Politics

Boris Johnson is heading for a COVID showdown with MPs amid a backlash over a six-week wait for the ending of self-isolation rules. Conservative MPs and business leaders have reacted furiously after Health Secretary Sajid Javid said children and fully vaccinated adults will have to follow current self-isolation rules until 16 August. This means they

Those who have received two vaccination doses will no longer have to self-isolate if they come into contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 from 16 August. Making an announcement in the Commons on changes to the government’s self-isolation policy, newly appointed Health Secretary Sajid Javid also confirmed self-isolation rules for those aged

Boris Johnson is suffering a backlash over his plans to ditch rules on wearing face masks. Doctors, regional mayors, trade unions and health charities are among those who have expressed fears over the relaxed measures. Image: Boris Johnson wants to ease face mask restrictions as soon as 19 July. File pic Labour leader Sir Keir

Almost all COVID rules – including limits on the number of people who can meet together, legal requirements on wearing face masks, and social distancing in pubs and bars – will be ditched as part of the final step of the roadmap for lifting lockdown restrictions in England. The government expects to push ahead with

Boris Johnson will reveal how he plans to “restore people’s freedoms” in England at a news conference on Monday, ahead of the final stage of his roadmap out of lockdown. Downing Street said the prime minister wants to give the public and businesses more time to prepare for the easing of restrictions on 19 July,

There will be a “much more permissive regime” of coronavirus measures in England – with the wearing of face masks a “personal choice”, a minister has told Sky News. Speaking to Sky News amid reports that Boris Johnson is preparing to ease the last remaining COVID-19 restrictions in England from 19 July, Robert Jenrick said

The new DUP leader says Northern Ireland risks losing out on economic opportunities because of the Brexit border in the Irish Sea. In his first television interview since taking up the post, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson told Sky News the prime minister needs to restore Northern Ireland’s place in the UK, both economically and constitutionally. The

The government is “considering” scrapping quarantine requirements for those who have had both vaccine doses. Downing Street said it was looking at whether to drop all legal self-isolation measures for fully vaccinated people who come into contact with someone who is infected “as part of the post-Step 4 world”. Ministers had already been considering replacing

Sir Keir Starmer has declared “Labour is back” as he told his party the Batley and Spen by-election win shows what can be achieved when it “pulls together”. The Labour leader joined the UK’s newest MP, Kim Leadbeater, in the West Yorkshire constituency on Friday following her victory by 323 votes over the Conservatives. The

Boris Johnson is “very confident” that the UK’s use of India-produced jabs won’t prevent Britons being able to travel abroad – as German chancellor Angela Merkel offered hope of quarantine-free trips to the EU for those who are double-jabbed. Speaking following talks at the prime minister’s official country retreat of Chequers, Ms Merkel said: “We

Labour’s Kim Leadbeater has pulled off a surprise victory in the Batley and Spen by-election. Tory challenger Ryan Stephenson had been expected to defeat Ms Leadbeater, sister of the murdered MP Jo Cox, after one of the most bitterly-fought parliamentary by-election campaigns in living memory. Throughout the campaign, rival parties accused their opponents and their

Double jabs will be “a liberator” for people wanting to travel abroad this summer, Boris Johnson has said – as he announced details of the government’s plan will be revealed in the “next few days”. The prime minister would not confirm when a policy allowing those who have received two vaccine doses to visit amber

Conservatives in Matt Hancock’s constituency have thrown their support behind him despite calls for his resignation as an MP after he was filmed breaching social distancing rules. Councillor Ian Houlder had written to the local Tory party calling for Mr Hancock to be removed as their MP. But a spokesperson for the West Suffolk Conservative

A deal to avoid a ban on sausages and other chilled meats moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland has been agreed at the last minute. The UK and EU have announced an extension to a grace period allowing their transit across the Irish Sea, hours before a ban would have come into force. London

Ministers have rejected demands to allow more time for EU citizens to register to stay in the UK after Brexit by declaring: “Don’t delay, apply today.” The deadline for applying for post-Brexit residency under the government’s EU Settlement Scheme passes at midnight, with claims of a backlog of 400,000 cases. And some EU citizens who

The government’s efforts to help school pupils catch up from lost learning during the COVID pandemic are “feeble” when compared to other countries, a former adviser has said. Sir Kevan Collins, who recently quit as Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s catch-up tsar amid a row over funding, told MPs on Tuesday that the “biggest impact” of

Banning mobile phones will be considered as one of a range of measures to promote “calm classrooms”, the education secretary has announced. Gavin Williamson has said he wants to make the school day mobile-free because the devices are “distracting” and potentially “damaging” when misused. The government is seeking the views of teachers, parents and other

Coronavirus restrictions will not be lifted early on 5 July, the new health secretary has confirmed – and 19 July “remains our target date”. In his first Commons statement since taking on the role Sajid Javid told MPs that he had held talks with Boris Johnson and “whilst we decided not to bring forward step

Boris Johnson is expected to rule out an early easing of coronavirus restrictions today, as ministers meet to review the latest data and assess whether there is scope to relax rules in England before 19 July. Last week, Downing Street confirmed a decision would be taken on Monday, with Mr Johnson’s spokesman saying: “We will

Sky News presenter Trevor Phillips has challenged a Tory minister over the government’s “one rule for us” mentality, saying people were not allowed to attend his daughter’s funeral because of COVID restrictions. Phillips, who presents the channel’s Sunday political show, revealed how hundreds of family and friends were unable to be at the graveside for