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| Budget 2020: Sunak's plans for current spending 'nothing like as generous as they appear', says IFS - live news | Budget 2020: Sunak's plans for current spending 'nothing like as generous as they appear', says IFS - live news |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Rolling coverage of the day’s political developments as they happen | Rolling coverage of the day’s political developments as they happen |
| Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, is holding a press briefing now. She says she will be talking about the outcome of the Cobra emergency committee, which has just concluded. She participated in the meeting, although only remotely; she has not been in London. | |
| She is jumping the gun on Boris Johnson, who is due to hold a press briefing later. | |
| These are from the Telegraph’s Gordon Rayner. | |
| The Scottish Green party has cancelled its spring conference, which was due to take place on Saturday 28 March, because of the coronavirus outbreak after the number of cases declared in Scotland jumped to 60 on Thursday. | |
| Ross Greer MSP, a co-chair of the party’s executive, said: | |
| The conference was due to be held at the Adam Smith theatre in Kirkcaldy, the birth place of the legendary 18th century economist. | |
| Johnny Mercer, the veterans minister, promised to unveil a bill on Wednesday next week to introduce a statutory presumption against prosecution for veterans in the Commons, as he made a statement about mental health in the armed forces in the morning. | Johnny Mercer, the veterans minister, promised to unveil a bill on Wednesday next week to introduce a statutory presumption against prosecution for veterans in the Commons, as he made a statement about mental health in the armed forces in the morning. |
| The minister said he was meeting a pledges to legislate in this area, but would not say how or whether the measures would apply to Northern Ireland, where many violent incidents from the time of the Troubles are only now beginning to be investigated by legal authorities. | The minister said he was meeting a pledges to legislate in this area, but would not say how or whether the measures would apply to Northern Ireland, where many violent incidents from the time of the Troubles are only now beginning to be investigated by legal authorities. |
| “The days of lawyers running amok in our services and in our veterans community, trying to rewrite history, in order to make money, are over,” Mercer added. | “The days of lawyers running amok in our services and in our veterans community, trying to rewrite history, in order to make money, are over,” Mercer added. |
| The party’s election manifesto promised to “introduce new legislation to tackle the vexatious legal claims that undermine our armed forces”. | The party’s election manifesto promised to “introduce new legislation to tackle the vexatious legal claims that undermine our armed forces”. |
| In the last parliament Penny Mordaunt, the then defence secretary, proposed a statutory presumption against prosecutions against veterans for incidents taking place 10 or more years ago, covering Iraq, Afghanistan and any other armed conflict overseas - but left open the question of Northern Ireland, prompting pressure from Conservative backbenchers for it to be included. | In the last parliament Penny Mordaunt, the then defence secretary, proposed a statutory presumption against prosecutions against veterans for incidents taking place 10 or more years ago, covering Iraq, Afghanistan and any other armed conflict overseas - but left open the question of Northern Ireland, prompting pressure from Conservative backbenchers for it to be included. |
| Mercer was challenged by newly elected Alliance party MP Stephen Farry, who voiced concern about the impending legislation. He said: | Mercer was challenged by newly elected Alliance party MP Stephen Farry, who voiced concern about the impending legislation. He said: |
| Farry warned that some veterans could get “unnecessary protection, warping the rule of law” in relation to historic claims as a result. | Farry warned that some veterans could get “unnecessary protection, warping the rule of law” in relation to historic claims as a result. |
| In reply Mercer said that when to comes to Northern Ireland “I tread down this path with utmost care”. | In reply Mercer said that when to comes to Northern Ireland “I tread down this path with utmost care”. |
| The Scottish government is to get an £350m as its share of the extra money that Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, released in yesterday’s budget to boost public spending to cope with the coronavirus crisis. | The Scottish government is to get an £350m as its share of the extra money that Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, released in yesterday’s budget to boost public spending to cope with the coronavirus crisis. |
| A UK government source said Wales would receive £220m extra and Northern Ireland £120m. | A UK government source said Wales would receive £220m extra and Northern Ireland £120m. |
| The money has not been ringfenced, allowing all three devolved administrations to spend it as they see fit, but they will face significant political and public pressure to focus on tackling the pandemic’s impacts on the NHS, public services and businesses. | The money has not been ringfenced, allowing all three devolved administrations to spend it as they see fit, but they will face significant political and public pressure to focus on tackling the pandemic’s impacts on the NHS, public services and businesses. |
| The Scottish health secretary, Jeane Freeman, was challenged on BBC Radio Scotland about the availability of protective equipment such as face masks when doctors across Scotland texted the BBC to say they had not been issued with any or had run out. | The Scottish health secretary, Jeane Freeman, was challenged on BBC Radio Scotland about the availability of protective equipment such as face masks when doctors across Scotland texted the BBC to say they had not been issued with any or had run out. |
| Nicola Sturgeon, the first minister, told Holyrood today that the NHS would be put under great strain. “Our emergency services are likely to suffer from higher than normal sickness absence rates in the weeks and months ahead and our NHS in particular will be under significant pressure,” she said. | Nicola Sturgeon, the first minister, told Holyrood today that the NHS would be put under great strain. “Our emergency services are likely to suffer from higher than normal sickness absence rates in the weeks and months ahead and our NHS in particular will be under significant pressure,” she said. |
| Kate Forbes, Scotland’s finance secretary, said yesterday her government had not yet been told how much extra money it would get but was pleased the Treasury was increasing funding. | Kate Forbes, Scotland’s finance secretary, said yesterday her government had not yet been told how much extra money it would get but was pleased the Treasury was increasing funding. |
| The Institute for Fiscal Studies is holding its traditional day-after briefing on the budget. It started with an overview from Paul Johnson, its director, and the full text is now available on the IFS website. | The Institute for Fiscal Studies is holding its traditional day-after briefing on the budget. It started with an overview from Paul Johnson, its director, and the full text is now available on the IFS website. |
| Johnson said the economy was not in a robust state for dealing with a shock like coronavirus. And failure to negotiate a trade deal with the EU this year could make that worse, he said. He explained: | Johnson said the economy was not in a robust state for dealing with a shock like coronavirus. And failure to negotiate a trade deal with the EU this year could make that worse, he said. He explained: |
| He said that if coronavirus had a long-term impact on the economy, Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, would have to revise his strategy. Johnson said: | He said that if coronavirus had a long-term impact on the economy, Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, would have to revise his strategy. Johnson said: |
| He said the plans for current spending were “nothing like as generous as they appear”. He explained: | He said the plans for current spending were “nothing like as generous as they appear”. He explained: |
| He said overall spending is due to rise by 9% in real terms between 2019-20 and 2023-24, “largely paid for by extra borrowing”. He said public spending would stabilise at around 41% of national income, “above its pre-crisis level and bigger than at any point between the mid 1980s and the start of the financial crisis”. | He said overall spending is due to rise by 9% in real terms between 2019-20 and 2023-24, “largely paid for by extra borrowing”. He said public spending would stabilise at around 41% of national income, “above its pre-crisis level and bigger than at any point between the mid 1980s and the start of the financial crisis”. |
| But he said current spending per head for most public services would remain well below 2010-11 levels in 2024-25. He went on: | But he said current spending per head for most public services would remain well below 2010-11 levels in 2024-25. He went on: |
| He said although public spending was rising, it was not rising by as much as Labour proposed in its 2019 manifesto. | He said although public spending was rising, it was not rising by as much as Labour proposed in its 2019 manifesto. |
| He said he thought the £12bn package of measures to help the country tackle coronavirus was “fairly well designed”. | He said he thought the £12bn package of measures to help the country tackle coronavirus was “fairly well designed”. |
| Here are two of the most striking charts from the Resolution Foundation’s report (pdf) on yesterday’s budget. | Here are two of the most striking charts from the Resolution Foundation’s report (pdf) on yesterday’s budget. |
| The UK’s medium-term outlook for growth is “dismal”, the foundation says. It explains: | The UK’s medium-term outlook for growth is “dismal”, the foundation says. It explains: |
| The overall impact of tax and benefit changes since 2015 has been highly regressive, the foundation says. It explains: | The overall impact of tax and benefit changes since 2015 has been highly regressive, the foundation says. It explains: |
| President Trump did not contact Boris Johnson directly before his decision to ban citizens from 26 EU countries from entering the US for the next 30 days, No 10 has said. Britain and Ireland are exempt from the ruling because they are not in the Schengen border-free travel agreement. | President Trump did not contact Boris Johnson directly before his decision to ban citizens from 26 EU countries from entering the US for the next 30 days, No 10 has said. Britain and Ireland are exempt from the ruling because they are not in the Schengen border-free travel agreement. |
| No 10 said today the government had no plans for the UK to follow the US and ban travel from EU countries. The prime minister’s spokesman said: | No 10 said today the government had no plans for the UK to follow the US and ban travel from EU countries. The prime minister’s spokesman said: |
| Asked about concerns that other countries were taking a different approach to the virus, such as Ireland and Denmark, where they have already moved to school closures, the spokesman said: “We believe that we are taking our decisions based on the best scientific and medical advice that is available.” | Asked about concerns that other countries were taking a different approach to the virus, such as Ireland and Denmark, where they have already moved to school closures, the spokesman said: “We believe that we are taking our decisions based on the best scientific and medical advice that is available.” |
| This is what Nicola Sturgeon told MSPs in the Scottish parliament about her plan to cancel mass gatherings in Scotland. She said that she would be participating in the Cobra meeting chaired by the prime minister this afternoon to discuss coronavirus, and she said she expected the UK to move from the “contain” phase of the strategy to the “delay” phase. She went on: | This is what Nicola Sturgeon told MSPs in the Scottish parliament about her plan to cancel mass gatherings in Scotland. She said that she would be participating in the Cobra meeting chaired by the prime minister this afternoon to discuss coronavirus, and she said she expected the UK to move from the “contain” phase of the strategy to the “delay” phase. She went on: |
| The Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen is in self-isolation, having had lunch with the health minister Nadine Dorries who has tested positive for coronavirus, the Sun’s Kate Ferguson reports. | The Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen is in self-isolation, having had lunch with the health minister Nadine Dorries who has tested positive for coronavirus, the Sun’s Kate Ferguson reports. |
| Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, has told the Scottish parliament that she is minded to recommend the cancellation of events involving crowds or more than 500 people from next week, the BBC’s Glenn Campbell reports. | Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, has told the Scottish parliament that she is minded to recommend the cancellation of events involving crowds or more than 500 people from next week, the BBC’s Glenn Campbell reports. |
| Sturgeon set out part of her reasoning on this in an interview this morning. (See 11.01am.) | Sturgeon set out part of her reasoning on this in an interview this morning. (See 11.01am.) |
| Yesterday the Liberal Democrats announced that they were cancelling their spring conference in York this weekend because of coronavirus. Now Plaid Cymru has announced that it has cancelled its spring conference in Llangollen next weekend for the same reason. Plaid said it thought this was “the most responsible course of action for the party to take in the current circumstances”. | Yesterday the Liberal Democrats announced that they were cancelling their spring conference in York this weekend because of coronavirus. Now Plaid Cymru has announced that it has cancelled its spring conference in Llangollen next weekend for the same reason. Plaid said it thought this was “the most responsible course of action for the party to take in the current circumstances”. |
| At the No 10 lobby briefing this morning Downing Street insisted that Ireland’s decision to close schools, colleges and childcare facilities because of coronavirus would not lead to Northern Ireland being treated differently from the rest of the UK. The prime minister’s spokesman said: | At the No 10 lobby briefing this morning Downing Street insisted that Ireland’s decision to close schools, colleges and childcare facilities because of coronavirus would not lead to Northern Ireland being treated differently from the rest of the UK. The prime minister’s spokesman said: |
| Asked about the difference in the approach in Dublin, the spokesman added: “We follow our own advice, they will do the same.” | Asked about the difference in the approach in Dublin, the spokesman added: “We follow our own advice, they will do the same.” |
| Will Tanner, head of the centre-right thinktank Onward, has welcomed the planning measures announced by Robert Jenrick in the Commons. His tweet includes a link to the 11-page government document (pdf) summarising the measures. There is also a press release here. | Will Tanner, head of the centre-right thinktank Onward, has welcomed the planning measures announced by Robert Jenrick in the Commons. His tweet includes a link to the 11-page government document (pdf) summarising the measures. There is also a press release here. |