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Eleanor Langford

Eleanor Langford

Eleanor Langford is lead curation editor and political reporter for PoliticsHome and The House. She was previously a freelance journalist at The Sun, The Sunday Times and The Telegraph.

Police Minister Claims Force Should Feel 'Valued' After Officers Say They're 'Sick Of Gimmicks'
Coronavirus
By Eleanor Langford
Police Minister Claims Force Should Feel "Valued" After Officers Say They're "Sick Of Gimmicks"
Kit Malthouse has said the government is “trying to put everything we can” behind police in England and Wales despite the Police Federation slating new crime proposals as “gimmicks”.
Government Has Scaled Up “Cough In A Box” Plans To Detect Covid-19 With Algorithms
Coronavirus
By Eleanor Langford
Government Has Scaled Up “Cough In A Box” Plans To Detect Covid-19 With Algorithms
The government has expanded its ongoing trial of so-called “cough in a box” technology, which uses artificial intelligence (AI) to detect Covid-19 by analysing the sound of people coughing.
Children’s Minister Won't Rule Out Students Needing Full Vaccination To Attend Lectures
Coronavirus
By Eleanor Langford
Children’s Minister Won't Rule Out Students Needing Full Vaccination To Attend Lectures
Education minister Vicky Ford did not rule out suggestions that the government plans to require university students to be double-vaccinated to attend lectures this autumn.
Over 10,000 Essential Workers Given Exemption From Self-Isolation In Bid To Avoid Food Shortages
Coronavirus
By Eleanor Langford
Over 10,000 Essential Workers Given Exemption From Self-Isolation In Bid To Avoid Food Shortages
Environment secretary George Eustice said that around 10,000 workers across 500 distribution centres and food supply chain depots will be able to skip 10-day isolation requirements amid fears of food shortages.
Speaker “Far From Happy” With Government Over Commons Snub On NHS Pay Announcement
Coronavirus
By Eleanor Langford
Speaker “Far From Happy” With Government Over Commons Snub On NHS Pay Announcement
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has criticised the government after health minister Helen Whately failed to announce details of the NHS pay deal in her statement on Wednesday.
Doctors Warn NHS Could Be “Dead In The Water” If Summer Surge Increases A&E Demand
Coronavirus
By Eleanor Langford
Doctors Warn NHS Could Be “Dead In The Water” If Summer Surge Increases A&E Demand
Medical professionals have warned that a surge in coronavirus cases could overwhelm the NHS as the health service continues to battle with coronavirus alongside a return to pre-pandemic demand.
Boris Johnson Rejects Claims He 'Stoked Divisions' By Not Condemning Those Who Booed England Players
Political parties
By Eleanor Langford
Boris Johnson Rejects Claims He "Stoked Divisions" By Not Condemning Those Who Booed England Players
Boris Johnson has again denied suggestions that his government has “stoked divisions” over football players taking the knee, claiming that he has “always said it was wrong” to boo the players.
Speaker Forced To Intervene After No Black MPs Are Picked To Speak On Racist Abuse In Commons
Political parties
By Eleanor Langford
Speaker Forced To Intervene After No Black MPs Are Picked To Speak On Racist Abuse In Commons
The Speaker’s Office was forced to intervene on Wednesday after a procedural issue meant no black MPs were selected to speak during an urgent question on racist online abuse.
Grant Shapps Confirms Fully-Vaccinated Can Skip Quarantine When Visiting Amber List Countries From 19 July
Coronavirus
By Eleanor Langford
Grant Shapps Confirms Fully-Vaccinated Can Skip Quarantine When Visiting Amber List Countries From 19 July
Grant Shapps has announced that travellers who have had both vaccine doses can skip quarantine requirements when returning from countries on the amber list.
Rishi Sunak Hints Pension Triple Lock Could Be Scrapped To Ensure “Fairness For Taxpayers”
Economy
By Eleanor Langford
Rishi Sunak Hints Pension Triple Lock Could Be Scrapped To Ensure “Fairness For Taxpayers”
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has hinted that the government could scrap its manifesto pledge to maintain the pensions triple lock as forecasters predict the policy could cost an extra £3 billion a year.
Boris Johnson Tells MPs Herd Immunity Is “Not A Consideration” In The Government’s Lockdown Roadmap
Coronavirus
By Eleanor Langford
Boris Johnson Tells MPs Herd Immunity Is “Not A Consideration” In The Government’s Lockdown Roadmap
Boris Johnson has told senior MPs that allowing the UK to reach herd immunity this summer is not part of the government’s lockdown lifting plan.
School Bubbles Will Be Scrapped Just Days Before The End Of Term
Education
By Eleanor Langford
School Bubbles Will Be Scrapped Just Days Before The End Of Term
Gavin Williamson has confirmed that the system of “school bubbles” will be scrapped alongside other Covid restrictions on 19 July. Children will also soon be exempt from some self-isolation rules.
Boris Johnson Says Lockdown Lifting Is ‘Now Or Never’ As He Sets Out Plan For 19 July Reopening
Coronavirus
By Eleanor Langford
Boris Johnson Says Lockdown Lifting Is ‘Now Or Never’ As He Sets Out Plan For 19 July Reopening
Boris Johnson has told a Downing Street press conference that England is on track to lift the majority of its remaining coronavirus restrictions as planned on 19 July — despite lingering concern over the spread of the Delta variant.
Compulsory Face Masks To Be Scrapped From 19 July, Says Robert Jenrick
Coronavirus
By Eleanor Langford
Compulsory Face Masks To Be Scrapped From 19 July, Says Robert Jenrick
A cabinet minister has suggested that the final stage of lockdown lifting — including an end to compulsory face coverings — is on track to go ahead on 19 July amid “very promising” coronavirus data.
Keir Starmer Pledges That 'Labour Is Back' After Clinching Batley By-Election Victory
Political parties
By Eleanor Langford
Keir Starmer Pledges That "Labour Is Back" After Clinching Batley By-Election Victory
Keir Starmer has decisively declared that “Labour is back” after the party scrapped to victory over the Conservatives in the Batley and Spen by-election.
MPs Call For Six-Month Limit On Domestic Abuse Assault Prosecutions To Be Scrapped
Home affairs
By Eleanor Langford
MPs Call For Six-Month Limit On Domestic Abuse Assault Prosecutions To Be Scrapped
A cross-party group of MPs has proposed an amendment to the government’s policing bill which would give domestic abuse victims more time to bring assault charges against their abusers. 
Kwasi Kwarteng Defends Rolling Back Furlough Scheme Calling It 'An Exceptional Policy In Extreme Times'
Economy
By Eleanor Langford
Kwasi Kwarteng Defends Rolling Back Furlough Scheme Calling It "An Exceptional Policy In Extreme Times"
Kwasi Kwarteng has defended the decision to roll back the furlough scheme from 1 July despite fears the changes could hit businesses still unable to open under lockdown restrictions.
Robert Buckland Defends Boris Johnson Over Refusal To Sack Senior Ministers
Political parties
By Eleanor Langford
Robert Buckland Defends Boris Johnson Over Refusal To Sack Senior Ministers
The justice secretary has defended the Prime Minister over his refusal to sack Matt Hancock last week amid the fallout from the health secretary’s resignation over the weekend.
Confusion Reigns Over 'Royal Yacht' Costs After MoD Contradicts No.10 Over Who Is Paying
Defence
By Eleanor Langford
Confusion Reigns Over 'Royal Yacht' Costs After MoD Contradicts No.10 Over Who Is Paying
Defence secretary Ben Wallace has stirred up further confusion over who will fund Britain’s new national flagship after he told MPs his department was footing the bill — despite No. 10 claiming the funding arrangements hadn’t been decided.
MPs Say “Oppressive” Plans To Restrict Disruptive Protests Could Breach Human Rights Laws
Home affairs
By Eleanor Langford
MPs Say “Oppressive” Plans To Restrict Disruptive Protests Could Breach Human Rights Laws
MPs have urged the government to introduce explicit statutory protection for protests amid concerns that the upcoming Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill could breach human rights laws.
62% Of Brits Would Back Delaying Lockdown Roadmap Beyond the 19 July “Terminus” Date
Coronavirus
By Eleanor Langford
62% Of Brits Would Back Delaying Lockdown Roadmap Beyond the 19 July “Terminus” Date
Exclusive: Over half of Brits would back the government delaying the coronavirus roadmap beyond 19 July — despite Boris Johnson describing this as the “terminus” for lockdown restrictions.
Lib Dems Win Chesham and Amersham Seat From The Tories In Historic By-Election Victory
Political parties
By Eleanor Langford
Lib Dems Win Chesham and Amersham Seat From The Tories In Historic By-Election Victory
The Liberal Democrats have taken the Conservative stronghold of Chesham and Amersham, marking the first time the seat has changed hands in 47 years.
Emily Thornberry Says Liz Truss Is “Not Up To The Job” Over “Indefensible” Australia Trade Deal
Brexit
By Eleanor Langford
Emily Thornberry Says Liz Truss Is “Not Up To The Job” Over “Indefensible” Australia Trade Deal
The shadow international trade secretary said Liz Truss was “talking nonsense” by claiming that Australian farmers would replace lost trade with EU farmers in the next 15 years.
Matt Hancock Says Delta Variant Makes 21 June Reopening 'More Difficult' But Insists Roadmap Will Go Ahead
Coronavirus
By Eleanor Langford
Matt Hancock Says Delta Variant Makes 21 June Reopening "More Difficult" But Insists Roadmap Will Go Ahead
The health secretary has insisted that the more-transmissible Delta variant “doesn't change [the government’s] strategy” on the final stage of lockdown lifting, but admitted it does make the decision “more difficult”.
Independent SAGE Issues Warning That Government Should “Pause” Roadmap Or Risk Another Lockdown
Coronavirus
By Eleanor Langford
Independent SAGE Issues Warning That Government Should “Pause” Roadmap Or Risk Another Lockdown
A group of leading scientists has urged the government not to go ahead with the final stage of its roadmap on 21 June amid fears the Delta variant could lead to a fourth national lockdown.
Minister Hints At Waning Confidence In 21 June Easing As Government Takes “Safety First” Approach
Coronavirus
By Eleanor Langford
Minister Hints At Waning Confidence In 21 June Easing As Government Takes “Safety First” Approach
Housing minister Robert Jenrick has insisted that the government is being “cautious” as it approaches the crucial decision on whether to go ahead with the final stage of lockdown lifting.
A Timeline Of Pivotal LGBTQ+ Political Moments In The UK
Health
By Eleanor Langford
A Timeline Of Pivotal LGBTQ+ Political Moments In The UK
From the groundbreaking Wolfenden Report to the first same-sex marriage, the landscape of legislation affecting the LGBTQ+ community has changed drastically over the last 70 years.
Post-Covid £1.4bn School Recovery Package Is A Tenth Of What's Needed, Education Leaders Say
Education
By Eleanor Langford
Post-Covid £1.4bn School Recovery Package Is A Tenth Of What's Needed, Education Leaders Say
Gavin Williamson has been accused of recovery “on the cheap” after announcing £1.4 billion in funding for post-Covid tutoring in schools, which teachers and unions claim is “way below” what’s needed.
Lifting Lockdown On 21 June Would Be A “Bad Decision” Warns Government Scientific Adviser
Coronavirus
By Eleanor Langford
Lifting Lockdown On 21 June Would Be A “Bad Decision” Warns Government Scientific Adviser
Professor Adam Finn, a member of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), warned this morning that there’s a “significant chance” the final stage of lockdown lifting will need to be delayed from 21 June.
Labour Accuses Government Of Sneaking In 'Local Lockdowns By Stealth'
Coronavirus
By Eleanor Langford
Labour Accuses Government Of Sneaking In "Local Lockdowns By Stealth"
Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth told the Commons that new regional guidance in coronavirus hotspots was “local lockdowns by stealth”, adding that it was “insulting” that the changes were kept quiet.
Government Ignores Council Pleas For Extension Of Vaccine Rollout Amid Concerns Over Indian Variant
Coronavirus
By Eleanor Langford
Government Ignores Council Pleas For Extension Of Vaccine Rollout Amid Concerns Over Indian Variant
The government has not granted requests by two local authorities — one of which has seen cases of the so-called Indian variant — for an expansion of the vaccine rollout to all over 18s in the area.
Academics And Officials Have Questioned The Evidence Behind Gavin Williamson’s “Excessive” University Free Speech Bill
Education
By Eleanor Langford
Academics And Officials Have Questioned The Evidence Behind Gavin Williamson’s “Excessive” University Free Speech Bill
Several academics and university officials have questioned the evidence underpinning Gavin Williamson’s new Bill aimed at ensuring free speech at UK universities.
Over 18s In Blackburn To Be Offered Covid Vaccines From Next Week After Sharp Rise In Indian Variant
Coronavirus
By Eleanor Langford
Over 18s In Blackburn To Be Offered Covid Vaccines From Next Week After Sharp Rise In Indian Variant
Selected adults aged over 18 in and around the Lanchashire towns of Blackburn and Darwen will be able to book their coronavirus vaccine to help tackle cases of the Indian virus variant.
Government Calls For End To “Cycle Of Violence” In Israel-Gaza Conflict Amid Fears Of “Full-Scale War”
Foreign affairs
By Eleanor Langford
Government Calls For End To “Cycle Of Violence” In Israel-Gaza Conflict Amid Fears Of “Full-Scale War”
Ministers have called for an “urgent de-escalation” of violence between Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip and the Israeli military as UN leaders warn conflict could escalate into a “full-scale war”.
Civil Liberty Groups Come Out In Force Against “Unnecessary and Expensive” Voter ID Plans
Home affairs
By Eleanor Langford
Civil Liberty Groups Come Out In Force Against “Unnecessary and Expensive” Voter ID Plans
Plans announced in the Queen’s Speech to require voters to produce photo identification at polling stations has been criticised as “an unnecessary and expensive distraction” by multiple charities and research groups.
Why The 2021 Local Elections Weren’t A Total Catastrophe For Labour
Political parties
By Eleanor Langford
Why The 2021 Local Elections Weren’t A Total Catastrophe For Labour
The Labour Party is facing a difficult set of results in the English local elections, which saw it lose votes in some of its traditional heartlands. But, it’s not all bad news for Keir Starmer.