office long: “I also think we’ll be seeing a President Kamala Harris not too long after the inauguration of President Biden.”
You can watch Robertson’s complete comments here:
Televangelist Pat Robertson declares that Biden will be president and that Trump "lives in an alternate reality," "is very erratic," and should not run again in 2024: "You've had your day and it's time to move on." pic.twitter.com/2WYCZOSNTO — Right Wing Watch (@RightWingWatch) December 21, 2020
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The fact that a top evangelical leader actually suggested Trump should move on didn’t go unnoticed on Twitter.
OMG- it finally happened! I never dreamed it was possible, but Pat Robertson & I are in COMPLETE AGREEMENT. In other news: #HellFreezesOver (film at 11) https://t.co/2qusJS6EzW pic.twitter.com/HwVEpKOHoS — Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) December 21, 2020
This was not on my 2020 bingo card. https://t.co/u6qtuixVdK — Steve's OKC Central (@stevelackmeyer) December 21, 2020
Pat Robertson just proved that evolution exists, even in people who don't believe in evolution. https://t.co/5vtiFHKz6R — John Fugelsang (@JohnFugelsang) December 21, 2020
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When you've lost the guy who thought 9/11 was God's punishment for sexual liberalism..... https://t.co/yvtaClAw8x — Jeet Heer (@HeerJeet) December 21, 2020
Did...did Scarlet Witch zap us all into some kind of House of M alternate reality where the worst people become sane and reasonable? https://t.co/IvOH3m8Ws2 — Alisha Grauso 🎄 (@AlishaGrauso) December 21, 2020


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-22--Conservative Columnist Says Donald Trump Will Cause More Damage Before He's Done

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Conservative columnist Max Boot in his new column for The Washington Post reeled off a long list of Donald Trump’s misdeeds since his election defeat, warning things will get worse in the final days of his presidency.
Boot noted in his weekend op-ed how the outgoing president has since the vote — which he still falsely claims to have won ― routinely ignored the devastating effect of the coronavirus pandemic, refuted alleged Russian cyberattacks on government networks, reportedly discussed declaring martial law to hold the election again in swing states, purged the Pentagon of its senior leaders and slammed departing Attorney General Bill Barr “for not doing more to politicise his department.”
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“There is certainly worse to come — including a pardon-palooza that would put Trump cronies and family members beyond the reach of the law,” wrote Boot.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-22--SPAC Nation: Man Arrested On Suspicion Of Fraud And Money Laundering

dmbaker via Getty Images
Police investigating fraud allegations relating to individuals associated with controversial church SPAC Nation have made a fresh arrest.
He was detained in the early hours of Friday morning on suspicion of offences believed to have taken place between November 2017 and December 2020.
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The suspect has since been bailed pending further enquiries.
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: “In the early hours of [December 18] a 40-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit fraud and money laundering. He has been taken to a south London police station and subsequently released on bail.
“In 2019 the Metropolitan Police Service was made aware of allegations of fraud and other offences relating to individuals associated with SPAC Nation, an evangelical church with members from across London.
“Officers from Central Specialist Crime carried out a review to identify if any criminal offences had been committed. In February 2020 police received new allegations of a similar nature. These were reviewed and a criminal investigation was launched.”
In June, SPAC Nation announced that it would change its name and operate under a banner known as “the NXTION Family”.
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As it gained popularity in 2018, SPAC Nation was hailed by politicians as a pioneering church and a beacon of hope for ex-gang members, but has been hit by a slew of serious allegations.
A HuffPost UK investigation revealed in November 2019 that it had created the conditions for fraudsters to flourish within its ranks and was failing to act on allegations of some pastors financially exploiting the young people it claims to help.
We were told about shocking evidence of abuse within safe houses set up by pastors in SPAC Nation, supposedly to protect vulnerable youngsters escaping gangs.
Following HuffPost UK’s exposé, the Charity Commission launched an investigation into SPAC Nation – which is a registered charity – to probe financial and safeguarding allegations.
The commission said its inquiry had yet to conclude.
A spokesperson told HuffPost UK: “Our inquiry is ongoing; we are unable to comment on an active inquiry so as to avoid prejudicing its outcome. We intend to publish a report setting out our findings once it has concluded.”
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-22--Priti Patel Reckons The Government Has Been 'Ahead Of The Curve' In Its Covid Response

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Priti Patel has claimed the government has been “consistently... ahead of the curve” in its response to the " target="_blank" class=" js-entry-link cet-internal-link" data-vars-item-name="coronavirus" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5fe1ac6cc5b64e4420ff486e" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/ " data-vars-target-content-type="feed" data-vars-type="web_internal_link" data-vars-subunit-name="article_body" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="1">coronavirus pandemic, despite one of the highest death tolls in the world and Saturday’s last-minute decision to effectively cancel Christmas for large swathes of the country.
Interviewed on the BBC’s Today programme, the home secretary was asked about the chief scientific advisor’s warning on Monday that it was critical to to “get ahead” of the new mutant strain of coronavirus detected in the UK.
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Patel replied: “Well the government has consistently throughout this year been ahead of the curve in terms of proactive measures in regard in terms of coronavirus measures.”
On Saturday the government held a last-minute press conference in which it announced London and the south-east of England would be put into new, tougher tier 4 restrictions.
The move came after nine months of Boris Johnson assuring the UK that some semblance of a normal Christmas would be possible.
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Pressed on the apparent last-minute nature of the tier 4 announcement, Patel said: “Well there was nothing last minute in terms of the work undertaken by government in terms of planning and preparing for tier 4.
“These are big decisions that are taken collectively by the government based on scientific advice.”
Priti Patel: "The Government has been consistently ahead of the curve on Coronavirus".
I suppose if you're going to lie you might as well make it a fucking massive one. #r4today — Briefcase Michael (@BriefcaseMike) December 22, 2020
Patel’s assertion that the government has been “ahead of the curve” in its response to the coronavirus pandemic is questionable given the UK’s huge death toll and multiple botched policies and 18 significant U-turns.
Late lockdown
At the very beginning of the pandemic, the UK was far later to impose a lockdown than its European counterparts and by the end of the summer had the highest death toll in Europe.
Experts have explicitly stated the late implementation of lockdown “cost a lot of lives”.
Statista
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Test and Trace
Around the same time the government promised a “world-beating” test and trace system to help fight the pandemic.
It wasn’t and, nine months and billions of pounds later, still isn’t “world-beating” and the government had to fudge the numbers to make it look like they’d hit their targets.
On April 2, Hancock set a goal of 100,000 coronavirus tests a day by the end of the month and at government’s daily briefing on May 1, he said testing figures had hit 122,347 on April 30.
However, the figures included the number of home tests (27,497) that had been sent out as well as the number of tests sent out to satellite sites (12,872).
Tracing has also been woefully bad. The service only hit its own 80% target for the first time last week, more than six months after launching.
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Face masks
Face masks in shops are only being made mandatory on July 24 after months of dithering, marking a U-turn on previous policy.
The move followed a weekend of confusion over whether ministers intended to make face coverings compulsory after Boris Johnson said they were looking at “stricter” rules.
In the early days of the pandemic, ministers and the government’s scientific advisers repeatedly played down the value of face coverings, saying the evidence on the benefits was thin.
"The government has consistently been ahead of the curve" - Priti Patel on #r4today
Ahead on ......PPE, school closures, calling national lockdowns, prioritising trade deals, commissioning "world beating test & trace"?
How did you let that pass @BBCr4today ? — Clare (@cjsbella) December 22, 2020
BAME communities
The government has been accused of letting down Black, Asian and minority ethnic people, who have been worse hit by coronavirus than their white counterparts despite repeated warnings that was the case.
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That has already been the subject of a review, but it was heavily criticised for containing little new information and making no recommendations.
After all the bad news, we felt that people needed a bit of humanity, tenderness and empathy today.
Then we had a good laugh and sent Priti Patel out instead.#4today #BBCBreakfast — Parody Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson_MP) December 22, 2020