Category Archives: England

Welsh secondaries and colleges to shut on Monday to stem Covid spread

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Learning will move online, in contrast to England’s plans for mass testing of students

Secondary schools and colleges in Wales will close to almost all students next week and lessons will move online in an effort to stem the growing spread of coronavirus, the Welsh government has announced.

The Welsh education minister, Kirsty Williams, said the public health situation in Wales was deteriorating and she had been advised by the chief medical officer that learning should be moved online for secondary school pupils as soon as possible.

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Covid has ‘cut life expectancy in England and Wales by a year’

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Exclusive: Life expectancy has regressed to 2010 levels, say scientists, with poor hardest hit

The Covid-19 pandemic has cut life expectancy in England and Wales by roughly a year, scientists have estimated, reversing gains made since 2010.

A study, conducted by Oxford researchers, found that life expectancy at birth (LEB) had fallen by 0.9 and 1.2 years for females and males relative to 2019 levels respectively.

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Covid deepens south and north of England inequalities, study finds

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IPPR North report reveals few signs of government’s levelling up agenda becoming reality

Covid-19 has deepened inequalities between the north and south of England, with little sign of the government’s “levelling up” agenda becoming a reality, a thinktank has warned, in an urgent “wake-up call” to Boris Johnson.

The north is experiencing levels of unemployment not seen since 1994, with areas put under the strictest tier 3 restrictions among the worst affected, IPPR North said in its annual health-check of the economy of the north of England.

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Rita Ora apologises for breaking England lockdown with party in restaurant

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Singer admits ‘inexcusable error of judgment’ after Met police called to birthday party

The singer Rita Ora has apologised for breaching lockdown rules by holding a “small” gathering with friends for her 30th birthday.

Ora admitted a “serious and inexcusable error of judgment” after celebrating with friends at a restaurant in Notting Hill, west London, on Saturday night.

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Covid infections in England down by nearly a third since second lockdown

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R number now stands below 1 after 30% drop in cases across country over almost a fortnight

Coronavirus infections in England have fallen by nearly a third since the country entered its second lockdown, swab tests on 105,000 volunteers have shown.

There was a 30% drop in cases across the country over almost a fortnight this month, with 96 people infected per 10,000 between 13-24 November, down from 132 per 10,000 between 26 October and 2 November.

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Nearly a third of English hospital trusts exceed first peak of Covid patients

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Scientists warn that scrapping or relaxing tier system too quickly could imperil NHS

Nearly a third of England’s hospital trusts have exceeded their first wave peak of Covid patients undergoing treatment, as scientists warned that relaxing or scrapping the three-tier system too quickly could further hamper the NHS.

Hospital trusts in south Somerset and Devon last week treated more than twice as many Covid patients as they did at the peak of the first wave in spring, Guardian analysis shows. But, reflecting the fact that tier decisions are based on a range of data, both areas will go into tier 2 from Thursday.

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Hospitals in England told to prepare for Covid vaccine rollout in 10 days’ time

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Exclusive: NHS could receive first deliveries of Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine as soon as 7 December

Hospitals have been told to prepare for the rollout of a coronavirus vaccine in as little as 10 days’ time, with NHS workers expected to be at the front of the queue, the Guardian has learned.

NHS bosses said hospitals in England could expect to receive their first deliveries of a vaccine produced by Pfizer/BioNTech as soon as Monday 7 December, with regulatory approval anticipated within days.

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Areas in England may go down a tier before Christmas, says Robert Jenrick

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Jenrick insists some areas can ‘de-escalate’, but scientists say 16 December is too soon to decide

The communities secretary, Robert Jenrick, has insisted there is a prospect of some areas in England “de-escalating” from a higher to a lower tier of coronavirus measures before Christmas, despite scientists warning that the 16 December review will be too soon to make changes.

Many Conservative MPs reacted with anger after the government announced that 99% of the population in England would be placed under the top two tightest levels of restriction – tiers 2 and 3 – when the nationwide lockdown ends next week.

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Boris Johnson: ‘If we ease off now, we risk losing control of this virus’ – video

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Boris Johnson said he was sorry that most of England would exit lockdown into tiers 2 or 3 with the toughest restrictions. Johnson said the measures 'strike a balance' between limiting the spread of the virus and protecting freedoms. 'If we ease off now, we risk losing control of this virus,' Johnson added.

Chris Whitty, the government’s chief medical adviser, urged people to 'have sense' over the festive period, and bluntly warned against hugging and kissing elderly relatives at Christmas

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Fears of bleak winter unites those across England’s tiers

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People in tiers 2 and 3 face tight restrictions while those in tier 1 worry of influx from outside

While there was welcome relief at the news that England’s second national lockdown would finally end, Thursday’s announcement that it was to be replaced with only slightly milder restrictions across much of the country left many fearing a bleak winter in tiers 2 and 3.

Only three areas received a relative reprieve in tier 1, but, for many, happiness was tempered by a fear that an influx of visitor from riskier areas could leave them facing tougher restrictions too.

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England legend Sir Bobby Charlton is diagnosed with dementia

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  • Manchester United great, 83, has disease
  • Charlton lost brother and fellow World Cup winner Jack in July

Sir Bobby Charlton, widely considered to be England’s greatest ever footballer, has been diagnosed with dementia.

The 83-year-old, who was England and Manchester United’s record goalscorer until recently, has the disease, the Telegraph said, with his wife, Lady Norma Charlton, content for his condition to be made public in order to help others with dementia.

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Harry Maguire given suspended prison sentence after guilty verdict in Greece

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  • Maguire found guilty of aggravated assault, attempted bribery
  • England defender will appeal 21-month suspended sentence

Harry Maguire has been found guilty of aggravated assault, resisting arrest and attempted bribery by a three-member misdemeanours court convening on the Greek island of Syros.

The £190,000-a-week Manchester United and England defender had denied all charges and said he would appeal. Maguire was given a prison sentence of 21 months and 10 days that was suspended on account of the charges being misdemeanours and and the court’s acknowledgement of his clear criminal record. His two co-defendants, who included his footballer brother Joe, were handed suspended 13-month sentences.

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Jack Charlton, England World Cup winner, dies aged 85

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  • Centre-half was part of 1966 World Cup-winning team
  • Charlton also a successful Republic of Ireland manager

Jack Charlton, a World Cup winner with England and a former Republic of Ireland manager, has died aged 85. Charlton, the elder brother of Bobby, played 35 times for England as a central defender, including all six matches at the 1966 World Cup.

Related: 'He was larger than life': football world pays tribute to Jack Charlton

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Bulgaria manager resigns as outgoing president hits out at Southgate

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• ‘Only Southgate heard chants,’ says Mihaylov upon quitting
• Krasimir Balakov also resigns as Bulgaria manager

Borislav Mihaylov has confirmed he has resigned as president of the Bulgarian Football Union in the wake of the racist chanting that marred England’s 6-0 victory in Sofia on Monday and, having done so, hit out at Gareth Southgate, accusing the England manager of exaggerating the nature of the chanting that was directed at his black players during the Euro 2020 qualifier at Stadion Vasil Levski.

Mihaylov was speaking at a press conference on Friday and which followed a meeting of the BFU’s executive committee, during which it was decided that the national team manager, Krasimir Balakov, and the entire committee would also quit.

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Bulgarian police make four arrests after Euro 2020 qualifier against England

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  • Game was marred by racist chanting and Nazi salutes
  • Police say they will continue to look for people involved

Bulgarian police have made four arrests in the aftermath of Monday’s Euro 2020 qualifier against England, which was twice halted for racist chanting.

England won 6-0 but the game was marred by home fans making Nazi salutes and subjected some of the English players to racist chanting. On Tuesday the Bulgarian football president, Borislav Mihaylov, resigned from his post after being told to do so by the prime minister, Boyko Borissov.

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Uefa charges Bulgaria and England over behaviour in Euro 2020 qualifier

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  • BFU charged over fans’ racist chants and Nazi salutes
  • FA charged over anthem disruption and stewarding
  • Aleksander Ceferin demands ‘war’ on discrimination

Uefa has charged the Bulgarian football union over the racist behaviour of its fans at Monday’s Euro 2020 qualifier against England. The Football Association is also facing sanctions after being charged for the disruption of the Bulgarian national anthem by England supporters and for having an insufficient number of travelling stewards.

On a lengthy Uefa charge sheet the most significant aspect was the reference to chants and Nazi salutes by Bulgaria fans. However both national associations were also charged over the disruption of national anthems and among the other charges was one for the BFU relating to the throwing of objects from the stands.

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Prague prepares for England fans’ long weekend with ‘anti-conflict units’

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• Six thousand England fans expected in Czech capital
• Police warn of zero tolerance for violation of local laws

Czech police have been put on high alert for the arrival of an estimated 6,000 English supporters here for Friday’s Euro 2020 qualifier between England and the Czech Republic, with preparations afoot to deploy anti-riot squads in the event of violent disorder.

With widespread fears of alcohol‑fuelled disturbances that could be exacerbated by the country’s reputation for cheap beer, an unprecedented number of officers – including special English‑speaking “anti-conflict units” – will patrol the capital’s tourist districts for a fixture designated as high risk. Criminal, traffic and helicopter units, along with police on horseback, will be on duty for a match that has already drawn an appeal from the England manager, Gareth Southgate, for fans to be on their best behaviour.

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England extra-time misery after John Stones’ blunder lets in Netherlands

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It was an ignominious way for England to lose and, ultimately, their collapse in extra time was probably best summed up by the image of Ross Barkley with his face down in the turf, not wanting to look up and survey the damage after his mistake for the third Dutch goal.

Barkley was not the only player wandering round the pitch with the look of a zombie. For John Stones, this was a personal ordeal in keeping with a bittersweet season on the fringes of Manchester city’s success. The records will show it was Kyle Walker’s own-goal that gave the Netherlands their second goal. In reality, it was a fairly dreadful error from Stones that put England in danger, dilly-dalling on the ball with Memphis Depay in close proximity.

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Violent England fans an embarrassment to the team and not welcome, says FA

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• Fans cause mayhem in Porto before Nations League game
• Police baton-charge supporters after bottles are hurled

The Football Association has condemned the England supporters who caused mayhem on the streets of Porto on Wednesday night as “an embarrassment to the team” – and says they are not welcome in football.

Two England fans were arrested after being baton-charged by police after hurling bottles at local supporters and police in a packed fan zone in Liberdade Square, and another was later arrested as more violence broke out.

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Palace: Prince Philip will stop carrying out engagements

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A federal agency that plans to build a new Yellowstone River dam and bypass channel meant to save an endangered fish only has about half the money needed for construction. Environmental and Alaska Native groups have sued to overturn an executive order by President Donald Trump that aims to put the Arctic and Atlantic oceans back in play for oil and gas drilling.