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| UK coronavirus live: Sunak to announce tapering of furlough scheme as fear over safety at work rises | UK coronavirus live: Sunak to announce tapering of furlough scheme as fear over safety at work rises |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Chancellor to say that employers will have to pay 20% of wages of furloughed staff as state subsidy scheme is wound down | Chancellor to say that employers will have to pay 20% of wages of furloughed staff as state subsidy scheme is wound down |
| Police have set out the Premier League matches they would like to be played at neutral venues, which would include any Liverpool game where the title could be won. | |
| The deputy chief constable Mark Roberts of South Yorkshire police, the UK’s football policing lead, said in a statement issued to the PA news agency: | |
| Good morning everyone. I’m Lucy Campbell, taking over the live blog coverage for the rest of the day. If you have any news tips or stories you think we should be covering, please feel free to get in touch as I work. | Good morning everyone. I’m Lucy Campbell, taking over the live blog coverage for the rest of the day. If you have any news tips or stories you think we should be covering, please feel free to get in touch as I work. |
| Email: lucy.campbell@theguardian.comTwitter: @lucy_campbell_ | Email: lucy.campbell@theguardian.comTwitter: @lucy_campbell_ |
| Transport for London has published the full agreement (pdf) for this month’s central government bailout, showing that it was conditional on London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, raising charges for drivers and scrapping free travel for older people and under-18s. | |
| Khan has said throughout that the 30% increase in the congestion charge, and the removal of free travel on public transport, was insisted on by the Department for Transport as part of the £16bn bailout. | Khan has said throughout that the 30% increase in the congestion charge, and the removal of free travel on public transport, was insisted on by the Department for Transport as part of the £16bn bailout. |
| Some London Conservatives have disputed this, particularly Shaun Bailey, the Tory candidate for the now-delayed mayoral election, who has repeatedly portrayed the decisions as being Khan’s. | Some London Conservatives have disputed this, particularly Shaun Bailey, the Tory candidate for the now-delayed mayoral election, who has repeatedly portrayed the decisions as being Khan’s. |
| However, the seven-page letter from Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, to Khan which sets out the deal, makes the conditions clear. | |
| One mandatory term is “the immediate reintroduction of the London congestion charge, Low Emission Zone and Ultra Low Emission Zone, and urgently bring forward proposals to widen the scope and levels of these charges, in accordance with the relevant legal powers and decision-making processes.” | One mandatory term is “the immediate reintroduction of the London congestion charge, Low Emission Zone and Ultra Low Emission Zone, and urgently bring forward proposals to widen the scope and levels of these charges, in accordance with the relevant legal powers and decision-making processes.” |
| The congestion charge, which had been suspended during the Covid-19 crisis, was reintroduced and will rise from £11.50 a day to £15 on 22 June. The emissions zones, intended to improve air quality, impose extra charges on particularly polluting vehicles. | The congestion charge, which had been suspended during the Covid-19 crisis, was reintroduced and will rise from £11.50 a day to £15 on 22 June. The emissions zones, intended to improve air quality, impose extra charges on particularly polluting vehicles. |
| The letter from Shapps also requires TfL to maximise space for workers on public transport by stopping free peak-time travel for over-60s, and all free travel for under-18s. Khan in particular wants the latter measure overturned. | The letter from Shapps also requires TfL to maximise space for workers on public transport by stopping free peak-time travel for over-60s, and all free travel for under-18s. Khan in particular wants the latter measure overturned. |
| Sheffield city council has become the latest local authority to tell its schools and nurseries not to admit more students on Monday due to concerns about the infection rate. | Sheffield city council has become the latest local authority to tell its schools and nurseries not to admit more students on Monday due to concerns about the infection rate. |
| Boris Johnson had earmarked 1 June as the date when pupils in reception, Year 1 and Year 6 would return but on Sunday softened his approach, saying schools would not have to open until they felt prepared. | Boris Johnson had earmarked 1 June as the date when pupils in reception, Year 1 and Year 6 would return but on Sunday softened his approach, saying schools would not have to open until they felt prepared. |
| Today councillors in Sheffield said their public health advice suggested it was not safe to reopen schools until at least 14 days after the government’s test and trace scheme got up and running. It has advised schools to delay reopening until 15 June. | Today councillors in Sheffield said their public health advice suggested it was not safe to reopen schools until at least 14 days after the government’s test and trace scheme got up and running. It has advised schools to delay reopening until 15 June. |
| Councillor Abtisam Mohamed, its cabinet member for education, said: | Councillor Abtisam Mohamed, its cabinet member for education, said: |
| In a separate statement, Sheffield’s director of public health, Greg Fell, said he “does not feel assured” that the city has met three of the government’s five key tests for reopening schools. | In a separate statement, Sheffield’s director of public health, Greg Fell, said he “does not feel assured” that the city has met three of the government’s five key tests for reopening schools. |
| He said test three failed because they “do not currently have access to data about community transmission of Covid-19 at a local level”; test four failed because “we do not feel confident that the recently announced NHS ‘Test and Trace’ programme is sufficiently well established and robust enough to effectively manage any local outbreaks;” and test five failed because they were not confident that any adjustments to the current measures would not risk a second peak of infections that overwhelms the NHS. | He said test three failed because they “do not currently have access to data about community transmission of Covid-19 at a local level”; test four failed because “we do not feel confident that the recently announced NHS ‘Test and Trace’ programme is sufficiently well established and robust enough to effectively manage any local outbreaks;” and test five failed because they were not confident that any adjustments to the current measures would not risk a second peak of infections that overwhelms the NHS. |
| The Office for National Statistics has just released its weekly look at the social impacts of coronavirus in Britain. | The Office for National Statistics has just released its weekly look at the social impacts of coronavirus in Britain. |
| The results are taken from a sample of 1,028 adults (with a 51% response rate) conducted between 21 and 24 May, compared to a similar survey taken on 14 to 17 May. | The results are taken from a sample of 1,028 adults (with a 51% response rate) conducted between 21 and 24 May, compared to a similar survey taken on 14 to 17 May. |
| We’ll have a more detailed take shortly, but at first glance these seem to be the most interesting findings: | We’ll have a more detailed take shortly, but at first glance these seem to be the most interesting findings: |
| One in five people (20%) say they are concerned about health and safety at work, up from 11% in the previous week. | One in five people (20%) say they are concerned about health and safety at work, up from 11% in the previous week. |
| People continue to be worried about the future and feelings of boredom have increased this week, with 62% of respondents saying they feel bored compared to 51% last week. | People continue to be worried about the future and feelings of boredom have increased this week, with 62% of respondents saying they feel bored compared to 51% last week. |
| An increasing number of people are worried about their mental health: 29% said the pandemic was making their mental health worse this week, up from 26% last week. Similarly, 29% of people said they were “spending too much time alone” this week, compared to 23% last week. | An increasing number of people are worried about their mental health: 29% said the pandemic was making their mental health worse this week, up from 26% last week. Similarly, 29% of people said they were “spending too much time alone” this week, compared to 23% last week. |
| Around one in five adults (19%) said they had self-isolated in the past seven days, a similar figure to last week (20%) but the lowest since the ONS started conducting the survey. | Around one in five adults (19%) said they had self-isolated in the past seven days, a similar figure to last week (20%) but the lowest since the ONS started conducting the survey. |
| Almost one in three adults (29%) have worn a face covering in the past week, mostly for shopping but also for exercise. | Almost one in three adults (29%) have worn a face covering in the past week, mostly for shopping but also for exercise. |
| Just under one in three adults (29%) felt unsafe or very unsafe outside of their home, which has decreased from 41% last week. | Just under one in three adults (29%) felt unsafe or very unsafe outside of their home, which has decreased from 41% last week. |
| More people are leaving their homes. This is unsurprising given the more relaxed restrictions in England, but the proportion of people who have not left their home at all in the past week dropped from 14% to 11%. | More people are leaving their homes. This is unsurprising given the more relaxed restrictions in England, but the proportion of people who have not left their home at all in the past week dropped from 14% to 11%. |
| At this brief interregnum, I’ve been asked to flag a special event we’re holding next Wednesday on the Dominic Cummings story. Details and tickets below: | At this brief interregnum, I’ve been asked to flag a special event we’re holding next Wednesday on the Dominic Cummings story. Details and tickets below: |
| Guardian Newsroom: The Dominic Cummings story | Guardian Newsroom: The Dominic Cummings story |
| On Wednesday 3 June we’re holding a live-streamed event exploring the ongoing story of Dominic Cummings’ lockdown-defying road trip and the government’s handling of the ensuing fallout. With deputy national news editor, Archie Bland, and Observer chief leader writer Sonia Sodha.Book tickets here | On Wednesday 3 June we’re holding a live-streamed event exploring the ongoing story of Dominic Cummings’ lockdown-defying road trip and the government’s handling of the ensuing fallout. With deputy national news editor, Archie Bland, and Observer chief leader writer Sonia Sodha.Book tickets here |
| Wales’ first minister Mark Drakeford is holding a press conference at 12.30pm on his government’s new “stay local” guidance. We will bring you that live but here’s a flavour of what Drakeford has been saying this morning. | Wales’ first minister Mark Drakeford is holding a press conference at 12.30pm on his government’s new “stay local” guidance. We will bring you that live but here’s a flavour of what Drakeford has been saying this morning. |
| The new rules in Wales will mean that people must not travel more than five miles to meet others. Two households will be able to meet outside from next week. | The new rules in Wales will mean that people must not travel more than five miles to meet others. Two households will be able to meet outside from next week. |
| Drakeford said he acknowledged that this would seem “unfair” to people in Wales, given the more relaxed restrictions in England, but that he did not want people spreading the virus from one community to another. | Drakeford said he acknowledged that this would seem “unfair” to people in Wales, given the more relaxed restrictions in England, but that he did not want people spreading the virus from one community to another. |
| “We have parts of Wales where there has been very little coronavirus and the last thing we want is for people to be travelling to those areas and taking the virus with them,” he told ITV’s Good Morning Britain. | “We have parts of Wales where there has been very little coronavirus and the last thing we want is for people to be travelling to those areas and taking the virus with them,” he told ITV’s Good Morning Britain. |
| He added: | He added: |
| On BBC Breakfast, Drakeford was asked why the Welsh Government was not following the same measures as announced by the UK Government, given the R value is similar in England and Wales. | On BBC Breakfast, Drakeford was asked why the Welsh Government was not following the same measures as announced by the UK Government, given the R value is similar in England and Wales. |
| “Well I could put it the other way to you - why aren’t they following what’s been done in other parts of the United Kingdom?” he said. “England isn’t a template for the rest of the UK to follow. | “Well I could put it the other way to you - why aren’t they following what’s been done in other parts of the United Kingdom?” he said. “England isn’t a template for the rest of the UK to follow. |
| Drakeford said pilots of Wales’ track and trace system, which have been running for the past two weeks, indicate that each person with a positive test has around four or five contacts that need to be followed up. | Drakeford said pilots of Wales’ track and trace system, which have been running for the past two weeks, indicate that each person with a positive test has around four or five contacts that need to be followed up. |
| Prof Martin Green, the chief executive of Care England, has said testing in care homes needs to be prioritised, and expressed fears that the test and trace scheme could result in many members of staff having to self-isolate. | Prof Martin Green, the chief executive of Care England, has said testing in care homes needs to be prioritised, and expressed fears that the test and trace scheme could result in many members of staff having to self-isolate. |
| Appearing on BBC Breakfast, Green said testing in care homes was “an enormous task” and that it was a not a “one-time activity” – there needed to be a rolling programme of testing for residents as well as staff. | Appearing on BBC Breakfast, Green said testing in care homes was “an enormous task” and that it was a not a “one-time activity” – there needed to be a rolling programme of testing for residents as well as staff. |
| He said: | He said: |
| One of the standout moments of yesterday’s Downing Street briefing was Boris Johnson twice stopping his two most senior scientific advisors, Prof Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance, from answering questions about Dominic Cummings. Johnson said he wanted to protect them from “any political questions”. | One of the standout moments of yesterday’s Downing Street briefing was Boris Johnson twice stopping his two most senior scientific advisors, Prof Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance, from answering questions about Dominic Cummings. Johnson said he wanted to protect them from “any political questions”. |
| However, Prof Stephen Reicher, a member of the Sage subcommittee advising the government on behavioural science, says that asking whether the Cummings affair has impacted public trust in the government was, in fact, a scientific question and could reasonably be posed to the government’s advisers: | However, Prof Stephen Reicher, a member of the Sage subcommittee advising the government on behavioural science, says that asking whether the Cummings affair has impacted public trust in the government was, in fact, a scientific question and could reasonably be posed to the government’s advisers: |
| Reicher, of the University of St Andrews, said he believes the saga “will undermine leadership at a time when we desperately need good leadership”. | Reicher, of the University of St Andrews, said he believes the saga “will undermine leadership at a time when we desperately need good leadership”. |
| George Eustice’s interview with Nick Robinson on BBC Radio 4 Today was beset with technical difficulties but here’s a run through. | George Eustice’s interview with Nick Robinson on BBC Radio 4 Today was beset with technical difficulties but here’s a run through. |
| On Dominic Cummings, he said the prime minister’s aide had given a “very fair and detailed” explanation and that “it’s been dealt with and we need to move on”. He said he had received “probably over a hundred” emails from constituents about Cummings’ behaviour. | On Dominic Cummings, he said the prime minister’s aide had given a “very fair and detailed” explanation and that “it’s been dealt with and we need to move on”. He said he had received “probably over a hundred” emails from constituents about Cummings’ behaviour. |
| Asked whether the government was easing lockdown measures too early, the environment secretary said they were being very “cautious” and lifting restrictions “tentatively” in the knowledge that transmission rates outdoors are “very, very low”. | Asked whether the government was easing lockdown measures too early, the environment secretary said they were being very “cautious” and lifting restrictions “tentatively” in the knowledge that transmission rates outdoors are “very, very low”. |
| He was questioned about Boris Johnson telling people in England they can have BBQs with up to six people from Monday. Was it practical to expect people to gather in their friends’ or families’ gardens for BBQs and expect them to fully clean the bathroom once they have been to the toilet, especially after a couple of drinks? | He was questioned about Boris Johnson telling people in England they can have BBQs with up to six people from Monday. Was it practical to expect people to gather in their friends’ or families’ gardens for BBQs and expect them to fully clean the bathroom once they have been to the toilet, especially after a couple of drinks? |
| Eustice said: | Eustice said: |
| The environment secretary, George Eustice, has said he does not know how many people were contacted as part of the new NHS test and trace scheme on Thursday. | The environment secretary, George Eustice, has said he does not know how many people were contacted as part of the new NHS test and trace scheme on Thursday. |
| He told BBC Breakfast: “I don’t know that figure, I don’t have that figure to hand.” | He told BBC Breakfast: “I don’t know that figure, I don’t have that figure to hand.” |
| Asked about the chief medical officer and chief scientific adviser not being permitted to answer questions about Dominic Cummings during the Downing Street press briefing on Thursday, Eustice said: | Asked about the chief medical officer and chief scientific adviser not being permitted to answer questions about Dominic Cummings during the Downing Street press briefing on Thursday, Eustice said: |
| The shadow home secretary, Nick Thomas-Symonds, has called on the attorney general, Suella Braverman, to apologise for intervening in the Dominic Cummings case. | The shadow home secretary, Nick Thomas-Symonds, has called on the attorney general, Suella Braverman, to apologise for intervening in the Dominic Cummings case. |
| Asked whether Cummings broke the law during his trip to Durham during lockdown, Thomas-Symonds told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “The guidelines that were set up, he broke them.” He added: | Asked whether Cummings broke the law during his trip to Durham during lockdown, Thomas-Symonds told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “The guidelines that were set up, he broke them.” He added: |
| It follows Braverman’s tweet on 23 May: “Protecting one’s family is what any good parent does. The 10DowningStreet statement clarifies the situation and it is wholly inappropriate to politicise it.” | It follows Braverman’s tweet on 23 May: “Protecting one’s family is what any good parent does. The 10DowningStreet statement clarifies the situation and it is wholly inappropriate to politicise it.” |
| As the government’s chief legal adviser, part of the attorney general’s role is to oversee the CPS which could have been asked to review Cummings’ case had it been requested to do so. Her tweet, therefore, could be perceived as placing prosecutors under undue influence over any decision they had to make. | As the government’s chief legal adviser, part of the attorney general’s role is to oversee the CPS which could have been asked to review Cummings’ case had it been requested to do so. Her tweet, therefore, could be perceived as placing prosecutors under undue influence over any decision they had to make. |
| The row over Dominic Cummings’ lockdown trips is continuing, despite Boris Johnson saying at the daily Downing Street briefing last night that he intended to “draw a line” under the saga. | The row over Dominic Cummings’ lockdown trips is continuing, despite Boris Johnson saying at the daily Downing Street briefing last night that he intended to “draw a line” under the saga. |
| Ninety-nine of his own MPs have now called for Cummings to be sacked, demanded an apology or otherwise criticised his conduct. The Daily Mail reports today that Cummings is considering quitting No 10 later this year now that the UK is finally cutting ties with the EU. | Ninety-nine of his own MPs have now called for Cummings to be sacked, demanded an apology or otherwise criticised his conduct. The Daily Mail reports today that Cummings is considering quitting No 10 later this year now that the UK is finally cutting ties with the EU. |
| Most of today’s front pages carry the news that friends and family in England will be able to meet outdoors in groups of six from Monday. From today people from two different households in Scotland can meet outdoors, two metres apart, after 66 days of full lockdown. | Most of today’s front pages carry the news that friends and family in England will be able to meet outdoors in groups of six from Monday. From today people from two different households in Scotland can meet outdoors, two metres apart, after 66 days of full lockdown. |
| Please do to get in touch with me to share news tips or suggestions about our future coverage. We hugely value your contributions. You can find me below: | Please do to get in touch with me to share news tips or suggestions about our future coverage. We hugely value your contributions. You can find me below: |
| Twitter: @JoshHalliday (DMs open) | Twitter: @JoshHalliday (DMs open) |
| Email: josh.halliday@theguardian.com | Email: josh.halliday@theguardian.com |
| The environment secretary, George Eustice, is fielding questions on behalf of the government this morning. | The environment secretary, George Eustice, is fielding questions on behalf of the government this morning. |
| As the Dominic Cummings row enters its seventh day, Eustice tells Sky News he doesn’t think the controversy “should affect at all people’s approach” to the lockdown | As the Dominic Cummings row enters its seventh day, Eustice tells Sky News he doesn’t think the controversy “should affect at all people’s approach” to the lockdown |
| Asked about the furlough scheme, Eustice said the Treasury could not subsidise people’s wages “indefinitely”. He added: | Asked about the furlough scheme, Eustice said the Treasury could not subsidise people’s wages “indefinitely”. He added: |
| Eustice also confirmed that pubs with beer gardens are likely to be the first venues in the hospitality sector to reopen. Alas, he did not set a date. | Eustice also confirmed that pubs with beer gardens are likely to be the first venues in the hospitality sector to reopen. Alas, he did not set a date. |
| Good morning and welcome to the Guardian’s UK liveblog on the coronavirus pandemic. This is Josh Halliday in Manchester to steer you through the news. | Good morning and welcome to the Guardian’s UK liveblog on the coronavirus pandemic. This is Josh Halliday in Manchester to steer you through the news. |
| Later today the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, will announce that employers will have to pay a fifth of the wages of furloughed staff, and national insurance and pension contributions, from August as the state subsidy scheme is wound down. | Later today the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, will announce that employers will have to pay a fifth of the wages of furloughed staff, and national insurance and pension contributions, from August as the state subsidy scheme is wound down. |
| Employers have furloughed 8.4 million workers and claimed up to 80% of their wages, to a maximum £2,500 a month. Figures earlier this week revealed that the cost has reached £15bn while a separate scheme to support self-employed workers has cost almost £7bn. | Employers have furloughed 8.4 million workers and claimed up to 80% of their wages, to a maximum £2,500 a month. Figures earlier this week revealed that the cost has reached £15bn while a separate scheme to support self-employed workers has cost almost £7bn. |
| Leading our site this morning is Robert Booth’s exclusive report that officials at Public Health England proposed a radical lockdown of care homes last month to stem surging deaths – but it was rejected by the government. | Leading our site this morning is Robert Booth’s exclusive report that officials at Public Health England proposed a radical lockdown of care homes last month to stem surging deaths – but it was rejected by the government. |
| The officials submitted an 11-point plan proposing a “further lockdown of care homes” on 28 April, which included staff moving in for four weeks and deploying NHS Nightingale hospitals. However, neither of the proposals were included in a subsequent action plan announced by the health secretary, Matt Hancock, last week. | The officials submitted an 11-point plan proposing a “further lockdown of care homes” on 28 April, which included staff moving in for four weeks and deploying NHS Nightingale hospitals. However, neither of the proposals were included in a subsequent action plan announced by the health secretary, Matt Hancock, last week. |