Politics

Rising cases of the Indian COVID variant could delay the easing of restrictions and force the government to impose local lockdowns, a minister has warned. When asked if the proposed end of restrictions in England on 21 June may not go ahead as planned, Environment Secretary George Eustice told Sky News: “We cannot rule anything

A total of 2,323 cases of the Indian coronavirus variant have been reported in the UK, the health secretary has said. Delivering a COVID-19 statement in the Commons, Matt Hancock said 483 cases have been confirmed in Bolton and Blackburn with Darwen, where the variant is now the dominant strain of the virus. Live updates

The business secretary says it is necessary to be “measured and cautious” because of the Indian COVID-19 variant but it is “very likely” all restrictions will be scrapped by 21 June. Kwasi Kwarteng defended the decision to ease the lockdown amid fears the variant, also called B.1.617, could derail England’s final roadmap step. His comments

People across England are again able to enjoy hugs with loved ones, indoor pints and foreign holidays – but Boris Johnson has urged a “heavy dose of caution” due to the threat of the Indian variant of COVID-19. As the country moves to stage three of the prime minister‘s roadmap for lifting lockdown restrictions on

There is a “high degree of confidence” that vaccines protect against the Indian variant of COVID-19 – but it can “spread like wildfire” among those who haven’t had a jab, Matt Hancock has told Sky News. The health secretary urged those who are eligible for vaccination – but have not yet booked an appointment –

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is trailing Boris Johnson as the British public’s preferred prime minister by 17 percentage points, according to a new poll. Sir Keir had started to close the gap in April, pollsters Opimium said, but in a survey held on 13 and 14 May, he garnered just 23% support as preferred

Easing restrictions in England next week is the right thing to do, the government has said, after a warning that it might cause a “substantial resurgence” in hospital admissions. Health minister Edward Argar urged people to behave responsibly as lockdown measures are relaxed across England on Monday. It comes amid mounting concern over the spread

This was a news conference that earlier in the week probably wasn’t in the prime minister’s diary. What was in his diary was a convivial lunch with the Taoiseach Micheal Martin at his Chequers country retreat. The prime minister has grown fond of Chequers, we’re told, and missed escaping to the peace and quiet of

A minister has told Sky News that step three of England’s lockdown easing will still go ahead on Monday, despite soaring cases of the Indian variant of coronavirus in the UK. Latest figures show there are 1,313 cases of the variant in the UK, up from the 520 recorded the previous week. Live COVID updates

David Cameron has said he was paid a “generous annual amount” which was “far more than I earned as prime minister” to lobby on behalf of a now-collapsed financial services firm. Mr Cameron is appearing in front of two Commons committees to answer questions about his actions on behalf of Greensill Capital. Follow lives updates

Former prime minister David Cameron is set to face a long afternoon of questions from MPs over his lobbying for a now-collapsed finance firm. The ex-premier is due to appear on Thursday before two separate House of Commons committees over his actions on behalf of Greensill Capital. Mr Cameron has already been revealed to have

An independent public inquiry into the government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic will begin in the spring of next year, the prime minister has announced. Boris Johnson revealed the news in a COVID-19 statement to MPs in the Commons on Wednesday. He said that the government will launch a consultation on its terms of reference.

A cabinet minister has told Sky News the government “can’t rule anything out” when it comes to the possibility of local coronavirus restrictions in areas that have seen cases rise sharply. Sky News analysis has found there are 28 local authority areas in England, four in Northern Ireland and two in Scotland that have COVID-19

The government has promised to tackle obesity and improve mental health support, but there is no sign of long-promised legislation to reform adult social care. Boris Johnson has set out his legislative agenda for the new parliamentary session in the Queen’s Speech. Follow live updates from the Queen’s Speech Proposals on social care will be

The government will set out its legislative agenda for the new parliamentary session in the Queen’s Speech today. Its usual pomp and ceremony will be scaled back drastically due to the COVID-19 restrictions that remain in place. It will also be the Queen‘s first major public ceremonial duty since the death of her husband, the

People in England will be able to enjoy a pint or a meal indoors, hug their loved ones and return to cinemas – but not dance at weddings – in a week’s time as Boris Johnson confirmed the latest easing of England’s COVID lockdown. The prime minister has said the country will proceed to step

Boris Johnson has confirmed a major easing of COVID-19 restrictions in England will go ahead from next week. At a news conference on Monday evening the prime minister will say that from 17 May, meetings of six people, or two households, will be allowed to take place indoors for the first time since January. Indoor

SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has told the prime minister it is a “matter of when, not if” there will be another vote on Scottish independence. Her party narrowly failed to win a majority in this week’s Scottish Parliament elections, but with the Greens there is a pro-independence majority in Holyrood. In a call with Prime

Michael Gove has dismissed a second referendum on Scottish independence as a “massive distraction” as he repeatedly refused to say whether the UK government will seek to block a possible vote in court. Appearing on Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme, the cabinet minister said the SNP’s demand for another independence vote revealed a

Sir Keir Starmer has sacked Angela Rayner as Labour Party chair, Sky News understands. Ms Rayner remains the party’s deputy leader as that is an elected position. The shock move comes after a mixed night for Labour in elections across the UK, in what was the first electoral test of Sir Keir’s stewardship of the