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John Johnston

John Johnston

@johnjohnstonmi

John Johnston is a political reporter for PoliticsHome, with a focus on foreign affairs and defence.

Gavin Williamson Has Confirmed GCSE and A-Level Exams Will Be Cancelled This Year
Coronavirus
By John Johnston
Gavin Williamson Has Confirmed GCSE and A-Level Exams Will Be Cancelled This Year
GCSE and A-Level exams will be cancelled for all pupils in England this summer as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Businesses Say New Support Scheme Is A 'Sticking Plaster' That Won't Sustain Them Through Lockdown
Coronavirus
By John Johnston
Businesses Say New Support Scheme Is A "Sticking Plaster" That Won't Sustain Them Through Lockdown
Rishi Sunak is facing criticism over his latest business support package, with businesses calling for further action to help them survive tightened coronavirus restrictions.
Rishi Sunak Has Announced A New £4.6bn Fund To Support Businesses Through The Latest Lockdown
Coronavirus
By John Johnston
Rishi Sunak Has Announced A New £4.6bn Fund To Support Businesses Through The Latest Lockdown
The Chancellor has unveiled a new £4.6bn economic package to help support businesses through the latest lockdown measures.
Boris Johnson Has Announced England Will Enter A New Lockdown As Coronavirus Cases Soar
Coronavirus
By John Johnston
Boris Johnson Has Announced England Will Enter A New Lockdown As Coronavirus Cases Soar
England will return to a full lockdown – including the closure of schools – following a major surge in coronavirus cases.
Former SNP MP Margaret Ferrier Has Been Arrested Over An Alleged Covid Rule Breach
Coronavirus
By John Johnston
Former SNP MP Margaret Ferrier Has Been Arrested Over An Alleged Covid Rule Breach
The Scottish MP has been charged with alleged culpable and reckless conduct after she was accused of breaching coronavirus regulations last year.
Millions More People Will Be Placed Into Tier 4 Lockdown After A Surge In Coronavirus Cases
Coronavirus
By John Johnston
Millions More People Will Be Placed Into Tier 4 Lockdown After A Surge In Coronavirus Cases
More than three quarters of England will be in the toughest Tier 4 lockdown measures from New Year's Eve following a major spike in coronavirus cases.
Ministers Have Announced A New Plan To Boost Numbers Of Covid Vaccinations By Delaying The Timing Of A Second Dose
Coronavirus
By John Johnston
Ministers Have Announced A New Plan To Boost Numbers Of Covid Vaccinations By Delaying The Timing Of A Second Dose
The government has adopted a new dosing regime to ensure more at-risk people are offered their first coronavirus vaccine sooner rather than holding back stock to deliver a second dose.
Matt Hancock Has Said The UK Can 'Get Out Of This By Spring' After The Oxford Vaccine Was Approved
Coronavirus
By John Johnston
Matt Hancock Has Said The UK Can "Get Out Of This By Spring" After The Oxford Vaccine Was Approved
The Health Secretary has said the first doses of the newly approved vaccine will be given on Monday amid a surge in new coronavirus cases.
The UK And EU Have Finally Agreed A Post-Brexit Trade Deal
Brexit
By John Johnston
The UK And EU Have Finally Agreed A Post-Brexit Trade Deal
The UK and EU have struck a free trade deal after days of delays in the final stages of the negotiations.
Chaotic Christmas Mixing Plans Leave England, Scotland and Wales With Different Messaging
Coronavirus
By John Johnston
Chaotic Christmas Mixing Plans Leave England, Scotland and Wales With Different Messaging
Plans for a four nations approach to the Christmas relaxation have been thrown into chaos after the Scottish and Welsh governments announced a range of sweeping changes to the plans.
Top Medical Journals Are Warning Christmas Lockdown Easing Is A 'Major Error'
Coronavirus
By John Johnston
Top Medical Journals Are Warning Christmas Lockdown Easing Is A "Major Error"
Senior medics have issued a rare plea over Boris Johnson's "rash" plans to ease lockdown restrictions over Christmas, with fears the impact could overwhelm the NHS.
Brexit Trade Talks Will Continue As UK And EU Agree To 'Go The Extra Mile' With Negotiations
Brexit
By John Johnston
Brexit Trade Talks Will Continue As UK And EU Agree To 'Go The Extra Mile' With Negotiations
Boris Johnson and Ursula von der Leyen have agreed to continue Brexit talks beyond the Sunday deadline despite a UK official earlier claiming the EU offer was "unacceptable".
The UK Is Still Calling The EU's Brexit Offer 'Unacceptable' As Trade Talks Stay Deadlocked
Brexit
By John Johnston
The UK Is Still Calling The EU's Brexit Offer "Unacceptable" As Trade Talks Stay Deadlocked
A UK government source has said the current Brexit offer from the EU is "unacceptable" as efforts to strike a free trade deal with the bloc approach a mutual deadline on Sunday.
What A No Deal Brexit Will Actually Look Like For The UK
Brexit
By John Johnston
What A No Deal Brexit Will Actually Look Like For The UK
With EU and UK leaders now warning that a no-deal Brexit is the most likely outcome when the transition period ends on 31 December, PoliticsHome has set out the biggest changes that the UK will face from the New Year.
Doctors Are Worried That Coronavirus Vaccines Could Be Wasted In The 'Chaotic' Roll Out To GPs
Coronavirus
By John Johnston
Doctors Are Worried That Coronavirus Vaccines Could Be Wasted In The "Chaotic" Roll Out To GPs
GPs and doctors' groups have raised concerns that doses of the Pzifer vaccine could go to waste due to the "chaotic" approach to the community roll out.
Downing Street Says Time To Strike A Brexit Deal Is In 'Very Short Supply' As Talks Hit 'Very Difficult Point'
Brexit
By John Johnston
Downing Street Says Time To Strike A Brexit Deal Is In "Very Short Supply" As Talks Hit "Very Difficult Point"
Number 10 has warned Brexit negotiations have hit a "very difficult point" as the clock ticks on a further day of "intensive" talks.
Gavin Williamson Claims The UK Approved A Coronavirus Vaccine First Because It Is A 'Much Better Country'
Coronavirus
By John Johnston
Gavin Williamson Claims The UK Approved A Coronavirus Vaccine First Because It Is A "Much Better Country"
Gavin Williamson has claimed the UK's speedy approval of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine was due to it being a "much better country" than France, Belgium and the US.
Jonathan Van-Tam Says Coronavirus Will Be 'With Humankind Forever' Despite The Vaccine Breakthrough
Coronavirus
By John Johnston
Jonathan Van-Tam Says Coronavirus Will Be "With Humankind Forever" Despite The Vaccine Breakthrough
England's Deputy Medical Officer has said be believes it's unlikely that coronavirus will ever be fully eradicated, but could become a seasonal disease like the flu.
Matt Hancock Says The NHS Could Begin Covid Vaccinations From Next Week After The Pfizer Jab Was Approved
Coronavirus
By John Johnston
Matt Hancock Says The NHS Could Begin Covid Vaccinations From Next Week After The Pfizer Jab Was Approved
The Health Secretary has suggested vaccinations could begin within days after the UK medicines regulator gave the green light to the Pzifer jab.
Michael Gove Has Denied Suggestions People Could Need 'Vaccine Passports' To Go To Pubs And Bars
Coronavirus
By John Johnston
Michael Gove Has Denied Suggestions People Could Need "Vaccine Passports" To Go To Pubs And Bars
Michael Gove has triggered fresh confusion over the government's vaccine plans after he denied people might need "immunity passports" to visit pubs and restaurants.
The IFS Has Warned Public Services Are Facing 'Another Bout Of Austerity' Under Rishi Sunak's Spending Plans
Coronavirus
By John Johnston
The IFS Has Warned Public Services Are Facing "Another Bout Of Austerity" Under Rishi Sunak's Spending Plans
The Institute for Fiscal Studies has warned that some areas of public services could be facing a further "bout of austerity" if the Chancellor presses ahead with his spending plans.
The Finance Watchdog Says There's 'Evidence' Neither Ministers Or Businesses Are 'Fully Prepared' For Brexit
Brexit
By John Johnston
The Finance Watchdog Says There's "Evidence" Neither Ministers Or Businesses Are "Fully Prepared" For Brexit
The Office for Budget Responsibility has warned there is "evidence" that ministers and businesses are not prepared for "imminent changes" to the economy from Brexit.
The UK's Economy Is Set To Contract By 11.3% This Year, According To A Forecast From The Government's Finance Watchdog
Coronavirus
By John Johnston
The UK's Economy Is Set To Contract By 11.3% This Year, According To A Forecast From The Government's Finance Watchdog
The Office for Budget Responsibility has concluded the UK's economy will shrink by over 11% this year as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Government Has Announced New 'Christmas Bubbles' Which Will Let Three Households Gather Together For Five Days Over Christmas
Coronavirus
By John Johnston
The Government Has Announced New 'Christmas Bubbles' Which Will Let Three Households Gather Together For Five Days Over Christmas
Ministers have announced a new 'Christmas Bubble' plan to allow up to three families to meet together for five days during the festive period.
Exclusive: A Scottish Property Developer Who Said He Knew 'Nothing At All' About PPE Was Handed £9.6m To Supply Surgical Gowns To The NHS
Coronavirus
By John Johnston
Exclusive: A Scottish Property Developer Who Said He Knew "Nothing At All" About PPE Was Handed £9.6m To Supply Surgical Gowns To The NHS
A Scottish property firm whose director admitted he knew “nothing at all” about PPE before the pandemic, and who says he managed a deal with Chinese suppliers from his bedroom, was awarded a £9.6m contract to purchase equipment for the NHS.
Exclusive: A Cannabis Research Firm With Only £6,000 In Assets Has Been Handed Two PPE Contracts Worth £33m
Coronavirus
By John Johnston
Exclusive: A Cannabis Research Firm With Only £6,000 In Assets Has Been Handed Two PPE Contracts Worth £33m
Ministers have awarded a small medicinal cannabis research firm contracts worth £33m to supply protective equipment for the NHS.
Keir Starmer Has Described Jeremy Corbyn's Readmission To The Labour Party As 'Another Painful Day For The Jewish Community'
Political parties
By John Johnston
Keir Starmer Has Described Jeremy Corbyn's Readmission To The Labour Party As "Another Painful Day For The Jewish Community"
The Labour leader said he would not let a "focus on one individual" prevent him from taking further steps to tackle anti-semitism within the party.
Boris Johnson Has Triggered Cross-Party Anger After Describing Devolution As 'A Disaster North Of The Border'
Political parties
By John Johnston
Boris Johnson Has Triggered Cross-Party Anger After Describing Devolution As "A Disaster North Of The Border"
Boris Johnson has triggered a major backlash from Scottish politicians after he described devolution as a "disaster north of the border".
Arms Trade Campaigners Have Condemned Liz Truss For Allowing Hundreds Of New Saudi Arms Deals To Go Ahead
Foreign affairs
By John Johnston
Arms Trade Campaigners Have Condemned Liz Truss For Allowing Hundreds Of New Saudi Arms Deals To Go Ahead
Anti-arms trade campaigners have hit out at Liz Truss for the "immoral" decision to process over 500 applications for arms sales to Saudi Arabia since July.
Boris Johnson Says The UK Is At The 'Front Of The Pack' For Breakthrough Vaccine But Warns It is Still 'Very Very Early Days'
Coronavirus
By John Johnston
Boris Johnson Says The UK Is At The "Front Of The Pack" For Breakthrough Vaccine But Warns It is Still "Very Very Early Days"
Boris Johnson has insisted the UK is at the "front of the pack" to recieve a breakthrough vaccine, but said the UK could not "rely on this news as a solution".
Dominic Raab Has Refused To Comment On Trump's Baseless Voter Fraud Claims
Foreign affairs
By John Johnston
Dominic Raab Has Refused To Comment On Trump's Baseless Voter Fraud Claims
Dominic Raab said that all votes in elections should be counted "in principle" but refused to get drawn on Donald Trump's claims of voter fraud.
Marcus Rashford Says He's 'Overwhelmed' After Boris Johnson Was Forced To U-Turn On Free School Meals
Coronavirus
By John Johnston
Marcus Rashford Says He's "Overwhelmed" After Boris Johnson Was Forced To U-Turn On Free School Meals
Footballer and anti-poverty campaigner Marcus Rashford said he was "overwhelmed" after the government were forced into a U-turn on free school meals.
Exclusive: A Tory MP Questioned Health Ministers On Topics Linked To His Family’s Lobbying Firm
Political parties
By John Johnston
Exclusive: A Tory MP Questioned Health Ministers On Topics Linked To His Family’s Lobbying Firm
Conservative MP Paul Bristow has submitted questions to ministers on a range of health issues linked to his family’s lobbying firm, PoliticsHome can reveal.
Coronavirus Deaths Are 'Highly Likely' To Exceed The Government's Worst Case Scenario, According To New Sage Analysis
Coronavirus
By John Johnston
Coronavirus Deaths Are "Highly Likely" To Exceed The Government's Worst Case Scenario, According To New Sage Analysis
The government's top scientific advisory group has warned the UK's death toll is "highly likely" to exceed their worst-case projections following a surge in infections.
Keir Starmer Says There Is 'No Need For Civil War' After Jeremy Corbyn's Suspension Triggered A Major Party Split
Political parties
By John Johnston
Keir Starmer Says There Is "No Need For Civil War" After Jeremy Corbyn's Suspension Triggered A Major Party Split
Keir Starmer has insisted he doesn't want to be drawn into a "civil war" following a major backlash to Jeremy Corbyn's suspension from the party.
Keir Starmer Has Apologised To The Jewish Community Following A Damning Anti-Semitism Report On A 'Day Of Shame' For Labour
Political parties
By John Johnston
Keir Starmer Has Apologised To The Jewish Community Following A Damning Anti-Semitism Report On A "Day Of Shame" For Labour
Sir Keir Starmer has apologised for the "pain and grief" caused to the Jewish community following the publication of a damning report into anti-semitism.