COVID-19

Where (and how) you are most likely to catch COVID.

— We have quantified how the different influences on transmission change your risk of getting COVID-19. The actual risk will depend on specific parameters.

UK Politics

How to oust a Tory leader: The rules explained.

— Everything you need to know about Conservative leadership contests.

COVID-19

Omicron: Viral load can be at its highest at day five so cutting isolation period doesn’t make sense.

— Are economic drivers the reason for the reduced isolation period in the UK? What evidence is the government using on which this reduction is based?

Downing Street Parties

Is the party over for Boris Johnson? This polling detail suggests it could well be.

— There is a clear route out of the Boris Johnson problem for Tory MPs – namely to remove the prime minister and hope for a recovery in the polls by electing a new leader.

Downing Street Parties

Boris Johnson’s Downing Street party apology: Three key takeaways.

— Boris Johnson is sort of sorry – but the caveats are key. There is little doubt that his apology only occurred because the PM had no other choice – the evidence was too strong. But we can be sure that he will stick to this argument like glue.

Brexit

Brexiters now worry about the judgment of history.

— Professor Chris Grey’s analysis on the recent spate of Brexiter anxiety about Brexit realities, the conundrum this poses for Boris Johnson, and why it matters so much to Brexiters – and to all of us.

COVID-19

How to make sense of the UK’s new testing rules.

— Understanding the difference between COVID tests can help explain why the rules keep changing.

Analysis

Capitol assault: The real reason Trump and the crowd almost killed US democracy.

— The moment that could have brought US democracy to its knees on January 6, 2021 was a genuine co-production between Trump and his supporters.

Analysis

Brexit returns to its roots.

— Professor Chris Grey unpicking Frost’s resignation, and arguing that it shows how Brexit events and policy are once again entirely about the toxic internal politics of the Conservative Party.

COVID-19

Omicron is likely to hit deprived areas the hardest.

— The fact omicron can overcome the wall of protection built up in deprived areas through high levels of prior infection means there is a risk inequalities are going to be repeated in the coming weeks and months.

COVID-19

Omicron: What the next few weeks will look like.

— New omicron cases are doubling approximately every two days in some parts of the UK, including London.

Brexit

Brexit: What the UK/EU customs changes mean for businesses from January 1.

— For a government that was elected on the motto of “getting Brexit done”, it is perhaps not so surprising that so little has been said about the upcoming changes.

COVID-19

COVID: How the disease moves through the air.

— Masks definitely catch some of the virus-laden aerosols and droplets – and that will reduce transmission between people and the number of cases of COVID-19.

Analysis

How much trouble is Boris Johnson in?

— Backbenchers are rattling their sabres and a brutal by-election loss has made it all so much worse for Boris Johnson.

Analysis

Stripping British citizenship: The government’s new bill explained.

— The new nationality and borders bill would give the government huge powers over British citizens as it could affect an estimated 6 million Britons who were born elsewhere or have another nationality.

Analysis

Conservative MP rebellion: ‘Human rights’ opposition to new COVID measures doesn’t add up.

— The libertarian Tory MPs’ revolt over new public health restrictions comes in stark contrast to their support of other draconian laws that violate human rights. We have rights by virtue of the fact that we are human, not simply because we are good citizens.