UK

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

Millions of football fans are preparing to watch England take on old rivals Germany for a place in the quarter finals of Euro 2020 – with bosses being urged to let workers finish early so they can cheer on the team. England manager Gareth Southgate has called on his players to make history, as the

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

Sajid Javid starts work today as the new health secretary, replacing Matt Hancock who resigned after being caught kissing a close aide. Former chancellor and home secretary Mr Javid said he was “honoured” to be appointed to the role – just 90 minutes after Downing Street announced Mr Hancock had quit on Saturday evening. Honoured to

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

It was never likely that Boris Johnson would fire one of his cabinet over an alleged affair. This afternoon Downing Street is busy attempting to shut down the Matt Hancock controversy and is making clear they regard the matter as closed. But there are plenty of grounds to think this issue won’t go away that

The UK has reported 15,810 new COVID cases and another 18 coronavirus-related deaths in the latest 24-hour period. The figures compare with16,703 infections and 21 deaths announced yesterday, and 10,476 cases and 11 deaths this time last week. Meanwhile, another 221,534 people had their first dose of a COVID vaccine yesterday, while 177,813 received their

Spain’s Balearic islands, Malta, Madeira, and some islands in the Caribbean – including Barbados – have been added to England’s travel green list, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has announced. The Balearic islands are made up of Ibiza, Menorca, Majorca and Formentera. The move means those heading to some popular holiday hotspots will not have to

The UK has reported 16,703 new COVID-19 cases and another 21 coronavirus-related deaths in the latest 24-hour period, according to government data. The figures compare with 16,135 infections and 19 deaths announced yesterday, and 11,007 cases and 19 deaths this time last week. Meanwhile, another 207,647 people received their first dose of a COVID vaccine

The Prince of Wales gave the Duke and Duchess of Sussex a “substantial sum” of money in the months following their stepping down as senior royals, despite the Duke claiming his family “literally cut me off financially”. However, the couple’s £2.4m repayment to the taxpayer as a reimbursement for renovations to their home at Frogmore

The UK has reported 16,135 new COVID-19 cases and another 19 coronavirus-related deaths in the latest 24-hour period, according to government data. This is the highest number of daily infections since 6 February when 18,262 were announced. The latest figures compare with 11,625 new infections and 27 fatalities recorded yesterday. Some 9,055 cases and nine

COVID-19 and respiratory illnesses could result in a “perfect storm” this winter, ruining plans to deal with the backlog of patients needing NHS care. Some 78% of NHS trust leaders in England are extremely or moderately concerned about the operational pressures their trust faces this winter, according to a survey by NHS Providers. Among the

The UK has reported 11,625 new COVID cases – the highest since mid-February – and 27 coronavirus-related deaths in the latest 24-hour period, according to government data. The figures compare with 10,633 new infections and five fatalities announced on Monday. Another 21,080 people received their first dose of a coronavirus vaccine yesterday, while 39,325 people

The use of terms including “white privilege” may have contributed to the “neglect” of white working-class pupils in the education system, a Commons committee has found. MPs on the Education Select Committee said schools must consider the implication of such “politically controversial terminology” and find “a better way to talk about racial disparities”. A report

The prime minister has said it is “looking good” for 19 July to be the “terminus point” for England’s coronavirus restrictions – but did not rule out the prospect of further lockdowns in the winter. “You can never exclude that there will be some new disease, some new horror that we simply haven’t budgeted for