Also from this morning's Front Page newsletter: How to energy future-proof your home & Chris Martin to rescue of Ollie Robinson. Sign up be
He was one of the few people involved in high-level conversations about shutting down the country during Covid.
Now Rishi Sunak has said it was wrong to "empower scientists" in the pandemic, as he revealed how he spoke out in government about the costs of lockdown.
The former chancellor said he was banned from discussing the "trade-offs" of plunging the country into restrictions, such as missed doctor’s appointments and mounting NHS backlogs.
He claimed that he at times became "very emotional" about the damage closing schools would cause to children, but that his objections were met with a "big silence" from colleagues.
Read more of Mr Sunak’s recollections about discussions at the heart of government during the early days of the pandemic.
Energy industry regulator Ofgem will tomorrow make its latest announcement about the energy price-cap – the maximum that utility companies are allowed to charge their customers.
Prices are expected to soar: the latest grim forecasts predict that the typical UK household will be paying £4,266 a year for energy in January – that is 116 per cent more than the current £1,971. There are fears the situation will only get worse if Russia shuts off gas supplies to Europe.
Most families are simply expected to swallow this huge rise, with the aid of a £400 handout for every household from the Government.
But the good news is that we do not merely have to sit and wait to be hit by the encroaching bills. There are some things we can do now – for a certain outlay – to invest in energy-saving upgrades to our homes that will last for this winter, and beyond.
Alexa Phillips outlines the big-ticket upgrades to reduce the costs of running your home that are really worth the investment.
When the next prime minister is announced on September 5, they will come under pressure to act quickly and both candidates – Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss – have said they are examining ideas.
The Treasury is drawing up a suite of options for the new leader, understood to include giving the green light to fracking in order to cut energy costs next winter.
The Government is also considering Covid-style bailouts for small companies. Read where the candidates stand on the key issues.
PS: British homeowners in France will not be able to increase the rent on any property that leaks too much heat as part of a new climate law.
He might seem an unlikely saviour of English cricket, but Coldplay’s Chris Martin is giving it a go. The singer has come up with a solution to the fitness problems that have dogged the career of fast bowler Ollie Robinson.
When Robinson, who has not played for the Test side after the Ashes last winter over concern about his ability to last for a five-day game, attended a Coldplay gig last week, Martin met him backstage – and gave him a gift to improve his performance.
Robinson has been recalled to England’s side for the second Test against South Africa starting today.
In his latest cartoon, Matt sees the lighter side of Edinburgh’s mounting rubbish crisis. For more insight on Matt’s work, sign up to his newsletter.
Exam results | GCSE pupils whose education has been blighted by school closures during the pandemic are at risk of dropping out of sixth-form courses because of poor English and maths skills, an education leader has said. David Hughes, chief executive of the Association of Colleges, said he feared many students who passed when exams were made easier in the past two years would find their courses too difficult. As thousands of teenagers across the country receive their GCSE results, our guide explains what to expect and how to challenge grades.
Russian security forces are torturing personnel at the occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant to prevent them from telling UN inspectors about safety risks, workers there have told The Telegraph. The claims by serving and recently escaped workers come amid mounting fears that fighting near the Russian-seized facility could lead to a Chernobyl-style nuclear disaster. Sergio Olmos, in Zaporizhzhia, and senior foreign correspondent Roland Oliphant have our special report.
As the summer transfer window draws to a close, there are still many mooted deals with possible conclusions – positive or negative – that are imminent over the next few days. Our experts pick the Premier League’s 10 biggest unresolved potential deals. Meanwhile, Antonio Colak scored the winner as Rangers beat PSV Eindhoven 1-0 to reach the Champions League for the first time in 12 years. Read our match report.
Royal Mail is preparing to take on its striking trade union by tearing up a "groundbreaking" agreement to protect jobs and conditions that was signed when the company was privatised nine years ago. Senior sources told The Telegraph that executives and legal advisers have been collecting evidence to allow them to trigger the break clause in Royal Mail’s contract with the Communications Workers Union. In property, research suggests London prices will fall by 12pc over the next two years.
Lamb, dark apricot and chickpea tagine | This hearty dish by Xanthe Clay is packed full of nutritious ingredients. View the recipe.
Few nations love to explore the world quite like the British. Since the gilded days of the Grand Tour, we have flocked to every corner of Europe, and beyond, in search of enriching experiences. But what has changed beyond all recognition are our holiday habits. Whereas today’s tourists are chiefly concerned with suntans and Instagrammable photo opportunities, the travellers of yesteryear did things rather differently. Author Lucy Lethbridge reveals some of the most fascinating episodes from more than 200 years of globetrotting.
20 spellbinding weather phenomena | Photographers from 119 countries have submitted their best work for the Royal Meteorological Society’s Weather Photographer of the Year competition. From a double rainbow to a mock mirage, The Telegraph is showcasing some of the most spectacular images.
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