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| Coronavirus: Renters to be protected from eviction, PM says | Coronavirus: Renters to be protected from eviction, PM says |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The government will bring forward emergency legislation to protect private renters from eviction, Boris Johnson has said. | The government will bring forward emergency legislation to protect private renters from eviction, Boris Johnson has said. |
| Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Johnson said he will take action to protect "other actors in the economy". | Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Johnson said he will take action to protect "other actors in the economy". |
| Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said private tenants were "worried sick" they might not be able to pay their rents if they fell ill. | Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said private tenants were "worried sick" they might not be able to pay their rents if they fell ill. |
| It comes after Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced £350bn of help for companies. | It comes after Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced £350bn of help for companies. |
| The government had been urged to do more for families, workers and tenants affected by coronavirus. | The government had been urged to do more for families, workers and tenants affected by coronavirus. |
| On Tuesday, the chancellor promised mortgage "holidays", £330bn in loans and £20bn in other aid. | |
| Mr Corbyn urged the PM to protect private renters in "the interests of public health", so that people "don't feel forced to go to work in order to avoid eviction". | |
| He added Britain's 20m private renters were "worried sick that they can't pay their rent if they get ill, lose pay or feel they need to self-isolate". | |
| Mr Johnson said it will bring forward legislation to protect private renters from eviction, but will also avoid "pass[ing] on the problem" by "taking steps to protect other actors in the economy". | |
| Business Secretary Alok Sharma said the government was ready to do more to keep people in their jobs. | Business Secretary Alok Sharma said the government was ready to do more to keep people in their jobs. |
| It comes as: | |
| In the UK, supermarkets continue to introduce measures to try to stop customers stockpiling and ensure vulnerable people get food during the crisis. | In the UK, supermarkets continue to introduce measures to try to stop customers stockpiling and ensure vulnerable people get food during the crisis. |
| Sainsbury's said it would prioritise elderly and other vulnerable people for online deliveries, as both Sainsbury's and Asda limited people to buying no more than three of any food item. | |
| Other retailers including Tesco and Boots have set limits on particularly popular products including pasta, tissues and hand sanitiser. | Other retailers including Tesco and Boots have set limits on particularly popular products including pasta, tissues and hand sanitiser. |
| Meanwhile, lorry drivers transporting essential goods to supermarkets will be allowed to stay on the road longer without a break after Transport Secretary Grant Shapps temporarily relaxed the rules. | Meanwhile, lorry drivers transporting essential goods to supermarkets will be allowed to stay on the road longer without a break after Transport Secretary Grant Shapps temporarily relaxed the rules. |
| In entertainment, EastEnders will be broadcast just twice a week - rather than four times - as the BBC postponed filming of the soap opera and other dramas "until further notice" | |
| And Glastonbury Festival's 50th anniversary event has been postponed from June 2020 until 2021, its organisers said. | And Glastonbury Festival's 50th anniversary event has been postponed from June 2020 until 2021, its organisers said. |
| Meanwhile, efforts are under way across the country to support NHS workers. Chelsea Football Club is giving free accommodation to NHS staff in London, while Pret is offering them free hot drinks and half-price food. | Meanwhile, efforts are under way across the country to support NHS workers. Chelsea Football Club is giving free accommodation to NHS staff in London, while Pret is offering them free hot drinks and half-price food. |
| Elsewhere, car manufacturers were among the latest companies to be affected with Toyota and BMW both suspending production at their UK factories. Toyota employs more than 3,200 people in the UK, while BMW has 6,000 manufacturing staff. | |
| Unveiling the financial measures at a press conference on Tuesday, Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Prime Minister Boris Johnson vowed to do "whatever it takes" to support the UK economy through a challenge unprecedented in peacetime. | Unveiling the financial measures at a press conference on Tuesday, Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Prime Minister Boris Johnson vowed to do "whatever it takes" to support the UK economy through a challenge unprecedented in peacetime. |
| The chancellor said the £330bn in loans - equivalent to 15% of GDP - would be available from next week to help businesses pay for supplies, rent and salaries. | The chancellor said the £330bn in loans - equivalent to 15% of GDP - would be available from next week to help businesses pay for supplies, rent and salaries. |
| Other measures to be put in place include extended business rates relief for all firms in the hospitality sector and funding grants of between £10,000 and £25,000 for small businesses. | Other measures to be put in place include extended business rates relief for all firms in the hospitality sector and funding grants of between £10,000 and £25,000 for small businesses. |
| Mortgage lenders will also offer a three-month holiday for people in financial difficulty as a result of the virus. | Mortgage lenders will also offer a three-month holiday for people in financial difficulty as a result of the virus. |
| Help for airlines, which have been hit by travel bans and a slump in demand, is also being considered. | Help for airlines, which have been hit by travel bans and a slump in demand, is also being considered. |
| Rachel Reeves, Labour chairwoman of the Commons Business Committee, said there was nothing in the chancellor's announcement to offer financial support to people who were already on statutory sick pay, self-isolating or had been laid off. | Rachel Reeves, Labour chairwoman of the Commons Business Committee, said there was nothing in the chancellor's announcement to offer financial support to people who were already on statutory sick pay, self-isolating or had been laid off. |
| And unions raised concerns there were no measures to help freelancers and people working in the gig economy. | And unions raised concerns there were no measures to help freelancers and people working in the gig economy. |
| Companies and trade bodies welcomed the financial measures, but said they needed to work through the fine print. | Companies and trade bodies welcomed the financial measures, but said they needed to work through the fine print. |
| Adam Marshall, chief executive of the British Chambers of Commerce, said the size of the grants and loans were good news for smaller businesses. | Adam Marshall, chief executive of the British Chambers of Commerce, said the size of the grants and loans were good news for smaller businesses. |
| Paul Johnson, director of the Institute of Fiscal Studies, said the business rates holiday offered "a substantial level of support" but was "probably not well targeted at saving jobs in those industries". | Paul Johnson, director of the Institute of Fiscal Studies, said the business rates holiday offered "a substantial level of support" but was "probably not well targeted at saving jobs in those industries". |
| "It will remain as expensive to pay people and if demand is down then jobs are likely to go," he added. | "It will remain as expensive to pay people and if demand is down then jobs are likely to go," he added. |
| He said it may be necessary to cut employer national insurance contributions, delay increases to the National Living Wage, and increase support for individuals through Universal Credit. | He said it may be necessary to cut employer national insurance contributions, delay increases to the National Living Wage, and increase support for individuals through Universal Credit. |
| The additional measures came after the public were told to avoid all non-essential contact and travel. | The additional measures came after the public were told to avoid all non-essential contact and travel. |
| By next weekend, those with the most serious health conditions must be "largely shielded from social contact for around 12 weeks", under the latest government guidance. | By next weekend, those with the most serious health conditions must be "largely shielded from social contact for around 12 weeks", under the latest government guidance. |
| Testing procedure 'alarming' | Testing procedure 'alarming' |
| Some doctors have called for more testing for the virus among NHS workers to prevent any unnecessary absences. | Some doctors have called for more testing for the virus among NHS workers to prevent any unnecessary absences. |
| Iszy Lord, 25, works at a hospital in Grimsby and lives with five other doctors - they are all self-isolating for 14 days after some of them developed symptoms. | Iszy Lord, 25, works at a hospital in Grimsby and lives with five other doctors - they are all self-isolating for 14 days after some of them developed symptoms. |
| "What's going to happen if anyone gets anything resembling a cold for the next few months, are we going to have to self-isolate for 14 days each time? It's alarming," she told the BBC. | "What's going to happen if anyone gets anything resembling a cold for the next few months, are we going to have to self-isolate for 14 days each time? It's alarming," she told the BBC. |
| "If we are tested and don't have the virus, we could be back at work in two to three days rather than two weeks." | "If we are tested and don't have the virus, we could be back at work in two to three days rather than two weeks." |
| Leading scientists at Porton Down, the Ministry of Defence's highly secure research laboratory in Wiltshire, have been called in to help deal with the spread of coronavirus, the BBC has been told. | Leading scientists at Porton Down, the Ministry of Defence's highly secure research laboratory in Wiltshire, have been called in to help deal with the spread of coronavirus, the BBC has been told. |
| A team of about 10 defence scientists at the laboratory are now working with public health officials to analyse the spread of the virus and to help with testing. | A team of about 10 defence scientists at the laboratory are now working with public health officials to analyse the spread of the virus and to help with testing. |
| The laboratory was also called in to help following the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal in Salisbury. | The laboratory was also called in to help following the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal in Salisbury. |
| The number of people who have died with the virus in the UK reached 71 on Tuesday, after a second death was confirmed in Scotland, as well as a second in Wales and a further 14 in England. | The number of people who have died with the virus in the UK reached 71 on Tuesday, after a second death was confirmed in Scotland, as well as a second in Wales and a further 14 in England. |
| The government's chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said it would be a "good outcome" for the UK if the number of deaths from the virus could be kept below 20,000. | The government's chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said it would be a "good outcome" for the UK if the number of deaths from the virus could be kept below 20,000. |
| Some 1,950 people have tested positive for the virus in the UK, according to the latest Department of Health figures - but the actual number of cases could be as high as 55,000. | Some 1,950 people have tested positive for the virus in the UK, according to the latest Department of Health figures - but the actual number of cases could be as high as 55,000. |
| Among the latest confirmed cases is a newborn baby at James Paget hospital in Norfolk. | Among the latest confirmed cases is a newborn baby at James Paget hospital in Norfolk. |
| In other UK developments: | In other UK developments: |
| Are you in rental accommodation? Have you been affected by coronavirus? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you in rental accommodation? Have you been affected by coronavirus? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |