Politics

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

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

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

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

Polls have closed in the Batley and Spen by-election, with pollsters and bookmakers predicting a Tory victory – a result likely to trigger moves to oust Sir Keir Starmer as Labour leader. Tory challenger Ryan Stephenson is being tipped to defeat Labour‘s Kim Leadbeater, sister of the murdered former MP Jo Cox, after one of

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

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

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has told MPs he expects the removal of school “bubbles” to be announced as part of step four of England’s roadmap for lifting COVID restrictions. Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Williamson said he wanted to see restrictions on schools and colleges – including the bubble system – removed “as

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

Ministers are set to decide on whether to scrap self-isolation for school pupils in England if one of their classmates tests positive for coronavirus. The government has recently trialled daily contact testing for children as an alternative to an entire school “bubble” – made up of their class or even whole year group – having

Mobile phone footage has emerged of Professor Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer for England, being manhandled by two men in the street. The video, which appeared on Twitter has been condemned by vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi, who tweeted: “This is disgusting and these thugs must be found and charged. “Zero tolerance for harassing a public

Boris Johnson has suggested he decided Matt Hancock could no longer be health secretary after admitting breaking coronavirus rules. Speaking on Monday, the prime minister said Mr Hancock’s actions undermined the government’s public safety message and therefore he chose to bring in a new health secretary on Saturday – a day after the revelations were

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

Newly appointed health secretary Sajid Javid has said his immediate priority is ending the coronavirus pandemic, as it was warned he faces a “baptism of fire”. Paying tribute to his predecessor Matt Hancock, who was forced to quit after being caught breaking social-distancing rules by kissing an aide, the cabinet minister said he knew the

Matt Hancock has resigned as health secretary after admitting breaking coronavirus rules, Downing Street says. It comes after leaked CCTV appeared to show him kissing an aide in his departmental office. The images, published by The Sun, show Mr Hancock in an embrace with former lobbyist Gina Coladangelo on 6 May – more than a