Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

As it happenedended

Coronavirus news - live: Review finds death rate higher among ethnic minorities as MPs queue up to vote for 'insane' return to Westminster

Follow the latest updates

Coronavirus: UK death toll rises by 324 to 39,369

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Health secretary Matt Hancock has vowed to “get to the bottom” of the reason BAME people are disproportionately likely to die as a result of Covid-19 following the release of a report which showed high ethnic minority deaths from the virus in the UK.

It comes as the official UK death toll rose by 324 to almost 40,000 in the latest set of figures from the Department of Health and Social Care – with the total fatality figure likely to exceed 40,000 in the coming days.

Elsewhere, lockdown measures are being lifted in many countries, with restaurants and bars able to open today in France for the first time since March, while Nigeria is to reopen places of worship and Slovakia is to open indoor sports centres and pools. Around the world, there have been more than 6.3m known cases and more than 377,000 deaths as a result of the virus – according to a tally kept by Johns Hopkins University.

Please allow the live blog a moment to load...

The Welsh government has put out a statement on Covid-19 and the Black Lives Matter protests.

Harry.Cockburn2 June 2020 10:50
Harry.Cockburn2 June 2020 11:15

Borrowers who are taking a three-month mortgage payment holiday will be able to extend it for another three months, or start making reduced payments, the City regulator has confirmed.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said it will press ahead with proposals it had previously made to extend support for people who are either coming to the end of a payment holiday or who are yet to request one.

For customers still experiencing temporary payment difficulties due to coronavirus, the options will include a full or part payment holiday for a further three months.

People yet to apply for a payment holiday have until October 31 to do so.

Harry.Cockburn2 June 2020 11:27

Crowds of people have gathered at Dublin Zoo as it reopened to limited numbers.

A maximum of 500 people are permitted at any one time and strict social distancing measures will ensure the safety of visitors and staff, the director of the animal enclosure said.

Harry.Cockburn2 June 2020 11:28
Harry.Cockburn2 June 2020 11:35

Ofcom has released updated research on access to information in coronavirus and conspiracy theories

Read the document here.

Harry.Cockburn2 June 2020 11:36

Boris Johnson is facing a Tory revolt over controversial plans to end online voting in Parliament, which could exclude vulnerable MPs from fully representing their constituents during the coronavirus crisis.

Senior Conservatives including select committee chairs and a former Cabinet minister have tabled amendments to Government plans to force all MPs to vote in person when they return on Tuesday.

MPs have been able to either attend Parliament in person or contribute online during the pandemic, but Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg plans to bring this to an end in a move criticised by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).

When returning from recess, MPs will have to vote on the proposal which could see them forming kilometre-long queues in order to obey social distancing rules - despite the Lords planning a move online.

Harry.Cockburn2 June 2020 11:39
Harry.Cockburn2 June 2020 11:54
Harry.Cockburn2 June 2020 11:56

The Metropolitan Police have confirmed they are “assessing” an allegation involving housing secretary Robert Jenrick and his decision to green light a controversial £1bn east London development.

Mr Jenrick has admitted “unlawfully” approving the 1,500-home development on London’s Isle of Dogs at the start of this year.

He gave the project an eleventh-hour reprieve after it was rejected by the local council and the independent Planning Inspectorate.

Read the full story here.

Harry.Cockburn2 June 2020 11:58

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in