Welcome to your early morning news briefing from The Telegraph – a round-up of the top stories we are covering on New Year’s Day. To receive twice-daily briefings by email, sign up to our Front Page newsletter for free.
1. Damehood for head of chaos-hit Covid testing system in New Year Honours list
The head of NHS Test and Trace has been made a dame, despite ongoing coronavirus testing chaos which is threatening the new year return to work, as well as the start of the new school term.
Dr Jenny Harries receives a damehood for services to health in the New Year Honours list. Read the full story.
2. Tony Blair receives knighthood in New Year Honours list, 14 years after leaving Downing Street
Tony Blair has been knighted 14 years after leaving Downing Street, following claims that the delay was preventing other former prime ministers from being honoured.
Sir Tony has been made a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter by Her Majesty, the oldest and most senior British Order of Chivalry. Read the full story.
3. Prince Andrew accuser Virginia Giuffre could give victim impact statement at Ghislaine Maxwell sentencing
Prince Andrew’s accuser could be among alleged victims of Ghislaine Maxwell set to give impact statements to a New York judge deciding her sentence for sex trafficking, The Telegraph can reveal.
Sigrid McCawley, a lawyer for several accusers of Maxwell and former boyfriend Jeffrey Epstein, said women who did not give evidence at the federal trial will be given the unusual chance to make a plea to Judge Alison Nathan. Read the full story.
4. Duke and Duchess of Cambridge release candid photograph as they wish followers a Happy New Year
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have released a candid, unseen photograph of themselves on Friday night as they wished their Twitter followers a Happy New Year.
The affectionate image, taken by London-based photographer Alex Bramall, shows the pair clasping hands in their vehicle ahead of the James Bond premiere in September, both beaming from ear to ear. Read the full story.
5. I’ll go further and faster to make Brexit a success, says Boris Johnson on anniversary
Boris Johnson has pledged to move “further and faster” to make the most of Brexit in a message marking the first anniversary since the end of the UK-European Union transition period.
Thousands of EU regulations automatically rolled onto British statute books in January 2021 at the end of the period as a result of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act. Read the full story.
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