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Boris Johnson has revealed the remaining Covid-19 restrictions will be lifted a month early, including the legal requirement to self-isolate.

He began prime minister’s questions by announcing the government intends to speed up the timetable to return the country to pre-pandemic norms.

The PM said he would present the government’s ‘Living With Covid’ strategy when the Commons returns from its recess on February 21.

He said it would end the last domestic restrictions, including the threat of massive fines for positive cases who don’t quarantine at home, ‘a full month early’.

The government had originally set a target of ending all restrictions by March 24, meaning the changes will now come into force before the end of the month.

Mr Johnson said bring the change forward will be contingent on ‘the current encouraging trends in the data continue’.

The announcement comes as Mr Johnson attempts to reset his administration and get his own party back onside.

He has spent the past week overhauling his top team after a torrid few months beset by scandals and blunders.

Several senior aides have left Downing Street after Sue Gray’s report into Downing Street parties uncovered ‘serious failings’ in the operation.

The PM has appointed Chris Heaton-Harris, a long-time ally, as the new chief whip responsible for keeping backbenchers in line.

He replaces Mark Spencer, who was moved to Leader of the Commons after a series of missteps in managing the Conservative parliamentary party.

Mr Spencer’s predecessor Jacob Rees-Mogg was shuffled into the newly minted role of Minister for Brexit Opportunities.

The move has been interpreted by some commentators as an attempt to appease right wing backbenchers who want to see more done on post-Brexit reforms.

It’s unclear how many Tory MPs have submitted letters of no confidence to the 1922 Committee but the number is thought to have crept up in recent weeks.

Mr Johnson will hope changes to his top team will help win round MPs wavering over whether or not to formally call for a poll on his leadership. 

The mini-reshuffle did not appease billionaire Tory donor John Armitage, who told the BBC he thought Mr Johnson had ‘passed the point of no return’.

There has been criticism over the lack of promotions for female MPs in the reshuffle, with some dubbing it a ‘he-shuffle’.

Mr Johnson has also come under pressure from some in his own party to apologise for comments blaming Sir Keir Starmer for the failure to bring Jimmy Savile to justice.

The PM repeated the discredited claim in the Commons last week, prompting one of his closest advisors to quit in disgust.

Downing Street has made it clear that Mr Johnson does not plan to apologise but he is likely to face renewed calls to do so when he fields questions from MPs on Wednesday.

The Labour leader had to be taken into police protection after being hounded by demonstrators outside parliament on Monday.

This is a breaking news story, more to follow soon… Check back shortly for further updates.

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