The government is expected to U-turn on its plans for education and close schools until February half-term, reports suggest.
The Financial Times is reporting that the Cabinet agreed this afternoon that primary and secondary schools will probably close until the middle of next month.
ITV’s political editor, Robert Peston, also tweeted that schools would be closed under the prime minister’s announcement tonight.
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PM will be directly addressing the nation. It won’t be a press conference. Tier 4 restrictions will be imposed everywhere. Schools closed. No more team games in parks. But outdoor exercise will still be allowed. https://t.co/dhKbH2lkgC
- Robert Peston (@Peston) January 4, 2021
However, Downing Street has refused to comment, the Financial Times said.
Coronavirus: School closures announcement expected
The measures are expected to be announced by the prime minister as he delivers a national address at 8pm tonight.
The news comes after it was announced today that schools in Scotland will now not reopen fully for the face-to-face teaching of all pupils until Monday 1 February at the earliest.
This afternoon, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the government must order schools in England to close as part of a new national lockdown.
He said it was “tragically inevitable” that pupils would have to learn from home in order for the country to regain control over the coronavirus, protect the struggling health service and create the breathing space to deploy millions of vaccines.
