Are the government’s ‘scary’ graphs as bad as they seem?

Experts today poured scorn over questionable claims the UK’s Covid-19 outbreak is doubling in size every seven days, after the nation’s two top experts warned Britain may be facing 50,000 new cases of the disease every day by mid-October unless it is brought under control. Critics accused Number 10 of trying to ‘scare’ people, after … Read more

Britain could still get a vaccine by CHRISTMAS, Sir Patrick Vallance says

1. GlaxoSmithKline and Sanofi Pasteur: 60million doses  The Government revealed on July 29 it had signed a deal with pharmaceutical giants GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Sanofi Pasteur If the vaccine proves successful, the UK could begin to vaccinate priority groups, such as frontline health and social care workers and those at increased risk from coronavirus, as early … Read more

Are the government’s ‘scary’ graphs as bad as they seem?

Graphs of coronavirus data presented to the public by chief scientists Sir Patrick Vallance and Professor Chris Whitty today may not be as scary as they were made out to be, according to experts. The chief scientific adviser and chief medical officer for England this morning warned that Britain is heading for a surge in … Read more

Chief scientist Patrick Vallance says he was ‘told off’ for backing lockdown

Prof Chris Whitty ‘told off’ chief scientist Sir Patrick Vallance for pushing too hard for a lockdown in March, confidential emails reveal Sir Patrick Vallance defended his performance in private email to colleagues Scientific officer said he was ‘stronger than anyone’ calling for early lockdown Sir Patrick said he was ‘told off’ by chief medical … Read more

Chief scientist Patrick Vallance says he was ‘told off’ for backing lockdown

Prof Chris Whitty ‘told off’ chief scientist Sir Patrick Vallance for pushing too hard for a lockdown in March, confidential emails reveal Sir Patrick Vallance defended his performance in private email to colleagues Scientific officer said he was ‘stronger than anyone’ calling for early lockdown Sir Patrick said he was ‘told off’ by chief medical … Read more

Cabinet at war over the rule of six: Almost every minister on committee argued against stringent ban

Boris Johnson’s Covid clampdown has divided his Cabinet, it emerged last night. He faces a fierce Tory backlash over the contentious ‘rule of six’ that bans gatherings of seven or more from Monday. A string of senior ministers opposed the measure at a crunch meeting, with Chancellor Rishi Sunak among those to speak out. A … Read more

Cabinet at war over the rule of six: Almost every minister on committee argued against stringent ban

Boris Johnson’s Covid clampdown has divided his Cabinet, it emerged last night. He faces a fierce Tory backlash over the contentious ‘rule of six’ that bans gatherings of seven or more from Monday. A string of senior ministers opposed the measure at a crunch meeting, with Chancellor Rishi Sunak among those to speak out. A … Read more

SAGE told Boris Johnson ‘pre-Covid normality’ impossible

SAGE scientists told the Government a month ago it would not be possible to return to a ‘pre-Covid normality’ without a vaccine or a far better contact tracing system, it emerged today. In a report submitted to ministers on June 22, scientists advising Number 10 said social distancing will need to be in place until … Read more

So where were Sir Patrick Vallance and Chris Whitty?

Signs of a rift between Boris Johnson and his top scientific advisers deepened today after they failed to attend the PM’s latest announcement on lockdown easing.  Chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance and chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty were notable absentees from this morning’s briefing from Downing Street  The SAGE experts have become familiar … Read more

So where were Sir Patrick Vallance and Chris Whitty?

So where were Sir Patrick Vallance and Chris Whitty? No10 scientific advisers are notably absent as Boris Johnson gives latest Covid address – hours after SAGE chief snubbed PM’s return-to-work plea The experts have become familiar faces at Number 10 podium during the crisis  Instead, Mr Johnson was joined by NHS test and trace chief … Read more