The Telegraph Frontpage of 2023 March 08

By Sam Hall & Matthew Robinson Good evening. The chairman of the health select committee lobbied the head of the NHS on behalf of a firm paying him £1,600 a month, The Telegraph can reveal as part of The Lockdown Files. The Lockdown Files, reveals Sir Chris Whitty advised ministers that a Covid vaccine could not be fast-tracked because the virus was not deadly enough in the early days of the pandemic. We also have the latest weather news, as the Met Office said parts of the country could see 15 inches of snow tomorrow.

MP lobbied NHS chief on behalf of firm that paid him £1,600 a month

Steve Brine, a former health minister, told Michael Gove he had been “trying for months” to convince the NHS to hire anaesthetists through Remedium, a recruitment company he worked for. A WhatsApp message seen by the Telegraph reveals Mr Brine contacted Simon Stevens, then chief executive of NHS England, as well as the Department of Health to suggest they use the company, in an apparent breach of two lobbying rules. You can read this instalment of The Lockdown Files in full here.

No 10 says Lineker’s migration bill Nazi comparison ‘not acceptable’ BBC urged to sack Lineker after ‘Nazi’ migrant jibe Conservative MPs demanded the BBC take action against Gary Lineker after the corporation’s highest-paid presenter appeared to compare the Government’s migration policy to Nazi Germany. The Match of the Day host, paid £1.35 million by the BBC, commented on Twitter on a video of Suella Braverman, the Home Secretary, in which she unveiled plans to stop the surge of migrants crossing the Channel. He wrote: “This is just an immeasurably cruel policy directed at the most vulnerable people in language that is not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s.” Tory MPs expressed outrage last night. Craig Mackinlay said the comments were a “step too far”, while Jonathan Gullis urged the broadcaster to “stand up” to the presenter and “remind him his job is to talk football, not politics”. BBC managers were said to be furious about Lineker’s latest comments, and sources insisted he would be “spoken to”. Dominic Penna has the full report. Gary Lineker comparing the new asylum policy to Nazi Germany was “not acceptable” and “disappointing”, Downing Street has said. Mr Lineker called the new Illegal Migration Bill an “immeasurably cruel policy directed at the most vulnerable people, in language that is not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s”. The Match of the Day host, who is the channel’s highest-paid presenter with a salary of £1.3 million, has since faced calls for his sacking from Conservative MPs. Oliver Brown writes that if Mr Lineker wants to test his views, he should stand for election. On Wednesday afternoon, the Prime Minister’s press secretary, said: “It’s obviously disappointing to see someone whose salary is funded by hard-working British (licence-fee) payers using that kind of rhetoric and seemingly dismissing the legitimate concerns that they have about small boat crossings and illegal migration.” Max Stephens and Dominic Penna have the full story here.

Mrs Braverman’s major crackdown on illegal immigration will see all migrants who cross the Channel on small boats barred from claiming asylum in the UK, removed from the country and never allowed to return. Ministers have acknowledged that the Bill may be deemed to not comply with the European Convention on Human Rights, but have said they are willing to fight the point in the courts. Rishi Sunak warned lawyers preparing to challenge the crackdown that he is “up for the fight and will win“, as he accused the ECHR of being “opaque, unfair and unjust”.

Deportation flights to Rwanda could start as soon as this summer, Rishi Sunak has said, as he maintained that thousands of migrants could be removed under the scheme. The Prime Minister indicated he was “confident” the Government would fend off legal challenges, which have prevented any flights taking off since the first was blocked by the European Court of Human Rights last June. Amy Gibbons has the full report.

Met Office forecasts 15 inches of snow and issues ‘risk to life’ warning The Met Office said parts of the UK could see up to 15 inches of snow tomorrow and Friday with “significant disruption” to travel. Most of the snow in the next 24 to 36 hours is expected to be across South Wales and Southern England. And in the coming days up to 15 inches of snowfall may be seen in Northern England and the Scottish border. The Met Office has issued an amber warning, meaning there is a “potential risk to life”, across a number of areas of England – you can find out exactly where by looking at our weather live blog.

Evening briefing: Today’s essential headlines Ngozi Fulani | The charity boss who was at the centre of a royal race row has stepped down from leading her domestic violence organisation because of the backlash she has faced. Ngozi Fulani revealed she has temporarily resigned as chief executive of Sistah Space, as she criticised Buckingham Palace for not tackling the abuse she suffered in wake of the incident.

France | Macron demands more money from UK to stop migrants leaving France Royals | Harry and Meghan use daughter Princess Lilibet Diana’s royal title for first time Prince Harry and Meghan reveal daughter was christened last week Princess Lilibet Diana Credit: Misan Harriman The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have named their daughter as they revealed she was christened last week in Los Angeles. Read more Georgia | Violence breaks out over ‘Russia-style’ law US | Michelle Obama cried for 30 minutes after Trump’s inauguration Thailand | Man jailed for defaming monarchy by selling calendars with rubber ducks on them

Comment and analysis

Philip Johnston | Covid inquiry is becoming an out of control monster Richard Kemp | Ukraine’s secret weapon should terrify Putin Anne-Elizabeth Moutet | Macron has realised he needs Sunak Letters | Citizens deserved better than Hancock’s political games Celia Walden | This International Women’s Day, please can we be spared cringeworthy marketing missives? Ross Clark | The BBC won’t sack Gary Lineker – because the elites agree with him Jeremy Warner | Hunt’s do-nothing Budget might just win the Tories the next election Tom Harris | Without Salmond and Sturgeon, the SNP are completely lost James Cleverly | I want to follow my mother’s example in helping women across the world

Nord Stream pipelines ‘blown up by pro-Ukrainian group’

The attack on the Nord Stream pipeline last year was carried out by a pro-Ukrainian group using a yacht rented from Poland, new intelligence reviewed by Western governments suggests. The two pipelines were blown up by deep-sea explosions last September in an attack that spewed gas into the Baltic Sea and was labelled by Nato as “an act of sabotage”. The incident had been variously blamed on Moscow, Kyiv, and even the CIA – making it one of the most consequential unsolved mysteries of Russia’s war in Ukraine. Nick Allen has the full report.

Four explosions, equivalent to 100kg of dynamite, caused dangerous gas leaks on the pipeline last September Credit: Danish Defence Command/Reuters

World news: Wagner Group ‘has taken eastern Bakhmut’ Russia’s Wagner Group has claimed to have taken “all the eastern part” of Bakhmut, the Ukrainian town where fighting has raged for weeks. Pressure has been mounting on Ukrainian troops trying to hold the town against Russian soldiers hoping to capture it no matter the cost. Kyiv has not yet commented, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the army is intent on defending Bakhmut and warned that Russia would have an “open road” into eastern Ukraine if the town was captured.

Editor’s choice

	Iran | Raped, tortured, imprisoned: the Iranian women fighting for their daughters’ future
	Motoring | The reason all cars are now grey – and why we need to get used to it
	Global Health | Poisonous cough syrup killed 300 children across the world – officials fear more could soon die

Business news: RMT holds pay deal ‘referendum’ Rail strikes are a step closer to being cancelled after the RMT said it will ask its members whether they want to accept a new pay deal. The RMT said it was not making a recommendation on how to vote on the offer. In the meantime, strike action will not go ahead, meaning walkouts on Thursday, March 16 and Saturday, March 18 have effectively been cancelled. Follow our business live blog for more details on the pay offer.