UK Covid live: future pandemic 'realistic possibility', says Johnson's defence review

Latest updates: PM to make statement to MPs as defence review will lift cap on number of nuclear warheadsCap on Trident nuclear warhead stockpile to rise by more than 40% 10.12am GMT As my colleague Dan Sabbagh reports in his preview of the integrated defence and security review, it will say that Britain is lifting the cap on the number of Trident nuclear warheads it can stockpile by more than 40%. Related: Cap on Trident nuclear warhead stockpile to rise by more than 40% Because over time as the circumstances change and the threats change, we need to maintain a minimum credible level of deterrent.Why? Because it is the ultimate guarantee, the ultimate insurance policy against the worst threat from hostile states.The integrated review looks 10 years down the track, it is a generational look at the strategic approach to foreign policy, defence.We are also looking at new threats, which is why things like cyber - how we deal with hostile states, the criminal gangs who are looking to prey on our data, our mobile phones and our tablets - and all of those types of threats as well. 9.46am GMT A total of 2,105 deaths registered in England and Wales in the week ending 5 March mentioned Covid-19 on the death certificate, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) - the lowest number since the week ending November 6. As PA Media reports, the figure is down 28% on the previous week’s total. Continue reading... https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2021/mar/16/uk-covid-live-new-novel-pandemic-realistic-possibility-boris-johnson-defence-review-latest-upates #coronavirus #politics #uk_news #boris_johnson #defence_policy #foreign_policy #matt_hancock