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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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| UK coronavirus live: PM would have saved thousands of lives with earlier lockdown, says Sage scientist | UK coronavirus live: PM would have saved thousands of lives with earlier lockdown, says Sage scientist |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| PM will insist there is ‘no alternative’ to a nationwide lockdown as he addresses House of Commons on Monday | PM will insist there is ‘no alternative’ to a nationwide lockdown as he addresses House of Commons on Monday |
| England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will seek to agree joint rules for Christmas, Downing Street said today. | |
| Following a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee, chaired by the Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove and attended by the devolved administrations, No 10 said all four governments would “work together on a joint approach to the Christmas period”. | |
| At his news conference Mark Drakeford, the Welsh first minister, said the ban on non-essential travel outside Wales during November, while the English lockdown is in force (see 1.16pm), would also cover flights from Cardiff airport. He explained: | |
| Douglas Ross, the Scottish Tory leader, has attacked over-centralisation by Westminster and called for English mayors and devolved administrations to be given seats in a reformed House of Lords. | |
| In his first major speech since becoming Scottish Tory leader, Ross said there was mounting evidence “trust has broken down” between Boris Johnson’s government and the leaders of the UK’s nations and regions during the Covid crisis and the Brexit transition process. | |
| That was largely driven by the prime minister’s centralisation of power and “winner takes all” attitude to Brexit and the coronavirus pandemic, Ross told the Tory-leaning think tank Policy Exchange in London. | |
| “The Covid-19 crisis has put the structures for interaction between the UK government, devolved administrations and indeed the English mayoralties to the ultimate test,” Ross said. That had fuelled widespread discontent with Johnson’s government. | |
| Ross hinted heavily that he sided with the Northern Research Group of Tory MPs who have warned Johnson his recent approach has exposed “deep structural and systemic disadvantage faced by our communities”. | |
| His warnings to Johnson follow a surge in support for both the Scottish National party and for independence during the Covid crisis, putting Nicola Sturgeon, the SNP leader and first minister, on course for a majority in next May’s Holyrood election. | |
| At his news conference Mark Drakeford said that when the Welsh “firebreak” lockdown ends next week, Welsh people will not be allowed to cross the border into England without a reasonable excuse while the English lockdown is in force. He said: | |
| Drakeford said that needing to cross the border for work was clearly a reasonable excuse. | |
| After his speech to the CBI Sir Keir Starmer took questions from the audience, and in his answers he hinted at his desire to move away from some aspects of the Jeremy Corbyn policy agenda. These are from Sky’s Joe Pike and the FT’s Jim Pickard. | After his speech to the CBI Sir Keir Starmer took questions from the audience, and in his answers he hinted at his desire to move away from some aspects of the Jeremy Corbyn policy agenda. These are from Sky’s Joe Pike and the FT’s Jim Pickard. |
| Chloe Smith, a minister in the Cabinet Office, has announced that she is starting treatment for breast cancer. | Chloe Smith, a minister in the Cabinet Office, has announced that she is starting treatment for breast cancer. |
| T-cell immunity against Covid-19 is likely to be present within most adults six months after primary infection, according to a study. | T-cell immunity against Covid-19 is likely to be present within most adults six months after primary infection, according to a study. |
| As PA Media reports, the research from Public Health England (PHE) and the UK Coronavirus Immunology Consortium (UK-CIC) demonstrated robust T-cell responses to Covid-19 peptides at six months in all participants following asymptomatic, mild or moderate infection. | As PA Media reports, the research from Public Health England (PHE) and the UK Coronavirus Immunology Consortium (UK-CIC) demonstrated robust T-cell responses to Covid-19 peptides at six months in all participants following asymptomatic, mild or moderate infection. |
| Prof Paul Moss, UK-CIC lead and professor of haematology at the University of Birmingham, described the new data as “reassuring, potentially even encouraging” but said it does not mean people cannot get re-infected. | Prof Paul Moss, UK-CIC lead and professor of haematology at the University of Birmingham, described the new data as “reassuring, potentially even encouraging” but said it does not mean people cannot get re-infected. |
| The research was an observational study and has not yet been peer-reviewed. | The research was an observational study and has not yet been peer-reviewed. |
| Nicola Sturgeon has said Scotland could quickly move to a full lockdown to “stamp down harder” on the spread of Covid-19 by exploiting the opportunity offered by the new 80% furlough funding from the Treasury. | Nicola Sturgeon has said Scotland could quickly move to a full lockdown to “stamp down harder” on the spread of Covid-19 by exploiting the opportunity offered by the new 80% furlough funding from the Treasury. |
| The first minister said that during a Cobra meeting hosted on Monday morning by Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office minister, she and the Welsh and Northern Irish governments had pressed for much greater flexibility in the availability of furlough payments outside England. | The first minister said that during a Cobra meeting hosted on Monday morning by Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office minister, she and the Welsh and Northern Irish governments had pressed for much greater flexibility in the availability of furlough payments outside England. |
| She said she hoped the Treasury would confirm later today that the devolved administrations would be allowed to offer 80% furlough payments to employers even if they were not used in England. | She said she hoped the Treasury would confirm later today that the devolved administrations would be allowed to offer 80% furlough payments to employers even if they were not used in England. |
| Douglas Ross, the Scottish Tory leader, confirmed in a speech to the Tory-leaning Policy Exchange on Monday morning, he had also been lobbying the chancellor to offer that option to devolved governments. | Douglas Ross, the Scottish Tory leader, confirmed in a speech to the Tory-leaning Policy Exchange on Monday morning, he had also been lobbying the chancellor to offer that option to devolved governments. |
| If the Treasury did not do that, Sturgeon said, her government could decide to move very fast to impose level 4 restrictions across Scotland this week to use the time-limited opportunity to offer furlough over the next four weeks. She said: | If the Treasury did not do that, Sturgeon said, her government could decide to move very fast to impose level 4 restrictions across Scotland this week to use the time-limited opportunity to offer furlough over the next four weeks. She said: |
| Sturgeon said stricter Scottish rules introduced from September appeared to be working with the surge in new cases starting to subside. | Sturgeon said stricter Scottish rules introduced from September appeared to be working with the surge in new cases starting to subside. |
| There were no new deaths overnight but the number of new cases fell overnight to 951. The numbers in hospital rose by 32 to 1,225 and by 12 in intensive care, up to 93. | There were no new deaths overnight but the number of new cases fell overnight to 951. The numbers in hospital rose by 32 to 1,225 and by 12 in intensive care, up to 93. |
| At his press conference Mark Drakeford, the Welsh first minister, says he wanted to be able to say today that pubs and restaurants would be able to reopen next week on the same terms as before. | At his press conference Mark Drakeford, the Welsh first minister, says he wanted to be able to say today that pubs and restaurants would be able to reopen next week on the same terms as before. |
| But he says the announcement of the England-wide lockdown has made that difficult, because it creates a risk of English people crossing the border to drink in pubs in Wales. He does not want to create a situation where the police cannot enforce the ban on people visiting from high-Covid areas outside Wales, he says. | But he says the announcement of the England-wide lockdown has made that difficult, because it creates a risk of English people crossing the border to drink in pubs in Wales. He does not want to create a situation where the police cannot enforce the ban on people visiting from high-Covid areas outside Wales, he says. |
| He says that is why there will be further talks before the exact arrangements for the reopening of pubs in Wales are announced. | He says that is why there will be further talks before the exact arrangements for the reopening of pubs in Wales are announced. |
| Here is the full text of Sir Keir Starmer’s speech to the CBI conference. And here are the main points. | Here is the full text of Sir Keir Starmer’s speech to the CBI conference. And here are the main points. |
| Starmer said that the government’s decision to delay the lockdown had cost lives. (See 11.58am.) Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, had failed to show leadership, Starmer said. | Starmer said that the government’s decision to delay the lockdown had cost lives. (See 11.58am.) Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, had failed to show leadership, Starmer said. |
| Starmer singled out Sunak for particular blame, accusing the chancellor of being the person who blocked an earlier lockdown. He said: | Starmer singled out Sunak for particular blame, accusing the chancellor of being the person who blocked an earlier lockdown. He said: |
| Labour has been increasingly critical of Sunak in its public campaigning recently. With speculation still bubbling away at Westminster about the prospect of Johnson being replaced at some point before the next general election by Sunak, who is far more popular with the public, Starmer has a clear incentive to tarnish his reputation. But blaming Sunak for being responsible for the lockdown delay also implies that Johnson’s own leadership is weak. | Labour has been increasingly critical of Sunak in its public campaigning recently. With speculation still bubbling away at Westminster about the prospect of Johnson being replaced at some point before the next general election by Sunak, who is far more popular with the public, Starmer has a clear incentive to tarnish his reputation. But blaming Sunak for being responsible for the lockdown delay also implies that Johnson’s own leadership is weak. |
| Starmer said he said he thought “the essential bargain of postwar Britain” had broken down. He explained: | Starmer said he said he thought “the essential bargain of postwar Britain” had broken down. He explained: |
| He said he wanted to restore Labour’s relationship with the business community. He said: | He said he wanted to restore Labour’s relationship with the business community. He said: |
| He said his goal was for “every community and every town [to have] world-class local businesses”. But Labour also expect businesses to contribute something in return, he said. | He said his goal was for “every community and every town [to have] world-class local businesses”. But Labour also expect businesses to contribute something in return, he said. |
| He said improving skills would be a priority for Labour under his leadership “like never before”. | He said improving skills would be a priority for Labour under his leadership “like never before”. |
| Mark Drakeford, the Welsh first minister, is giving a briefing now. The new national measures for Wales when the country’s “firebreak” lockdown ends next Monday include: | Mark Drakeford, the Welsh first minister, is giving a briefing now. The new national measures for Wales when the country’s “firebreak” lockdown ends next Monday include: |
| The need to maintain 2 metre social distancing and wear face masks in enclosed public places, including on public transport and taxis, will continue. | The need to maintain 2 metre social distancing and wear face masks in enclosed public places, including on public transport and taxis, will continue. |
| The requirement to work from home whenever possible will remain. | The requirement to work from home whenever possible will remain. |
| People should only meet with their ‘bubble’ in their own home and only two households will be able to form a ‘bubble’. If one person from either household develops symptoms, everyone should immediately self-isolate. | People should only meet with their ‘bubble’ in their own home and only two households will be able to form a ‘bubble’. If one person from either household develops symptoms, everyone should immediately self-isolate. |
| Up to 15 people can take part in an organised indoors activity and up to 30 in an organised activity outdoors, providing all social distancing, hand hygiene and other Covid safety measures are followed. | Up to 15 people can take part in an organised indoors activity and up to 30 in an organised activity outdoors, providing all social distancing, hand hygiene and other Covid safety measures are followed. |
| All premises, such as restaurants, cafes, pubs and gyms, closed during the firebreak, will be able to reopen. Following the announcement about the English lockdown, ministers are having ongoing discussions with the hospitality sector about the detailed rules for reopening. This includes about meeting in public indoor spaces. | All premises, such as restaurants, cafes, pubs and gyms, closed during the firebreak, will be able to reopen. Following the announcement about the English lockdown, ministers are having ongoing discussions with the hospitality sector about the detailed rules for reopening. This includes about meeting in public indoor spaces. |
| As part of keeping our risks to a minimum, people should avoid non-essential travel as much as possible. There will be no legal restrictions on travel within Wales for residents, but international travel should be for essential reasons only. | As part of keeping our risks to a minimum, people should avoid non-essential travel as much as possible. There will be no legal restrictions on travel within Wales for residents, but international travel should be for essential reasons only. |
| In addition: | In addition: |
| All schools will reopen. | All schools will reopen. |
| Churches and places of worship will resume services. | Churches and places of worship will resume services. |
| Local authority services will resume but based on local circumstances. | Local authority services will resume but based on local circumstances. |
| Community centres will be available for small groups to meet safely indoors in the winter months. | Community centres will be available for small groups to meet safely indoors in the winter months. |
| In his speech to the CBI Sir Keir Starmer said that the PM’s decision to delay the lockdown had cost lives. He said: | In his speech to the CBI Sir Keir Starmer said that the PM’s decision to delay the lockdown had cost lives. He said: |
| Sir Keir Starmer is addressing the CBI conference now. | Sir Keir Starmer is addressing the CBI conference now. |
| He says he will be using his speech to set out his plan for “a new partnership between British business and the Labour party”. | He says he will be using his speech to set out his plan for “a new partnership between British business and the Labour party”. |
| But he starts by speaking about coronavirus, and he says the government has ignored the central lesson from the first wave of the virus: that governments have to act early and decisively. | But he starts by speaking about coronavirus, and he says the government has ignored the central lesson from the first wave of the virus: that governments have to act early and decisively. |
| He says Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, failed to learn this lesson. They failed to listen and they failed to lead, he says. | He says Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, failed to learn this lesson. They failed to listen and they failed to lead, he says. |
| I will post a full summary of the speech once I’ve read the whole text. | I will post a full summary of the speech once I’ve read the whole text. |