Politics

Boris Johnson has faced calls to explain how regions can have their coronavirus alert level and restrictions lowered. He was urged by Sir Keir Starmer to set out exactly what areas need to do to be downgraded from Tier 3 to Tier 2, or Tier 2 to Tier 1. And a Conservative MP, whose constituency

It was 13 December, the morning after Boris Johnson won a landslide victory and destroyed Labour’s Red Wall. The new prime minister stood on the steps of Number 10 and declared his “One Nation” government had won over parts of the country that had “never returned a Conservative MP for 100 years”. He promised to

Local leaders in Greater Manchester have been told that the “door is open” for further talks, despite the prime minister imposing Tier 3 coronavirus restrictions on the region. Boris Johnson announced that tougher COVID-19 restrictions will be introduced in Greater Manchester from Friday. Moving into Tier 3 means pubs and bars in Greater Manchester will

A coronavirus vaccine is “unlikely” to completely stop infections and the disease might never fully disappear, the government’s chief scientific adviser has said. Sir Patrick Vallance pointed to how smallpox was the only disease to have ever been completely eradicated and that, in future, treating COVID-19 might become more like dealing with seasonal flu. Image:

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has been pictured in his ministerial car with no face mask on. Passengers of chauffeur-driven cars are exempt from the £200 fine that can be imposed on the public if they fail to wear a face covering in taxis or private hire cars. However, Downing Street said it has advised all

A Greater Manchester MP, Yasmin Qureshi, has been admitted to hospital with coronavirus. The Labour shadow minister, who represents Bolton South East in parliament, started showing COVID-19 symptoms two weeks ago and self-isolated. But she revealed that on Saturday she was taken to Royal Bolton Hospital with pneumonia, as a stand-off remains over new restrictions

Businesses that trade with Europe are to be warned by Boris Johnson this week that time is running out to prepare for a no-deal Brexit. The prime minister and Michael Gove – the cabinet minister in charge of no-deal planning – are to hold talks with business leaders, urging them to step up their efforts.

The war of words between Greater Manchester’s political leaders and the government over the strictest coronavirus restrictions shows no sign of ending at the moment. Confusion grew on Saturday as Downing Street said talks had been set up with Andy Burnham – but the Mayor of Manchester’s team said nothing had been arranged. Political leaders

Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson says his brother has died after contracting COVID-19. Sharing the news on Twitter, he said that despite medical experts’ efforts to save him, his brother died on Friday evening after being admitted to intensive care. “We want to thank the dedicated staff risking their lives for us,” he said. “Thank

Greater Manchester residents will have Tier 3 coronavirus restrictions imposed on them even if local leaders do not agree, Boris Johnson has warned. Speaking at a news conference from Downing Street, flanked by chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance, and government medical adviser Dr Susan Hopkins, the prime minister said: “If agreement cannot be reached,

The UK’s chief Brexit negotiator has told his European counterpart not to come to London on Monday to resolve stalled talks, after the prime minister warned it was time to “get ready” to leave without a deal. David Frost spoke to Michel Barnier after Boris Johnson claimed Brussels had “abandoned” the ambition of a free

Manchester could have a Tier 3 coronavirus lockdown imposed on it if negotiations fail, Dominic Raab has told Sky News. The foreign secretary said ministers have “the power to proceed” with putting the city into England’s highest band of measures to stem the spread of COVID-19. After a furious row blew up with Manchester politicians

Boris Johnson’s negotiator has accused the EU of taking an “unusual approach” to trade talks after the bloc’s leaders called on the UK to “make the necessary moves” for a post-Brexit deal. Lord Frost, the prime minister’s EU adviser, hit back at the stance taken by the EU’s national leaders at a Brussels summit on

Europe’s political leaders will arrive in Brussels later for one of their regular meetings. They’ll be talking about the obvious things – the EU budget, foreign affairs, coronavirus – but a chunk of time will go on something they haven’t discussed for a while… Brexit. Talks over a Brexit trade deal may have been going

Boris Johnson has told MPs that “I rule out nothing” in the fight against coronavirus, but that he wants to “avoid the misery of another national lockdown”. The prime minister defended his three-tier system of local COVID-19 restrictions during a tempestuous PMQs clash with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer. Did you miss PMQs? This is

England’s new three-tier system for localised coronavirus restrictions has come into force today – but the prime minister is already under growing pressure to take even further action. From midnight, the country was split into three COVID-19 alert levels – “medium”, “high” and “very high”. Liverpool City Region is in the top tier, with bars