All articles written by Kate Forrester on PoliticsHome.com

07 Jun 2020 Foreign affairs

Attacks on Black Lives Matter protests ‘deliberate strategy’ to boost Donald Trump election support base, says Lisa Nandy

Donald Trump’s attacks on Black Lives Matter demonstrations taking place in the US are a “deliberate strategy” to shore up his election support base, Lisa Nandy has claimed.

07 Jun 2020 Political parties

Ex-Labour MP Frank Field in line for peerage after John Bercow blocked from taking Lords seat

Former Labour MP Frank Field is reportedly in line for a peerage after John Bercow was blocked from taking a seat in the House of Lords.

07 Jun 2020 Coronavirus

PM urged to ‘ditch political rhetoric’ amid fears of coronavirus second wave – as Keir Starmer narrows gap in polls

NHS bosses are pleading with Boris Johnson to put in place a comprehensive plan to tackle a second wave of coronavirus infections, reports say.

05 Jun 2020 Coronavirus

Exclusive: Defence Secretary Ben Wallace in row with Tory-run council as it refuses to reopen schools

Ben Wallace has become embroiled in a row with his local Conservative-run council after it refused to reopen schools under government plans to ease lockdown restrictions.

05 Jun 2020 Coronavirus

Charities warn ‘less than half’ of care home residents tested for coronavirus – as government claims it is ‘on course’ to meet target

Fewer than half of care home residents have been tested for coronavirus, charities say – but ministers insist they are on course to meet their target of testing everyone in an over-65 setting by Saturday.

04 Jun 2020 Coronavirus

MP caring for disabled wife says Government 'silencing' him amid bitter row over end of virtual Commons

A Lib Dem MP who has been his disabled wife's carer for 21 years has warned the Government is silencing the voices of his constituents by refusing to extend the proxy voting system.

02 Jun 2020 Coronavirus

MPs vote to end 'virtual Commons' after socially-distanced queue stretches across Parliamentary estate

MPs will no longer be able to vote remotely after the government won its battle to end the 'virtual Commons' set up during the coronavirus lockdown by 261 votes to 163.

02 Jun 2020 Coronavirus

Government 'may need to double' part of DWP workforce to deal with coronavirus fallout

The Department for Work and Pensions could be forced to double the number of work coaches on its books if the economic fallout from coronavirus is severe.

02 Jun 2020 Coronavirus

Black and Asian people and those in deprived areas more likely to die of coronavirus, new report finds

Death rates from coronavirus are highest among Black and Asian people and those living in deprived areas, a new Public Health England report has found.

02 Jun 2020 Coronavirus

Statistics watchdog blasts Matt Hancock over ‘inadequate’ figures on coronavirus testing

Figures on coronavirus testing released daily by the government are “far from complete and comprehensible”, the UK’s statistics watchdog has claimed.

02 Jun 2020 Coronavirus

Generation of start-ups face ‘wipe-out’ unless Government rethinks bailout scheme, Rishi Sunak warned

An entire generation of UK start-up businesses could be wiped out unless the Government rethinks its bailout scheme, it has been claimed.

01 Jun 2020 Political parties

Jeremy Corbyn claims Equality and Human Rights Commission is ‘part of government machine’

The Equality and Human Rights Commission - tasked with investigating anti-Semitism in the Labour Party - is ‘part of the government machine’, former leader Jeremy Cobyn has claimed.

28 May 2020 Coronavirus

Boris Johnson says it is ‘unfair and unnecessary’ to ask top scientific advisers about Dominic Cummings row

It is "unfair and unnecessary" for people to ask the government's scientific advisers about the Dominic Cummings row, Boris Johnson has claimed.

28 May 2020 Coronavirus

Groups given green light to socialise in parks and gardens as PM eases lockdown

Groups of up to six people will be able to socialise together in parks and gardens from Monday, after Boris Johnson announced a relaxation of lockdown rules in England.

28 May 2020 Political parties

David Evans: Who is the new boss at Labour HQ and is he up to the job?

He’s the most powerful person in the Labour Party you’ve never heard of, and Sir Keir Starmer’s wish for a strong, united front means its newly-appointed general secretary has a big job ahead of him. Kate Forrester reports

26 May 2020 Political parties

Boost for Keir Starmer as David Evans picked for Labour’s new general secretary

Labour's ruling National Executive Committee has picked David Evans to replace Jennie Formby as the party's general secretary.

26 May 2020 Coronavirus

Matt Hancock hails 'biggest step forward' since coronavirus crisis began as he reveals new treatment trial

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has described the trialling of a new treatment for coronavirus patients as "the biggest step forward since the crisis began".

26 May 2020 Coronavirus

Up furlough business contribution sooner to save ‘crippled’ tourism sector, Rishi Sunak urged

Businesses should be asked to increase their contribution to the government's furlough scheme sooner to bolster the floundering tourism and hospitality sector, a senior MP has said.