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Thu, 21 November 2024

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Matt Honeycombe-Foster

Matt Honeycombe-Foster

Matt is the former news editor of PoliticsHome. He joined PoliticsHome as a reporter in 2014 and also served as deputy editor of Whitehall sister title Civil Service World. He was acting editor of PoliticsHome from April to August 2020

Home Office ditches controversial video claiming ‘activist lawyers’ are protecting asylum seekers after backlash
Home affairs
By Matt Honeycombe-Foster
Home Office ditches controversial video claiming ‘activist lawyers’ are protecting asylum seekers after backlash
The Home Office’s top civil servant has ordered the removal of a controversial video dismissing people providing legal representation for asylum seekers as “activist lawyers”.
Liz Truss says questions over Tony Abbott’s women and LGBT record ‘irrelevant’ as former Australian PM lined up for UK trade job
Brexit
By Matt Honeycombe-Foster
Liz Truss says questions over Tony Abbott’s women and LGBT record ‘irrelevant’ as former Australian PM lined up for UK trade job
Cabinet minister Liz Truss has said questions over former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott’s controversial comments on women and gay people are “irrelevant” to any job he will do for the UK on trade.
Boris Johnson prepares major back-to-work push as Labour say ministers ‘threatening people during a pandemic’
Coronavirus
By Matt Honeycombe-Foster
Boris Johnson prepares major back-to-work push as Labour say ministers ‘threatening people during a pandemic’
Boris Johnson is preparing a major push to get Britain back in the office from next week.
Matt Hancock says how well civil servants do their jobs is more important than whether they’re back in the office
Coronavirus
By Matt Honeycombe-Foster
Matt Hancock says how well civil servants do their jobs is more important than whether they’re back in the office
Matt Hancock has said he cares more about how well his civil servants “perform” in their jobs than whether or not they return to the office, amid pressure on Whitehall to set an example after months of lockdown.
‘Test and Trace isn’t working in the areas it most needs to’ — Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham on four weeks of local coronavirus curbs
Coronavirus
By Matt Honeycombe-Foster
‘Test and Trace isn’t working in the areas it most needs to’ — Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham on four weeks of local coronavirus curbs
Ministers will on Thursday decide whether to ease the wave of coronavirus restrictions facing parts of northern England. Amid signs of a fresh spat between Whitehall and local leaders, Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham tells Matt Honeycombe-Foster of his ongoing frustrations with the NHS contact tracing scheme — and why there’s ‘no room for politics in a pandemic’.
UK could seal Japan trade deal this week despite snag over Liz Truss Stilton demands
Brexit
By Matt Honeycombe-Foster
UK could seal Japan trade deal this week despite snag over Liz Truss Stilton demands
Britain is still aiming to strike a post-Brexit trade deal with Japan by the end of the month despite Trade Secretary Liz Truss insisting on preferential treatment for Stilton makers in any deal.
Fines a ‘last resort’ for parents who don’t put their children back in school next week, says education minister
Coronavirus
By Matt Honeycombe-Foster
Fines a ‘last resort’ for parents who don’t put their children back in school next week, says education minister
The Government will view fines for parents who do not put their children back in school next week as a “last resort”, an education minister has said.
Government’s own immigration charge hitting NHS trusts with £15m in fees to use overseas staff
Coronavirus
By Matt Honeycombe-Foster
Government’s own immigration charge hitting NHS trusts with £15m in fees to use overseas staff
The NHS has been forced to pay out more than £15 million in immigration fees to the Government since 2017 so that the health service has enough specialist staff.
Anger as bereaved NHS and care families stripped of benefits if they receive coronavirus payout
Health
By Matt Honeycombe-Foster
Anger as bereaved NHS and care families stripped of benefits if they receive coronavirus payout
Ministers have come under fire after it emerged families of frontline workers who have died from coronavirus will lose access to welfare payments if they receive compensation from the Government.
Tory grandee Francis Maude to review under-fire Cabinet Office in wake of coronavirus
Coronavirus
By Matt Honeycombe-Foster
Tory grandee Francis Maude to review under-fire Cabinet Office in wake of coronavirus
Conservative grandee Francis Maude has been drafted in to review the Cabinet Office in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
Britain’s debt tops £2trillion for the first time ever as government borrows its way through coronavirus pandemic
Coronavirus
By Matt Honeycombe-Foster
Britain’s debt tops £2trillion for the first time ever as government borrows its way through coronavirus pandemic
Britain’s national debt has topped £2trillion for the first time as the Government borrowed billions to respond to the coronavirus pandemic, new figures show.
Commons and Lords Speakers reject Boris Johnson’s call to move Parliament to York amid multibillion pound refurbishment
Political parties
By Matt Honeycombe-Foster
Commons and Lords Speakers reject Boris Johnson’s call to move Parliament to York amid multibillion pound refurbishment
Boris Johnson’s call to consider temporarily moving Parliament to York while it undergoes major renovation works has been shot down by the speakers of the House of Commons and the Lords.
Matt Hancock says Dido Harding has ‘huge’ experience amid row over major public health shake-up
Coronavirus
By Matt Honeycombe-Foster
Matt Hancock says Dido Harding has ‘huge’ experience amid row over major public health shake-up
Matt Hancock has defended his decision to put Conservative peer Dido Harding in charge of a new body that will replace Public Health England.
Sacking Gavin Williamson over A-levels row would ‘distract’ from coronavirus school reopening plan, says Matt Hancock
Coronavirus
By Matt Honeycombe-Foster
Sacking Gavin Williamson over A-levels row would ‘distract’ from coronavirus school reopening plan, says Matt Hancock
The Government could become “distracted” from reopening schools next month if Education Secretary Gavin Williamson quits over the exam grading fiasco, his Cabinet colleague Matt Hancock has said.
Government warned of ‘hidden mental health crisis’ as depression doubles amid coronavirus pandemic
Coronavirus
By Matt Honeycombe-Foster
Government warned of ‘hidden mental health crisis’ as depression doubles amid coronavirus pandemic
Ministers have been warned of a “hidden mental health crisis” as new figures revealed the number of UK adults experiencing depression has doubled during the coronavirus pandemic.
Gavin Williamson urged to sort out BTEC grades ‘as soon as possible’ as some are also affected by exam algorithm U-turn
Coronavirus
By Matt Honeycombe-Foster
Gavin Williamson urged to sort out BTEC grades ‘as soon as possible’ as some are also affected by exam algorithm U-turn
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson is being urged to ensure thousands of pupils get their revised BTEC results “as soon as possible” as it was confirmed that some of the career-based qualifications will be affected by a major U-turn on grading.
Rich kids spent 30% more time learning in lockdown than poorest peers, new research shows
Coronavirus
By Matt Honeycombe-Foster
Rich kids spent 30% more time learning in lockdown than poorest peers, new research shows
The richest primary school pupils spent 30% more time learning during the coronavirus lockdown than their peers in the poorest families, stark new research shows.
Coronavirus Test and Trace boss Dido Harding to head up new pandemic response body as Public Health England faces the chop
Coronavirus
By Matt Honeycombe-Foster
Coronavirus Test and Trace boss Dido Harding to head up new pandemic response body as Public Health England faces the chop
The Government’s coronavirus test and trace chief Dido Harding has been chosen to run a new institute which will replace Public Health England when the controversial agency is abolished.
Gavin Williamson urged to ‘get a grip’ after exams U-turn triggers scramble for university places
Coronavirus
By Matt Honeycombe-Foster
Gavin Williamson urged to ‘get a grip’ after exams U-turn triggers scramble for university places
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has been told to “get a grip” as universities rushed to find places for pupils affected by the Government’s U-turn on grades.
A-Levels fiasco: Gavin Williamson lifts university places cap amid calls to ‘step up’ help for higher education
Coronavirus
By Matt Honeycombe-Foster
A-Levels fiasco: Gavin Williamson lifts university places cap amid calls to ‘step up’ help for higher education
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson is lifting the cap on university places in a bid to help students who may have lost out on their first choice amid the A-Levels grading fiasco.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps defends short notice for France quarantine and says holidaymakers went in with ‘eyes open’
Coronavirus
By Matt Honeycombe-Foster
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps defends short notice for France quarantine and says holidaymakers went in with ‘eyes open’
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has insisted Britain “had to act” to impose coronavirus quarantine measures on people coming to the UK from France — and said holidaymakers had gone abroad with their “eyes open”.
Boris Johnson to put Union flag on UK-funded Scottish projects as SNP accuses him of ‘posturing’
Political parties
By Matt Honeycombe-Foster
Boris Johnson to put Union flag on UK-funded Scottish projects as SNP accuses him of ‘posturing’
Boris Johnson is to stamp the Union flag on major schemes in Scotland from next year — in a move dismissed as “posturing” by the SNP.
Boris Johnson to double fines for people who break face mask rules as he resumes easing of Covid-19 curbs
Coronavirus
By Matt Honeycombe-Foster
Boris Johnson to double fines for people who break face mask rules as he resumes easing of Covid-19 curbs
Boris Johnson has promised to double the maximum fines doled out to people who “repeatedly” flout rules on wearing face coverings as he confirmed the latest moves to ease some of England’s coronavirus restrictions.
Gavin Williamson vows ministers will not change A-level grading system again if there is an outcry over results
Education
By Matt Honeycombe-Foster
Gavin Williamson vows ministers will not change A-level grading system again if there is an outcry over results
The Government will not change England’s A-levels grading system again if there is an outcry over Thursday’s results, the Education Secretary has declared.
Rishi Sunak says ‘hard times are here’ as UK plunged into ‘record’ recession with 20% GDP drop
Coronavirus
By Matt Honeycombe-Foster
Rishi Sunak says ‘hard times are here’ as UK plunged into ‘record’ recession with 20% GDP drop
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has warned the country that “hard times are here” as the British economy officially entered the deepest recession recorded amid the coronavirus pandemic.
UK Government vows ‘triple lock’ for A-level results in bid to avoid repeat of Scottish exams fiasco
Coronavirus
By Matt Honeycombe-Foster
UK Government vows ‘triple lock’ for A-level results in bid to avoid repeat of Scottish exams fiasco
Ministers are making a last-minute change to the A-level results system in a bid to avoid a repeat of problems that have dogged Scottish exams this year.
Boris Johnson says teachers doing an ‘incredible job’ as union warns staff ‘losing patience’ with school reopening plan
Coronavirus
By Matt Honeycombe-Foster
Boris Johnson says teachers doing an ‘incredible job’ as union warns staff ‘losing patience’ with school reopening plan
Boris Johnson has praised the “incredible job” done by teachers to get children back in the classroom, after a major union said staff were “losing patience” with the Government.
Robert Jenrick says he regrets sitting next to and texting Tory donor at heart of Westferry row as he defends planning shake-up
Communities
By Matt Honeycombe-Foster
Robert Jenrick says he regrets sitting next to and texting Tory donor at heart of Westferry row as he defends planning shake-up
Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick has said he regrets sitting next to and exchanging messages with a Conservative donor at the heart of a major planning row, as he outlined a raft of changes to England’s home-building rules.
Bank of England predicts UK unemployment will soar after furlough scheme ends
Coronavirus
By Matt Honeycombe-Foster
Bank of England predicts UK unemployment will soar after furlough scheme ends
The UK’s unemployment rate is expected to hit 7.5% after a host of government support schemes are turned off, the Bank of England has predicted.
Robert Jenrick vows to ‘cut red tape’ with major planning shake-up — but Labour brand it a ‘developer’s charter’ amid social housing warning
Communities
By Matt Honeycombe-Foster
Robert Jenrick vows to ‘cut red tape’ with major planning shake-up — but Labour brand it a ‘developer’s charter’ amid social housing warning
A host of changes to England’s planning system will “cut red tape, but not standards”, Robert Jenrick has claimed, as critics accused the Government of weakening social housing requirements.
Government warned bosses could make ‘unreasonable’ demands as one in three shielding people ‘not at all’ comfortable returning to work
Coronavirus
By Matt Honeycombe-Foster
Government warned bosses could make ‘unreasonable’ demands as one in three shielding people ‘not at all’ comfortable returning to work
One in three people covered by the Government’s now-paused coronavirus shielding programme say they are “not at all comfortable” heading back in to their place of work, official figures show.
Number 10 says size of the Lords ‘needs addressing’ after nominating 36 more people for peerages
Political parties
By Matt Honeycombe-Foster
Number 10 says size of the Lords ‘needs addressing’ after nominating 36 more people for peerages
Boris Johnson still believes the size of the House of Lords “needs addressing” despite nominating 36 more people including his own brother for a seat there.
Police ability to handle coronavirus riots ‘significantly diminished’ by staff cuts, say Government’s own advisers
Coronavirus
By Matt Honeycombe-Foster
Police ability to handle coronavirus riots ‘significantly diminished’ by staff cuts, say Government’s own advisers
The ability of the police to deal with disorder during the coronavirus pandemic has been “significantly diminished” by “the loss of very high numbers of staff”, the Government’s own advisers have warned.
Luxembourg follows Spain onto England’s coronavirus travel quarantine list
Coronavirus
By Matt Honeycombe-Foster
Luxembourg follows Spain onto England’s coronavirus travel quarantine list
People arriving in England from Luxembourg now have to enter self-isolation for 14 days as the Government added the European state to its quarantine list.
Tory MP Douglas Ross set to launch bid to lead Scottish Tories after Jackson Carlaw calls it quits
Political parties
By Matt Honeycombe-Foster
Tory MP Douglas Ross set to launch bid to lead Scottish Tories after Jackson Carlaw calls it quits
Tory MP Douglas Ross looks set to throw his hat into the ring to lead the Scottish Conservatives following the resignation of Jackson Carlaw.
Matt Hancock says new northern lockdown rules ‘crystal clear’ as fresh household coronavirus curbs brought in at short notice
Coronavirus
By Matt Honeycombe-Foster
Matt Hancock says new northern lockdown rules ‘crystal clear’ as fresh household coronavirus curbs brought in at short notice
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said fresh lockdown rules in northern England are “absolutely crystal clear” amid criticism over the way a string of changes were announced late on Thursday night.