Alain Tolhurst

Johnson plans ‘cautious but irreversible’ lockdown lifting
16 Feb 2021 Coronavirus
Johnson plans ‘cautious but irreversible’ lockdown lifting
Prime minister says that rapid testing may be needed to reopen some venues
Government reveals coronavirus hotel quarantine plan will cost travellers £1,750
10 Feb 2021 Transport
Government reveals coronavirus hotel quarantine plan will cost travellers £1,750
Health secretary also reveals 10 year jail threat for avoidance
1,000 vaccines a minute delivered on Saturday morning, minister reveals
08 Feb 2021
1,000 vaccines a minute delivered on Saturday morning, minister reveals
Vaccines minister urges people to “take confidence from the current roll out and the protection it will provide all of us against this terrible disease”
Hancock refuses to rule out new coronavirus lockdown
04 Jan 2021 Coronavirus
Hancock refuses to rule out new coronavirus lockdown
The health secretary said the existing tier system "isn't strong enough"
PM chairs Cobra meeting as Europe isolates UK over new Covid strain
21 Dec 2020 Coronavirus
PM chairs Cobra meeting as Europe isolates UK over new Covid strain
Former chief scientific adviser says government needs to accelerate plans for a new nationwide lockdown
Brexit: barriers to trade deal remain as talks enter final stages
07 Dec 2020 Brexit
Brexit: barriers to trade deal remain as talks enter final stages
Negotiations have resumed ahead of call between prime minister Boris Johnson and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen later
Dominic Cummings and Lee Cain leave Downing Street after No.10 power struggle
15 Nov 2020 Communications
Dominic Cummings and Lee Cain leave Downing Street after No.10 power struggle
Special advisers had been key parts of prime minister Boris Johnson’s inner circle
England’s second lockdown could go beyond 2 December, says Michael Gove
02 Nov 2020 Coronavirus
England’s second lockdown could go beyond 2 December, says Michael Gove
Explaining move into a second national lockdown, the Cabinet Office minister says ‘the situation has been worse than any of us expected’
PM unveils three-tiered Covid lockdown system, with Liverpool under tightest restrictions
13 Oct 2020 Coronavirus
PM unveils three-tiered Covid lockdown system, with Liverpool under tightest restrictions
Boris Johnson says new system will “simplify and standardise” the rules after positive tests in the North of England continue to rise.
Government spokesperson for televised briefings named
09 Oct 2020 Communications
Government spokesperson for televised briefings named
Current media spad to Rishi Sunak set to take on high-profile post
Government ‘has scaled back adverts for coronavirus tests in bid to reduce demand’
16 Sep 2020 Communications
Government ‘has scaled back adverts for coronavirus tests in bid to reduce demand’
Exclusive from PoliticsHome: Move comes as government insists it is working hard to increase capacity
DfE gives full backing to Ofqual over A-Level and GCSE grade fiasco after Gavin Williamson refused to
20 Aug 2020 Education
DfE gives full backing to Ofqual over A-Level and GCSE grade fiasco after Gavin Williamson refused to
DfE says it has "full confidence" in exam regulator as it emerges the department was warned the grading system could lead to incorrect results
Hancock confirms Public Health England axed with test and trace boss Dido Harding to lead replacement body
18 Aug 2020 Coronavirus
Hancock confirms Public Health England axed with test and trace boss Dido Harding to lead replacement body
Harding will be interim head of the National Institute for Health Protection, which will aim to tackle threats like biological weapons and pandemics
Public confidence in government’s handling of coronavirus hit by ‘Dominic Cummings effect’ – study
07 Aug 2020 Coronavirus
Public confidence in government’s handling of coronavirus hit by ‘Dominic Cummings effect’ – study
Confidence has not recovered since revelations in May, according to report
Coronavirus: Officials developing new shielding plan to avoid second national lockdown
03 Aug 2020 Coronavirus
Coronavirus: Officials developing new shielding plan to avoid second national lockdown
Plans being developed by officials amid concerns of a second wave of Covid-19
Government didn't understand coronavirus in the ‘first few weeks and months’ of pandemic, says PM
27 Jul 2020 Coronavirus
Government didn't understand coronavirus in the ‘first few weeks and months’ of pandemic, says PM
Boris Johnson says he will ‘double down’ on his election-winning pledges as country emerges from Covid-19
Government to pay young people’s wages for six months under Treasury ‘Plan for Jobs’
08 Jul 2020 Coronavirus
Government to pay young people’s wages for six months under Treasury ‘Plan for Jobs’
Treasury also confirms it still plans to complete a comprehensive spending review to be completed this year despite coronavirus impact
Daily coronavirus press conferences scrapped after PM unveils easing of lockdown rules
24 Jun 2020 Communications
Daily coronavirus press conferences scrapped after PM unveils easing of lockdown rules

“We’ll continue to hold press conferences to coincide with significant announcements," says No.10
Coronavirus alert level should finally move down from Level 4 to Level 3, say UK’s chief medical officers
19 Jun 2020 Government Tax Profession
Coronavirus alert level should finally move down from Level 4 to Level 3, say UK’s chief medical officers

Health secretary Matt Hancock says update shows "the government's plan is working"
Disabled people being 'failed' by criminal justice system, equality watchdog warns
11 Jun 2020 Government Tax Profession
Disabled people being 'failed' by criminal justice system, equality watchdog warns

Government "need to make it a priority to understand the needs of disabled people in the system"
Government accused of failing to act on poverty as advisers demand dedicated social mobility unit
10 Jun 2020 Government Tax Profession
Government accused of failing to act on poverty as advisers demand dedicated social mobility unit

"Lack of joined-up thinking and activity across Whitehall is impeding progress," commission says
Sunak warns UK faces ‘severe recession the likes of which we haven’t seen’
20 May 2020
Sunak warns UK faces ‘severe recession the likes of which we haven’t seen’

Chancellor predicts a "degree of long-term scarring" after coronavirus pandemic ends
Treasury opens scheme to help self-employed through pandemic two weeks early
13 May 2020
Treasury opens scheme to help self-employed through pandemic two weeks early

"We’re working ahead of time to deliver support to the self-employed," Sunak says
Government to scrap ‘stay at home’ message with plan to ease lockdown – starting with more exercise and sunbathing in parks
07 May 2020 Economy
Government to scrap ‘stay at home’ message with plan to ease lockdown – starting with more exercise and sunbathing in parks

Cabinet considers plans ahead of prime ministerial statement on Sunday, with new 'Stay Safe, Save Lives' message
Just 300 passengers who arrived in UK from coronavirus hotspots quarantined, Home Office figures show
06 May 2020 Foreign Affairs
Just 300 passengers who arrived in UK from coronavirus hotspots quarantined, Home Office figures show

Government says scientific advice showed placing restrictions at the border earlier in the pandemic would not have had a significant impact on virus spread
Government’s 100,000 a day test target a ‘red herring’ to distract from coronavirus strategy shortcomings, say hospitals
30 Apr 2020 Communications
Government’s 100,000 a day test target a ‘red herring’ to distract from coronavirus strategy shortcomings, say hospitals

NHS Providers says UK has "struggled" to demonstrate a "clear, effective and well-communicated strategy”
Unions call for public inquiry into ‘grotesque failure’ of PPE for health workers
21 Apr 2020 Commercial
Unions call for public inquiry into ‘grotesque failure’ of PPE for health workers

"Government must sort out the PPE crisis urgently," TUC chair says
Boris Johnson self-isolating in Downing Street after testing positive for coronavirus
27 Mar 2020 Government Tax Profession
Boris Johnson self-isolating in Downing Street after testing positive for coronavirus

PM says he will continue to lead the national fight-back against coronavirus "thanks to the wizardry of modern technology"
Parties in final election push
11 Dec 2019 Brexit
Parties in final election push

Jeremy Corbyn tells country to "vote for hope" as Boris Johnson promises "brighter future" in final election push
Government spent £200k putting cones on the M20 for Brexit day - and removed them a day later
27 Nov 2019 Brexit
Government spent £200k putting cones on the M20 for Brexit day - and removed them a day later

Contraflow scheme was activated amid preparation for a possible no-deal exit from the EU, just as government requested a Brexit extension
Javid sets out government's post-Brexit investment plans
30 Sep 2019 Brexit
Javid sets out government's post-Brexit investment plans

Chancellor will say work to improve UK infrastructure ‘must start here and now’