Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Covid jabs may become ‘compulsory for healthcare workers,' says UK vaccine minister

Covid jabs may become ‘compulsory for healthcare workers,' says UK vaccine minister

THE BRITISH government is “absolutely thinking about” making the Covid-19 jab compulsory for healthcare workers to stop the spread of coronavirus in hospitals, vaccine deployment minister Nadhim Zahawi said on Sunday (30).

"It would be incumbent on any responsible government to have the debate, to do the thinking as to how we go about protecting the most vulnerable by making sure that those who look after them are vaccinated,” Zahawi told Sky News, noting that all surgeons get vaccinated for Hepatitis B.


Zahawi’s statement comes days after the government finished a consultation on making the jab compulsory for care homes staff. Final plans to oblige care home workers to be vaccinated have already been discussed for months and maybe approved this week.

NHS figures show about 88 per cent of healthcare workers have had at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.

Zahawi’s idea of compulsory jabs for NHS workers is raising concerns among experts who are pointing out that number of unvaccinated NHS staff is already "very small and decreasing" and the way ahead is to understand people's concerns and to "address those concerns.”

"All the concerns can be met if you have that quality of conversation," Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, said.

A senior Labour frontbencher also pointed out that "threatening" NHS staff would be less effective than working with those who had doubts about the jab.

"Given we have got a recruitment crisis in parts of the NHS, I think it's far more important we try and work with staff rather than against them,” shadow Commons leader Thangam Debbonaire said. “Threatening staff, I don't think, is a good idea.”

The proposal to make Covid-19 vaccines compulsory for NHS staff was discussed in March as well. According to media reports, about 200,000 NHS and care employees had refused the offer of the Covid-19 vaccine at the time.

More For You

Epping protests

The protests outside the Bell Hotel in Epping triggered a series of demonstrations across the country during heightened tensions over immigration. (Photo: Getty Images)

Asylum seeker convicted of sex assaults case that led to protests

AN ETHIOPIAN asylum seeker, whose arrest in July led to protests outside a hotel near London where he and other migrants were housed, has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a teenage girl and another woman.

The protests outside the Bell Hotel in Epping, about 20 miles (30 km) from London, triggered a series of demonstrations across the country during heightened tensions over immigration.

Keep ReadingShow less
Angela-Rayner-Getty

Rayner, 45, announced she would step down as deputy prime minister, housing minister and deputy leader of the Labour Party. (Photo: Getty Image)

Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner resigns after admitting tax mistake

Highlights

  • Rayner steps down after admitting underpaying property tax
  • Resigns as deputy prime minister, housing minister and Labour deputy leader
  • Becomes eighth minister to leave Starmer’s government, and the most senior so far
  • Her departure comes as Labour trails Reform UK in opinion polls

DEPUTY prime minister Angela Rayner resigned on Friday after admitting she had underpaid property tax on a new home. Her resignation is a fresh setback for prime minister Keir Starmer, who had initially stood by her.

Keep ReadingShow less
Migrants boat
Migrants swim to board a smugglers' boat in order to attempt crossing the English channel off the beach of Audresselles, northern France. (Photo: Getty Images)

UK pauses refugee family reunion route amid migration reforms

Highlights:

  • Refugee family reunion scheme suspended as part of migration reforms
  • Nearly 21,000 visas issued in the past year, mainly to women and children
  • New rules to include contribution requirements and longer waiting periods
  • Government expects first migrant returns to France later this month

THE GOVERNMENT has announced it is suspending a scheme that allowed families of refugees in the UK to apply to join their relatives, as part of efforts to cut irregular migration.

Keep ReadingShow less
Angela-Rayner-Reuters

Angela Rayner arrives for a cabinet meeting at Downing Street on September 2, 2025. (Photo credit: Reuters)

Rayner's future uncertain as report on stamp duty case expected soon

DEPUTY prime minister Angela Rayner is awaiting the outcome of an investigation into her underpayment of stamp duty on a property in East Sussex, with the findings expected soon.

Prime minister Keir Starmer said he anticipated the report, led by ethics adviser Sir Laurie Magnus, would be delivered “pretty quickly.” He added: “Then, of course, I will act on whatever the report is that's put in front of me.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Minouche Shafik

Shafik served as deputy governor for markets and banking at the Bank of England between August 2014 and February 2017.

Reuters

Starmer appoints Minouche Shafik as chief economic adviser in reshuffle

Highlights:

  • Minouche Shafik named chief economic adviser to Keir Starmer.
  • Darren Jones moves into Downing Street role; James Murray replaces him.
  • Nin Pandit to lead a reformed Downing Street Delivery Team.
  • Vidhya Alakeson given expanded responsibilities over policy and delivery.

PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer has named Minouche Shafik, a former deputy governor of the Bank of England, as his chief economic adviser. The appointment comes as he looks to strengthen his team ahead of what is expected to be a difficult end to the year.

Keep ReadingShow less