Politics

Boris Johnson’s new coronavirus lockdown rules are being debated and voted on by MPs, with the prime minister facing a Tory backlash and potential rebellion. Some Conservative MPs are against the measures on civil liberties grounds, while others claim restrictions such as the 10pm curfew for pubs and restaurants are counter-productive. But unless Sir Keir

The highest level of restrictions in England’s new three-tier local lockdown system “will not be sufficient” to slow COVID-19 infections alone, England’s chief medical officer has said. From Wednesday, England will be split into “medium”, “high” and “very high” coronavirus alert levels. Speaking at a Downing Street news briefing shortly after Boris Johnson confirmed the

Nicola Sturgeon has read out messages with Alex Salmond in a bid to prove she did not “cover up” serious allegations of sexual misconduct against him. Mr Salmond was cleared in court earlier this year of 13 sexual assault charges. The Scottish first minister denied she was withholding evidence from an inquiry examining the government’s

SNP MP Margaret Ferrier has said she will not resign despite backlash for travelling to parliament after developing coronavirus symptoms, saying the virus made her act ‘out of character’. Ms Ferrier admitted to travelling to London from Glasgow after taking a coronavirus test last month, and said once she had received a positive result, took

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has denied claims he broke the government’s coronavirus drinking curfew by continuing to consume alcohol in the Commons bar after 10pm. A senior Tory MP told the Mail on Sunday that Mr Hancock remained in the Smoking Room bar until at least 10.25pm on Monday, despite House Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has told the French leader that the UK will explore “every avenue” to reach a trade deal with the EU. Mr Johnson spoke with Emmanuel Macron over the phone on Saturday morning as the deadline for securing an agreement nudges closer. The PM told Mr Macron that the UK was actively

Leaders in the north of England have warned further coronavirus restrictions would have a “devastating” effect on the country and the overall regional economy. Their comments come as Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to make a statement to MPs on Monday amid expectations that a three-tier local lockdown system will be introduced across England. Doctors have

Throughout the pandemic the chancellor has been consistent on one key point. He’s always said “not every job and not every business” could be saved. As recently as two weeks ago, when announcing his Job Support Scheme, Rishi Sunak repeated this mantra – the Winter Economy Plan was primarily focused on protecting “viable jobs”. Today’s

Nicola Sturgeon insists she has “nothing to hide” over the Alex Salmond inquiry, after being accused of misleading parliament about when she first knew of allegations against him. The first minister previously said she was first made aware of complaints against her predecessor when he told her in a meeting at her home on 2

Theresa May has led a fierce onslaught by Tory ex-cabinet ministers against a housing shake-up proposed by Boris Johnson, which could lead to some building going ahead without planning permission. Backed by her former cabinet allies Damian Green, Jeremy Hunt and Chris Grayling – and several more ex-ministers – the former prime minister demanded a

Boris Johnson may have avoided a high-profile coronavirus defeat by his own MPs last week, but rebellion has not gone away. The consequence is the Commons is starting to exert newfound influence over his plans, and the first casualty may well be the 10pm pub and restaurant curfew. The prime minister is in trouble because

Ministers are preparing to introduce further restrictions in the north of England as the government races to handle the spike in coronavirus cases and hospital admissions. Government insiders told Sky News that no decisions had been taken on whether to introduce even tighter controls in the North – with the the North East and North

More than a dozen Tory rebels flexed their muscles on new coronavirus rules, but failed to defeat the government over its “rule of six”. Fourteen Conservative backbenchers were joined by five DUP MPs in trying to curb the restrictions on social gatherings. They were easily outnumbered, but Labour and 62 Conservatives abstained, meaning the total

Boris Johnson has dismissed claims coronavirus has “robbed me of my mojo” as he set out promises on social care, green energy and housing in his Conservative Party conference speech. The prime minister, speaking via a video stream to his party’s members, launched a strident defence of the private sector as he vowed to “build

Boris Johnson is claiming the coronavirus crisis should be a trigger for green energy, with wind farms powering every home in Britain within a decade. In his speech to the Tory party’s online conference, the prime minister will unveil a vision of the economy post-COVID, with the UK a world leader in clean energy. In

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has warned there will be no “easy cost-free answer” as he vowed to “balance the books” following his spending splurge during the coronavirus crisis. In his speech to the Conservative Party‘s virtual conference, Mr Sunak listed the various schemes he has introduced in a bid to shore up the economy amid the