Lockdown restrictions to last until the end of March with 'many more places in higher tiers,' PM warns

The strengthened new set of tiers that come into force after lockdown lifts next week will last until March next year, Boris Johnson has confirmed.

The Prime Minsiter warned that "many more places will be in higher tiers than alas was previously the case", which he described as "tougher" than pre-lockdown measures.

The Government's Covid Winter Plan sees the end of the ‘stay at home’ instruction, and the reopening of shops, gyms, personal care and the leisure sector.

Collective worship, weddings and outdoor sports can resume and people will no longer be limited to seeing one other person outdoors, as the rule of six returns once more.

Hospitality can reopen in the two lowest tiers, with the 10pm curfew tweaked into a 10pm last orders.  In tier three, sales are restricted to take-aways and delivery.

The Prime Minister also warned that now is "not the moment to let the virus rip for the sake of Christmas parties".

"'Tis the season to be jolly but it's also the season to be jolly careful - especially with elderly relatives," he said.

Read more below.


07:42 PM

Loosening Christmas restrictions 'comes at a risk', CMO says

Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty says it is "pretty obvious to anybody" that the loosening of coronavirus restrictions at Christmas "come at a risk".

He says the risk depends on how people behave before, during and after the Christmas period and take opportunities to socialise "responsibly".

"It is absolutely essential people are really serious about this," he says.


07:33 PM

Normality by Easter?

Boris Johnson says that if the vaccines are rolled out "at a good lick" that "with a favourable wind" the vast majority of people who need the most protection will be inoculated by Easter.

Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty says the milder weather in Spring will also "de-risk" the virus.

Prof Pollard says it is "certainly" possible for the vaccines to mutate but suggests that vaccines could be quickly altered to combat any new strains.


07:25 PM

Vaccine rollout a 'huge, huge effort', PM says

Boris Johnson says that there are "immense logistical challenges" to rolling out the vaccines and says the NHS, local authorities, Public Health England and the Armed Forces will all play a role.

"It will take a long time will take a while before we can get the shots in the arms where they're needed," he warns.


07:21 PM

'R' rate around 1, Boris Johnson says

The Prime Minister says that the infection rate is now at 1 or "in that area".

As England emerges from lockdown he says that the "key" priority for the Government is no ensuring people are in the right tiers and adhering to the guidance.

He says with the right measures "we can keep things down".


07:18 PM

Oxford trial has 'high efficacy', vaccine chief says

Professor Andrew Pollard, the Oxford trial's lead investigator, says that the vaccine has "high efficacy" and notes that no-one in the trial went into hospital with the virus if they had been vaccinated.

He says that it is "very exciting" that one arm of the study has efficacy rates of about 90 per cent.

"I think it's been a great day for us and a great day for science," he says.

Prof Pollard says that with the vaccine and increased testing he is "optimistic" for next year.


07:12 PM

Prime Minister warns that more areas will be in higher tiers than before

Boris Johnson says that the Government has set out its winter plans and warns that many places will be in higher tiers than before.

He says that while many will want to spend the upcoming festive season with their families this is "not the moment to let the virus rip for the sake of Christmas parties".

"Tis the season to be jolly but it's also the season to be jolly careful - especially with elderly relatives," he says.


07:09 PM

Boris Johnson hails 'fantastic' vaccine news

The Prime Minister begins the press conference by praising the efforts of those working on the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine.

He says that it is "easy to use and highly effective" but he warns that the good news should not make Britons complacent.

Mr Johnson says that we may be able to here "the drumming hooves of the cavalry coming over the brow of the hill, but they're not here yet".


07:03 PM

PM press conference about to begin

In the next few minutes Boris Johnson is set to reveal more about his coronavirus winter plan and the vaccine latest.

We'll bring you it here live.


06:39 PM

Brexit disruption 'inevitable', senior civil servant warns

Cabinet Office permanent secretary Alex Chisholm has admitted that there will "inevitably" be Brexit disruption at the end of the transition period and said that trader readiness "needs to improve further".

Mr Chisholm told the Public Accounts Committee that the "sheer scale of the overall operation means that there are literally many millions of moving parts".

He said: "So many things have to change at one time that inevitably there's going to be some difficulties for some individual people as they adjust to the new regime, so that's the first thing.

"Secondly I think that, again, as our own risk ratings do highlight, trader readiness has improved, but needs to improve further, and particularly when we think about people looking to trade with Europe, to export to Europe."


06:22 PM

Jeremy Corbyn urged to apologise 'unequivocally'

Labour's chief whip has asked Jeremy Corbyn to "unequivocally, unambiguously and without reservation" apologise for claiming that the scale of anti-Semitism in the party was "dramatically overstated for political reasons".

Nick Brown said the former Labour leader's response to a damning Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) report caused "distress and pain" to the Jewish community.

Mr Corbyn was suspended from the party last month over his comments, but was reinstated as a Labour member by the National Executive Committee following a meeting of a disciplinary panel three weeks later.

However, his successor as party leader Sir Keir Starmer last week blocked him from sitting as a Labour MP, though said he would keep the decision not to restore the whip "under review".

Mr Brown, writing to Mr Corbyn on Monday, said that to inform an investigation into whether the Islington North MP broke the party's code of conduct he wanted him to consider apologising for his comments.

Jeremy Corbyn has been urged to apologise - Ben STANSALL/AFP/Ben STANSALL/AFP

06:14 PM

PM fails to rule out public sector pay freeze

When asked if he would rule out the possibility by Labour's Christian Matheson, Mr Johnson replied: "I think he should wait until the Chancellor's statement on Wednesday."

Mr Matheson could be heard shouting: "You're his boss."

The Prime Minister also said coronavirus restrictions could end before Easter.

He told MPs: "That terminus, that end date looks like being Easter. We may be able to do better before Easter, we may be able to make considerable improvements before Easter, but we should aim for Easter."


06:01 PM

No bowling in Tier 3, PM confirms

Conservative Gary Sambrook  asked the Prime Minister about how bingo and bowling will be affected by new tier restrictions.

He said: "Will the PM give serious consideration to places like Buzz Bingo and Hollywood Bowl in Great Park in Northfield constituency to be able to open in all three tiers, so not just to save jobs and those businesses, but also that family and friends can socialise in a Covid secure way?"

Mr Johnson replied: "They're going to be open as he knows in tiers one and two, alas we can't yet do it in Tier 3."


05:42 PM

Government suffers another Lords defeat

Peers have inflicted a further defeat in backing moves aimed at ensuring the devolved administrations are involved in the future operation of the UK internal market post-Brexit.

The House of Lords supported by 319 votes to 242 steps to force the British Government to seek the consent of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland before ministers are allowed to exercise powers contained in controversial legislation.

The Labour-led change to the Internal Market Bill went further than the offer of consultation made by the Government.

The legislation has already suffered a string of defeats in the upper house, with peers voting overwhelmingly to strip out law-breaking powers that would enable ministers to override parts of the Brexit divorce deal - known as the Withdrawal Agreement - brokered with Brussels last year.


05:25 PM

PM compared to Oliver Cromwell

Tory backbencher Sir Desmond Swayne notes that "the last ruler who told us how we may or may not celebrate Christmas was Oliver Cromwell".

"It didn't end well did it?" he asks.

Boris Johnson says Sir Desmond is "completely right in his instincts". 

However, he adds that there is a "real risk" that "we'll pay for" a blowout Christmas in the new year.


05:21 PM

Boris Johnson signals London will be under one tier

Tory MP Bob Blackman notes that case rates in the capital are very diverse and asks if the Prime Minister would consider a more regional approach.

The Prime Minister says: “Although it’s very diverse and massive it is held together by a very dense mass transit system.

“Although there are fewer people on it right now the transmission within London means that it's quite difficult to separate one bit of London from another.”


05:16 PM

Boris Johnson is back

The Prime Minister blames technical difficulties for his brief reprieve.

He tells MPs:  "The problem does not appear to be our end, so I hope viewers will not think I'm in anyway trying to avoid scrutiny by honourable members."


05:05 PM

Matt Hancock dodges question about London's tier status

Felicity Buchan, the MP for Kensington, asks for assurances that London will be placed into "the lowest tier possible". 

Matt Hancock says London will be placed in "the tier that is necessary and appropriate, based on the public health evidence". 

He says the case rate, and particularly for the over-60s, and the "direction of travel" will be critical in making that judgement, as well as test positivity and the local NHS capacity.

He says he does not want to "punish an area" for having higher case rates if that is because of higher testing. 

"Thankfully in London the NHS has performed remarkably in the second peak and has coped with it, despite the pressures, admirably well."


04:59 PM

Matt Hancock hints at more funding for cancer research

Greg Clark praises Matt Hancock for funding the research that led to the breakthrough in the Oxford vaccine today. 

He asks if, in that spirit, the Government will consider investing in other clinical trials that rely on charitable funds "so there is no interruption in life saving research into cancer and other sources". 

Mr Hancock says he is tempted "to give an answer ahead of his time" and says he "looks forward to hearing what the Chancellor of the Exchequer has to say on Wednesday."


04:54 PM

Matt Hancock: We will level up with renewed vigour

Dan Jarvis, the Labour MP for Barnsley Central, asks Matt Hancock what steps the Chancellor will be taking to avoid "levelling down" in his spending review. 

The Health Secretary replied: "The Treasury has already updated its green book and that is a significant step. I know the Chancellor has been discussing this further."

He added: "The levelling up agenda is absolutely critical, after this pandemic even more so. That is the agenda this side was elected on and I look forward to putting that in place with renewed vigour."

To a question from Harriett Baldwin about golf and indoor swimming, Mr Hancock adds: "Golf is back." 


04:49 PM

Which tier will you be in? Covid cases mapped

Boris Johnson has said he will "hopefully" confirm the geographic split of the three tiered system on Thursday. 

The Government is holding off until the last minute to get the very latest data, he says. 

However that isn't all that helpful for those of us trying to plan. The map below has the current case rates which should give a sense of where might be in the lower tiers - and where might be under the highest. 


04:46 PM

Daily tests in place by January, Matt Hancock says

Richard Drax, who recently led a Westminster Hall debate on the lockdown, asks when the whole country can be tested and get a quick result so people can get back to their normal lives. 

Matt Hancock says he hopes that the system where people can be tested daily will be in place by January.

It is being piloted from this week and will be rolled out throughout December, before being ready by January. 


04:44 PM

Matt Hancock promises Liam Fox he 'won't have to wait long' for news on airport testing

Liam Fox, the former defence secretary, asks Matt Hancock if the UK should be following "other successful countries" in boosting the aviation industry again. 

He said: "What progress is being made in getting an integration between these lockdown measures and testing at the country's airports? Shouldn't we be following the example of other successful countries in helping to boost business travel, help the airline industry, help inward and outward tourism and get the workers at our airports back to full-time employment.

His North Somerset constituency is home to Bristol International Airport. 

The Health Secretary says the increased testing capacity will help "improve lives". 

He has been working with Grant Shapps, and the industry including regional airports, "and my right hon friend won't have to wait very long to get an answer," he says. 


04:41 PM

Labour MP pleads not to end national lockdown

Barry Sheerman has pleaded with the Government not to end the national lockdown, saying "we must stop deaths occurring that could be avoided". 

The Labour MP  for Huddersfield  said his constituency was a "classic, average town" where despite working hard to follow the rules they had "not been successful". 

However "under the national plan we have started to get there," he said. "We have only got to keep going for a few more weeks.... Please change your mind minister, change your mind Prime Minister."

Matt Hancock, who has taken over from Boris Johnson because of technical difficulties, said the tiered system was being strengthened to ensure it would bring rates down. 


04:35 PM

Sir Edward Leigh asks for guarantees that Christmas won't be a 'silent night'

Sir Edward Leigh notes that two of his favourite activities - swimming in the Serpentine and then going to mass - have been “abolished”. 

He asks for clarification that under “any tier or indeed under any future lockdown” that these will no longer be banned, noting that people have not been prevented from going to church for 800 years “since the country was put under an interdict by a medieval pope”. 

He also asks for reassurance about Christmas carols, saying he doesn’t want it to be a “silent night”.  Matt Hancock says he hopes there will be no future lockdown, which is why they have toughened tier three measures.

“That way I hope we can prevent the country ever having   the sorts of restrictions we had to impose to keep people safe,” he adds. 


04:34 PM

Sammy Wilson blasts 'alarming' control over people's freedoms

Sammy Wilson is not impressed. He asks if Matt Hancock “realises how alarming this statement is today”. 

He says the country should be “alarmed that the dependence to do the things that normally people would expect in a democracy now rests in the hands of a minister and the state”. 

The DUP MP suggests it will “drive millions into poverty and instill fear”, and that the policy is wrong as a result.  Matt Hancock says the first duty of the Government is to keep people safe, and that is why they are doing it. 


04:21 PM

Mark Harper warns that MPs will reserve their judgement on tiers

Mark Harper, chair of the Covid Recovery Group, says "many will hold their judgement on this until we know which areas go into which tiers". 

He suggests you would "struggle" to tell the difference between tier 3 and lockdown. 

The former chief whip and MP for Forest of Dean repeats his call for an impact assessment "so we know each measure is going to save more lives than it costs". 

Boris Johnson says he is delighted to have met Mr Harper and colleague Steve Baker, saying that many of their requests were met in his statement. He then goes silent, bringing proceedings to a halt. 

"Have you pressed the button by mistake," Sir Lindsay Hoyle asks. MPs are cracking up. 


04:18 PM

Ian Blackford calls for help for three million excluded

Ian Blackford says while he welcomes "that hope on the horizon" there are three million freelances, sole traders and the self-employed who have not received any support. 

"Because of the choices made by this Tory government, they face a Christmas with no help and no support," he says. 

"The excluded are not asking for any special treatment - just the same support that others have received." 

He notes that Rishi Sunak's spending review will take place a month before Christmas and asks if a package of support will be put in place to give them "some pre-Christmas cheer". 

Boris Johnson says the Government is doing "whatever we can to help the self-employed and excluded", but the best thing that everyone can do is "just to get the economy moving again" by getting the virus down. 


04:14 PM

Boris Johnson rejects calls for district-level restrictions

Damian Green, the former deputy PM, asks Boris Johnson if he will consider district-level restrictions rather than regional ones, warning that people are unlikely to follow them if they do not feel applicable. 

Mr Johnson says he respectfully disagrees, and he has "every confidence in the wisdom of British people". 

Alas, he adds, the disease is no respecter of borough boundaries. 

Mr Green is the MP for Ashford in Kent, so presumably concerned about the very high rates in Swale and other parts of that county as posted earlier. 


04:12 PM

Boris Johnson: Science is beginning to ride to our rescue

Boris Johnson says it is "not quite clear" if Labour are supporting them or not.

"If he wants to keep a national lockdown on, I don't think that is the right way forward for this country," he adds. 

The Prime Minister says the delay on announcing where the restrictions will be imposed is to get the latest data, and says "of course" it will be discussed with leaders but "we have to get on with it". 

He praises the regional leaders who "went early" into tier three the first time around as having been most successful. Mr Johnson then points to the changes such as the tweaks to the pub curfew. 

"Science is really beginning to ride to our rescue", he adds, pointing to Test and Trace, mass testing and the vaccine. 

"I am grateful to the right hon gentlemen for such support as he is able to offer at this stage... I'll take it while it seems to be there."

Boris Johnson speaks to the Commons remotely - PA

04:06 PM

Return to three tiers 'risky', says Keir Starmer

Sir Keir Starmer says although Labour will await the full details, he backs the broad principle and the four-nations approach to Christmas. 

But the Labour leader warns that a return to the three tier system is "risky" because it didn't work. Over time, most areas climbed up the categories "and we ended up in national lockdown... and nobody wants a return to that". 

Despite the changes, he says many of his questions are the same, and says Boris Johnson needs to answer them if he is to "carry parliament". 

The first question everyone asks is where the tiers will be. He urges speed and clarity "so everyone can plan". 

He also challenges him over whether the Government plans to impose restrictions on regions without consultation, and whether a new economic package will come alongside it. 


04:03 PM

What is changing after lockdown lifts: Everything you need to know

We don't yet know where the restrictions will fall - but at least we know what restrictions are in the pipeline. 

Here is what you need to know from what the Prime Minister has set out in the Commons. 


04:02 PM

Boris Johnson: It will still be a hard winter

Boris Johnson praises the prospect of a vaccine, but notes that it will be "still a hard winter". 

"Christmas cannot be normal and there is a long road to spring but we have turned a corner and the escape route is in sight," he adds.

Everyone can speed up that moment by following the rules, getting tested and pull together until the spring.


03:59 PM

Boris Johnson: Freedom pass concept to be rolled out from January

Boris Johnson then turns to the mass testing pilot in Liverpool which he says has "contributed" to the fall in results. 

That will now be rolled out more widely and those who test negative will be able to "offer those who test negative the prospect of fewer restrictions", including allowing them to meet up with other people who have also tested negative. 

This is the freedom pass, which Steve Baker has warned is "coercive". 

But Mr Johnson says that in Liverpool, it will end "automatic isolation" for contacts of those who test positive. If they test negative every day for a week, they will only need to isolate if they test positive. 

That approach will be extended across the whole of England from January, he confirms. 


03:54 PM

Boris Johnson promises 'time limited Christmas dispensation' from lockdown

The Government will set out a plans for "a time limited Christmas dispensation embracing the whole of the UK," Boris Johnson has said, in recognition of the "ties of kinship" across the four nations. 

But he says coronavirus is "not going to grant a Christmas truce". 

Echoing comments made by Nicola Sturgeon earlier, he said: "Families will need to make a careful judgement about risk of visiting elderly relatives."


03:52 PM

Boris Johnson: More regions will go into higher level than before

Boris Johnson says sports will be allowed to resume with spectators in tiers one and two, with capacity limits and social distancing, noting that means there will be consistency with theatres and concert halls. 

Police will be given more enforcement powers, he adds. 

The Prime Minister says he hopes on Thursday to be able to confirm where the tiers will fall, depending on how cases are falling or rising, the percentage of people who test positive and the current and projected pressures on the NHS. 

"I am sorry to say we expect that more regions will fall at least temporarily into higher levels than before," he says, stressing that mass testing will help to return to lower levels. 


03:49 PM

Boris Johnson confirms the return of the three tiers

Boris Johnson says - alas - the disease is still present and so he will no allow a "free for all" to replace lockdown. 

Instead we will go back under the tiered approach. 

While the previous system did cut the R-rate, they were not enough to get it below one. 

So people should work from home in tier one, he says. In tier two, alcohol can only be served with a meal and in tier three, all forms of hospitality except takeaways will have to close. 

They will be a uniformed set of rules, and there will be no negotiations with each region beforehand, he says. 

The 10pm curfew is now last orders at 10pm, with closing at 11pm. 


03:46 PM

Lockdown will end next Wednesday, Boris Johnson confirms

Boris Johnson begins his address telling MPs that for the first time "the scientific cavalry" is in sight and by next spring, restrictions can be relaxed and "lockdown made redundant". 

He says he is "acutely conscious that no other peacetime prime minister has asked so much of his people". 

But the country is not there yet, he adds, noting we could still "squander all our gains" when the NHS is at its most vulnerable. 

He praises the people for "steadfastly" following the rules, as he confirms they will end on 2 December and not renewed. 

"From next Wednesday people will be able to leave their homes for any purpose and meet other people in public places, subject to the rule of six," he says. Shops, personal care, gyms and churches can reopen. 


03:39 PM

Staff and students in Wales must wear face coverings everywhere outside classroom

Staff and students in secondary schools and colleges in Wales must wear face coverings in all areas outside the classroom and on school transport, the Welsh Government has announced.

Visitors to all schools and colleges, including parents and carers dropping and picking up children, should also wear face coverings.

Previously, schools and local authorities were responsible for deciding where and when face coverings should be worn in educational settings.

Education Minister Kirsty Williams said: "The new guidance is simple to follow, easier to administer and ensures that there is a consistent policy across Wales.

The Welsh Government's policy for face coverings in classrooms remains the same.

This states that in classrooms where contact groups exist and other control measures are in place, the marginal benefit that may be gained by the use of face coverings has to be balanced with the likely negative impact on the learning experience.


03:18 PM

Have your say on: The return of the three tiers

Boris Johnson is to set out his plans for the return of the three-tiered system after England's national lockdown is lifted next week. 

Much of the detail has already surfaced, with church services resuming, shops reopening and the pub curfew being tweaked. However a ban on household mixing is still expected for much of the country. 

This morning rebel co-founder of the Covid Recovery Group Steve Baker said he was "reassured" by the restarting of the economy - but raised the alarm over the "coercive" nature of the freedom passes. However he noted that others, like Sir Charles Walker, were unlikely to feel any more enthusiastic about restrictions - something Sir John Redwood echoed. 

But what do you think? Have your say in the poll below. 


03:11 PM

Nicola Sturgeon asks people to consider 'getting through Christmas' without socialising

Nicola Sturgeon has pushed back against reports that ministers of Governments across the four nations are poised to agree a plan that will allow up to four households to mix for five days.

No final decision has been made on how many households will be able to get together, but sources have indicated it will be either three or four households, meaning families will be able to have both sets of grandparents to stay.

The First Minister this afternoon confirmed that conversations were taking place around lifting restrictions for "a small number of days, small number of households", adding: "Discussions have not been as high as four, but we are still considering the detail of that."

Ms Sturgeon also urged people to think twice about socialising indoor with their relatives, regardless of what is agreed, saying: "The virus won't take Christmas off".

She told the press conference that people should consider "if you can get through Christmas without it", adding: "Do we need to visit family and friends over Christmas? Perhaps delaying a visit to the spring, especially if that involves travel, might be the better option."


03:07 PM

Crowds allowed back into sport stadiums next week

Crowds of 4,000 can return to sporting venues, in low-risk areas, for the first time since March when lockdown eases next week, the Prime Minister is expected to announce.

The most dramatic reversal of spectator restrictions since the pandemic began gives football, rugby and horse-racing a chance of getting fans back from Dec 3, in low-risk areas.

Under the new system, major outdoor stadiums in tier-one areas can welcome a maximum of 4,000 spectators, with bigger indoor venues allowed 1,000.

That same indoor limit applies in tier-two areas, but outdoor venues will be restricted to 2,000. In all cases smaller venues will be limited to 50 per cent capacity should the limit exceed half of seats available.

Football and rugby crowds remain effectively banned in tier-three areas, however.

Read the full story here.

We're coming home: PM to confirm spectators can return to stadiums after lockdown - PA

03:03 PM

Labour challenges Gavin Williamson over Covid pupil absence

Pupils at some schools have been sent home on five occasions since the start of autumn term because of Covid-19, Labour has claimed. 

Speaking in the Commons, shadow education secretary Kate Green asked Gavin Williamson for the precise number - a question which he dodged. 

She then said she was "disappointed" Mr Williamson "doesn't know those figures", adding: "Parents, pupils and teachers have told me of students having being sent home three, four, even five times, some have missed up to one third of their time in school.

"I'm sure the Secretary of State agrees that will have a disastrous impact on their learning."

Ms Green also said school leaders and staff are "stressed and exhausted" and challenged Mr Williamson to explain what support is on offer, with the Education Secretary arguing the Government has "done everything we can do to support schools to welcome children back" and provide laptops for home learning.

Gavin Williamson: Fudged a question over pupil absence - Shutterstock

02:52 PM

Boris Johnson equates leaks with bullying in warning letter to Whitehall

Boris Johnson's letter to ministers and civil servants warning that bullying has no place in Government has been published online.

The Prime Minister and his Cabinet Secretary Simon Case stressed that the relationship between the two sides "is one of the foundation stones in our system of government" and that "mutual trust and respect" was of paramount importance during the current crisis. 

"This includes keeping internal conversations private," the letter adds. "We should all feel able to speak freely and honestly about matters of state. We should also feel able to speak constructively about things that are not working, so that we can fix them together promptly.

"There is a particular duty on ministers and permanent secretaries to create jointly across Government a culture which is professional, respectful, focused and ambitious for change and in which there is no place for bullying.

"Never has it been more important that we work as one team. Let's put strong working relationships between ministers and their officials at the heart of this Government."

The inquiry into Priti Patel sparked the letter - Getty

02:39 PM

Lobby latest: Boris Johnson believes MPs' pay should be frozen

Boris Johnson believes MPs should not not receive an annual pay rise, Downing Street has said.

The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority - which sets MPs' salaries - has reportedly recommended they should get a 4.1 per cent increase worth £3,300.

However, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said that Mr Johnson had already frozen ministerial pay and that he did not believe MPs should get a rise.

"MPs' salaries are obviously decided by an independent body but given the circumstances, the PM doesn't believe MPs should be receiving a pay rise," the spokesman said.

A number of Conservative MPs including Steve Baker have said MP pay should be frozen in light of the public sector pay freeze. "If necessary, the law must be changed," he said. 


02:27 PM

This isn't the end of lockdown. It's the next phase of a ruinous cycle of illogical restrictions

If there is anyone still labouring under the delusion that lockdown mark two was going to be a short, sharp "circuit-breaker", and that we could then go back to something a little more like normality, they are going to be rudely awoken shortly, when the Prime Minister announces what will "replace" lockdown when the current rules expire on 2 December. 

The answer, it seems, will be a rebadged lockdown.

While it will be described as a return to tiers, those tiers will be made tougher and more of us will find ourselves shunted into the top tiers. The result is that most people will be forbidden from mixing with family and friends until Easter – save for a brief truce over Christmas.

A semi-free Christmas is being used as the thin, dangling carrot which is supposedly going to help us resign ourselves to many months of isolation


02:20 PM

'This is corruption': Labour MPs attack Robert Jenrick over Town Funds

Labour MPs have accused Robert Jenrick of "corruption" over the use of Town Funds cash. 

Marginal constituencies were targeted during last year’s general election with Facebook adverts placed by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Voters were told that their town would receive significant investment.

At least 100,000 voters saw taxpayer-funded posts alerting them to the £3.6 billion Towns Fund, the Times reported this morning. 

"This is corruption," said Rhondda MP Chris Bryant as he shared the story on Twitter. "Yes it is," added Hull North colleague Diana Johnson. 


02:10 PM

It's crunch time for Rishi Sunak – Britain needs a strong chancellor, not a popular one

Remember The Mrs Merton Show, the 1990s mock interview programme in which the late Caroline Aherne played a wickedly acerbic pensioner disingenuously asking celebrities the questions we couldn’t?

Her greatest gag, once named the second-best one-liner of all time, was to inquire of magician’s wife Debbie McGee: “So, what first attracted you to the millionaire Paul Daniels?”

Rosa Prince thinks of Mrs Merton when she hears praise for our Chancellor, “Dishy” Rishi Sunak: so, what was it first attracted you to the handsome, young, articulate politician giving away billions upon billions of pounds?


02:04 PM

Further restrictions in Wales could provide pre-Christmas 'headroom', says Vaughan Gething

Vaughan Gething has said that imposing measures in Wales that are similar to other UK nations ahead of Christmas could provide "headroom" for the festive period.

"We're thinking about whether we should have something that is more common to the approach has been taken in both Scotland, England, and to an extent in Northern Ireland as well," the Welsh Health Minister said. 

"Thinking about would there be benefit for all of us in having a more common set of measures in advance of Christmas, because I think that would really help with the message to the public and to get us to probably have more headroom for the festive season where we know there will be more mixing between different groups of people."

Mr Gething said there was "good evidence" that the firebreak lockdown in Wales had been effective but the challenge was getting to Christmas and having a relaxation of coronavirus rules.

"Scotland and England have a broadly similar and common approach, and so we need to think about that too," he said.


01:43 PM

Senior MEP warns Brexit talks are 'already at five past midnight'

A senior German MEP has attacked Boris Johnson for "gambling" with the timing of Brexit talks, claiming "it is already five past 12 [midnight]". 

Bernd Lange, a Social Democratic Party MEP and chair of the European Parliament's international trade committee tweeted that Europe "won't pay the price" for the UK's actions. 


01:21 PM

Boris Johnson quells Tory rebellion with new tier system - but concerns over freedom pass grow

Boris Johnson may have done enough to placate rebel Tories with a return to the tiered system that allows for shops, churches and leisure centres to reopen - but he is not out of the woods yet.

​Steve Baker, one of the leaders of the new Covid Recovery Group, said his colleagues would listen to what the Prime Minister has to say today before deciding whether they will back the new tiered measures.

But he was "reassured" by the reports that many businesses, and places of worship, will be reopened and the 10pm curfew tweaked or thrown out completely. 

However many Conservative MPs are still concerned about some Government plans, he added, not least the freedom pass because the "implied coercion to force people into asymptomatic testing is very problematic."  As revealed by the Sunday Telegraph, the pass could be granted to those who obtain a negative test twice a week.

Mr Baker noted that there were some MPs, including Sir Charles Walker, for whom the CRG letter was "too moderate to sign", suggesting there could be a significant minority to challenge the PM on principle of civil liberties. 


01:15 PM

Covid cases fall in England - but not in London or South East

Covid-19 case rates have started to fall in most local areas across England - but not in London and the South East. 

The rate is rising in 34 out of 67 local authority areas in the South East of England. Swale is top of the list, where the rate is currently 631.7 cases per 100,000 people, up from 425.8.

Thanet also appears in England's top five rates, where the number is currently 515.1, up from 460.8.

The nationwide restrictions began on November 5, and the most recent figures are for the week ending November 18 - just 14 days into the lockdown.

Given it can take up to two weeks for Covid-19 symptoms to appear, and further time for somebody to be tested and the result to be processed, more data is needed to be certain about how and where case rates are falling.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: "I am very glad to see in the data that the number of cases across the UK is clearly starting to fall. That is good news."


12:59 PM

Boris Johnson to give press conference at 7pm

Boris Johnson is to give a press conference at the later time of 7pm this evening, following his Commons statement this afternoon. 

The Prime Minister, who is due to speak to MPs from 3:30pm, will host the Downing Street event remotely as he continues to self-isolate.

He will be joined by England's chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty and Andrew Pollard, direct of the Oxford Vaccine Group. 


12:53 PM

No agreement on numbers of household mixing, says Wales' health minister

The four UK nations are discussing "the potential for a limited period of time to have some relaxation" of current coronavirus rules over Christmas, Vaughan Gething has said. 

Wales' health secretary said that as well as coordinating on travel between the four nations, "we are talking about what household mixing might look like. I've seen some of the suggestions in some reports ... we haven't agreed any numbers around that."

Mr Gething said the Welsh Government was considering whether Wales, which came out of a firebreak lockdown on November 9, should have a "more common approach to measures in advance of Christmas" to other UK nations.

"We're starting to see in some parts of Wales a rise in coronavirus cases again, an increase in the under 25s," Mr Gething said.


12:52 PM

Christmas socialising restricted to fewer than four households, Nicola Sturgeon hints

Any indoor socialising over Christmas will be restricted to fewer than four households, Nicola Sturgeon has suggested. 

The First Minister told her press conference that discussions of the four-nation approach had centered around “a small number of households” being able to mix for “a small number of days” over Christmas.

The idea of allowing four households to mix has not been discussed, she added. 

Ms Sturgeon also points out that the different nations of the UK use different definitions of households.

Nicola Sturgeon: Christmas socialising will be restricted - PA

12:46 PM

Coronavirus 'won't take Christmas off', says Nicola Sturgeon

Nicola Sturgeon has said Scotland should prepare only for a “slight and careful” easing of restrictions over Christmas.

The four nations have the UK have been making progress towards a common position, and firm conclusions will be confirmed later, she says.

The First Minister also notes that there is a mixed opinion about what is the right approach over the festive period, saying that while some people want the rules to be relaxed, there is also a lot of anxiety about the potential risks. 

She says it is “likely” that some households will be able to form larger bubbles with others over Christmas.

But she says any relaxation of Christmas comes with additional risk. “I’m afraid the virus won’t take Christmas off,” she says.


12:41 PM

Kent district showing 'wilful disregard of rules', claims council leader

A district of Kent now has the highest Covid-19 rate in the country amid concerns that people are showing a "wilful disregard of the rules".

An emergency meeting is being held on Monday to discuss why Swale has overtaken Hull as having the highest rate in England. The seaside borough reported a rate of 631.7 cases per 100,000 people for the seven days to November 18, according to analysis by the PA news agency. 

Announcing the calling of an emergency meeting, Swale Borough Council leader Roger Truelove said the recent rise in cases is a "significant cause for concern".

He said: "We are particularly concerned about compliance with the restrictions in place.

"I know most people and businesses are doing what they should, but it is frustrating to still see people not wearing face coverings or keeping their distance when they should.

"This kind of wilful disregard of the rules means we are more likely to have further restrictions imposed on us in December, which is hugely unfair for people and businesses who have been doing the right thing since March."

Senior representatives from Kent County Council, Kent Police, HM Prison Service, the Department for Work and Pensions and the local voluntary sector have been invited to attend.


12:31 PM

Call Keir: Hanging by the telephone

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has cancelled a planned virtual question-and-answer session with pre-selected voters in Basildon which was set for Monday afternoon due to Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Commons statement on Covid-19 restrictions, Labour has said.

The party said the "Call Keir" event would be rescheduled.

Call Keir: Hanging by the telephone - AFP

12:18 PM

Irish Taoiseach: Brexit deal visible by end of this week

Micheal Martin said in Dublin that he hoped the outline of the Brexit trade deal would be visible by the end of this week.  

The Irish Taoiseach said: "President Ursula Von der Leyen did say to the EU leaders last Thursday night that there are texts now on all areas. I would be hopeful that by the end of this week we could see the outline of a deal.

"That remains to be seen. It's down to political will. One must remain hopeful that a deal can be arrived at."

However Mr Barnier, who could remain in quarantine until Friday, earlier warned there were still significant differences to resolve (11:20am). 

In Brussels, the European Commission dismissed reports that the transition period could be extended beyond the end of the year deadline. 

"You either have a deal or you don't," a spokesman said. 


12:03 PM

Chocs away: Boris Johnson talks up UK-Australia free trade deal

Boris Johnson has focused on chocolate bars as he talked up the chances of a post-Brexit UK-Australia free trade deal being secured.

The Prime Minister joked an agreement between the UK and Australia would see an exchange of chocolate biscuits in the form of British Penguin chocolate bars and Australian Tim Tams "in the quantities that we need".

"Here's to the UK-Australia free trade deal," he added. 

Mr Johnson - who is self-isolating after coming into contact with Tory MP Lee Anderson who tested positive for coronavirus - had been set to introduce his counterpart Scott Morrison as he received the inaugural Grotius Prize, but a technical glitch prevented him from doing so.

The think tank said Mr Morrison received the award "in recognition of his work in support of the international rules-based order".

Mr Johnson's comments come after Britain and Canada agreed to continue trading under the same terms as the current EU deal after the Brexit transition period ends at the close of the year.


11:46 AM

Prof Chris Whitty praises 'very encouraging step forward' on vaccine

England's chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty tweeted that the vaccine news presented a "very encouraging step forward".

He added: "I would like to say a huge thank you to those who volunteered and the researchers around the country.

"The regulators will now do their independent analysis for safety and efficacy, but this is another important advance."


11:38 AM

Nick Timothy: We’ll be living with the devastating costs of the Covid pandemic for decades

If anybody believes that the recent good news about coronavirus vaccines means life will soon return to normal, Rishi Sunak will bring them crashing down to earth on Wednesday, when he announces the Spending Review.

The vaccines, government insiders and pharmaceutical companies caution, will still take some time to conclude and then administer. And there remains the danger that Covid might mutate in ways that make the vaccines less effective. These are the reasons why, if we want to lift all restrictions on social and economic activity, we still need to develop the capacity to test hundreds of thousands of people on a daily basis.

This explains why ministers are now talking about restrictions lasting until Easter next year, albeit in a less stringent form. But however soon the measures are lifted, whatever magic medicine and science can deliver, we are not about to return to normal.

As Nick Timothy argues, we will be living with the consequences of this virus for years and decades to come.


11:20 AM

Brexit negotiations resume online as Michel Barnier warns 'time is short'

It had been hoped that a Brexit trade deal could be announced today - but that was before Covid meant that negotiations had to be conducted remotely. 

The talks will continue today with little hope of any breakthrough until later this week. 

Michel Barnier has marked this with an obligatory tweet noting that "time is short". 


11:17 AM

'No place for bullying' in Whitehall, says Boris Johnson

The Prime Minister and Cabinet Secretary have written to ministers and senior officials saying there is "no place for bullying" following an investigation into Home Secretary Priti Patel's conduct.

Boris Johnson acknowledged that his former ethics adviser Sir Alex Allan had concluded that Ms Patel's behaviour could "on occasion" be described "as bullying in terms of the impact felt by individuals".

In a written statement, he said: "Together with the Cabinet Secretary, I have this morning written to all ministers and permanent secretaries. This letter sets out the paramount importance of relationships of mutual trust and respect between politicians and their officials.

"This includes keeping internal conversations private, feeling able to speak freely and honestly about matters of state and to speak constructively about things that are not working so that we can fix them together promptly.

"I am clear that there is a particular duty on ministers and permanent secretaries to create jointly across Government a culture which is professional, respectful, focused and ambitious for change and in which there is no place for bullying."

Mr Johnson added that he has "full confidence" in Ms Patel and that he considers "this matter now closed".


11:13 AM

Watch: Matt Hancock welcomes results of Oxford vaccine

Health Secretary Matt Hancock welcomed news that a coronavirus vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University may be up to 90 per cent effective at preventing people from getting Covid-19, preliminary data shows.

Overall results from phase three of the trial show the vaccine is 70.4 per cent effective. 

But when administered at a half dose and then a full dose the vaccine can be up to 90 per cent effective, the scientists said.

"I really welcome these figures, this data," said Mr Hancock. "Of course it is vital that the independent regulator, the MHRC, will look at data to check it is effective and safe... but we have got 100m doses on order and should all that go well the bulk of the roll-out will be in the new year."

He noted it was "easier to administer" than the Pfizer vaccine, which must be stored at below 70*. 


11:01 AM

Have your say on: The return of the three tiers

Boris Johnson is to set out his plans for the return of the three-tiered system after England's national lockdown is lifted next week. 

Much of the detail has already surfaced, with church services resuming, shops reopening and the pub curfew being tweaked. However a ban on household mixing is still expected for much of the country. 

This morning rebel co-founder of the Covid Recovery Group Steve Baker said he was "reassured" by the restarting of the economy - but raised the alarm over the "coercive" nature of the freedom passes. However he noted that others, like Sir Charles Walker, were unlikely to feel any more enthusiastic about restrictions - something Sir John Redwood echoed. 

But what do you think? Have your say in the poll below. 


10:50 AM

Chinese authorities urged to 'reach out and heal divisions' over Hong Kong

Dominic Raab has urged the Chinese authorities to change course over Hong Kong and "reach out and start to heal divisions", as pro-democracy campaigner Joshua Wong and two other activists were taken into custody.

The Foreign Secretary said the controversial national security law imposed by Beijing and a move to disqualify pro-democracy legislators contributed to the "most concerning period in Hong Kong's post-handover history".

In a foreword to a regular report on the situation in Hong Kong, he indicated that the participation of British judges in Hong Kong's highest court could be reviewed if judicial independence is undermined.

Consultations with UK Supreme Court president Lord Reed have begun about "when to review whether it continues to be appropriate" for British judges to sit on Hong Kong's Court of Final Appeal.

Hong Kong's chief executive Carrie Lam can appoint judges to hear cases brought under the national security law and these can also be transferred to the Chinese mainland. 

Dominic Raab: Involvement of British judges in Hong Kong under review - Barcroft Media

10:41 AM

Tory MP welcomes reports about Biden's Brexit-bashing new SoS

Overnight the US media has reported that President-elect Joe Biden will nominate Tony Blinken as his secretary of state.

Mr Blinken, who was deputy to the role in the Obama administration, is said to have once called Brexit a “total mess” and compared it to Marine Le Pen’s rise in France. He also shares his new boss' view on the controversial UK Internal Market Bill, tweeting earlier this year that "any arrangements must protect the Good Friday Agreement and prevent the return of a hard border". 

Despite this, Conservative MP and chair of the Defence Committee has responded enthusiastically. 


10:24 AM

What's on the agenda today?

Monday always takes a little longer to get going as MPs return to Westminster from their constituencies (or not, as lockdown keeps many of them away). 

But, be that as it may, the afternoon is shaping up to be busy. Here is what to expect today: 

12.15pm: Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will hold her regular coronavirus briefing. Will she spill the beans about the four-nations plan for Christmas? The Welsh government holds its own one at the same time. 

1pm: Sir Keir Starmer hold an online ‘Call Keir’ meeting for people in Basildon.

1.30pm: Andrew Bailey, governor of the Bank of England, gives evidence to the Treasury Select Committee, amid concerns about how the pandemic is altering the economy. 

2pm: Anneliese Dodds, the shadow chancellor, gives a speech ahead of Rishi Sunak's spending review on Wednesday.

2:30pm: Education questions in the Commons.

3.30pm: Boris Johnson to set out his post-lockdown plan for England, with 'tougher' tiers.

TBC: It may well not happen at the usual 5pm slot, but the Prime Minister is tipped to give a press conference today too. 


10:14 AM

Norman Tebbit: No wonder Priti Patel has had trouble in the Home Office

What an extraordinary row there has been over the alleged bullying of Home Office officials.

Writing in today's Telegraph, Norman Tebbit admits his bias as a friend of Priti Patel. But despite this, he argues that it sounds as though those officials may not like being given orders by a woman.

Even worse she ordered them to deal more firmly with the criminals on the streets and the trade in illegal immigration into the United Kingdom.

As a working class Thatcherite, the Tory grandee believes he would have been treated in the same way as the Home Secretary.

Norman Tebbit thinks he would have been treated the same as Priti Patel - Andrew Crowley

09:58 AM

Huge PR drive to be launched in Scotland to counter anti-vaccination conspiracies

With the great news about yet another vaccine breakthrough, it is tempting to think the worst is over. 

But governments around the world could be facing an uphill struggle fighting against disinformation which has paved the way for the anti-vaxxer movement. 

The Scottish Government is launching a major campaign to convince people of the safety of a new coronavirus vaccine, after opinion polls revealed as many as a third of people may refuse to take it.

Jeane Freeman, the SNP health secretary, said that a public information drive targeted at every home in Scotland would begin in the new year. Read the full details here.


09:53 AM

Too early to tell how long Oxford vaccine will protect people, says chief investigator

It is too early to tell whether people who receive the Oxford vaccine can be protected from coronavirus for as long as a year, the chief investigator of the trial has said. 

Professor Andrew Pollard told a briefing: "I'm afraid it's just too early to say anything about that [how long it lasts]."

He explained: "We only started giving the second doses of vaccine in the UK in August. The increase in disease, as you know, started towards the end of September and so most of the cases have only relatively recently accumulated both in the UK and in Brazil.

"So that means we just have not had enough time yet to be able to say whether, a year later, people are still as protected as they were at the beginning. So I think this is a 'watch this space' question."


09:31 AM

Boris Johnson should break up 'monopoly' on scientific advice

Steve Baker has said the Government should break up the "monopoly" on scientific advice in favour of competing groups offering different advice. 

The former minister and co-founder of the Covid Recovery Group said the blame for the current lockdown measures could not be lain at Boris Johnson's feet, suggesting it was because Sage had been "put on a pedestal", despite dissenting voices. 

He told Talk Radio:"There is a really fundamental, structural problem with the way science is being handled... clearly anyone can see with access to social media that scientists disagree, particularly in the interpretation of data which is uncertain."

The MP called for "competitive expert advice, multidisciplinary teams with what I would call devils advocate or red teams to challenge their advice, and the Prime Minister should have three teams of competing experts on this.

"What we've got instead is monopoly expert advice."

There should be "no more bouncing Prime Minister with modelling that turns out to be wrong," he said, adding: "You do have to ask how many times modelling has to be wrong before ministers say no more."


09:08 AM

Tory MP tells Government to drop 'complex rules' and let people decide for themselves

Not everyone is feeling the reassurance that Steve Baker spoke of this morning. 

Sir John Redwood, MP for Wokingham and a lockdown sceptic, has called on the Government to stop "thinking up more complex rules for everyone" and instead spell out the risks of the virus and trust people to make more of  their own decisions".

He added: "Help those who want protection. Let  others rescue the economy  and get on with their lives, judging safety themselves."

As we set out this morning, there will be winners and losers: Pubs and restaurants will bear the brunt of a new Covid tier system so shops, cinemas and gyms can reopen under plans to be announced by Boris Johnson. 


09:01 AM

Top tier will be 'tougher' that before, Matt Hancock confirms

Matt Hancock has confirmed that the top tier in the new system after England's lockdown is lifted will be "tougher" than before. 

The Health Secretary said he was "very glad to see in the data that the number of cases across the UK is clearly starting to fall".

"That is good news," he added. 

"Therefore, in England, when the lockdown measures come to an end on December 2 we can be confident that they can be replaced with a tiered system, but the top tier is going to have to be tougher than the previous top tier because before it managed to flatten the curve but not have it fall."


08:37 AM

Decide for yourself on Christmas mixing, says health expert

People should decide for themselves whether it is safe to meet relatives at Christmas even if governments allow it, a public health expert has said.

Professor Linda Bauld, professor of public health at the University of Edinburgh, said that meeting people indoors would not come without risks.

She told BBC Good Morning Scotland: "If we come together with people from different households at the time of year when the windows are closed, the people you care about, physical distancing is difficult, it is an opportunity for the virus to spread, so this is really really tough."

But Prof Bauld noted that mental health issues such as anxiety and depression were higher than usual because of the pandemic, and were another factor to bear in mind. 

"Even if government says 'OK, you can get together indoors with other people', let's all make our own risk assessment about the people we care about and ourselves and how are we going to apply that to our own personal circumstances," she said.  "As with everything throughout this pandemic, it has got to be a partnership between guidance and support that government gives and what people decide to do for themselves and for their families."


08:24 AM

Relaxing measures over Christmas 'quite worrying' idea, says Matt Hancock

People must not think they can throw caution to the wind at Christmas despite the latest vaccine breakthrough, Matt Hancock has said. 

Authorities now have a "high confidence that from after Easter things can really start to get better," the Health Secretary said this morning, following the news about the Oxford vaccine breakthrough. 

"If this all goes well in the next couple of weeks we are looking at the potential of starting the vaccination programme for the Oxford vaccine next month... as well as Pfizer," he told Radio 4's Today programme. The bulk of the roll out will be in new year, he added. 

"We have got to keep the virus suppressed using mass testing for the next few months."

Asked if the prospect of a vaccine meant people could relax over Christmas, he said such thinking was "quite worrying" because of the speed coronavirus accelerates without measures.

"It is so important the measures in place continue until the vaccine can make us safe... when it comes to Christmas, that is a really special time of year. We hope to agree a cautious, balanced approach that can allow people to see their families but also make sure we keep the virus under control."


08:13 AM

'Stronger' tiered system to replace lockdown, Matt Hancock says

The tiered system that England will return to once the second lockdown lifts will be "stronger" than it was before, Matt Hancock has confirmed. 

The Health Secretary has declined to comment on the specifics - many of which are contained in our report this morning - saying we must wait for Boris Johnson to set them out in Parliament this afternoon. 

But Mr Hancock said it would be a strengthened version of what we had seen before, noting that previously the system was only sufficient to "flatten" cases rather than get them down.

"The tiered system, whilst lighter than lockdown, will have to be stronger than the previous tiers that were in place."

He pointed to Liverpool as an example of things to come, with mass testing and measures bringing cases down together. 

Asked if there will be a fourth tier, Mr Hancock said: "No, three tiers, but the top tier, Tier 3, will have to be stronger than the previous Tier 3."


08:09 AM

Strengthened tiers before Christmas 'too big a price to pay' for hospitality sector, says Andy Burnham

Rebel Tory MPs might be feeling reassured by plans for the new tiered system, but Andy Burnham is yet to be convinced. 

Speaking this morning the mayor of Greater Manchester said many hospitality businesses will not survive a toughened system of tiered controls in England.

"I am worried about what I am hearing this morning. It seems that a toughened Tier 3 could be devastating for the hospitality industry and will hit cities and the city economy very, very hard indeed," he told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.

"They seem to be going too far before Christmas to allow too much over Christmas and that will lead to a huge loss of hospitality businesses, which I would say is too big a price to pay.

"To close all hospitality businesses in Tier 3 areas - that will be large parts of the North - that will be devastating for many of those businesses. They will not survive that."


08:07 AM

Oxford vaccine paves return to normal 'sometime after Easter', says Matt Hancock

The Oxford vaccine breakthrough is paving the way for "things to be able to start to get back to normal" after Easter, Matt Hancock has said. 

The Health Secretary praised the "really encouraging" breakthrough in the Oxford vaccine, saying the "bulk" of the roll out will be in the new year.

"It is subject to that regulatory approval and I really stress that because the medicines regulator, it's called the MHRA, is independent, they're rigorous, they're one of the best regulators in the world," he told BBC Breakfast.

"They will be very, very careful to ensure that they look at all the data to make sure that this is safe.

"Subject to that approval, we hope to be able to start vaccinating next month.

"The bulk of the vaccine rollout programme will be in January, February, March, and we hope that sometime after Easter things will be able to start to get back to normal."


07:53 AM

Boris Johnson hails 'fantastic' Oxford vaccine breakthrough

Boris Johnson has hailed the "fantastic" breakthrough in the Oxford vaccine, which has shown to be at least 70 per cent effective. 

AstraZeneca and Oxford University announced that their jab is effective in preventing many people getting ill and it has been shown to work in different age groups, including the elderly.

But one of the dosing patterns used by the scientists suggested 90 per cent effectiveness if one half dose is given followed by a further full dose.

Here is what the Prime Minister had to say about this latest vaccine, which the UK has ordered 100m doses of. 


07:51 AM

Matt Hancock promises more 'calibrated' approach to tiers after lockdown is lifted

The Government will adopt a more "calibrated" approach to the tiered system of local coronavirus controls in England when the lockdown lifts on December 2, the Health Secretary has said. 

Ahead of a Commons statement by Boris Johnson, Matt Hancock said the number of cases was beginning to fall and tiers would be "calibrated" to continue that process while having "as little impingement as is reasonably possible on our lives and on the economy".

He told Times Radio: "Managing to open retail would have a big positive effect on the economy and we think we will still keep R below 1 and the number of cases coming down.

"So, it is a more calibrated approach to the tiers so they can be more closely aligned to what is going on in your area."


07:49 AM

Rishi Sunak to announce billions for new prisons, schools and police officers

Rishi Sunak has insisted there will be no “return to austerity” as he prepares to announce up to £2 billion to build new prisons and schools, and recruit thousands of additional police officers.

The Chancellor will confirm a number of multi-year settlements to deliver on Boris Johnson’s flagship manifesto pledges at Wednesday’s spending review, insisting that public services will remain “at the heart of our economic renewal”.

He will unveil a £1.25 billion cash injection to help fix Britain’s struggling penal system, as part of a £4 billion settlement over four years intended to deliver 18,000 additional prison places. 

Hundreds of millions of pounds of additional funding will also be announced for the second round of police recruitment, on top of the £750 million released last year to hire the first 6,000 of 20,000 new officers. 

He will also pledge to deliver 50 school building and repair projects annually over the course of this Parliament, after the Prime Minister announced £1.5 billion for the first year of the programme in June. 

School spending will increase by £2.2 billion, up from £47.6 billion to £49.8 billion in the next financial year.