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| UK coronavirus live: No 10 says it won't 'gamble away' lockdown success by relaxing it too soon | UK coronavirus live: No 10 says it won't 'gamble away' lockdown success by relaxing it too soon |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Minister admits government may fail to hit testing target; death toll in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland rises; more than 9,000 fines issued to people breaking lockdown rules, say police | |
| The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases among prison staff has outripped prisoners for the first time since the lockdown restrictions were imposed, the latest daily update from the Ministry of Justice shows.As at 5pm on Wednesday, 341 prisoners had tested positive for the coronavirus across 72 prisons, a 1% rise in 24 hours, while 364 prison staff across 64 prisons were confirmed to have the virus, an 8% rise in the same period. Prison staff have had access to testing, while prisoner testing has been “limited and variable”, according to a recent Public Health England report.There are around 81,100 prisoners in England and Wales across 117 prisons, and around 33,000 staff work in the public sector prisons.The figures published by the MoJ are not live cases but include individuals who have recovered. | |
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| As lockdown transforms the UK into a nation of DIY barbers and hairstylists, Community Integrated Care - one of Britain’s biggest social care charities - is asking celebrities and the public to “show they care” with their hair. | |
| The #CareWithHair challenge encourages people to share their DIY hair styling experiences on social media and donate the money they would have spent on professional hair treatments. All money raised will help support the wellbeing of social care workers and the people they support through the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic. | |
| Famous faces committed to taking part include several leading Super League rugby league stars, such as Peter Mata’utia (Castleford Tigers), Willie Isa (Wigan Warriors), and Danny Walker (Warrington Wolves), England Rugby and Saracens hero, Owen Farrell, as well as England lioness and Manchester City footballer, Georgia Stanway - shown clipping the hair of boyfriend and rugby player Oliver Ashall - and Sky Sports host Terry O’Connor. | |
| Parliamentarians in Wales have been told there is “no easy way out” of the coronavirus crisis. Giving evidence to the Welsh assembly’s health committee, Dr Rob Orford, Wales’ chief scientific adviser for health, said the government did not have “a lot of headroom” because infection levels would increase if lockdown restrictions were significantly lifted. He said: | |
| More than 9,000 fines have been handed to people in England and Wales for allegedly flouting coronavirus lockdown laws, according to new figures. As PA Media reports, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) said 8,877 fixed penalty notices (FPNs) had been recorded by forces in England between March 27 and April 27, while 299 were issued in Wales over the same period. Some 397 were for repeat offenders, with one person fined six times. | More than 9,000 fines have been handed to people in England and Wales for allegedly flouting coronavirus lockdown laws, according to new figures. As PA Media reports, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) said 8,877 fixed penalty notices (FPNs) had been recorded by forces in England between March 27 and April 27, while 299 were issued in Wales over the same period. Some 397 were for repeat offenders, with one person fined six times. |
| Police have been given powers to hand out a £60 penalty, that is reduced to £30 if paid within two weeks, for breaches of the government’s restriction of movement rules. | Police have been given powers to hand out a £60 penalty, that is reduced to £30 if paid within two weeks, for breaches of the government’s restriction of movement rules. |
| Boris Johnson has released the text of a letter he has written to Capt Tom Moore, the war veteran and NHS fundraiser who is celebrating his 100th birthday today. | Boris Johnson has released the text of a letter he has written to Capt Tom Moore, the war veteran and NHS fundraiser who is celebrating his 100th birthday today. |
| Robin Swann, the health minister in the Northern Ireland executive, has said there have been another nine deaths in Northern Ireland of patients who tested positive for coronavirus, bringing the total number of deaths in the region recorded so far by his department to 347. | Robin Swann, the health minister in the Northern Ireland executive, has said there have been another nine deaths in Northern Ireland of patients who tested positive for coronavirus, bringing the total number of deaths in the region recorded so far by his department to 347. |
| NHS England has announced 391 new deaths of people who tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 20,131. The full details are here. NHS England says: | NHS England has announced 391 new deaths of people who tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 20,131. The full details are here. NHS England says: |
| Of the 391 new deaths announced today, 78 occurred on 29 April, 140 occurred on 28 April and 42 occurred on 27 April. | Of the 391 new deaths announced today, 78 occurred on 29 April, 140 occurred on 28 April and 42 occurred on 27 April. |
| Public Health Wales has reported a further 22 deaths from coronavirus, taking the total in Wales to 908. The full details are here. | Public Health Wales has reported a further 22 deaths from coronavirus, taking the total in Wales to 908. The full details are here. |
| Boris Johnson has been urged to publish the UK’s exit strategy from the coronavirus lockdown to give clarity to businesses and communities across the country. The Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, said that, while there was an understanding of the need for lockdown, transparency was needed for what comes next. In an interview with ITV News, Starmer also said he believed an inquiry into the UK’s response to the pandemic was “inevitable”. “I think the government were slow into lockdown, slow on testing, slow on protective equipment, and may now be slow on our exit strategy,” he said. | Boris Johnson has been urged to publish the UK’s exit strategy from the coronavirus lockdown to give clarity to businesses and communities across the country. The Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, said that, while there was an understanding of the need for lockdown, transparency was needed for what comes next. In an interview with ITV News, Starmer also said he believed an inquiry into the UK’s response to the pandemic was “inevitable”. “I think the government were slow into lockdown, slow on testing, slow on protective equipment, and may now be slow on our exit strategy,” he said. |
| As we work on the live feed we really value your input. Please do share any insight, information or news tips with us via any of the channels below. Thanks to all those who have messaged so far. I will try to respond to you in due course. | As we work on the live feed we really value your input. Please do share any insight, information or news tips with us via any of the channels below. Thanks to all those who have messaged so far. I will try to respond to you in due course. |
| Instagram: sarah_marsh_journalistEmail: sarah.marsh@theguardian.com | Instagram: sarah_marsh_journalistEmail: sarah.marsh@theguardian.com |
| The Downing Street lobby briefing has just finished. Here are the main points. | The Downing Street lobby briefing has just finished. Here are the main points. |
| The prime minister’s spokesman again played down the prospect of any significant change to the lockdown next week, saying it would be wrong to “gamble away” what has already been achieved. No 10 has been transmitting this message for some days, but this seemed to be an even stronger hint that people should not expect too much from the review of the lockdown due by Thursday next week. The spokesman said: | The prime minister’s spokesman again played down the prospect of any significant change to the lockdown next week, saying it would be wrong to “gamble away” what has already been achieved. No 10 has been transmitting this message for some days, but this seemed to be an even stronger hint that people should not expect too much from the review of the lockdown due by Thursday next week. The spokesman said: |
| When asked if the lockdown could continue until June, the spokesman said people would have to wait for the government decision. But he also reminded reporters of what Prof Chris Whitty, the government’s chief medical adviser, has said about how the virus will be around for a significant period of time. The spokesman went on: | When asked if the lockdown could continue until June, the spokesman said people would have to wait for the government decision. But he also reminded reporters of what Prof Chris Whitty, the government’s chief medical adviser, has said about how the virus will be around for a significant period of time. The spokesman went on: |
| The spokesman said that Sage, the scientific advisory group for emergencies, is still examining the impact that different relaxation measures might have on R, the reproduction number (the infection rate of the virus), and that it did not present any findings to cabinet today. This work will be crucial because the government will only implement measures relaxing the lockdown that, taken together, do not push R above 1. | The spokesman said that Sage, the scientific advisory group for emergencies, is still examining the impact that different relaxation measures might have on R, the reproduction number (the infection rate of the virus), and that it did not present any findings to cabinet today. This work will be crucial because the government will only implement measures relaxing the lockdown that, taken together, do not push R above 1. |
| The spokesman said Boris Johnson chaired a political meeting of cabinet before the normal cabinet today. At normal cabinet ministers received updates from Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance, the government’s chief scientific adviser. | The spokesman said Boris Johnson chaired a political meeting of cabinet before the normal cabinet today. At normal cabinet ministers received updates from Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance, the government’s chief scientific adviser. |
| The spokesman came close to ruling out the lockdown measures being eased region by region, instead of on a UK-wide basis. Yesterday Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office minister, said that although he favoured maintaining a UK-wide approach, there might be a case for letting island communities do their own thing. But the spokesman played down the prospect of this happening. He said: | The spokesman came close to ruling out the lockdown measures being eased region by region, instead of on a UK-wide basis. Yesterday Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office minister, said that although he favoured maintaining a UK-wide approach, there might be a case for letting island communities do their own thing. But the spokesman played down the prospect of this happening. He said: |
| The spokesman indicated that this would be the approach the government would follow going ahead. He also said all four nations of the UK were keen to carry on moving ahead as one. | The spokesman indicated that this would be the approach the government would follow going ahead. He also said all four nations of the UK were keen to carry on moving ahead as one. |
| The spokesman refused to concede that the government was not likely to meet its target of getting coronavirus testing up to 100,000 per day by today. He pointed to the progress made in recent weeks towards hitting this target as evidence that testing had intensified. | The spokesman refused to concede that the government was not likely to meet its target of getting coronavirus testing up to 100,000 per day by today. He pointed to the progress made in recent weeks towards hitting this target as evidence that testing had intensified. |
| The spokesman was unable to cite evidence defending a claim that “public confidence in the media has collapsed during this emergency”. At the end of last week another Downing Street spokesman made that claiming in a response to the Guardian’s story about Dominic Cummings taking part in Sage meetings that included the line: “Public confidence in the media has collapsed during this emergency partly because of ludicrous stories such as this.” Asked to defend the statement, the spokesman, who is a civil servant, said this was a matter for his party political press colleagues (who also speak on the PM’s behalf). As this YouGov chart illustrates, polling suggests that the crisis has not led to a collapse in trust in the media. | The spokesman was unable to cite evidence defending a claim that “public confidence in the media has collapsed during this emergency”. At the end of last week another Downing Street spokesman made that claiming in a response to the Guardian’s story about Dominic Cummings taking part in Sage meetings that included the line: “Public confidence in the media has collapsed during this emergency partly because of ludicrous stories such as this.” Asked to defend the statement, the spokesman, who is a civil servant, said this was a matter for his party political press colleagues (who also speak on the PM’s behalf). As this YouGov chart illustrates, polling suggests that the crisis has not led to a collapse in trust in the media. |
| The spokesman said Johnson would be taking part in the Clap for Carers event tonight. | The spokesman said Johnson would be taking part in the Clap for Carers event tonight. |
| The spokesman refused to give any more information about the PM’s new baby son. He would not even say whether or not Carrie Symonds and the baby remained in hospital. | The spokesman refused to give any more information about the PM’s new baby son. He would not even say whether or not Carrie Symonds and the baby remained in hospital. |
| An attempt to overturn the judiciary’s temporary freeze preventing evictions and home repossessions during the pandemic is being made in the court of appeal. | An attempt to overturn the judiciary’s temporary freeze preventing evictions and home repossessions during the pandemic is being made in the court of appeal. |
| Lawyers for an insolvency firm have lodged an emergency application over the alleged failure to keep up payments on mortgages on two houses in Hertfordshire that were already the subject of a legal dispute. | Lawyers for an insolvency firm have lodged an emergency application over the alleged failure to keep up payments on mortgages on two houses in Hertfordshire that were already the subject of a legal dispute. |
| The judicial practice direction ensuring that no one would lose their homes during the outbreak or be the subject of legal action that could result in being made homeless was authorised by the master of the rolls, Sir Terence Etherton, who is head of the civil judiciary in England and Wales. | The judicial practice direction ensuring that no one would lose their homes during the outbreak or be the subject of legal action that could result in being made homeless was authorised by the master of the rolls, Sir Terence Etherton, who is head of the civil judiciary in England and Wales. |
| Philip Rainey QC, acting for Mehmet Arkin, an insolvency practitioner, told the court of appeal in a hearing conducted over remote video links on Thursday, that the rules were “ultra vires” - having not been made in accordance with the law. | Philip Rainey QC, acting for Mehmet Arkin, an insolvency practitioner, told the court of appeal in a hearing conducted over remote video links on Thursday, that the rules were “ultra vires” - having not been made in accordance with the law. |
| “It’s particularly important during an emergency that restrictive measures have a proper basis in law,” Rainey told the court. “There are very good reasons why parliament would wish to impose restrictions on what would normally be acceptable in a democracy but there must be a proper legal basis.” | “It’s particularly important during an emergency that restrictive measures have a proper basis in law,” Rainey told the court. “There are very good reasons why parliament would wish to impose restrictions on what would normally be acceptable in a democracy but there must be a proper legal basis.” |
| The practice direction used by the judiciary, number 51.2, only refers to matters that the courts are “piloting” as experiments within the court system, Rainey said. It could not legally be the basis for the suspension of repossession actions which had been imposed. | The practice direction used by the judiciary, number 51.2, only refers to matters that the courts are “piloting” as experiments within the court system, Rainey said. It could not legally be the basis for the suspension of repossession actions which had been imposed. |
| But Sir Geoffrey Vos, chancellor of the high court, suggested that the practice direction had been imposed in an emergency and that it was effectively “trialling” changes to the rules. “This is to see what measures can deal with [cases] in the context of a clogging up of justice”. | But Sir Geoffrey Vos, chancellor of the high court, suggested that the practice direction had been imposed in an emergency and that it was effectively “trialling” changes to the rules. “This is to see what measures can deal with [cases] in the context of a clogging up of justice”. |
| Lady Justice Simler said the emergency rules did not prevent access to justice but merely imposed a 90-day delay on the process of house repossessions. | Lady Justice Simler said the emergency rules did not prevent access to justice but merely imposed a 90-day delay on the process of house repossessions. |
| Lawyers for the justice secretary, Robert Buckland QC, have intervened in the case because of its significance. | Lawyers for the justice secretary, Robert Buckland QC, have intervened in the case because of its significance. |
| The Housing Lawyers Practitioners Committee has also been permitted to intervene. In a statement issued before the hearing, the organisation’s co-chairs, Marina Sergides and Simon Mullings, said: “The issues are crucial to our members and their clients.” | The Housing Lawyers Practitioners Committee has also been permitted to intervene. In a statement issued before the hearing, the organisation’s co-chairs, Marina Sergides and Simon Mullings, said: “The issues are crucial to our members and their clients.” |
| In their legal submissions to the court, lawyers for the HLPA said: “If the appellants succeed in persuading the court that [the practice direction] is ultra vires then [this freeze] will cease to apply to all possession claims.” | In their legal submissions to the court, lawyers for the HLPA said: “If the appellants succeed in persuading the court that [the practice direction] is ultra vires then [this freeze] will cease to apply to all possession claims.” |
| That would expose many vulnerable people to losing their homes during the lockdown, they argued. “A significant proportion of members’ clients are also vulnerable as a result of physical and/or mental health problems, as a result of which they find it difficult properly to understand information and provide their solicitors with documents and instructions even face-to-face.” | That would expose many vulnerable people to losing their homes during the lockdown, they argued. “A significant proportion of members’ clients are also vulnerable as a result of physical and/or mental health problems, as a result of which they find it difficult properly to understand information and provide their solicitors with documents and instructions even face-to-face.” |
| The submission added: “This is a time when litigants, particularly those of limited means, are liable to find it particularly difficult to engage with the courts and with their lawyers if they have them. Practitioners and the courts are under exceptional pressure and the resources available to them are depleted. The provisions take effect for a temporary period while court procedures in response to Covid-19 are evaluated and they are subject to review.” | The submission added: “This is a time when litigants, particularly those of limited means, are liable to find it particularly difficult to engage with the courts and with their lawyers if they have them. Practitioners and the courts are under exceptional pressure and the resources available to them are depleted. The provisions take effect for a temporary period while court procedures in response to Covid-19 are evaluated and they are subject to review.” |
| The hearing continues. | The hearing continues. |
| Consumers still panic-buying toilet roll have another option from today. A brand new recycled toilet paper brand has been launched, with all profits helping to fund wellbeing packs along with travel and accommodation costs for NHS frontline workers. | Consumers still panic-buying toilet roll have another option from today. A brand new recycled toilet paper brand has been launched, with all profits helping to fund wellbeing packs along with travel and accommodation costs for NHS frontline workers. |
| So-called Serious Tissues was set up by the brains behind Change Please, a Big Issue Invest-backed social enterprise which helps get homeless people off the street by training them as coffee baristas. The new product is made from paper and cardboard recycled from offices and homes. | So-called Serious Tissues was set up by the brains behind Change Please, a Big Issue Invest-backed social enterprise which helps get homeless people off the street by training them as coffee baristas. The new product is made from paper and cardboard recycled from offices and homes. |
| Originally designed to help tackle the climate change crisis and save some of the 10m trees cut down every year to make toilet paper, the new product was meant to go on sale in the summer. But the launch was brought forward in response to the Covid-19 outbreak and to direct all profits to NHS Charities Together. | Originally designed to help tackle the climate change crisis and save some of the 10m trees cut down every year to make toilet paper, the new product was meant to go on sale in the summer. But the launch was brought forward in response to the Covid-19 outbreak and to direct all profits to NHS Charities Together. |