Show caption Boris Johnson has responded to the global wave of Black Lives Matter protests by announcing a government commission to look into racial inequalities. But he immediately prompted criticism by saying he wanted to end “the sense of victimisation”. The prime minister said what he described as “a cross-governmental commission” would look into discrimination against black, Asian and minority ethnic people in education, health and the criminal justice system. “We have to acknowledge...

There are many reasons you might want to think about cycling for commuting or other transport when the coronavirus lockdown starts to ease, particularly if you live in a city. With physical distancing remaining in place for some time to come, capacity on public transport will be limited. If more people drive it will create gridlock. Thus, cities are being encouraged by the government to do all they can to promote cycling, as well as walking, as a way of getting around. Safer routes are being...

Michael Gove has conceded that Boris Johnson missed five consecutive emergency meetings in the buildup to the coronavirus crisis, and that the UK shipped protective equipment to China in February. The government faced intense pressure on Sunday over its initial response to the pandemic, as Labour accused Johnson of having been “missing in action” during the crucial weeks when the virus first arrived in the UK. Gove initially insisted a Sunday Times story detailing failures during this period...

The government is facing increasingly rigorous scrutiny of its actions in several areas over its preparations for and response to coronavirus. Here are the main areas of criticism: Death rates The most obvious and tragic crisis of all. The UK has now recorded more than 16,000 coronavirus-related deaths in hospitals, and thousands more are believed to have occurred in care homes and elsewhere. This puts the UK on an apparent course to match the very high death rate of places like Italy. The...

Boris Johnson’s government has come under pressure to defend its handling of the coronavirus pandemic after Michael Gove was forced to admit that the prime minister had missed five key emergency meetings when the crisis first hit. With ministers warning that shortages of protective medical gear could continue, test rates remaining stubbornly low and the hospital death toll rising on Sunday to 16,060, some Conservative MPs have expressed private concern that Downing Street does not have a...