UK prime minister Boris Johnson put England into its third lockdown this week, as the new strain of coronavirus risked the health service being overwhelmed. How long will it last and why does everything now rely on vaccine roll out? Plus, we discuss Mr Johnson's political struggles with the latest restrictions, the chaos around schools reopening and closing again and whether the local elections in May will become a Covid referendum. Presented by Sebastian Payne, with Sarah Neville, Clive Cookson, George Parker and Robert Shrimsley. Produced by Anna Dedhar and Josh de la Mare. The sound engineer was Breen Turner and editor Aimee Keane. Review clips: Downing Street, Parliament, Sky News.

Further reading:

-Covid reached UK in three waves from southern Europe, study shows

-MPs back England’s third coronavirus lockdown

-Rightwing sceptics helped deepen the UK’s Covid crisis

-Teacher assessments to replace GCSEs and A-levels in England

-Boris Johnson’s abrupt lockdown shift driven by bleak Covid data

-Read the latest on UK politics

-Follow @Seb Payne and @George Parker

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