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| UK coronavirus live: Dominic Raab drops fresh hint 2-metre rule could be relaxed | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| MPs question government’s two-metre rule; UK official death toll rises by 38; Priti Patel condemns ‘far-right thugs’ at London march at weekend | MPs question government’s two-metre rule; UK official death toll rises by 38; Priti Patel condemns ‘far-right thugs’ at London march at weekend |
| England will experience a “summer of rave” not seen since 1989 because the government has failed to give “socially starved” young people any clarity on when they can start partying again legally, clubbing experts have warned. | |
| The Guardian’s Helen Pidd reports that police forces across England have been struggling to keep up with an explosion of illicit parties in motorway underpasses, parks and industrial estates since Boris Johnson relaxed lockdown restrictions last month. | |
| Advertised on Snapchat and Instagram, their locations are revealed at the 11th hour by WhatsApp messages, with word quickly spreading as people livestream the event on social media, dropping virtual “pins” on Google Maps for their friends to join them. | |
| Most proceed peacefully, if in contravention of social distancing guidelines. But thousands of people attended two raves in Greater Manchester at the weekend, leaving one man dead of a suspected drugs overdose, one woman reporting a rape, and three separate reported stabbings. | |
| The number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 within the prison estate in England and Wales continues to rise, Ministry of Justice figures show. | |
| As at 5pm on Sunday, 500 prisoners had tested positive for the coronavirus across 80 prisons, an increase of 1.6%, while there were 965 infected prison staff across 105 prisons, an rise of just 0.4%. | |
| There are around 79,700 prisoners across 117 prisons in England and Wales, and around 33,000 staff working in public sector prisons. | |
| Figures published in the Guardian on Monday revealed more than 1,000 prisoners were released into homelessness at the height of the coronavirus pandemic in England and Wales. | |
| Here are the main points from Dominic Raab’s press conference. | Here are the main points from Dominic Raab’s press conference. |
| Raab, the foreign secretary, said that there was nothing “magic” about the two-metre rule. In comments that will be seen as a strong hint that the review launched by No 10 will lead to the rule being relaxed at some point fairly soon, he said: | Raab, the foreign secretary, said that there was nothing “magic” about the two-metre rule. In comments that will be seen as a strong hint that the review launched by No 10 will lead to the rule being relaxed at some point fairly soon, he said: |
| And later he said: | And later he said: |
| When Edward Argar, the health minister, answered a Commons urgent question on this earlier, many Tory MPs called for the two-metre rule to be relaxed, with some saying that decision should be taken immediately. | When Edward Argar, the health minister, answered a Commons urgent question on this earlier, many Tory MPs called for the two-metre rule to be relaxed, with some saying that decision should be taken immediately. |
| Raab defended the government’s decision to set up a new review looking at racism, saying that the commission being launched would set a “positive agenda for change” and lead to specific policy recommendations. | Raab defended the government’s decision to set up a new review looking at racism, saying that the commission being launched would set a “positive agenda for change” and lead to specific policy recommendations. |
| He defended the government’s decision to withhold parts of a Public Health England report looking at why BAME people are disproportionately at risk of dying from coronavirus. Asked why the government was not publishing this if it was serious about addressing inequalities, he said it was a sensitive issue and that ministers wanted to get it right. He said: | He defended the government’s decision to withhold parts of a Public Health England report looking at why BAME people are disproportionately at risk of dying from coronavirus. Asked why the government was not publishing this if it was serious about addressing inequalities, he said it was a sensitive issue and that ministers wanted to get it right. He said: |
| YouGov has published some fresh polling this afternoon. It suggests that Sir Keir Starmer has drawn level with Boris Johnson on who would make the best prime minister. | YouGov has published some fresh polling this afternoon. It suggests that Sir Keir Starmer has drawn level with Boris Johnson on who would make the best prime minister. |
| But the Conservatives still have a significant lead over Labour in voting intention, the poll suggests. | But the Conservatives still have a significant lead over Labour in voting intention, the poll suggests. |
| Secondary schools in England have been told they can invite pupils in for one face-to-face meeting ahead of the summer holidays to check on well-being and progress since lockdown. | Secondary schools in England have been told they can invite pupils in for one face-to-face meeting ahead of the summer holidays to check on well-being and progress since lockdown. |
| The new guidance from the Department for Education comes as pupils in years 10 and 12 who are preparing to sit GCSEs and A-levels next summer begin to return to school this week for limited contact. | The new guidance from the Department for Education comes as pupils in years 10 and 12 who are preparing to sit GCSEs and A-levels next summer begin to return to school this week for limited contact. |
| The DfE has also confirmed that primary schools can use flexibility to admit more children, in addition to the year groups already allowed back to school, if they have capacity to do so. | The DfE has also confirmed that primary schools can use flexibility to admit more children, in addition to the year groups already allowed back to school, if they have capacity to do so. |
| The government is under pressure to get more children back into school before the summer holidays amid growing evidence of patchy provision of lessons at home and fears that the attainment gap will widen. | The government is under pressure to get more children back into school before the summer holidays amid growing evidence of patchy provision of lessons at home and fears that the attainment gap will widen. |
| Education secretary Gavin Williamson said: “I want to make sure as many pupils as possible can get back into the classroom and be reunited with their friends and teachers before summer, to support their wellbeing and education.” | Education secretary Gavin Williamson said: “I want to make sure as many pupils as possible can get back into the classroom and be reunited with their friends and teachers before summer, to support their wellbeing and education.” |
| Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, welcomed the idea of a “check-in” session but added: “These changes do not make up for the lack of a long-term, strategic plan for education for the coming months.” | Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, welcomed the idea of a “check-in” session but added: “These changes do not make up for the lack of a long-term, strategic plan for education for the coming months.” |
| Q: When the PM says you need to get infection rates down before the two-metre rule can be relaxed, what does he mean? | Q: When the PM says you need to get infection rates down before the two-metre rule can be relaxed, what does he mean? |
| Raab says two metres will applies for now. The PM has launched a review. The government will say more than, he says. | Raab says two metres will applies for now. The PM has launched a review. The government will say more than, he says. |
| Q: What assurances can you give to people in the hospital sector that they will be able to reopen? | Q: What assurances can you give to people in the hospital sector that they will be able to reopen? |
| Raab says 4 July was always the earliest possible date for reopening. It has to be done in safest possible way, he says. | Raab says 4 July was always the earliest possible date for reopening. It has to be done in safest possible way, he says. |
| And that’s it. The press conference is over. | And that’s it. The press conference is over. |
| Q: In April you said it would not be business as usual with China after coronavirus. How strongly do you take warnings about the danger China could do to the UK economy? | Q: In April you said it would not be business as usual with China after coronavirus. How strongly do you take warnings about the danger China could do to the UK economy? |
| Raab says he thinks his comment may have been over-interpreted. He says it is not necessarily business as usual with any country. | Raab says he thinks his comment may have been over-interpreted. He says it is not necessarily business as usual with any country. |
| He says they want a balanced approach to China. | He says they want a balanced approach to China. |
| Q: When will we see the results of the Huawei review? | Q: When will we see the results of the Huawei review? |
| Raab says that will be when the full data is back. | Raab says that will be when the full data is back. |
| Back in the Commons, Priti Patel has been paying tribute to Patrick Hutchinson, the Black Lives Matter demonstrator who was photographed carrying a counter-protester to safety during Saturday’s protests in London. | Back in the Commons, Priti Patel has been paying tribute to Patrick Hutchinson, the Black Lives Matter demonstrator who was photographed carrying a counter-protester to safety during Saturday’s protests in London. |
| She said: | She said: |
| Hutchinson spoke to Channel 4 news last night and his comments are worth a read. | Hutchinson spoke to Channel 4 news last night and his comments are worth a read. |
| Q: Are you taking less notice of the science? | Q: Are you taking less notice of the science? |
| Raab says the science is evolving. | Raab says the science is evolving. |
| Science and medical experts will continue to attend the press conferences, he says. | Science and medical experts will continue to attend the press conferences, he says. |
| But he says other experts will be represented too. | But he says other experts will be represented too. |
| Q: Your colleague Nusrat Ghani said today that you don’t need any more BME reviews. You just need to implement what has been recommended already. | Q: Your colleague Nusrat Ghani said today that you don’t need any more BME reviews. You just need to implement what has been recommended already. |
| Raab says the commission is being set up to set a new direction. | Raab says the commission is being set up to set a new direction. |
| But he stressed that a lot of progress has already been made. | But he stressed that a lot of progress has already been made. |
| He says this commission will come up with actual policies. | He says this commission will come up with actual policies. |
| Q: Aren’t you just kicking the can down the road? | Q: Aren’t you just kicking the can down the road? |
| Raab says the government is already following up on things like the Lammy review. (See 1.28pm.) | Raab says the government is already following up on things like the Lammy review. (See 1.28pm.) |
| And he says there is some encouraging Ipsos MORI polling out on this today. | And he says there is some encouraging Ipsos MORI polling out on this today. |
| Q: Do you accept that changing the two-metre rule involves a trade-off between safety and business? | Q: Do you accept that changing the two-metre rule involves a trade-off between safety and business? |
| Raab says there is nothing absolute about two metres. And he says the scientific evidence is constantly evolving | Raab says there is nothing absolute about two metres. And he says the scientific evidence is constantly evolving |
| Q: Do you agree that the way British Airways is treating its workers is a disgrace? | Q: Do you agree that the way British Airways is treating its workers is a disgrace? |
| Raab says firms are going through a very difficult time. He would urge them to save as many jobs as possible. | Raab says firms are going through a very difficult time. He would urge them to save as many jobs as possible. |
| Q: What help is the government offering? | Q: What help is the government offering? |
| Raab says it has offered a lot of help already. He says his department, the Foreign Office, spent £75m on a charter flight regime that helped airlines. | Raab says it has offered a lot of help already. He says his department, the Foreign Office, spent £75m on a charter flight regime that helped airlines. |
| Q: But what are you doing for British Airways? | Q: But what are you doing for British Airways? |
| Raab says the chancellor is looking at all vulnerable sectors. | Raab says the chancellor is looking at all vulnerable sectors. |
| Q: [From the BBC’s Mark Easton] Instead of announcing a new disparities review, why doesn’t the government publish the material from the Public Health England review that was suppressed? | Q: [From the BBC’s Mark Easton] Instead of announcing a new disparities review, why doesn’t the government publish the material from the Public Health England review that was suppressed? |
| Raab says he does not accept this is just another review. He says the government is making progress on the recommendations from past reviews. | Raab says he does not accept this is just another review. He says the government is making progress on the recommendations from past reviews. |
| Q: But there are leaks from the report explaining why BAME people are dying more frequently from coronavirus? | Q: But there are leaks from the report explaining why BAME people are dying more frequently from coronavirus? |
| Raab says it is a sensitive topic. When the government can release further information, it will do so. | Raab says it is a sensitive topic. When the government can release further information, it will do so. |
| Q: What will the government do to help key workers with childcare over the summer? The normal options - summer camps, grandparents and holidays abroad - aren’t available? | Q: What will the government do to help key workers with childcare over the summer? The normal options - summer camps, grandparents and holidays abroad - aren’t available? |
| Raab says that is a good question. But he says the government will fund summer activities. | Raab says that is a good question. But he says the government will fund summer activities. |
| Raab is now taking the first question, from Olly in Newcastle. | Raab is now taking the first question, from Olly in Newcastle. |
| Q: When will the alert level fall to one, or close to one? | Q: When will the alert level fall to one, or close to one? |
| Raab says it is hard to say. They are trying to push it down. But the alert level is not up to politicians, he says. | Raab says it is hard to say. They are trying to push it down. But the alert level is not up to politicians, he says. |
| And here is the slide with the death figures. | And here is the slide with the death figures. |
| Raab is now presenting the slides. | Raab is now presenting the slides. |
| Here are the figures for tests and news cases. | Here are the figures for tests and news cases. |
| Raab says the government is monitoring the impact of its changes carefully. There is a risk of a second spike, he says. | Raab says the government is monitoring the impact of its changes carefully. There is a risk of a second spike, he says. |
| He says the government will not move to the next stage before 4 July. | He says the government will not move to the next stage before 4 July. |
| Nick Thomas-Symonds says that we need to see “deeds not words” and that, by launching an inquiry into racism and inequality and failing to act now, “the prime minister just isn’t offering the leadership required”. | Nick Thomas-Symonds says that we need to see “deeds not words” and that, by launching an inquiry into racism and inequality and failing to act now, “the prime minister just isn’t offering the leadership required”. |
| Priti Patel responds that the Black Lives Matter movement and the points they have been making are “important and essential”. | Priti Patel responds that the Black Lives Matter movement and the points they have been making are “important and essential”. |
| She says the aim of the commission is to set out a “positive agenda for change” and that all MPs should welcome that. | She says the aim of the commission is to set out a “positive agenda for change” and that all MPs should welcome that. |
| Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary and first secretary of state, is taking the UK government press conference. | Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary and first secretary of state, is taking the UK government press conference. |
| He summarises the latest moves to ease the lockdown coming into force in England. These are modest and careful steps, he says. | He summarises the latest moves to ease the lockdown coming into force in England. These are modest and careful steps, he says. |