The health secretary has said COVID could be with us forever but he hopes all restrictions can be lifted by March. Sajid Javid added that we “may well” need an annual coronavirus vaccination, the day after the government announced working from home advice had ended and Plan B restrictions would be lifted next Thursday. He
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The Omicron variant of coronavirus is “in retreat” and England is in the “next chapter” of its fight against the virus, the health secretary has said. Speaking at a Downing Street news conference, Sajid Javid said the lifting of Plan B COVID-19 measures is a moment “we can all be proud of”. He said Omicron
Work from home guidance, COVID passports and mandatory wearing of face-masks will be scrapped in England, as Boris Johnson announced the lifting of Plan B measures. The prime minister said people will no longer be told to work from home “from now on”, and from Thursday next week mandatory mask-wearing and COVID certification will end.
Boris Johnson will face a confidence vote in his leadership of the Conservative Party after enough MPs submitted letters calling for a contest. It will take place between 6pm and 8pm this evening in the House of Commons and an announcement is expected about an hour after the vote closes. After months of speculation, it
Boris Johnson is set to announce an easing of Plan B coronavirus restrictions in England. The prime minister will go through the latest COVID-19 data on Wednesday morning with his ministers, before making a statement to MPs. Mr Johnson’s Commons announcement comes as pressure continues to mount over parties and gatherings held in Downing Street
Boris Johnson has said “nobody told me” the Number 10 garden party during lockdown was “against the rules”. The prime minister said he “humbly apologises” to people for misjudgements that were made but he would not have gone ahead with the event if he thought it broke the rules. He said: “I’m saying categorically that
No 10 policy bosses have explored the use of powerful sonic weapons to force migrants to turn around in the English Channel, amid a growing row over how to handle the situation. The Long-Range Acoustic Devices (LRAD) are already installed on two Border Force vessels but are used to issue voice commands. They were purchased
Three people have died following a crash on the A1 near Stamford in Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire Police has said. The male victims, aged 34, 25 and 38, died at the scene following the crash on the northbound carriageway near Wothorpe just before 1am on Sunday. Two people were taken to hospital with serious injuries. The collision
Prince Andrew has been accused of “victim blaming” and “gaslighting” after his lawyers asked for Virginia Giuffre’s mental health records – including confidential notes from her counselling sessions. The Duke of York’s legal team want to question Ms Giuffre’s psychologist Dr Judith Lightfoot about her “alleged emotional and psychological harm and damages”. His lawyers have
Prince Harry has filed a claim for a judicial review over a Home Office decision to not to allow him to privately pay for police protection for himself and his family during a visit to the UK. A legal representative for Harry said he wants to bring his son Archie and seven-month-old baby daughter Lilibet
Young people aged 16 and 17 in England will able to get a COVID booster jab from Monday, it has been announced. Around 40,000 teenagers will be eligible for their third dose when the national booking service opens at the start of the week as part of the latest phase of the UK’s vaccine programme.
Boris Johnson should be kicked out in the national interest, the Labour leader has said following fresh claims of Downing Street boozing in defiance of lockdown restrictions. Sir Keir Starmer has further ramped up the pressure on the embattled prime minister arguing he had lost his moral authority and was too preoccupied in “defending his
The head of the taskforce responsible for leading the government’s COVID-19 response held an office leaving bash at a time when indoor socialising was banned, it has been revealed. Kate Josephs, the former director general of the Cabinet Office’s COVID taskforce, said she was “truly sorry” for the gathering on 17 December 2020. She also
Number 10 has apologised to the Queen over two parties held in Downing Street on the eve of Prince Philip’s funeral. The prime minister’s spokesperson said it was “deeply regrettable that this took place at a time of national mourning”. Earlier on Friday, the prime minister’s former director of communications apologised “unreservedly” for one of
Prince Andrew has had all of his military titles and royal patronages taken away – and will no longer style himself “His Royal Highness”. In a statement, Buckingham Palace said: “With The Queen’s approval and agreement, The Duke of York’s military affiliations and Royal patronages have been returned to The Queen. Please use Chrome browser
A man who was fined for breaking lockdown rules wants a refund after Boris Johnson admitted attending a “bring your own booze” party at Downing Street in May 2020. Kieron McArdle, who lives alone, said he would give the money to a mental health charity, telling Sky News that his own wellbeing had dipped during
A US judge has set out his reasons for rejecting Prince Andrew’s bid to have the sexual assault civil lawsuit against him thrown out. The Duke of York is being sued by Virginia Giuffre who claims he “committed sexual assault and battery” upon her when she was a teenager. In a 46-page document, Judge Lewis
Emma Jones’ 18-year-old daughter, Ruby Fuller, died on 15 May 2020 after a short battle with blood cancer. The same day the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, was pictured eating cheese and drinking wine in the gardens of Downing Street despite lockdown rules. Mrs Jones told Sky News she feels a range of emotions on learning
A prolific online sexual predator was caught only after investigators at the FBI contacted the UK’s National Crime Agency despite more than a dozen of his victims reporting him to British police beforehand, Sky News has learnt. Last month 26-year-old Abdul Elahi was jailed for 32 years after pleading guilty to 158 offences including blackmailing
Sir Keir Starmer has told Boris Johnson to “stop lying” and “come clean” following the emergence of allegations that he and his wife Carrie were among around 40 people to attend a drinks event in the Downing Street garden during the UK’s first national COVID lockdown. Accusing the PM of “deflections and distractions”, the Labour