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UK Covid news: Gove suggests UK will have to learn to live with deaths at certain level UK Covid live: all over-18s in England should be eligible for jabs from end of this week, says NHS boss
(32 minutes later)
Latest updates: Michael Gove also says does not rule out restrictions continuing beyond July Latest updates: Simon Stevens says he expects bookings to open for all over-18s from later this week
Boris Johnson has said that the free trade deal with Australia will “benefit British farmers”. Speaking at No 10 after agreeing the deal with Scott Morrison, his Australian counterpart, he said:
The National Farmers’ Union has strongly contested the claim that their members will benefit from the deal. Last month, when it was first reported that the deal would allow Australian farmers tariff-free access to the UK market after a 15-year transition, the NFU said: “We continue to maintain that a tariff free trade deal with Australia will jeopardise our own farming industry and will cause the demise of many, many beef and sheep farms throughout the UK. This is true whether tariffs are dropped immediately or in 15 years’ time.”
Johnson also said a key benefit of the deal was that it would increase the chances of the UK being able to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), one of the largest free trade areas in the world covering 11 Pacific nations. He said:
And Johnson has posted this on Twitter.
All adults in England should be able to book a coronavirus vaccination by the end of this week, Sir Simon Stevens, the NHS England chief executive, said this morning.All adults in England should be able to book a coronavirus vaccination by the end of this week, Sir Simon Stevens, the NHS England chief executive, said this morning.
Speaking to the NHS Confederation annual conference, Stevens said:Speaking to the NHS Confederation annual conference, Stevens said:
Mark Harper, the Conservative MP who chairs the Covid Recovery Group, which represents anti-lockdown or lockdown-sceptic backbenchers, told LBC this morning that he thought the government could have gone ahead “perfectly safely” with removing all remaining restrictions for England on 21 June, as originally planned. Harper said:Mark Harper, the Conservative MP who chairs the Covid Recovery Group, which represents anti-lockdown or lockdown-sceptic backbenchers, told LBC this morning that he thought the government could have gone ahead “perfectly safely” with removing all remaining restrictions for England on 21 June, as originally planned. Harper said:
Tony Hall, the former BBC director general, is currently getting monstered by the Commons culture committee over what happened with Martin Bashir, and particularly over the BBC’s decision to rehire Bashir when some executives knew how he had obtained the Diana interview. My colleague Kevin Rawlinson is covering it on a separate live blog. It’s here.Tony Hall, the former BBC director general, is currently getting monstered by the Commons culture committee over what happened with Martin Bashir, and particularly over the BBC’s decision to rehire Bashir when some executives knew how he had obtained the Diana interview. My colleague Kevin Rawlinson is covering it on a separate live blog. It’s here.
UK unemployment fell for the fourth month in a row in April as businesses took on more staff in response to the relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions, my colleague Richard Partington reports.UK unemployment fell for the fourth month in a row in April as businesses took on more staff in response to the relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions, my colleague Richard Partington reports.
There were 98 deaths registered in England and Wales in the week ending 4 June involving coronavirus, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics. They accounted for 1.3% of all deaths registered that week. The previous week Covid deaths accounted for 1% of all deaths.There were 98 deaths registered in England and Wales in the week ending 4 June involving coronavirus, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics. They accounted for 1.3% of all deaths registered that week. The previous week Covid deaths accounted for 1% of all deaths.
No 10 has announced that Boris Johnson and his Australian counterpart, Scott Morrison, have agreed a free trade deal. It is significant because, although the UK has agreed plenty of other trade deals since Brexit, until now those have all been deals that predominantly just replicate the trade deals the UK had as a member of the EU. This one is genuinely new.No 10 has announced that Boris Johnson and his Australian counterpart, Scott Morrison, have agreed a free trade deal. It is significant because, although the UK has agreed plenty of other trade deals since Brexit, until now those have all been deals that predominantly just replicate the trade deals the UK had as a member of the EU. This one is genuinely new.
The full text of an “agreement in principle” will be published in the coming days, No 10 says, but here are the main points from the No 10 press release.The full text of an “agreement in principle” will be published in the coming days, No 10 says, but here are the main points from the No 10 press release.
The deal will eliminate tariffs on all UK goods going to Australia, No 10 says. UK-Australia trade was worth £13.9bn in 2020, and No 10 says this is now set to grow.The deal will eliminate tariffs on all UK goods going to Australia, No 10 says. UK-Australia trade was worth £13.9bn in 2020, and No 10 says this is now set to grow.
British households will save up to £34m per year because of tariff cuts making Australian imports cheaper, No 10 says. But given that there are around 28m households in the UK, this saving is minimal. It amounts to an average saving of about £1.20 per household.British households will save up to £34m per year because of tariff cuts making Australian imports cheaper, No 10 says. But given that there are around 28m households in the UK, this saving is minimal. It amounts to an average saving of about £1.20 per household.
British farmers will be protected for 15 years “using tariff-rate quotas and other safeguards”, No 10 says.British farmers will be protected for 15 years “using tariff-rate quotas and other safeguards”, No 10 says.
The deal includes measures to allow Britons under the age of 35 to travel and work in Australia more freely, No 10 says.The deal includes measures to allow Britons under the age of 35 to travel and work in Australia more freely, No 10 says.
No 10 says industries that employ 3.5 million people in the UK could benefit. It names car manufacturing, Scotch whisky, confectionery, biscuits and ceramics as sectors that will benefit from tariff-free access to the Australian market.No 10 says industries that employ 3.5 million people in the UK could benefit. It names car manufacturing, Scotch whisky, confectionery, biscuits and ceramics as sectors that will benefit from tariff-free access to the Australian market.
The 13,000 small and medium-sized businesses that already export to Australia will face less bureaucracy, No 10 says.The 13,000 small and medium-sized businesses that already export to Australia will face less bureaucracy, No 10 says.
Here is my colleague Peter Walker’s story on the deal.Here is my colleague Peter Walker’s story on the deal.
Good morning. Following last night’s announcement about the four-week delay to the easing of the remaining lockdown restrictions in England, Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office minister, has been touring the studios this morning. A lot of what he said echoed what Boris Johnson said at his press conference, but two lines stood out from his Today interview.Good morning. Following last night’s announcement about the four-week delay to the easing of the remaining lockdown restrictions in England, Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office minister, has been touring the studios this morning. A lot of what he said echoed what Boris Johnson said at his press conference, but two lines stood out from his Today interview.
Gove suggested the UK would have to learn to live with Covid deaths at a certain level. Asked if the country could end up having hundreds of deaths a day after restrictions get lifted in July, as Prof Graham Medley, a government adviser, told the programme might happen, Gove replied:Gove suggested the UK would have to learn to live with Covid deaths at a certain level. Asked if the country could end up having hundreds of deaths a day after restrictions get lifted in July, as Prof Graham Medley, a government adviser, told the programme might happen, Gove replied:
When asked if that meant living with hundreds of deaths a day, Gove did not deny the possibility, but he stressed he was not an epidemiologist. Asked if a long-term death toll like this might be acceptable, Gove replied:When asked if that meant living with hundreds of deaths a day, Gove did not deny the possibility, but he stressed he was not an epidemiologist. Asked if a long-term death toll like this might be acceptable, Gove replied:
Earlier Medley, professor of infectious disease modelling at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), told the programme that Covid deaths could rise to hundreds per day after the lifting of all remaining restrictions. “I think that’s quite possible it’s not a certainty,” he said. “There is a lot of uncertainty, but I think that’s quite possible.”Earlier Medley, professor of infectious disease modelling at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), told the programme that Covid deaths could rise to hundreds per day after the lifting of all remaining restrictions. “I think that’s quite possible it’s not a certainty,” he said. “There is a lot of uncertainty, but I think that’s quite possible.”
Gove did not rule out some Covid restrictions continuing beyond July. And he also suggested that partial working from home would become permanent for some people. Asked if restrictions might continue until the spring, he said the government wanted to get rid of every possible restriction. He went on:Gove did not rule out some Covid restrictions continuing beyond July. And he also suggested that partial working from home would become permanent for some people. Asked if restrictions might continue until the spring, he said the government wanted to get rid of every possible restriction. He went on:
When it was put to him that he was not ruling out restrictions continuing until the spring, he did not challenge this.When it was put to him that he was not ruling out restrictions continuing until the spring, he did not challenge this.
Here is the agenda for the day.Here is the agenda for the day.
9.30am: The ONS publishes its weekly death figures for England and Wales.9.30am: The ONS publishes its weekly death figures for England and Wales.
9.30am: Nick Thomas-Symonds, the shadow home secretary, gives a speech on border controls.9.30am: Nick Thomas-Symonds, the shadow home secretary, gives a speech on border controls.
9.45am: Sir Simon Stevens, the outgoing NHS England chief executive, gives a speech to the NHS Confederation conference.9.45am: Sir Simon Stevens, the outgoing NHS England chief executive, gives a speech to the NHS Confederation conference.
10am: Lord Hall, the former director general of the BBC, gives evidence to the Commons culture committee about the Martin Bashir/Diana interview scandal; he will be followed by Lord Birt, another former DG at 10.45am and by Tim Davie, the current DG, and Richard Sharp, the BBC chair, at 11.30am.10am: Lord Hall, the former director general of the BBC, gives evidence to the Commons culture committee about the Martin Bashir/Diana interview scandal; he will be followed by Lord Birt, another former DG at 10.45am and by Tim Davie, the current DG, and Richard Sharp, the BBC chair, at 11.30am.
10am: Amanda Spielman, the chief inspector of schools, gives evidence to the Commons education committee about sexual abuse in schools.10am: Amanda Spielman, the chief inspector of schools, gives evidence to the Commons education committee about sexual abuse in schools.
11.30m: Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office minister, gives a speech on civil service reform.11.30m: Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office minister, gives a speech on civil service reform.
12pm: Downing Street is expected to hold its daily lobby briefing.12pm: Downing Street is expected to hold its daily lobby briefing.
12.30pm: Priti Patel, the home secretary, delivers a Commons statement to mark the publication of the report into the murder of Daniel Morgan.12.30pm: Priti Patel, the home secretary, delivers a Commons statement to mark the publication of the report into the murder of Daniel Morgan.
2.20pm: Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, gives a statement to MSPs about Covid.2.20pm: Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, gives a statement to MSPs about Covid.
Politics Live has been a mix of Covid and non-Covid news recently, and that will probably be the case today. For global coronavirus developments, do read our global live blog.Politics Live has been a mix of Covid and non-Covid news recently, and that will probably be the case today. For global coronavirus developments, do read our global live blog.
I try to monitor the comments below the line (BTL) but it is impossible to read them all. If you have a direct question, do include “Andrew” in it somewhere and I’m more likely to find it. I do try to answer questions, and if they are of general interest, I will post the question and reply above the line (ATL), although I can’t promise to do this for everyone.I try to monitor the comments below the line (BTL) but it is impossible to read them all. If you have a direct question, do include “Andrew” in it somewhere and I’m more likely to find it. I do try to answer questions, and if they are of general interest, I will post the question and reply above the line (ATL), although I can’t promise to do this for everyone.
If you want to attract my attention quickly, it is probably better to use Twitter. I’m on @AndrewSparrow.If you want to attract my attention quickly, it is probably better to use Twitter. I’m on @AndrewSparrow.
Alternatively, you can email me at andrew.sparrow@theguardian.com.Alternatively, you can email me at andrew.sparrow@theguardian.com.