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       1. Confusion at Christmas: Boris Johnson urged to give clarity over Covid restrictions

       Boris Johnson has been urged to bring clarity to Christmas plans, as the festive period was thrown into limbo amid uncertainty over new restrictions.

       The Prime Minister was blocked by his Cabinet from introducing immediate new restrictions, as at least a dozen ministers spoke out against plans for further curbs during a two-hour special meeting on Monday. Read the full story.

       2. The Queen cancels Christmas at Sandringham as Covid concerns mount

       The Queen has cancelled plans to host Christmas at Sandringham for the second year running, as Buckingham Palace confirms she will remain at Windsor Castle for her first festive season without the Duke of Edinburgh.

       The Queen, who is 95, has decided to call off the Royal family’s traditional church visit and walkabout to meet wellwishers amid concern over rising Covid-19 cases. Read the full story.

       3. Scots get green light for Christmas Day as Nicola Sturgeon has ‘no plans to change Covid rules’

       Nicola Sturgeon finally gave Scots the green light for their Christmas Day plans on Monday after stating she had "no intention" of making any last-minute changes to her Covid rules.

       The First Minister said she was not planning on changing her advice on household mixing in Scotland "up to and over" the Christmas weekend. Read the full story.

       4. Downing Street Covid lockdown gathering photo: Fingers pointed at Treasury as hunt for leaker intensifies

       Downing Street insiders are pointing the finger of suspicion at Treasury officials for the damaging leak of a photograph showing Boris Johnson, his wife and No 10 advisers enjoying cheese and wine during lockdown.

       Sources inside No 10 have pointed out that the photograph was taken from a veranda reached from a first floor function room, which was being used by Rishi Sunak’s team and overlooks the Downing Street garden. Read the full story.

       5. Final insult for Bonnie Prince Charlie as site of his final defeat is added to slavery list

       The site of Bonnie Prince Charlie’s final defeat has been added to a list of locations connected to the slave trade by the National Trust for Scotland (NTS).

       Culloden, near Inverness, is known as the place where the Jacobite rebellion was finally crushed in 1746, but the battlefield overseen by the NTS has now become the first in Britain to be linked to the slave trade by an official body. Read the full story.

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