Politics

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

A total of 42 Tory rebels have railed against the government’s 10pm curfew for bars and restaurants in the latest House of Commons vote. The rebels include Sir Graham Brady, the chair of the influential 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers, as well as former Cabinet ministers Esther McVey and John Redwood. Former Labour leader Jeremy

Boris Johnson’s new coronavirus lockdown rules are being debated and voted on by MPs, with the prime minister facing a Tory backlash and potential rebellion. Some Conservative MPs are against the measures on civil liberties grounds, while others claim restrictions such as the 10pm curfew for pubs and restaurants are counter-productive. But unless Sir Keir

A “circuit breaker” lockdown was recommended to the government by scientists three weeks ago, newly published documents have revealed. Minutes from a 21 September meeting of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), published on the government website on Monday night, showed that a short period of lockdown was at the top of a list

The new tiered local lockdown system the prime minister will announce today is aimed at trying to slow the spread of coronavirus while also keeping as many parts of the economy open where it can. But trying to carve England into different zones, driven by charts tracking case numbers per population and hospital capacity from

The prime minister will announce a new three-tier lockdown system for England tomorrow, with “medium”, “high” and “very high” alert levels. However, discussions with local leaders are ongoing to decide which parts of the country will face which restrictions. Boris Johnson will chair an emergency COBRA meeting on Monday morning, before updating parliament on the