This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2020/mar/16/boris-johnson-press-conference-coronavirus-live-firms-could-soon-be-allowed-to-run-reduced-services-because-of-coronavirus-shapps-suggests-politics-live

The article has changed 21 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 11 Version 12
No 10 says '8m hospitalised' is planning assumption, not what government expects - UK politics live No 10 says '8m hospitalised' is planning assumption, not what government expects - UK politics live
(32 minutes later)
Rolling coverage of the day’s political developments as they happenRolling coverage of the day’s political developments as they happen
The government’s finance bill - and potentially next week’s emergency legislation - appear likely to speed through the House of Commons without being pressed to a vote, after Labour took the decision to allow them to pass “on the nod”.
Labour sources confirmed that while the party will table an amendment to tomorrow’s ways and means resolution, calling for more action to help the low-paid weather the crisis, they will not press it to a vote. And they will take the same approach to their opposition day on Wednesday.
Leader of the Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg insisted last Thursday there was no additional risk from MPs crowding into division lobbies, though he did say an expert from Public Health England had advised him to open the windows.
However Labour have decided not to exacerbate the anxiety of MPs concerned about the risks of contracting or passing on the virus by calling for votes. “The Labour party thinks this is a time for grown-up politics,” the source said.
These are from Robert Jenrick, the housing secretary.
Jenrick may find there are different definitions of “the support they need” ...
Labour is urging the government to introduce a ban on evictions for tenants whose income is hit by the coronavirus, as it presses for more action to help the lowest-paid weather the outbreak, my colleague Heather Stewart reports.
The ban on travel to the EU announced by the European commission this afternoon will not cover the UK, Ursula von der Leyen, the commission president, has just confirmed. That is because during the Brexit transition Britain still counts as an EU member.
The Green party is calling for the government to extend the Brexit transition, which is due to end on 31 December 2020, because of coronavirus. In a statement the Green deputy leader Amelia Womack said:The Green party is calling for the government to extend the Brexit transition, which is due to end on 31 December 2020, because of coronavirus. In a statement the Green deputy leader Amelia Womack said:
Womack says the transition period should be extended for a year. This is allowed under the withdrawal agreement, provided a decision is taken before July.Womack says the transition period should be extended for a year. This is allowed under the withdrawal agreement, provided a decision is taken before July.
It seems inevitable that the transition will have to be extended, although ministers are not saying that at this point. Only last Thursday Michael Gove was telling MPs that an extension was being ruled out. (See 11.22am.)It seems inevitable that the transition will have to be extended, although ministers are not saying that at this point. Only last Thursday Michael Gove was telling MPs that an extension was being ruled out. (See 11.22am.)
According to Sky’s Sam Coates, the government is considering implementing a scheme being tried in Ireland that would involve flat-rate payments to workers whose employers can no longer carry on paying them because the economy has ground to a halt.According to Sky’s Sam Coates, the government is considering implementing a scheme being tried in Ireland that would involve flat-rate payments to workers whose employers can no longer carry on paying them because the economy has ground to a halt.
Torsten Bell, chief executive of the Resolution Foundation, a thinktank focusing on low pay issues, thinks the Irish scheme has merits.Torsten Bell, chief executive of the Resolution Foundation, a thinktank focusing on low pay issues, thinks the Irish scheme has merits.
Northern Ireland has recorded seven new cases of Covid-19 since Sunday, Stormont health minister Robin Swann has said.Northern Ireland has recorded seven new cases of Covid-19 since Sunday, Stormont health minister Robin Swann has said.
If the over-70s are told to mainly stay at home in future, there are 24 MPs who will be covered by the advice, according to the Election Maps UK Twitter feed.If the over-70s are told to mainly stay at home in future, there are 24 MPs who will be covered by the advice, according to the Election Maps UK Twitter feed.
Boris Johnson will be under pressure to clarify what the government’s advice for the over-70s will be in the weeks and months ahead when he holds his press conference later. It has not been very clear over the last 48 hours or so. (See 9.56am.) Simon Hewett-Avison, director of services at the Independent Age charity told the Press Association that this was causing confusion for the elderly. He said:Boris Johnson will be under pressure to clarify what the government’s advice for the over-70s will be in the weeks and months ahead when he holds his press conference later. It has not been very clear over the last 48 hours or so. (See 9.56am.) Simon Hewett-Avison, director of services at the Independent Age charity told the Press Association that this was causing confusion for the elderly. He said:
The government’s attempt to get manufacturers to switch their production lines so that they can start making ventilators for the NHS has a touch of desperation about it. Here is Matt Hancock, the health secretary, putting an appeal on Twitter.The government’s attempt to get manufacturers to switch their production lines so that they can start making ventilators for the NHS has a touch of desperation about it. Here is Matt Hancock, the health secretary, putting an appeal on Twitter.
Campaigners from Pause the System have staged a protest outside No 10. They want a more proactive response to coronavirus, including the closure of all schools and non-essential businesses and the introduction of a universal basic income.Campaigners from Pause the System have staged a protest outside No 10. They want a more proactive response to coronavirus, including the closure of all schools and non-essential businesses and the introduction of a universal basic income.
From the BBC’s Mark EastonFrom the BBC’s Mark Easton
For the first time a coronavirus patient has died in Wales, the country’s chief medical officer, Frank Atherton, has announced.
Angela Rayner, favourite in the contest to be next deputy Labour leader, has a suggestion for Richard Branson.
Thousands of people have called for frontline NHS workers to be tested for coronavirus as a matter of priority, the Press Association reports. An online petition has earned more than 34,000 signatures calling for health workers to be tested, so they can keep on working instead of going into isolation if they have a cold. Junior doctor Rebecca McCauley, who wrote the petition, said staff wanted to work with “a clear conscience”. She explained:
Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, says the Scottish government and the UK government (which doubles up as the English government for health policy purposes) are not giving different advice to elderly people.
As explained earlier, the impression that Edinburgh and London are giving conflicting advice has been created largely by news reports and Matt Hancock using the term “self-isolate” in a loose, general sense, rather than a narrow, specific sense. (See 9.56am.)
Here are the main points from the Downing Street lobby briefing.
The prime minister’s spokesman said the government does not expect 8 million people to be hospitalised because of coronavirus. Asked about a Guardian story quoting a confidential Public Health England briefing saying “as many as 80% of the population are expected to be infected with Covid-19 in the next 12 months”, the spokesman said:
The spokesman said Boris Johnson has asked Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, to chair a cabinet committee meeting to consider the impact on business of coronavirus. See 11.46am.
The spokesman defended the government’s coronavirus testing policy. Last week it said it would prioritise testing people admitted to hospital, instead of testing those with milder symptoms. There has been particular concern about NHS workers not being tested. But the spokesman said key workers such as NHS staff were an “important focus” for the coronavirus testing regime. He added:
The spokesman said George Eustice, the environment secretary, will hold a conference call with food suppliers and supermarkets early this afternoon.
The spokesman said there was no need for shoppers to panic buy. He said:
Asked if Johnson believed some shoppers were being selfish, the spokesman said:
The FTSE 100 was down 7.2% at midday, my colleague Graeme Wearden reports on his business live blog. At 4,976 points it’s at its lowest point since late 2011, and down from 7,404 points just over three weeks ago.
Surveillance testing for coronavirus in Scotland will be significantly expanded to GP practices covering a total of 1.2m people to give a clearer picture of the spread of the disease, authorities have announced. According to the Press Association write-up of the briefing mentioned earlier (see 12.39am), the number of GP practices taking part in the “sentinel” surveillance system will be expanded from 41, covering 240,000 people, to 200 around the country this week to help experts track how the situation is developing.
The Scottish Government announced at the weekend that people showing coronavirus symptoms will no longer be routinely tested for the infection, PA reports. Only those admitted to hospital with flu-like symptoms and breathing difficulties, NHS staff and “key workers” will be routinely tested for Covid-19 as part of the updated testing policy.
Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, said:
In fact, we should get the Matt Hancock statement at around 5.30pm, the leader of the Commons’ Twitter account says.
According to Labour whips, the Matt Hancock statement may come later than 3.30pm, to allow him to update MPs on the conclusion of the Cobra meeting, which will start at 3.15pm.
Matt Hancock, the health secretary, will make a statement to MPs about coronavirus. It is due at 3.30pm.