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| UK Covid live news: alert level drops from 5 down to 4 as threat of NHS being overwhelmed reduces | UK Covid live news: alert level drops from 5 down to 4 as threat of NHS being overwhelmed reduces |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Latest updates: UK medical officers agree to reduce Covid threat level but stress health services remains under severe pressure | Latest updates: UK medical officers agree to reduce Covid threat level but stress health services remains under severe pressure |
| The Cabinet Office has dismissed a complaint about equalities minister Kemi Badenoch by arguing her abusive public response on Twitter to a HuffPost journalist who emailed her office with a press query was issued from a “personal” Twitter account. In a scathing response, Jess Brammar, the HuffPost editor-in-chief, wonders when it became the case that ministers’ Twitter accounts were no longer covered by the ministerial code. | |
| About 40% of all fines handed out by police for breaches of Covid-19 laws since the start of the pandemic in England and Wales were issued in the most recent four-week period as police adopted a more hardline approach and “fatigue” with the rules set in, my colleagues Jamie Grierson and Tobi Thomas report. | About 40% of all fines handed out by police for breaches of Covid-19 laws since the start of the pandemic in England and Wales were issued in the most recent four-week period as police adopted a more hardline approach and “fatigue” with the rules set in, my colleagues Jamie Grierson and Tobi Thomas report. |
| Without meaning to be rude to colleagues, or the No 10 press team, it is probably fair to say that Downing Street lobby briefings are not the best places to go for highbrow political discourse. It’s more question/line to take, followed by new version of the question/same line to take all over again. But at one point in the briefing today we did start to open up a discussion about the nature of populism. | Without meaning to be rude to colleagues, or the No 10 press team, it is probably fair to say that Downing Street lobby briefings are not the best places to go for highbrow political discourse. It’s more question/line to take, followed by new version of the question/same line to take all over again. But at one point in the briefing today we did start to open up a discussion about the nature of populism. |
| It was prompted by the Philip Hammond interview with the BBC released this morning. (See 9.15am.) In it the former chancellor said he thought the government would have to abandon some of its manifesto spending promises. No 10 has not said yet that it accepts this (they dodged the question today), but the claim is not particularly provocative. | It was prompted by the Philip Hammond interview with the BBC released this morning. (See 9.15am.) In it the former chancellor said he thought the government would have to abandon some of its manifesto spending promises. No 10 has not said yet that it accepts this (they dodged the question today), but the claim is not particularly provocative. |
| But Hammond went further. He said Boris Johnson would find it hard to implement cuts because he was leading a “populist” government. This is a claim often made by Johnson’s critics, but one very rarely repeated by Conservative politicians because, in the mind of establishment opinion, populism is generally seen as dishonest, disreputable, and menacing | But Hammond went further. He said Boris Johnson would find it hard to implement cuts because he was leading a “populist” government. This is a claim often made by Johnson’s critics, but one very rarely repeated by Conservative politicians because, in the mind of establishment opinion, populism is generally seen as dishonest, disreputable, and menacing |
| When asked about Hammond’s comment, Allegra Stratton, the PM’s press secretary, said she did not accept his claim that Johnson was not willing to take unpopular decisions. She said: | When asked about Hammond’s comment, Allegra Stratton, the PM’s press secretary, said she did not accept his claim that Johnson was not willing to take unpopular decisions. She said: |
| Stratton was then pressed on whether Hammond was right to describe the government as “populist”. She replied: | Stratton was then pressed on whether Hammond was right to describe the government as “populist”. She replied: |
| This was a surprising answer because, although cutting the foreign aid budget may have been a “difficult” decision for Guardian readers, it is also one of the most popular decisions ever taken by Johnson’s government. Adam Bienkov from Business Insider dug out the polling. | This was a surprising answer because, although cutting the foreign aid budget may have been a “difficult” decision for Guardian readers, it is also one of the most popular decisions ever taken by Johnson’s government. Adam Bienkov from Business Insider dug out the polling. |
| Of course, being popular is not the same as being “populist”. Populism is a concept with various definitions, but the one most widely accepted now is (in the words of Cas Mudde, who is credited with coming up with it) “an ideology that considers society to be separated into two homogeneous and antagonistic groups, ‘the pure people’ versus ‘the corrupt elite’, and which argues that politics should be an expression of the volonté générale (general will) of the people”. Johnson is clearly associated with this because of the way he has championed Brexit as an anti-elitist crusade. | Of course, being popular is not the same as being “populist”. Populism is a concept with various definitions, but the one most widely accepted now is (in the words of Cas Mudde, who is credited with coming up with it) “an ideology that considers society to be separated into two homogeneous and antagonistic groups, ‘the pure people’ versus ‘the corrupt elite’, and which argues that politics should be an expression of the volonté générale (general will) of the people”. Johnson is clearly associated with this because of the way he has championed Brexit as an anti-elitist crusade. |
| Cutting the aid budget was not part of the Brexit offer, but for years it was the signature economic policy of Ukip, who were classic rightwing populists and who in many respects wrote the script for Johnson’s Vote Leave movement. | Cutting the aid budget was not part of the Brexit offer, but for years it was the signature economic policy of Ukip, who were classic rightwing populists and who in many respects wrote the script for Johnson’s Vote Leave movement. |
| When it was put to Stratton that cutting the aid budget did not prove Johnson was not a populist, she repeated the point about it being a difficult decision. And she said that in implementing lockdown Johnson had obviously had to take other difficult decisions. “This is why this populist label, I don’t find it very helpful,” she added. | When it was put to Stratton that cutting the aid budget did not prove Johnson was not a populist, she repeated the point about it being a difficult decision. And she said that in implementing lockdown Johnson had obviously had to take other difficult decisions. “This is why this populist label, I don’t find it very helpful,” she added. |
| The latest Covid figures for the UK have now been uploaded onto the government’s dashboard. Here are the key statistics. | The latest Covid figures for the UK have now been uploaded onto the government’s dashboard. Here are the key statistics. |
| The UK has recorded 323 further deaths. A week ago today the equivalent figure was 454. And the total number of deaths for the last seven days is down 30.4% on the total for the previous week. | The UK has recorded 323 further deaths. A week ago today the equivalent figure was 454. And the total number of deaths for the last seven days is down 30.4% on the total for the previous week. |
| The UK has recorded 9,985 more cases. That is a tiny rise on the total for yesterday (9,938) but it is still only the fourth day this year the reported total has been below 10,000. Week on week, new cases are down 15.7%. | The UK has recorded 9,985 more cases. That is a tiny rise on the total for yesterday (9,938) but it is still only the fourth day this year the reported total has been below 10,000. Week on week, new cases are down 15.7%. |
| There were 448,962 first doses of vaccine administered yesterday. That is the highest daily total for almost a week, and well above the current seven-day average. | There were 448,962 first doses of vaccine administered yesterday. That is the highest daily total for almost a week, and well above the current seven-day average. |
| Sky has released a picture of Sir Kenneth Branagh playing Boris Johnson in This Sceptred Isle, a drama about the coronavirus pandemic due to be broadcast next year. My colleague Caroline Davies has the story here. | Sky has released a picture of Sir Kenneth Branagh playing Boris Johnson in This Sceptred Isle, a drama about the coronavirus pandemic due to be broadcast next year. My colleague Caroline Davies has the story here. |
| The Covid alert level is being moved down from level 5, the most serious level, to level 4, the four UK chief medical officers have decided. They have just issued this statement: | The Covid alert level is being moved down from level 5, the most serious level, to level 4, the four UK chief medical officers have decided. They have just issued this statement: |
| The four chief medical officers are: Prof Chris Whitty (England), Dr Michael McBride (Northern Ireland), Dr Gregor Smith (Scotland) and Dr Frank Atherton (Wales). Prof Stephen Powis, the NHS England national medical director, has also signed the statement now. | The four chief medical officers are: Prof Chris Whitty (England), Dr Michael McBride (Northern Ireland), Dr Gregor Smith (Scotland) and Dr Frank Atherton (Wales). Prof Stephen Powis, the NHS England national medical director, has also signed the statement now. |
| Given what has been happening to Covid case numbers are deaths in recent weeks, this decision is not surprising. The Covid alert system was set up in May last year and at that point the UK was at level 4, meaning “a Covid-19 epidemic is in general circulation; transmission is high or rising exponentially”. It went down to level 3 in June, back up to level 4 in September and only went up to level 5 in January, as England entered its third lockdown. Level 5 means the virus is in general circulation, transmission is high or rising and “there is a material risk of healthcare services being overwhelmed”. | Given what has been happening to Covid case numbers are deaths in recent weeks, this decision is not surprising. The Covid alert system was set up in May last year and at that point the UK was at level 4, meaning “a Covid-19 epidemic is in general circulation; transmission is high or rising exponentially”. It went down to level 3 in June, back up to level 4 in September and only went up to level 5 in January, as England entered its third lockdown. Level 5 means the virus is in general circulation, transmission is high or rising and “there is a material risk of healthcare services being overwhelmed”. |
| When the alert system was set up, it was envisaged that the lifting of lockdown measures would be linked to the UK’s progress down the alert scale. But in practice there has been little linkage, and the roadmap for lifting lockdown measures in England published on Monday contains no mention of alert levels, and only one mention of the JBC. | When the alert system was set up, it was envisaged that the lifting of lockdown measures would be linked to the UK’s progress down the alert scale. But in practice there has been little linkage, and the roadmap for lifting lockdown measures in England published on Monday contains no mention of alert levels, and only one mention of the JBC. |
| One in five adults in England under 70 have had their first dose of Covid-19 vaccines, PA Media reports. PA says: | One in five adults in England under 70 have had their first dose of Covid-19 vaccines, PA Media reports. PA says: |
| Here are the main lines from the No 10 lobby briefing. | Here are the main lines from the No 10 lobby briefing. |
| Downing Street has said that votes on the budget will be treated as a confidence matter, meaning that if Conservative MPs rebel, they will lose the whip. Asked if budget votes would be a confidence matter, Allegra Stratton, the PM’s press secretary, said yes. | Downing Street has said that votes on the budget will be treated as a confidence matter, meaning that if Conservative MPs rebel, they will lose the whip. Asked if budget votes would be a confidence matter, Allegra Stratton, the PM’s press secretary, said yes. |
| No 10 has ruled out prioritising prisoners in the next wave of the vaccination programme. According to a report in today’s Times, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation is advising that, in the next phase, people under 50 should be vaccinated by age bands, with no attempt to prioritise key workers. But it is also saying officials should have the option of vaccinating a whole prison in one go. The Times says: | No 10 has ruled out prioritising prisoners in the next wave of the vaccination programme. According to a report in today’s Times, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation is advising that, in the next phase, people under 50 should be vaccinated by age bands, with no attempt to prioritise key workers. But it is also saying officials should have the option of vaccinating a whole prison in one go. The Times says: |
| But Downing Street said prisoners would not get prioritised, and they would be vaccinated in line with the JCVI recommendations for the whole population (ie by age). “Prisoners won’t be prioritised for vaccines,” the PM’s spokesman said. | But Downing Street said prisoners would not get prioritised, and they would be vaccinated in line with the JCVI recommendations for the whole population (ie by age). “Prisoners won’t be prioritised for vaccines,” the PM’s spokesman said. |
| Downing Street rejected a claim from the former French ambassador to the UK that Boris Johnson is “an unrepentant and inveterate liar”. The PM’s spokesman said: | Downing Street rejected a claim from the former French ambassador to the UK that Boris Johnson is “an unrepentant and inveterate liar”. The PM’s spokesman said: |
| (The day Johnson agreed the trade deal with the EU was the day when he also claimed it involved “no non-tariff barriers” to trade. This was completely untrue.) | (The day Johnson agreed the trade deal with the EU was the day when he also claimed it involved “no non-tariff barriers” to trade. This was completely untrue.) |
| Downing Street rejected a suggestion that the creation of a new cabinet committee on the union led by PM was a sign of “confusion and panic”. When this was put to the spokesman, he replied: | Downing Street rejected a suggestion that the creation of a new cabinet committee on the union led by PM was a sign of “confusion and panic”. When this was put to the spokesman, he replied: |
| Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, has announced further sanctions against members of the Myanmar military for their part in the coup that has deposed the democratic leadership. Six more military figures of the state administration council face sanctions for serious human rights violations, on top of the 19 previously listed by the UK, the Foreign Office said. | Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, has announced further sanctions against members of the Myanmar military for their part in the coup that has deposed the democratic leadership. Six more military figures of the state administration council face sanctions for serious human rights violations, on top of the 19 previously listed by the UK, the Foreign Office said. |
| Sir Keir Starmer has posted a tweet saying it is “outrageous” that Serco is paying a dividend to shareholders. (See 9.47am and 11.20am.) | Sir Keir Starmer has posted a tweet saying it is “outrageous” that Serco is paying a dividend to shareholders. (See 9.47am and 11.20am.) |
| Louise Haigh, the shadow Northern Ireland secretary, has criticised the Conservative European Research Group for calling for the Northern Ireland protocol to be abandoned. (See 11.32am.) She said: | Louise Haigh, the shadow Northern Ireland secretary, has criticised the Conservative European Research Group for calling for the Northern Ireland protocol to be abandoned. (See 11.32am.) She said: |
| Boris Johnson has described the plans for school exam grades in England to be based on teacher assessments as a good compromise. Speaking on a visit to Accrington academy in Lancashire, he said: | Boris Johnson has described the plans for school exam grades in England to be based on teacher assessments as a good compromise. Speaking on a visit to Accrington academy in Lancashire, he said: |
| He also insisted he had confidence in the much-criticised education secretary, Gavin Williamson. Asked if he did, he replied: “Of course, and I think that what we are doing is the right thing to get all our students, our pupils, back on March 8. | He also insisted he had confidence in the much-criticised education secretary, Gavin Williamson. Asked if he did, he replied: “Of course, and I think that what we are doing is the right thing to get all our students, our pupils, back on March 8. |