Boris Johnson has declared that while he wants Spring and Summer to be "seasons of hope" as lockdown restrictions are eased, he "won't be buccaneering with people's lives" and will reopen the country cautiously.
Speaking after the publication of his roadmap for ending lockdown in England, the Prime Minister said the vaccine programme had "shifted the odds in our favour" and paved the way for all restrictions to end by the end of June.
But Mr Johnson also stuck a note of caution, warning that there will be five-week intervals between each stage of reopening, and ministers will not hesitate to slow the roadmap to prevent another deadly spike if necessary.
Declaring his timetable "as dramatic as it is possible to be," Mr Johnson added: "The crocus of hope is poking through the frost and Spring is on its way, both literally and metaphorically."
"But I won't be buccaneering with people's lives, and nor will anyone in Government."
The four steps will roughly correspond to the months of March, April, May and June, with five weeks between each step to allow for time to assess the impact of every easement.
Masks in schools will be reviewed after a month, says Sir Patrick
Sir Patrick Vallance says ventilation, mask wearing and hand hygiene will be important to control the virus in schools.
The masks will be reviewed after four weeks of pupils back in the classroom to see how what effect they have had on transmission, he says.
Prof Chris Whitty says the case for the vaccine being effective is getting "stronger and stronger". People in care settings are "really keen" to get the jab, he says.
For medical staff, it is a "professional responsibility" for them to have the vaccine to protect patients, he adds.
07:56 PM
Mask wearing may be needed next winter, says Vallance
Sir Patrick Vallance says "certain things may be necessary" next winter, to prevent another spike of the virus later in the year.
He says mask wearing may be necessary in certain circumstances, people should keep washing their hands and the Government should keep running the test, trace and isolate system.
But that will be different to a whole range of tough interventions and in future people will need to make individual choices to reduce risk, he says.
07:53 PM
Boris: I won't be buccaneering with people's lives
The crocus of hope is poking through the frost, says Johnson - Leon Neal/Getty Images Europe
In response to a question from Jason Groves of the Daily Mail that suggested he was becoming a "gloomster," Mr Johnson offers some warmer words.
"The crocus of hope is poking through the frost and Spring is on its way, both literally and metaphorically," he says.
"But I won't be buccaneering with people's lives, and nor will anyone in Government."
Mr Johnson says the roadmap is "as dynamic as it is possible to be," he says.
If you had told him a year ago nightclubs would be open by the end of June, "I wouldn't have believed you," he adds.
07:43 PM
Would Boris resign if there is a fourth lockdown?
Johnson: We must watch the data - LEON NEAL/Getty Images Europe
Sam Coates asks the PM whether having to lock down again would be a "resignation-worthy matter".
Mr Johnson says he cannot promise that there will not be another lockdown, but that is the Government's "intention".
There will be people who call for a faster unlocking but there is a "need for an interval" between the stages, the PM says.
"This disease is capable of spreading really very fast...that is why we have got to look at the vaccinations, look at the data."
Conspicuously there is no answer on the resignation question..
07:41 PM
Boris Johnson admits: There may be a role for vaccine passports in UK
He then asks the PM why the Government is now considering vaccine certificates or passports, since they have always been ruled out before.
Mr Johnson says that other countries will insist on vaccine passports for international travel.
Domestically, the PM says there are "some quite complex issues, some ethical issues" to consider, including whether they have a discriminatory effect.
"All that needs to be gone into, so we are going to have a review of the whole issue," he says.
But there "may well be a role for certification, we just need to get it right".
07:39 PM
'Tight linkage' between R and deaths is being broken, says Prof Whitty
Robert Peston asks why there is no reference to the R-rate in the four tests that the Government has published.
Prof Whitty replies that the inevitable result of cases rising until now has been a rise in deaths, but the vaccine "allows us to break that absolute inexorability".
"We all know...that there will be a surge of cases and R is going to creep closer to one. It might exceed one and then we would expect to see cases rises.
"The vaccine takes a lot of the heavy lifting on this...our expectation is that it will pull the R down," he says.
"The tight linkage between R and deaths is less tight than it was."
07:35 PM
Prof Whitty: Covid will kill every winter from now on
Prof Whitty - Getty Images Europe
Laura Kuenssberg from the BBC asks the scientists how many more deaths will be recorded as a result of the UK easing the lockdown.
Prof Whitty says he has always been careful not to put death estimates in the public domain because they are not "helpful".
But he points out that every year in the UK a large number of people die from respiratory infections.
"Flu is the one that everyone thinks about. An average year might be about 9,000 people a year. A bad year might be significantly more than that," he says.
"For the foreseeable future, coronavirus is going to be added to that list...there will still be cases and there will still be deaths."
He says it will be a problem in the winter "at least fro the next few winters".
07:32 PM
Will the UK give vaccines out to other countries?
Rachel from London asks the Prime Minister whether the UK will commit to giving vaccines to the WHO's Covax programme once the top nine priority groups have been vaccinated.
Mr Johnson says it is important that the vaccine is rolled out across the world and points out that the UK has already contributed a substantial chunk of funds to Covax.
07:28 PM
'Big worry' that easing will cause virus to spike, says Whitty
Prof Whitty says that for each one of the steps to reduce the lockdown, the Government is taking a risk.
After each release, the Government wants to wait and see what the effect of the measures is. There is a "big worry" that each stage of easing could make the pandemic much worse, he says.
There is a four-week lag between reducing lockdown measures and seeing the effect of them in the data was four weeks, so the measures must be eased at five week intervals.
"This is not the end, but this is the point where we can have a steady, risk-based, data-driven, opening up. But everyone must stick to the guidelines at the different stages," he says.
07:25 PM
Prof Whitty gives the latest evidence on vaccination effectiveness
Prof Whitty says Boris Johnson has asked him to outline three studies that show the effect of the vaccine.
In the 'Siren' study, over 21 days, there was a 72 per cent reduction in the number of people who developed the disease, even after one dose of the vaccine.
Public Health England data suggests that there is significant protection for older people from the vaccine. Of the people who had an infection, there was a 55 per cent reduction in the number of people who needed to go to hospital.
A Scottish study of the Pfizer vaccine and the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab shows that the probability of going to hospital with Covid was 85 per cent or 90 per cent reduced, depending on the jab. This third study also showed high effectiveness in older people.
07:21 PM
Vaccines will start to bring down death rate, says Whitty
Prof Whitty says that the great majority of people in hospitals are in the JCVI's first nine groups of people who are at risk.
Scientists would now anticipate that the death rate will begin to fall with the effect of the vaccine, he says.
The Government is now vaccinating the over-50s, which will lead to a "significant further reduction" in deaths and hospitalisations, he says.
He adds that there are people who have the disease severely who are in low risk groups, and they must not be left behind.
Forty-two per cent of people hospitalised with Covid-19 are under the age of 65, he says.
07:18 PM
Prof Whitty: Numbers are falling but still high
Prof Chris Whitty says the number of people who are testing positive with the virus is falling, but is still high.
The seven-day rolling average is still above 11,000 he says.
Deaths and hospitalisations are also high but "falling, and falling steadily," he says.
The improvement in numbers is due to the actions of people who have stayed at home and reduced social transmission, he says.
The rollout of the vaccine has also been "extraordinary," he says.
07:16 PM
The Spring and Summer will be seasons of hope, says Johnson
The PM goes on to outline the rest of the measures, culminating in the end of all restrictions at the end of June.
Mr Johnson says the Government must strike a "careful balance" and tread the line between people who want the Government to be more cautious "in the slow lane," and those who want the easing to be faster.
"There is light ahead, leading us to the Spring and Summer, which I think will be seasons of hope," he says.
07:14 PM
Boris Johnson: Reopening will begin on March 8
Mr Johnson says the Government has therefore begun to reopen England, beginning with the reopening of all schools from March 8.
There will be additional precautions, and all students will have to wear a face mask for the time being, he says.
March 8 will also herald the return of outdoor socialising - with two people of different households.
07:12 PM
Vaccine has shifted the odds in our favour, says Johnson
Boris Johnson says 17.7 million people have now been vaccinated.
He says the Government's vaccination programme has "dramatically shifted the odds in our favour" and acts as a "shield" around the population.
He says that the jabs put the UK on a "one way road to freedom".
But the PM then strikes a more sober tone, and tells the country that no vaccine can be 100 per cent effective.
There will still be more cases, more hospitalisations and more deaths, he says. That would be true even if there was a limitless lockdown, which would in itself cost lives.
07:07 PM
Poll: Is this the last throw of the dice?
While we are waiting for him to stand up: Boris Johnson has repeatedly said that this will be the last, "irreversible" lockdown.
Do you think that is true?
06:50 PM
Coronavirus Recovery Group statement
Mark Harper, the chairman of the Coronavirus Recovery Group, has released a statement about the PM's roadmap.
The CRG have been some of the Government's fiercest critics on the easing of lockdown so far - demanding that the economy is opened up soon.
Mr Harper said:
"We welcome the commitment to open all schools to all pupils on 8 March. Keeping schools closed to the majority of pupils has had an incredibly damaging effect on the life chances and mental health of our young people.
"We originally called for a roadmap that began on 8 March - a call based on science, as the top four at-risk groups would have had the immunity kick in from their all-important first dose of vaccine, which the evidence shows provides the bulk of protection against Covid.
"This is now Government policy and we are pleased the Government listened. "In answer to my question in Parliament today, the Prime Minister said that those who “have not taken up the vaccine” mean that “there is still a substantial body of risk” to the rest of society.
"There are two important questions raised by his answer.
"The Chief Scientific Adviser has said Covid-19 will become endemic and is going to be with us “forever”. "For the rest of time, with Covid endemic, can society really be held back by those who choose not to have a vaccine?
"How does the Prime Minister’s rationale for delaying lifting restrictions past the end of April, once the most vulnerable groups accounting for 99% of deaths are protected, not lead us into further restrictions as we move into the Winter when respiratory viruses tend to become more prevalent?"
06:48 PM
Boris Johnson press conference live at 7pm
The Prime Minister will be speaking live from Downing Street at 7pm.
We are not expected to get any new information about the roadmap for easing lockdown because the Government has already published its plans, but Mr Johnson will take questions from the media and the public in the normal way.
Watch the briefing live at the top of this blog.
06:39 PM
Social distancing will be in place for 'a while', says SAGE member
One of the Government's scientific advisers has predicted that social distancing measures will be in place for "a while" and that the UK's respiratory hygiene will improve as a result of the pandemic.
Dame Anne Johnson, Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology at University College London, told the BBC: "I think if you look at the modelling data, they do suggest there will be concerns about transmission going forward.
"So we will still have some social distancing measures in, what we broadly call respiratory hygiene and reducing the risk of passing on viruses is something we will get better at almost for ever.
"As we have seen in places and Southeast Asia, where people do use those measures. So I think we're going to have some of these measures in place for a while."
06:21 PM
Why Boris Johnson's roadmap will be too slow for some
06:13 PM
Tory backbenchers: Open the pubs before Easter
Just hours after the PM's unveiling of the lockdown plans there are already MPs calling on him to change them.
Here is a tweet from Steve Baker, a key figure in the Coronavirus Recovery Group of lockdown-critical MPs.
🚨British pubs and the UK hospitality industry have had a terrible year
😱660,000 jobs were lost
‼️40% of businesses are due to fail this year if we don’t start safely lifting restrictions once we have protected the vulnerable
Phil Clapp, UK Cinema Association chief executive, said: "While - given the exemplary record of cinemas in delivering a safe big screen experience before this latest lockdown - we are disappointed not to have an earlier opening date, it is good to have some confirmation.
"We look forward to similar announcements across the rest of the UK."
Boris misses out on a wedding invite - because he can't guarantee ceremony will go ahead on July 1
Peter Bone, the Tory MP for Wellingborough, asks on behalf of his constituents Briannon and Jordan whether their wedding will be able to go ahead on July 1.
If he can, they will put an invite for the PM in the post tonight, Mr Bone says.
Alas, Mr Johnson replies: "I cannot absolutely guarantee Briannon and Jordan's wedding will be able to go ahead on July 1, but if we can stick with this roadmap, and I hope very much that we can, then all is set fair for them.
"I hope that the sun will shine on them both, with or without my presence."
05:52 PM
The data that Mr Johnson and officials will be watching
It is important to stress that all the dates that have been announced today are the earliest that the restrictions might be eased.
They could be pushed back if there is a big spike in cases, the vaccination programme slows or there are new variants of concern.
Here are the key numbers that ministers will be watching like a hawk at the dates approach:
05:49 PM
When can I do a Zumba class?
Boris Johnson is asked when Zumba classes and other indoor exercise classes will be allowed.
Mr Johnson says Zumba will be allowed from May 17, unless it can be done outside, in which case it can be done from March 29.
If it can be done one-on-one, it could be even sooner on March 8, he says.
05:39 PM
UK will manage Covid like it manages flu, says Prof Neil Ferguson
Professor Ferguson, who was dubbed "Professor Lockdown" for his role in the first lockdown last year, has said the UK will have to manage coronavirus in the same way that it manages flu.
He told the BBC “My hope is, as we get particularly towards the end of the year and get the next generation of vaccines - able to cope with the variants - which will be more effective, then we’ll be able to manage this infection in the same way as we manage influenza and many other infections.
"That’s not to say we’ll have zero deaths and zero hospitalisations, but it will be what is unfortunately deemed a political and societal “acceptable” level in order to have a normally functioning society.”
05:29 PM
Could the school day be extended to make up for lost time?
Robert Halfon, Chair of the Education Select Committee, asks Mr Johnson whether he will assess students to see if how much they have fallen behind during the pandemic, and whether he will extend the school day.
Mr Johnson says he has appointed an Education Recovery Commissioner for this exact reason, and will announce more about the plans shortly.
05:21 PM
Elaborate weddings will have to wait, says PM
Cecil B. Demille - the godfather of the American film industry - Moviestore Collection
Naz Shah, a Bradford MP, tells the Prime Minister that she has plenty of exceptional wedding venues in her constituency that will be frustrated that weddings cannot take place before June 21.
The PM responds: "We cannot do full Cecil B. DeMille weddings earlier than June 21, we can do smaller weddings before then as she knows.
"But at least the great businesses she talks about now have a date to think about."
05:14 PM
All the roadmap plans, in full
As the debate over the PM's roadmap rages on in Parliament, we will bring you all the latest here.
In the meantime, you can read all the easing plans for different sectors of the economy here:
05:12 PM
Opinion: At this rate we'll be the first to jab but the last to reopen
While in other countries shops and cafes have reopened, in Britain they'll remain shut for another two months, says Ross Clark.
Britain's vaccination programme has seen millions vaccinated, but the latest plan means we may open up after other European countries.
At this rate, we are going to find ourselves in the bizarre situation of being the first country to vaccinate the population – and the last to reopen, Ross writes.
Labour MP says UK's response has been one of the worst in the world
Tan Dhesi, the Labour MP for Slough, says the Prime Minister has presided over one of the worst responses to the world.
"We have got one of the worst major economic crises of any major economy and the worst death toll in Europe, where 100,000 people have died, including members of my own family," he says.
He asks Mr Johnson whether he will apologise and whether he will take steps to make sure this is the last lockdown.
Mr Johnson thanks Mr Dhesi for his implicit support of the latest strategy, since he says it is designed to be "irreversible".
05:06 PM
What's the logic in keeping the pubs shut?
Hospitality venues have had a torrid time: locked down once, hit by an "arbitrary" curfew, then shut down again, says Emma Lewell-Buck.
Now they have been told that six people may meet outdoors in a park from March 29 - but can't go and sit in a beer garden and enjoy a refreshing pint, she says. Can Mr Johnson explain the "logic" behind this decision?
Yes, Mr Johnson replies. "The logic lies in containing a pandemic," he says.
"I think people in this country understand this...hospitality businesses have a date now to look forward to.
05:02 PM
I yearn to get back on the sports pitch, Johnson tells MPs
When the ball comes out the back of the scrum: Mr Johnson plays rugby on his tour of Japan in 2019 - Andrew Parsons / i-Images
Craig Tracey asks why people can't play golf for the next five weeks, since it has been "scientifically proven" not to spread the virus.
Mr Johnson says he understands Mr Tracey's frustration and he too "yearns" to play outdoor sport.
But the PM cautions: "The virus is still in very high circulation...he only has to wait another three weeks after March 8 to hit a golf ball."
04:57 PM
Why can't we go faster if the data allows?
Sir Bob Neill, a Tory backbencher, asks Mr Johnson why there is not more flexibility in the roadmap to allow the UK to open up sooner.
Mr Johnson says the Government needs four weeks between each step to assess whether or not the previous intervention has caused a spike in the virus.
Ministers then need a further week to give the public "due notice" on the next step, he says.
"If it is a trade off between haste and certainty, I think people would prefer certainty," he adds.
William Wragg then asks the PM whether the Government will publish the "thresholds" of data that will allow the restrictions to be eased.
Mr Johnson replies that he is free to examine the published data and that the roadmap document explains the four tests the Government has set for easing.
Researchers from Imperial College London have already forecast what effect the easing will have. See their finings below:
04:45 PM
Boris Johnson: Foreign countries will accept British tourists 'not very numerous'
Huw Merriman, the chairman of the Transport Select Committee, asks for more information on the travel taskforce.
The Bexhill and Battle MP asks if it will set out requirements for testing, face masks and social distancing "and I hope, an end towards quarantine".
Boris Johnson says the taskforce will be looking "at all those things", but says the priority is finding countries "that will be willing to accept British tourists... some of them have stepped forward and said they will but they are currently not very numerous."
04:42 PM
Boris Johnson defends speed of roadmap from Mark Harper challenge
The leader of the Covid Recovery Group has challenged Boris Johnson over why lockdown must continue after vaccinating everyone aged 50 and over.
Mark Harper, the MP for the Forest of Dean, said: "For what reason once they have been vaccinated and protected from Covid by the end of April at the latest, is there any need for restrictions to continue?"
The Prime Minister said this was "an excellent point" but there would be a "significant minority" of people who would not take the vaccine up and if they "let the brakes off", the disease would "surge up... and rip through those groups in a way - alas - I don't think anyone would want to see".
He adds that it is "pure mathematics - there is still a substantial body of risk".
04:39 PM
Reopening hospitality too early could prompt fourth lockdown, warns Prime Minister
Boris Johnson has fended off calls to reopen the hospitality sector indoors sooner, warning it could lead to another surge in the virus and possible fourth lockdown.
Conservative former leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith congratulated Mr Johnson for his "incredibly bold" decision over vaccines last year and agreed with the Prime Minister's "caution" before pressing for changes to the hospitality plan.
Sir Iain called for him to "review again the nature of opening up inside those restaurants and pubs, and checking that there is no real risk beyond any of the other elements of opening up? And if that is the case, to take that bold decision as and when the data dictates it."
Mr Johnson said he was conscious of the "urgency of those in the hospitality sector who want to open up as soon as possible", but stressed the "risk of another surge and the consequent risk of a fourth lockdown - which I don't think anybody wants to see, least of all the businesses concerned".
He added: "I think in this very difficult time with these difficult trade-offs, I think people would be prepared to trade some urgency and some haste for more certainty and more reliability - and that is what we aim to give."
04:31 PM
Boris Johnson hints at hopes of summer holidays
Boris Johnson has dropped some hints over his hopes of summer holidays overseas in response to calls from Theresa May to assist the aviation sector.
The former prime minister welcomed the roadmap but said the plans for a taskforce report on international travel by April 12 "won't allow people to plan".
She asked Mr Johnson to "look again" at the timetable and bring it forward to "open up our international air travel and make sure that Britain is open for business".
Mr Johnson said the Government will continue to support the sector, adding: "I believe setting a deadline of April 12 for the report of the reconstituted travel taskforce will give people time to make their plans for the summer.
"If things go well, if we can meet these not before dates, then I do believe there is every chance of an aviation recovery later on this year."
04:23 PM
Regular testing will keep country open, says Boris Johnson
Sir Bernard Jenkin congratulates Boris Johnson for the fact that there "are sunlit uplands" beckoning, but stresses that the threats remain while just a third of the adult population has been vaccinated.
He asks what the Government will do to minimise the chances of another lockdown.
The Prime Minister says he is "absolutely right", and points to improvements interest, track and trace, particularly with twice weekly lateral flow tests in secondary schools, as well as rolling it out to businesses and local communities "as an additional way of fighting this disease".
04:17 PM
Boris Johnson: We can live with Covid like flu because of vaccines
Julian Lewis, the veteran New Forest East MP and chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee, asks Boris Johnson for a long-term plan to manage Covid akin to flu.
The PM agrees that "we must learn to live with Covid as we live with flu in the long-term", which is only possible because of the vaccine rollout.
04:15 PM
Jeremy Hunt backs cautious roadmap
Jeremy Hunt says Boris Johnson's caution is "absolutely right" as we are so close to the finish line.
He calls on the Prime Minister to "Build back better" for frontline workers, potentially in the Budget, with a long-term workforce plan for healthcare workers and a 10 year plan for the social care sector.
The Prime Minister praises the key workers, and says he will "certainly" be bringing forward a plan for social care reforms.
04:13 PM
Boris Johnson's roadmap 'worthless' without tougher quarantine, says Ian Blackford
The UK Government risks undermining the success of the vaccine rollout by not having tougher border controls, Ian Blackford has said.
The SNP leader told Boris Johnson his roadmap would be "worthless if a new variant enters through the backdoor".
He noted that "people are really struggling and this can't be all for nothing" as he called for a blanket approach to quarantine.
04:11 PM
Sir Keir Starmer demands this is the last lockdown
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said "this has to be the last lockdown".
He told the Commons: "This is the third time the PM's announced a plan to come out of national lockdown.
"In the past we've emerged without sufficient caution, without a clear plan and without listening to the science. We can't afford to make those mistakes again, this has to be the last lockdown."
He described the vaccine rollout as "remarkable" and paid tribute to everybody involved, adding: "It is the light at the end of the tunnel, but if we're going to get there we have tread very carefully."
04:04 PM
Labour leader tells Boris Johnson not to listen to Covid Recovery Group
Sir Keir Starmer has praised Boris Johnson for taking a cautious approach, noting that there will be a lot of political pressure for him to act faster.
He also asks if the chief medical officer and chief scientific adviser "support the full reopening of all schools on March 8 and will he commit to publishing all the relevant medical evidence on this issue?"
He says the Prime Minister must listen to scientists "not the hon members for Wycombe and the Forest of Dean".
That is Steve Baker and Mark Harper - the two frontmen of the Covid Recovery Group.
He says Labour will support him on that basis, but if he does not he risks "wasting all the sacrifices of the last 12 months".
04:00 PM
Boris Johnson has finished, here's everything we know
Boris Johnson has finished setting out his roadmap- here is everything you need to know:
Boris Johnson making a statement on the government's roadmap out of coronavirus lockdown - AFP
03:56 PM
Boris Johnson: Today the end really is in sight
Boris Johnson has promised that with the publication of his roadmap "today the end really is in sight".
He added; "This wretched year will give way to spring and summer that will be very different and incomparably better than the picture we see around us today."
The Prime Minister said he knows some will say "we are being too ambitious and that it is arrogant to impose any kind of plan upon a virus", stressing that "we must always be humble in the face of nature and we must be cautious".
But the vaccination programme has" dramatically changed the odds in our favour and it is on that basis that we can now proceed", he adds.
Boris Johnson in the Commons today - AFP
03:53 PM
Normality beckons from June 21
From no earlier June 21, things should be broadly back to normal - groups of up to six people and two households will be allowed to meet indoors, so people can enter each other's homes from now.
Boris Johnson told MPs that in step four "we will aim to remove all legal limits on social contact and on weddings and other life events, we will reopen everything up to and including nightclubs and enable large events such as theatre performances above the limits of step three - potentially using testing to reduce the risk of infection".
Mr Johnson continued: "Our journey back towards normality will be subject to resolving a number of key questions and to do this we will conduct four reviews."
That would include the need for social distancing and face masks, as well as how long working from home should continue.
He added: "A second review will consider the resumption of international travel which is vital for many businesses which have been hardest hit including retail, hospitality, tourism and aviation.
"A successor to the global travel taskforce will report by April 12 so that people can plan for the summer."
03:52 PM
Boris Johnson confirms 'Covid certificates' plan as he reveals third step details
From May 17, the third step will see groups of up to six people and two households meet indoors.
Boris Johnson added that the third review will "consider the potential role of Covid status certification in helping venues to open safely".
New rules will be in place for different sizes of venues. This means, for example, Wembley Stadium will be able to open with 10,000 fans attending.
Mr Johnson continued: "In view of these cautious but, I hope, irreversible changes, people may be concerned about what these changes mean for the various support packages for livelihoods, for people and the economy.
"So I want to reassure the House we will not pull the rug out - for the duration of the pandemic the Government will continue to do whatever it takes to protect jobs and livelihoods across the UK.
"And the Chancellor will set out further details in the Budget next Wednesday."
Boris Johnson making a statement on the government's roadmap out of coronavirus lockdown - AFP
03:50 PM
Step two will see the end of the Scotch egg debate, says Boris Johnson
Step two which will take place after five weeks, on April 12, non essential retail and hairdressers "I am glad to say" will also reopen.
Indoor gyms, holiday lets and other personal care such as nail salons will also reopen, he says.
Pubs and restaurants will also be able to repen outdoors "and the Scotch egg debate will be over", because there will be no need for alcohol to be accompanied by alcohol, he confirms.
03:47 PM
Rule of six returns from March 29
From March 29, the so-called ‘rule of six’ returns, Boris Johnson confirms.
This means two families, who potentially together total more than six people, will be allowed to meet. This can happen in both outdoor public spaces and in back gardens.
The 'stay at home' guidance will be dropped, he tells MPs. Outdoor organised sports for both adults and children will also return.
03:45 PM
Step one in roadmap unveiled by Boris Johnson
Step one - from March 8 - is that schools will return, Boris Johnson confirms to a slight cheer from backbenchers.
Face to face teaching will be supported by twice weekly testing of secondary school and college pupils, he says.,
Breakfast and after-school club can restart, along with school activities.
University students who require onsite lectures can also return, with a review for other students at the Easter holidays.
People will also be able to meet one other person for outdoor socialising, says the Prime Minister.
Care home residents can have one regular visitor, he adds.
03:42 PM
At least five weeks between each step, says Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson confirms the "stretching target" of vaccinating every adult by July 31, alongside the roadmap.
The level of infection is broadly similar so restrictions will be eased in all areas at the same time, and outdoor activity will be prioritised, he says.
Each decision will b e subjected to four tests: the success of the vaccine rollout, that the vaccines remain effective in stopping hospitalisations and deaths, that infection rates do not risk unsustainable pressure on the NHS and tat new variants do not change the risk-level situation.
There will be at least five weeks between each step, he says, to ensure they know the impact of each step.
03:39 PM
Roadmap 'cautious but irreversible', says Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson says the roadmap will "guide us cautiously but irreversibly" out of lockdown, and while they only apply to England, he is working closely with the devolved nations.
He notes that the data suggests both Covid vaccines are effective against the virus.
But "no vaccine can ever be 100 per cent effective", he adds, and the virus will mutate.
That means lifting lockdown will lead to more cases, hospitalisations or deaths whether it was now or six-nine months, because there will always be some who cannot have the vaccine.
That is why the roadmap should be cautious, but irreversible, he says.
03:30 PM
MPs get sneak peek of Boris Johnson's roadmap plan
Boris Johnson is moments away from setting out his roadmap - but those in Westminster have had a sneak peek already.
The roadmap was signed off by key cabinet ministers on Sunday, ahead of the 3:30pm statement to the House.
The document, close to 60 pages long, will outline four stages for reopening which roughly correspond to the months of March, April, May and June.
Boris Johnson's roadmap out of lockdown 'won't be derailed by rising cases'
Britain’s roadmap out of the Covid-19 lockdown will not stop simply because virus cases rise, according to detailed plans to be revealed today by Boris Johnson.
One of the four data “tests” he will announce will be based on infection rates, however it will be linked to NHS capacity rather than being monitored alone. That means that Covid case numbers rising will not necessarily stop the reopening, but cases rising so high that the NHS risks being overwhelmed would lead to a pause.
It is hoped the rapid roll-out of the vaccines mean those who have been jabbed are largely protected from serious infections. The other three ‘tests’, which need to be passed to move forward with reopening, are that the vaccine rollout is going as planned, vaccines are still reducing hospitalisations and deaths, and new variants are not creating big unforeseen risks.
However the new metrics have triggered a backlash this morning, with Nadhim Zahawi, the minister in charge of the vaccine rollout, grilled during broadcast interviews this morning about whether the Government was downgrading the so-called ‘R-rate’, which indicates the speed Covid is being reproduced.
Currently in England new cases are at around 130 per 100,000 and the R-rate is between 0.7 and 0.9.
03:04 PM
Ambrose Evans-Pritchard: Costs are rising exponentially for Europe's disinformation war on vaccine science
Europe has succumbed to the nocebo effect. If people are primed to believe that something makes them ill, they discover illness. It is the reverse placebo.
Tens of millions have received the AstraZeneca jab in the UK and India without meaningful side-effects beyond minor - and desirable - signs of an immune reaction. Yet frontline health workers in Germany, Austria, France, and Spain have convinced themselves that it is doing them real harm, and that it is also ineffective.
The nocebo effect is a known pathology in medical science: responses can be powerful and physiological, the symptoms are real.
Staycations may be prohibited until after Easter - and could be as late as June
Overnight staycations in England may not be permitted to restart until after Easter, The Telegraph understands.
Although restrictions regarding social gatherings and non-essential day trips are set to lift from March 29, non-essential overnight stays will likely be prohibited until the final stage of the four-step 'roadmap'.
Under the current travel restrictions, Britons are "effectively imprisoned on our island", says Noel Josephides, CEO of industry body AITO.
"To extend lockdown for travel beyond April 30 will be disastrous for many firms... It is plain that the Government, mistakenly, considers us to be expendable."
The 60-page roadmap outlines four stages for reopening which roughly correspond to the months of March, April, May and June.
Boris Johnson will set out the full details at 3:30pm.
Staycations might be on the horizon - but not for another few months - Getty
02:30 PM
Grant Shapps bans Boeing 777s with same engine that caused Denver explosion
Boeing 777s with the same engine as the plane which caught fire after take-off in the US this weekend will be banned from entering UK airspace, the Transport Secretary has said.
Grant Shapps said planes using Pratt & Whitney 4000-112 engines will be prevented from entering UK airspace temporarily, after an engine exploded following take-off from Denver, Colorado.
The US plane-maker has already urged airlines to ground all 777s and the US Federal Aviation Administration has ordered United Airlines to ramp up inspections of the aircraft, after a flight made an emergency landing at Denver International Airport on Saturday as pieces of the engine fell onto residential areas below.
No crew or passengers were hurt and the flight landed safely.
After issues this weekend, Boeing B777s with Pratt & Whitney 4000-112 series engines will be temporarily banned from entering the UK airspace. I will continue to work closely with the @UK_CAA to monitor the situation.
A further 178 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died in hospital in England, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths reported in hospitals to 81,482, NHS England said on Monday.
Patients were aged between 25 and 101. All except seven, aged between 47 and 97, had known underlying health conditions.
The deaths were between January 2 and February 21.
The Midlands was the worst-affected region, with 45 deaths registered, followed by London with 34 and the East of England, with 33.
There were 26 deaths registered in the North East & Yorkshire, 21 in the South East, 14 in the North West and five in the South West.
02:14 PM
England registers lowest daily vaccination tally so far
Just over 116,000 vaccinations took place in England yesterday - the lowest number since daily reporting started.
A total of 15,471,509 Covid-19 vaccines have been given out between December 8 and February 21, according to provisional NHS England data, including first and second doses.
Of this number, 14,958,074 were the first dose of a vaccine, a rise of 113,987 on the previous day, while 513,435 were a second dose, an increase of 2,346.
02:03 PM
Restrictions may be needed for variants that 'escape immunity', says Government adviser
Covid variants that "escape immunity" conferred by the vaccine could see the return of some restrictions this winter, a Government scientist has warned.
Professor Andrew Hayward, a member of the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (Nervtag), told Radio 4's Word At One that the Prime Minister must be "clear about where we are going" when he sets out his roadmap at 3:30pm today.
"It's obvious that we are not really going for an elimination agenda, or at least that is fairly unlikely, unless the vaccine is a lot better than we think it might be," he added.
"So, somehow we have got to learn to live with the virus and that really means making decisions about how many deaths and how many hospitalisations we are prepared to live with."
But he warned: "The new variants could change our equations on all of that, if we have new variants that do escape immunity and the vaccine is less effective.
"Then I think we could still be looking at the need for further restrictions, for example in the winter."
01:58 PM
Patrick O'Flynn: Boris Johnson's 'roadmap' was meant to liberate us, not micro-manage us
Nine months ago, plumber Ryan Price noted that Boris Johnsons' original, fairly sketchy, set of rules were not in fact hard to understand.
“I’m not sure what you want? A full handbook to tell you what to do?" he told Channel 4 News.
Only now it seems the full handbook is arriving. From what we already know of Boris Johnson’s “roadmap” out of lockdown, it is clear that traditional Conservative notions about personal freedom and treating the public as grown-ups have not survived extended contact with the viral enemy.
The key thing to look out for in Mr Johnson’s plan today will be whether it allows for the possibility of faster progress, notes Patrick O'Flynn.
Dominic Raab calls on UN to act over Beijing's 'industrial scale' abuses against Uighurs
Dominic Raab has urged the United Nations to respond to China's "appalling treatment" of the Uighur Muslims and people in Hong Kong.
The Foreign Secretary told the UN Human Rights Council that "no-one can ignore the evidence any more" of a deteriorating human rights situation in China and called for international action.
Human rights in Hong Kong are being "systematically violated" and that the national security law is a "clear breach of the Sino-British Joint Declaration" that is having a "chilling effect on personal freedoms".
The Cabinet minister also attacked the "systematic" human rights violations in Xinjiang - which the UK Government has refused to brand a genocide - saying the treatment of Uighur Muslims and other minorities in the region was "beyond the pale".
"The reported abuses - which include torture, forced labour and forced sterilisation of women - are extreme and they are extensive. They are taking place on an industrial scale," he added.
01:24 PM
Have your say: Will the roadmap really be 'irreversible'?
Boris Johnson has promised that the roadmap out of lockdown will be "cautious and irreversible" - words seized upon by many in Westminster and beyond, as we cling to the hopes that three really is the magic number.
But even as he said the word, the Prime Minister admitted he could not guarantee the third lockdown really would be the last.
He has also emphasised the need for a national approach - but with the threat of new variants ever-present, how long will either of these actually last?
Have your say in the poll below.
01:23 PM
'No evidence' to back Boris Johnson's plan to reopen schools in one, says Welsh minister
Wales' Education Minister has appeared to contradict the thinking behind Boris Johnson's plan to reopening schools in one go, stressing the need for a phased approach.
When asked about schools reopening in England on March 8, Kirsty Williams said: "I haven't received any new evidence or advice that supports a different approach to the one that we're taking here in Wales.
"Our phased and very careful approach is in line with the public health advice that I have received, and in fact, it's also consistent with UK-wide advice. If there is different information and new information available, which contradicts our careful approach, then clearly we would want to consider that."
Dr Chris Jones, deputy chief medical officer for Wales, warned there could be a substantial increase in cases, people in hospital and deaths if restrictions were relaxed too quickly.
"I think a cautious approach where we introduce the lowest risk children back to school first, evaluate the impact of that, that will teach us a great deal," Dr Jones said.
01:01 PM
Welsh primary schools to reopen from March 15
All primary school children in Wales will return to their classrooms from March 15 if conditions allow, the country's education minister has said.
Kirsty Williams said the Welsh Government would also like to see students in years 11 and 13, as well as those doing similar qualifications in colleges, return to face-to-face teaching from that date.
"Where possible, we also want to give some flexibility around other learners, such as Year 12 and those in Year 10 who may also have been entered into qualifications this summer," Ms Williams told a press conference.
"Unfortunately, for those learners in secondary settings or colleges, this won't necessarily be a return to full-time on-site learning."
Ms Williams said the situation for other students would be confirmed before the Easter holidays.
"But I can tell you now that my preference is to get all learners back in school after the break," she added.
12:47 PM
Lobby latest: No 10 rejects claims the Carrie Symonds is playing key role
Downing Street said it is "incorrect" to suggest Boris Johnson's fiancee Carrie Symonds is playing a central role in running the country.
Tory think tank The Bow Group has called for an inquiry into her activities following reports of her influence within No 10.
The Prime Minister's press secretary Allegra Stratton said there was "no response to that at all" and stressed Mr Johnson was focused on the coronavirus pandemic.
"The Prime Minister is coming forward with a 60-page plan to get us out of lockdown and that is his focus at the moment," she said.
Asked whether Ms Symonds was taking a central role with no authority or accountability, Ms Stratton said: "It's incorrect. The Prime Minister's fiancee is on maternity leave, she's raising their son Wilf and shortly she will be taking up a new role at the wildlife charity the Aspinall Foundation."
Carrie Symonds outside 10 Downing Street during the Clap for our Carers campaign - Reuters
12:44 PM
Lobby latest: No 10 dodges question about Passover lockdown
Number 10 has refused to explain the discrepancy in Boris Johnson's scramble to protect Christian festivals, while the country's Jewish and Muslim communities go without.
Passover will begin on March 27, meaning Jewish communities will mark the key festival in lockdown for a second time. It is thought lockdown will be lifted in time for Easter celebrations, however.
The Prime Minister's spokesman was challenged on the difference, and the fact he had previously said it was "inhuman" to cancel Christmas.
His spokesman did not directly respond, saying: "As we have seen throughout the pandemic, it has had a massive impact on people's lives and their ability to meet up with friends and family.
"The Prime Minister has referenced that and the enormous efforts that the British public has gone to to ensure that we continue to drive down the transmission rate of the virus."
12:38 PM
Lobby latest: Roadmap will 'balance' economic, social and health data, says No 10
Boris Johnson will "balance out economic and social" considerations against health data when he sets out his roadmap for easing lockdown, Downing Street has said.
During his regular briefing with journalists the Prime Minister's official spokesman would not give much away ahead of the statement at 3:30pm.
But he said: "The road map is designed to bring us out of lockdown cautiously, as the Prime Minister will state later.
"At every stage it will seek to balance out economic and social factors with the very latest epidemiological data and advice."
12:34 PM
Scotland and England's life after lockdown will not be 'identical', says Nicola Sturgeon
Nicola Sturgeon has said England and Scotland will move out of lockdown at roughly the same pace, although stressed they would not be identical.
The First Minister noted that the differences were already evidence because Scotland's schools had started their phased return, which is not the case in England.
But she said: "Similar to us, it seems that they have prioritised children and education and getting life back to normal before doing other things. So I think the principles will be the same - we're living through the same pandemic.
Scotland has reopened schools two weeks before England's are due to - but all years will return at the same time south of the border.
Ms Sturgeon said Boris Johnson was likely to set out a "careful and cautious" way forward, noting it was "vital that we learn from past experiences".
She added: "There is a limit to how much it is sensible to diverge in the circumstances we're facing in common but clearly we will make our own judgments about the particular order and the particular timing of that because the data is not identical in each of the four nations."
12:30 PM
More than twice the second Covid vaccinations than first given in Wales
More than twice as many second doses of the Covid vaccine were given out than the first in Wales yesterday, as the vaccination programme shifts focus.
Public Health Wales said a total of 862,248 first doses of the Covid-19 vaccine had now been given, an increase of 2,165 from the previous day. The agency said 42,752 second doses had also been given, an increase of 4,979.
In total, 90.5 per cent of over-80s in Wales have received their first dose, along with 92.6 per cent of those aged 75-79 and 91.9% of those aged 70-74.
For care homes, 84.4 per cent of residents and 85.8 per cent of staff have received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.
Public Health Wales said 84.3 per cent of people in the clinically extremely vulnerable category had received their first dose.
12:27 PM
Scotland's roadmap will be 'sure and steady - and slow', says Nicola Sturgeon
Nicola Sturgeon has said Scotland's roadmap out of lockdown will be "sure and steady - even if it is a bit slow", to ensure that there is no need for restrictions to be reimposed.
The First Minister will set out her plan tomorrow, following Boris Johnson's announcement this afternoon.
However she hailed "that first step towards greater normality in our lives" as Scotland's youngest children return to school.
"We hope more children will be able to go back to education next month, but our ability to do that depends on our ability to suppress the virus," she adds.
Thanking people for the "sacrifices" they have made, she urged people to continue staying at home and keep interactions to a minimum, including parents who are taking their children to school.
12:12 PM
Covid hospital admissions drop 74pc since mid-January peak
Hospital admissions in England of patients with Covid-19 are down nearly three-quarters from their second-wave peak, latest figures show.
A total of 1,068 admissions were reported for February 19, NHS England said.
This is a drop of 74 per cent from a peak of 4,134 on January 12.
It is the lowest number of daily admissions since November 28 - a few days before England came out of its second lockdown.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson will today announce the first steps for easing England's third lockdown, which has been in place since January 5.
Hospital admissions are one of a number of factors that will determine the speed of the easing, the Government said.
11:58 AM
Cabinet meeting concludes: Roadmap is rubber stamped
Boris Johnson has concluded his Cabinet meeting this morning, where the roadmap was to be rubber stamped.
Ministers met online, as has become standard under lockdown, although this could be one of the last to be held under those conditions.
Mark Spencer, the chief whip - who will be instrumental in ensuring support for the Prime Minister's plan - was one of the few seen in Downing Street this morning.
Chief whip Mark Spencer arrives in Downing Street ahead of Prime Minister Boris Johnson's speech - PA
11:46 AM
Nick Timothy: There is no roadmap that can take us back to the way things used to be
As Boris Johnson announces the first cautious steps out of lockdown, the whole country is looking forward to that precious day when normal life can resume.
But while schools will soon reopen, friends will meet and families reunite – in open air, at least – there will be no going back to the way things were. The pandemic and our response to it will change our economy and society forever, and the consequences will be profound.
The first concerns our immediate economic choices. Everybody knows that we face a fiscal hangover after the interventions of the past year. But it does not follow that austerity is what must come next. Unlike with the financial crash, which caused a credit crunch that undermined productivity and economic growth and reduced tax receipts, the end of lockdown should see a rebound and strong growth as families spend the record savings they have accrued.
Northern Ireland protocol offers 'benefits and opportunities', says Taoiseach
The Northern Ireland protocol offers "benefits and opportunities" to the nation, Irish premier Micheal Martin has said, as he stressed the importance of its full implementation.
Addressing the British Irish Parliamentary Assembly (BIPA), the Taoiseach stressed there was "no version of Brexit that does not mean change", which could be "difficult and challenging - especially in Northern Ireland", following the "long hiatus" in the running of the Executive, as well as the other historical challenges.
"As we navigate our way through these changes, I warmly welcome the work between Brussels and London to move forward and to find ways of easing implementation.
"Critically, this is being done in a context where both sides have underlined their commitment to the Good Friday Agreement and the full implementation of the protocol. There are many benefits and opportunities inherent in the protocol for Northern Ireland and so it is right that we all work closely together to ensure that the protocol works and that disruption is minimised to the greatest extent possible."
11:14 AM
Emma McClarkin: Boris Johnson must get pubs back - and keep them open
The Great British Pub is woven into the very fabric of our society, culture and heritage. It is where we celebrate major life events. It is where we go to meet and connect. Perhaps most importantly of all it is where we go to form community, friendships and even fall in love.
Pubs are a force for good too, as the heartbeat of local communities across our country, raising money for charity and operating as the original – and best – social network.
When it comes to getting out of this mess that is the coronavirus and, in the words of the Prime Minister himself, “building back better”, it is clear the beer and pub sector is going to be vital.
The sector's very future – and that of the great British pub – is in his hands. Emma McClarkin's message to him is clear: keep the doors open of this British icon.
Could Boris Johnson be the Prime Minister who let the Great British Pub fall? - AFP
11:06 AM
Lockdown roadmap month-by-month: How Boris Johnson's plan to ease restrictions could play out
Can I book a summer holiday? When will I be able to go the pub/restaurant/hairdresser/library again?
And perhaps most importantly of all, when will I be able to see - and hug - my loved ones?
Camilla Tominey: With the end in sight, caution is now Boris Johnson’s biggest risk
Described as “twice bitten, thrice shy” over the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions, there has never been more pressure on Boris Johnson to deliver a roadmap that sticks to its course.
From the Tory backbenchers backseat driving government policy, to an expectant public steering towards things going “vaxx” to normal this summer, the Prime Minister simply cannot afford to lose his lockdown way again.
Which is why he is feeling the tonnage of Monday's announcement so keenly.
Having been forced into not one but two U-turns after re-opening the economy, Mr Johnson simply cannot afford to crash and burn in a fourth lockdown. As he has been at pains to reiterate in recent days: the latest plan must be the last.
Have your say: Will the roadmap really be 'irreversible'?
Boris Johnson has promised that the roadmap out of lockdown will be "cautious and irreversible" - words seized upon by many in Westminster and beyond, as we cling to the hopes that three really is the magic number.
But even as he said the word, the Prime Minister admitted he could not guarantee the third lockdown really would be the last.
He has also emphasised the need for a national approach - but with the threat of new variants ever-present, how long will either of these actually last?
Have your say in the poll below.
10:26 AM
How the different stages of the lockdown roadmap will likely appear
Boris Johnson will soon finally outline his long-awaited “road map” for reopening the country after the latest Covid-19 lockdown. The line the Prime Minister and his Cabinet have been using repeatedly to describe what is coming is “cautious but irreversible”.
Anyone hoping for a “big bang” reopening should think again, with Number 10 believing that a gradual easing of restrictions is the best course of action.
Why? Because of that second word “irreversible”.
Mr Johnson is determined to make sure this lockdown forced by Covid-19 is the last. As such, he has designed a roadmap that goes in four stages to match the months to come: March, April, May, June.
Roadmap should be end of severe-level lockdowns, says minister
Boris Johnson's grand unveiling of the roadmap should mark the end of "severe-level" lockdowns, a minister has said today.
Speaking this morning Nadhim Zahawi, the vaccines minister, avoided committing to any further details, but emphasised the cautious and "sustainable" approach that will be taken.
The priority would be to reopen schools from March 8, followed by one-to-one outdoor socialising "to address loneliness and mental health", he said
He told Sky News that the emphasis initially would be "outdoor versus indoor", given the lower risk of transmission outdoors, but that they would not be opening schools if they were not confident that the vaccine cut transmission rates. "Suffice to say the evidence looks good," he added.
Asked about the prospect that restrictions could be re-imposed if cases start to rise again, he said: "I am confident that if we do this cautiously and we do it based on the data and evidence, it will be sustainable, and should be the last time we enter a severe level of lockdown."
10:06 AM
PM to prioritise 'ways for people to reunite with loved ones'
Boris Johnson has pledged to "prioritise ways for people to reunite with loved ones safely", after schools reopen.
The Prime Minister, who will be setting out his roadmap from 3:30pm, said that he would take a cautious approach "so that we do not undo the progress we have achieved so far and the sacrifices each and every one of you has made to keep yourself and others safe."
Today I’ll be setting out a roadmap to bring us out of lockdown cautiously. Our priority has always been getting children back into school which we know is crucial for their education and wellbeing. We'll also be prioritising ways for people to reunite with loved ones safely.
Our decisions will be made on the latest data at every step, and we will be cautious about this approach so that we do not undo the progress we have achieved so far and the sacrifices each and every one of you has made to keep yourself and others safe.
So far so good... Boris Johnson's blueprint out of lockdown meets no resistance
Before Boris Johnson presented his much-anticipated blueprint for exiting lockdown to a select group of senior ministers on Sunday, and invited them first to examine the latest Covid-19 data.
The fact that some cabinet colleagues did not feel the need to attend the 10am “pre-briefing” hosted by Sir Patrick Vallance and Prof Chris Whitty to further interrogate the statistics speaks to the absence of dissent over the Government’s strategy this time around.
“No one went into the room seeking or expecting changes to be made," says one source. "The main thrust was ‘we can’t let these dates slip’. It has been designed as a road map we can stick to.”
Covid vaccines reducing hospitalisations by up to 94pc
The Covid vaccines are reducing hospitalisations by between 85 and 94 per cent, a new study has found, just hours before Boris Johnson sets out his roadmap.
Researchers examined coronavirus hospital admissions in Scotland among people who have had their first jab and compared them with those who had not yet received a dose of the vaccine.
Scientists from the University of Edinburgh, the University of Strathclyde and Public Health Scotland examined data on people who had received either the Pfizer/BioNTech jab or the one developed by experts at the University of Oxford with AstraZeneca.
By the fourth week after receiving the initial dose, the Pfizer and Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines were shown to reduce the risk of hospital admission from Covid-19 by up to 85 per cent and 94 per cent, respectively, they found.
09:37 AM
Sir Keir Starmer defends Labour on cronyism stance
Sir Keir Starmer has defended his decision not to call for Matt Hancock to resign following the High Court ruling last week.
On Friday, a high court judge said the Health Secretary had unlawfully "failed to publish redacted contracts in accordance with the transparency policy". The Government is required to publish a "contract award notice" within 30 days of a deal being agreed for goods or services worth more than £120,000.
The Labour leader said Mr Hancock should "apologise and come and explain" to the Commons, but stressed his focus should be supporting the vaccine rollout "rather than calling for him to resign".
The party had challenged the Government "uphill and down dale on cronyism", he stressed, saying they had "attacked them hard on that".
Asked if he was "tap-dancing for the Tories", Sir Keir added: "I get attacked on both sides, which makes me think I have probably got it right. We support the Government where we think they have got it wright, and challenge them where we don't think they have got it right."
09:27 AM
Boris Johnson must 'learn the lessons' from previous lockdown exits, says Sir Keir Starmer
Boris Johnson must not repeat the mistakes from last year in reopening the country too quickly, Sir Keir Starmer has said.
"I want the Prime Minister to learn the lessons of the last two lockdowns," the Labour leader told LBC. "I think he came out too quickly, without caution, and that caused problems because we went back into lockdown.
"Everybody - and I think the Prime Minister is in this place now - wants this to be the last lockdown. So come out cautiously, carefully - that's the language he is using, so I'm looking for that this afternoon.
"That will inevitably mean restrictions for a bit longer so businesses desperately need a bit more support - business rate relief, VAT for hospitality - because they are going to struggle for another few months."
Sir Keir also urged the Government to extend the eligibility criteria for financial support for those told to self-isolate, as he said people on low incomes are faced with a "really difficult choice" because they "want to do the right thing, but they can't afford it".
09:24 AM
Sir Keir Starmer defends tenure, saying it is 'hard' in pandemic
Sir Keir Starmer has defended his tenure, amid flagging support in the polls and the rise of criticism from within his party.
The Labour leader told LBC that "being in opposition in the pandemic is difficult", noting that he was trying to be constructive and hold the Government to account while recognising that there was no appetite for political point scoring. He also noted he had been unable to meet people or hold rallies during lockdown.
But with his approval ratings compared unfavourably to Tony Blair's at the same point in their leadership, he stressed that when he took the reins the party had just suffered its worst electoral defeat since 1935.
"I never thought picking the Labour party up was a one-year exercise. I always knew it would be a four-year exercise and it is going to take us every day, week, month and year into 2024.”
A masked Labour leader Sir Kier Starmer arrives at Leicester Square's LBC studios - Joshua Bratt
09:19 AM
No ban on Brexit, says Sir Keir Starmer
Sir Keir Starmer has said it is "not true in the slightest" that he has put a ban on MPs talking about Brexit.
The Observer reported that the Labour leader had ordered "radio silence", with one backbencher likening it to the infamous "Don't mention the war" line from Fawlty Towers .
Sir Keir told LBC radio that Rachel Reeves, shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, had "raised no end of issues", adding: "Many times she has been saying we haven't got enough customs officials on the frontline".
The former Remainer noted that "the EU didn't do itself any favours", but added: "The Prime Minister has already pretended the situation in Northern Ireland would be absolutely fine... now we are seeing consequences, they are serious and we will raise them and hold the Government to account."
He noted the Northern Ireland protocol "needs to work better", but did not suggest it should be scrapped, adding: "Unpicking it is problematic.. but it has to work better."
09:12 AM
Sir Keir Starmer: Teachers should not strike over return to schools
Sir Keir Starmer has said he does not support industrial action over schools reopening, ahead of the March 8 return to classrooms.
Speaking on LBC radio, he said schools needed better ventilation and testing, suggesting a "Nightingale" approach to classrooms, noting that city schools do not have the space to make it safe.
And he reiterated his call to vaccinate teachers, saying the Crick Institute were not open at the weekend because they didn't have enough demand.
"They could probably have vaccinated the teachers of St Pancras and Holborn and nobody would have been bumped down the queue," he added.
But he said he was opposed to the prospect of teachers striking.
"I don't think there should be industrial action," the Labour leader said, although he stressed that unions had done much to support teachers during this pandemic.
09:06 AM
What's on the agenda today?
Boris Johnson will convene a virtual meeting of his Cabinet on Monday morning to sign off his roadmap, which has been compiled after spending the last few days scouring the latest data.
The 10am meeting is really just a rubber stamping exercise, with many of the details already set in stone - at least, as far as they can be.
The Commons will open at 2:30pm today, with questions to the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), followed by the Prime Minister's statement at 3:30pm. He will hand over to Matt Hancock for the debate to continue well into the afternoon.
Mr Johnson will then make a televised press conference at 7pm and the roadmap will also be published on the Government's website.
08:53 AM
No more tiers: Government takes national approach to ending lockdown
Boris Johnson's roadmap will take a national approach, rather than see a return to tiers, the vaccines minister has said.
Nadhim Zahawi said the road map was about the "gradual reopening of the whole of England" rather than a regional lifting of restrictions.
Asked if the tier system would return, he told LBC: "I think because the way this new variant actually took hold, which has become the dominant variant, the Kent variant, in the United Kingdom, infection rates around the country pretty much rose to similar, very high, unsustainable levels.
"So the view is very much that this is about a gradual reopening of the whole of England, not regional."
08:48 AM
Making lockdown irreversible 'single most important criteria', says David Davis
Making lockdown irreversible is "the single most important criteria" in the Government's strategy, David Davis has said.
The former Brexit secretary told Sky News that he would be holding Boris Johnson to the promise he used last week, saying: "The Prime Minister has used that word, making it irreversible, and that for me is the single most important criteria in their strategy."
He added that he was expecting the complete relaxation of lockdown rules from May and June because of the effect of the vaccines and also because of summer, noting Covid was "a desperately seasonal disease".
The Government should double its vaccine rollout to a million doses a day, he added "so that we get through herd immunity maybe as early as June, and then we are ready for future variants to start vaccinating again in September".
08:39 AM
Rishi Sunak 'switched tack' on lockdown
Cabinet is meeting at 10am this morning to sign off the roadmap, before Boris Johnson delivers his statement to the House from 3:30pm.
Throughout the last year, the top table has been characterised by a fairly fundamental split between the lockdown doves, led by Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, and backed by Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office minister, against the hawks, led by Rishi Sunak.
The Chancellor has been seen as a key ally to the likes of the Covid Recovery Group, who have been pressing the case for quicker easements.
However, as my colleague Ben Riley-Smith notes, Mr Sunak has softened his position in recent days.
One snippet: A cabinet minister told me yesterday Rishi Sunak has softened his stance on reopening recently, now placing more emphasis on protecting the NHS.
“Rishi has definitely switched tack. His main focus is now hospitalisation.”
Government to address vaccine hesitancy 'postcode-by-postcode', says minister
The vaccine rollout has "smashed" its target of 75 per cent take up "completely", Nadhim Zahawi has said, when challenged about vaccine hesitancy among certain communities.
He noted thew 11 per cent of people who had not taken the vaccine offers up yet "skewed heavily towards BAME communities".
The vaccines minister told Radio 4's Today programme said the evidence suggested that access to those working in social care "makes a huge difference", including the time of day and "places they trust", such as mosques.
"We are looking at postcode-by-postcode, where we can fill the gaps, looking a community pharmacy because we know they are really well embedded and trust by their local communities," he added.
Challenged on why this had not happened earlier, he said he "could not have vaccine sitting in fridges".
08:23 AM
Reopening schoos is 'ambitious, careful and data-driven', says Nadhim Zahawi
Reopening schools is "ambitious, careful and data-driven", Nadhim Zahawi has said, amid concerns the decision to allow all years back at the same time will push infection rates back up again.
Last week a joint statement by teachers' unions said it would be "reckless" to bring back all pupils in England to school together.
Speaking to Radio 4's Today programme he said it was "ambitious, but also careful, and it's data-driven".
He stressed the Government would be looking at its four tests "all the time" to analyse the impact of each step.
But asked specifically about the chances it would lead to a spike, he said: "It's no coincidence that March 8 date has been chosen, because it was mid February when we offered vaccine to the most vulnerable cohorts."
He also pointed to the two Public Health England studies on the effect of the vaccines on transmission, which Boris Johnson will "say more on" today.
08:16 AM
JCVI will continue to set future vaccine priority lists, says minister
The Government will "absolutely" follow the recommendations of the vaccine expert advisory committee when deciding on prioritisation for the second phase of the rollout, the vaccines minister has said.
Jon Ashworth, Labour's shadow heath secretary, renewed the party's calls for key-workers, particularly teachers, to be prioritised after the over-50s have been vaccinated by mid-April.
Asked about how people will be prioritised thereafter, Nadhim Zahawi told BBC Breakfast: "The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) are looking at that and we will absolutely follow what they recommend.
"The recommendation for phase one has been correct because it's based on clinical assessment of who is most vulnerable to be hospitalised or have serious infection and sadly death in some cases.
"So we'll go back to the JCVI and they will make that recommendation and we will follow that recommendation."
08:12 AM
Minister promises 'steady as she goes' reopening of economy
A minister has promised "steady as she goes" reopening of the economy, as he emphasised the focus on "outdoors versus indoors" for the time being.
The lifting of lockdown will be gradual, spread over at least four months with social distancing rules and guidance to work from home remaining in the near term, the Telegraph understands.
On Mar 8, all schools will reopen in England, with children allowed to play sport when they attend. Care home residents will be able to have a single visitor, with whom they can hold hands.
People will also be allowed to meet one-to-one outside in public spaces to socialise, such as having a coffee on a park bench or a picnic, rather than just to exercise.
From March 29 six people from up to six different households will beable to meet outside.
Nadhim Zahawi told Sky News: "At the moment, the focus is very much on the steady as she goes. Outdoor versus indoor, priority being children in schools, second priority is obviously allowing two people on March 8 to meet outside for a coffee to address some of the issues around loneliness and of course mental health as well.
"And then the 29th is two families or rule of six coming together and outdoor sporting activities as well."
08:08 AM
Vaccine transmission data 'looks good', says minister
A minister has said the "evidence looks good", as he appeared to confirm that the vaccine is sufficiently preventing transmission.
Public Health England has been carrying out two studies on groups that received the jab early - key workers and care home residents - but the data has not yet been made public, beyond suggestions that transmission is cut by two-thirds.
Nadhim Zahawi said Boris Johnson would clarify this point when he unveils his roadmap this afternoon, but added "Suffice to say, the evidence looks good."
"We wouldn't be in this place this morning to say we will reopen schools on March 8… then the rule of six and two families being able to see each other outdoors if we were not confident.
"All of that goes into gradual cautious reopening of schools and rest of economy," he added.
07:45 AM
Oliver Dowden expresses alarm over Facebook ban on news in Australia
The Culture Secretary is said to be alarmed at Facebook's decision to block news content in Australia and is seeking clarity from the social media company's executives.
A source close to Oliver Dowden, who has held the Cabinet post since last February, told TheDailyTelegraph of his concern "about developments in Australia". Mr Dowden will attempt to speak to both senior figures at Facebook and his Australian ministerial counterparts this week to understand the dynamics at play.
He recently talked of the need to "even the playing field" between internet giants like Facebook and traditional publishers, amid fears the latter was being undercut online. Last week Facebook blocked Australian users from viewing and sharing news and stopped Australian newspapers from posting links on their Facebook pages.
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