UK

The UK will have more than one million Omicron cases by the end of this month if current trends continue unchanged – but booster jabs provide 70-75% protection against symptomatic infection, says the Health Security Agency. The UKHSA said in a statement: “It is projected that if current trends continue unchanged, the UK will exceed

There are pictures from parties in Downing Street during strict COVID restrictions that will “inevitably get out”, the prime minister’s former chief adviser has said – as two polls showed the Tories being overtaken by Labour. Dominic Cummings, who left Number 10 last November, made the claim about the images on his Twitter account. Downing

An undercover TV researcher has been found guilty of the torture and murder of a father of two at a cannabis farm. Christopher Guest More was convicted of killing Brian Waters at Chester Crown Court – more than 18 years after the murder. More, who had done undercover work with journalist Donal McIntyre, was arrested

The Prime Minister and his wife Carrie Johnson have announced the birth of their second child, a baby girl. In a statement, a spokeswoman for the couple said: “The prime minister and Mrs Johnson are delighted to announce the birth of a healthy baby girl at a London hospital earlier today. “Both mother and daughter

Boris Johnson has warned the Omicron COVID variant is “growing much faster” than Delta and its doubling rate could be between two and three days. Speaking during a Downing Street news conference, where he also announced the introduction of Plan B restrictions in England, the Prime Minister said Omicron’s “severity, its exact rate of transmission

Boris Johnson has apologised after footage emerged of senior Number 10 officials joking and laughing about a Downing Street Christmas party last year during a time of strict COVID restrictions. Facing MPs for the first time since the video emerged, the prime minister said he was “furious” and has asked the Cabinet Secretary to investigate.

People will probably need coronavirus booster jabs “for a number of years to come”, a Pfizer boss has said. Ben Osborn, country manager for the pharmaceutical firm in the UK, said it is still unknown whether they will be required every six months or annually. His remarks come on the anniversary of the first Pfizer

The early indications are that the Omicron variant of coronavirus is more transmissible than Delta, the prime minister has said. Boris Johnson made the comment as he updated his team of ministers on the latest COVID-19 situation at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning. Live COVID updates from the UK and around the world “The

Cases of the Omicron variant in people without any travel history have been confirmed in the UK meaning it is now being transmitted within the community, Health Secretary Sajid Javid said. Mr Javid said there are now 261 Omicron variant cases in England, 71 in Scotland and four in Wales – a total of 336.

A minister has denied that the government acted too late in reintroducing travel restrictions after the discovery of the Omicron variant of COVID-19. Speaking to Kay Burley on Sky News, policing minister Kit Malthouse said: “We have to be agile, we have to recognise that all these things are impositions on people’s lives and lifestyles.

A further 86 cases of the new Omicron COVID variant have been reported in the UK, taking the total to 246. This compares with a total of 160 yesterday – an increase of more than 50%. The UK Health Security Agency, which publishes the figures, says 18 of the cases are in Scotland, taking its

There will be a national investigation into the murder of six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes. It comes as deputy prime minister Dominic Raab told Sky News: “The most vulnerable in our society need to have the maximum protection.” The boy, from Solihull, West Midlands, was poisoned, starved and beaten by step-mother Emma Tustin, 32, and his father

All international arrivals to the UK will again be required to take pre-departure COVID-19 tests to tackle the spread of the new Omicron variant, the health secretary has announced. The rule applies to all travellers visiting the UK or returning from a holiday, regardless of vaccination status, and will come into force from 4am on

Arthur Labinjo-Hughes should have been a top priority for social services but was “missed” during the coronavirus lockdown, a child protection boss has said. The six-year-old from Solihull was poisoned, starved and beaten by step-mother Emma Tustin, 32, and his father Thomas Hughes, 29, in a prolonged campaign of “evil abuse”. He was left with

Yorkshire’s director of cricket Martyn Moxon and head coach Andrew Gale are among 16 members of staff leaving the club in the wake of racism allegations made by former player Azeem Rafiq. The total includes the club’s entire coaching team. A new director will be appointed in the coming days and a new coaching team

France has rejected the idea of a joint British-French patrol in the English Channel to deal with the rising number of migrant crossing – but said Paris officials are “ready to pursue our operational cooperation” with the UK. Writing to Boris Johnson, French Prime Minister Jean Castex told his British counterpart that his country “cannot

Around 500 leaseholders from across the UK have told Sky News about the extreme mental health impact and financial toll of having to live in an unsafe building.  Our research has exposed the devastating consequences the national building safety crisis is having on flat owners who can’t afford to fix the problems with their homes.

A new drug which can reduce the risk of hospitalisation and death from COVID by 79% has been approved for use in the UK for people aged 12 and up. Xevudy – also known as sotrovimab – has been given the greenlight by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) after being found to

One of the UK’s leading COVID experts has told Sky News that if people are “sensible” with wearing masks and social distancing in the coming weeks then they should all be able to enjoy Christmas. But Professor Anthony Harnden, deputy chairman of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) also cautioned that this may

The Omicron variant could trigger a surge in COVID infections bigger than previous waves in the UK with a risk it may overwhelm the NHS, a key group of scientists have warned. Experts on the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NERVTAG), which advises the government, held an extraordinary meeting last week to