Government whipping up US-style âculture warâ to divide communities, Labour MP warns
The government is launching an American-style âculture warâ to divide communities and the Labour Party must not be âcomplicitâ in this inflammatory rhetoric, a Labour MP has warned.
Zarah Sultana, who represents Coventry South, accused ministers of denying racism is a problem in the UK and argued their recent pledges to tackle violence against women in the wake of Sarah Everardâs killing amount to little more than âspin and empty promisesâ.
The 27-year-old told The Independent the UK government is seeking to provoke a so-called culture war, reminiscent of recent US political discourse, in a bid to âkeep controlâ.
COVID-19: No evidence Indian variant can get around vaccines, minister says There is currently no evidence the Indian COVID variant can evade vaccines, the environment secretary has said.
The UK has recorded 77 cases of the double mutant variant, which is currently being reviewed by British scientists.
George Eustice told Sky s Sophy Ridge On Sunday that although it is a fairly small number at the moment - it is something that we are watching .
The environment secretary added: I m told there is no evidence at the moment this particular variant is able to get around the vaccine or. that it is necessarily more contagious than the others - but we are looking at it, it will be studied.
George Eustice says Boris Johnson trip to India should go ahead despite new Covid variants George Eustice has said that he believes the Prime Minister’s trip to India should go ahead later this month. Pressed on the matter on Sky’s Sophy Ridge On Sunday, Mr Eustice said: “Public health does come first but there doesn’t mean that there should be no visits at all for business purposes.” He said: “for something like this, I think yes it is appropriate”, adding: “But absolutely measures will be taken to ensure that the visit is Covid-secure.” He continued: “But I think it is important that the business and the business of politics if you like does continue and doesn’t stop completely – we just need to make sure we take the right precautions.”
NICOLA Sturgeon has said progress in tackling coronavirus in the UK must not be jeopardised by “too lax a position on international travel”. The First Minister has argued that opening up overseas travel risks importing new strains of the virus, which vaccines may be less effective against. Rules in Scotland require all travellers arriving from overseas to self-isolate in a designated quarantine hotel for at least 10 days. Sturgeon said the Scottish Government continues to urge the UK to implement the same approach. Her comments came as Prime Minister Boris Johnson prepares to travel to India, where a new variant of Covid-19 has been identified.
A further 1,882 people have tested positive for Covid-19 - an 8.7 per cent rise on last Sunday.
And Britain s daily death toll has increased too, with the 10 fatalities recorded today compared to seven deaths on this day last week.
It comes as the Government confirmed more than 9.9 million people in the UK have now received both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Meanwhile nearly 33 million have had their first dose as the UK s vaccination programme continues.
Today s case total - a marked increase on the 1,730 positive tests reported on this day last week - comes as a faster-transmitting Covid variant wreaks havoc in India.