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Cameron dismisses Johnson's DfID/FCO merger as 'mistake' that will lessen respect for UK - live news UK coronavirus live: Johnson hails 'breakthrough' of cheap steroid that helps prevent Covid-19 deaths
(32 minutes later)
PM announces merger in Commons; Johnson makes U-turn on free school meals after Rashford campaign; UK official death toll rises by 233 PM leads daily briefing; former PMs condemn merger of FCO and DfID; Johnson makes U-turn on free school meals after Rashford campaign
Q: Why did it take a 22-year-old footballer to shame you into doing the right thing?
Johnson says this is the right thing to do. He congratulates Marcus Rashford. In normal circumstances you only give out these vouchers in term time. But now there is a need to help people, he says.
Q: Can you assure David Cameron that merging DfID and the FCO is the right thing to do?
Johnson says he is certain this is the right thing to do. He says he is surprised it did not happen earlier.
He says he is trying to put the idealism of DfID at the heart of foreign policy. It will create a super-department, he says.
Q: It took a campaign from a footballer for you to do something about free school meals. Have you lost touch with the need to level up?
Johnson says he spoke to Marcus Rashford today and thanked him for his campaign. He says he only became aware of it recently.
He says he hopes the school vouchers announcement will make a big difference.
Q: Does the dexamethasone breakthrough change what might happen if there were a second wave?
Vallance says this will not stop people getting the illness.
Horby says, if there were a second wave, there would still be a need for social distancing measures.
Johnson says people should be able to attend funerals if they follow social distancing rules. The government will say more on this as it approaches 4 July, he says.
Trevor from Northamptonshire asks when the government will move from two metres to one.
Johnson says two metres are more effective.
But it is also his view, he says, that as the infection numbers fall, then the statistical likelihood of being next to someone with coronavirus falls.
This is under constant review, he says.
As the incidence of coronavirus goes down, there will be a “strong case” for changing the rule.
Vallance says what the PM said was “absolutely right”. He goes on:
According to the ONS, only six out of 10,000 people have the disease. That means it becomes safer to change, he suggests.
At the press conference Horby is speaking now.
He says dexamethasone is not a drug that you would use on patients who do not have breathing difficulties. But, in patients with breathing difficulties, it has significant benefits, he says.
He says if you were to use it on eight patients in this category, you would save one life. And the drugs for all eight would only cost £40, he says.
He says this is a common drug, which has been around for many years and which is very cheap.
Here is my colleague Sarah Boseley’s report about this trial, involving a drug called dexamethasone.
And this is how it starts.
Johnson says today global efforts to find a long-term solution continue.
He claims the biggest breakthrough yet has been made by a team of British scientists.
Backed by UK government funding, they have led the first, robust clinical trial in the world proven to have reduced the risk of death, he says.
See 1.37pm for more.
Johnson says he is “all too aware” that the two-metre rule has implications for schools and other sectors.
He will do everything in his power to get life back to normal.
But he will proceed carefully, and will only act in a way that minimises the risk to life, he says.
Johnson says the government is following its plan.
At each stage it has only eased lockdown measures when the evidence suggested that was safe, he says.
He says it has been good to see non-essential shop opening, and more pupils returning to school in England.
He urges all parents whose children are eligible to return that it is safe for them to do so.
Johnson starts with the slides.
Here are the death figures.
Boris Johnson is holding the UK government’s daily press conference. He is appearing with Sir Patrick Vallance, the government’s chief scientific adviser, and Prof Peter Horby, professor of emerging infectious diseases and global health at Oxford University.
Johnson says he will let Vallance and Horby do most of the talking because they have some news.
Public Health England has now published a report called Understanding the impact of Covid-19 on BAME groups (pdf). It covers in part how structural racism helps to explain why black, Asian and minority ethnic people are at greater risk of dying from coronavirus than white paper.
Much of this material was expected to appear in the first Public Health England report on disparities in the risk posed by coronavirus to different groups. But it was held back, leading to complaints that the report did not fully address the extent of the problem.
Here is an extract from today’s report.
Political leaders from across the political spectrum in Scotland called on the UK government to protect around 900 Dfid jobs based in East Kilbride after Boris Johnson confirmed the department would be merged with the Foreign Office.Political leaders from across the political spectrum in Scotland called on the UK government to protect around 900 Dfid jobs based in East Kilbride after Boris Johnson confirmed the department would be merged with the Foreign Office.
Its large base in Scotland is frequently cited by pro-UK parties and the Scotland Office as evidence of the UK government’s investment in the union; alongside HM Revenue and Customs and various armed services, DfID has the largest presence of any Whitehall department in Scotland.Its large base in Scotland is frequently cited by pro-UK parties and the Scotland Office as evidence of the UK government’s investment in the union; alongside HM Revenue and Customs and various armed services, DfID has the largest presence of any Whitehall department in Scotland.
Ian Murray, the shadow Scottish secretary and MP for Edinburgh South, said losing Dfid “would be a deeply retrograde step at any time, let alone at a time when global cooperation is needed more than ever”. He went on:Ian Murray, the shadow Scottish secretary and MP for Edinburgh South, said losing Dfid “would be a deeply retrograde step at any time, let alone at a time when global cooperation is needed more than ever”. He went on:
The Scottish government’s prospectus for independence in the 2014 referendum proposed one ministry for foreign affairs and global development. However, Jenny Gilruth, the Scottish minister for Europe and international development, said merging Dfid with the Foreign Office was a “deplorable decision”. She said:The Scottish government’s prospectus for independence in the 2014 referendum proposed one ministry for foreign affairs and global development. However, Jenny Gilruth, the Scottish minister for Europe and international development, said merging Dfid with the Foreign Office was a “deplorable decision”. She said:
Johnson told MPs the Dfid jobs in East Kilbride would stay. (See 2.08pm.)Johnson told MPs the Dfid jobs in East Kilbride would stay. (See 2.08pm.)
The full text of Boris Johnson’s opening statement to MPs about the merger of Dfid and the FCO is here. But, as is often the case with exchanges in the Commons, some of his impromptu language was more revealing. Two replies to MPs were particularly striking because they suggested that his instinctive view of British foreign policy is inherently reactionary.The full text of Boris Johnson’s opening statement to MPs about the merger of Dfid and the FCO is here. But, as is often the case with exchanges in the Commons, some of his impromptu language was more revealing. Two replies to MPs were particularly striking because they suggested that his instinctive view of British foreign policy is inherently reactionary.
Johnson calls DfID ‘a giant cashpoint in the sky’Johnson calls DfID ‘a giant cashpoint in the sky’
Replying to a question from the Tory MP Steve Double, Johnson said:Replying to a question from the Tory MP Steve Double, Johnson said:
This phrase was condemned by the former Conservative Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt, who posed these on Twitter.This phrase was condemned by the former Conservative Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt, who posed these on Twitter.
Johnson suggests diplomacy is about dealing with leaders who cut their opponents’ heads offJohnson suggests diplomacy is about dealing with leaders who cut their opponents’ heads off
In response to a question from the SNP’s Kirsty Blackman, Johnson said:In response to a question from the SNP’s Kirsty Blackman, Johnson said:
After saying “cut the head off his opponent”, Johnson paused, as if he had realised that he had said something wrong. He probably had, although no one seemed to object at the time. This sounded like a line from one of his reactionary Daily Telegraph columns, redolent of an imperialist world view in which foreigners are assumed to be less civilised.After saying “cut the head off his opponent”, Johnson paused, as if he had realised that he had said something wrong. He probably had, although no one seemed to object at the time. This sounded like a line from one of his reactionary Daily Telegraph columns, redolent of an imperialist world view in which foreigners are assumed to be less civilised.
Tony Blair has said that he is “utterly dismayed” by the decision to merge DfID with the FCO.Tony Blair has said that he is “utterly dismayed” by the decision to merge DfID with the FCO.
Boris Johnson has now managed to unite three former prime ministers - two Labour ones and one Conservative - in opposition to his plan to get rid of DfID as a stand-alone department.Boris Johnson has now managed to unite three former prime ministers - two Labour ones and one Conservative - in opposition to his plan to get rid of DfID as a stand-alone department.
We are yet to hear from Sir John Major and Theresa May on the subject. But Major never set up an independent department for international aid himself, and so is unlikely to feel any attachment to DfID, and May showed little interest in this area during her short, Brexit-dominated premiership.We are yet to hear from Sir John Major and Theresa May on the subject. But Major never set up an independent department for international aid himself, and so is unlikely to feel any attachment to DfID, and May showed little interest in this area during her short, Brexit-dominated premiership.
Arlene Foster, the first minister of Northern Ireland, has said she will be proposing the extension of free school meal support to the region’s pupils over the summer holidays. She told told the Northern Ireland assembly she would make the proposal to colleagues in the power-sharing coalition. The measure would be dependent on the necessary funds being found, she said.Arlene Foster, the first minister of Northern Ireland, has said she will be proposing the extension of free school meal support to the region’s pupils over the summer holidays. She told told the Northern Ireland assembly she would make the proposal to colleagues in the power-sharing coalition. The measure would be dependent on the necessary funds being found, she said.
For the record, this list shows how today’s UK coronavirus daily death figure, 233 (see 3.36pm), compares to the equivalent figures for the past two weeks.For the record, this list shows how today’s UK coronavirus daily death figure, 233 (see 3.36pm), compares to the equivalent figures for the past two weeks.
Tuesday 2 June - 324Tuesday 2 June - 324
Wednesday 3 June - 359Wednesday 3 June - 359
Thursday 4 June - 176Thursday 4 June - 176
Friday 5 June - 357Friday 5 June - 357
Saturday 6 June - 204Saturday 6 June - 204
Sunday 7 June - 77Sunday 7 June - 77
Monday 8 June - 55Monday 8 June - 55
Tuesday 9 June - 286Tuesday 9 June - 286
Wednesday 10 June - 245Wednesday 10 June - 245
Thursday 11 June - 151Thursday 11 June - 151
Friday 12 June - 202Friday 12 June - 202
Saturday 13 June - 181Saturday 13 June - 181
Sunday 14 June - 36Sunday 14 June - 36
Monday 15 June - 38Monday 15 June - 38
The Department of Health and Social Care has released the latest coronavirus death figures for the UK. There have been a further 233 deaths, taking the total to 41,969.
These headline figures only include deaths where someone tested positive for coronavirus. But thousands of people have died without having a test, which is why the ONS totals are higher. (See 10.19am.)
NHS England today recorded a further 79 hospital deaths in England. The full details are here.
In Wales a further eight deaths have been recorded.
Scotland has recorded five more deaths today.
And there has been one further death in Northern Ireland.
Another former prime minister, Gordon Brown, has also criticised the decision to merge DfID and the FCO. He says Boris Johnson is “abolishing one of the UK’s great international assets”.
In the Commons Labour’s Emma Hardy asks Johnson if he agrees with David Cameron. (See 2.46pm.)
Johnson says he does not. He says at the moment there is “an incoherence” in foreign policy. He says the merger will make aid specialists more influential.
And David Cameron, who appointed Andrew Mitchell as international development secretary and who was PM when the UK finally hit the 0.7% aid spending target (which was never popular with Tory activists), has also criticised the move. He says it is a “mistake” that will lead to the UK being less respected abroad.
For Cameron, speaking out in these terms is quite a big deal. Since leaving No 10 in 2016 he has largely avoided criticising his successors, even though Theresa May and Boris Johnson have both pursued policies that he would not support.
Earlier Sir Keir Starmer said Andrew Mitchell, the Conservative international development secretary when David Cameron was PM, had described the DfID/FCO merger as a mistake. The Birmingham Mail has the full quote from Mitchell. Mitchell said:
These are from Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, on the DfID/FCO merger.
The Lib Dem MP Wera Hobhouse says the PM seems to be saying the UK will only help the poorest in the world if they are buying British goods.
Johnson says Hobhouse should be proud of what the UK is doing around the world.
Labour’s Kevin Brennan asks if Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, and Anne-Marie Trevelyan, the international development secretary, will both have to apply for the post to run the new department.
Johnson sidesteps the questions.
The SNP’s Kirsty Blackman asks if the purpose of the new department will be to help the poorest in the world, or if it will be to enhance British power abroad?
Both, says Johnson.
He says there is no point in having a British ambassador asking a foreign leader not to cut the head off one of his rivals if another British official is going to turn up a day later with a cheque for £250m.
UPDATE: I’ve corrected this post because Johnson said “cut the head off”, not “chop the head off”, and he said £250m, not £250,000. I’ve posted the full, direct quote at 4.25pm.
Johnson says British ambassadors will be listened to more seriously if they represent a department in charge of all UK government overseas spending.