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UK coronavirus live: Boris Johnson faces Keir Starmer at PMQs after new restrictions unveiled UK coronavirus live: Keir Starmer presses Boris Johnson on Covid testing at PMQs
(32 minutes later)
Labour leader presses prime minister on testing capacity at weekly Commons clash Labour leader asks prime minister to pledge more support for businesses in wake of new restrictions
Sammy Wilson (DUP) say only time will tell whether the claims made by scientists about the risks from a second wave are true. But there is no doubt that the scare tactics will have an impact on the economy. He asks the government to suspend air passenger duty.
Johnson say Wilson is making a powerful point of scepticism. But people should look at what happened last time, and realise it could happen again. A stitch in time saves nine, he says.
He says the advantage of his approach is that it will keep the virus down, and enable the economy to go forward.
PMQs is now finished.
Anthony Browne (Con) asks whether the government’s long-term Covid strategy is to eradicate the virus, gain herd immunity or suppress the virus and reduce the deaths until a vaccine or highly effective treatment arrives?
Johnson says it’s the third one.
Asked about the gambling review, Johnson says he is “not an enthusiast for encouraging the spread of gambling in this country”.
Giles Watling (Con), a former actor, asks what can be done to help freelances in the theatre sector.
Johnson says the government will do whatever it can to support freelances. He says theatres are the jewel in the crown of London’s arts economy.
Siobhain McDonagh (Lab) asks if the government will support her bill to give children on free school meal access to the internet at home.Siobhain McDonagh (Lab) asks if the government will support her bill to give children on free school meal access to the internet at home.
Johnson says this is an important point. He says he agrees with McDonagh about the digital divide. He says he wants every school in the country to have access to gigabyte broadband.Johnson says this is an important point. He says he agrees with McDonagh about the digital divide. He says he wants every school in the country to have access to gigabyte broadband.
Johnson say he hopes that the work on the A38 upgrade in Cornwall will work as soon as possible. Johnson say he hopes that the work on the A38 upgrade in Cornwall will begin as soon as possible.
Florence Eshalomi (Lab) asks what the government is doing to help tenants who have unsafe cladding on their buildings.Florence Eshalomi (Lab) asks what the government is doing to help tenants who have unsafe cladding on their buildings.
Johnson says the situation is “disgraceful”. This cladding should come off as soon as possible, he says.Johnson says the situation is “disgraceful”. This cladding should come off as soon as possible, he says.
Johnson says the government’s housing targets will focus on brownfield land.Johnson says the government’s housing targets will focus on brownfield land.
Johnson says of course the government is going to come forward with further measures to support businesses. But he says he does not think it would be sensible to just extend the furlough scheme.Johnson says of course the government is going to come forward with further measures to support businesses. But he says he does not think it would be sensible to just extend the furlough scheme.
Johnson says he really wishes the government was not having to impose the restrictions it is.Johnson says he really wishes the government was not having to impose the restrictions it is.
Patrick Grady (SNP) asks what Johnson’s vision is for building back better.Patrick Grady (SNP) asks what Johnson’s vision is for building back better.
Johnson says space ports will help Scotland, but he quotes the Barnett figure for overall funding going to Scotland.Johnson says space ports will help Scotland, but he quotes the Barnett figure for overall funding going to Scotland.
Neil Parish (Con) asks the PM to support plans for a new school in Tiverton.Neil Parish (Con) asks the PM to support plans for a new school in Tiverton.
Johnson says the education secretary will have heard the request.Johnson says the education secretary will have heard the request.
Grahame Morris (Lab) says even the Bank of England is calling for a targeted expansion of the furlough scheme. Will the PM listen?Grahame Morris (Lab) says even the Bank of England is calling for a targeted expansion of the furlough scheme. Will the PM listen?
Johnson says Morris is right about the gravity of the situation. He says the job retention bonus is in place. He says the government is looking at a “massive package” of measures to help people over the short, medium and long term.Johnson says Morris is right about the gravity of the situation. He says the job retention bonus is in place. He says the government is looking at a “massive package” of measures to help people over the short, medium and long term.
Johnson says he wants to find a replacement for the Dublin convention, the EU rule on the return of refugees.
The Green MP Caroline Lucas asks the PM to support a biodiversity target for 30% of land and sea to be set aside for nature.
Johnson say it was the UK government that pioneered this idea and came up with this target. It will support it, he says.
Johnson says it is “totally baffling” that the SNP is not supporting the internal market bill. And they would hand Scotland’s fisheries straight back to Brussels.
Ian Blackford, the SNP leader at Westminter, says 1m jobs are at risk when furlough ends. He say the PM is leading us into another winter of discontent. Nicola Sturgeon has shown leadership, he says. He calls for an immediate announcement about the extension of the furlough scheme.
Johnson says the SNP and Labour are now calling for an indefinite extension of the furlough scheme.
He says the government will continue to adopt a creative approach.
Blackford says nobody is asking for an indefinite extension of the furlough scheme.
Even the Bank of England governor is saying it needs to be extended, he says.
He says 61,000 jobs in Scotland are at risk. Those workers do not want a hug from Johnson.
Johnson says the government will continue to support workers.
He says he knows Blackford does not want a hug from him. But he says “throwing an arm around workers” is a metaphor.
Starmer says he is asking about new support for business.
This is not theoretical. At Whitebread 6,000 job lossess were announced yesterday. He quotes leading business figures saying the government needs to act.
Johnson say the government will get through this.
He quotes the shadow education secretary as saying “don’t let a good crisis go to waste”. That shows Labour wants to exploit the crisis. Labour should support what the government is doing, he says.
Starmer says Johnson does not understand the problems caused by children being ill but not having Covid.
Why has the government not announced support for business?
Johnson says his plans will keep the economy moving.
He wants to suppress the virus, he says.
Starmer says he is not complaining about the NHS. It is the government. His wife works for the NHS, his mother worked for the NHS, his sister works for it. So he won’t take criticism on that front.
He says pupils are having to miss school because of the lack of testing.
Johnson says there is an exceptionally small risk to children. And the government is doing its level best to get tests to children. He says 99.9% of schools are back.
Starmer says Johnson said the opposite yesterday. Everyone can read it in Hansard. He says a week ago the PM acknowledged that there was a problem. Is the PM saying capacity is the problem, as Dido Harding says? Or he is saying that too many healthy people are requesting tests, as Matt Hancock says?
Johnson says the attacks on Harding from Labour are unseeming. He says the government is going to get testing up to 500,000 per day. He says he wants to hear “more of the spirit of togetherness” that was on display yesterday.
So why did Johnson say yesterday it had “very little” to do with the spread of the disease, Starmer asks.
Johnson says it is an “epidemiological fact” that transmission takes place human to human. And capacity today is at a record high, he says.
Sir Keir Starmer says three months ago Johnson said test and trace would be a real positive. Yesterday he said it had little impact on the spread of the disease. Which is right?
Johnson says it is fact that test and trace does not have an impact on biological spread. But it can tell you where the disease is.