Politics

Boris Johnson is set to make a statement on the next steps the country will take to tackle the coronavirus pandemic. The prime minister will speak a day after Sir Patrick Vallance, the government’s chief scientific adviser, warned the UK could soon see 49,000 new cases of COVID-19 every day unless action is taken. Mr

Boris Johnson will chair an emergency COBRA meeting on Tuesday ahead of a statement on the next steps in tackling the coronavirus pandemic. It comes on a day when the prime minister will also chair cabinet – and it is expected he will announce new measures designed to curb the number of COVID-19 infections. Live

England’s chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty, has warned the rate of COVID-19 infections in the UK is “heading in the wrong direction”. On Monday, Professor Whitty and chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance will deliver a televised briefing on the latest coronavirus data. According to Downing Street, they will explain how the coronavirus is

The government is changing the rules around self-isolation in a move to force more people to stay at home if they have coronavirus. The new rules apply in England, but the government says it is “engaging” with devolved authorities to develop a system which is aligned across the UK. New Fines From 28 September, people

People who may have coronavirus will be required to self-isolate by law – with those who refuse facing fines of up to £10,000 in England. Ministers are toughening up their stance by making the current guidance a legal requirement in a bid to try and prevent a second spike of COVID-19 ballooning across the UK

A police protection officer travelling with the foreign secretary has been suspended from duties after leaving his gun on a plane. The weapon was reportedly found by a cleaner on a plane at Heathrow Airport. Dominic Raab had been on a visit to the US and the officer had been travelling with him. A Met

Parts of the North West, West Yorkshire and the Midlands have been placed under further localised coronavirus restrictions. The new measures, prompted by a fast rise in COVID-19 cases, have been confirmed by the Department for Health following consultation with local councils and MPs. Live coverage of the latest coronavirus news and updates Lancashire, Merseyside,

Boris Johnson has said he does not want to put the country in another national lockdown but warned the government may need to “intensify things to help bring the rate of infections down”. He added: “We’re now seeing a second wave coming… clearly we are going to keep everything under review. “As the disease progresses

A Cabinet minister has bemoaned “endless carping” about problems with coronavirus testing and claimed the current system is a “phenomenal success”. The government is under increasing pressure after many people reported problems in being able to get a COVID-19 test, as well as them being advised to travel to distant parts of the country to

New local restrictions are being introduced in northeast England – including a 10pm curfew for bars and pubs and a ban on people mixing with others outside their household. Health Secretary Matt Hancock confirmed the measures in a statement to the House of Commons on Thursday following government talks with North East councils and local

Boris Johnson has partially climbed down on his controversial new Brexit bill in the face of a Tory rebellion. Downing Street has offered a compromise to try and win over the dozens of Conservatives who either abstained or voted against the draft legislation that would override the withdrawal agreement – breaking international law. The prime

Schoolchildren and their parents could be prioritised for coronavirus tests – after hospitals and care homes – as the government deals with “real challenges” in the system, a cabinet minister has told Sky News. The government has come under growing pressure over a lack of availability of COVID-19 tests in some areas – blamed on

Peers have been warned by the government not to block its controversial bid to override the Brexit deal, as an ally of Angela Merkel branded the UK a “despot” like North Korea. Downing Street turned the heat up on the House of Lords ahead of it debating and voting on the legislation that passed a

Former Conservative MP Charlie Elphicke has been sentenced to two years in prison for three sexual assaults on two younger women. The judge, Mrs Justice Whipple, described the 49-year-old as a “sexual predator” who used his “success and respectability as a cover”. “You made your victims come to court,” she said. “They told the truth,

Boris Johnson’s controversial bid to override parts of the Brexit deal has cleared a major hurdle in parliament. The prime minister had been expected to win the key vote on his Internal Market Bill, given the Conservatives’ large majority in the House of Commons. MPs voted for the proposed legislation by 340 to 263 –

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is self-isolating after a member of his household displayed possible coronavirus symptoms. Sir Keir will now be working from home and will not speak in today’s House of Commons debate on the government’s controversial internal market legislation. He is understood to have not shown any COVID-19 symptoms himself. A spokesperson