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| UK coronavirus live: London transport services will be cut without bailout today, warns Sadiq Khan | UK coronavirus live: London transport services will be cut without bailout today, warns Sadiq Khan |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| London transport services will be cut without bailout today, says mayor; death toll in Scotland rises by 34; health minister Edward Argar admits more testing capacity needed for care homes | London transport services will be cut without bailout today, says mayor; death toll in Scotland rises by 34; health minister Edward Argar admits more testing capacity needed for care homes |
| The Department of Health said a further 428 people had died from Covid 19 in UK hospitals, care homes and in the wider community as of 5pm on Wednesday, bringing the total to 33,614. | |
| In the 24-hour period up to 9am on Thursday, 126,064 tests were carried out or dispatched. Overall a total of 1,593,902 people have been tested of whom 233,151 tested positive. | |
| This is just the sort of thing the Welsh government has been worried about since Boris Johnson gave the go-ahead for people to drive as far as they like for exercise in England ... | |
| Police have stopped a motorist in Snowdonia, 180 miles from his home in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire. | |
| Under the lockdown rules in Wales, people must only exercise close to home. | |
| North Wales police said the driver was advised to return home. He said he was unaware of the different legislation and apologised. | |
| Public Health Wales said a further 10 people had tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the nation to 1,164. Ten more people have died after testing positive for the virus. | |
| The Downing Street lobby briefing is over. Boris Johnson chaired cabinet this morning, and ministers were given an update on coronavirus, from Prof Chris Whitty, the government’s chief medical adviser and Sir Patrick Vallance, its chief scientific adviser, and an update on Brexit from David Frost, the PM’s chief Europe adviser. Surprisingly, you might think, we got a read-out on the Brexit discussion, but not on the coronavirus discussion. | The Downing Street lobby briefing is over. Boris Johnson chaired cabinet this morning, and ministers were given an update on coronavirus, from Prof Chris Whitty, the government’s chief medical adviser and Sir Patrick Vallance, its chief scientific adviser, and an update on Brexit from David Frost, the PM’s chief Europe adviser. Surprisingly, you might think, we got a read-out on the Brexit discussion, but not on the coronavirus discussion. |
| Here are the main points. | Here are the main points. |
| Downing Street restated its claim that the EU is making unreasonable demands of the UK in the post-Brexit trade talks. David Frost, the PM’s Europe adviser, gave the cabinet an update on the talks, the spokesman said. The spokesman went on: | Downing Street restated its claim that the EU is making unreasonable demands of the UK in the post-Brexit trade talks. David Frost, the PM’s Europe adviser, gave the cabinet an update on the talks, the spokesman said. The spokesman went on: |
| Downing Street conceded that there will be checks on goods going from Britain to Northern Ireland from next year. This is a requirement under the EU withdrawal agreement, but until recently the government had been reluctant to confirm publicly that the checks will take place. But yesterday Northern Ireland assembly members were told that the UK government had agreed to the need for “physical posts at ports of entry” in Northern Ireland under the deal, and this afternoon the spokesman confirmed that this was the case. The spokesman said: | Downing Street conceded that there will be checks on goods going from Britain to Northern Ireland from next year. This is a requirement under the EU withdrawal agreement, but until recently the government had been reluctant to confirm publicly that the checks will take place. But yesterday Northern Ireland assembly members were told that the UK government had agreed to the need for “physical posts at ports of entry” in Northern Ireland under the deal, and this afternoon the spokesman confirmed that this was the case. The spokesman said: |
| (The final line of that is a masterpiece of spin: “apart from the changes, there will be no changes.”) The spokesman said that Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office minister, had already made this clear to a committee last week. And Gove said it was possible to have “light-touch checks which will ensure all requirements can be met”, the spokesman said. | |
| When it was put to the spokesman that this seemed to contradict what Johnson told business leaders in Northern Ireland during the general election, when he said anyone asked to fill in new forms under the terms of his Brexit deal should just throw them in the bin, the spokesman said the government was committed to ensuring the new procedures were “streamlined and efficient”. (Johnson’s comment came in response to a question about exports from Northern Ireland to Britain, but even trade going in that direction will be subject to new requirements under the Brexit deal.) | When it was put to the spokesman that this seemed to contradict what Johnson told business leaders in Northern Ireland during the general election, when he said anyone asked to fill in new forms under the terms of his Brexit deal should just throw them in the bin, the spokesman said the government was committed to ensuring the new procedures were “streamlined and efficient”. (Johnson’s comment came in response to a question about exports from Northern Ireland to Britain, but even trade going in that direction will be subject to new requirements under the Brexit deal.) |
| The spokesman said the government was at “an advanced stage” in talks about a bailout for Transport for London. Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, has said TfL will have to reduce services if it does not receive further funding by the end of today. (See 1.05pm.) The spokesman said: | |
| The spokesman confirmed that Sir Mark Sedwill, the cabinet secretary, has had coronavirus - without the public being told. Sedwill, who is also national security adviser, is the most powerful civil servant in Britain. He was ill around the time the PM was ill. But Sedwill continued working, the spokesman said. When it was put to him that journalists had been misled, because they weren’t told at the time that Sedwill was ill despite questions being asked at lobby, the spokesman said that he personally only became aware recently that Sedwill had been ill and that Sedwill had continued to work over that period. This is from Sky’s Sam Coates. | The spokesman confirmed that Sir Mark Sedwill, the cabinet secretary, has had coronavirus - without the public being told. Sedwill, who is also national security adviser, is the most powerful civil servant in Britain. He was ill around the time the PM was ill. But Sedwill continued working, the spokesman said. When it was put to him that journalists had been misled, because they weren’t told at the time that Sedwill was ill despite questions being asked at lobby, the spokesman said that he personally only became aware recently that Sedwill had been ill and that Sedwill had continued to work over that period. This is from Sky’s Sam Coates. |
| The spokesman said No 10 would investigate why some care home staff near Guildford are having to self-isolate in tents because lack of testing means they do not feel it is safe for them to go home. The spokesman said tests were meant to be available for care home staff who needed them. If there were problems, they should be resolved, he said. He said he would look into the Guildford case. | The spokesman said No 10 would investigate why some care home staff near Guildford are having to self-isolate in tents because lack of testing means they do not feel it is safe for them to go home. The spokesman said tests were meant to be available for care home staff who needed them. If there were problems, they should be resolved, he said. He said he would look into the Guildford case. |
| The spokesman said the new antibody test that has been approved for use in the UK was “an important step forward” that had the potential to be a game changer. | The spokesman said the new antibody test that has been approved for use in the UK was “an important step forward” that had the potential to be a game changer. |
| The spokesman said Transport for London were reporting no “significant increase” in transport use in the capital this week. In response to claims that some buses and tube trains are getting crowded, the spokesman said tube use was 93% down on this time last year, and broadly in line with the figures for last week. | The spokesman said Transport for London were reporting no “significant increase” in transport use in the capital this week. In response to claims that some buses and tube trains are getting crowded, the spokesman said tube use was 93% down on this time last year, and broadly in line with the figures for last week. |
| The spokesman said the government would be “looking closely” at the calls from councils for higher funding. | The spokesman said the government would be “looking closely” at the calls from councils for higher funding. |
| The spokesman said the government remained committed to working with the teaching unions to find a safe means of enabling pupils to start returning to school in England from June. He declined invitations to criticise them for non-cooperation. | The spokesman said the government remained committed to working with the teaching unions to find a safe means of enabling pupils to start returning to school in England from June. He declined invitations to criticise them for non-cooperation. |
| The spokesman was unable to explain why the PM has still not set up a new intelligence and security committee, even though it is now more than five months since the general election. Until a new committee is set up the long-awaited report into Russian interference in British politics, which is thought to be embarrassing to the Conservative party, cannot be published. | The spokesman was unable to explain why the PM has still not set up a new intelligence and security committee, even though it is now more than five months since the general election. Until a new committee is set up the long-awaited report into Russian interference in British politics, which is thought to be embarrassing to the Conservative party, cannot be published. |
| Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, will take this afternoon’s government press conference, the spokesman said. Shapps will be joined by Prof Jonathan Van-Tam, the deputy chief medical officer for England. | Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, will take this afternoon’s government press conference, the spokesman said. Shapps will be joined by Prof Jonathan Van-Tam, the deputy chief medical officer for England. |
| The Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, has expressed concern over the differences in lockdown restrictions between England and Wales. | The Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, has expressed concern over the differences in lockdown restrictions between England and Wales. |
| While residents of England can travel as far as they want for exercise, people in Wales must stay local. The “stay-at-home” message has been dropped in England but remains in Wales. | While residents of England can travel as far as they want for exercise, people in Wales must stay local. The “stay-at-home” message has been dropped in England but remains in Wales. |
| Speaking ahead of two virtual public meetings in Wales, Starmer said: | Speaking ahead of two virtual public meetings in Wales, Starmer said: |
| The commissioners of all four police forces in Wales have called on the Welsh government to increase the fines for people breaking the lockdown. | The commissioners of all four police forces in Wales have called on the Welsh government to increase the fines for people breaking the lockdown. |
| But Starmer said: “The vast majority of people in England and Wales are trying very hard to obey the rules. The problem they [the police] have got is that there are different rules in place on either side of the border. That makes it much more difficult for people to understand and much more difficult for the police. I would focus less on the powers of the police and more on the clarity of the rules.” | But Starmer said: “The vast majority of people in England and Wales are trying very hard to obey the rules. The problem they [the police] have got is that there are different rules in place on either side of the border. That makes it much more difficult for people to understand and much more difficult for the police. I would focus less on the powers of the police and more on the clarity of the rules.” |
| Scottish ministers and health boards are still unable to see the results of coronavirus tests carried out since early April by the UK government’s rapid testing centres due to continuing problems processing the data. | Scottish ministers and health boards are still unable to see the results of coronavirus tests carried out since early April by the UK government’s rapid testing centres due to continuing problems processing the data. |
| The Guardian disclosed earlier this month that none of the data had been shared because of tight restrictions on data sharing and patient confidentiality applied by the Department of Health and Social Care when its rapid testing centres were launched. | The Guardian disclosed earlier this month that none of the data had been shared because of tight restrictions on data sharing and patient confidentiality applied by the Department of Health and Social Care when its rapid testing centres were launched. |
| Those restrictions have led to long delays in Scottish health bodies and ministers finding out the results of tests – now being carried out at airports and other sites in cities such as Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Inverness. | Those restrictions have led to long delays in Scottish health bodies and ministers finding out the results of tests – now being carried out at airports and other sites in cities such as Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Inverness. |
| Ministers had hoped to start using and publishing that data last week, but the Courier newspaper in Dundee has reported the results from 30,000 swabs have still not been released because of an ongoing “data exchange” between both governments. That includes matching results for specific patients with their personal health identifier number. | Ministers had hoped to start using and publishing that data last week, but the Courier newspaper in Dundee has reported the results from 30,000 swabs have still not been released because of an ongoing “data exchange” between both governments. That includes matching results for specific patients with their personal health identifier number. |
| The Courier reported “it means Scotland’s confirmed figure of 13,929 is likely to be significantly higher and also casts doubt on recent regional figures”. | The Courier reported “it means Scotland’s confirmed figure of 13,929 is likely to be significantly higher and also casts doubt on recent regional figures”. |
| Rapid testing centres have been at the centre of a series of controversies and glitches, including the reported disappearance of tens of thousands of test results, with the UK government consistently failing to meet its target of 100,000 tests per day. | Rapid testing centres have been at the centre of a series of controversies and glitches, including the reported disappearance of tens of thousands of test results, with the UK government consistently failing to meet its target of 100,000 tests per day. |
| The Courier quoted a Scottish government spokesperson saying: | The Courier quoted a Scottish government spokesperson saying: |
| More than 3 million EU and European Economic Area citizens and their families have now been granted an immigration status that will secure their right to remain in the UK after Brexit, the Home Office has said. | More than 3 million EU and European Economic Area citizens and their families have now been granted an immigration status that will secure their right to remain in the UK after Brexit, the Home Office has said. |
| Future borders minister Kevin Foster said the milestone was reached with over a year still to go until the closure of the settled status scheme “making it the biggest scheme of its kind in British history”. | Future borders minister Kevin Foster said the milestone was reached with over a year still to go until the closure of the settled status scheme “making it the biggest scheme of its kind in British history”. |
| But figures published today show that 1.29m of them have received “pre-settled status”, which is granted to those that have been in the country for less than five years. | But figures published today show that 1.29m of them have received “pre-settled status”, which is granted to those that have been in the country for less than five years. |
| This suggests that almost half of the previously estimated number of EU citizens in the country, which has ranged from 3m to 3.8m, came to the UK in the past five years, undeterred by Brexit. | This suggests that almost half of the previously estimated number of EU citizens in the country, which has ranged from 3m to 3.8m, came to the UK in the past five years, undeterred by Brexit. |
| The high number could also reflect problems with the process. Previous studies have suggested that some who were qualified for settled status were only granted pre-settled status because they did not provide evidence satisfactory to the Home Office that they were in the country for more than five years when they first applied. | The high number could also reflect problems with the process. Previous studies have suggested that some who were qualified for settled status were only granted pre-settled status because they did not provide evidence satisfactory to the Home Office that they were in the country for more than five years when they first applied. |
| In total the Home Office said it has now received 3.5m applications for settled status with 3.1m concluded. It said: | In total the Home Office said it has now received 3.5m applications for settled status with 3.1m concluded. It said: |
| The London mayor, Sadiq Khan, has told LBC that without the government agreeing a grant for Transport for London today, they will be forced to cut services on buses, tubes, trains and trams across the capital. | The London mayor, Sadiq Khan, has told LBC that without the government agreeing a grant for Transport for London today, they will be forced to cut services on buses, tubes, trains and trams across the capital. |
| He continued: | He continued: |
| The Scottish first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, is holding her daily press conference, which you can watch live here. | The Scottish first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, is holding her daily press conference, which you can watch live here. |
| She has said that a total of 2,007 patients have died after testing positive for the virus, up by 34 from 1,973 on Wednesday. | She has said that a total of 2,007 patients have died after testing positive for the virus, up by 34 from 1,973 on Wednesday. |
| Sturgeon said 14,117 people have tested positive for the virus, up by 188 from 13,929 the day before. There are 71 people in intensive care with coronavirus or coronavirus symptoms, an increase of one on Wednesday. | Sturgeon said 14,117 people have tested positive for the virus, up by 188 from 13,929 the day before. There are 71 people in intensive care with coronavirus or coronavirus symptoms, an increase of one on Wednesday. |
| There are 1,480 people in hospital with confirmed or suspected Covid-19, a decrease of 54. Since 5 March, 3,253 people who have tested positive for coronavirus have been able to leave hospital. | There are 1,480 people in hospital with confirmed or suspected Covid-19, a decrease of 54. Since 5 March, 3,253 people who have tested positive for coronavirus have been able to leave hospital. |
| The Office for Budget Responsibility has published a revised assessment of the impact of coronavirus on the national finances. Faisal Islam, the BBC’s economics editor, has the key findings. | The Office for Budget Responsibility has published a revised assessment of the impact of coronavirus on the national finances. Faisal Islam, the BBC’s economics editor, has the key findings. |