Calls for same Christmas COVID guidance in every UK country – with travel between nations ‘inevitable’
Politicians are asking Britain's nations to agree on rules ahead of the festive holidays - with the Lib Dems and Alliance Party of Northern Ireland asking for a 'four nations summit' to create Christmas COVID guidance.
Politicians are warning that travel between nations in Britain is “inevitable” over the Christmas period – with calls for country leaders to all adopt the same guidelines during the holidays.
Currently, restrictions differ between each nation in the UK.
England and Scotland have both adopted their own tier systems, whereas Wales have entered a 17-day ‘firebreak’ lockdown similar to the one seen nationwide in March.
Northern Ireland has entered a partial lockdown.
But now there are calls for Britain’s countries to agree on rules ahead of the festive holidays – with the Lib Dems and Alliance Party of Northern Ireland asking for a ‘four nations summit’ to create co-ordinated Christmas COVID guidance.
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"I think for Christmas there has to be a coordinated plan" Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey MP tells #BBCBreakfast the problem is the "different rules in different parts of the UK". His party is calling for a #coronavirus Christmas strategy. https://t.co/oKtNQP8ZJOpic.twitter.com/wWOTE8p8KX
A letter – signed by Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey, Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie, Welsh Lib Dem leader Jane Dodds and Alliance Party deputy leader Stephen Farry – asks for “work across governments to explore workable solutions that can enable travel to happen safely.”
Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Davey said: “The problem I see at the moment are different rules in different parts of the United Kingdom.
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“I think, for Christmas, there has to be a co-ordinated plan, as millions of people normally travel across the United Kingdom, across the four nations, to see their families – and they need clear guidance.
“They’re trying to plan Christmas now and they’re not getting the guidance from the government.”
Responding to the calls for Christmas COVID guidance, a Downing Street spokesman said: “The PM has been clear of his ambition to ensure that people may celebrate Christmas as a family this year.
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“That’s why we have introduced a range of measures in order to control the spread of the virus, reduce the R rate and save lives.”
Under current restrictions in Greater Manchester, different households are banned from mixing indoors.
The Rule of Six – which renders gatherings of more than six people illegal – will also complicate Christmas; which is a time where many people from different areas congregate under a single roof.
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Rules around booking driving tests in UK change from today to make system ‘fairer’
Emily Sergeant
The rules around booking driving tests in the UK are officially set to change from today in a bid to make the system ‘fairer’.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has now introduced new rules for car driving test bookings, putting learners ‘firmly in control’ of their own booking, as it is now against the law for third parties – including unofficial test booking and cancellation finder services, as well as driving instructors – to make bookings for someone else.
It will also be a breach of DVSA’s terms and conditions for the booking service for third parties to change, swap, or cancel a driving test for someone else.
Learners should only ever pay the official DVSA fee – which is £62 on weekdays and £75 on evenings, weekends and bank holidays.
The Government says the new rules aim to make booking driving tests ‘fairer’ for learner drivers.
While driving instructors will no longer be able to book tests on behalf of of learners, they will still be able to advise learners on when they are ready to take a test, as well as set their available times to prevent learners from booking tests at times that do not work for them.
Following on from changes to test alterations which were introduced at the end of March, from 9 June 2026, further restrictions will come into force limiting learners to moving their test only to one of the three nearest driving test centres.
The DVSA has also pledged to continue increasing driving examiner capacity to help provide more tests for learners to book.
“Our priority is to stop learners being exploited by third parties, put them in control of their driving test, and make the process fairer by clamping down on businesses that resell tests at inflated prices,” commented Beverley Warmington, who is the DVSA Chief Executive.
“These new measures help bring a halt to a system where the use of bots and third parties increases the amount some learners pay for a test and blocks test availability for many others.
“These measures will help free up appointments for genuine learners who are ready to take their test.”
Featured Image – Pxfuel
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Canal Street cordoned off after ‘suspicious chemicals’ reported at hotel
Daisy Jackson
Canal Street and several other streets in the Gay Village in Manchester have been cordoned off this afternoon.
Greater Manchester Police are attending reported of a smell that’s believed to be chemicals coming from a hotel room in the area.
There’s a huge emergency services presence in the area, including vehicles from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue, and the North West Ambulance Service.
Police have confirmed that they have detained a man who is believed to have been the occupant of the hotel room.
The hotel itself has been evacuated while the material is examined.
Thankfully, no one has been injured in the incident that has shut down part of Canal Street today.
Emergency services vehicles at the scene on Canal StreetThe cordon in place on Canal Street
GMP said in a statement: “We are currently searching a hotel room at a premises on Canal Street, Manchester. This follows a report of a smell – currently believed to be chemicals – causing suspicion.
“A man, believed to be the occupant of the room, has been detained and is currently in custody.
“As a precautionary measure, the hotel has been evacuated while specialist resources examine the material and conduct further enquiries.
“No-one has been injured and we are working to establish the full circumstances. We thank people for their patience as we continue with our work.”
The Manc -
28th October 2020 
