UK Coronavirus LIVE: New Brazilian variant ‘likely’ already in the UK as Keir Starmer suggests stronger lockdown

The highly-infectious new Brazilian variant of coronavirus is likely to already be in the UK, a Government scientist has warned.

While the UK is set to face short-term delays in delivery of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine as the pharmaceutical company upgrades its production capacity, it has been announced.

It comes as the UK's aviation sector says it will need "urgent" government support if it is to survive another long period of travel curb, after the UK announced all travel corridors will be suspended from 4am on Monday.

Meanwhile Keir Starmer has suggested tougher restrictions could be needed to bring down infection rates in the face of the threat of new coronavirus variants.