UK Covid news: Nicola Sturgeon eases some restrictions on outdoor mixing in Scotland – as it happened
Scottish first minister announces limited changes to mixing, in particular for teenagers. This live blog has now closed - please follow the global coronavirus live blog for updates
- Whitty says Covid could turn bad very fast' if lockdown easing rushed
- Whitty says lifting lockdown will lead to further surge' and more deaths
- NHS pay originally meant to be rising by 2.1% this year, not 1%, MPs told
- Sturgeon eases some Covid rules on outdoor mixing in Scotland
- NHS Nightingale hospitals to close from next month
- Labour calls for audit of UK's preparedness for next pandemic
4.50pm GMT
I don't want to criticise Rishi Sunak - he is doing a pretty good job in difficult circumstances.
But I would say the idea you can increase Britain's business tax by 25% and there will be no consequence - I don't think even he would claim that either - is a mistake.
You're just sending a message around the world that Britain is not a particularly enterprising or pro-business place at the very moment when you want to be encouraging that in a recovery.
4.40pm GMT
A vote of no confidence in Scotland's deputy first minister, John Swinney, has been scheduled for tomorrow, but already looks set to fall as the Scottish Greens say they will not support it, PA Media reports. PA says:
The Scottish Tories tabled the motion two weeks ago as a threat to the position of Swinney. They hoped he would release legal advice given to the Scottish government before it decided to concede the judicial review brought by Alex Salmond after its botched handling of complaints against him.
MSPs twice voted to compel the Scottish government to release the documents.
Continue reading...