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More than a quarter of the UK population will be living under extra coronavirus restrictions when new measures on socialising come into force in parts of the country. A ban on households mixing in each other’s homes came into effect at midnight in Wigan, Stockport, Blackpool and Leeds. Residents in those areas are also advised […]

Investigations are continuing into the death of Metropolitan Police Sergeant Matiu Ratana who was shot dead by a handcuffed suspect at a south London custody suite. Known as Matt to his family and friends, 54-year-old Sgt Ratana, who was originally from New Zealand, joined the force in 1991. He died in hospital after the 23-year-old […]

A police officer has died after being shot in a police station by a man who was being detained.   The Metropolitan Police said the officer died in hospital after being shot by the man at Croydon Custody Centre in south London during the early hours of Friday. A 23-year-old man detained at the scene […]

The UK’s national debt hit a new record at the end of August, the latest figures show as the country’s embattled public sector borrowed another £35.9 billion.   Debt hit £2,023.9 billion, just weeks after passing £2 trillion for the first time ever in July. It comes as both central and local Government is investing […]

Would-be late-night drinkers in England have faced the first evening of new measures aimed at preventing the spread of coronavirus.   All pubs, bars and restaurants had to shut by 10pm on Thursday evening to comply with new rules that were brought into force earlier this week. But many people were not put off a […]

A coronavirus contact tracing app is launching across England and Wales on Thursday in what the Health Secretary has called “an important step forward” in our fight against the “invisible killer”.   The rollout follows months of delay and questions about its effectiveness in the face of mixed results from other countries which have already […]

Rishi Sunak will outline his plans to protect jobs on Thursday as the opposition insisted more needed to be done to bolster the economy in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis. The Chancellor will address the Commons after cancelling this year’s Budget. With the furlough work scheme due to finish at the end of October, […]

The Government has warned that Britain could face much tougher measures if new rules to curb coronavirus fail to get the infection rate under control.   Boris Johnson said the nation faces an “unquestionably difficult” winter and warned the latest restrictions could last the next six months. In a televised address the Prime Minister said […]

Boris Johnson has announced a raft of new measures in a bid to get Covid-19 transmission under control without resorting to a national lockdown.   With socialising blamed for the surge in infections, the hospitality sector will bear the brunt of the latest restrictions. Here’s what you need to know. -What’s the current situation? Some […]

Pubs, bars and restaurants in England will be ordered to close by 10pm each night under tough restrictions set to be announced by Boris Johnson in a bid to curb the rapid rise in coronavirus cases. The Prime Minister will use an address to the nation to outline new measures to stop the spread of […]