The latest report on the pandemic shows that grave failings were not limited to Boris Johnson. The government needs to prepare for the next crisis All four of the UK’s governments are criticised in the latest report from the public inquiry into the coronavirus pandemic of 2020-22. The Northern Ireland Executive’s response is judged to have been marred by political divisions. In Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon did not involve cabinet colleagues enough in decision-making (though she is also described as serious and diligent). In Wales, Mark Drakeford’s government mirrored some of the errors made in London, particularly when it delayed the introduction of new restrictions in the autumn of 2020. But rightly, given its responsibilities, size and resources, as well as its record, the UK administration led by Boris Johnson comes in for the biggest share of blame. Some of Heather Hallett’s findings regarding the political governance of the crisis are already familiar. Nothing in this report will damage the former prime minister’s reputation as much as what is already known about lockdown-breaking social gatherings in 2020 – or the fact that he misled parliament about them. Continue reading...

The wider TV and film industries have a long way to go in including disabled actors and creators, and leaving stereotypes behind While the entertainment industry has been at pains to address issues of diversity in race, gender and sexuality, disability remains shockingly underrepresented. It’s not just that disabled actors are discounted for many roles. As actors and activists have pointed out, “blacking up” might have become taboo, but “cripping up” is still a shoo-in for awards. In almost 100 years, only three disabled actors have won an Oscar, compared to 25 able-bodied actors who have won for playing disabled characters. The arrival this weekend of Wicked: For Good, the second part of a prequel story to The Wizard of Oz, has put the importance of authentic casting in the spotlight once more. The story of green-skinned witch Elphaba, and the prejudice she faces, Wicked is a celebration of difference. Yet since the hit musical opened in 2003, only able-bodied actors had played the part of Nessarose, Elphaba’s disabled sister. Last year, Marissa Bode became the first wheelchair-using actor to take the role, in part one of the film adaptation. The child Nessa is also played by a wheelchair user. The movies give the character greater agency and complexity, amending a scene that suggested she needs to be “fixed”. Continue reading...

Party’s former leader in Wales admitted taking payments to make statements in favour of Russia Nigel Farage is facing calls to investigate and root out links between Reform UK and Russia after one of its former senior politicians was jailed for 10 years for accepting bribes from a pro-Kremlin agent. Keir Starmer said Farage had questions to answer about how this happened in his party. Nathan Gill, a former leader of Reform UK in Wales, admitted taking payments to make statements in favour of Russia. Continue reading...

To prevent a future pandemic we’d need agile leadership, smart decision-making, humility and trustworthiness. How does one build those into a political system? It feels as though a collective amnesia has set in around Covid-19. We all just want to move forward and pretend it didn’t happen. But, as the saying goes, those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it. On 20 April 2020 I tweeted, “At what point will the British public realise what has happened over the past 9 weeks?” On Thursday, the Covid inquiry published its module 2 report on the political response to the pandemic. The answer finally to my tweet, more than five years later. Prof Devi Sridhar is chair of global public health at the University of Edinburgh Fit Forever: Wellness for midlife and beyond On Wednesday 28 January 2026, join Annie Kelly, Devi Sridhar, Joel Snape and Mariella Frostrup, as they discuss how to enjoy longer and healthier lives, with expert advice and practical tips. Book tickets here or at guardian.live Continue reading...

Shumeet Banerji was away during crucial discussions that led to resignation of director general and BBC News chief A member of the BBC’s board has resigned after stating he was cut out of the discussions that led up to the shock resignation of its director general, Tim Davie. Shumeet Banerji, a tech industry executive, was away in the crucial days before the departure of Davie and the head of BBC News, Deborah Turness. Continue reading...

Judge sentences Martin Suter to minimum of 27 years for stabbing Ann Blackwood to death in 2023 A man has been jailed for life with a minimum of 27 years for murdering his ex-wife at their son’s grave on their late child’s birthday. Martin Suter, 68, was rebuked by the judge and his former brother-in-law for “pitilessly extinguishing” the life of Ann Blackwood, 71. Continue reading...

As little as a decade ago it would have been unthinkable that an American institution such as Disney would have chosen to hitch its wagon to F1 The remarkable nature of the transformation in Formula One’s fortunes in the United States could not have been better illustrated than by the incongruous sight of Mickey Mouse and an assortment of his Disney pals leading a gang of enthusiastic fans on a walk down the pit lane at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. F1 successfully hosting a race in Sin City and the US now boasting three sellout meetings is testament to the sport’s burgeoning prosperity. For all of the somewhat surreal edge of seeing Donald Duck and Goofy outside garages, the fact Disney has chosen F1 as a partner is indicative of the sea change the sport has brought about in a market it has long coveted. Continue reading...

Bath centre replaces Fraser Dingwall Itoje: ‘He has a bit of a swagger the way he plays’ Max Ojomoh has been backed to bring his swagger to England’s pursuit of an autumn internationals clean sweep after he was a late call-up following more injury disruption to Steve Borthwick’s side. Ojomoh has been thrust into the No 12 jersey for a first Twickenham start in place of the injured Fraser Dingwall but Maro Itoje believes the Bath centre will flourish against Argentina. Dingwall’s withdrawal with a side injury sustained last weekend is further upheaval for Borthwick, who has already lost Ollie Lawrence, Jamie George and Tom Roebuck since the 33-19 triumph over the All Blacks. With Tommy Freeman and Ollie Chessum also injury casualties of the autumn, Borthwick’s ranks have been depleted but Ojomoh has been in fine fettle for Bath this season and impressed on his debut against the USA last summer. Continue reading...

Home Office ordered to reconsider case of Jeanell Hippolyte, whose father and brother were granted right to remain The case of a woman who was denied indefinite leave to remain in the UK even though her father and brothers were granted the status under the Windrush scheme must be reconsidered by the Home Office, the court of appeal has said. Jeanell Hippolyte, a Saint Lucian national, originally came to the UK at the age of 17 in 2000, but left two years later to comply with immigration rules after her student visa expired. Continue reading...

Around the Premier League’s press conferences, including Kolo Muani’s derby boost for Spurs and Howe demanding more of Woltemade Premier League: 10 things to look out for this weekend Continue reading...

Readers respond to the government’s recently announced measures for curbing the number of asylum seekers On 8 July 2013, the newly elected Pope Francis travelled to the island of Lampedusa to speak of the migrants who had died crossing the sea: “These brothers and sisters of ours were trying to escape difficult situations to find some serenity and peace; they were looking for a better place for themselves and their families, but instead they found death.” He went on to say: “Our shared response may be articulated by four verbs: to welcome, to protect, to promote, and to integrate.” Continue reading...

Dr Susan Treagus spotted an error that could have cost her dearly, plus a letter on how to satisfy car insurance algorithms While any increase in insurance premiums after being widowed is unwelcome (‘Bereavement penalty’: people who lost partners hit by insurance premium rises, 15 November), it is small compared with my experience with HMRC. When my husband died in March this year, I notified HMRC and other bodies via Tell Us Once. I received two letters in April, three days apart, from HMRC, notifying me of my personal tax code for 2025-26. I glanced at the first one, similar to recent years, but didn’t realise the later letter – triggered by my husband’s death – was substantially different: not until I examined my bank statements in May and June, and saw that my small occupational pension had almost halved. It seems that an extra £62,000 had been added to my pension income, pushing this well into the higher tax threshold. Continue reading...

Christine and Francis Saunders, who lost their beloved daughter Juliet, respond to the news that advice on maternal deaths in England and Wales has been routinely ignored Thank you for your article on how coroners’ prevention of future deaths (PFD) reports are being routinely ignored (Coroners’ advice on maternal deaths in England and Wales routinely ignored, study finds, 19 November). Experience has shown us that a coroner’s PFD report is issued in response to serious systemic failings and a trust’s inaction to prevent future tragedies. Tolerating poor care and refusing to learn seem to be shared features of health scandals, including the treatment of people with learning disabilities, such as our own beloved daughter, Juliet Saunders, who died aged 25. Continue reading...

Record scorer for Norway’s age-group sides discusses his World Cup hope, being frozen out at 15 and fake tickets heartbreak at Anfield Liverpool against Aston Villa on 18 January 2014. It was impossible to measure the excitement in an eight-year-old from Norway making his first pilgrimage to Anfield. Inside was the promise of watching his favourite player, Daniel Sturridge, and the rest of a freewheeling side throwing everything at a title push. But as Sindre Walle Egeli and his family reached the turnstiles, the cruelest of realities dawned. “It’s not a good memory,” Walle Egeli says. “We showed up, ready to go, and it turned out we’d got fake tickets. I don’t know what happened, maybe my parents bought from some shady people. It was heartbreaking.” Continue reading...

Miguel Veiga-Pestana says leaving Canada’s forests unmanaged is not the answer to preserving landscapes. Matt Williams says if Britain wants to lead on nature and climate, it must stop financing forest loss The environmental non-profit Stand.earth fails to see the wood from the trees when it comes to the Canadian forestry industry and Drax’s limited role within it (Drax still burning 250-year-old trees sourced from forests in Canada, experts say, 9 November). We do not own forests or sawmills, and we do not decide what areas are approved for harvesting. The vast majority (81%) of our Canadian fibre came from sawdust and other sawmill residues created when sawmills produce wood products used in construction and other industries in 2024. The remaining 19% of our fibre came from forest residues, including low-grade roundwood, tops, branches and bark. Continue reading...

The autumn budget will mop up some damage, but the true source of the economic crisis is clear. The government should now fix it – don’t hold your breath Imagine a family stuck in a house that constantly floods. The carpets are soaked, the walls damp. It’s always cold, no matter how much they turn up the heating. The family try everything. They promise to replace the sodden carpets and find new, innovative ways to warm the house. Someone with a laptop wonders if AI might be the answer. But no one ever looks upwards and says: maybe we should just repair the giant hole in the roof. Continue reading...

Dr Charlotte Potter and Chris Walters respond to an article by Morwenna Ferrier on the cultural value of the bow I thoroughly enjoyed Morwenna Ferrier’s untangling of the cultural significance of the bow (Untie me! Why big bows are everywhere – feminine, ironic and strangely subversive, 18 November). I read it just after teaching a seminar on Elizabethan virginity, and I couldn’t help but think of the famous Armada portrait. The painting is an overt celebration of martial victory, with Spanish ships floundering in the view above Elizabeth’s right shoulder, British ships sailing triumphant on the left, her hand firmly placed on a globe. But she is also covered in pink bows, and a huge pearl hangs from a delicate white bow at the top of her skirts, symbolic of her virginity. Continue reading...

Grade One-winning jockey makes brief return to England but is enjoying the ‘perfect’ racing scene across the Channel A familiar face made a fleeting return to the weighing room to Ascot on Friday as the multiple Grade One-winning jockey Bryony Frost paid a flying visit from her new home in France, and while her French has not improved significantly after 18 months riding there, her way with words remains intact. “I spoke no French when I arrived [in mid-2024],” Frost said before the first of her two rides, which finished third and eighth, “and I still don’t now, it’s not something that comes naturally to me. But luckily, the horses, they speak the language of feeling, so that’s good news for me.” Continue reading...

It would be expedient for Reform to take Labour’s advice and disavow ‘Putin talking points’ Reform UK’s former Wales leader jailed for taking bribes for pro-Russia speeches The discovery of a pro-Russian asset, Nathan Gill, at the heart of a British political party reads like the plot of a John Le Carré novel. Russia was long known to have been trying to interfere in foreign politics with online bots and cyber-disinformation over the past decade. Continue reading...

The club may be bottom of the Premier League and winless, but new head coach is delighted to be back In a cosy room off the reception at Wolves’s Compton training base, Rob Edwards is reminded he is back talking at the top table where nine years ago he struggled to conceal his excitement at being in caretaker charge of the club. “Was that when I had to sort of say I didn’t want the job and had to be really diplomatic?” he says, smiling. Now this is the real thing, after jumping at the chance to take permanent charge despite the club being bottom of the Premier League with two points from 11 matches and possessing the ignominious mantle of being the only winless team in the top seven tiers of English football. No Premier League team have recovered from such a poor start to retain their top-flight status but Edwards is pleased to be back and has belief in achieving the seemingly impossible. These are familiar surroundings – his family remain in the Midlands – though the stakes are far higher than those couple of games in interim charge in the Championship in the autumn of 2016. Continue reading...

In this week’s newsletter: When the video-sharing site launched in 2005, there were fears it would replace terrestrial television. It didn’t just replace it – it invented entirely new forms of content. ASMR, anyone? • Don’t get The Guide delivered to your inbox? Sign up here Barely a month goes by without more news of streaming sites overtaking traditional, terrestrial TV. Predominant among those sits YouTube, with more than 2.5 billion monthly viewers. For people my age – a sprightly 28 – and younger, YouTube is less of an app or website than our answer to radio: the ever-present background hum of modern life. While my mum might leave Radio 4 wittering or BBC News flickering in the corner as she potters about the house, I’ve got a video essay about Japan’s unique approach to urban planning playing on my phone. That’s not to say I never watch more traditional TV (although 99% of the time I’m accessing it through some other kind of subscription streaming app), but when I get home after a long day and the thought of ploughing through another hour of grim prestige fare feels too demanding, I’m probably watching YouTube. Which means it’s very unlikely that I’m watching the same thing as you. When Google paid $1.65bn for the platform in 2006, (just 18 months after it launched) the price seemed astronomical. Critics questioned whether that valuation could be justified for any video platform. The logic was simple – unless YouTube could replace television, it would never be worth it. Nearly two decades on, that framing undersells what actually happened. YouTube didn’t just replace television – it invented entirely new forms of content: vodcasts, vlogs, video essays, reaction videos, ASMR and its heinous cousin mukbang. The platform absorbed new trends and formats at lightning speed, building what became an alternative “online mainstream”. Before podcasters, TikTokers, Substackers and even influencers, there were YouTubers. Continue reading...

People love to complain about small talk – but it’s a great way to build rapport and dip your toe into deeper topics Tell us: what are the best and worst gifts you’ve ever received? The holidays are around the corner. As we get ready to mix, mingle and carouse, I think it’s important to set the record straight on something: small talk is great! People love to complain about small talk. On Reddit, people say it’s “painful”, “dishonest” and “a chore”. Some of my own friends have called it “boring” and “exhausting”. A 2016 Wired article titled “Small talk should be banned” argued that idle chit-chat “does not build relationships and does not make us happier”, but persists because “we actively seek the lowest common denominator”. Instead, the authors suggest deeper conversation topics, such as: “What is your relationship with God?” or What is something you fear in life?” Continue reading...

Numbers taking languages at A-level and beyond has been falling for decades, although Duolingo says its app is most popular with young people Universities are blaming a “societal shift” for the axing of dozens of foreign language degrees and even entire departments, citing a lack of demand among students – but can years of study be easily replaced by AI or online translation tools? Not so, according to Michael Lynas, the UK country director for the Duolingo language app, who argues there is no good substitute for the hard graft of learning a language as a way of seeing another country’s culture from the inside. Continue reading...

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The party sees its harsh policies as politically necessary. But what happened to talking up the value of migrants for a thriving economy and society? This is how Labour MPs see it. They face brutal dilemmas and miserable choices. How to manage our asylum system is one of the worst. Through their constituency work, they will have met refugees with tragic stories of war and fear, of terrifying journeys across the world, of gangsters on night-time beaches. But MPs’ experience of hearing those heart-rending stories clash head-on with what they see as political necessity, demanding they block their ears and harden their hearts. A life in politics is not for the squeamish. Wes Streeting, a practising Christian, yesterday writhed while answering questions on LBC radio about the home secretary’s tough plans for deterring small boat arrivals. The flavour of his reply reflected how many on Labour’s benches feel. Confronted with the government’s intention to deport more families with children – ending what Shabana Mahmood said was feeble “hesitancy” – he sought a bogus escape by claiming many would leave voluntarily, making forced removals “low”. But when pushed, he said yes, removals must be enforced. Was he comfortable with that? “Honestly? Comfortable? No. But is it the right thing to do for the country? Yes.” Polly Toynbee is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...