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Coronavirus UK live news: calls for urgent help for self-employed as tighter lockdown could come in future Coronavirus UK live news: calls for urgent help for self-employed as tighter lockdown could come in future
(31 minutes later)
Rolling coverage of the latest UK developments in the coronavirus crisisRolling coverage of the latest UK developments in the coronavirus crisis
Grimsby fish market, the UK’s second largest wholesale fish auction, is to close temporarily on Thursday after the government tightened restrictions on social distancing.
Martyn Boyers, the chief executive, said it was difficult to maintain distancing in the traditional auction and business was tough after a collapse in the price of fish. He said: “A lot of fish and chip shops have closed and the supermarkets have shut their fresh fish counters.”
He said the market would continue to accept and distribute fish but was working on ways that this could be presold after the final auction on Thursday. “When you have testing circumstances you have to start coming up with ideas,” he said.
The government’s regular coronavirus press conference will take place virtually later today, Downing Street said.
The chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Michael Gove, and the deputy chief medical officer, Dr Jenny Harries, will host the virtual press conference.
A charity offering housing and support services for people living with severe epilepsy, learning and physical difficulties had all its vehicles damaged, written off or stolen last night, leaving its 82 vulnerable residents without a means to attend medical appointments.
The Meath Epilepsy Charity wrote in a post on Facebook:
Plaid Cymru has said all major construction sites in Wales should be ordered to close down to protect the health and well-being of workers.
The party’s shadow minister for the economy, Helen Mary Jones, said many builders had turned up to work at building sites on Tuesday morning.
Jones said it was “unacceptable and unethical” to continue asking workers to work on site, thereby risking their health and the health of others unnecessarily.
A woman whose mother has become Northern Ireland’s fourth victim of Covid-19 has lambasted the “selfishness” of people who continue to gather in groups.
Brenda Doherty told the PA news agency that her family was “devastated and heartbroken” by the death of mother-of-five Ruth Burke, 82, but proud of a loved one who had unbelievable strength. She paid tribute to NHS staff who cared for her mother.
Doherty said:
She is deferring celebration of her mother’s life until it is safe to do so.
She added:
Birmingham New Street station has given over one of its empty shop units to the NHS to use as a temporary phlebotomy clinic, to reduce the number of people having to visit hospitals dealing with the increasing number of Covid-19 patients.Birmingham New Street station has given over one of its empty shop units to the NHS to use as a temporary phlebotomy clinic, to reduce the number of people having to visit hospitals dealing with the increasing number of Covid-19 patients.
The space has been handed over free of charge for six months from Tuesday and will be staffed by medics from University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust. The space has been handed over free of charge for six months from Tuesday and will be staffed by medics from University Hospitals Birmingham NHS foundation trust.
Patients at Queen Elizabeth hospital, Heartlands hospital, Good Hope hospital, Solihull hospital and Birmingham chest clinic will be able to use the service.Patients at Queen Elizabeth hospital, Heartlands hospital, Good Hope hospital, Solihull hospital and Birmingham chest clinic will be able to use the service.
The Bar Council, which represents about 17,000 barristers in England and Wales, has told members not to attend court unless strictly necessary.The Bar Council, which represents about 17,000 barristers in England and Wales, has told members not to attend court unless strictly necessary.
In updated guidance on Tuesday, following Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s address to the nation on Monday night, the Bar Council said his message was “clear that everyone must stay at home to inhibit all contact and stall the spread of Covid-19”. In updated guidance on Tuesday, following Boris Johnson’s address to the nation on Monday night, the Bar Council said his message was “clear that everyone must stay at home to inhibit all contact and stall the spread of Covid-19”.
The guidance said barristers should not attend civil or family court hearings unless it was “genuinely urgent” and could not be done remotely, adding: “Such a hearing will be a rare occurrence.”The guidance said barristers should not attend civil or family court hearings unless it was “genuinely urgent” and could not be done remotely, adding: “Such a hearing will be a rare occurrence.”
Regarding crown courts, legal representatives were told not to attend in person unless involved in an ongoing jury trial, and to attempt using remote access for all other cases.Regarding crown courts, legal representatives were told not to attend in person unless involved in an ongoing jury trial, and to attempt using remote access for all other cases.
This is what Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, told MPs a few minutes ago about why constructing a scheme to protect the self-employed who are losing work because of the coronavirus crisis was so complicated. He said it may require a brand new system. He explained:This is what Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, told MPs a few minutes ago about why constructing a scheme to protect the self-employed who are losing work because of the coronavirus crisis was so complicated. He said it may require a brand new system. He explained:
Labour’s Wes Streeting pushed him for clarification on this. He said people wanted an announcement very soon.Labour’s Wes Streeting pushed him for clarification on this. He said people wanted an announcement very soon.
Sunak said that he “hoped to have something to say very shortly”. But he said that did not mean he would be able to implement a scheme immediately. Implementing the proposals “will take longer”, he said.Sunak said that he “hoped to have something to say very shortly”. But he said that did not mean he would be able to implement a scheme immediately. Implementing the proposals “will take longer”, he said.
Labour’s Kevin Brennan put it to the chancellor that in the context of talking about the self-employed, MPs were asking about people who had lost their entire income overnight. He asked if Sunak could provide some more reassurance that it is his intention to provide help to those people and detail how he is going to do it, as well as asking banks to extend credit on a free basis.Labour’s Kevin Brennan put it to the chancellor that in the context of talking about the self-employed, MPs were asking about people who had lost their entire income overnight. He asked if Sunak could provide some more reassurance that it is his intention to provide help to those people and detail how he is going to do it, as well as asking banks to extend credit on a free basis.
Sunak replied:Sunak replied:
Treasury spokesman for the Lib Dems, Sir Ed Davey, said the government “has to move as fast as possible” to provide support for self-employed workers who are “literally in many cases simply running out of money”.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Stephen Barclay said:
Sir Ed said:
Mr Barclay replied:
Work on Crossrail sites is being temporarily suspended to limit the spread of coronavirus, Transport for London (TfL) has said.Work on Crossrail sites is being temporarily suspended to limit the spread of coronavirus, Transport for London (TfL) has said.
In a statement on Tuesday, it said that all work on TfL and Crossrail sites would be stopped unless they “need to continue for operational safety reasons”. It added:In a statement on Tuesday, it said that all work on TfL and Crossrail sites would be stopped unless they “need to continue for operational safety reasons”. It added:
Japan’s prime minister, Shinzo Abe, will propose a one-year postponement for the Tokyo Olympics during talks with the IOC president, Thomas Bach.Japan’s prime minister, Shinzo Abe, will propose a one-year postponement for the Tokyo Olympics during talks with the IOC president, Thomas Bach.
Abe said a postponement was unavoidable if the 2020 Games could not be held in a complete manner amid the coronavirus pandemic. Abe held telephone talks with Bach after the IOC said it would make a decision on the Tokyo Games over the next four weeks.Abe said a postponement was unavoidable if the 2020 Games could not be held in a complete manner amid the coronavirus pandemic. Abe held telephone talks with Bach after the IOC said it would make a decision on the Tokyo Games over the next four weeks.
Until a few days ago, the IOC, along with the Tokyo organising committee and the Japanese government, had insisted there were no plans to delay the Olympics given they were not due to open for another four months but Japan’s NHK public television reported on Tuesday that Abe wants a one-year delay.Until a few days ago, the IOC, along with the Tokyo organising committee and the Japanese government, had insisted there were no plans to delay the Olympics given they were not due to open for another four months but Japan’s NHK public television reported on Tuesday that Abe wants a one-year delay.
Tokyo 2020’s fate was effectively sealed this week when Canada and Australia said they would not send athletes to Japan in July, while the British and French governments urged the IOC to make a quick decision.Tokyo 2020’s fate was effectively sealed this week when Canada and Australia said they would not send athletes to Japan in July, while the British and French governments urged the IOC to make a quick decision.
Read the full story here:Read the full story here:
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said he would join Pope Francis and “millions around the world” for a united recital of the Lord’s Prayer at noon on Wednesday.The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said he would join Pope Francis and “millions around the world” for a united recital of the Lord’s Prayer at noon on Wednesday.
“Please join us wherever you are. Prayer unites us in testing times,” he wrote on Twitter.“Please join us wherever you are. Prayer unites us in testing times,” he wrote on Twitter.
And here is the Downing Street readout from cabinet. A Downing Street spokesperson said:And here is the Downing Street readout from cabinet. A Downing Street spokesperson said:
Originally the comprehensive spending review was due to conclude in July, with the deadline for submissions set for 20 May.Originally the comprehensive spending review was due to conclude in July, with the deadline for submissions set for 20 May.
Two supermarket vans were destroyed in “sickening” arson attacks in Bristol and police riot vans were called out soon after Boris Johnson announced the new restrictions.
The delivery vans were destroyed in the attack outside an Iceland store in Arnside Road, Southmead, on Monday night.
Richard Walker, managing director of the retailer, said:
In a statement, Iceland said police riot vans were called out and youths threw missiles at the police as they tried to disperse them. Later in the evening, the two home delivery vans were set alight and the fire brigade attended to put out the fire.
Avon and Somerset police were also investigating other incidents that took place in Southmead and Henbury including criminal damage and a car being set on fire.
Chief Inspector Mark Runacres said:
According to Downing Street, only four people attended today’s cabinet meeting in person - and two of those were officials. The only ministers there were Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock, the health secretary.
The two officials present were Sir Mark Sedwill, the cabinet secretary, and Prof Chris Whitty, the government’s chief medical adviser.
All other ministers participated via secure video conferencing.
This is the first time this has happened, No 10 says.
Funerals are one of the very few public gatherings still possible during the UK lockdown but many local authorities are taking steps to limit the number of mourners.
In Greater Manchester, Salford has become the first council to announce it will only be allowing 10 people per funeral at council-run crematoria until further notice.Councillor David Lancaster, lead member for environment and community safety, said:
Dr Giri Shankar, incident director for the outbreak response at Public Health Wales, said 60 more people had tested positive bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 478. There has been one further death, bringing the total to 17.
Dr Shankar said:
In the Commons opposition MPs have been generally praised Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, for the measures announced last week to protect workers from the risk of losing their jobs, but they are insistent that he must do more to help the self-employed.
This is what John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, said.
This is what the Labour MP Wes Streeting said to Sunak.
And this is from the Labour MP Yvette Cooper.
Agencies recruiting British fruit and vegetable pickers to replace seasonal workers from abroad have been overwhelmed by thousands of applications.
Normally, 99.9% of the 80,000 workers come from abroad, mostly from eastern Europe. But travel restrictions and anxieties about the coronavirus pandemic have led many workers to cancel.
Just a few dozen British pickers have been employed in the past but the Hops, Concordia and Fruitful Jobs agencies have had 8,000 applications in the last week. “The whole industry needs even more though so we will keep the form open,” said a Hops spokeswoman.
Minette Batters, president of the National Farmers Union, said:
“There are jobs available,” she told the BBC’s Today programme.
Hops operations director Sarah Boparan said:
Workers are paid at least the minimum wage and Hops said all the farms they work with are following the correct procedures around safe working conditions during the coronavirus outbreak.
Recruitment of seasonal workers had already been impacted by Brexit, with farmers forced to leave tonnes of crops to rot last year as it struggled to find staff.
The Government Equalities Office (GEO) and the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) have taken the decision to suspend enforcement of the gender pay gap reporting deadlines for this year.
In a joint statement, the minister for women & equalities, Liz Truss, and the EHRC chair, David Isaac, said:
In the Commons Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, also told MPs that he was “determined” to find a means of helping self-employed people who were losing work because of the coronavirus crisis. But he said it was “incredibly complicated” finding a way of designing a scheme that would help those in need, while not giving money to people who did not need it.
He says the Treasury had prioritised helping the 90% of workers who are employed.
Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, is taking questions in the Commons. In response to a question from Labour’s John McDonnell, Sunak has just said that people on zero-hours contracts are eligible for help under the job retention scheme announced by Sunak on Friday last week.
Workers on zero-hours contracts are eligible for help under the job retention scheme, Sunak says.
But Sunak also confirmed that people who were having their hours reduced would not get help. He said that was not possible under the “furlough” scheme he announced last week.
Here is a lovely video of NHS workers in Belfast being applauded and handed bouquets of flowers by Tesco staff as they arrived to do their shopping.