UK

Former Conservative MP and Commons Speaker John Bercow has said he has switched allegiances to join the Labour Party. Mr Bercow, who stepped down as Speaker in 2019, said he regards the Tories under Boris Johnson as “reactionary, populist, nationalistic and sometimes even xenophobic”. “I am motivated by support for equality, social justice and internationalism.

People who have had both COVID-19 jabs and come into contact with someone infected may not have to self-isolate for 10 days in the future, a public health expert has suggested. Linda Bauld, professor of public health at the University of Edinburgh, says Britain may follow the US which has changed its quarantine guidance for

The UK’s longest-known coronavirus patient has died after choosing to withdraw from treatment, his wife has confirmed. Jason Kelk, 49, had spent more than 13 months in intensive care at St James’ Hospital in Leeds after contracting coronavirus in March last year. He was transferred to a hospice this morning and died surrounded by his

The Delta variant now accounts for almost all of the UK’s coronavirus cases, according to Public Health England. Some 33,630 cases of the strain were recorded in the last week and PHE said “the most recent data show 99% of sequenced and genotyped cases across the country are the Delta variant”. Last week, the Delta

Boris Johnson’s Tories have suffered a humiliating by-election defeat as the Liberal Democrats secured a historic win in Chesham and Amersham. Lib Dem Sarah Green is the country’s newest MP after winning the seat, which has been a Conservative stronghold since its creation in 1974. The contest was triggered by the death of former Cabinet

The government is considering relaxing restrictions surrounding international travel for Britons who have had both coronavirus vaccines. A government spokesperson has told Sky News that it is “working with industry for a safe return to international travel, guided by one overwhelming priority – public health”. They added: “Recognising the strong strategic rationale and success of

Manchester Arena bomber Salman Abedi should have been identified as a threat on the night of his attack – and it is “highly likely” more lives could have been saved, an inquiry has found. Sir John Saunders, who is chairing the probe into the 2017 terror attack, said “more should have been done” by police

There are 25 coronavirus variants “under monitoring”, Public Health England’s strategic COVID-19 response director has told MPs. Dr Susan Hopkins told the Science and Technology Committee: “We’re living in a world of variants now, so everything we see is a variation of the original. She said eight COVID-19 variants are “under investigation”, along with the

More than 30 million people in the UK are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to the government. A total of 30,204,738 people have had both doses of a coronavirus vaccine (57.3% of the adult population). And 41,830,546 people across the UK have had a first dose (79.4%). The government met its target of offering

The UK is even less prepared to deal with climate change already hitting the country than it was five years ago, thanks to a “failing” government response, its own independent advisers have warned. In a damning report published today, the Climate Change Committee (CCC) said government action to improve the nation’s resilience was failing to

The NHS is launching Long COVID services for children, as concerns grow about the number of young people experiencing long-term symptoms. Fifteen paediatric hubs will be created in the UK, drawing together experts on symptoms such as respiratory problems and fatigue. They will treat young people, advise family doctors or other carers, or refer patients

The theory that Martin Bashir was rehired by the BBC to cover up events surrounding his Panorama interview with Princess Diana is “completely unfounded”, a review has found. An investigation has concluded that no one involved in Mr Bashir‘s recruitment in 2016 had knowledge of all of the matters contained in the Lord Dyson report

Boris Johnson will plead with the nation to make “one last heave” to freedom as he announces a delay of up to four weeks in lifting lockdown restrictions in England. A government source has told Sky News the prime minister will dash hopes that Freedom Day will come in two weeks’ time, on 21 June,

Boris Johnson is expected to agree to the delay of lockdown easing in England and, according to a new poll, just over half of the UK public is backing the move. The lifting of the last remaining coronavirus restrictions had been planned for 21 June, so-called Freedom Day, under the government’s road map. But, due

“It is time for the country to unite. Full stop!” Gareth Southgate said, with added purpose as Euro 2020 finally got under way in Rome. He is steadfast in his support for his England players choosing to still “take the knee” before kick-off – despite booing from some sections of the limited number of England

A second person has been charged in connection with the shooting of black equal rights activist Sasha Johnson at a party in south London in late May. Devonte Brown, 18, of Southwark, was charged with conspiracy to murder, the Metropolitan Police said, nearly two weeks after Cameron Deriggs appeared in court charged with the same