Green list countries for England revealed

Twelve countries have been put on a "green" travel list for people in England, meaning anyone returning will not need to quarantine from 17 May.

A new traffic light system of rules means international travel will no longer be illegal.

However, countries on the green list - which includes Portugal, Israel and Gibraltar - have their own restrictions on who can visit from abroad.

The transport secretary said his approach was "necessarily cautious".

Turkey, the Maldives and Nepal will be added to England's red list of countries from 04:00 BST on Wednesday 12 May, meaning travellers from those destinations will have to quarantine in a hotel for 10 days on their return.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have not said when they might ease their strict travel restrictions, but Grant Shapps said all four of the UK's chief medical officers agreed the principles behind the traffic light system.

Speaking at a Downing Street briefing, Mr Shapps said the changes were a "tentative" first step to opening up travel, as there remained "concern about the resurgence of Covid".

Mr Shapps said the "success in combating Covid" in the UK was "not yet replicated in many places abroad".

"We must make sure the countries we reconnect with are safe," he added.

Covid tests will be required before and after travel.

The long-awaited restart of international travel is less throwing open the doors, more opening them a crack.

That's a deliberate decision by the government, which is hoping to reassure those who are nervous about opening the country's borders while also giving a small concession to the travel industry.

Some in the industry are not impressed, calling the list a "missed opportunity".

Many of the transport secretary's comments - he dissuaded passengers from travelling to amber countries and warned them to expect queues at the border - will be seen as trying to dampen down demand, just at the moment when the industry was hoping to start to ramp up.

Ultimately, the real test will be in a few weeks' time when the government will announce the green list for June. The industry will be hoping it's a little longer than this list.

Mr Shapps said people looking to travel overseas should check any restrictions that apply to new arrivals, and should not book trips which do not include a refund should the Covid situation change.

Countries on the green, amber and red lists would be reviewed every three weeks from 17 May, he added.

The transport secretary said he "regrets that favourite summer destinations like France, Greece and Spain are not yet included" on the green list.

They will remain on the amber list at present and people returning from there must self-isolate at home for at least five days.

Red list countries have the strictest rules, with only UK or Irish nationals, or UK residents, allowed to return - and they must pay for a 10-day stay in a government-approved quarantine hotel.

Asked what Turkey being added to the red list means for the Champions League final between Manchester City and Chelsea in Istanbul, Mr Shapps said fans should not travel to Turkey.

He added that the Football Association is in discussions with European football's governing body UEFA and the UK is open to hosting the final - but that decision will be down to UEFA.

The full list of 12 countries and territories people in England can travel to without having to quarantine upon return are:

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