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Baroness Hallett: Who is the chair of the COVID inquiry?

 

Baroness Heather Hallett is leading the inquiry looking at the UK's response to the COVID pandemic. The inquiry was set up to help the government and public figure out the lessons that can be learned from the UK's handling of the coronavirus crisis. Who is Baroness Hallett? Heather Carol Hallett, 73, is a former Court of Appeal judge. In 1998 she became the first woman to chair the Bar Council, the lead representative body for barristers in England and Wales According to the government website, after becoming a Presiding Judge, Baroness Hallett was then promoted to the Court of Appeal in 2005. In 2013, she was appointed vice-president of the Court of Appeal Criminal Division. More on Boris Johnson Boris Johnson hits out at Donald Trump's 'ghastly' comments to Ukraine … 阅读全文

Boris Johnson, small boats and unacceptable behaviour claims | Robert Jenrick and Jonathan Reynolds

 

MPs return to parliament this week after recess amid some headache headlines for the government surrounding the COVID inquiry and Boris Johnson's WhatsApp messages when he was prime minister.  Meanwhile, immigration minister Robert Jenrick reckons many more migrant boats have been intercepted in the English Channel after "landmark deals" with France. On the Sophy Ridge on Sunday podcast, hear interviews with Mr Jenrick and Labour's shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds, who's asked about the party's response to serious allegations involving Geraint Davies MP, who's been suspended under investigation. On the podcast today, Daily Mirror's political editor John Stevens joins Sophy for analysis and discussion. Click to subscribe to the Sophy Ridge on Sunday podcast Annie Joyce - senior podcast producerPaul Stanworth - editor

Adam Boulton: Politicians are drawn to WhatsApp - it may stop us ever knowing whole truth

 

Matt Hancock, who resigned as health secretary in the midst of the pandemic, and his memoir's co-author Isabel Oakeshott, who subsequently handed over confidential information he gave her to The Daily Telegraph, have both come under heavy public criticism. But they also performed one important public service by revealing the central role played by WhatsApp for communications between ministers and others during the crisis. The cache of over 100,000 messages - more than two million words' worth - which Mr Hancock downloaded from his phone and gave to Ms Oakeshott, provided the substance for their self-justifying book Pandemic Diaries and for the revelations in The Telegraph's Lockdown Files reporting. Thanks to Ms Oakeshott's betrayal, the Hancock messages are effectively in the public domain. Please use Chrome browser for a more … 阅读全文

COVID inquiry: Government seeks judicial review over order to hand over Boris Johnson WhatsApp messages

 

The Cabinet Office is seeking a judicial review of Baroness Hallett's order to release Boris Johnson's WhatsApp messages, diaries and notebooks, it confirmed in a letter to the COVID inquiry. The government department said it was bringing a judicial review challenge "with regret" - but added that there were "important issues of principle at stake". Despite the development, it said it would "continue to co-operate fully with the inquiry before, during and after the jurisdictional issue in question". The legal action comes after days of wrangling in which the government hesitated over handing the tranche of documents to the public inquiry over fears it would compromise ministers' and other individuals' right to privacy. Outlining its refusal to hand over the material in its letter, the Cabinet Office again questioned whether … 阅读全文

'Don't rule out' COVID-19 lab leak theory, Chinese scientist says

 

The possibility COVID-19 could have leaked from a Chinese lab should not be ruled out, a former top Chinese government scientist has said. Professor George Gao, the former head of China's Centre for Disease Control (CDC), told the BBC Radio 4 podcast Fever: The Hunt for COVID's Origin: "You can always suspect anything. That's science. Don't rule out anything." This is in contrast to the position of the Chinese government, which dismisses any suggestion the virus may have originated in a Wuhan laboratory. Wuhan - the city where the virus was first detected - is home to one of China's top national laboratories known to have spent years studying coronaviruses. Professor Gao played a key role in the pandemic response and efforts to trace how it started. The COVID-19 lab … 阅读全文

COVID inquiry: Rishi Sunak accused of being 'slippery' over order to hand over Boris Johnson WhatsApp messages

 

Rishi Sunak has been accused of being "slippery" in the row over whether the government will hand over Boris Johnson's WhatsApp messages and other documents to the COVID inquiry. Labour's shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said the prime minister should "comply with the inquiry and do it today". Mr Streeting told broadcasters: "I think the prime minister looks really slippery today. He says he wants the government to co-operate with the inquiry but the government has been withholding information the inquiry has asked for. "One minute the government says the messages they have are immaterial; the next minute they're saying they don't exist. Which is it?" Inquiry chair Lady Hallett had ordered the government to hand over the messages - alongside diary entries and notes - by 4pm on Tuesday … 阅读全文

COVID inquiry: Government faces criminal proceedings as deadline looms to hand over Boris Johnson's WhatsApps

 

Criminal proceedings could be taken against the government if they do not hand over unredacted WhatsApp messages sent by Boris Johnson during the COVID inquiry, according to a top barrister. A deadline of 4pm on Tuesday looms for the Cabinet Office to pass the communications - as well as other documents - to inquiry chair Lady Hallett in an unredacted form after she made an order under section 21 of the Inquiries Act 2005. If the Cabinet Office do challenge the order, a legal battle looms between the government and Lady Hallett. Politics latest:Deadline day for Boris Johnson in WhatsApp row Adam Wagner, a barrister at Doughty Street Chambers, told Sky News that if the order is not complied with there are a range of options. He said: "If the … 阅读全文

Constituents to decide if COVID rule-breaking MP Margaret Ferrier loses her job

 

The constituents of an MP who broke COVID rules will decide if she faces a by-election after the House of Commons voted to suspend her for 30 days. Margaret Ferrier, a former SNP MP who is now an independent, was ruled to have damaged the reputation of the Commons and put people at risk after taking part in a debate in Westminster and travelling by train while suffering from coronavirus in September 2020. She was later charged by police and ordered to undertake 270 hours of unpaid work after admitting culpably and recklessly exposing the public "to the risk of infection, illness and death" as a result of her behaviour. The Commons Standards Committee recommended that Ms Ferrier be suspended for 30 days but she appealed against the decision. On … 阅读全文

Scottish COVID inquiry: Public asked to share experiences of pandemic

 

Scots are being urged to share their personal experiences of the COVID pandemic. A new website has launched as part of an inquiry into how the Scottish government handled the health crisis. Let's Be Heard: Sharing Scotland's COVID Experience will allow members of the public to detail the impact the pandemic had on them or loved ones, and what lessons should be learned. A website has been launched at lbh.covid19inquiry.scot and printed submissions will be available at GP practices, care homes, pharmacies and libraries. Dr Alexandra Anderson, head of Let's Be Heard, said: "Everyone in Scotland has been affected by the pandemic. "Thousands of people have lost their lives, and many continue to be deeply impacted. Lessons people believe should be drawn from their experiences, both positive and negative, will … 阅读全文

15 million excess deaths worldwide were caused by COVID over two years - WHO

 

Almost 15 million global excess deaths by the end of 2021 were caused by COVID, according to figures released by the World Health Organisation (WHO). It estimates a total of 336.8 million life-years were lost globally due to the pandemic which was declared in early 2020. This means that, on average, each excess death led to a loss of more than 22 years of life, with the highest amount lost in people aged 55-64. The figures, included in a new WHO report, are the clearest indication yet of the devastating legacy of the pandemic on a global scale. Earlier this month the WHO decided to lower its highest level of alert for the virus, saying it was no longer a global health emergency - but warned "that does not mean … 阅读全文