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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2020/sep/16/uk-coronavirus-news-latest-testing-shortage-could-lead-to-lockdown-by-default-says-teaching-union-head
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UK coronavirus live: Boris Johnson admits there is not enough testing capacity; 3,991 new cases recorded | UK coronavirus live: Boris Johnson admits there is not enough testing capacity; 3,991 new cases recorded |
(32 minutes later) | |
PM says testing capacity will be 500,000 per day by end of October; close to 4,000 lab-confirmed new cases reported in UK | PM says testing capacity will be 500,000 per day by end of October; close to 4,000 lab-confirmed new cases reported in UK |
The latest Guardian Politics Weekly podcast is out. Jessica Elgot and John Crace discuss the Covid testing catastrophe, and Angela Rayner’s PMQ’s debut. Rory Carroll and Katy Hayward discuss the future for Northern Irish politics. Plus Rajeev Syal speaks with the new head of the Whitehall spending watchdog, Gareth Davies. | |
Lord Keen of Elie, the advocate general for Scotland (effectively the UK’s attorney general for Scotland - its most senior adviser on Scots law) is the fourth person to resign from government or a Conservative party position over the internal market bill. | |
The others are: Sir Jonathan Jones, who was head of the government’s legal department; Rehman Chishti MP, who was the PM’s envoy on freedom of religion; and David Melding, who was shadow counsel general in the Welsh parliament. | |
Downing Street has just put out this statement: | |
When Boris Johnson was asked about this about an hour ago (see 4.22pm), he said he did not know if Keen was staying or not. That clearly implies they were fighting hard to keep him. | |
I’ve corrected the post at 4.19pm to say it was some hardline Brexiters, not the government, who used to argue that in the event of a no-deal Brexit the UK should not impose tariffs on the EU. Sorry. | |
Scotland’s children’s commissioner has called for “clear and direct communication to children and families” from the Scottish government, amidst growing concerns that the rule of six impacts disproportionately on poorer children. | Scotland’s children’s commissioner has called for “clear and direct communication to children and families” from the Scottish government, amidst growing concerns that the rule of six impacts disproportionately on poorer children. |
Parents have asked why it is that both grouse shooting and fox hunting can continue under the new restrictions, while it is against the law for children from more than two families to play together indoors or out, resulting in an effective ban on home-organised birthday parties and limits on free play in parks, as well as excluding those who can’t afford paid-for group activities. | Parents have asked why it is that both grouse shooting and fox hunting can continue under the new restrictions, while it is against the law for children from more than two families to play together indoors or out, resulting in an effective ban on home-organised birthday parties and limits on free play in parks, as well as excluding those who can’t afford paid-for group activities. |
Confusion has also emerged about whether the six person/two household limits applies to children in play parks; according to the Scottish government children should be playing in household pairs, but this is plainly unenforceable on the swings. | Confusion has also emerged about whether the six person/two household limits applies to children in play parks; according to the Scottish government children should be playing in household pairs, but this is plainly unenforceable on the swings. |
The Scottish Greens’ health spokesperson Alison Johnstone raised the lack of fairness at the Scottish parliament’s Covid committee. She said: | The Scottish Greens’ health spokesperson Alison Johnstone raised the lack of fairness at the Scottish parliament’s Covid committee. She said: |
After Nicola Sturgeon confirmed at her daily briefing that no children’s rights impact assessment was undertaken for the latest guidelines “because of the speed with which we have to introduce these changes”, Bruce Adamson, Scotland’s children commissioner said: | After Nicola Sturgeon confirmed at her daily briefing that no children’s rights impact assessment was undertaken for the latest guidelines “because of the speed with which we have to introduce these changes”, Bruce Adamson, Scotland’s children commissioner said: |
Sir Bernard Jenkin says there are two more follow-up questions. | Sir Bernard Jenkin says there are two more follow-up questions. |
(The session was due to end at 5pm.) | (The session was due to end at 5pm.) |
The SNP’s Angus Brendan MacNeil goes first. | The SNP’s Angus Brendan MacNeil goes first. |
Q: If there are long lorry queues at the border after January, who will be responsible? | Q: If there are long lorry queues at the border after January, who will be responsible? |
Johnson says he does not think anyone will be in any doubt he is responsible. | Johnson says he does not think anyone will be in any doubt he is responsible. |
Next, it’s Greg Clark. | Next, it’s Greg Clark. |
Q: What factors determine whether lockdown measures are tightened. | Q: What factors determine whether lockdown measures are tightened. |
Johnson says he looks at all the data. They look at the dashboard every morning. | Johnson says he looks at all the data. They look at the dashboard every morning. |
The most important question is, what is the R number doing? And now it is above 1. | The most important question is, what is the R number doing? And now it is above 1. |
Q: Sir Patrick Vallance says the R number matters at the start of the pandemic, but less so now. | Q: Sir Patrick Vallance says the R number matters at the start of the pandemic, but less so now. |
Johnson says it is still an important. | Johnson says it is still an important. |
And that’s it. The session is over. | And that’s it. The session is over. |
Q: Do you accept the importance of investment in land warfare, and in the surface fleet? And, if we want to have our aircraft carriers operating we will need F-35s. | Q: Do you accept the importance of investment in land warfare, and in the surface fleet? And, if we want to have our aircraft carriers operating we will need F-35s. |
Johnson says the UK is committed to strong defence. | Johnson says the UK is committed to strong defence. |
And he says the UK wants to show international leadership in vaccines, in trade and in climate change. | And he says the UK wants to show international leadership in vaccines, in trade and in climate change. |
Q: Will you commit to a real terms growth in the defence budget? | Q: Will you commit to a real terms growth in the defence budget? |
Johnson says it is already going up by 2.6% above inflation. | Johnson says it is already going up by 2.6% above inflation. |
Spending on defence equipment will increase by £180bn in the next few years. | Spending on defence equipment will increase by £180bn in the next few years. |
There are many areas where the UK could be doing more and will be doing more, he says. | There are many areas where the UK could be doing more and will be doing more, he says. |
Tobias Ellwood, the Conservative chair of the defence committee, goes next. | Tobias Ellwood, the Conservative chair of the defence committee, goes next. |
Q: Can I meet with the chancellor to see what can be done to help service charities, who have lost revenue during the crisis? | Q: Can I meet with the chancellor to see what can be done to help service charities, who have lost revenue during the crisis? |
Yes, says Johnson. | Yes, says Johnson. |
Ellwood urges the PM to make more use of the armed forces. They are trained for emergencies. | Ellwood urges the PM to make more use of the armed forces. They are trained for emergencies. |