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Parliament surrendered role over Covid emergency laws, says Lady Hale Exclusive: former supreme court president criticises manner in which controls were enacted Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThe former president of the supreme court says parliament “surrendered” its role over emergency laws restricting freedoms amid the coronavirus pandemic, in an intervention expected to embolden MPs threatening a Commons revolt.Lady Hale, who retired in January after becoming the first woman to lead the supreme court in 2017, is critical of the way health regulations were imposed on the public with little or no parliamentary scrutiny. Continue reading... Go to Source

Jonathan Aitken given parliamentary pass despite jail sentence Exclusive: former minister convicted of perjury had grace-and-favour Westminster accessThe former Conservative minister Jonathan Aitken was awarded a grace-and-favour parliamentary pass despite the House of Commons claiming that ex-MPs jailed for more than a year were ineligible.The passes allow former MPs unaccompanied access to the parliamentary estate even after they have ceased to serve their constituencies. Continue reading... Go to Source

Boris Johnson's Brexit bill straight out of Trump playbook, David Lammy says Labour MP criticises Cummings and says Tory government has dented UK’s standing in the worldBoris Johnson’s law-breaking Brexit bill is straight out of the Donald Trump playbook, and leaves justice secretary Robert Buckland looking “a very small figure,” says shadow justice secretary David Lammy.As the controversial internal market bill returns to the House of Commons this week, the prime minister appears to have bought off most Tory rebels by promising a parliamentary vote before the powers in it would be used. Continue reading... Go to Source

Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Republican Lisa Murkowski will not support filling vacancy before election – live Trump promises to nominate woman within a week‘I will fight!’: mourners’ vow at supreme court vigilRobert Reich: For McConnell, power trumps principleObituary: ‘Formidably clever with a superhuman capacity for work’Sign up for our First Thing newsletter 6.31pm BST Jahana Hayes, a Democratic US representative from Connecticut, has tested positive for coronavirus and will quarantine for 14 days, she announced Sunday on Twitter. Related: Trump health official says ‘biology independent of politics’ as US nears 200,000 Covid deaths 6.08pm BST Reuters reports on a huge boost for Democratic causes, as donors flock to put their money where their mouths are over the death of Ruth Bader Ginsbur...

Thai protesters call for reform of monarchy and general strike Thousands march to demand curbs on the power and budget of the royal familyThousands of Thai protesters marched near the official residence of the king on Sunday to hand-deliver a letter demanding curbs on the power and budget of the royal family, in one of the boldest challenges to the institution in living memory.Thailand’s monarchy has long been considered beyond direct public criticism, but over recent months a student-led pro-democracy movement has broken deeply ingrained taboos to call for reforms. Continue reading... Go to Source

Matt Hancock: Britain is at coronavirus tipping point Health secretary says talks are continuing about possible new restrictions in LondonCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThe health secretary, Matt Hancock, has warned that the UK is at a “tipping point” nationally, while new coronavirus restrictions on London could be introduced in the coming days.“This country faces a tipping point,” he said. “We face a choice. If everybody follows the rules – and we’ll be increasingly stringent on the people who are not following the rules – then we can avoid further national lockdowns. But we of course have to be prepared to take action if that it what is necessary. I don’t rule it out; I don’t want to see it.” Continue reading... Go to Source

Tory MPs plot rebellion over renewal of emergency Covid laws Politicians express frustration at aspects of restrictions due to be renewed this monthCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageConservative MPs irked by the government’s sweeping lockdown measures are plotting a rebellion when emergency Covid legislation is renewed this month, led by the party grandee Sir Graham Brady.Many Tories have publicly expressed their frustration at aspects of the restrictions. Some are also concerned the emergency law passed six months ago leaves too much power in the hands of ministers. Continue reading... Go to Source

Trump vows to nominate a woman for US supreme court vacancy within a week President says he has ‘obligation’ to fill the vacancy created by the death of Ruth Bader GinsburgTrump has chance to reshape US for generationsDonald Trump has promised to put forward a female nominee in the coming week to fill the supreme court vacancy created by the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, pushing the Republican-controlled Senate to consider the pick without delay.Taking the stage at a North Carolina rally to chants of “Fill that seat”, the president said he would nominate his selection despite Democrats’ objections. Continue reading... Go to Source

Dido Harding appointment ‘corrupting our constitution’ – Lord Falconer Tory peer’s twin civil service roles are incompatible with taking the Conservative whip, says former justice secretaryBoris Johnson has been accused by a former Labour lord chancellor of corrupting the constitution by appointing Tory peer Dido Harding to powerful twin civil service roles in the fight against Covid-19.Lord Falconer, who is also a former justice secretary, spoke out as his party’s leader in the House of Lords Baroness Angela Smith wrote to the newcabinet secretary, Simon Case, asking for urgent clarification of what appeared to be a clear breach of the civil service code. Continue reading... Go to Source

Landlords slash rents by up to 20% as tenants quit city centres in pandemic ‘Race to suburbia’ and a lack of foreign students see rental demand plummet in wake of Covid-19Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coveragePrivate rents in some parts of London have tumbled by up to 20% as tenants quit the capital, the number of international students plummets and companies put relocation plans on hold.A glut of rental properties on the market means many landlords have had to slash rents in order to attract tenants. While leading estate agents say average rents in London are down by perhaps 4% on a year ago, or 6% to 7% in the so-called “prime” areas, these figures mask much bigger falls in certain locations as Covid-19 continues to wreak havoc on the lettings market. Continue re...

£10,000 fines warning for failing to self-isolate as Covid infections soar Carrot-and-stick plan for England also includes cash help for lost earnings during isolation periodsCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coveragePeople in England who refuse to self-isolate when required to do so will face fines of up to £10,000 under an emergency “carrot and stick” plan to control the second wave of Covid-19 sweeping the country.With infections rising at rates last seen before the full lockdown in March, around four million people on low incomes and in receipt of benefits, who cannot work from home, will also be given special “stay home” payments of £500 to compensate for lost earnings over their two-week isolation periods. Continue reading... Go to Source

Medicane Ianos turns towards Crete after sweeping across Greece Two dead, one missing and nearly a thousand rescued as floods damage Thessaly in wake of rare Mediterranean stormAfter pounding parts of western and central Greece meteorologists have predicted a rare Mediterranean hurricane-like storm, or medicane, is headed south towards the island of Crete.Authorities struggling to contain the impact of the cyclone, Medicane Ianos, said two people had died and at least one was missing as torrential rain and gale-force winds wielded a trail of destruction. Continue reading... Go to Source