Michael Gove to unveil the government’s flagship Levelling Up White Paper, setting out a plan to transform the UK by spreading opportunity and prosperity to all parts of it.
Boris Johnson voiced bitter regret at brutal new coronavirus restrictions at Downing Street press conference
The Midlands, North East, parts of the North West and parts of the South West went into Tier 4 today
Everyone else apart from 2,000 people on Isles of Scilly, which is remaining in Tier 1, is under Tier 3 curbs
Mr Hancock tried to soften the blow by saying AstraZeneca vaccine approval will end the crisis by the spring
UK has ordered 100million doses - enough to vaccinate 50million people - with first jabs starting on Monday
Who will we sacrifice to get out of lockdown? Return to normal life by Easter depends if No10 will accept immunising only a fraction of the 31million most vulnerable people and giving up on herd immunity
Experts say lifting lockdown rules will be a risk whenever it happens and it must be a political decision
There are around 31million people on the vaccine priority list, each of whom must get two doses of a jab
But rules could be loosened before the list is complete is ministers can tolerate risk of pressure on the NHS
The highest risk group, of over-70s, those with health conditions and health workers, make up some 10m
Britain will need draconian lockdowns until AT LEAST the summer and Tier 4 rules can t contain new mutant strain, scientists warn as SAGE expert fears national action by end of January is inevitable
Experts say it will take months before effect of mass vaccination is broad enough to loosen lockdown rules
Although Matt Hancock claimed normality could return by spring, scientists expect lockdowns into summer
Social distancing and mask-wearing will have to continue for far longer, they said, to stop transmission
Young people are currently not on the vaccination list so even a successful roll-out won t stop virus circulating