The rules are different in each corner of the UK this Christmas
20 December 2020
Christmas across the UK is going to look be rather different this year.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced a new Tier 4 and changes to Christmas rules in England, while Scotland s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced a significant scaling-back and said the highest level of restrictions will be imposed on mainland Scotland from Boxing Day.
In Wales First Minister Mark Drakeford announced the country will immediately enter lockdown ahead of Christmas.
While Christmas Covid-19 restrictions remain unchanged in Northern Ireland, despite rules being tightened across the rest of the UK – but the situation “is under review.
PB048-2014-2.picture by Phil Blagg.County Hall Powys County Council Offices, Llandrindod Wells. Powys Council has returned to the emergency mode adopted during the height of the coronavirus crisis amid a rise in cases in Wales. The return to business continuity mode means the authority will be concentrating on its most vital services, and looking for volunteers among its staff to be redeployed from non-essential to frontline services such as social care. It also means that several council scrutiny meetings scheduled for this month have been cancelled, as staff are unavailable to discuss issues with councillors and clerking staff are being re-prioritised.
Live updates after Michael Gove meets with First Ministers to discuss Christmas coronavirus rules
Urgent talks took place on Tuesday evening
The announcement comes after First Minister Mark Drakeford joined a meeting with representatives of the other devolved governments and cabinet office minister Michael Gove
More talks between the four nations over the UK s plan to ease Covid rules over Christmas are set to take place.
Leaders from Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland met with UK Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove for urgent talks on Tuesday evening as calls mount to scrap plans for an easing of Covid-19 restrictions over Christmas.