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| Sturgeon says she is minded to cancel events involving crowds of more than 500 in Scotland - live news | |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| Rolling coverage of the day’s political developments as they happen | Rolling coverage of the day’s political developments as they happen |
| The Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen is 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. | |
| 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. |
| Robert Jenrick, the housing secretary, has just delivered a statement to MPs about planning. It is normal for a budget to be followed by ministerial announcements in the following days fleshing out some of the proposals announced by the chancellor, and yesterday Rishi Sunak said that Jenrick would be setting out “comprehensive reforms to bring the planning system into the 21st century”. Sunak may have jumped the gun, because although Jenrick said there would be a planning white paper, he told the Commons that it would not be published until the spring. | Robert Jenrick, the housing secretary, has just delivered a statement to MPs about planning. It is normal for a budget to be followed by ministerial announcements in the following days fleshing out some of the proposals announced by the chancellor, and yesterday Rishi Sunak said that Jenrick would be setting out “comprehensive reforms to bring the planning system into the 21st century”. Sunak may have jumped the gun, because although Jenrick said there would be a planning white paper, he told the Commons that it would not be published until the spring. |
| Despite not being ready to publish a full package of measures, Jenrick was able to outline a series of proposals that are in the pipeline. He said that his priority was ensuring more homes get built, so that it was easier for young people to acquire a home. In particular, he announced: | Despite not being ready to publish a full package of measures, Jenrick was able to outline a series of proposals that are in the pipeline. He said that his priority was ensuring more homes get built, so that it was easier for young people to acquire a home. In particular, he announced: |
| A drive to encourage building on brownfield sites. Some £400m is being spent regenerating brownfield sites, and a map of development opportunities on brownfield sites will be produced. | A drive to encourage building on brownfield sites. Some £400m is being spent regenerating brownfield sites, and a map of development opportunities on brownfield sites will be produced. |
| A move to “dramatically accelerate” the planning system. This will involve making it more digital, with planning fees linked to performance. | A move to “dramatically accelerate” the planning system. This will involve making it more digital, with planning fees linked to performance. |
| Developers will get new rights to demolish shops or industrial units to build homes. | Developers will get new rights to demolish shops or industrial units to build homes. |
| More information will be published about who owns options for land development. | More information will be published about who owns options for land development. |
| The formula used by councils to assess local housing need will be revised, with a view to ensuring that more homes are built, particularly in urban areas. | The formula used by councils to assess local housing need will be revised, with a view to ensuring that more homes are built, particularly in urban areas. |
| Councils will be told that all local plans must be completed by December 2023 | Councils will be told that all local plans must be completed by December 2023 |
| Two bills will be introduced: a building safety bill, and a renters reform bill. | Two bills will be introduced: a building safety bill, and a renters reform bill. |
| The national planning policy framework will be revised, to embed the principle of good design in it. | The national planning policy framework will be revised, to embed the principle of good design in it. |
| Planning rules for areas at high risk of flooding will be reviewed. | Planning rules for areas at high risk of flooding will be reviewed. |
| Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the Commons, has told MPs that they are not at high risk of catching coronavirus when they congregate in the division lobbies to vote. He was speaking during business questions, and responding to a question from the SNP MP Tommy Sheppard who said that it might be safer for MPs during the coronavirus outbreak to abandon their normal method of voting (queuing up in a smallish lobby while waiting to have their names ticketed off by a clerk) and to instead use the deferred division procedure (voting using a ballot paper). Rees-Mogg replied that he had taken a Public Health England official into a division lobby and been told that the lobbies were “not a high risk”. But the expert did suggest opening windows, Rees-Mogg said. | Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the Commons, has told MPs that they are not at high risk of catching coronavirus when they congregate in the division lobbies to vote. He was speaking during business questions, and responding to a question from the SNP MP Tommy Sheppard who said that it might be safer for MPs during the coronavirus outbreak to abandon their normal method of voting (queuing up in a smallish lobby while waiting to have their names ticketed off by a clerk) and to instead use the deferred division procedure (voting using a ballot paper). Rees-Mogg replied that he had taken a Public Health England official into a division lobby and been told that the lobbies were “not a high risk”. But the expert did suggest opening windows, Rees-Mogg said. |
| Rees-Mogg also indicated that emergency legislation to give the government new powers to deal with the outbreak would be introduced in the week beginning Monday 23 March. | Rees-Mogg also indicated that emergency legislation to give the government new powers to deal with the outbreak would be introduced in the week beginning Monday 23 March. |
| Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, has said that there is a “big question mark” about whether large public events like football matches should continue to go ahead during the coronavirus outbreak. In an interview with ITV’s Good Morning Britain she said that, even if events like these did not significantly contribute to the spread, they distracted the emergency services. She explained: | Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, has said that there is a “big question mark” about whether large public events like football matches should continue to go ahead during the coronavirus outbreak. In an interview with ITV’s Good Morning Britain she said that, even if events like these did not significantly contribute to the spread, they distracted the emergency services. She explained: |
| The UK government may announce a move towards new “social distancing measures” after a Cobra emergency committee meeting on coronavirus being chaired by Boris Johnson this afternoon. Sturgeon said she thought it was time to move from the “contain” phase of the strategy to the “delay” phase. | The UK government may announce a move towards new “social distancing measures” after a Cobra emergency committee meeting on coronavirus being chaired by Boris Johnson this afternoon. Sturgeon said she thought it was time to move from the “contain” phase of the strategy to the “delay” phase. |
| Alister Jack, the Scottish secretary, told BBC Radio Scotland this morning that Boris Johnson would soon announce a feasibility study into plans for a bridge linking Scotland to Northern Ireland. In an interview this morning, asked why there was no money for the plan in the budget, he replied: “Watch this space.” He went on: | Alister Jack, the Scottish secretary, told BBC Radio Scotland this morning that Boris Johnson would soon announce a feasibility study into plans for a bridge linking Scotland to Northern Ireland. In an interview this morning, asked why there was no money for the plan in the budget, he replied: “Watch this space.” He went on: |
| Johnson has a fondness for extravagant infrastructure schemes and he has repeatedly expressed interest in a bridge linking Scotland and Northern Ireland, despite experts dismissing the idea as impractical. Jack has suggested that the scheme could involve a combination of tunnel and bridge. | Johnson has a fondness for extravagant infrastructure schemes and he has repeatedly expressed interest in a bridge linking Scotland and Northern Ireland, despite experts dismissing the idea as impractical. Jack has suggested that the scheme could involve a combination of tunnel and bridge. |
| The Resolution Foundation thinktank has this morning published a 60-page analysis of the budget (pdf). And it has been posting some highlights on a Twitter thread starting here. | The Resolution Foundation thinktank has this morning published a 60-page analysis of the budget (pdf). And it has been posting some highlights on a Twitter thread starting here. |
| I will post more from the report shortly. | I will post more from the report shortly. |
| Here are the main points from Rishi Sunak’s morning interview round. | Here are the main points from Rishi Sunak’s morning interview round. |
| Sunak, the chancellor, criticised President Trump’s flight ban announcement, saying that the UK government’s view was that measures like this would not have much impact on the spread of coronavirus. (See 8.55am.) | Sunak, the chancellor, criticised President Trump’s flight ban announcement, saying that the UK government’s view was that measures like this would not have much impact on the spread of coronavirus. (See 8.55am.) |
| He accepted that the flight ban would have an impact on the UK economy. Asked on the Today programme whether it would have a negative impact on the economy, he accepted that it would, although in his answer he focused on making a general point about the negative economic impact of coronavirus. He said: | He accepted that the flight ban would have an impact on the UK economy. Asked on the Today programme whether it would have a negative impact on the economy, he accepted that it would, although in his answer he focused on making a general point about the negative economic impact of coronavirus. He said: |
| He dismissed claims that his spending plans were irresponsible. He said: | He dismissed claims that his spending plans were irresponsible. He said: |
| He said that his measures were compatible with the fiscal rules set out in the Conservative manifesto. | He said that his measures were compatible with the fiscal rules set out in the Conservative manifesto. |
| He laughed off suggestions that he had delivered a Gordon Brown budget, or a Labour budget. When LBC’s Nick Ferrari put this to him, Sunak laughed, and said he would let others make that judgment. | He laughed off suggestions that he had delivered a Gordon Brown budget, or a Labour budget. When LBC’s Nick Ferrari put this to him, Sunak laughed, and said he would let others make that judgment. |
| He suggested that Jeremy Corbyn’s resignation as Labour leader was holding up the announcement of plans for reform of social care. When asked about the absence of social care from the budget, he said that Matt Hancock, the health secretary, wrote to MPs last week proposing cross-party talks starting in May. When it was put to him that the government was taking a long time, particularly since Boris Johnson claimed to have a plan for social care last summer, Sunak replied: | He suggested that Jeremy Corbyn’s resignation as Labour leader was holding up the announcement of plans for reform of social care. When asked about the absence of social care from the budget, he said that Matt Hancock, the health secretary, wrote to MPs last week proposing cross-party talks starting in May. When it was put to him that the government was taking a long time, particularly since Boris Johnson claimed to have a plan for social care last summer, Sunak replied: |
| Sunak defended his decision not to extend sick pay to cover the low-paid and the self-employed. In the budget he said that people in these categories would instead find it easier to claim benefits as a result of rules being relaxed during the coronavirus outbreak. This morning he said: | Sunak defended his decision not to extend sick pay to cover the low-paid and the self-employed. In the budget he said that people in these categories would instead find it easier to claim benefits as a result of rules being relaxed during the coronavirus outbreak. This morning he said: |
| He also claimed that around half of workers who needed to take time off would get more than statutory sick pay because their employers offered more generous arrangements. | He also claimed that around half of workers who needed to take time off would get more than statutory sick pay because their employers offered more generous arrangements. |
| He sidestepped a question about whether he and his family would be able to live on £90 a week. Statutory sick pay is worth £94.25 per week. Asked whether that was enough to live on, he replied: | He sidestepped a question about whether he and his family would be able to live on £90 a week. Statutory sick pay is worth £94.25 per week. Asked whether that was enough to live on, he replied: |
| When pressed on whether he could live on this himself, he said: | When pressed on whether he could live on this himself, he said: |
| He defended his decision not to include nurseries in the list of companies that will qualify for a one-year exemption from business rates. The nursery sector has been horrified by the decision. Asked why they were not included, Sunak said: | He defended his decision not to include nurseries in the list of companies that will qualify for a one-year exemption from business rates. The nursery sector has been horrified by the decision. Asked why they were not included, Sunak said: |
| He accepted that his plans involved making an assumption about the cost of borrowing remaining low, but it was a judgment he defended. He said: | He accepted that his plans involved making an assumption about the cost of borrowing remaining low, but it was a judgment he defended. He said: |
| Stock markets around the wall are down following President Trump’s travel ban announcement. My colleague Graeme Wearden has all the details on his business live blog. | Stock markets around the wall are down following President Trump’s travel ban announcement. My colleague Graeme Wearden has all the details on his business live blog. |
| This is from the BBC’s Adam Fleming. He is quoting from the government’s UK influenza pandemic preparedness strategy. It was drawn up in 2011, but officials have been using it as the starting point for their response to the coronavirus outbreak. | This is from the BBC’s Adam Fleming. He is quoting from the government’s UK influenza pandemic preparedness strategy. It was drawn up in 2011, but officials have been using it as the starting point for their response to the coronavirus outbreak. |
| There will be two statements in the Commons today. | There will be two statements in the Commons today. |
| Good morning. Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, has been doing the tradition post-budget morning interview round and, in a sign perhaps of the seriousness of the crisis facing the economy, No 10 has lifted its usual ban and let him speak to the Today programme. | Good morning. Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, has been doing the tradition post-budget morning interview round and, in a sign perhaps of the seriousness of the crisis facing the economy, No 10 has lifted its usual ban and let him speak to the Today programme. |
| The first topic to come up, of course, was President Trump’s shock decision last night to announce a 30-day ban on people from most EU countries (but not the UK) from travelling to the US. | The first topic to come up, of course, was President Trump’s shock decision last night to announce a 30-day ban on people from most EU countries (but not the UK) from travelling to the US. |
| Criticising American presidents in public does not come easily to UK government ministers, particularly Conservative ones working for Boris Johnson, but Sunak could not avoid saying he thought Trump’s plan was a bad idea. He told the Today programme: | Criticising American presidents in public does not come easily to UK government ministers, particularly Conservative ones working for Boris Johnson, but Sunak could not avoid saying he thought Trump’s plan was a bad idea. He told the Today programme: |
| In another BBC interview he was more direct. “We haven’t believed that that’s the right thing to do, the evidence here doesn’t support that,” he said. | In another BBC interview he was more direct. “We haven’t believed that that’s the right thing to do, the evidence here doesn’t support that,” he said. |
| I will post more from his interviews shortly. | I will post more from his interviews shortly. |
| Here is the agenda for the day. | Here is the agenda for the day. |
| 10am: Lord Hall, the BBC director general, and Sir David Clementi, its chairman, give evidence to the Commons culture committee. | 10am: Lord Hall, the BBC director general, and Sir David Clementi, its chairman, give evidence to the Commons culture committee. |
| 1pm: The Institute for Fiscal Studies holds a briefing on the budget. | 1pm: The Institute for Fiscal Studies holds a briefing on the budget. |
| 1.15pm: Boris Johnson chairs a meeting of Cobra, the government’s emergency committee, to discuss coronavirus. | 1.15pm: Boris Johnson chairs a meeting of Cobra, the government’s emergency committee, to discuss coronavirus. |
| We’re also due to get an announcement from Robert Jenrick, the housing secretary, on plans to reform planning laws. | We’re also due to get an announcement from Robert Jenrick, the housing secretary, on plans to reform planning laws. |
| I will be covering Westminster coronavirus developments, but our main coronavirus coverage is on a separate coronavirus outbreak live blog. As usual, I will be covering breaking political news as it happens, as well as bringing you the best reaction, comment and analysis from the web. I plan to post a summary when I wrap up. | I will be covering Westminster coronavirus developments, but our main coronavirus coverage is on a separate coronavirus outbreak live blog. As usual, I will be covering breaking political news as it happens, as well as bringing you the best reaction, comment and analysis from the web. I plan to post a summary when I wrap up. |
| You can read all the latest Guardian politics articles here. Here is the Politico Europe roundup of this morning’s political news. And here is the PoliticsHome list of today’s top 10 must-reads. | You can read all the latest Guardian politics articles here. Here is the Politico Europe roundup of this morning’s political news. And here is the PoliticsHome list of today’s top 10 must-reads. |
| If you want to follow me or contact me on Twitter, I’m on @AndrewSparrow. | If you want to follow me or contact me on Twitter, I’m on @AndrewSparrow. |
| I try to monitor the comments below the line (BTL) but it is impossible to read them all. If you have a direct question, do include “Andrew” in it somewhere and I’m more likely to find it. I do try to answer questions, and if they are of general interest, I will post the question and reply above the line (ATL), although I can’t promise to do this for everyone. | I try to monitor the comments below the line (BTL) but it is impossible to read them all. If you have a direct question, do include “Andrew” in it somewhere and I’m more likely to find it. I do try to answer questions, and if they are of general interest, I will post the question and reply above the line (ATL), although I can’t promise to do this for everyone. |
| If you want to attract my attention quickly, it is probably better to use Twitter. | If you want to attract my attention quickly, it is probably better to use Twitter. |