Politics

More than 50 Tory MPs from “red wall” seats are demanding a “roadmap out of lockdown” from Boris Johnson and a post-COVID economic recovery plan for the north of England. As Warrington and parts of Nottinghamshire became the latest areas to be placed under Tier 3 restrictions, the MPs have voiced their anger over the

The embattled Welsh first minister – under attack over shops in Wales refusing to sell tampons, books and clothes – has bitterly attacked Boris Johnson over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic. In his second powerful attack on the prime minister in 10 days, Mark Drakeford accused Mr Johnson of deliberately centralising power in Westminster

Boris Johnson is facing a growing rebellion over a refusal to extend free school meals to all holidays – as protesters left dozens of empty plates outside the office of one MP. A number of senior Tories have gone public however, with one suggesting Number 10 has “misunderstood” the mood of the nation. Manchester United

A top Tory MP and leading Boris Johnson ally is calling for Dido Harding, the beleaguered boss of NHS Test and Trace, to be axed. Sir Bernard Jenkin, who chairs the powerful Liaison Committee of senior MPs, says Conservative peer Baroness Harding “should be given a well-earned break”, adding that “the immediate priority is to

Boris Johnson failed to reply to a “personal” letter sent by Marcus Rashford in which the footballer asked the prime minister to join a taskforce he created to help tackle child food poverty. Sky News understands that the letter was sent privately in September alongside a public letter that thanked the government for the voucher

Pressure is building on Boris Johnson to extend free school meals for vulnerable children. More than 2,000 paediatricians have signed a letter telling the prime minister that childhood hunger should “transcend politics”. The Labour Party has also threatened to bring the issue back to the House of Commons if Mr Johnson does not relent. Members

Labour is claiming emergency stocks of some vital COVID-related drugs are running out ahead of a second wave of the pandemic. Emily Thornberry, Labour‘s shadow international trade secretary, says the government’s own figures show many drug stockpiles are at zero. The shortages include bacterial antibiotics and high-strength painkillers, according to figures published in parliament by

Nicola Sturgeon has revealed the Scottish alternative to Boris Johnson’s tiered system of coronavirus restrictions. While England has three levels of measures, Scotland’s first minister has gone for five. She said individual regions could be placed under different ones, so “we don’t have to take a one-size-fits-all approach if that is not warranted”. They will

Just when you think you understand British politics, you relearn the lesson that you can’t write ground rules for how it operates in practice. There is not, I’m afraid, any algorithm that politics works to that doesn’t eventually fail. On Thursday, Chancellor Rishi Sunak did nothing short of a complete – shameless – U-turn on

Boris Johnson has confessed to “frustrations” at the test and trace system and admitted there is need to “improve” the programme. Latest figures show that less than 60% of close contacts of people who tested positive for coronavirus in England are being reached. Meanwhile, just 15% of people tested for COVID-19 in England at an

Trade talks between Britain and the European Union will resume later this week, Downing Street has said. “The prime minister and Michael Gove have both made clear in recent days that a fundamental change in approach was needed from the EU from that shown in recent weeks,” a Number 10 spokesperson said. “They made clear

Boris Johnson has faced calls to explain how regions can have their coronavirus alert level and restrictions lowered. He was urged by Sir Keir Starmer to set out exactly what areas need to do to be downgraded from Tier 3 to Tier 2, or Tier 2 to Tier 1. And a Conservative MP, whose constituency

Local leaders in Greater Manchester have been told that the “door is open” for further talks, despite the prime minister imposing Tier 3 coronavirus restrictions on the region. Boris Johnson announced that tougher COVID-19 restrictions will be introduced in Greater Manchester from Friday. Moving into Tier 3 means pubs and bars in Greater Manchester will

Areas being placed under the highest Tier 3 lockdown measures are having to negotiate some of the rules with the government. Sky News looks at what the differences are between Tier 3 regions, and what the areas that could be placed under stricter coronavirus measures are asking for. Liverpool City Region and Lancashire, with Blackpool

Andy Burnham says he will keep to the law and “accept” Tier 3 coronavirus restrictions for Greater Manchester if the government imposes them. The region’s mayor told Sky News it was ministers’ “prerogative” to announce the measures, if negotiations over the next few hours end in stalemate. He and other local leaders have been given

The government has given Greater Manchester until midday tomorrow to reach an agreement on entering Tier 3 restrictions. Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said 10 days of discussions in “good faith” have not resulted in an agreement – and he warned that the prime minister would have to intervene if no deal is made by the