Politics

Boris Johnson has praised the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine for saving “many millions of lives” as the UK marks becoming the first country to approve the COVID vaccine exactly one year ago. On 30 December 2020, the Oxford/AstraZeneca shot became the second coronavirus jab approved by the UK’s independent medicines regulator – after Pfizer/BioNTech. To date, almost

Labour has written to Michael Gove to ask why his department reportedly supported an award of £330,000 from a government fund for a bid to fill potholes on a former Conservative peer’s driveway. In a letter, shadow levelling up secretary Lisa Nandy demands Mr Gove release the criteria on which the decision was made, explain

Nicola Sturgeon has said it is her “expectation” that new COVID restrictions in Scotland will be in place until 17 January, as she urged people to “stay at home right now more than normal”. Since 27 December, nightclubs in Scotland have been forced to close unless they operate as a pub with table service and

Boris Johnson has said “up to 90%” of people currently in intensive care with COVID-19 have not had their booster jab as he urged the nation to take up the offer. Speaking to broadcasters, the prime minister said there are 2.4 million eligible double-jabbed people yet to take up the offer of a booster and

Priti Patel has ordered a review of the laws surrounding crossbow ownership. Under current legislation, people over 18 can legally purchase or possess a crossbow without needing a licence or any checks. It is an offence for anyone under 18 to buy or keep a crossbow or for anyone to sell a crossbow to someone

New Year’s Eve plans in England have been given the green light, as Sajid Javid confirmed the government will not be imposing any further restrictions before the New Year. The health secretary said people should “remain cautious” when taking part in New Year’s celebrations – and take a lateral flow test before attending events. Mr

Jackie Weaver has revealed how her time in the spotlight this year “continues to feel like something that will not be here tomorrow” after going viral with a council meeting video. The 63-year-old became one of the most popular social media memes of the year after Handforth Parish Council’s infamous Zoom meeting went viral in

New restrictions are coming into force today in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland in a bid to curb rising coronavirus cases. Further rules have not been announced in England, with Boris Johnson saying before Christmas that the data is being monitored but as yet does not justify stricter measures. It is understood school closures are

The government will “look at all the data we have available” on Monday before making a decision on post-Christmas coronavirus restrictions in England, a senior government adviser has said. Dr Jenny Harries said any move on COVID rules next week will not be based on “simply what the epidemiology is saying”, but also “how it’s

Boris Johnson and Sir Keir Starmer have each issued a solemn Christmas message to the nation expressing sorrow at the heartbreak of families who have lost a loved one to COVID this year. The prime minister, who says a coronavirus booster jab would be a “wonderful” Christmas gift, has called for thanks for those looking

In the final episode of the All Out Politics podcast, Adam Boulton and guests review the political year of 2021. It was a 12 months dominated once again by the coronavirus pandemic but punctuated by Brexit, allegations of sleaze and questions about leadership. Joining Adam are The Times columnist and former Conservative MP Matthew Parris,

The police watchdog has decided not to investigate a complaint about how Scotland Yard handled allegations of a Downing Street Christmas party. The Metropolitan Police referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) after Green Party peer, Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb, raised concerns over the force’s response to the event. The alleged party,

The self-isolation period for people in England will be cut from 10 days to seven for those who can produce negative lateral flow results on both day six and their final day of quarantine. Making the announcement, Sajid Javid said the move has been informed by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and that those

David Cameron has suggested Prime Minister Boris Johnson may have hired his own team of professional photographers in an attempt to “bypass the media”. Speaking to Sky News presenter Adam Boulton for his new documentary Feral Beasts, the former Conservative prime minister said it is “important” for the country’s leaders to make themselves “always available”

Football fans won’t be allowed in stadiums and Hogmanay events will be cancelled as Nicola Sturgeon imposes new restrictions in Scotland from Boxing Day. Making a statement in the Scottish Parliament, the first minister said crowds at outdoor public events will be capped at 500 from Boxing Day for at least three weeks, while numbers

“It’s important if you are running a political party, which I did for almost eleven years and the country for six years, the process of communicating is incredibly important.” That’s what David Cameron told me when I interviewed him for the new Sky documentary Feral Beasts about the relationship between prime ministers and the media.

Dominic Raab has said a lockdown gathering in the garden of 10 Downing Street was a staff meeting because they were “all in suits” – which Sir Keir Starmer has called “a bit of a stretch”. The picture, first published by the Guardian, shows the prime minister, his wife and their then-newborn baby, with 17

Lord Frost has revealed he quit as Brexit minister because he cannot support “coercive” policies on COVID. Speaking for the first time since his resignation, Lord Frost said he had “huge admiration” for Boris Johnson and insisted they never disagreed “in any way about Brexit policy right up to the last day”. The former lead

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss will take on Lord Frost’s Brexit responsibilities following his resignation, Downing Street has said. Ms Truss, 46, will become “lead negotiator with the EU on the Northern Ireland Protocol”, Number 10 said in a statement. She will have “ministerial responsibility for the UK’s relationship with the European Union with immediate effect”.

Conservative MP Jamie Wallis has admitted he was involved in an “accident” and is “assisting police with their inquiries”. It comes after South Wales Police confirmed officers were called to an incident in which a car collided with a lamppost at Church Road in Llanblethian, Vale of Glamorgan, on Sunday 28 November shortly after 01:10