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South Yorkshire agrees to enter Tier 3 – where is next?
South Yorkshire will join Manchester in Tier 3 coronavirus restrictions from Saturday – but which region is next? Talks in Tyneside and Tees Valley have been paused amid signs that progress has been made in controlling the spread of coronavirus. Tier 3 discussions have also taken place in West Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire. In Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon confirmed pubs and restaurants in the country’s central belt are to remain closed. The restrictions will now be in place until a tiered system is introduced on November 2. Our liveblog has the latest. Here is a reminder of the rules under Tier 3 and, if you are worried about facing tighter restrictions, see how many cases there are where you live.
After Andy Burnham’s high-profile battle with the Government over the introduction of Tier 3 measures in Manchester, Tom Harris examines whether we are seeing the Third Coming of the Labour politician. Another mayor battling the Prime Minister is Sadiq Khan, who accused Boris Johnson of lying to the House of Commons after he claimed Transport for London had been “effectively bankrupted” by the London Mayor. It comes after ministers threatened to strip Mr Khan of control of London’s transport network unless he agrees to hike council tax and fares and extend the congestion charge zone, in return for funding.
US ‘concerned’ UK fur sales ban may risk trade deal
The US ambassador to the UK, Woody Johnson, is “concerned” that the UK’s proposed fur sales ban could jeopardise a free trade deal with the US, a leaked letter has revealed. The correspondence, dated October 15, warns the proposed ban on the import of American fur “poses difficulties and challenges” and has “implications for the free trade agreement currently being negotiated” with the US. The revelation comes as Michel Barnier said a Brexit trade deal is “within reach”, before offering to meet all of the UK’s conditions to reboot negotiations with Brussels. The chief negotiator is expected to come to London as early as tomorrow to resume full talks. The value of the pound jumped as hopes of a deal rise.
William hails cancer patients during ‘darkest of times’
The Duke of Cambridge acknowledged the “unimaginable challenges” faced by both cancer patients and specialists this year as he paid tribute to their ability to embody hope in the “darkest of times”. The Duke visited The Royal Marsden hospital in Sutton, Surrey, to hear about the rapid changes undertaken to keep treatment going and to mark the start of construction for a new state-of-the-art Oak Cancer Centre. It comes 30 years after his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, laid a ceremonial foundation stone to commemorate the building of the Chelsea Wing at The Royal Marsden in London. Meanwhile his brother, the Duke of Sussex, has warned online misinformation is creating a “global crisis”.
At a glance: Latest coronavirus headlines
Also in the news: Today’s other headlines
Nawaz Sharif plea | Pakistan has written to Home Secretary Priti Patel calling on the UK to deport former prime minister Nawaz Sharif to serve a corruption prison sentence. The request to return the exiled opposition leader, who has lived in London for a year, risks dragging Britain into the centre of a bitter confrontation between Imran Khan’s government and the country’s political opposition. Read on for details.
Around the world: Soldiers ‘fired on protesters’
Nigerians were in shock today after a deadly shooting of peaceful protesters in the biggest city Lagos that Amnesty International blamed on security forces. There was no immediate death toll from the incident on Tuesday evening in which witnesses said armed gunmen opened fire on a crowd of over 1,000 people to disperse them after a curfew was imposed to end spiralling protests over police brutality. Read the latest.
Wednesday interview
‘I was terrified our chance had gone’