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Humphrys is not a fan of Boris Johnson
John Humphrys has said he is “not a fan” of Boris Johnson and cannot understand what the PM gained from his elite education. Mr Humphrys was obliged to keep his personal views to himself for his more than 30 years at the BBC due to the broadcaster’s rules on impartiality. However, in his new role as a presenter for Classical FM and columnist, the 76-year-old is now free to pontificate on any number of subjects.
Speaking in an interview with Times Radio due to be broadcast today, Mr Humphrys admitted he had not voted for the current resident of No 10. “I’ve not been a fan of Johnson,” he said, adding: “I can say that now, I couldn’t say that a year ago, could I?”
“I don’t trust him. Apart from anything else, I don’t trust him and you have to be able to trust politicians,” Mr Humphrys added. The veteran newscaster went on to say Mr Johnson was “great at the bluster but he’s not too good when it comes to delivering”. Mr Humphrys said that he could not see what benefit the PM
had been afforded by his elite education – having attended the renowned Eton private school and Oxford University’s Balliol College.
1,000 people apply for receptionist job in 24 hours
Almost 1,000 people applied for one receptionist job in 24 hours, offering an insight into the state of the post-lockdown job market. The 20 Stories restaurant, operated by upmarket operator D&D, had opened up calls for a receptionist role on Monday, the firm’s director of people Carol Cairnes told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. After expecting to receive about 30 responses, the firm attracted the interest of 963 people by the following morning.
“Going through the candidates who applied, we could see there were a lot of very talented and highlyqualified people that applied for the role, including some restaurant general managers”, Ms Cairnes added. It comes amid a turbulent period for the hospitality sector, with pubs, bars and restaurants among the businesses forced to shut up shop for the longest stretch of time during lockdown.
Pedestrian killed by van ‘fleeing’ stabbing at pub
A pedestrian has died after being hit by a van believed to have been fleeing the scene of a stabbing in southeast London. Officers were called to a pub in Chislehurst at about 8.50pm on Friday following reports of men fighting.
A few minutes later, a man was killed by a van less than a mile from the scene. The van did not stop and was later found abandoned close to where the collision occurred. Two men were found at the nearby Gordon Arms pub with stab injuries and were taken to hospital. Their injuries are not believed to be lifethreatening.
Police uncover £1.2m cannabis farm in Oldham
A cannabis farm worth an estimated £1.2m has been uncovered by police in Oldham. Officers who raided the building discovered around 3,000 plants across multiple rooms. A 36-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of the cultivation of marijuana. Greater Manchester Police said cannabis farms on such a scale are operated by organised criminals “who use the profits from such grows to further their criminality”.
Grandparents save children £3,800 a year in childcare
Grandparents caring for their grandchildren are saving families nearly £4,000 a year, a survey suggests. Research by the Bank of Scotland found that coronavirus has made parents realise how much they relied on grandparents for childcare before the pandemic. More than 40 per cent of families surveyed said they depended on grandparents for childcare. In the UK, professional childcare costs an average of just over £8 an hour, the study found. Meanwhile, grandparents who offer childcare spend roughly nine hours a week doing so, which amounts to offering £3,770-worth of care throughout the year.