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Kate Forrester

Kate Forrester

Kate is a senior reporter at PoliticsHome, covering all things Westminster. She has previously worked for HuffPost UK, the Liverpool ECHO and in political communications.

People Have Been Warned By Chris Whitty Not To Hug And Kiss Their Grandparents At Christmas
Coronavirus
By Kate Forrester
People Have Been Warned By Chris Whitty Not To Hug And Kiss Their Grandparents At Christmas
People should avoid hugging and kissing elderly and vulnerable relatives when families get together over Christmas, the chief medical officer for England has warned.
England's Second National Lockdown Will End On December 2
Coronavirus
By Kate Forrester
England's Second National Lockdown Will End On December 2
England's second national lockdown will end in 10 days, ministers have confirmed, but a stricter 'tier' system of restrictions will be introduced.
Local Football Clubs Say Their Communities Will Lose Much More Than Football If The Pandemic Kills Them Off
Coronavirus
By Kate Forrester
Local Football Clubs Say Their Communities Will Lose Much More Than Football If The Pandemic Kills Them Off
Weekly trips to cheer on your local team have become one of many casualties of the Covid-19 pandemic, with stands and grounds across the country left deserted for much of 2020.
Experts Say Donald Trump's Baseless Claims Of Voter Fraud Won't Slow The Rise Of Postal Voting In The UK
Political parties
By Kate Forrester
Experts Say Donald Trump's Baseless Claims Of Voter Fraud Won't Slow The Rise Of Postal Voting In The UK
It seems hardly believable that more than a week after Americans had their say on the next President of the United States, some votes were still yet to be counted.
Here Are All The Problems With Boris Johnson's Covid Strategy - According To Local Government Leaders
Coronavirus
By Kate Forrester
Here Are All The Problems With Boris Johnson's Covid Strategy - According To Local Government Leaders
The start of England's month-long national lockdown on Thursday marked the end of several weeks of uncertainty for local leaders - but not to the problems they continue to face as coronavirus cases rise.
A Senior Tory Says The Government 'Misread' The Country's Mood On Free School Meals After Labour Threatened To Force Another Vote
Health
By Kate Forrester
A Senior Tory Says The Government "Misread" The Country's Mood On Free School Meals After Labour Threatened To Force Another Vote
Labour has threatened to force another vote on free school meals if ministers refuse to U-turn before Christmas - and a Tory backbencher has suggested the government may not have enough to support to defeat the move.
Local Liverpool Leaders Say Boris Johnson Has 'Sowed Division' In The North As They Deal With Strict Covid Measures
Coronavirus
By Kate Forrester
Local Liverpool Leaders Say Boris Johnson Has "Sowed Division" In The North As They Deal With Strict Covid Measures
Boris Johnson's repeated praising of Merseyside mayor Steve Rotheram after the city region was placed under the strictest lockdown measures nearly a week ago is a "deliberate tactic to sow division in the north", an MP has claimed.
Wales Will Begin A Two-Week 'Firebreak' Lockdown From Friday, The First Minister Has Announced
Coronavirus
By Kate Forrester
Wales Will Begin A Two-Week 'Firebreak' Lockdown From Friday, The First Minister Has Announced
Wales will enter a two-week "firebreak" lockdown from 6pm on Friday, First Minister Mark Drakeford has announced.
Local Politicians In A Small Welsh Town Are Furious Claire Fox Is Using Its Name As She Enters The House Of Lords
Political parties
By Kate Forrester
Local Politicians In A Small Welsh Town Are Furious Claire Fox Is Using Its Name As She Enters The House Of Lords
Local politicians in a small north Wales town have written a furious letter to Boris Johnson after Claire Fox was installed in the House of Lords as Baroness Fox of Buckley.
Liverpool Has Been Placed Under Local Lockdown Measures As Coronavirus Cases Spike
Coronavirus
By Kate Forrester
Liverpool Has Been Placed Under Local Lockdown Measures As Coronavirus Cases Spike
Liverpool has become the latest city to be placed under local lockdown measures amid a major spike in coronavirus cases.
The EU Is Taking Legal Action Against The UK Internal Market Bill
Brexit
By Kate Forrester
The EU Is Taking Legal Action Against The UK Internal Market Bill
The EU is planning to take legal action against the UK government's controversial Internal Market Bill.
Here Are All The Outlandish Ideas The Government Is Reported To Be Considering To Tackle Migrant Channel Crossings
Home affairs
By Kate Forrester
Here Are All The Outlandish Ideas The Government Is Reported To Be Considering To Tackle Migrant Channel Crossings
As the entire country faces a battle to contain spiking coronavirus cases, Home Secretary Priti Patel appears to be embroiled in a struggle with her own department.
A Labour Frontbencher Says Jeremy Corbyn Should Pay A Fine For Flouting The Coronavirus Rules
Coronavirus
By Kate Forrester
A Labour Frontbencher Says Jeremy Corbyn Should Pay A Fine For Flouting The Coronavirus Rules
Jeremy Corbyn should be made to pay a fine after he was caught breaching the government's 'rule of six' coronavirus restrictions, a Labour frontbencher has said.
Fewer Civil Servants Will Work From Whitehall Even When The Pandemic Is Over, Says The Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary
Coronavirus
By Kate Forrester
Fewer Civil Servants Will Work From Whitehall Even When The Pandemic Is Over, Says The Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary
Fewer civil servants will work from Whitehall even when the coronavirus crisis is over, the Cabinet Office permanent secretary has said.
Labour Has Criticised Gavin Williamson For His 'Silence' On The University Covid Crisis
Coronavirus
By Kate Forrester
Labour Has Criticised Gavin Williamson For His "Silence" On The University Covid Crisis
Gavin Williamson must come to the Commons next week to explain what the government is doing to tackle the Covid university crisis, Labour says.
Peers Say They Can't Scrutinise What The Government Is Doing Over Coronavirus Because Their Questions Are Being Ignored
Coronavirus
By Kate Forrester
Peers Say They Can't Scrutinise What The Government Is Doing Over Coronavirus Because Their Questions Are Being Ignored
Peers claim they are unable to hold the government to account over the coronavirus pandemic because ministers have been ignoring their questions for months.
A Tory MP Has Branded His Government's Decision On Trans Rights A 'Crushing Disappointment'
Health
By Kate Forrester
A Tory MP Has Branded His Government's Decision On Trans Rights A "Crushing Disappointment"
A Tory MP has branded the government's decision to row back on plans to reform transgender rights "a crushing disappointment".
Nicola Sturgeon Has Banned Household Mixing In Scotland And Claimed English Measures Do Not Go Far Enough
Coronavirus
By Kate Forrester
Nicola Sturgeon Has Banned Household Mixing In Scotland And Claimed English Measures Do Not Go Far Enough
Nicola Sturgeon has announced a ban on households mixing in Scotland, claiming experts say the restrictions introduced in England by Boris Johnson do not go far enough.
Boris Johnson Has Told The Public They Should Work From Home If Possible As Coronavirus Cases Continue To Rise
Coronavirus
By Kate Forrester
Boris Johnson Has Told The Public They Should Work From Home If Possible As Coronavirus Cases Continue To Rise
People will be asked to work from home wherever possible and retail and hospitality staff must wear masks by law as part of new coronavirus restrictions set out by Boris Johnson today.
Dozens Of MPs' Questions On Coronavirus Testing, Data And PPE Have Been Ignored By Ministers During The Pandemic
Coronavirus
By Kate Forrester
Dozens Of MPs' Questions On Coronavirus Testing, Data And PPE Have Been Ignored By Ministers During The Pandemic
The government has ignored dozens of questions from shadow ministers on issues including coronavirus testing, data sharing and PPE throughout the pandemic, parliamentary databases show.
Chris Whitty and Patrick Vallance Will Address The Nation As It Reaches a 'Critical Point' In the Pandemic
Coronavirus
By Kate Forrester
Chris Whitty and Patrick Vallance Will Address The Nation As It Reaches a "Critical Point" In the Pandemic
The UK's coronavirus numbers are "heading in the wrong direction", the government's most senior advisers have warned ahead of a live briefing on what could happen next.
Labour Would Back Boris Johnson On Second National Lockdown, Sir Keir Starmer Says
Coronavirus
By Kate Forrester
Labour Would Back Boris Johnson On Second National Lockdown, Sir Keir Starmer Says
Labour would back Boris Johnson on imposing a second national lockdown if it was deemed necessary, Sir Keir Starmer has said.
Matt Hancock Says 'Everybody' Should Report Their Neighbours If They Flout Coronavirus Rules
Coronavirus
By Kate Forrester
Matt Hancock Says "Everybody" Should Report Their Neighbours If They Flout Coronavirus Rules
Matt Hancock has urged people to report their neighbours for flouting coronavirus rules as he announced heavy new penalties for those who fail to self-isolate when asked.
Local Politicians In University Towns And Cities Are Bracing For Community Rifts As Thousands Of Students Return After Lockdown
Coronavirus
By Kate Forrester
Local Politicians In University Towns And Cities Are Bracing For Community Rifts As Thousands Of Students Return After Lockdown
As thousands of students prepare to return to university, the towns and cities that usually welcome them are steeling themselves for potential rifts with local residents after six months of lockdown.
Coronavirus: Mass Testing To Be Trialled In England As Workers Urged To Return To The Office
Coronavirus
By Kate Forrester
Coronavirus: Mass Testing To Be Trialled In England As Workers Urged To Return To The Office
Ministers are set to trial a mass coronavirus testing programme, which will see the general population screened weekly for the virus, as people are urged to return to work and school.
Children who do not return to school next week risk 'huge dent in future life chances', says Gavin Williamson
Coronavirus
By Kate Forrester
Children who do not return to school next week risk 'huge dent in future life chances', says Gavin Williamson
Children who do not return to the classroom when schools return next week face a "huge dent in their future life chances", says Gavin Williamson.
Government U-turns causing 'uncertainty and eroding morale', warns senior Tory backbencher
Coronavirus
By Kate Forrester
Government U-turns causing 'uncertainty and eroding morale', warns senior Tory backbencher
A series of U-turns by Boris Johnson's cabinet on crunch decisions are causing uncertainty and making it "difficult for backbenchers to promote and defend government policy", a senior Tory MP has warned.
Exclusive: Government urged to end 'mum-shaming' amid warning women face 'tsunami of unemployment' without more help
Coronavirus
By Kate Forrester
Exclusive: Government urged to end 'mum-shaming' amid warning women face 'tsunami of unemployment' without more help
A "tsunami" of working mums could be forced out of the labour market if ministers fail to prioritise parents in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, an MP who recently returned from maternity leave has warned.
Ofqual chief Sally Collier quits after A-level results fiasco
Education
By Kate Forrester
Ofqual chief Sally Collier quits after A-level results fiasco
Ofqual chief Sally Collier has quit in the wake of the A-level results fiasco which saw ministers forced into a U-turn on grades.
Government urged to use 'more stick' with Iran over Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe case
Foreign affairs
By Kate Forrester
Government urged to use 'more stick' with Iran over Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe case
The husband of imprisoned Brit Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has said the government must use "more stick" in its dealings with Iran to secure her release.
PM condemns illegal ravers for 'endangering lives' as nightclubs make plea for financial help
Coronavirus
By Kate Forrester
PM condemns illegal ravers for 'endangering lives' as nightclubs make plea for financial help
Boris Johnson has slammed people attending illegal raves for "endangering themselves and others" amid pleas for help from nightclubs forced to remain closed due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Ministers accused of 'pulling life raft away while storm still rages' as Labour warns of job loss crisis
Coronavirus
By Kate Forrester
Ministers accused of 'pulling life raft away while storm still rages' as Labour warns of job loss crisis
Labour has accused the Government of "pulling the life raft away while the storm is still raging" as it warned some regions of the UK are set to be disproportionately hit by a looming redundancy crisis.
Schools return next month 'now at risk' thanks to 'chaos, confusion and incompetence' from government, warns Keir Starmer
Coronavirus
By Kate Forrester
Schools return next month 'now at risk' thanks to 'chaos, confusion and incompetence' from government, warns Keir Starmer
A week of "chaos, confusion and incompetence" by Boris Johnson's government has put the heralded return of all schools in September at "serious risk", Sir Keir Starmer has warned.
Rishi Sunak talks up coronavirus help to thousands of Scottish firms as he heads north of the border
Coronavirus
By Kate Forrester
Rishi Sunak talks up coronavirus help to thousands of Scottish firms as he heads north of the border
Rishi Sunak has talked up the impact of the Treasury’s coronavirus support schemes in "every corner of the UK" ahead of a Scotland trip by the Chancellor.
Number of households hit by benefit cap rockets 93% amid coronavirus pandemic
Coronavirus
By Kate Forrester
Number of households hit by benefit cap rockets 93% amid coronavirus pandemic
The number of households hit by the Government's benefit cap has soared by 93% amid the coronavirus pandemic, new figures have revealed.
Coronavirus: Failure to toughen border measures made pandemic 'much worse' for UK, MPs say
Coronavirus
By Kate Forrester
Coronavirus: Failure to toughen border measures made pandemic 'much worse' for UK, MPs say
A series of "critical errors" in the Government's approach to travellers entering the UK made the coronavirus pandemic much worse, a cross-party group of MPs has said.