Boris Johnson news – latest: France should consider closing borders with UK over Covid variant, adviser says

NHS England chief executive Sir Simon Stevens told MPs that “in many parts of the country” coronavirus “is spreading out of control”.

He told the Commons Public Accounts Committee: “In London perhaps one in 30 people has the coronavirus, in parts of London it may be twice that number.

“If you look across other regions of England the issue is that coronavirus is once again on the rise.

“In Merseyside in just the last week there has been a further 50 per cent increase in the number of Covid hospitalisations.

“So this is a very serious moment for the country and for the National Health Service.

“It’s worth remembering that this affects all ages – a quarter of the Covid admissions to hospital right now are for people aged under 55.”

Boris Johnson warned the public against “false complacency” because the vaccine is being administered, said rules need to be enforced in supermarkets and that people must “avoid mingling too much” after getting takeaway drinks.

The prime minister told reporters: “I think what (Professor) Chris Whitty had to say this morning was absolutely right. This is a very perilous moment because everybody can sense that the vaccine is coming in and they can see that the UK is vaccinating large numbers of those that need it most.

“My worry is, and Chris’s worry is, that this is the moment when that degree of false confidence, false complacency, and that when you look at what has happened in the NHS that complacency is not merited.

“More important than us just pushing out new rules, people have got to follow the guidance.

“In supermarkets, people need to be keeping their differences, making sure that they’re wearing masks, doing the right thing.

“We need to enforce the rules in supermarkets. When people are getting takeaway drinks, in cafes, then they need to avoid spreading the disease there, avoid mingling too much.”

Boris Johnson has warned that lockdown measures may be required if people do not follow the rules, as he stressed that “now is the moment for maximum vigilance” amid increasing transmissions, political correspondent Ashley Cowburn reports.

Border officials have been confiscating sandwiches and other foodstuffs from drivers arriving in the Netherlands from the UK after Brexit, TV footage has revealed, Adam Forrest  reports.

A Dutch TV clip showed a driver had his ham sandwiches taken away by border officials as he arrived – with one border guard joking: “Welcome to the Brexit, sir.”

Charities and politicians, including London mayor Sadiq Khan, are calling on the government to implement measures to better monitor the impact of the virus on Bame groups “without delay”, as infections soar during the third wave of the pandemic.

Read the full story here by The Independent’s Social Affairs Correspondent May Bulman:

Health Secretary Matt Hancock will hold a press conference today alongside NHS medical director Stephen Powis at 5pm.

It comes amid speculation that new even stricter rules could be introduced to try and curb and steep rise in cases.

When asked about whether the Government would soon be introducing stricter lockdown restrictions to curb the spread of coronavirus, Mr Hancock said they are “constantly keeping things under review”.

He said: “What matters is that people follow the rules, that’s the most important thing, and stay at home wherever possible.

“Obviously there are people here, on my team here at Epsom racecourse, who have gone to come out to give the vaccines and people have got to come get the vaccines.

“But ultimately it’s people abiding by the rules that’s the critical thing.”

Sir Keir Starmer has slammed the support on offer from the government during the pandemic and said families face a £1.9 billion council tax bombshell.

The Labour leader criticised Boris Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak over council funding, warning authorities would be forced to hike taxes to cover the cost of Covid-19.

He also called for the continuation of the temporary £1,000-a-year increase in Universal Credit beyond April.

Sir Keir said: “We’re in the worst recession for 300 years. Yet the Prime Minister and the Chancellor want to hike council tax – a £1.9 billion bombshell that lands a bill of around £90 on every family.

“They plan to cut Universal Credit – taking £1,000 a year from millions of families and pulling another 200,000 children into poverty.”

Sir Keir added the Prime Minister’s “repeated delay and incompetence” had cost lives and jobs.

Security minister James Brokenshire has said he will be taking leave after doctors found a recurrence of a tumour in his right lung.

The MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup previously stood down from his role as Northern Ireland secretary in January 2018 to undergo surgery to remove a cancerous tumour from his right lung.

He tweeted: “Frustratingly, have a recurrence of a tumour in one part of my right lung. Taking leave for curative surgery. In good hands with the fantastic #NHS team who’ve been looking after me. Keeping positive and blessed to have the love of Cathy & the kids to support me through this.”

Former Tory MSP Michelle Ballantyne has been announced as the leader of the new party Reform UK Scotland.

Ms Ballantyne, who previously stood for the leadership of the Scottish Conservatives, now takes on the role in the new party.

Reform UK was previously known as the Brexit Party and Ms Ballantyne said it would work to “champion personal choice, community response and local networks”.

She added: “Our policies will reflect these values and respect the basic rights of freedom of thought, speech and worship.”

France should consider shutting down its borders with UK because of the rapid spread of coronavirus, a leading French government adviser has said, Adam Forrest reports.

Arnaud Fontanet, a member of the scientific council that advises Emmanuel Macron’s government, said borders should be closed to Britain, Ireland and other countries that have a strong presence of the Covid variant found in the south east of England.