Boris Johnson is under pressure to explain how and when the costs were met for the refurbishment of his private flat above 11 Downing Street According to Boris Johnson’s former chief adviser, Dominic Cummings, the prime minister had devised a plan to have donors “secretly pay for the renovation”, which he regarded as “possibly illegal”. […]
Author: Jake Hardy
Our Covid Heroes: Gloucestershire cleaner on how Covid has affected her
With the pandemic going on all around us, many are locked down inside our homes, staying safe. There are, however, unsung heroes who are putting themselves at risk to keep the country moving. In this feature article, I interview Elena Page, who is a cleaner at the South Gloucestershire Council. Of course, because of the […]
Review: Strictly Come Dancing – Under Lockdown
Despite the lockdown, the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing is still as great, bright, and entertaining as ever. I’ll admit, there are a fair few problems with this series, but they have really done well, despite the circumstances. In this review, I will be going through the episode and explain what I liked, and disliked, about […]
Ten classic songs to listen to this lockdown
What better way to get through lockdown than by listening to ten of the greatest songs to ever exist. Music is something that transcends borders, and is a universal language. That is what makes it so great. Without further ado, let’s jump straight into songs you must listen to this lockdown. Bon Jovi – Have […]
O2 switches on 5G in Cheltenham
Mobile operator O2 has turned on the 5G connection for various towns around the UK, including Cheltenham. O2 has said that 5G will now be available in 150 towns and it would continue the roll out across the UK. They aim to give coverage to many urban areas. The views on this rollout are mixed, […]
Criminal justice watchdogs warn of ‘grave concerns’ over backlog of 54,000 crown court cases due to covid-19
Four criminal justice watchdogs have concerns over the “unprecedented and very serious” court case backlog in England and Wales, due to the covid-19 pandemic. In a joint report, inspectorates for policing, prisons, probation, and prosecutions claim that “unprecedented and very serious court backlogs constitute the greatest risk to criminal justice and the ripple effects across […]
How covid-19 has affected something as simple as my supermarket experience
Jake Hardy takes a look at how covid has changed even the simplest of things: his shopping It was a strange experience entering Lidl for the first time during the lockdown. What normally was a fairly peaceful atmosphere, had become more tense and felt more like a rush to buy your food and leave. Certain […]
Government job scheme sees youth employment rise
A government scheme aimed at tackling joblessness among the youth caused by the pandemic has helped to create over 19,000 work placements so far, claim the Treasury. The scheme which had been initially announced in July, has many of its young people starting their placements this week. It comes as youth unemployment between the ages […]
Cheltenham Royal British Legion fears over drop in poppy sales
Each November, many tributes are paid to soldiers as part of the annual acts of remembrance. It is estimated that the Royal British Legion has roughly 20% of its usual number of donation boxes in shops due to the pandemic. Roy Roberts, Chairman of the Royal British Legion’s Cheltenham Branch, said: “It’s very sad… it […]