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1. Boris Johnson loses Tory support as storm develops around Downing Street garden party

Boris Johnson must resign if he breaks lockdown rules, Tory politicians warned Tuesday as support for the prime minister waned following further allegations from the Downing Street party.

A poll found 66% of voters want Mr Johnson to step down after it emerged that a Number 10 garden party took place in May 2020 – at the height of the first lockdown. Read the full story.

2. Scientists believed Covid had fled from the Wuhan laboratory – but feared the debate would undermine “international harmony”

Prominent British and American scientists believed it was likely that Covid had accidentally leaked from a lab, but feared the continued debate could harm science in China, emails say.

An email from Sir Jeremy Farrar, director of the Wellcome Trust, on February 2, 2020, said “a likely explanation” was that Covid had rapidly evolved from a Sars-like virus inside human tissue in a low security laboratory. Read the full story.

3. The deployment of the smart highway will be interrupted with the launch of the safety review

The deployment of smart highways must be halted as the government launches a review of their safety.

Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, will suspend construction on all new all-lane roads, preventing some of England’s busiest highways from being removed from the emergency lane. Read the full story.

4. The English rugby star “arrested on suspicion of rape”

An English rugby player has been arrested on suspicion of raping a teenage girl who was allegedly drugged.

Officers rushed to arrest the player on Sunday following reports of an attack at a nightclub the day before. The athlete, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was interviewed along with a 41-year-old woman. The woman had been arrested on suspicion of administering a substance with the intent of causing a sexual offense. Read the full story.

5. Investment star Terry Smith attacks Unilever for its “ridiculous” emphasis on social and environmental issues

One of Britain’s best-known investors has attacked Unilever for its ‘ridiculous’ emphasis on sustainability, a sign of the city’s growing frustration with leading companies championing trendy causes.

Terry Smith, manager of the £ 29 billion Fundsmith Equity fund, said the consumer goods giant had become “obsessed” with its public image and mocked its efforts to permeate brands such as Hellman’s Mayonnaise. of a higher goal. Read the full story.

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