While millions have been expecting many of the relaxations, the changes announced to social distancing and universities may have come as more of a surprise.
From May 17 people will have the choice on whether to socially distance from friends and family, meaning hugging will once again be permitted.
The government urged caution, reminding that some people are more vulnerable to severe illness from Covid-19 adding that while vaccines reduce the risk, they do not eliminate it entirely.
Wider social distancing rules will remain in place in adult social care, medical, retail, hospitality and business settings.
Another surprise is the return to the classroom for all university students, who will be able to enjoy in-person learning for the first time in months.
Monday May 10, 2021, 10:42 AM
With just a week remaining before England s next step out of lockdown, the prime minister will talk through Covid-19 figures from the past month and explain why he s decided particular restrictions can or cannot be lifted.
According to the PM s roadmap out of lockdown, next Monday will see hospitality venues reopen for indoor services, a lifting of a number of social restrictions and even international travel will once again be permitted.
Mr Johnson has repeatedly said he can see no reason to deviate from his roadmap and the government has said the latest data suggests easing restrictions from May 17 is unlikely to risk a resurgence in infections.
Monday May 10, 2021, 1:45 PM
Boris Johnson and his fiancee Carrie Symonds went on a £15,000 holiday to the Caribbean in 2019. Credit: PA
Boris Johnson is under investigation over who paid for his holiday to the Caribbean with his then-girlfriend Carrie Symonds at the end of 2019.
The prime minister s £15,000 holiday sparked anger among opposition MPs after it emerged it was provided for by a Conservative Party donor.
Now, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards has confirmed it is investigating a possible breach of MPs code of conduct over who paid for the holiday.
The specific section of the rules guide says: Members shall fulfil conscientiously the requirements of the house in respect of the registration of interests in the register of members’ financial interests. They shall always be open and frank in drawing attention to any relevant interest in any proceeding of the house or its committees, and in any communications with ministers, members, public officials or p
Voters in North Carolina are changing their party affiliations in droves. Republicans lost nearly 30,000 registered members since the election in November. For Democrats, the loss of registrants is even larger, albeit over a longer period of time: a quarter of a million, going back to 2008. The vast majority of those voters are registering as unaffiliated. On this episode of The Politics Podcast, we share a report from the podcast Tested in which WUNC s Rusty Jacobs asks what voters changing their party affiliations means for future elections in North Carolina.
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ITV News Election Analyst Colin Rallings takes an in depth look at the battles being played out across England, Wales and Scotland in the 2021 elections.