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UK coronavirus live: Sturgeon says there is case for UK to 'actually be doing even more' on restrictions UK coronavirus live: Sturgeon says there is case for UK to 'actually be doing even more' on restrictions
(about 1 hour later)
Scotland records highest daily cases total; Keir Starmer presses Boris Johnson on Covid testing at PMQs; ‘clear upward curve’ in cases in WalesScotland records highest daily cases total; Keir Starmer presses Boris Johnson on Covid testing at PMQs; ‘clear upward curve’ in cases in Wales
The Welsh first minister, Mark Drakeford, has struck a slightly more optimistic note than Boris Johnson, making clear that Wales will continue to review its regulations every three weeks and stressing that freedoms can be restored as well as being taken away.
Asked about the prime minister’s warning that restrictions may be in place for six months, Drakeford told the Guardian:
Drakeford pointed out that public health officials were “cautiously optimistic” that a corner had been turned in one of the Welsh local lockdown areas – Caerphilly. He said:
Drakeford repeated his call for people in Wales to think carefully before they travelled at al and he said he had tried to persuade Johnson to echo the same message in England. But, Drakeford said: “For whatever reason the prime minister never seems to have been attracted to that stay local mantra in England.”
Public Health Wales has recorded 389 new cases and two further deaths.
And here is the most recent chart on the Public Health Wales dashboard (from yesterday) showing how case numbers have been going up.
Scotland has recorded two more coronavirus deaths, and 486 more cases. That is the highest number of cases ever recorded in a single day in Scotland, although of course there is far more testing taking place now than there was in the spring, and so that does not mean the spread of the virus is at an all-time high.
Today’s figure also show that 7.8% of people being tested were positive. This time last week the figure was just 3.6%.
This is from the UK Covid-19 Statistics website.
Chauffeur-driven cars will be exempt from new laws forcing passengers to wear masks in taxis to slow the spread of coronavirus, Downing Street has said. As PA Media report, Boris Johnson announced that passengers in licensed vehicles would have to wear coverings under new restrictions in England aimed at preventing a resurgence of Covid-19. But No 10 said the measure, to come into force on Thursday, would not include passengers in chauffeur-driven cars, though the driver’s employer would have to ensure they could work safely.
Asked about criticism of the new coronavirus restrictions from scientists who think they are too lenient (see 9.07am and 3.19pm), Downing Street said other scientist thought they were too tough. At the No 10 lobby briefing the prime minister’s official spokesman said:
Another leading scientist has said that the coronavirus restrictions announced for England yesterday did not go far enough. Prof Peter Openshaw, professor of experimental medicine at Imperial College, told Radio 5 Live’s Emma Barnett Show today that he thought a ban on households mixing in could be coming “very soon”.
Asked if the PM had gone far enough with the new measures, Openshaw, who advises government as a member of a member of the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (Nervtag), said:
This morning Prof John Edmunds from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine said the latest measures did not go “anywhere near far enough”. (See 9.07am.)
NHS England has recorded 23 more coronavirus hospital deaths. The people who died were aged between 69 and 96 years and NHS England says they all had known underlying health conditions. The details are here.NHS England has recorded 23 more coronavirus hospital deaths. The people who died were aged between 69 and 96 years and NHS England says they all had known underlying health conditions. The details are here.
Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office minister, has confirmed that there could be queues of up to 7,000 lorries in Kent in January if hauliers are not ready for Brexit.Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office minister, has confirmed that there could be queues of up to 7,000 lorries in Kent in January if hauliers are not ready for Brexit.
In a statement to MPs he said just one in four businesses thought they were “fully ready” for the end of the post-Brexit transition after 31 December. He said the government was outlining its “reasonable worst-case scenario planning assumptions” to help to encourage firms to prepare. He went on:In a statement to MPs he said just one in four businesses thought they were “fully ready” for the end of the post-Brexit transition after 31 December. He said the government was outlining its “reasonable worst-case scenario planning assumptions” to help to encourage firms to prepare. He went on:
Gove said this could lead to queues of “up to 7,000 HGVs in Kent”, adding:Gove said this could lead to queues of “up to 7,000 HGVs in Kent”, adding:
For Labour Rachel Reeves, Gove’s shadow, said the government should have made adequate preparations. She said:For Labour Rachel Reeves, Gove’s shadow, said the government should have made adequate preparations. She said:
At a press conference in Cardiff Mark Drakeford, the Welsh first minister, said the coronavirus rate in Wales was now 46.8 cases per 100,000 people and there was a “clear upward curve”.At a press conference in Cardiff Mark Drakeford, the Welsh first minister, said the coronavirus rate in Wales was now 46.8 cases per 100,000 people and there was a “clear upward curve”.
He restated his call for people in Wales to limit their travel, saying:He restated his call for people in Wales to limit their travel, saying:
He also said that although pubs and restaurants would have to stop serving alcohol after 10pm, that did not mean people would be “out on the pavement” at that time.He also said that although pubs and restaurants would have to stop serving alcohol after 10pm, that did not mean people would be “out on the pavement” at that time.
Boris Johnson’s TV address last night on the coronavirus restrictions was watched more than 15m times, PA Media reports. His address on 23 March announcing the hard lockdown was watched by more than 25m viewers, with a second address in May, where he offered the first sketch of a road map for restarting the economy, attracting almost 30m.Boris Johnson’s TV address last night on the coronavirus restrictions was watched more than 15m times, PA Media reports. His address on 23 March announcing the hard lockdown was watched by more than 25m viewers, with a second address in May, where he offered the first sketch of a road map for restarting the economy, attracting almost 30m.
At PMQs the Green MP Caroline Lucas asked the PM about whether the UK will protect at least 30% of land and sea for nature as part of the government’s commitment to a major new UN agreement protecting biodiversity ahead of a summit next week.At PMQs the Green MP Caroline Lucas asked the PM about whether the UK will protect at least 30% of land and sea for nature as part of the government’s commitment to a major new UN agreement protecting biodiversity ahead of a summit next week.
Lucas made reference to an RSPB report that warned of a ‘lost decade for nature’ with the UK failing to reach 17 out of 20 UN biodiversity targets agreed on 10 years ago.Lucas made reference to an RSPB report that warned of a ‘lost decade for nature’ with the UK failing to reach 17 out of 20 UN biodiversity targets agreed on 10 years ago.
Officially, the UK government’s self-assessment said it failed to meet 14 of 20 targets. Collectively, the world failed to meet a single target for the previous decade.Officially, the UK government’s self-assessment said it failed to meet 14 of 20 targets. Collectively, the world failed to meet a single target for the previous decade.
The prime minister said the government was leading international efforts to get governments to agree to the 30% target, which is currently being negotiated as part of the ‘Paris agreement for nature’ that will be signed off next year in Kunming, China.The prime minister said the government was leading international efforts to get governments to agree to the 30% target, which is currently being negotiated as part of the ‘Paris agreement for nature’ that will be signed off next year in Kunming, China.
Johnson said the 30% target was pioneered by the UK. However calls to protect large parts of the earth date back to the 1970s and are spearheaded by the Nature Needs Half campaign, which aims to protect half of the planet by 2030 to slow mass extinctions and protect biodiversity.Johnson said the 30% target was pioneered by the UK. However calls to protect large parts of the earth date back to the 1970s and are spearheaded by the Nature Needs Half campaign, which aims to protect half of the planet by 2030 to slow mass extinctions and protect biodiversity.
One of Theresa May’s former advisers has said the government’s internal market bill has “seriously undermined” the Brexit talks which may now stall until the intervention of EU political leaders.One of Theresa May’s former advisers has said the government’s internal market bill has “seriously undermined” the Brexit talks which may now stall until the intervention of EU political leaders.
Raoul Ruparel told MPs on the Northern Ireland affairs committee this morning that his “understanding” was that “good progress” had been made in the joint committee discussions on the details of checks down the Irish sea post Brexit. He said:Raoul Ruparel told MPs on the Northern Ireland affairs committee this morning that his “understanding” was that “good progress” had been made in the joint committee discussions on the details of checks down the Irish sea post Brexit. He said:
He said he also found it strange that “the UK government has conceded the interpretation of certain parts of the [Northern Ireland] protocol to the EU” through the publication of the bill in relation to state aid.He said he also found it strange that “the UK government has conceded the interpretation of certain parts of the [Northern Ireland] protocol to the EU” through the publication of the bill in relation to state aid.
It would have been better for the UK to privately negotiate its own position that the protocol was designed to apply state aid exclusively in Northern Ireland, he said.It would have been better for the UK to privately negotiate its own position that the protocol was designed to apply state aid exclusively in Northern Ireland, he said.
In an interview on the World at One Julian Metcalfe, who founded the food companies Pret a Manger and Itsu, said the restrictions announced by Boris Johnson yesterday would be “devastating” if they went on for six months. He said:In an interview on the World at One Julian Metcalfe, who founded the food companies Pret a Manger and Itsu, said the restrictions announced by Boris Johnson yesterday would be “devastating” if they went on for six months. He said:
He also criticised Johnson for his TV broadcast last night, saying that for the PM to “spout off some Churchillian nonsense that we’ll make it through” was “terribly unhelpful”.He also criticised Johnson for his TV broadcast last night, saying that for the PM to “spout off some Churchillian nonsense that we’ll make it through” was “terribly unhelpful”.
Here is the PA Media story on PMQs.
The latest edition of the Guardian’s Politics Weekly podcast is out. Heather Stewart and Josh Halliday discuss the latest restrictions announced by the prime minister. James Schneider and Anna Turley talk about Keir Starmer’s performance at the Labour party’s virtual conference, Connected. Plus Libby Brooks examines how Scotland’s response to Covid has influenced voters’ opinions on Scottish independence.
Three former cabinet secretaries have condemned the government’s internal market bill and its threat to break international law as “dishonourable”, “unwise” and “an act of bad faith”.
Giving evidence to the House of Lords, Lords Butler, Wilson and O’Donnell warned that the UK’s unwritten constitution was being subjected to unprecedented strains.
Lord Butler of Brockwell, who was cabinet secretary between 1988 and 1998, told the Lords constitution select committee that “no justification has been produced for departing from the [withdrawal] agreement with the EU. The threat itself [to override international law] is both dishonourable and unwise.”
Lord Wilson of Dinton, who was cabinet secretary between 1998 and 2002, described the bill as “unacceptable and an act of bad faith”, adding that “at a time when we are testing our unwritten constitution to its limits it is putting more stress on it than before” The legislation, he said, was causing “damage to the country”.
Lord O’Donnell, who was cabinet secretary between 2005 and 2011, concurred, saying that he hoped parliament would play a part in deciding the issue. All three peers declared that they would oppose the bill.
Their unanimous disapproval and determination to vote against the internal market bill suggests the government will face severe problems when it comes to the House of Lords.
Lord Faulks, a former Conservative justice minister who is a member of the committee, also said that he “failed to see how [the legislation] was not a breach of the ministerial code [which urges ministers to respect the rule of law]”. He added:
Liverpool Hope University has announced it is to cut back on face-to-face teaching to improve Covid safety, in response to rising infection rates in the city.
The announcement was made as UK universities deal with growing numbers of cases on campus. Liverpool University reported 87 confirmed cases before term had even begun and the University of Exeter today became the latest to report “a small number” of cases.
Liverpool Hope students are due to arrive on campus this weekend for “welcome week” starting on Monday. The university has said it will move teaching online – including seminars, tutorials and lectures – for all students, apart from those requiring lab, workshop and studio space.
Dr Penny Haughan, Hope’s pro vice-chancellor for student life and learning, wrote to students:
According to the University and College Union, which represents university staff and is calling for a ban on face-to-face teaching to protect staff and students, around 15 universities are now dealing with Covid cases.
The UK is facing new coronavirus restrictions but Northern Ireland on Wednesday is getting the chance to enjoy an old, familiar sanctuary: the pub.
About 600 drink-only bars across the region were able to reopen for the first time since March after one of the longest lockdowns of its kind.
Previously only pubs that sold food with alcohol could operate while so-called wet pubs stayed shuttered, with the Stormont executive twice delaying their reopening due to rising infection levels.
Despite a continued surge in infections and the imposition of fresh restrictions on Tuesday authorities decided to let the pubs reopen today.
Most infections happened in or between households, not shops, restaurants or other public setting, the region’s chief scientific adviser, Ian Young, told the BBC. He said:
Authorities are considering copying England and Wales and imposing a 10pm closing time. However they worry some drinkers in search of a nightcap may nip across the border to the Republic of Ireland where pubs serve until 11.30pm.
“We don’t want to encourage unnecessary movements across the border which will again just give a risk of bringing the virus both ways,” said Young.
Politicians, like poker players, have their tells, and one of Boris Johnson’s is that, when he knows he’s arguing a weak case, his delivery speeds up notably and his tone sounds even more rehearsed than usual. Today he must have known that he would be asked about his test and trace gaffe yesterday and, as Sir Keir Starmer duly raised it in his first question, Johnson was off at tape recorder setting X1.5. (God help the Hansard shorthand writers.) And after that – in a performance which was by no means his worst, but was typically underwhelming – it didn’t get any better.
Some of this can be explained by the fact that Johnson is a performer, rather than a debater, but some of his habitual second-rateness is just baffling. For example, it was obvious today that he would face a barrage of questions from the opposition about support for business, and what will replace the furlough scheme. It is also obvious that the Treasury is close to making a big announcement on this. Johnson did not need to say what it would be, but it would have been quite easy to craft a form of words to serve as pre-announcement pitch-rolling that would have blunted the Labour and SNP attacks he was getting. Towards the end he came quite close to doing this. (See 12.24pm.) But that was after he took two hits from Starmer on the issue.
And it would not have been hard to draft a better response to questions about the test and trace mistake yesterday. A reminder, this is what Johnson said during the coronavirus statement:
The Tory MP Andrew Percy made a half-decent stab at defending Johnson yesterday, saying that sometimes words don’t come out quite as intended, and that of course the PM knew test and trace was vital. But this would have involved Johnson admitting that he was not perfect, and instead he launched into a convoluted justification involving wordy and rhetorical phraseology (another tell for when Johnson is up to no good). He said:
Starmer skewered Johnson effectively on this, pointing out that the PM was contradicting what he said yesterday. He also skewered him over the alternative explanations given for the shortage of tests (see 12.08pm), and over schools, and what really matters to parents. “The point ... isn’t whether the children have got Covid, it’s that they’ve got Covid symptoms and then they’re off school.”
But Starmer’s best moment came when responded to the suggestion that Labour have been talking down the NHS with the reference to his wife and family members who have worked for it. (See 12.11pm.) Given that no one in the Johnson family (at least, as far as we know) has ever had a job in the NHS, as putdowns go, this did the trick very well.
Nicola Sturgeon has warned there is a danger that devolved governments are prevented from making essential public health decisions because of financial limitations.
As she announced 486 positive cases of Covid yesterday, the highest number ever recorded in Scotland, she said she would be writing to Boris Johnson later to ask for more economic powers and flexibility for devolved governments.
She said: “We mustn’t be hamstrung in essential public health decisions for the lack of necessary economic mitigations,” while revealing that it was “very possible, even likely” that the Scottish government would have imposed stricter restrictions if it had more powers to extend the furlough scheme.
She said she was asking the prime minister for “reasonable but necessary fiscal flexibility for devolved governments”.
With a number of clusters identified at Scottish universities, Sturgeon also said that discussions were taking place about strengthening guidance around higher education, appealing to students to do the right thing. “We appreciate the sacrifices you are making at this important stage of your lives,” she said.
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”.