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| UK coronavirus live: Starmer says Johnson's strategy 'unravelling' due to lack of clarity | UK coronavirus live: Starmer says Johnson's strategy 'unravelling' due to lack of clarity |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| PM to publish 50-page ‘blueprint’ and address Commons later amid criticism over lack of clarity in plans | PM to publish 50-page ‘blueprint’ and address Commons later amid criticism over lack of clarity in plans |
| The GMB union has described the ONS figures showing raised rates of deaths involving Covid-19 among men in certain occupations as “horrifying”. | |
| John Phillips, acting GMB general secretary, said: | |
| Jury trials, suspended in March due to the coronavirus crisis, will resume under new safety conditions in a limited number of crown courts in England and Wales from next week, the Lord Chief Justice has announced. | |
| Lord Burnett of Maldon said the first courts in which juries can be sworn in from May 18th will include the Central Criminal Court at the Old Bailey in London and Cardiff Crown Court. | |
| Special arrangements to maintain the safety of all participants and the jury have been agreed with the Ministry of Justice in line with Public Health England and Public Health Wales guidelines. | |
| Part-heard trials, suspended due to the pandemic, will begin cases before then “where this can be done safely”, according to the announcement. | |
| The Lord Chief Justice said: “It is important that the administration of justice continues to function whenever it is possible in an environment which is consistent with the safety of all those involved.” | |
| Small numbers of trials are expected to take place initially. Other courts around the country are being assessed for use. | |
| Trials will involve juries being spread out to allow social distancing and the use of a second courtroom linked by closed circuit TV, “to enable reporters and others to watch the proceedings”. The number of jurors has not been reduced and will remain at twelve. | |
| Welcoming the move, the Justice Secretary, Robert Buckland, said: “I am pleased that the courts are now in a position, with approval from Public Health England and Public Health Wales, to take some first steps towards the resumption of jury trials. | |
| “A limited number of trials will take place, conducted safely and observing social distancing rules, at courts including the Old Bailey in London and at Cardiff Crown Court. These will also help us to understand how it might be possible to conduct trials more widely as the situation with coronavirus develops. | |
| “Any person who plays a part in a criminal trial – including victims, witnesses, jurors, and legal professionals – is making a huge contribution to society that is rightly recognised as an essential reason to leave their home. They have our gratitude and they deserve our protection – and measures are being put in place to support everyone who comes to court, in whatever capacity, to do so without putting themselves at unnecessary risk.” | |
| Police across the UK have had a nightmare bank holiday weekend trying to police the lockdown, particularly in tourism hotspots — and are now frantically trying to work out what the relaxation of restrictions means for enforcement. | |
| In Cumbria, more than 100 fines were dished out from Friday to Sunday, assistant chief constable Andrew Slattery told the Guardian. “That’s more than we have issued in the entire rest of the lockdown period,” he said. | |
| “That comes down to a number of factors. One, I’m sad to say, is the newspaper headlines on Thursday last week, which very much gave the impression that lockdown was over and set the tone for the weekend. Then we had the hot weather and VE day on Friday, a lot of street parties and people drinking in the street. Our number of incidents doubled on Friday. Then into the weekend we had a large number of people who decided lockdown no longer applied and that they were free to drive the length and breadth of the country and had spurious reasons for doing so.” | |
| He said his force was trying to work out what Boris Johnson’s “soundbite” meant for policing, when the prime minister told the nation on Sunday: “You can sit in the sun in your local park, you can drive to other destinations, you can even play sports but only with members of your own household.” | |
| Slattery said it would be hard to enforce social distancing in the most popular destinations in the Lake District: “If people come en masse to the Lake District next weekend it will make social distancing very difficult if they congregate in the same carparks, go on the same busy footpaths in the honeypot areas,” he said.Latest figures show that Barrow in Furness in west Cumbria has by far the highest infection rate in England with 804 cases per 100,000 people. Lancaster, on the other side of Morecambe Bay in Lancashire, is second with 513 and South Lakeland third with 482. | |
| Almost 30m people watched Boris Johnson’s TV address last night, according to Darren McCaffrey from Euronews. | |
| Turning back to the ONS report showing that lowest paid workers are most at risk of dying from coronavirus (see 9.54am), here are two charts from document showing the death rates from men and women by profession. | |
| Amongst men, who are more at risk of dying from coronavirus than women anyway, low-skilled workers in “elementary occupations”, like construction, cleaning and security, are almost four times as likely to die from coronavirus as professionals. | |
| Amongst women, those in the caring professions are more at risk, but the differences between employee groups is less stark. Carers face nearly twice the risk of dying from coronavirus as the “safest” workforce group, female managers. | |
| Jury trials in England and Wales are to resume from next week, the lord chief justice, Lord Burnett, has announced, according to PA. | Jury trials in England and Wales are to resume from next week, the lord chief justice, Lord Burnett, has announced, according to PA. |
| Fears of repeat scenes of overcrowded tube carriages and platforms failed to materialise in London today despite Boris Johnson’s messages that those who cannot work from home such as construction workers and manufacturers should be “actively encouraged” to return to work. | Fears of repeat scenes of overcrowded tube carriages and platforms failed to materialise in London today despite Boris Johnson’s messages that those who cannot work from home such as construction workers and manufacturers should be “actively encouraged” to return to work. |
| A snapshot of tube stations across London between 7.30am and 9.30am revealed passenger levels were either slightly up on last week or the same. | A snapshot of tube stations across London between 7.30am and 9.30am revealed passenger levels were either slightly up on last week or the same. |
| Christian Vergara, driver of the 388 bus from Stratford City to London Bridge, said: | Christian Vergara, driver of the 388 bus from Stratford City to London Bridge, said: |
| Key worker Mohammed Thaniyan, who works in food supplies, was waiting for a central line with about 50 others at Stratford, one of the busiest commuter hubs in the capital. He said he noticed it was “busier than last week” but that every week was a little busier on the bus and tube. | Key worker Mohammed Thaniyan, who works in food supplies, was waiting for a central line with about 50 others at Stratford, one of the busiest commuter hubs in the capital. He said he noticed it was “busier than last week” but that every week was a little busier on the bus and tube. |
| Another man, who asked not to be named, was returning to work for the first time. Why? “I need the money. I was furloughed,” he said. He works in a company providing documentation for the NHS and said he had not been told to go back to work. | Another man, who asked not to be named, was returning to work for the first time. Why? “I need the money. I was furloughed,” he said. He works in a company providing documentation for the NHS and said he had not been told to go back to work. |
| In his speech last night Boris Johnson said the lockdown rules for England were being changed so that people could play sports, “but only with members of your own household”. | In his speech last night Boris Johnson said the lockdown rules for England were being changed so that people could play sports, “but only with members of your own household”. |
| But at the same time No 10 briefed journalists separately that people would be allowed to meet one other person from outside their household outdoors, provided they kept two metres apart. | But at the same time No 10 briefed journalists separately that people would be allowed to meet one other person from outside their household outdoors, provided they kept two metres apart. |
| As already mentioned, Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, confirmed this when he gave interviews this morning. He told BBC Breakfast: | As already mentioned, Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, confirmed this when he gave interviews this morning. He told BBC Breakfast: |
| Asked if people could meet both their parents outside like this, at one point he agreed with a suggestion that you could meet one parent in the morning, and another in the afternoon. But in another interview he said you could meet both at the same time, provided you kept two metres apart. (See 8.59am.) | Asked if people could meet both their parents outside like this, at one point he agreed with a suggestion that you could meet one parent in the morning, and another in the afternoon. But in another interview he said you could meet both at the same time, provided you kept two metres apart. (See 8.59am.) |
| UPDATE: As BuzzFeed’s Alex Wickham and the BBC’s Nick Eardley report, Raab’s team subsequently retracted what he said about people being allowed to meet two other people outside at the same time. It is just one person (including just one parent) you’re allowed to meet. | UPDATE: As BuzzFeed’s Alex Wickham and the BBC’s Nick Eardley report, Raab’s team subsequently retracted what he said about people being allowed to meet two other people outside at the same time. It is just one person (including just one parent) you’re allowed to meet. |
| Ministers in Northern Ireland aim to publish their plan for exiting lockdown tomorrow, Arlene Foster, the first minister, said this morning. And she said restrictions on outdoor activities would be eased before indoor ones. | Ministers in Northern Ireland aim to publish their plan for exiting lockdown tomorrow, Arlene Foster, the first minister, said this morning. And she said restrictions on outdoor activities would be eased before indoor ones. |
| She told the BBC’s Good Morning Ulster programme the position around when to reopen schools has not yet been decided but suggested it could be in late August or early September. She said: | She told the BBC’s Good Morning Ulster programme the position around when to reopen schools has not yet been decided but suggested it could be in late August or early September. She said: |
| In a phone-in on LBC this morning Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, said that the new strategy announced by Boris Johnson last night seemed to be “unravelling” this morning. Starmer explained: | In a phone-in on LBC this morning Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, said that the new strategy announced by Boris Johnson last night seemed to be “unravelling” this morning. Starmer explained: |
| Some of the lowest paid workers have the highest Covid-19 death rate according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics. | Some of the lowest paid workers have the highest Covid-19 death rate according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics. |
| Security guards, care workers, taxi drivers, bus drivers, chefs and retail workers are all at a greater risk of dying from Covid-19, according to new analysis. | Security guards, care workers, taxi drivers, bus drivers, chefs and retail workers are all at a greater risk of dying from Covid-19, according to new analysis. |
| Among people of working age men are at a greater risk of dying from the virus than women, with 9.9 deaths compared to 4.2 fatalities per 100,000 people. However the figures show men working in the lowest skilled jobs face the greatest risk of dying from the virus. | Among people of working age men are at a greater risk of dying from the virus than women, with 9.9 deaths compared to 4.2 fatalities per 100,000 people. However the figures show men working in the lowest skilled jobs face the greatest risk of dying from the virus. |
| Men working as security guards had one of the highest rates, with 45.7 deaths per 100,000, followed by taxi drivers and chauffeurs (36.4), bus and coach drivers (26.4), chefs (35.9), and sales and retail assistants (19.8). | Men working as security guards had one of the highest rates, with 45.7 deaths per 100,000, followed by taxi drivers and chauffeurs (36.4), bus and coach drivers (26.4), chefs (35.9), and sales and retail assistants (19.8). |
| Care workers and home carers had higher death rates, with 23.4 deaths per 100,000 men and 9.6 deaths per 100,000 women. However healthcare workers, including doctors and nurses, were not found to have a higher death rate when compared to the general population. | Care workers and home carers had higher death rates, with 23.4 deaths per 100,000 men and 9.6 deaths per 100,000 women. However healthcare workers, including doctors and nurses, were not found to have a higher death rate when compared to the general population. |
| The figures come as the government has directed workers in some sectors to return to work if possible. | The figures come as the government has directed workers in some sectors to return to work if possible. |
| The government will not be holding a press conference this afternoon, journalists are being briefed. Instead Boris Johnson will just take questions from members of the public. The daily press conference now seems to have become a daily Q&A. | The government will not be holding a press conference this afternoon, journalists are being briefed. Instead Boris Johnson will just take questions from members of the public. The daily press conference now seems to have become a daily Q&A. |
| We don’t have a timing for this yet. It might be at 5pm, when the press conferences usually take place, or possibly later, because Johnson is making a statement in the Commons at 3.30pm on his coronavirus strategy. This will coincide with the publication of the government document setting out details of the plan Johnson announced in outline last night. | We don’t have a timing for this yet. It might be at 5pm, when the press conferences usually take place, or possibly later, because Johnson is making a statement in the Commons at 3.30pm on his coronavirus strategy. This will coincide with the publication of the government document setting out details of the plan Johnson announced in outline last night. |
| Of course there is nothing wrong with politicians doing Q&As with members of the public. Sometimes they pose harder or more interesting questions than journalists. But normally they don’t, and if you believe that it’s beneficial having a media that holds politicians to account, you might be concerned about Johnson avoiding the press on the day of such a major government announcement. | Of course there is nothing wrong with politicians doing Q&As with members of the public. Sometimes they pose harder or more interesting questions than journalists. But normally they don’t, and if you believe that it’s beneficial having a media that holds politicians to account, you might be concerned about Johnson avoiding the press on the day of such a major government announcement. |
| Jack Blanchard from Politico Europe has a good summary of Johnson’s aversion to scrutiny in his London Playbook briefing. Blanchard writes: | Jack Blanchard from Politico Europe has a good summary of Johnson’s aversion to scrutiny in his London Playbook briefing. Blanchard writes: |
| Boris Johnson has been taking what has become his daily morning walk around St James’s Park. But he’s replaced the Costa cup he was carrying last week with a china mug. | Boris Johnson has been taking what has become his daily morning walk around St James’s Park. But he’s replaced the Costa cup he was carrying last week with a china mug. |
| Good morning. I’m Andrew Sparrow, joining the blog for the day. | Good morning. I’m Andrew Sparrow, joining the blog for the day. |
| The Times’ Matt Chorley has some snap YouGov polling on the PM’s announcement last night, and his new “Stay alert” messaging. | The Times’ Matt Chorley has some snap YouGov polling on the PM’s announcement last night, and his new “Stay alert” messaging. |
| Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, seems exasperated with the vague instructions from the government. | Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, seems exasperated with the vague instructions from the government. |
| He has repeatedly asked to be included in the government’s emergency Cobra planning meetings, given that the infection rate in the north-west is currently higher than London and everywhere else in England apart from the north-east. | He has repeatedly asked to be included in the government’s emergency Cobra planning meetings, given that the infection rate in the north-west is currently higher than London and everywhere else in England apart from the north-east. |
| Appearing on Sky News, Burnham said the changes announced by Boris Johnson on Sunday night were “quite substantial” and posed challenges particularly for the police. | Appearing on Sky News, Burnham said the changes announced by Boris Johnson on Sunday night were “quite substantial” and posed challenges particularly for the police. |
| He said the chief constable of Greater Manchester police, Ian Hopkins, had already rung him up asking how his officers should enforce the new rules. | He said the chief constable of Greater Manchester police, Ian Hopkins, had already rung him up asking how his officers should enforce the new rules. |
| Burnham also said there was “no clarity” on how businesses were supposed to open up again and keep their staff safe. “People are being encouraged to go back to work this morning without the clarity about what safe working means,” he said. | Burnham also said there was “no clarity” on how businesses were supposed to open up again and keep their staff safe. “People are being encouraged to go back to work this morning without the clarity about what safe working means,” he said. |
| The north-west of England currently has the second highest rate of infection in England, with 22,342 confirmed cases (306.4 per 100,000 people — compared with 290 per 100,000 in London). The north-east has the worst infection rate in England, with 336.7 cases per 100,000 people. | The north-west of England currently has the second highest rate of infection in England, with 22,342 confirmed cases (306.4 per 100,000 people — compared with 290 per 100,000 in London). The north-east has the worst infection rate in England, with 336.7 cases per 100,000 people. |