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  Published Date: 2020-07-26 

 Image copyright Reuters Image caption The measure is likely to cast doubt on thousands of Briton's holiday plans Travellers arriving in the UK from Spain must now quarantine for 14 days, under new coronavirus travel rules. They were announced on Saturday following a spike in coronavirus cases in Spain, with more than 900 new cases of the virus reported on Friday. Spanish officials have also warned a second wave could be imminent as major cities have seen cases surge. Airlines including British Airways have criticised the new measures as "yet another blow" to British holidaymakers. And Rory Boland, editor of consumer rights magazine Which?, said many travellers would be "deeply angry" that the government did not make the decision 48 hours earlier "before tens of thousands of them flew off for their summer holidays in Spain". "Many would not have travelled if they had known they'd face 14 days of quarantine on their return," he said. Prof Jonathan Van-Tam, deputy chief medical officer for England, said the timing of such a measure will never suit everyone. "Whenever a decision is made there will always be people who have just left the UK," he said. "So there is no magic time at which to do this. The thing that we have to do is do it as soon as we are certain about the data." People currently on holiday in Spain have been advised by the Department of Transport to follow the local rules, return home as normal, and check the Foreign Office's travel advice website for further information. The Foreign Office is advising against all but essential travel to mainland Spain. Quarantine measures apply to those returning from mainland Spain, the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands, such as Majorca and Ibiza. It is unlikely that any travel insurance will be valid where the Foreign Office advice states UK residents should not travel, according to BBC personal finance reporter Kevin Peachey. Among those affected by the new rules is Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, who began his holiday in Spain on Saturday. He is expected to continue his trip as planned and isolate in line with guidance on his return. Image copyright Lois Stothard Image caption Lois Stothard had planned a surprise trip for boyfriend James Allott but has had to cancel Lois Stothard, from South Yorkshire, told the BBC she had booked a holiday to Seville as a surprise for her boyfriend's 30th birthday - due to fly out on Sunday morning - but now feels that she cannot travel. "I'm a key worker - I'm a teacher - and my boyfriend has work commitments so we cannot quarantine for 14 days when we return," she said. "We can't get any money back and to change the company want double what I've already paid in fees. I'm very disappointed and upset as we're packed and ready to go." John Blackmore, from Hampshire, was also due to fly out to his family in Spain with his wife and two young children. But the new rules mean he has had to cancel, for fears his wife's employer would not be able to accommodate her taking an extra two weeks off to quarantine on their return. He said he thought it was unlikely they would get a refund for the flight, as it has not been cancelled. "I'm devastated," he told the BBC. "I have family in Spain who haven't seen their only grandkids since Christmas." Read more reactions from holidaymakers here. Image copyright AFP The government is urging employers to be "understanding of those returning from Spain who now will need to self-isolate". But Labour's shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds called for the government to explain in detail how it would support those affected, adding that the news would be "deeply concerning for families who are in caught in Spain or are planning travel". Quarantine measures for UK travellers were first introduced in early June. But after pressure from the aviation and travel industries, the government and devolved administrations published lists of countries exempt from the rules. British Airways said it was "disappointed" about the latest changes to the government's travel advice and rules, although the airline said its flights were continuing to operate. It said the move was "throwing thousands of Britons' travel plans into chaos". The Airport Operators Association said the new measures would "further damage what is already a fragile restart of the aviation sector which continues to face the biggest challenge in its history". What's happening in Spain? Spain has so far seen more than 28,000 coronavirus deaths. On Thursday, it saw the biggest daily increase in infections since its lockdown ended. Catalonia has become the latest region to crack down on nightlife. The wealthy north-east region, which is home to Barcelona, ordered all nightclubs to close for two weeks and put a midnight curfew on bars in the greater Barcelona area. The BBC's Guy Hedgecoe in Madrid says contagion among young people is a particular worry, as they have been gathering in large numbers in cities at night. France has warned its citizens not to travel to Catalonia while Norway has said it will start quarantining people arriving from Spain. The UK's biggest tour operator, Tui, cancelled its flights due to depart to mainland Spain and the Canary Islands on Sunday. Customers currently on holiday will be able to return on their intended flight home. However, budget airline EasyJet said it was "disappointed" and would operate a full schedule in the coming days. "Customers who no longer wish to travel can transfer their flights without a change fee or receive a voucher for the value of the booking," the company said in a statement. A spokesman for the Association of British Travel Agents (Abta) said the government's quarantine rule change was "disappointing". "We suggest the government considers lifting the quarantine rules for flights to and from certain regions with lower infection rates, or to places such as the Balearic Islands or the Canaries - which are geographically distinct from mainland Spain - to avoid further damage to the UK inbound and outbound tourism industries," he said. Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted that the decision was made after reviewing the latest data earlier on Saturday. "This reinforces the point that these matters are subject to change at short notice and so my advice is to be cautious about non-essential foreign travel," she said. Are you in Spain? Are you planning to travel to Spain? What do you think about the quarantine? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. 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  Published Date: 2020-07-26 

 New coronavirus quarantine rules have come into force in the UK, requiring travellers arriving from Spain to self-isolate for 14 days. So how have holidaymakers reacted to the changes? Image copyright Michael Wilson Image caption Michael Wilson and his Spanish girlfriend are on a two-week trip to visit her family in Seville Michael Wilson, from Leeds, told the BBC the new rules would prevent his girlfriend from being able to work, and probably result in no salary for the isolation period. The couple have been in Seville in southern Spain since 19 July, visiting her family. Mr Wilson said he felt it was unfair to impose quarantine measures on people entering the UK from Spain - due to the high level of compliance with coronavirus measures he has observed during his visit. "On our occasional trips out I have observed 100% compliance with quarantine rules," he said. "Everybody is wearing masks, not shaking hands and so on. "People entering the UK from Spain pose significantly less risk to people in the UK than the 99% of the UK's population that show a total disregard for lockdown and social distancing measures." Cancelled birthday surprise Image copyright Lois Stothard Image caption Lois Stothard had planned a surprise trip for boyfriend James Allott but has had to cancel Lois Stothard, from South Yorkshire, said she had booked a holiday to Seville as a surprise for her boyfriend's 30th birthday - due to fly out on Sunday morning - but now feels that she cannot travel. "I'm a key worker - I'm a teacher - and my boyfriend has work commitments so we cannot quarantine for 14 days when we return," she said. "We can't get any money back and to change the company want double what I've already paid in fees. "I'm very disappointed and upset as we're packed and ready to go." One night holiday Image copyright Andras Szigeti Image caption Dr Andras Szigeti will return home on Sunday after one night away as he cannot afford to quarantine Dr Andras Szigeti, from Chelmsford, Essex, arrived in Spain with his partner on Saturday for a holiday, after working throughout the lockdown as a key worker. But three minutes after they landed in Malaga, the couple received the news that they must self-isolate for 14 days upon their return to the UK. "Since I am a private doctor and I am the main bread winner in the family, I cannot allow myself to lose half of my monthly salary," Dr Szigeti said. "So we decided to return tomorrow and use at least part of my holiday as quarantine." Dr Szigeti said they were "devastated" as the trip to Malaga had been booked as an alternative to visiting their families in Hungary, which has imposed entry requirements for people arriving from the UK. "Now we have changed our flights for the third time and all together paid £600 for our one night trip to the sun," he said. Trapped in UK? Image copyright Caren Joyce Image caption Caren Joyce with her two children, who were excited to see their grandparents Caren Joyce, who lives in Alicante, Spain, is due to fly into London Gatwick on Monday, with her two teenage children, to visit her parents. Ms Joyce said she still intended to travel because she did not want to disappoint her parents, both in their 70s, who have "had many ups and downs and felt isolated" during the pandemic. But she called for greater clarity from the government about the new rules. "We are only in the UK for nine day, so how does this work," she said. "I have taken holiday from work to go and see my parents. "Are we allowed to return to our country of residence within this 14 days?" 'More flexible' policy Image copyright Lesya Liskevych Image caption Lesya Liskevych's view on a near-empty Playa de las Cucharas, Costa Teguise on Friday Meanwhile, Lesya Liskevych, from Reigate, told the BBC she believed the new quarantine rules should be "more flexible, based on the local data". Ms Liskevych, who is currently in Lanzarote with her husband, said: "Cases [here] are very low, masks are being worn, and it's not very busy and perfectly manageable to maintain social distancing as the beaches and towns are not busy at all." She added that they had encountered very few people and felt the area was "much lower risk than the hotspots in mainland Spain". The quarantine measures apply to those returning from mainland Spain, the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands, such as Majorca and Ibiza, however Foreign Office advice - which has ramifications for travel insurance - is to avoid all but essential travel to mainland Spain. People currently on holiday in Spain have been advised by the Department of Transport to follow the local rules, return home as normal, and check the Foreign Office's travel advice website for further information. 

  Published Date: 2020-07-26 

 Image copyright PA Media Image caption GPs will be encouraged prescribe cycling where appropriate Boris Johnson will set out his strategy to tackle obesity on Monday - including a 12-week plan for people to lose weight and GPs prescribing cycling. It comes after Public Health England research found that being overweight or obese puts people at greater risk of serious illness or death from Covid-19. Ministers estimate that about two-thirds of adults in the UK are above a healthy weight. Labour said "radical action" on obesity was long overdue. It is not yet clear how much new money will be allocated to the anti-obesity drive. Mr Johnson has admitted that his own weight was a factor in how badly he suffered from coronavirus. The government estimates that overweight and obesity related conditions are costing the NHS more than £6bn each year. There were nearly 900,000 obesity related hospital admissions in 2018/19, with obesity a risk factor for chronic diseases including type 2 diabetes, some cancers, liver and respiratory disease. The "Better Health" campaign will aim to reach 35 million people in a bid "to help them lose weight and live healthier lives", the government said. This will be supported by a 12-week plan that people can use to develop healthier eating habits, get more active and lose weight. How big a problem is obesity in the UK? It's an issue that has grown in the last two decades - with obesity rates rising steeply in England between 1993 and 2000 and continuing to go up more gradually in the years since then. In 2018 official statistics show around 36% of the adult population in England were overweight and 28% were obese. And the burden is not shared equally across society - people living in deprived areas are more likely to be admitted to hospital with a condition related to obesity. What's clear is that it can start in childhood. In England one in ten children in reception year are obese and that rises to one in five by the end of primary school. That's why the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health has described obesity as "one of the greatest threats" to children and society as a whole. And these problems are not unique to England - with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland experiencing very similar levels. But around the world the picture does vary. Less than 10% of adults in South Korea and Japan are obese, compared to 40% in the US. Boris Johnson will be hoping that his new measures will move the UK closer to healthier nations. A government spokesman said: "Covid-19 has given us all a wake-up call of the immediate and long-term risks of being overweight, and the prime minister is clear we must use this moment to get healthier, more active and eat better. "We will be urging the public to use this moment to take stock of how they live their lives, and to take simple steps to lose weight, live healthier lives, and reduce pressure on the NHS." Image copyright Getty Images Under the plans, NHS weight loss services will be expanded so more people get support, and GPs will be encouraged to prescribe cycling in pilot areas identified as having poor health outcomes. Surgeries will provide access to bikes and ministers are promising local cycling infrastructure will be improved. This may include segregated cycle lanes, low traffic neighbourhoods and secure cycle parking. The government is also expected to ban junk food adverts online and before 21:00 on TV, while promotions on snacks will be curbed. According to the Daily Mail, restaurant and takeaway chains will have to publish the number of calories in the meals they serve - while shops will have to do the same with any alcohol they sell. Labour's shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said the UK was facing an "obesity crisis". "Radical action on obesity is long overdue. Years of Tory cuts to public health budgets and the backsliding on a pre-watershed ban on junk food advertising have left us with some of the worst rates of childhood obesity anywhere in the world," he said. 

  Published Date: 2020-07-26 

 Image copyright PA Image caption Most motorways have a 50mph limit through roadworks Speed limits through most roadworks on England's motorways will be raised to increase traffic flow and ease driver "frustrations". Highways England says raising the limit to 60mph from the usual 50mph comes after "extensive research and trials". The AA welcomed the move, saying it would reduce journey times and help reduce tailgating by motorists. Previously, unions have said increasing speeds through roadworks will put the safety of workers at risk. Limits will not necessarily be increased at every set of roadworks. Depending on the road layout and the work being done, 40mph and 50mph restrictions will continue to be used in places. Image copyright PA Image caption The AA claims 60mph can be safer than 50mph Government-owned Highways England has tested increased speeds, including through roadworks between junctions 13 and 16 of the M1. It found the journey time for the 24-mile route was reduced by an average of 68 seconds. Chief executive Jim O'Sullivan said: "Road users understand that roadworks are necessary, but they are frustrated by them, so testing 60mph has been about challenging the norm while ensuring the safety of our people working out there and those using our roads. "We have a huge programme of work planned, so being able to use 60mph where safe will continue to improve everybody's experience of our roads." 'Several deaths' AA president Edmund King claimed driving at 60mph "is often safer than driving at 50mph". He said: "Sticking at 50mph often leads to other drivers tailgating in order to try to force vehicles to pull over. "Plus we have very long stretches of roadworks such as the 32 miles being converted to smart motorway on the M4 between junctions 3 and 12, where 60mph would seem much more appropriate." The 10mph increase was suggested in 2017. At the time, the Unite union said: "Sadly, in recent years there have been several deaths of motorway workers and these changes will make their work even more dangerous. "Already motorists frequently drive into coned-off areas. At increased speeds, it will make such potentially lethal accidents even more common." 

  Published Date: 2020-07-26 

 Here are five things you need to know about the coronavirus outbreak this Sunday morning. We'll have another update for you on Monday. 1. Quarantine for travellers arriving from Spain New coronavirus travel rules have come into force, which dictate that travellers arriving in the UK from Spain must self-isolate for 14 days. The government implemented the new measures following a spike in coronavirus cases in Spain and warnings that a second wave could be imminent in the country. "Devastated" holidaymakers have spoken to the BBC about how they have been impacted by the changes. You can find out exactly what the rules are here. Image copyright EPA Image caption Many Britons have homes in Spain - and it is also popular with tourists 2. Boris Johnson's obesity crackdown strategy The prime minister will unveil his strategy to tackle obesity tomorrow - including 12-week plans to help people lose weight and cycling being prescribed by GPs. However, it is not yet clear how much new money will be allocated to the anti-obesity drive. Ministers estimate that about two-thirds of adults in the UK are above a healthy weight, and that overweight and obesity related conditions are costing the NHS more than £6bn each year. Image copyright PA Media Image caption GPs will be encouraged prescribe cycling where appropriate 3. Soft play centres 'face wipe out' The fun but tricky-to-clean indoor attraction, soft play centres, face being wiped out during the coronavirus pandemic - as one of the last industries to have a proposed opening date. In the last three weeks, at least 15 have closed their doors permanently and many more are set to follow. Thousands have signed a petition calling for more financial support for the UK's centres. The BBC has spoken to several business owners about how they are coping. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Bye bye ball pools 4. False claims about vaccines debunked In the week that Oxford University announced promising results from its coronavirus vaccine trial, BBC Reality Check has been looking at claims on social media about vaccines and misleading statements about their safety. The anti-vaccination movement has gained traction online in recent years, and campaigners opposed to vaccination have moved their focus to making claims relating to the coronavirus. Image copyright SOPA Images 5. Want to work from home in Barbados? Bored of working from home? A new scheme launched by the government of Barbados, the Barbados Welcome Stamp, is giving international visitors the opportunity to work remotely on the island for up to a year. The Barbados remote work visa is open to qualifying applicants worldwide, for a payment of either £1,590 (US$2,000) per person, or £2,385 (US$3,000) per family. It is proving especially popular in the US, UK and Canada. Image caption Barbados says its new visa "lets you work remotely in paradise for up to a year" Get a longer coronavirus briefing from the BBC in your inbox, each weekday morning, by signing up here. And don't forget... You can find more information, advice and guides on our coronavirus indexon our live page. And with more people working from home as a result of the pandemic, we look at how some might be able to reduce their tax bill. What questions do you have about coronavirus? In some cases, your question will be published, displaying your name, age and location as you provide it, unless you state otherwise. Your contact details will never be published. Please ensure you have read our terms & conditions and privacy policy. Use this form to ask your question: 

  Published Date: 2020-07-26 

 Image copyright Shutterstock Image caption An early line-up of Fleetwood Mac (L-R): Peter Green, John McVie, Jeremy Spencer, Mick Fleetwood and Danny Kirwan Mick Fleetwood has led tributes to his "dearest friend" and co-founder of Fleetwood Mac, Peter Green. Fleetwood said they had "trail blazed one hell of a musical road for so many to enjoy". And Stevie Nicks, who joined the band five years after Green quit amid struggles with his mental health, said her biggest regret was not having shared a stage with him. Green, 73, died peacefully in his sleep, his family said on Saturday. Fleetwood said: "For me, and every past and present member of Fleetwood Mac, losing Peter Green is monumental. "No-one has ever stepped into the ranks of Fleetwood Mac without a reverence for Peter Green and his talent, and to the fact that music should shine bright and always be delivered with uncompromising passion." The 73-year-old added: "Peter, I will miss you, but rest easy your music lives on. I thank you for asking me to be your drummer all those years ago. We did good, and trail blazed one hell of a musical road for so many to enjoy. "God speed to you, my dearest friend." Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Peter Green performed at a charity event at London's Royal Albert Hall in 2004 Blues rock guitarist Green, from Bethnal Green in east London, formed Fleetwood Mac with drummer Fleetwood, bass guitarist John McVie and guitarist Jeremy Spencer in 1967. He wrote the instantly recognisable instrumental track Albatross, which remains the band's only number one hit, plus two other early hits, Black Magic Woman and Oh Well. And it was under Green's direction that they produced their first three albums. Green left the band after a last performance in 1970 as he struggled with his mental health. He was eventually diagnosed with schizophrenia and spent time in hospital in the mid-70s. Singer Nicks joined Fleetwood Mac with her then-boyfriend Lindsey Buckingham in 1975 and the band became one of the most successful in the world. "I am sorry to hear about the passing of Peter Green. My biggest regret is that I never got to share the stage with him. I always hoped in my heart of hearts that that would happen," she said. "When I first listened to all the Fleetwood Mac records, I was very taken with his guitar playing. It was one of the reasons I was excited to join the band. "His legacy will live on forever in the history books of Rock n Roll. It was in the beginning, Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac and I thank you, Peter Green, for that. You changed our lives." Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Mick Fleetwood, Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham, Christine McVie, John McVie in 1975 David Coverdale, the lead singer of Whitesnake, is among other musicians to pay tribute to a "truly loved and admired" artist. In a tweet, he said: "I supported the original Fleetwood Mac at Redcar Jazz Club when I was in a local band... he was a breathtaking singer, guitarist and composer. I know who I will be listening to today. RIP" Mumford and Sons guitarist Winston Marshall tweeted: "RIP Peter Green. #GOAT. Man of the world, oh well, albatross, need your love so bad. Some of my favourites songs and performances of all time. Thank you for the music." Actor David Morrissey praised Green's "fantastic soulful voice" while Black Sabbath's Geezer Butler described Green as "one of the greats". And Scottish musician Midge Ure tweeted: "One of the great ones gone. You taught me well." The singer-songwriter Cat Stevens, now known as Yusuf Islam, tweeted: "God bless the ineffable Peter Green, one of the unsung heroes of musical integrity, innovation and spirit. When I heard he left Fleetwood Mac in 1970 to get a real life and donate his wealth to charity, he became something of a model for me." Peter Green was one of the greatest Blues guitarists Britain ever produced. His shape-shifting riffs and long, improvisational excursions made Fleetwood Mac one of the most exciting live bands of the 1960s Blues explosion. He first picked up a hand-me-down guitar at the age of 10 and, like many of his peers, began to devour the import vinyl that trickled into the UK from the US. He studied the greats - Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy and BB King - combining their tensely coiled playing style with the shimmering vibrato of The Shadows' Hank Marvin. But he actually started his professional career as a bassist, until an encounter with Eric Clapton persuaded him to ditch the instrument. "I decided to go back on lead guitar after seeing him with the Bluesbreakers. He had a Les Paul, his fingers were marvellous. The guy knew how to do a bit of evil, I guess." He later had the seemingly impossible task of taking over from Clapton in John Mayall's Bluesbreakers. Fans were unconvinced at first, but after a handful of incendiary performances, he won them over, earning the nickname "The Green God". Read more here. Rolling Stone magazine ranked Green at number 58 in its all-time list of the 100 greatest guitarists, describing him as "Britain's most progressive blues guitarist" in his heyday. He was among the eight members of the band - along with Fleetwood, Nicks, Buckingham, Spencer, McVie, Christine McVie and Danny Kirwan - who were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. The news of his death comes days after Fleetwood Mac announced they would release a retrospective box set documenting the band's early years between 1969 and 1974. Green married Jane Samuels in January 1978. They divorced in 1979 and have a daughter. 

  Published Date: 2020-07-26 

 Grant Shapps, who drew up air corridor plans, caught up in move as he is holidaying in Spain The UK imposed restrictions on holidaymakers returning from Spain on Saturday night in a bid to curb the surge in coronavirus infections. The decision means those coming back from Spain will have to self­isolate for two weeks upon their return. The move, a blow to the government’s travel corridor scheme, followed a dramatic increase in the virus in Spain where nearly 1,000 infections have been reported in the past two days. Ministers removed Spain from the government’s list of countries to which it is safe to travel after the rise in Covid-19 cases. In a statement a transport department spokesman said: “The Joint Biosecurity Centre together with Public Health England updated their coronavirus assessments of Spain based on the latest data. As a result, Spain has been removed from the list of countries from which passengers arriving in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are exempted from the need to self-isolate. We’ve always been clear we would act immediately to remove a country where necessary.” Facebook Twitter Pinterest British tourists returning to the UK check in their luggage after the new quarantine rule was announced. Photograph: Borja Suarez/Reuters In a twist, Grant Shapps, the transport secretary who has been instrumental in drawing up the air corridor plans, was understood to be already holidaying in Spain, or to be in the process of travelling there. Tourists and travellers were told they could avoid the 14-day social isolation rules if they returned to the UK by 11pm on Saturday. Holidaymakers said on Saturday that they were left “shocked and confused” by the sudden news. Chloe Harris, 23, from Kent, booked a last-minute four-night stay in Lanzarote arriving on Friday. “When I heard the news I was shocked because I thought they would have given us some warning. Even some warning that this was something they were going to consider. “I think a lot of people are going to rush to the airport, but because we are only here for four days, and we only arrived this morning, it doesn’t seem worth it. I would probably be fine to continue working from home. However, my friend I travelled with is due to start a new job on 3 August and so that’s going to be difficult to explain to her employer.” Neil Hunter, 45, from Sittingbourne in Kent, was set to travel to Lanzarote on Tuesday on a trip booked last December. “Since this announcement, I’m unsure what’s going to happen as I work as a train driver, and I don’t think my employer will accept me having to isolate due to going on holiday.” He said he understood why the decision had been taken, but that it “is a lot of money and disappointing all the same”. Transport officials urged employers to be “understanding of those returning from Spain who now will need to self-isolate”. The Foreign Office said it was also recommending against all but essential travel to mainland Spain. Spain’s Canary and Balearic Islands were not covered by the advice to avoid travel, but are subject to the quarantine. A Spanish foreign ministry spokeswoman said Spain “respects decisions of the UK”. Spain’s exclusion from protected travel corridors will cause consternation in Madrid, dealing a heavy blow to a country trying to recoup its tourism season after the sector took a battering from virus lockdowns and travel restrictions. British tourists accounted for more than 20% of foreign visitors last year, the largest group by nationality. Tourism normally accounts for 12% of Spain’s economy. In Spain, critics were quick to point out that areas popular with UK tourists such as the Costa del Sol and Benidorm were not reporting infection surges. Catalonia became the latest region to crack down on nightlife. The north-eastern region ordered all nightclubs to close for 15 days and put a midnight curfew on bars in the Barcelona area and other towns that have become contagion hot zones. Catalonia reported 1,493 new coronavirus cases and three deaths yesterday. The regional government urged residents of Barcelona to stay at home. Britain is not alone in tightening restrictions on travellers from Spain. Germany said on Saturday it was also considering mandatory coronavirus tests for travellers returning from high-risk destinations including Spain, according to the health minister, Jens Spahn. Norway reimposed a 10-day quarantine requirement for people arriving from Spain on Saturday. In an interview with CNN on Friday, the foreign minister, Arancha González Laya, said Spain was one of the countries with the “most controls and mechanisms for identifying outbreaks” and played down suggestions of a second wave of Covid-19. “We’re not worried; we’re identifying cases and isolating them to cut off transmission,” she said. 

  Published Date: 2020-07-26 

 The Grenfell Tower fire inquiry must include a separate investigation into how “race and class” contributed to the tragedy, according to a group supporting more than a third of the deceased. The organisation, which represents 28 of the 72 individuals who died in the fire, submitted a statement on 21 July to the inquiry chairman, judge Sir Martin Moore-Bick, to request that an extra module be added to the inquiry to examine if the cost-cutting measures that helped spread the fire would have been sanctioned “if the tower block was in an affluent part of the city for an affluent white population”. Currently there are eight modules, each covering a separate theme, in phase 2 of the inquiry which is examining why the fire happened. The statement, from the Grenfell Next of Kin group, accuses the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC), which was responsible for the tower, of “contemptuous disregard” in the decision-making that led to the tragedy. “Systemic racism goes deep to the heart of the problem that caused the catastrophe. Questions around race and social class is at the heart of this truth-seeking and we would be grateful if you can revisit it and add it as an extra module,” said the document. The submission follows a call in 2018 by Imran Khan QC, representing bereaved Grenfell families, for the inquiry not to overlook the role of race which they described as the “elephant in the room”. Police say they have ‘reasonable grounds’ to suspect that corporate manslaughter offences may have been committed by senior council executives. Photograph: Anselm Ebulue/Getty Images And when the inquiry reopened in July this year after a four-month suspension due to coronavirus, Leslie Thomas QC, who represents 23 clients, used his opening statement to stress that the 2017 fire was “inextricably linked with race”. Of the residents who died in the fire, 85% were from ethnic minorities. Official housing surveys have found that 40% of high-rise residents in the social rented sector are from BAME communities which make up 14% of the population. Meanwhile, unease continues to grow over the role of the RBKC in administering the £50m budget to assist the long-term recovery of the community. The five-year plan was designed to help survivors, bereaved and the wider community rebuild, but critics claim vast amounts have been spent with little oversight or impact. In an email sent on 21 July to Grenfell campaigners Barry Quirk, the chief executive of RBKC, explained the council needed to be heavily involved because it was supplying the funding and because there was a “legal requirement on us to monitor performance and ensure value for money”. However the email, seen by the Observer, also reveals the council might be open to the possibility of government intervention or giving a greater role to Nick Hurd, the Tory MP appointed as an independent adviser to Boris Johnson on Grenfell. “We would be happy for you to approach the government or the independent advisor to the prime minister to ask them to help identify a way forward. We will be entirely open to that possibility,” says Quirk. The council are criminals at the heart of our tragedy but now deciding our fate, which is shocking. Hisam Choucair, grieving relative of Grenfell victims The campaigners claim public funds have been spent on management costs with no benefit for the community, claims vigorously denied by the council. However Robyn Fairman, RBKC’s executive director for its Grenfell response, recently admitted there was a lack of transparency over how the money had helped people despite £6m having been given to the wider community. At a committee meeting last month he said: “In some ways you may not have seen where the money’s gone. That’s our problem.” Members of the Next of Kin group consider the council’s role in the recovery plan as an affront, as police say they have “reasonable grounds” to suspect that corporate manslaughter offences may have been committed by senior council executives. Hisam Choucair said he felt traumatised that RBKC was still involved in his life as he struggled to come to terms with the deaths of his mother, sister, three nieces and brother-in-law in the tragedy. “Why is recovery of the victims in the hands of a corporate suspect under investigation? It doesn’t make sense,” he said. “What’s really destroying me is that as far as we are concerned they’re at the heart of our tragedy but now deciding our fate. The government is allowing that to go on. It’s shameful,” added Choucair. RBKC said: “We work tirelessly to listen to the views of the bereaved, survivors and wider community so we are able to design and deliver services that are fitting for as many people as possible. Grenfell recovery rightly remains a priority for the council. We continue to listen and bereaved and survivors’ voices are central to every decision made in how the service evolves.” Council leader Elizabeth Campbell added: “We hope all the organisations and companies giving evidence help the inquiry get to the full unvarnished truth. We are committed to doing our very best to ensure lessons are learned.” Timeline 15 June 2017 Theresa May orders a public inquiry the day after the fire 14 September 2017 The inquiry is officially opened by retired judge, Sir Martin Moore-Bick 21 May 2018 Hearings begin with a 72-second silence for the victims 30 October 2019 Full report of first half of inquiry is published. It concludes cladding did not meet regulations and was the primary cause of the fire’s rapid spread 27 January 2020 The second phase begins. Emails reveal that several companies involved in the tower’s refurbishment knew the cladding was a fire risk 3 February 2020 Sessions delayed as corporate witnesses seek immunity from prosecution 17 March 2020 Coronavirus suspends inquiry 

  Published Date: 2020-07-26 

 Almost half the British public believes the Russian government interfered in the EU referendum and last year’s general election, according to a poll. The latest Opinium poll for the Observer found that 49% of voters think there was Russian interference in the Brexit referendum, with 23% disagreeing. Some 47% believed Russia interfered in the December general election. The poll findings come after the long-awaited publication of the report into Russian interference by parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee last week. It found that the government had not attempted to investigate potential Russian interference in the referendum. It said the UK had “badly underestimated” the Russian threat. Opinium asked people whether they thought there was any involvement from Russia in the last three general elections, the EU referendum and the Scottish referendum. For each, the public were more likely to think that the Russian government had interfered than that it had not. Two-fifths (40%) thought Russia had interfered in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum. Remainers were more likely (63%) to think that the Russian government interfered in the EU referendum than Leavers (39%). Asked about the 2019 general election, 70% of Lib Dem voters and 62% of Labour voters believed the Russian government interfered, compared with 39% of Conservative voters. However, even Conservative voters were more likely to believe that the Russian government interfered in that election (39%) than not (33%). Meanwhile, the poll found that the Tory lead over Labour had halved this week, from 8 points to 4 points. The Conservatives slipped two points to 42%, while Labour increased two points to 38%. The Lib Dems (6%) and Greens (4%) remain unchanged on last week. The government’s net approval rating for the handling of the pandemic worsened and has now dropped to a net approval of -15. Disapproval rose from 43% last week to 46% this week, while approval has fallen from 38% last week to 32% this week. Boris Johnson’s approval rating remains in negative figures, with 36% approving and 45% disapproving of his performance. His net rating had dropped from -4 last week to -8 this week. Opinium polled 2,002 people online from 23-24 July. 

  Published Date: 2020-07-26 

 Increasing numbers of middle-class parents are planning to desert state schools this coming September, over anxieties their children have “fallen behind” private school pupils during lockdown and growing fears about the threat of further disruption to state education next year. The Independent Schools Association told the Observer that it has noticed an upsurge in the number of what it describes as “high-aspirational, worried” parents of state school pupils looking for private school places in September, while the Independent Association of Prep Schools said demand had increased considerably during recent weeks. More than a dozen headteachers at private schools contacted by the Observer said they had seen an extraordinary surge in inquiries from “unhappy” parents of state school pupils, with several schools across the country reporting a 20-30% increase in demand for places. In April, just 3% of state-funded primary and 6% of state-funded secondary schools managed to provide “live” online lessons for students with their teachers, compared to 59% of private primary and 72% of private secondary schools, according to a survey by Teacher Tapp. “Many affluent middle-class families sending their children to state schools have become aware and often concerned about the digital divide between state and private sector,” said Diane Reay, emeritus professor of education at Cambridge University. “Fleeing to the private sector is an easier option than campaigning for state schools to be properly resourced and equipped, which is what should be happening. The state sector has always been the poor relation in education – around 25% of education spending goes on the 7% who are privately educated – but more middle-class flight will impoverish the sector more.” Reay warned that the social class gap between private and state school pupils will widen as a result of the pandemic, and a compounding parallel gap in achievement will also open up. “It is this that middle-class parents are becoming alarmed about. If the 7% are about to accelerate and amplify their educational advantage, then middle-class parents who have always felt ambivalent about the state sector will want to join them. That’s going to entrench class inequalities in education, as the privately educated move even further away in terms of their privilege and advantage.” Andrew McCleave, headteacher of Ballard School, an independent day school in the New Forest, said parents had been impressed by the school’s decision to provide a full timetable of lessons during lockdown, with the majority delivered by teachers online. As soon as the school closed, “we knew that we would be able to deliver our education that way. Our pupils have greater access to technology [than state school pupils]: if we want to do a Zoom lesson, we can pretty much guarantee that every one of our pupils will be able to access it, while state schools won’t be able to.” On much, much less funding than private schools, families of vulnerable children – and many others – were supported. Jules White, head teacher and leader of Worth Less? campaign He pointed out that private schools also have much smaller classes than state schools, and added that, compared to state schools he knew of, more of his teachers were actually available to teach online. “If staff are in school supervising key workers’ children, they can’t be delivering online lessons to children who aren’t in school. We had a few doctors among our parents, but we didn’t have a lot of key workers’ children in. That meant our staff could deliver live lessons to everyone.” He agreed with Reay that inequalities are being cemented and an academic gap is opening up between private and state school pupils. “There’s no way that the children who are getting online lessons from independent schools are not going to be at an advantage … Because they’ve been taught and others haven’t.” Jules White, headteacher and leader of the Worth Less? campaign for more state school funding, said the idea that state schools had somehow failed parents and pupils was “very odd”. “Throughout the crisis, state schools were instrumental in protecting children of low-paid key workers, students from disadvantaged backgrounds and those with special educational needs. On much, much less funding than private schools, families of vulnerable children – and many others – were supported.” The Department for Education said the government had invested more than £100m supporting remote education, and launched Oak National Academy to provide online lessons to pupils during lockdown. A spokesperson said: “Schools and teachers have gone to great lengths over recent months to support and educate children at home and in the classroom.” He added: “Our £1bn Covid catch-up fund will help all children to make up for the impact lost time in school has had on their education.”