Politics

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab is self-isolating after recently being in “close contact” with someone who tested positive for coronavirus. The cabinet minister will have to self-isolate for a period of 14 days, in line with government and NHS rules. Mr Raab will continue to work remotely, a spokesman said, during a time when the result

Four weeks of lockdown in England is “enough” to make a “real impact” on coronavirus infection rates, Boris Johnson has said. The prime minister spoke at a Downing Street news conference alongside NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens, which was held on the first day of England’s second national lockdown. Pubs, bars, restaurants and non-essential

Boris Johnson will hold a COVID-19 briefing later today after England entered lockdown for the second time. The prime minister will be joined at 5pm in Downing Street by Sir Simon Stevens, the chief executive of NHS England. No new measures are expected to be announced but the pair will reflect on the new restrictions

European diplomats have been told that there are still “fundamental differences” in the hunt for a Brexit trade deal and that the UK has “blocked” progress in key areas while trying to run down the clock. The EU‘s chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, briefed representatives from all 27 member states on Wednesday afternoon. The meeting

England will enter a fresh month-long lockdown from tomorrow after MPs approved the new shutdown. In a House of Commons vote on Wednesday, MPs supported the new coronavirus measures by 516 to 38, a majority of 478. It means that, from one minute past midnight, pubs, bars, restaurants and non-essential shops will close across England

The race for a COVID-19 vaccine is edging towards the finishing line, but we still don’t know how far off a winner is. Kate Bingham, the head of the UK Vaccines Taskforce told MPs on the Science and Technology Committee that – if she put on her rose-tinted specs – she can see the first

Boris Johnson will today urge MPs to approve England’s new lockdown – but the prime minister is continuing to face a backlash from his own Conservative MPs over the fresh shutdown. Following a 90-minute debate on the new national measures, the House of Commons will on Wednesday afternoon vote on whether to give a second

Nicola Sturgeon has called for clarity over whether the furlough scheme will be extended beyond 2 December in Scotland if needed. Scotland’s first minister made the call after Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick told Sky News’ Kay Burley it would be a decision for the chancellor to take after the nationwide lockdown in England ends at

Self-employed workers will be able to claim government support worth 80% of trading profits as England prepares to enter a new lockdown, Boris Johnson has announced. Ahead of the new national measures coming into force on Thursday, the prime minister used a House of Commons statement to warn of an “existential threat” to the NHS

Sir Keir Starmer has launched an attack on the chancellor – blaming Rishi Sunak for delaying a second coronavirus lockdown. “Make no mistake, the chancellor’s name is all over this,” the Labour leader told the Confederation of British Industry conference in London. Live coronavirus updates from the UK and around the world Please use Chrome

Boris Johnson will tomorrow insist the national lockdown in England will end on 2 December, despite a member of his cabinet indicating the new measures could be extended beyond that date. Growing numbers of senior Conservative backbenchers have signalled their opposition to the measures due to come into effect on Thursday, while Labour have said

England is to enter a second national lockdown from Thursday, Boris Johnson has announced, as a second wave of coronavirus cases continues to grow. In a speech on Saturday the prime minister detailed new the new rules which will be in place from 5 November until 2 December. Here is that speech in full: Thank

England is to be placed under stricter nationwide restrictions from Thursday in an attempt to slow down the spread of coronavirus. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the new measures just after confirmed COVID-19 cases passed the one million mark across the UK. The new restrictions will initially be imposed from 0001 on 5 November until

A second national lockdown. It was something that the prime minister said would be a “disaster” for this country and something he vowed to do “everything in his power” to avoid. But now Mr Johnson is poised to announce exactly that. The measures are still under discussion – with a cabinet meeting planned this afternoon

“Every child has the right to be fed,” says charity worker Helen Needham as she packs tins and fruit into white plastic bags. “No child should be going hungry in 2020 and we have a responsibility to make sure that doesn’t happen.” At Foleshill Community Centre in north Coventry, they’ve registered 500 new individuals for

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has told Sky News he was “disappointed” in his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn’s response to a damning antisemitism report – but has insisted there is “no reason for a civil war” in the party. Mr Corbyn was suspended from Labour on Thursday – a move he condemned as “political intervention” –