In this issue

December 03, 2021

‘Why did the UK give us hope and then abandon us?'

As long ago as 2018, Britain promised to take in these Syrian families. Instead, they’re scavenging through bins to survive

8 mins

Omicron threat is unknown until new year, advisers say

The true threat posed by the omicron coronavirus variant is unlikely to be determined until the turn of the new year, scientific advisers to the government have warned.

4 mins

Routine care to suffer for boosters, say NHS chiefs

Senior NHS leaders have warned the only way to hit the government’s booster vaccine deadline will be to reduce or cancel routine care, as they await direction on how to roll out the plan.

3 mins

Furlough must be ready to go if omicron triggers new Covid rules, ministers told

The government must be ready to rapidly restart the furlough scheme in case more restrictions are needed to contain omicron, ministers have been told.

4 mins

No 10's Christmas message: go ahead with your parties and kiss whomever you like

No 10 is urging people not to cancel Christmas parties and says they are free to kiss whomever they like, in a bid to clear up confusion.

3 mins

Bereaved families ‘sickened' by No 10 lockdown parties

Families who lost loved ones during the pandemic say they are “sickened” by reports that Downing Street staff breached lockdown regulations by holding Christmas parties in No 10.

1 min

When it comes to Downing Street Christmas parties, it's a different yule for them

Sometimes you can almost sense a story gaining traction. So it is with the Downing Street Christmas party/ies last year.

2 mins

Hancock says life ‘blew up' when caught kissing aide

Matt Hancock has admitted he had “blown up every part” of his life when he resigned from the cabinet after CCTV footage showed him breaching social distancing rules with an aide in his Whitehall office.

2 mins

Read all stories from The Independent

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The Independent has been at the frontline of journalism since 1986, with its mission to challenge and debate always ahead of its time. The Independent is free-thinking and free of bias in an increasingly fragmented world where communities locally, regionally and across continents are disenfranchised with traditional establishments. They want real facts and frank opinions delivered first-hand from a news source that is ready to stand for something, not everything.