Boris Johnson unveiled latest stage in roadmap out of coronavirus lockdown at Downing St briefing tonight
Health chiefs say infections, hospital admissions and deaths have fallen consistently over the past months
The move means coronavirus is now only in general circulation and transmission is no longer high or rising
Pubs, restaurants and cafes across England will be able to seat customers inside again from Monday, May 17
Hotels, B&Bs, cinemas, theatres and museums are to reopen while limits on funeral mourners are scrapped
Scotland vote sets up new drive for independence
AFP, LONDON
The Scottish National Party (SNP) yesterday said its landslide victory in Edinburgh’s devolved parliament was grounds for a fresh independence referendum, despite opposition from London.
While the SNP campaigned on promises to hold a new vote, the British government which would need to give formal legal permission is opposed, raising fears of a protracted political and legal battle.
The nationalists say their slightly increased share of seats, one short of an overall majority of 65, gives them a mandate for “indyref2,” so called after the “No” vote in Scotland’s first independence vote in 2014.