The PM will appear in Downing Street joined by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps and Chief Scientific Advisor Patrick Vallance. Mr Johnson is chairing an emergency meeting of the COBRA committee, after France closed its borders to the UK following the identification of a mutant strain of the virus. Earlier, Labour leader Keir Starmer called on the PM to address the nation over the unfolding crisis today. “The Prime Minister needs to be straight with people about precisely what is going on and precisely what he is doing about it. “He must address the nation today after this morning’s Cobra meeting and hold daily press conferences until the disruption has eased.”

Source: Daily Mirror December 21, 2020 13:16 UTC