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UK Covid live: Boris Johnson refuses to accept claim he often misleads parliament UK Covid live: Boris Johnson signals he favours longer school day to help pupils catch up
(32 minutes later)
Latest updates: prime minister faces questions from liaison committee; Labour leader condemns Johnson’s ‘reckless’ unlocking in EnglandLatest updates: prime minister faces questions from liaison committee; Labour leader condemns Johnson’s ‘reckless’ unlocking in England
The UK has recorded 32,548 new coronavirus cases, and 33 further deaths, according to the latest update to the government’s dashboard. That is the highest daily total for new cases since January.
Q: Shouldn’t there be a long-term plan for education, covering sport and wellbeing? Isn’t a longer school day worth supporting?
Johnson says they are looking at the evidence.
Some of the evidence initially supported was not powerful enough, he says.
He seems to be referring to the submission from Sir Kevan Collins, the former education recovery commissioner, for a longer school day.
But that does not mean this is not worth doing.
Robert Halfon (Con), the education committee chair, is asking the questions now.
Johnson says the move from bubbling to testing will enable them to keep more children in school.
Stephen Timms (Lab), chair of the DWP committee, goes next.
Q: How do you respond to calls for the £20 per week universal credit uplift to be permanent?
Johnson says other measures are in place to help the low paid.
But he says he wants to see a “strong, jobs-led recovery”.
Q: If this cut goes ahead, unemployment support will be at its lowest level for 30 years. Half a million peope will be pushed into poverty. Can that be justified?
Johnson says the answer is to get people into work. The UK has lower unemployment than most G7 countries.
There are 2 million people still on furlough. But the problem is a shortage of labour, rather than a shortage of jobs.
He says he wants to get people into more higher-paid jobs.
Faced with a choice between higher welfare payments and more higher-paid jobs, he would go for the jobs.
Q: Will you review this?
Johnson says they keep everything under review. But he says he has given the committee a “pretty clear steer” as to what his instincts are.
Q: Prof Sir John Bell says if people can get out of isolating by testing, they will have an incentive to test.
Johnson says they are moving towards using testing rather than isolation.
Q: Before 16 August?
Johnson says that is the date they have, but they keep this under review.
Q: Will people have to isolate until 16 August even if they have had a negative test if they have been in contact with someone testing positive?
Johnson says they are asking people to follow the advice.
Q: But why?
Johnson says this is a highly contagious disease.
Clark says they could end up with 5 million people isolating.
Greg Clark (Con), chair of the science committee, goes next.
Q: Why can’t people who are fully vaccinated return from amber list countries without having to quarantine? And will the government stop telling people not to travel to amber countries?
Johnson says Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, is due to make an announcement tomorrow. He urges Clark to contain his impatience.
Meg Hillier (Lab), chair of the public accounts committee, asks how the government will make up for the lost revenue from fuel tax as people consume less carbon.
Johnson says he would not like to see other fuel bills go up.
Q: So where will the money come from? The government could lose £37bn?
Jenkin suggests a major statement from the chancellor on this.
Johnson says the chancellor makes lots of statements.
Tom Tugendhat (Con), chair of the foreign affairs committee, goes next.Tom Tugendhat (Con), chair of the foreign affairs committee, goes next.
Q: At the G7 you did not get our six closest allies to abandon investment in coal production. How will you get China to do this?Q: At the G7 you did not get our six closest allies to abandon investment in coal production. How will you get China to do this?
Johnson says the UK has to engage with China.Johnson says the UK has to engage with China.
Q: Why did you not call in the Chinese purchase of Newport Wafer Fab?Q: Why did you not call in the Chinese purchase of Newport Wafer Fab?
Johnson says he has asked the national security adviser to look at this again.Johnson says he has asked the national security adviser to look at this again.
He says they have to judge whether there are real national security implications.He says they have to judge whether there are real national security implications.
Caroline Nokes (Con), chair of the women and equalities committee, goes next.Caroline Nokes (Con), chair of the women and equalities committee, goes next.
Q: Will there be any gender-specific commitments from Cop26.Q: Will there be any gender-specific commitments from Cop26.
Johnson says Cop26 will benefit everyone. Tackling climate change will help tackle inequality, and that will help women, he says.Johnson says Cop26 will benefit everyone. Tackling climate change will help tackle inequality, and that will help women, he says.
Q: Will the cuts to aid help women?Q: Will the cuts to aid help women?
Johnson says the government has put more money into women’s education.Johnson says the government has put more money into women’s education.
Clive Betts (Lab), chair of the housing committee, goes next.Clive Betts (Lab), chair of the housing committee, goes next.
Q: Where can we read the government’s plan to get to net zero?Q: Where can we read the government’s plan to get to net zero?
Johnson says he does not accept Betts’ claim there has been minimal progress.Johnson says he does not accept Betts’ claim there has been minimal progress.
Betts says he was talking about minimal progress in the last few years.Betts says he was talking about minimal progress in the last few years.
Johnson says decarbonising homes is very difficult. The government is working on this with the market, he says.Johnson says decarbonising homes is very difficult. The government is working on this with the market, he says.
But it would be unreasonable for people to be faced with unreasonable costs for something like a heat pump.But it would be unreasonable for people to be faced with unreasonable costs for something like a heat pump.
Q: Last year just 38,000 heat pumps installed. But by 2033 everyone will need one, or a hydrogen boiler, which does not exist.Q: Last year just 38,000 heat pumps installed. But by 2033 everyone will need one, or a hydrogen boiler, which does not exist.
Johnson says heat pumps cost about £10,000. He says the government can meet this target. But at the moment the price is to high, he says. Johnson says heat pumps cost about £10,000. He says the government can meet this target. But at the moment the price is too high, he says.
Q: We were shocked to see reports of Amazon destroying unsold computers. What will you do about this?Q: We were shocked to see reports of Amazon destroying unsold computers. What will you do about this?
Johnson says he was shocked by this, although he says Amazon has denied the story as reported.Johnson says he was shocked by this, although he says Amazon has denied the story as reported.
At the G7 they got an agreement to set a minimum level of tax for companies like Amazon, he says.At the G7 they got an agreement to set a minimum level of tax for companies like Amazon, he says.
Johnson says, when the UK took over running Cop26, only 30% of the world was committed to net zero by 2050. Now it is 70%, he says.Johnson says, when the UK took over running Cop26, only 30% of the world was committed to net zero by 2050. Now it is 70%, he says.
This is from my colleague Peter Walker.This is from my colleague Peter Walker.
And this is from the Daily Mail’s Jason Groves.And this is from the Daily Mail’s Jason Groves.
Q: Why do you rarely correct the record when you say wrong things in parliament?Q: Why do you rarely correct the record when you say wrong things in parliament?
Johnson asks for examples.Johnson asks for examples.
Bryant says there are many examples.Bryant says there are many examples.
Johnson turns to the Brexit £350m claim. He starts defending it.Johnson turns to the Brexit £350m claim. He starts defending it.
Johnson refuses to accept claim he often misleads parliament.
Bryant asks Johnson if he sacked Matt Hancock.Bryant asks Johnson if he sacked Matt Hancock.
Johnson carries on defending the £350m figure.Johnson carries on defending the £350m figure.
Bryant asks again about Hancock,Bryant asks again about Hancock,
On Hancock, Johnson says he read about the Hancock story on the Friday and there was a new health secretary on a Saturday. That was “quite fast going”, he claims.On Hancock, Johnson says he read about the Hancock story on the Friday and there was a new health secretary on a Saturday. That was “quite fast going”, he claims.
Bryant says there are four different registers for MPs and ministers to comply with.Bryant says there are four different registers for MPs and ministers to comply with.
And he asks why Johnson has not registered everything in connection with his ministerial flat.And he asks why Johnson has not registered everything in connection with his ministerial flat.
Johnson does not accept that. He says he has registered everything necessary.Johnson does not accept that. He says he has registered everything necessary.
Johnson say the government is looking at addressing the loophole that means Rob Roberts, the MP suspended for sexual harassment, is not facing a recall election.
But Johnson does not sound keen to close the loophole. He says it is a matter for parliament. Byrant says the government has to back it. Johnson says he sees no reason why this won’t be addressed, and Bryant takes that as agreement to address the issue.
Chris Bryant (Lab), chair of the standards committee, asks what the PM will do to ensure that miners get the excess in the miners’ pension fund.
Johnson say the trustees have the discretion to be less risk adverse.
Q: But the government has said the miners will not get the money.
Johnson say miners are getting more than they would have done.
Jenkin says the answer is unsatisfactory. He asks the PM to write to the committee about this, and Johnson agrees.
Sir Bernard Jenkin opens the session.
He says there will be a few “flying questions” in addition to the three topics agreed. (See 3.26pm)
Tom Tugendhat (Con), chair of the foreign affairs committee, says the PM will make a statement about the withdrawal from Afghanistan tomorrow.
Johnson says he is not happy about the situation. It is fraught with risk.
Eventually there will have to be an accommodation with the Taliban.
He says he hopes the blood and treasure spent will not be in vain.
As for whether there will be an inquiry, Johnson says Tugendhat is ahead of him.
Q: How will we learn the lessons?
Johnson says he does not want to anticipate what he will say tomorrow.
Boris Johnson is about to give evidence to the liaison committee, which comprises the chairs of all the Commons select committees. It is regarded as the most senior of all the Commons committees (although it rarely produces reports or recommendations) and it is chaired by Sir Bernard Jenkin.
The questions will cover Cop26, Covid and Brexit.
The preliminary findings from the People’s Covid Inquiry do not seem to be on its website yet, but one of the main recommendations is for the public inquiry into the pandemic to start now. In its news release it says:
Thérèse Coffey, the work and pensions secretary, told the Commons work and pensions committee this morning that the Government does not have its “head in the sand” over the removal of the universal credit (UC) uplift in autumn.
As PA Media reports, Coffey said the temporary £20 uplift, introduced to help protect people during the coronavirus pandemic, would start to be “phased out” from late September. She said the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will be contacting claimants so they are aware that their payments will change and they will be directed to support for things like budgeting.
The latest edition of the Guardian’s Politics Weekly podcast is out. Heather Stewart is joined by Sonia Sodha to discuss the government’s announcement that it will remove most of the coronavirus restrictions in England on the 19 July. Plus, after last week’s win at Batley and Spen, Labour feels emboldened. But how does Sir Keir Starmer use this victory to his advantage?
Government advisers are to investigate the effect ending freedom of movement after Brexit is having on the social care sector and its workers, PA Media reports. PA says:
In his letter (pdf) to the MAC Foster said:
On the World at One Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow health secretary, did provide an answer to the question as to what Labour would do to prevent millions of people being told to isolate over the summer as cases go up. The exchanges at PMQs suggested the party did not have a line on this.
Asked if Labour was in favour of bringing forward from 16 August the date when people who are fully vaccinated will no longer have to isolate if they have had contact with someone testing positive, Ashworth said:
Here is the moment at PMQs when the Labour MP Tan Dhesi challenged Boris Johnson over his failure to sack Dominic Cummings last year for breaking lockdown rules. (See 12.48pm.)
Johnson did deliver an apology of sorts, saying he apologised for the suffering people have endured. In terms of wording, Johnson did not seem to go beyond the generalised apology he has come out with before, but her perhaps managed to show more contrition than before.