The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
First UK cases of Manaus variant identified
Officials have identified the first UK cases of the Manaus variant of coronavirus, a new strain that may spread more rapidly and respond less well to existing vaccines.
Public Health England (PHE) said yesterday that six cases of the concerning P.1 variant first detected in the Brazilian city have been confirmed in Britain, three in England and three in Scotland.
Two cases were confirmed in South Gloucestershire but the third English case has not been located and could be anywhere in the nation, as PHE says the person did not complete their test registration card, so their contact details are unavailable.
Anyone who took a test on February 12 or 13 and has not received a result, or has an uncompleted test registration card, is being asked to come forward immediately.
Critics said the development exposed the “weaknesses” in the border protections against new strains and condemned the government for delaying toughening restrictions.
The Scottish Government said three residents who returned to north-east Scotland from Brazil, via Paris and London, subsequently tested positive for Covid-19.
The tests, completed in early February, were passed to the UK’s sequencing programme and were identified as being the Manaus variant.
Officials are contacting the other passengers on their flight from London to Aberdeen.
The World Health Organisation has been informed of the cases, which have been designated “of concern” as it shares key mutations with the variant detected in South Africa.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney has been threatened with a vote of no confidence over his refusal to publish the Scottish Government’s legal advice in relation to Alex Salmond’s judicial review.
On two occasions, MSPs have voted to compel the Scottish Government to produce legal advice taken as part of the legal challenge brought by Mr Salmond over its harassment complaints procedure, but ministers have so far not handed the advice over.
In a letter to Linda Fabiani, the convener of the committee looking into the handling of complaints against Mr Salmond, in December, Mr Swinney said he was keen to find a “practical way” that the advice could be handed over to the committee, but no such arrangement has been put in place.
The Scottish Tories, with the backing of other opposition parties, have threatened to lodge a motion of no confidence unless the advice is published.
Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross said the move was to give the Scottish Government “one last chance”.
He said: “Twice opposition parties united to call for the legal advice to be released. The crossparty Holyrood committee have pleaded with the government to produce it.
“The government said they would listen but they clearly have not. The legal advice remains hidden.
“This evidence is crucial to uncovering the specific mistakes that lost more than £500,000 of taxpayers’ money and let the women at the heart of this investigation down.
“We urge other opposition parties to support this move. It is not about politics, it’s about getting to the truth of what happened. Without the evidence, that will not happen.”
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said: “There is a simple way for John Swinney to avoid another no confidence vote and that is to release the legal advice as Parliament has twice made very clear it expects him to do.
“The Scottish Government have gone out of their way to obstruct the investigation into their handling of some very serious allegations.
“This displays contempt for our Parliament and a casual disregard for all
those who have raised concerns or are considering whether to do so in the future.”
If the motion goes to a vote, it would be the second time in less than a year that Mr Swinney would face such a debate on his position.
In August, the deputy first minister, who also holds the education portfolio, came under heavy criticism from opposition parties over a scandal that developed around the qualifications process put in place as a result of Covid-19.
Coronation Street star Johnny Briggs, famous for his role as ladies’ man Mike Baldwin, has died aged 85. The actor was a fixture on the cobbles, making his name as the Cockney businessman, for 30 years and becoming one of the ITV soap’s most memorable characters.
A statement from his family said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our father, Johnny Briggs.
“He passed away peacefully this morning after a long illness, with family by his side. He was 85.
“We politely ask for privacy at this time, so that we can quietly grieve as a family and remember the wonderful times we had with him.”
The Coronation
Street
Twitter account paid tribute, saying the Baldwin character was “one of the most iconic the Street has ever known”.
His storylines included an affair, in the early 1980s, that gripped the nation.
Deirdre (Anne Kirkbride) and Mike had an illicit relationship two years into her marriage to Ken Barlow (William Roache), but she decided to stay with her husband.
Briggs made his Corrie debut as Baldwin in 1976 and remained on the cobbles until 2006.
His character’s death, of a heart attack and having suffered from a form of Alzheimer’s, was watched by 12 million viewers and was described as a “historic moment in the Street’s history”. The factory boss died in the arms of Barlow, his nemesis.
Roache, who played Barlow, was among the many Coronation Street stars to remember their former co-star.
“Mike Baldwin and Ken Barlow were arch enemies for many years, but as an actor, Johnny was impeccable, always good, and I was so fortunate to have worked with him for so many years,” he said in a statement to the PA news agency.
“He was a character who greatly missed.
“I send my love to Johnny on his journey and to all those who are bound to miss him, he was an iconic Coronation Street character. Love you Johnny! X”
Following his Alzheimer’s storyline, Briggs, who began performing aged 12, backed a fundraising strong will be appeal with the Alzheimer’s Society to help people affected by the disease.
Coronation Street star Helen Worth, who plays Gail Platt, was among those paying tribute.
“I am very sorry to hear the sad news,” she said in a statement.
“I have many happy memories of working together with Johnny.
“Mike Baldwin was one of the street’s most memorable characters.”
John Whiston, managing director of continuing drama and head of ITV in the north, said the actor brought a charisma to the role which made it “very hard to look at anyone else”.
“The whole Coronation Street family is deeply saddened by the death of Johnny Briggs,” he said in a statement.