Politics

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has been forced back into self-isolation after a member of his staff tested positive for coronavirus. A spokesperson for Sir Keir said: “Keir is well and not showing any symptoms. He will now be working from home.” He is not thought to be showing any symptoms, but is expected to

Crisis talks are to be held by Boris Johnson and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen in a last-ditch bid to break the impasse on securing a post-Brexit trade deal. They have been called in to try and get an agreement over the line after the negotiating teams failed to resolve “significant divergences” between the

Saturday could be the most important day in Brexit since the UK’s formal exit from the EU at the end of January. Significant gaps remain between the two sides in the negotiation over a post-Brexit trade deal. Talks between the EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier and his UK counterpart David Frost have reached the end

Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson has been arrested in connection with an investigation into building and planning developments in the city, Sky News understands. He is one of five men arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit bribery and witness intimidation offences. None have been charged or named by Merseyside Police, with the force releasing

The latest round of talks on a post-Brexit trade deal “did not go well”, Sky News understands, with a UK source suggesting that hopes of an agreement are now “receding”. According to Sky’s deputy political editor Sam Coates, the sticking point was the so-called “level playing field”. This is the issue of preventing unfair competition

Britain was the first country to approve a coronavirus vaccine because it has “much better” regulators than France, Belgium and the US, a senior minister has claimed. Education Secretary Gavin Williamson boasted that “we’re a much better country than every single one of them” – after some international disquiet surfaced following the breakthrough jab news.

A review into the UK government’s handling of the pandemic is set to be published today and will accuse ministers of “gambling with the UK’s future” by relaxing restrictions over Christmas. In a scathing review, cross-party MPs have made over 40 recommendations to the government “so that its preparedness and response may be improved in

The Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine “cannot” be delivered to care homes in Wales at this stage, despite them being a priority group for receiving the jab. Welsh health minister Vaughan Gething said this was because of the need to store the COVID-19 vaccine at very low temperatures – at -70C (-94F). Live updates on coronavirus from

Boris Johnson suffered the worst rebellion since the election, on what will be the defining issue of his premiership. The breadth of the Tory revolt over his revised tier system was notable – ideologically from the left to the right of the party, from 1922 grandee to 2019 newbie. All of this still less than

Government officials have drawn up a detailed dossier looking at the impact of coronavirus on every economic sector which it is refusing to publish. The Business Department has drawn up a spreadsheet looking at the size of each sector, the concerns of each sector, its financial stability and whether there will be job losses. Officials

Boris Johnson is heading for a COVID showdown with rebel Tory MPs, despite being assured of victory in a Commons vote after Sir Keir Starmer said Labour will abstain. Around 50 Conservative MPs are predicted to come out against the government in a vote to approve the tier system of COVID curbs in England, in

It is “too early to say” if another national lockdown will be needed after Christmas, according to a senior minister. George Eustice said “you can’t rule anything out” when asked by Sky News if the “stay at home” measures could come back into force to keep coronavirus under control. The environment secretary also admitted it

Boris Johnson is due to publish an impact assessment of coronavirus restrictions as he continues to try to convince Tory MPs to back his plan for a new tier system in England when the national lockdown ends on Wednesday. The prime minister is expected to share analysis of the health, economic and social ramifications of the measures taken

The EU and UK are entering “the last week or so” of “substantive” post-Brexit trade negotiations, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has told Sky News. With the Brexit transition period set to end in little more than a month’s time, Mr Raab suggested talks might soon be reaching a conclusion. However, he called on the EU

Boris Johnson has said the new coronavirus tiers “have a sunset of 3 February” as he tries to fight off a backlash from Tory MPs. The prime minister has angered some of his party with a plan to impose stringent restrictions across much of England when the national lockdown ends on Wednesday. In a letter

Boris Johnson has appointed a minister to take charge of the coronavirus vaccine rollout, as his government seeks to quell a backbench rebellion over the new tier system. Downing Street said that Nadhim Zahawi – who is among Tory MPs critical of the new restrictions – had been made a health minister responsible for the