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| Coronavirus: PM 'will not return to austerity of 10 years ago' | Coronavirus: PM 'will not return to austerity of 10 years ago' |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The prime minister has pledged his government will "not go back to the austerity of 10 years ago" ahead of a speech on Tuesday. | The prime minister has pledged his government will "not go back to the austerity of 10 years ago" ahead of a speech on Tuesday. |
| In an interview with the Mail on Sunday, Boris Johnson set out his plans for a post-lockdown economic recovery. | In an interview with the Mail on Sunday, Boris Johnson set out his plans for a post-lockdown economic recovery. |
| They will include a new taskforce which will look at speeding up the building of hospitals, schools and roads. | They will include a new taskforce which will look at speeding up the building of hospitals, schools and roads. |
| But Labour has accused the government of "pulling the rug from under" many parts of the economy. | But Labour has accused the government of "pulling the rug from under" many parts of the economy. |
| The economy shrank by 20.4% in April - the largest monthly fall on record. | The economy shrank by 20.4% in April - the largest monthly fall on record. |
| Amid continued criticism of the way his government has handled the pandemic, the PM told the paper that ministers will be "doubling down on levelling up" - spending on infrastructure in order to "build our way back to health". | Amid continued criticism of the way his government has handled the pandemic, the PM told the paper that ministers will be "doubling down on levelling up" - spending on infrastructure in order to "build our way back to health". |
| "If Covid was a lightning flash, we're about to have the thunderclap of the economic consequences," he said. | "If Covid was a lightning flash, we're about to have the thunderclap of the economic consequences," he said. |
| "We're going to make sure that we have plans to help people whose old jobs are not there any more to get the opportunities they need." | "We're going to make sure that we have plans to help people whose old jobs are not there any more to get the opportunities they need." |
| In the Mail on Sunday article, the PM said the country would "bounce back" from the pandemic. He reinforced his message by doing press-ups to show he is "fit as a butcher's dog", following intensive care treatment for the virus in April. | In the Mail on Sunday article, the PM said the country would "bounce back" from the pandemic. He reinforced his message by doing press-ups to show he is "fit as a butcher's dog", following intensive care treatment for the virus in April. |
| Scotland has recorded no new coronavirus deaths for a third consecutive day, and there has been one more death in Northern Ireland. Other nations will announce their figures later today. | |
| In the UK overall - which reflects a different time period to the regional figures - 43,514 deaths have been recorded. | |
| 'Thatcher levels of unemployment' | 'Thatcher levels of unemployment' |
| An Infrastructure Delivery Taskforce, led by Chancellor Rishi Sunak, aims to help to remove "bottlenecks" faced by major projects. | An Infrastructure Delivery Taskforce, led by Chancellor Rishi Sunak, aims to help to remove "bottlenecks" faced by major projects. |
| No 10 hopes a building boom will boost jobs and improve connectivity for cities, towns and villages. | No 10 hopes a building boom will boost jobs and improve connectivity for cities, towns and villages. |
| But new House of Commons Library analysis, commissioned by the Labour Party, suggests that unemployment levels could soar to levels not seen since the 1980s - tipping past the peak of 3.3 million seen in 1984 under Margaret Thatcher, the Observer reports. | But new House of Commons Library analysis, commissioned by the Labour Party, suggests that unemployment levels could soar to levels not seen since the 1980s - tipping past the peak of 3.3 million seen in 1984 under Margaret Thatcher, the Observer reports. |
| Shadow business secretary Ed Miliband warned of such "Thatcher levels of unemployment" if sectors, such as hospitality, cannot fully reopen. | Shadow business secretary Ed Miliband warned of such "Thatcher levels of unemployment" if sectors, such as hospitality, cannot fully reopen. |
| He accused the government of "pulling the rug from under" many parts of the economy by telling firms they will have to start paying towards the furlough scheme from August, before it closes entirely in October. | He accused the government of "pulling the rug from under" many parts of the economy by telling firms they will have to start paying towards the furlough scheme from August, before it closes entirely in October. |
| Mr Miliband told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show there needed to be a bridge between the end of the furlough scheme and a job creation programme. | Mr Miliband told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show there needed to be a bridge between the end of the furlough scheme and a job creation programme. |
| He also criticised the government for not announcing a summer Budget this year when the UK is facing potentially the worst recession in 300 years. | He also criticised the government for not announcing a summer Budget this year when the UK is facing potentially the worst recession in 300 years. |
| Addressing reports that the PM wants to help areas previously affected by austerity, Mr Miliband replied: "There's a grand canyon between his rhetoric and the reality." | Addressing reports that the PM wants to help areas previously affected by austerity, Mr Miliband replied: "There's a grand canyon between his rhetoric and the reality." |
| Boris Johnson has faced serious criticism for the way his government has handled the coronavirus outbreak - and questions are likely to continue as ministers look to ease the lockdown in England. | Boris Johnson has faced serious criticism for the way his government has handled the coronavirus outbreak - and questions are likely to continue as ministers look to ease the lockdown in England. |
| But evidently keen to try and get his wider political agenda back on track, the prime minister is returning to the phrase that was so frequently used in last year's general election campaign - "levelling up". | But evidently keen to try and get his wider political agenda back on track, the prime minister is returning to the phrase that was so frequently used in last year's general election campaign - "levelling up". |
| It means spending on infrastructure - schools, transport and the NHS. | It means spending on infrastructure - schools, transport and the NHS. |
| So, how will these big projects be paid for? | So, how will these big projects be paid for? |
| With billions already spent to support the economy during this pandemic, borrowing, big time, seems on the cards. | With billions already spent to support the economy during this pandemic, borrowing, big time, seems on the cards. |
| The number of workers on UK payrolls dived by more than 600,000 between March and May, official figures suggest, with economists warning the full effect on employment will not be felt until wage support schemes end. | The number of workers on UK payrolls dived by more than 600,000 between March and May, official figures suggest, with economists warning the full effect on employment will not be felt until wage support schemes end. |
| Almost nine million workers who are unable to do their job because of the pandemic have had their wages paid by the government under its furlough scheme. | Almost nine million workers who are unable to do their job because of the pandemic have had their wages paid by the government under its furlough scheme. |
| In a major easing of England's lockdown to help to reopen the economy, the PM announced on Tuesday that pubs, restaurants, hotels and many other businesses would be allowed to welcome back customers from 4 July. | In a major easing of England's lockdown to help to reopen the economy, the PM announced on Tuesday that pubs, restaurants, hotels and many other businesses would be allowed to welcome back customers from 4 July. |
| But the announcement was criticised by some businesses - such as indoor gyms - that were not included on the list. | But the announcement was criticised by some businesses - such as indoor gyms - that were not included on the list. |
| And a member of the government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) has warned there could be a "very nasty rebound" of coronavirus in the winter if the country does not use the next few months "sensibly". | And a member of the government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) has warned there could be a "very nasty rebound" of coronavirus in the winter if the country does not use the next few months "sensibly". |
| Sir Jeremy Farrar, director of the Wellcome Trust, told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show: "We're on a knife edge, it's very precarious the situation, particularly in England at the moment, and I would anticipate we would see an increase in new cases over the coming weeks." | Sir Jeremy Farrar, director of the Wellcome Trust, told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show: "We're on a knife edge, it's very precarious the situation, particularly in England at the moment, and I would anticipate we would see an increase in new cases over the coming weeks." |
| Addressing the concerns raised by Sir Jeremy, Home Secretary Priti Patel told the same programme: "We have to be very conscientious about the risk of a second wave." | Addressing the concerns raised by Sir Jeremy, Home Secretary Priti Patel told the same programme: "We have to be very conscientious about the risk of a second wave." |
| She said "nothing would be more damaging for our country and for our economy" than a second spike in virus cases, adding that the government's plans to ease measures were "pragmatic and responsible". | She said "nothing would be more damaging for our country and for our economy" than a second spike in virus cases, adding that the government's plans to ease measures were "pragmatic and responsible". |
| Ms Patel also encouraged people to go to pubs when they reopen, but urged customers to "be responsible" and follow social distancing and hygiene guidance. | Ms Patel also encouraged people to go to pubs when they reopen, but urged customers to "be responsible" and follow social distancing and hygiene guidance. |
| Earlier, First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford criticised the government's messaging around the easing of lockdown restrictions in England. He accused the PM of suggesting that coronavirus was "all over" and normal life can resume. | Earlier, First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford criticised the government's messaging around the easing of lockdown restrictions in England. He accused the PM of suggesting that coronavirus was "all over" and normal life can resume. |
| Mr Drakeford has been more cautious over easing lockdown, and neither Wales or Scotland have decided whether to follow England and ease restrictions on overseas travel. The UK government is responsible for border controls, but the response to the pandemic is devolved. | Mr Drakeford has been more cautious over easing lockdown, and neither Wales or Scotland have decided whether to follow England and ease restrictions on overseas travel. The UK government is responsible for border controls, but the response to the pandemic is devolved. |
| Meanwhile, Leicester may be facing a localised lockdown after a rise in coronavirus cases, Ms Patel confirmed. | Meanwhile, Leicester may be facing a localised lockdown after a rise in coronavirus cases, Ms Patel confirmed. |
| It comes after Leicester East MP Claudia Webbe called for new restrictions to be introduced amid concerns of a spike in cases locally. She describes a "perfect storm" of high poverty, higher numbers of positive tests and higher ethnic diversity in the area. | It comes after Leicester East MP Claudia Webbe called for new restrictions to be introduced amid concerns of a spike in cases locally. She describes a "perfect storm" of high poverty, higher numbers of positive tests and higher ethnic diversity in the area. |
| Leicester's mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said the city has been given latest government data which should show which areas - if any - are being "adversely affected" by the virus. Lockdown measures might then have to be introduced, he added. | Leicester's mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said the city has been given latest government data which should show which areas - if any - are being "adversely affected" by the virus. Lockdown measures might then have to be introduced, he added. |
| The Department of Health said it was supporting the local council and four mobile testing sites have been set up there. | The Department of Health said it was supporting the local council and four mobile testing sites have been set up there. |
| How have you been affected by coronavirus? How have you been affected by the lockdown? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | How have you been affected by coronavirus? How have you been affected by the lockdown? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. |
| Or use the form below: | Or use the form below: |