Economic panic about the birthrate is drowning out the voices of those who matter most in this debate, says Guardian columnist Rhiannon Lucy..
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/dec/21/women-birthrates-failing-reproduce-economic-panic

Revellers in England and Ireland mark the shortest day of the year and official first day of winter
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2021/dec/21/winter-solstice-2021-celebrations-in-pictures

Minister says that after Rishi Sunak’s talks with business leaders, government is about to say more
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/21/treasury-to-respond-to-concerns-of-firms-suffering-due-to-covid-says-barclay

The Cabinet Office minister, Stephen Barclay, has said imposing plan B Covid measures in England has caused 'significant behaviour change' t..
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/video/2021/dec/21/minister-covid-plan-b-significant-behaviour-change-video

Epidemics of rapidly transmitting viruses are not kind to overstretched healthcare systems, says academic William Hanage
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/dec/21/omicron-spreading-milder-virus

Analysis: All you need to know about the chancellor’s £1bn in emergency support for firms hit by the variant
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/21/sunaks-omicron-bailout-whats-on-offer-and-is-it-enough

2021 was another extraordinary period for news and investigations. Here are some of the highlights of Guardian journalism over that time
https://www.theguardian.com/media/video/2021/dec/21/how-the-guardian-covered-2021-a-year-of-covid-cop26-and-sporting-triumphs-video

Egregious oversight lapses at NatWest and Standard Chartered suggests boards are not earning their lavish pay
https://www.theguardian.com/business/nils-pratley-on-finance/2021/dec/20/basic-failures-at-natwest-and-stanchart-prompt-much-needed-zeal-from-regulators

When I was a child, my GP father took us to visit lonely patients in hospital each Christmas Day. I was so grateful to see the care he was g..
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/dec/21/my-father-was-dying-and-the-kindness-of-nhs-staff-felt-like-a-miracle

Half of Christmases are white by Met Office standards, but widespread snow on the ground is rare
https://www.theguardian.com/news/2021/dec/21/weatherwatch-will-the-uk-have-a-white-christmas

Andrew Marr has signed off from his 21-year BBC career using a catchphrase from the Anchorman character Ron Burgundy
https://www.theguardian.com/media/video/2021/dec/19/you-stay-classy-san-diego-marr-signs-off-final-show-with-anchorman-quote-video

No 10 says no rules are being broken in photograph that has come to light from first coronavirus lockdown
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/dec/19/chatting-over-cheese-and-wine-anatomy-downing-street-lockdown-gathering-picture

Even if we can hold back the tide with vaccinations and treatments, there will be too many patients for us to look after
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/dec/20/omicron-is-terrifying-so-why-wont-we-learn-from-past-mistakes

Tom Hollander made us laugh at the hypocrisy of religion, but also showed us human kindness
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/dec/18/christmas-is-the-perfect-time-to-rewatch-rev-the-tv-comedy-that-is-never-cruel

The UK has reported the largest 24-hour increase in the number of new cases since the pandemic began
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/video/2021/dec/18/sadiq-khan-declares-major-incident-over-covid-surge-in-london-video

Health workers at King’s College hospital fear a surge in admissions as the Omicron wave gathers force, but are cautiously optimistic
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/19/london-hospital-staff-speak-out-were-not-here-to-judge-but-please-get-your-covid-vaccines

Drop in protection against Omicron variant may lead to ‘a large number of people’ needing treatment
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/17/nhs-could-face-surge-in-hospitalisations-despite-booster-say-scientists-omicron

Makeshift vessels got into trouble attempting to make crossing from France to the UK
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/dec/17/more-than-130-people-rescued-after-becoming-stranded-in-the-channel

Analysis: Party says despite dropping to third in North Shropshire, its focus on Tory chaos is cutting through
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/dec/17/mud-beginning-stick-tory-byelection-woe-emboldens-labour

'The sensible thing to do is to get a test and to make sure that you’re being cautious,' Johnson said
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/video/2021/dec/16/we-are-not-locking-down-johnson-denies-warnings-amount-to-lockdown-by-stealth-video

Rusi researchers propose hybrid court to try accused terrorists, and taskforce to oversee repatriation of children
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/16/holding-ex-islamic-state-members-in-syria-not-sustainable-says-thinktank

Permits for UK and EU vessels will hinder efforts to protect marine life and may break habitats directive, conservation group warns
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/dec/17/uk-fishing-licences-for-bottom-trawling-could-be-unlawful-says-oceana

The children’s commissioner for England is advising parents to broach such topics early to limit future risks
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/dec/16/how-talk-children-porn-other-online-harms

Charities say vulnerable older people ‘overlooked’ amid pressure to meet target of 1m top-up jabs a day
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/16/housebound-elderly-people-waiting-weeks-for-covid-boosters

Chris Whitty, the UK's chief medical officer, urged people not to 'mix with people you don't have to'
https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2021/dec/15/covid-people-should-cut-down-on-socialising-warns-chris-whitty-video

Airline plans to transfer 35 routes to new subsidiary BA Euroflyer later in 2022, with fares starting from £39
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/dec/14/british-airways-ba-euroflyer-restart-london-gatwick-flights-march

Authorities say mostly Iraqi Kurds drowned in the Channel dinghy incident, including a teenager and one child
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/14/france-formally-identifies-26-of-the-27-people-who-died-in-channel-tragedy

Christmas bookings cancelled and essential services under pressure as Omicron cases soar
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/15/expect-mass-staff-absences-and-major-shortages-uk-cabinet-told

Letters: It is no surprise that he is proving unfit to be prime minister, writes Paul Connew, while Kevin Donovan points out the PM’s hypocr..
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/dec/13/boris-johnsons-amorality-has-been-proven-beyond-doubt

Officials urged to review procedures after accusations 999 calls by people in small boats are being redirected to France
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/dec/13/uk-coastguard-telling-refugees-in-british-waters-to-contact-the-french

Editorial: The government’s own scientists, the Labour party and the public favour greater caution. But it’s Tory MPs who call the shots
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/dec/13/the-guardian-view-on-boris-johnson-pandemic-authority-draining-away

Decision signals high pressure on NHS as concerns grow that vaccines are less effective against fast-spreading variant
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/12/uk-covid-alert-raised-to-level-4-in-uk-as-omicron-cases-surge

Attacker’s mental health said to have deteriorated when he was moved to hotel with 320 other asylum seekers
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/dec/12/glasgow-hotel-stabbings-court-claim

Allendale, Northumberland: It is small relief that, for all the damage done, the owl is still gliding
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/dec/13/country-diary-storm-arwen-battered-the-valley-but-the-barn-owl-survives

In a society riven by ‘gotchas’ and self-righteousness, let’s be more ready to recognise our own failings and less hasty to judge others’
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/dec/12/do-we-really-want-to-live-in-a-culture-of-endless-blame-when-were-all-fallible

Researchers say new rules may be needed to cut deaths, but there are concerns that ‘fed-up’ people will ignore government
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/12/scientists-fear-falling-trust-in-boris-johnson-could-harm-bid-to-curb-omicron-surge

Regional democracy in England should be brought into line with the other UK nations – but no more mayors please
https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/commentisfree/2021/dec/12/observer-letters-local-councils-have-been-emasculated

The high court has ruled that the WikiLeaks co-founder Julian Assange can be extradited to the US, overruling a previous judgment that allow..
https://www.theguardian.com/media/video/2021/dec/10/how-long-can-this-go-on-julian-assanges-fiancee-on-us-extradition-ruling-video

Covid experts explain their personal approaches to festive gatherings in face of Omicron
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/dec/11/a-covid-christmas-top-scientists-on-how-they-will-navigate-party-season

Letters: Readers discuss the Conservatives’ proposals for profoundly anti-democratic legislation
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/dec/10/it-could-happen-here-beware-the-governments-authoritarian-bent

The chimney of Scotland's last coal-fired power station comes crashing down in a controlled explosion
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/video/2021/dec/09/explosive-demolition-brings-down-scotland-power-station-chimney-video

Boris Johnson affirmed that voters have the right to throw him out in an online speech for Summit for Democracy
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/video/2021/dec/09/people-have-right-to-vote-leaders-out-says-johnson-in-speech-on-democracy-video

Sienna Miller has said the Sun 'nearly ruined' her life and forced her to make decisions about her body after the newspaper found out she wa..
https://www.theguardian.com/film/video/2021/dec/09/sienna-miller-says-sun-forced-her-to-make-decisions-about-her-body-video

Boris Johnson insisted that people should still follow the rules despite the emergence of a video pointing to a Downing Street staff party l..
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/video/2021/dec/08/johnson-promises-sanctions-if-no-10-party-broke-rules-and-pays-tribute-to-allegra-stratton-video

Boris Johnson has triggered plan B Covid measures in England
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/video/2021/dec/08/work-from-home-masks-and-covid-passes-boris-johnson-outlines-plan-b-video

Government spokesperson for climate summit has stepped down after footage of her emerged joking about a party at Downing Street
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/video/2021/dec/08/allegra-stratton-offers-tearful-resignation-over-no-10-christmas-party-row-video

The government is adding terrifying amendments to the policing bill, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/dec/08/boris-johnson-grabbing-more-power-amendments-to-oppressive-legislation-uk

The head of the Foreign Office is accused of covering up the PM’s involvement in the decision to evacuate pets from Kabul
https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2021/dec/07/pm-fingers-all-over-decision-to-evacuate-pets-from-kabul-says-mp-video

Thousands more vaccinators and volunteers to assist with delivering jabs, as UK misses daily target
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/08/covid-booster-rollout-uk-nhs-recruits-vaccinators-volunteers

The health secretary has updated the Commons on the latest numbers of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus virus as well as new travel res..
https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2021/dec/06/sajid-javid-updates-mps-on-uk-omicron-cases-and-new-travel-rules-video