UK

NHS staff who risked their lives during the coronavirus pandemic are demanding a pay rise and threatening strikes despite warnings of a second wave. Nurses and other healthcare workers are demanding a 15% pay rise to reflect the contributions they made and to make up for “years of pay erosion”. Hundreds marched through central London

Nearly eight million people in Britain will be living under stricter lockdown rules after new restrictions were announced for a large part of the West Midlands. Households will be banned from meeting each other in Birmingham, Sandwell and Solihull from Tuesday after a rise in coronavirus cases. From midnight, Lanarkshire is also joining areas around

The rate of COVID-19 transmission has risen above a critical level that means the infection is growing exponentially, official figures show. According to the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), the latest estimate for R across the UK is between 1.0 and 1.2. The number represents the average number of people each person with coronavirus

The American woman accused of killing Harry Dunn has admitted driving on the wrong side of the road for “approximately 20 seconds” before colliding with the young motorcyclist. A statement released by Anne Sacoolas‘s lawyers said she is “devastated” and “continues to grieve deeply” for Harry’s family. Ms Sacoolas was charged with causing the death

There has been a 43% increase in the weekly number of coronavirus cases in England, according to new figures. In the seven days to 2 September, a total of 9,864 people tested positive for COVID-19. This is the highest weekly number since the government’s Test and Trace system was launched at the end of May.

Boris Johnson has urged people to limit social contact as much as possible, as he confirmed a ban on gatherings of more than six individuals in England will come into force from Monday. Speaking at a Downing Street news conference, the prime minister admitted the coronavirus rules had become “complicated and confusing”. He said this

Lessons were not learned from a training exercise which had raised “serious concerns” about how the fire service and police worked together before the Manchester Arena bombing, a public inquiry has heard. An exercise called Winchester Accord was held in May 2016 at the Trafford shopping complex and showed up failings which mirrored the night

A man has been charged with the murder of Jacob Billington – one of eight people stabbed in Birmingham in the early hours of Sunday. Zephaniah McLeod, 27, of Nately Grove, Selly Oak, Birmingham, is also accused of the attempted murder of the seven other victims. Police have so far not released an image of

People in Bolton will not be allowed to socialise with those from other households after coronavirus restrictions were tightened in the town. Restaurants will also be restricted to takeaway only and venues will have to close from 10am to 5am under the measures. Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced the tighter restrictions in a statement to

The man murdered during a spate of stabbings in Birmingham early on Sunday morning has been named as Jacob Billington. In a statement, his family said: “Jacob was the light of our life and we have been devastated by his loss. “He was a funny, caring and wonderful person who was loved by every single

A 27-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder over a series of stabbings in Birmingham that left one dead and several others injured, West Midlands Police has said. The suspect was detained at a property in the Selly Oak area of the city at around 4am on Monday, the force

Boris Johnson has told the EU that a free trade deal must be done by 15 October, otherwise the UK will “move on”. The prime minister said Britain was entering the “final phase” of negotiations, which resume on Tuesday. “There is no sense in thinking about timelines that go beyond that point,” he said. “The

One man has died and two other people are seriously injured following a “random” series of stabbings in Birmingham city centre. Five others were also injured in what West Midlands Police have described as a “major incident” overnight – and a murder investigation has been launched. One unknown male suspect is being sought but no

Bolton residents have been told not to mix with people from other households after the town’s coronavirus infection rate became the highest in England. The rules apply to meetings indoors and outdoors, unless a person is part of a support bubble, Bolton Council said. To help slow the spread of COVID-19, the council has said

Anti-migrant protesters have clashed with police and blocked a dual carriageway into Dover. Rival groups have assembled in the coastal town in Kent to demonstrate over the arrival of thousands of migrants in small boats. Traffic on the A20 was at a standstill in both directions after protesters assembled on the road in large numbers.

Leeds is now an “area of concern” after a rise in coronavirus cases, one of the city’s MPs Rachel Reeves has said. The “areas of concern” list is published every Friday, revealing how coronavirus is spreading broken down by region. Last week, Bury was one of the places where cases notably rose – up to