All four UK nations have issued a rare joint statement warning the public "this cannot be a normal Christmas". Leaders from Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales had been locked in talks with Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove over whether to tear up the Christmas rules allowing people to form bubbles with loved ones over the festive period.
Boris Johnson confirmed the original UK-wide easing of restrictions would go ahead between December 23-27 - as the Government did not want to "criminalise" people over long-held festive plans.
But Wales has decided to legislate to restrict mixing to two households. Leaders across the UK have toughened the guidance following a surge on coronavirus rates in parts of the country.
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