The former prime minister is appearing at the UK’s Covid-19 inquiry If you need a reminder of some of the decisions that were taken during lockdown, the Institute for Government has this PDF which shows a timeline from March 2020 to December 2021. This research briefing from the House of Commons library, published in September 2021, is a comprehensive guide to measures taken in parliament to do with the pandemic. The extent to which children and young people were considered as part of any preparedness and planning for a pandemic The extent to which children and young people were considered by the UK government and the devolved administrations in respect of the application of non-pharmaceutical Interventions (NPIs) and the impact of those decisions The impact of the pandemic on the education of, and the early years provision for, children and young people (including further and/or higher education, apprenticeships) The impact of the pandemic on children and young people’s physical and mental health, wellbeing, development, family lives and on their access to healthcare services The impact of the pandemic on children and young people in relation to access to and engagement with social care services and other agencies with a role in supporting the safety of children The impact of the pandemic on children and young people in contact with the criminal justice system including those in the youth custody estate, youth defendants and offenders and those whose parents or primary carers were in custody during the pandemic The impact of the pandemic on children and young people in contact with the immigration system The impact of the pandemic on children and young people in relation to their access to and use of the internet, social media and online resources The UK Covid-19 inquiry is a big investigation to understand what happened during the pandemic and what we could have done better. We are looking at how the pandemic affected children and young people from different backgrounds from across the UK. This includes children who need extra help at school, in life, or are new to our country. We also want to hear from teachers, parents and carers on what life was for children during the pandemic and what they wish could have been different. Continue reading...

The headlines focus on money, but the gigs were great and I think there are different ways to achieve progress. Art, especially comedy, can be part of that, says stand-up comedian, Omid Djalili.

MP says she faced ‘baseless attacks’ over paid membership portal, which Corbyn told supporters not to use Zarah Sultana has consulted defamation lawyers after her public spat with Jeremy Corbyn over the launch of a paid membership system for the party they were to co-lead. Sultana said she has been on the receiving end of “politically motivated” attacks amid the row that has engulfed the launch of Your Party. Corbyn had previously urged people not to use the “supposed membership portal”, and said legal advice was being taken over its launch. Continue reading...