Monday morning news briefing: 'Forgotten victims' of pandemic

PM told children are 'forgotten victims' of pandemic

School's out… but for how long? A backlash is growing against plans that may keep classrooms closed until Easter. Tory MPs have told Boris Johnson schoolchildren have become the pandemic's "forgotten victims". A dozen Conservative MPs - including Esther McVey, the former Cabinet minister, and Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the 1922 Committee - today back a campaign by the parents' pressure group UsforThem to reopen schools fully. Education Secretary Gavin Williamson is expected to announce as soon as this week that schools will remain shut to all but the most vulnerable and children of key workers beyond the February half-term break. See the signs that you are suffering from "parental burnout" and try our tips for navigating the minefield of homeschooling.

As figures showed the number of daily Covid infections fell by 22 per cent over the past seven days, calls intensified for the Government to lay out plans for lifting lockdown. It has emerged that Britain faces a three-month lockdown "halfway house" after Easter, with a full reopening delayed until all over-50s have had their second dose of the vaccine. Ministers are considering proposals to begin reopening swathes of the economy in April under similar restrictions to those in place over the summer, with the "rule of six" and social distancing measures.

Vaccine staff offering 'spare' jabs to family and friends

NHS vaccine centres are offering Covid jabs to friends and family aged under 70 in breach of national policy. Senior health service sources threatened to take disciplinary action against hospitals and GPs offering leftover jabs to people outside the top four priority cohorts. Health bosses insisted a "friends and family list" helps avoid waste by ensuring they never throw away any vaccine. Ministers are determined that younger people with a connection to NHS staff should not be allowed to "jump the queue" over the vulnerable. Read more about the priority list for Covid vaccines.

Eat local, lose weight: Secrets of the Great British Diet

What the world's healthiest diets come down to is fresh food. In Britain, we can get the same nutrients, vitamins and minerals hailed as the key to a long, healthy life - and we only need look to our own shores to supply the goods. In part one of a four-week series, Eleanor Steafel explains how to lose weight and feel better by embracing the Great British Diet. Amelia Freer offers ideas for adapting meals as the seasons progress.

At a glance: More coronavirus headlines

• Borders | Not enough hotel rooms for travel quarantine plan

• Vaccine | Champions to persuade BAME people to get jab

• Front line | 'I told the woman she'd be ok - she died hours later'

• Video | Police catch 300 people at rave in packed railway arch

• Online support | Fears Facebook is filling mental health void

Also in the news: Today's other headlines

Ex-PM's warning | The United Kingdom risks becoming a "failed state" unless Boris Johnson considers radical ideas such as replacing the House of Lords with a "senate of the regions", Gordon Brown says today. Writing for us, the former prime minister says Mr Johnson should also use the NHS and the Armed Forces to demonstrate the "everyday benefits" of the Union. It came as a new poll showed voters in all four UK nations now expect Scotland to become independent within the next 10 years.

• 'Loyal wingman' | MoD invests £30m in unmanned fighter jet

• UK weather | Flooding fears as rain set to follow the snow

• Counterweight | 'Anti-woke Citizens Advice service' opens

• Gardens | Pigeons and gulls take over from sparrows and blue tits

• TV | What our reviewers made of The Trump Show and It's a Sin

Around the world: Savouring the moment

Kamala Harris - the first female, first black and first Asian-American US vice-president - wrote on Twitter: "The beginning of our new journey," as she shared an image of herself with her husband, Douglas Emhoff, the first ever second gentleman, in her new office in the White House. View our gallery of more striking pictures from the weekend.

Comment and analysis

• Tim Stanley | Vaccines won't automatically end the lockdown

• Nick Timothy | Biden promised to unite. Division is more likely

• Julian Jessop | Five ways to rebuild economy after Covid

• Reader letters | Impossible to watch TV barrage of the dying

• Simon Heffer | This book should be Remoan's final whimper

In case you missed it: Highlights from the weekend

• Wuhan one year on | City that appears safe - but at what cost?

• Vaccine | AstraZeneca to cut delivery to EU by 60 per cent

• Ben Habib | Pandemic turned capital's slow-burn into a wildfire

• Paul Mescal | 'Nothing about overnight fame was normal'

• Rebecca Reid | What losing my friend taught me about myself

You've got this: Getting you through lockdown

1. Neuroscientist's guide | Use your brain to avoid conflict and save your relationship

2. How to lift your mood | Linda Blair's realistic eight-step plan for feeling more positive

3. Exercise is my addiction | 'Seeing the signs of my alcohol abuse was a huge wake-up call'

Business and money briefing

Future of Debenhams | Online fashion retailer Boohoo is to snap up the Debenhams brand in a deal that is expected to result in the closure of most of its remaining department stores. The agreement is likely to see Boohoo take on the collapsed firm's online brands. It means 10,000 Debenhams staff face more uncertainty as its retail centres are sold off.

• Halifax | 'Why weren't we stopped from giving £285k to scammers?'

• Investment tip | Twice doubled our money and won’t push our luck

• Alex | View today's cartoon strip - and all from January

Sport briefing

Man Utd 3 Liverpool 2 | Jurgen Klopp claimed Liverpool paid the price for their desperation to get back to winning ways - but insisted there was no crisis of confidence at the club after Manchester United sent their bitter rivals crashing out of the FA Cup. Read Northern Football Correspondent James Ducker's match report from Old Trafford.

• Sri Lanka v England | Second Test, day four - live score

• Hatton's rich pickings | Englishman wins in the desert

• Sir Ben Ainslie exclusive | 'We want to make you proud'

Tonight's dinner

Lamb meatballs with dates and feta | Serve this dish by Eleanor Steafel with fluffy couscous or flatbreads. View the recipe and try out our Cookbook newsletter.

And finally... for this morning's downtime

Brand Beckham | Business filings show it is David, not Victoria, bringing in the dough. So, where does his cash come from? Guy Kelly examines the secrets of his incredible money-making power.