London politics latest news: Living with Covid plan a step ‘towards normality’, says Boris Johnson

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Morning rundown

Good morning and welcome to the Evening Standard’s live political coverage.

It is set to be a busy day in Westminster – here is a rundown of the latest news:

– Boris Johnson will expect his plans for “living with Covid”, bringing an end to two years of pandemic restrictions. He will scrap the legal duty to self-isolate and access to free testing

– Home secretary Priti Patel has written to MPs imploring them to back the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill following a string of defeats in the House of Lords. She told 650 MPs that the legislation must be passed “soon” to help reduce crime

– Mr Johnson said Russian President Vladimir Putin must “step back from his current threats” as part of any solution to the Ukraine crisis, saying it is a “welcome sign” that a phone call between French leader Emmanuel Macron and Russian president had shown Mr Putin may be “willing to engage in finding a diplomatic solution”

– Britons have been warned to brace for strengthening winds and lashing rain amid Storm Franklin, with a milder yellow wind warning covering England, Wales and south-western Scotland from midday until 1pm