Today is Red Wednesday, when we remember those who suffer for their beliefs in different parts of the world. Christians are not alone in enduring such adversity but the evidence shows that they are, by far, the most numerous group... Read more
Pascal Soriot, the chief executive of AstraZeneca, says the vaccine produced by his company could be the reason why Britain is faring better than Europe when it comes to Covid. Although cases have been higher in the UK than on... Read more
The Zanzibari novelist Abdulrazak Gurnah, who has lived in Britain since 1968, was awarded 2021’s Nobel Prize in literature for telling just such different stories. In serious, well-researched and subtle fiction, he has been exploring the legacy of colonialism –... Read more
On your marks… set up your bio-secure bubble… bake! Yes, Tuesday evening at 8pm sees the grand final of The Great British Bake Off on Channel 4. And with hot favourite Jürgen Krauss having left last week in a semi-final... Read more
“I’m so thrilled to help tell Nolly’s long overdue and largely forgotten story. Russell’s screenplay is a work of brilliance and I hope I’ll do him and Nolly justice,” she said. Gordon played Crossroads Motel owner Meg Richardson, later Meg... Read more
Sensing this occasion was all about the bakers, hosts Noel Fielding and Matt Lucas took more of a back seat than usual in the eerily empty tent. Emotion was ramped up with heartstring-tugging messages from the bakers’ proud families. Bubbled... Read more
This classic image of the four members of Queen in a diamond formation is probably best known from the music video for Bohemian Rhapsody in 1975. But that scene was a recreation of the cover of the Queen II album... Read more
Naturally, the PM, who favours a pair of beaten up old black trainers, had a bit to say about the show being “stereotypical about Daddy pig” – noted for being unshaven, over-optimistic and generally inept. But it’s a secret to... Read more
The Government’s majority was slashed to 26 after 19 Tories rebelled and many more abstained on the controversial amendment, which will stop means-tested support counting towards the £86,000 cap on care costs. Critics warned that the move would cost less... Read more
When politicians are openly ridiculed like this on primetime television, it is time to worry. And plenty of Conservatives are now openly doing just that. The problems for Johnson started three weeks ago, when a plan to try to overhaul... Read more
Labour has been accused of being anti-unionist after the party’s shadow Northern Ireland secretary said it would not campaign for keeping the UK whole. Louise Haigh said that if the party were in government, it would stay neutral in a... Read more
Nadine Dorries has branded the decision to remove male and female categories at the Brit Awards “sad”, fearing that the move could have a negative impact on the representation of women. The British Phonographic Industry, which organises the awards, announced... Read more
French trawlermen are drawing up plans to blockade cross-Channel trade in an escalation in the dispute over post-Brexit fishing licences. In an effort to secure more permits to operate in UK waters, union bosses are expected to announce a campaign... Read more
For many, 2021 may go down as the year where humankind proved that reports of its imminent demise were premature. As Covid vaccines started being rolled out in the new year, the pandemic threat seemed to ease. And in America,... Read more
Richard Tice is to stand in the forthcoming Old Bexley and Sidcup by-election, as his Reform UK party claiming Boris Johnson misled Tory voters with a “highly-taxed, highly-regulated nanny state”. Mr Tice leads Reform UK, formerly the Brexit Party, which... Read more
A councillor will contest the Old Bexley and Sidcup by-election for the Conservatives as the party looks to hold on to the seat following the death of James Brokenshire. A by-election will be contested on a yet-to-be-announced date after the... Read more
It is tempting to dismiss the Lib Dem conference as a political non-event. Conducted almost entirely online, it failed even to offer the party’s dwindling membership the benefits that accrue from getting together and sharing policy ideas. With just 12... Read more
“Loading ever more taxes on to working people and keeping people working when they deserve to retire in peace is completely the wrong approach. Labour would tax fairly, spend wisely, and get our economy firing on all cylinders, to ensure... Read more
Second home owners in Wales could soon see a major spike in their council tax bills after Labour signed a new deal with Welsh nationalists. On Monday, the Labour-led Welsh government announced a co-operation agreement with Plaid Cymru to overcome... Read more
“My portfolio is wide and deep,” Nadine Dorries told the Commons digital, culture, media and sport select committee on Tuesday, and if you call her touchy, she will strike you down. The new Culture Secretary covered everything from 5G to... Read more
There is an old Whitehall story, probably apocryphal, concerning a minister not especially well liked by his officials delivering an important policy speech to some august body. Not long into his oration he turned over a sheet of paper on... Read more
There was also no public support from Downing Street for Lord Hague’s idea of creating a so-called “inner Cabinet”, as David Cameron had, to help guide Mr Johnson on major political decisions. The hunt for who was behind the quotation... Read more
However, increased security and Covid restrictions have made traditional routes less viable for migrants, and the overall number of people to have claimed asylum in the UK in the 12 months ending this June was 31,115, a four per cent... Read more
In the wake of the Paterson affair, the know-it-alls are declaring loudly that being a Member of the House of Commons and representing one’s constituents is a full time job. They may well be taking that view merely because it would... Read more
As the dust settles on the merry-go-round of Cop26, it is becoming very clear that the Chinese Communist Party has emerged in an even stronger position than it was in before the conference. Those Western politicians who pushed for the... Read more