UK nations discuss COVID-19 restrictions over Christmas

The four UK nations have agreed to allow increased household bubbling over Christmas, the Cabinet Office has said.

The Prime Minister is expected to announce new measures to come into place at the end of lockdown in England later today, while talks aimed at finalising arrangements for a UK-wide approach to restrictions over Christmas are ongoing.

The Scottish Government said no agreement had been reached, while reports from the BBC suggest that three households could be allowed to meet up for up to five days, with details expected to be confirmed after the Scottish and Welsh cabinets meet to agree measures tomorrow.

The Cabinet Office said ministers from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland had endorsed a "shared objective of facilitating some limited additional household bubbling for a small number of days", but that the public would be told to remain cautious and that "wherever possible people should avoid travelling and minimise social contact".