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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2020/nov/02/uk-coronavirus-live-johnson-plays-down-prospect-of-covid-lockdown-extension-ahead-of-facing-tory-critics
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| Starmer accuses Johnson of 'catastrophic failure of leadership' over England lockdown – as it happened | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Prime minister tells MPs he makes ‘no apology’ for trying to avoid a nationwide lockdown | Prime minister tells MPs he makes ‘no apology’ for trying to avoid a nationwide lockdown |
| Boris Johnson has sought to persuade Conservative backbenchers to support his plan for a new coronavirus lockdown across England, saying that failing to act now would risk the “medical and moral disaster” of an overwhelmed NHS. In a statement to the Commons lasting almost two and a half hours, and involving questions from 100 MPs, he repeatedly stressed that the lockdown legislation would only apply until 2 December and that MPs would have to vote on what happened next. But he could not give a categorical assurance that an extension of the lockdown would not be required, as some ministers have privately been saying. (See 9.16am.) He also claimed that mass testing would be the route to a more normal future. In his opening statement he said: | Boris Johnson has sought to persuade Conservative backbenchers to support his plan for a new coronavirus lockdown across England, saying that failing to act now would risk the “medical and moral disaster” of an overwhelmed NHS. In a statement to the Commons lasting almost two and a half hours, and involving questions from 100 MPs, he repeatedly stressed that the lockdown legislation would only apply until 2 December and that MPs would have to vote on what happened next. But he could not give a categorical assurance that an extension of the lockdown would not be required, as some ministers have privately been saying. (See 9.16am.) He also claimed that mass testing would be the route to a more normal future. In his opening statement he said: |
| Many Tory MPs are very unhappy about the decision to order a second lockdown but, although some of them were openly critical during the statement, overall there was less anger than might have been expected and even those Conservatives sceptical of the strategy were generally respectful. Johnson’s reception was much warmer than the one Theresa May used to get from Brexiters in the year before her resignation. This might be because reports of Tory dissent have been exaggerated, but more probably it’s because the lockdown-sceptics are having little success in persuading colleagues they have a viable alternative strategy. | Many Tory MPs are very unhappy about the decision to order a second lockdown but, although some of them were openly critical during the statement, overall there was less anger than might have been expected and even those Conservatives sceptical of the strategy were generally respectful. Johnson’s reception was much warmer than the one Theresa May used to get from Brexiters in the year before her resignation. This might be because reports of Tory dissent have been exaggerated, but more probably it’s because the lockdown-sceptics are having little success in persuading colleagues they have a viable alternative strategy. |
| Sir Keir Starmer has said Johnson’s lockdown U-turn represents “a catastrophic failure of leadership and of judgement”. (See 3.50pm.) He also said that Johnson’s decision to delay the lockdown had cost lives (see 11.58am) - a judgment shared by at least one scientist on the government’s Scientific Advisory Committee for Emergencies. (See 9.54am.) | Sir Keir Starmer has said Johnson’s lockdown U-turn represents “a catastrophic failure of leadership and of judgement”. (See 3.50pm.) He also said that Johnson’s decision to delay the lockdown had cost lives (see 11.58am) - a judgment shared by at least one scientist on the government’s Scientific Advisory Committee for Emergencies. (See 9.54am.) |
| Johnson has hinted that the Treasury will fund a furlough scheme for Scotland after November if it needs one because it is in lockdown when England isn’t. (See 5.34pm.) He made the apparent concession in the Commons, telling the Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross: | Johnson has hinted that the Treasury will fund a furlough scheme for Scotland after November if it needs one because it is in lockdown when England isn’t. (See 5.34pm.) He made the apparent concession in the Commons, telling the Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross: |
| Earlier, in a TV interview, Ross said Johnson was not as good a communicator as the Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon. (See 5.13pm.) Johnson proved him right when when it became clear that no one really knew quite what the PM’s answer to Ross in the Commons actually meant. (See 5.44pm and 5.53pm.) | Earlier, in a TV interview, Ross said Johnson was not as good a communicator as the Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon. (See 5.13pm.) Johnson proved him right when when it became clear that no one really knew quite what the PM’s answer to Ross in the Commons actually meant. (See 5.44pm and 5.53pm.) |
| A code error in the NHS Covid-19 app meant users had to be next to a highly infectious patient for five times as long as the NHS had decided was risky before being instructed to self-isolate, the Guardian has learned. | A code error in the NHS Covid-19 app meant users had to be next to a highly infectious patient for five times as long as the NHS had decided was risky before being instructed to self-isolate, the Guardian has learned. |
| Police may have to take action to stop residents of England “escaping” to Wales for an evening in a pub or restaurant when the month-long English lockdown comes into force from Thursday, the Welsh government has said. | Police may have to take action to stop residents of England “escaping” to Wales for an evening in a pub or restaurant when the month-long English lockdown comes into force from Thursday, the Welsh government has said. |
| High-street retailers, pub chains and airlines are among the companies to warn of the impact the surprise imposition of a second lockdown in England will have on their businesses. | High-street retailers, pub chains and airlines are among the companies to warn of the impact the surprise imposition of a second lockdown in England will have on their businesses. |
| That’s all from me for tonight. But our coverage continues on our global coronavirus live blog. It’s here. | That’s all from me for tonight. But our coverage continues on our global coronavirus live blog. It’s here. |
| This is from Douglas Fraser, BBC Scotland’s business and economics editor. He says the Treasury aren’t being clear as to what Boris Johnson’s apparent concession to Scotland over furlough actually meant. (See 5.34pm, 5.38pm and 5.44pm.) | This is from Douglas Fraser, BBC Scotland’s business and economics editor. He says the Treasury aren’t being clear as to what Boris Johnson’s apparent concession to Scotland over furlough actually meant. (See 5.34pm, 5.38pm and 5.44pm.) |
| Munira Wilson (Lib Dem) says lockdowns only delay the spread of the virus. What is the government going to do to ensure that MPs aren’t here again in January debating the need for another lockdown. | Munira Wilson (Lib Dem) says lockdowns only delay the spread of the virus. What is the government going to do to ensure that MPs aren’t here again in January debating the need for another lockdown. |
| Johnson says that is a key question. He says the solution is mass testing. That will isolate infected people, and allow those testing negative to live their lives more normally, he says. He describes it as the “game changer we can all look forward to”. | Johnson says that is a key question. He says the solution is mass testing. That will isolate infected people, and allow those testing negative to live their lives more normally, he says. He describes it as the “game changer we can all look forward to”. |
| That’s it. The statement is now over. | That’s it. The statement is now over. |
| Sir Edward Leigh (Con) invites Johnson to join him for communion in Westminster Cathedral tomorrow to see how churches are observing social distancing, and why services should be allowed during lockdown. | Sir Edward Leigh (Con) invites Johnson to join him for communion in Westminster Cathedral tomorrow to see how churches are observing social distancing, and why services should be allowed during lockdown. |
| Johnson says the ban on services is only proposed for a month. We must do everything to get the virus down, she says. | Johnson says the ban on services is only proposed for a month. We must do everything to get the virus down, she says. |
| Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, says Boris Johnson’s announcement (see 5.34pm) is very welcome - if it actually means that the government will fund an 80% furlough scheme in Scotland after November whenever it needs it. | Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, says Boris Johnson’s announcement (see 5.34pm) is very welcome - if it actually means that the government will fund an 80% furlough scheme in Scotland after November whenever it needs it. |
| She says the Scottish government is seeking “urgent” clarification of what Johnson did actually mean. | She says the Scottish government is seeking “urgent” clarification of what Johnson did actually mean. |
| Ruth Davidson, the former Scottish Conservative leader, and current Tory leader in the Scottish parliament, is confident that Boris Johnson was making a concession to Scotland (and the other devolved administrations too, presumably) on furlough. See 5.34pm. | Ruth Davidson, the former Scottish Conservative leader, and current Tory leader in the Scottish parliament, is confident that Boris Johnson was making a concession to Scotland (and the other devolved administrations too, presumably) on furlough. See 5.34pm. |
| In the Commons Douglas Ross, the Scottish Conservative leader, asked if Scotland could access the furlough scheme beyond November. | In the Commons Douglas Ross, the Scottish Conservative leader, asked if Scotland could access the furlough scheme beyond November. |
| Johnson said the furlough scheme was a UK-wide scheme. | Johnson said the furlough scheme was a UK-wide scheme. |
| If other parts of the UK go into measures that require the furlough scheme, that is available to them, he said. He said that was “not just now but in the future”. | If other parts of the UK go into measures that require the furlough scheme, that is available to them, he said. He said that was “not just now but in the future”. |
| Johnson has already answered several questions on this (eg see 4pm), mostly in identical terms, but it has not been clear whether or not he has been saying the government would fund a Scotland-only furlough scheme beyond November if Scotland were in lockdown, but not England. In his answer to Ross Johnson used similar language, but added the new clause “not just now but in the future”. That sounded like a concession. | Johnson has already answered several questions on this (eg see 4pm), mostly in identical terms, but it has not been clear whether or not he has been saying the government would fund a Scotland-only furlough scheme beyond November if Scotland were in lockdown, but not England. In his answer to Ross Johnson used similar language, but added the new clause “not just now but in the future”. That sounded like a concession. |
| Johnson hints UK could fund a Scotland-only furlough scheme beyond November. | Johnson hints UK could fund a Scotland-only furlough scheme beyond November. |
| The next question came from Pete Wishart (SNP) said he thought he has just heard Johnson confirm that Scotland could use the furlough scheme after November if it needed to. | The next question came from Pete Wishart (SNP) said he thought he has just heard Johnson confirm that Scotland could use the furlough scheme after November if it needed to. |
| Johnson said furlough was a UK scheme and it was available to Scotland if it needed it. | Johnson said furlough was a UK scheme and it was available to Scotland if it needed it. |
| Jessica Morden (Lab) asks if furlough funding will be backdated in Wales, where a lockdown started more than a week ago. | Jessica Morden (Lab) asks if furlough funding will be backdated in Wales, where a lockdown started more than a week ago. |
| Johnson says the government will support all parts of the UK. | Johnson says the government will support all parts of the UK. |
| Johnson says “it is fully [his] intention” that the lockdown will end on 2 December. | Johnson says “it is fully [his] intention” that the lockdown will end on 2 December. |
| Stephen McCabe (Lab) asks if the PM has considered making way for someone with better leadership qualities. “No,” Johnson replies. | Stephen McCabe (Lab) asks if the PM has considered making way for someone with better leadership qualities. “No,” Johnson replies. |
| Douglas Chapman (SNP) asks again for an assurance that Scotland can requisition Treasury money for the furlough scheme whenever it needs it. | Douglas Chapman (SNP) asks again for an assurance that Scotland can requisition Treasury money for the furlough scheme whenever it needs it. |
| Johnson says the furlough scheme is a UK-wide scheme. He quotes the figures already spend in Scotland and says “more will be forthcoming”. | Johnson says the furlough scheme is a UK-wide scheme. He quotes the figures already spend in Scotland and says “more will be forthcoming”. |
| Richard Holden (Con) asks for an assurance that the schools will remain open during the lockdown, and that it will end on 2 December. | Richard Holden (Con) asks for an assurance that the schools will remain open during the lockdown, and that it will end on 2 December. |
| Johnson says the schools will remain open. And the measures will end on 2 December. | Johnson says the schools will remain open. And the measures will end on 2 December. |
| In an interview with ITV’s Peter Smith, Douglas Ross, the new Scottish Conservative leader, said “most objective people” would agree that Nicolas Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, is a better communicator than Boris Johnson. | In an interview with ITV’s Peter Smith, Douglas Ross, the new Scottish Conservative leader, said “most objective people” would agree that Nicolas Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, is a better communicator than Boris Johnson. |
| He also admitted that Johnson was damaging the case for the union. When it was put to him that Johnson had a -57% approval rating in Scotland, and Sturgeon a +49% one, and that this was helping the independence cause, Ross replied: | He also admitted that Johnson was damaging the case for the union. When it was put to him that Johnson had a -57% approval rating in Scotland, and Sturgeon a +49% one, and that this was helping the independence cause, Ross replied: |
| Smith said that was quite an admission. “You asked more for an honest answer,” Ross replied. | Smith said that was quite an admission. “You asked more for an honest answer,” Ross replied. |
| Charlotte Nichols (Lab) asks if the PM will apologise to people laid off before the furlough scheme was extended. | Charlotte Nichols (Lab) asks if the PM will apologise to people laid off before the furlough scheme was extended. |
| Johnson says fair-minded people will think the government has done as much as it can. | Johnson says fair-minded people will think the government has done as much as it can. |
| Richard Thomson (SNP) asks about this Sunday Times story about the head of the vaccine taskforce showing confidential government data to American investors. | Richard Thomson (SNP) asks about this Sunday Times story about the head of the vaccine taskforce showing confidential government data to American investors. |
| Johnson says he thanks people who are working for the government pro bono. He does not address the substance of the story. | Johnson says he thanks people who are working for the government pro bono. He does not address the substance of the story. |
| Steve Baker (Con) says the Public Health Act 1984 is subject to judicial review. He says the government should pass emergency legislation using the Civil Contingencies Act instead. | Steve Baker (Con) says the Public Health Act 1984 is subject to judicial review. He says the government should pass emergency legislation using the Civil Contingencies Act instead. |
| Johnson says the CCA has strict conditions applying to its use, one of which is that it can only be used if powers needed aren’t available elsewhere. But in this case they are, under the Public Health Act. So it is not appropriate, he says. | Johnson says the CCA has strict conditions applying to its use, one of which is that it can only be used if powers needed aren’t available elsewhere. But in this case they are, under the Public Health Act. So it is not appropriate, he says. |