Politics latest news: Nicola Sturgeon calls for Cobra meeting with Boris Johnson as circuit break lockdown looms

Cat Neilan
·44-min read

Nicola Sturgeon has asked Boris Johnson to convene a Cobra this weekend, for the first time after several months, as she warned of "hard but necessary decisions" to be made in the coming days.

Downing Street has admitted a short-term "circuit break" lockdown, thought to be earmarked for October half term, is under consideration, in a bid to get cases back under control.

"This weekend will be critical in the assessment" of what to do next, Ms Sturgeon said during her regular press conference. "Sage met yesterday, I have chaired meeting of senior officials and advisers and discussions across the four nations will, I hope, take place in the coming days.

"Today I want to give the nation advance notice that the coming days are likely to see some hard but necessary decisions.  If we want to avoid another full scale lockdown, doing nothing almost certainly isn't an option," Ms Sturgeon said.

This morning Matt Hancock conceded the Government was considering new restrictions for hospitality, while protecting schools and workplaces, telling the BBC the "vast majority"of transmission takes place in "social settings".

"We really do need to come together to tackle this virus once again," Mr Hancock also told Sky News. "The virus is clearly accelerating across the country, we have got to take the necessary action to keep people safe."

Follow the latest updates below.

02:51 PM

Amal Clooney quits as special envoy over Brexit law-breaking plan

Amal Clooney is resigning as the UK's special envoy on media freedom over the Government's "lamentable" plan to push through powers enabling it to break the Withdrawal Agreement. 

In a letter to the Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, Ms Clooney said she had originally accepted the role "because I believe in the importance of the cause, and appreciate the significant role that the UK has played and can continue to play in promoting the international legal order".

But the lawyer said she was "dismayed" by the Government's plans to push forward the Internal Market Bill .

"Although the government has suggested that the violation of international law would be 'specific and limited', it is lamentable for the UK to be speaking of its intention to violate an international treaty signed by the Prime Minister less than a year ago," she added. 

"Out of respect for the professional working relationship I have developed with you and your senior colleagues working on human rights, I deferred writing this letter until I had had a chance to discuss this matter with you directly. But having now done so and received no assurance that any change of position is imminent, I have no alternative but to resign from my position."

Amal and George Clooney - WPA Pool

02:47 PM

Chopper's Politics: Geoffrey Cox on why he can't back the Internal Market Bill

Westminster is often referred to as "the corridors of power", and three inhabitants of those hallowed halls join Christopher Hope to discuss the politics of holding power on this week’s show.

First, former attorney general, Geoffrey Cox QC, tells Christopher Hope why he can’t support the government’s move to break the law in a "limited and specific way" over Brexit, and what he makes of Presidential candidate Biden weighing in on the subject.

Plus Culture Committee member Philip Davies MP covers the power wielded by (deep breath everyone) "metropolitan, left-leaning, lentil-eating, sandal wearing, beard-growing" employees at the BBC, and former International Development Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan tells us who really holds more power: ministers or civil servants.

02:45 PM

Have your say on: The chances of a October half-term lockdown

Matt Hancock had a sobering warning for the country this morning, telling the public the increase in coronavirus transmission is " deadly serious". 

The Health Secretary said it was "a big moment", adding: "These are very serious times... people need to follow the rule of six, full stop."

Downing Street has confirmed that new restrictions are under discussion if cases continue to rise. But do you think following the rules - social distancing, rule of six and local lockdowns where they are in place - will be enough to prevent a lockdown during October half term? Could it be the short-term "circuit break"? Or is it the start of an inevitable longer-term tightening of restrictions? 

Have your say in the poll below. 

02:37 PM

Brexit on the agenda for European Council summit next week

European Union leaders will discuss Brexit at their European Council summit on September 24, it was decided after a meeting between Charles Michel, the European Council president, and Michel Barnier in Brussels yesterday (FRI), James Crisp writes.

The decision was made the day after the EU's chief negotiator met with David Frost. As recently as Thursday, senior EU diplomats were insisting there was no way Brexit would force itself onto the agenda of the summit. 

UK sources told the Telegraph that the decision to put the trade negotiations before the heads of state and government of the EU-27 was hopefully a sign the EU had begun to take the Prime Minister's October 15 deadline seriously.

In London, George Eustice, the Brexiteer Environment Secretary predicted that even if there was a no deal exit, “common sense” would break out in the new year and an agreement would be signed. 

“I just think it is implausible that it would be a long term scenario where we will have no free trade agreement or partnership at all with our nearest neighbour,” he told BBC radio.

02:20 PM

Labour MP tells Government to give up moonshot and 'focus on planet earth'

A Labour MP whose constituency comes under new restrictions has said the Government should give up the moonshot and start focusing "on planet earth". 

Tracy Brabin, Labour MP for Batley and Spen, said the Government had "failed" to deliver on test and trace and therefore "failed" people who will have to live by the tougher measures.

But a Tory MP has said the newly imposed restrictions for West Yorkshire, which affect his constituency, are "regrettable... but necessary".

Calder Valley Tory MP Craig Whittaker tweeted: "Due to a large rise in cases across our Valley, Local Restrictions are back in force from Tuesday 22nd September. This is regrettable after such great progress but necessary to protect us all."

02:15 PM

Labour leader urges Boris Johnson to convene Cobra

Sir Keir Starmer has echoed calls for Boris Johnson to convene a Cobra meeting following a sharp rise in coronavirus cases.

Earlier today Nicola Sturgeon said she had personally asked the Prime Minister to convene the committee, which has not met for many months. 

Following this the Labour leader said: "There is mounting concern about whether we have got the virus sufficiently under control. This is the time for swift, decisive national action. We cannot afford to be too slow.

"That's why I'm asking the Prime Minister to convene a Cobra meeting and to update the country on the measures the Government is taking to keep the virus under control, including to fix testing.

"The British public want to know what the situation is and what the Government is going to do about it.

"I want to make clear too that Labour will continue to act in the national interest. We will support whatever measures the Government take to protect the NHS and save lives."

Sir Keir Starmer - PA

02:11 PM

Friday book club: Left Outside, by Gabriel Pogrund and Patrick Maguire

Jeremy Corbyn might now be yesterday's man, but there was a time when Conservative MPs feared the threat he and grassroots group Momentum posed.

At the peak of his popularity, in 2017, Tory backbenchers would compare his supporters to white walkers, murderous zombie-esque creatures from Game of Thrones. And yet, by last December's election, winter had come not for the Government but for Labour. 

Left Outside charts the party's decline through public scandals like the appalling failure to grasp anti-Semitism and the jaw-dropping reaction to the Salisbury poisonings. It paints a picture of a man who had little interest in the biggest issues of the time, beyond his long-held passion for international affairs. 

Very few people come out of this book well, with the party imploding under factional warfare while Mr Corbyn stood by. 

It's available on the Telegraph Bookshop here.

01:56 PM

Peers demand urgent clarity on law-breaking powers of Internal Market Bill

Peers have demanded the Government provide urgent clarity on why it is prepared to override key elements of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement.

Boris Johnson agreed that MPs would be able to vote before the Government can use powers contained in the Internal Market Bill, enabling minister to breach the Withdrawal Agreement.

The Lords EU Committee has written to Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove, asking whether the bill still "does break international law in a very specific and limited way". 

Lord Kinnoull, chairman of the committee, said: "The Government's paramount goal must be to protect peace and stability in Northern Ireland.

"The protocol's stated aim is to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland and to protect the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, while respecting the territorial integrity of the UK. Given that the Government has now said that it is prepared to break the agreement on the protocol, we need to be absolutely clear about why it is doing this.

"This is an urgent matter as time is short."

The committee has requested a response by September 25, as it intends to publish a report ahead of the Bill's second reading in the House of Lords.

01:42 PM

Britain's high Covid death rate because 'majority of people are obese', claims peer

Britain's high Covid-19 death rate is not the Government's fault but partly because the "majority of people are obese", according to a Conservative peer.

Lord McColl of Dulwich, who is a surgeon, told peers it was "despicable" to blame those in power in Westminster.

"What was clear about the pandemic early on was that the majority of those afflicted had many medical conditions that made them much more vulnerable to Covid," he said. "Obesity and Covid is a very dangerous combination and the reason for this is obesity impairs the immune system.

"The reason the high mortality in the UK is because the majority of people are obese, and the population is the densest in Europe and moreover is the travel hub of Europe.

"Blaming the Government for the high mortality is therefore one of the most despicable allegations I've heard in this pandemic."

Lord McColl added: "If he really wants to help the British people, Keir Starmer should join the Prime Minister's campaign to reduce obesity now in order to reduce the mortality in future pandemics."

01:34 PM

One further person dies with coronavirus in Wales

Public Health Wales said one further person has died after testing positive for coronavirus, bringing its total number since the beginning of the pandemic to 1,601.

The number of cases of Covid-19 in Wales increased by 185 on Friday, bringing the revised confirmed total to 20,233.

01:21 PM

Circuit break lockdown shows 'complete failure to learn', says senior Tory

While some Conservative MPs are going on the record in support of the circuit break (see 2:07pm), in private others are concerned. 

One high ranking Tory tells me he is concerned it will have serious economic consequences, adding: "It would show a complete failure to learn.

"The cause fatality rate is like a bad 'flu year (which is quite bad) and the increased deaths through cancer, heart disease and stroke might well prove worse than Covid-19.

"Another lockdown would be a health disaster as well as an economic one."

01:10 PM

Further 14 people die with coronavirus in England

A further 14 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 29,719.

Patients were aged between 41 and 93 years old. All had known underlying health conditions.

Date of death ranges from 9 September to 17 September 2020, with the majority on or after 15 September.

Their families have been informed.

The North West was the worst-affected region, with eight deaths recorded, while there were three deaths in the South East, two in the North East and Yorkshire and one in London. 

No deaths were recorded in the East of England, Midlands and South West. 

01:07 PM

Tory backbencher signals support for 'circuit breaker' plan

A prominent Conservative backbencher has signalled his support for "circuit breaker" type lockdowns in a bid to "prioritise schools" and workplaces. 

Matt Hancock and Downing Street have admitted hospitality and some other social sectors could come under nationwide restrictions in a bid to reduce coronavirus cases, while keeping schools open. 

Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown told the BBC: "I think if we can nip it in the bud, that, unfortunately, is what we need to do.

"And some of these circuit breakers - short, sharp, shock cessation of some of our activities so that we can prioritise schools and people going back to work without having a huge spike in cases - must be the right thing to do."

He added: "I think a national lockdown, to my view, would be an absolute last resort."

12:52 PM

UK's R-rate confirms coronavirus transmission rate is rising

The reproduction number, or R value, of coronavirus transmission across the UK suggests the rate of coronavirus transmission is rising further still. 

Data released on Friday by the Government Office for Science and the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) shows the estimate for R across the UK is between 1.1 and 1.4.

The higher R is above 1, the faster the epidemic is growing, it said.

12:43 PM

London 'two weeks behind' rest of country, says Sadiq Khan

London is two weeks behind some regions of the UK where tighter lockdown restrictions have been imposed, Sadiq Khan has said.

The mayor told the PA news agency he is "really worried" about the rising number of Covid-19 cases in the capital, and is looking at "all possibilities" to stop the spread of the virus.

The number of cases per 100,000 people over seven days is reported to have increased in London from 18.8 to around 25.

Mr Khan also said lockdown measures could be imposed based on the success of other regions.

"What we've seen in other parts of the country and in the North East in particular is an instruction for bars and restaurants to close at 10pm," he said. "The reason for that is to minimise the amount of hours people spend socialising, which can increase the risk of the virus spreading."

12:40 PM

Coronavirus spreading 'widely across all age groups', PHE director says

The UK is seeing "clear signs" that coronavirus is spreading "widely across all age groups", a Public Health England director has warned

Yvonne Doyle, medical director at Public Health England (PHE), said she was "particularly worried by the increase in rates of admission to hospital and intensive care among older people.

"This could be a warning of far worse things to come. We must all play our part in controlling the virus by continuing to wash our hands, wear face coverings and follow social distancing rules.

"Our monitoring also suggests we're seeing a spike in other viruses that cause the common cold.

"These can cause a runny nose, sneezing and a sore throat. You should only request a Covid test if you have a continuous cough, fever, or loss of or change in sense of taste or smell."

12:24 PM

Matt Hancock warns about 'very serious' coronavirus data from ONS

Matt Hancock has been unequivocal in his tone today, warning that the UK is facing a "big moment", telling people in no uncertain terms to follow the relevant rules because it is "deadly serious". 

For those who haven't heard him on the airwaves, he has reiterated that on Twitter, highlighting the "very serious news from the ONS" and telling his followers: "We must all play our part to help keep coronavirus under control."

12:13 PM

Welsh First Minister attacks 'simply unacceptable' engagement from Boris Johnson

The First Minister of Wales has called on Prime Minister Boris Johnson to offer "proper engagement with the devolved governments of the United Kingdom".

Mark Drakeford told a press conference in Cardiff there had only been "one brief phone call" with Mr Johnson since May 28, which he described as "simply unacceptable".

Mr Drakeford highlighted tighter restrictions in the North West of England, as well as speculation that Mr Johnson is considering a national two-week lockdown, and issues with the Lighthouse Lab testing system.

"All of these issues need to be discussed at a UK level by the four governments, working together, but as far too often in this crisis that opportunity has not been there," Mr Drakeford said.

11:51 AM

Lobby latest: Downing Street insists tests are available

Downing Street has doubled down on its position that tests are available across the country, despite images of queues and chaos suggesting otherwise. 

This morning Matt Hancock pushed back against claims that people were unable to access tests, insisting there was availability in all parts of the country.

Asked about testing levels, a Number 10 spokesman said: "We are ramping up capacity, or working to ramp up capacity in terms of tests.

"I am not aware of anything to suggest that tests are not available in some parts of the country."

11:45 AM

Lobby latest: Government prepared to impose 'circuit break', Downing Street says

The Government is prepared to impose a two-week "circuit break" to prevent the spread of coronavirus, Downing Street has said. 

Asked if the Prime Minister was considering a  imposing short and sharp new national Covid-19 restrictions, a Downing Street spokesperson told journalists: "We have always been clear that our strategy is to keep the virus down as much as possible while protecting education and the economy.

"I would point to the words of the Health Secretary this morning where he said that we are prepared to take action if necessary. But we, obviously, want to avoid any extended lockdown."

He added: "Our focus is to reduce transmission rates."

The Number 10 spokesman said: "No restrictions are currently planned in London."

11:36 AM

Nicola Sturgeon calls for Cobra and she warns of 'hard but necessary decisions'

Nicola Sturgeon has asked Boris Johnson to convene a Cobra this weekend, she said, as she warned of "hard but necessary decisions" to be made in the coming days 

The Prime Minister has not held one for several months, although ministers are holding "daily meetings" on the pandemic, his spokesman said earlier today. 

"This weekend will be critical in the assessment" of what to do next, the First Minister said. "Sage met yesterday, I have chaired meeting of senior officials and advisers and discussions across the four nations will, I hope, take place in the coming days."

"Today I want to give the nation advance notice that the coming days are likely to see some hard but necessary decisions.   If we want to avoid another full scale lockdown, doing nothing almost certainly isn't an option," Ms Sturgeon said. 

"Over this weekend please rigorously follow all of the current rules and advice," she added. 

11:33 AM

UK facing risk of coronavirus 'getting out of our grip again', Nicola Sturgeon warns

The coronavirus "could get out of our grip again" Nicola Sturgeon has warned. 

She pointed to rising rates and fatalities in Europe, saying the Government's task was "to interrupt that and we don't end up where they are now". So far it hasn't happened, but it "ultimately comes down to all of us", the First Minister said. 

"In broad terms we might be at an earlier stage on a similar path to that taken by France," she said, noting the country was roughly where we are four weeks ago. 

"We are facing the risk again of exponential growth in Covid."

Keeping schools open was a priority, she added, as she urged people to follow the advice, work from home, avoid non-essential travel and stick to the rule of six. 

11:26 AM

Coronavirus cases rising 'fast' in the North of England, warns Matt Hancock

The Health Secretary has urged people living in Lancashire, Merseyside, West Yorkshire, Warrington, Halton and Wolverhampton to abide by the new restrictions, announced just moments ago.

Matt Hancock said: "We are seeing cases of coronavirus rise fast... Local leaders in these areas have asked for stronger restrictions to be put in place to protect local people, and we are acting decisively to support them.

"I know these restrictions will make every-day life harder for many, but I know that residents will work together and respect the rules so we can reduce rates of transmission.

"I urge local people to isolate and get a test if you have symptoms, follow the advice of NHS Test and Trace, and always remember 'hands, face, space'. By sticking to these steps, we will get through this together."

11:17 AM

Government confirms new lockdowns for North West, Midlands and West Yorkshire

The Government has confirmed local lockdown restrictions will be enforced across parts of the North West, Midlands and West Yorkshire to "curb rising infection rates".

It comes as  official data "shows the number of infections has increased in recent weeks", the Office for National Statistics said. 

An estimated 59,800 people in private households in England had Covid-19 between September 4 and 10, equivalent to around 0.11 per cent of the population, or one in 900 individuals. It represents an increase on the previous estimate of 0.07 per cent for August 30 to September 5.

There has been "clear evidence of an increase in the number of people testing positive for Covid-19 aged two to 11 years, 17 to 24 years and 25 to 34 years".

There is also evidence of higher infection rates in north-west England and in London.

It is likely that infection rates in all other regions have also increased, except in south-west England and the West Midlands, the ONS added.

11:07 AM

Health minister heard swearing on Lords debate

A health minister could be heard swearing in the House of Lords after suffering technology problems during a Covid-19 debate.

Lord Bethell mumbled "oh for f***'s sake" when his second attempt to deliver a speech on coronavirus regulations was disrupted.He was speaking from home but his initial attempt was disrupted after a few minutes.

The House adjourned for five minutes to see if the technological problems could be resolved but the minister did not fare better on his second attempt.

His final words to the chamber were: "May I say something about local restrictions.

"Over the summer recess we have combined tightening restrictions in areas with outbreaks with the easing of business restrictions, oh for f***'s sake."

At this point, Lord Bethell cut out and Tory whip Baroness Penn completed his speech.

11:00 AM

Watch again: Matt Hancock says national coronavirus measures are a 'last resort'

This morning Matt Hancock conceded that a short-term "circuit break" set of national restrictions could be imposed in October, if people do not start following the rules with greater adherence. 

The Health Secretary however stressed that a full-blown lockdown was the "last resort". 

10:50 AM

Liam Fox through to next round in race to become WTO boss

Former trade secretary Liam Fox has made it through to the second round of the race to become the next director general of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Liz Truss, his successor at the Department for International Trade, on Friday announced that Dr Fox, the UK's nominee for the top job, has successfully navigated the first round of voting among the 164 WTO members.

The trade body is currently in the process of electing a replacement for outgoing boss Roberto Azevedo.

Trade Secretary Ms Truss said: "I'm delighted to see Dr Fox through to the second round. The world needs a WTO director general that will stand up for free trade and fight protectionism.

"Business as usual will not work. We need someone with political skill who can build consensus, get things done, and drive forward the urgent reform that is needed." 

Liam Fox is seeking to become the next director general of the WHO - AFP

10:41 AM

London's NYE fireworks cancelled over coronavirus, says Sadiq Khan

London's annual New Year's Eve fireworks display will not take place this year because of the coronavirus pandemic, Sadiq Khan has confirmed.

The mayor said instead that he was working on doing something that "people can enjoy in the comfort and safety of their living rooms on TV".

Mr Khan told LBC radio: "We simply can't afford to have the numbers of people who congregate on New Year's Eve, congregating."

The alternative arrangements had not been finalised, but "as soon as we've managed to bottom that out, I'll be letting Londoners know", he added. 

"But we can't afford to lose that slot ... because New Year's Eve is a really great opportunity for the rest of the world to see how wonderful our city is," said Mr Khan. "Particularly during a recession, we need to continue investment in our city and people coming to London."

No fireworks display for this year's NYE - Reuters

10:35 AM

Have your say on: The chances of a October half-term lockdown

Matt Hancock had a sobering warning for the country this morning, telling the public the increase in coronavirus transmission is " deadly serious". 

The Health Secretary said it was "a big moment", adding: "These are very serious times... people need to follow the rule of six, full stop."

But do you think following the rules - social distancing, rule of six and local lockdowns where they are in place - will be enough to prevent a lockdown during October half term? Could it be the short-term "circuit break"? Or is it the start of an inevitable longer-term tightening of restrictions? 

Have your say in the poll below. 

10:30 AM

Just a third of adults are routinely asked to give details at indoor establishments, says ONS

Only a third of UK adults visiting indoor places such as restaurants or hairdressers are being routinely asked to provide personal details for Test and Trace purposes, new data has shown.

A report from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said that 31 per cent of adults in England said that they were always asked for their information, but over a quarter (27 per cent) were never asked.

The survey of 1,130 adults across the UK, conducted between September 9-13, asked people how often they had been asked for their details when visiting places outside their homes in the past seven days.

Figures varied across different countries in the UK, with 45 per cent of adults in Wales reporting being always asked for details and 66 per cent in Scotland.

In Wales, 23 per cent of those surveyed said they had never been asked and in Scotland the figure was 12 per cent.

10:18 AM

Labour would support second lockdown for October half-term, says shadow health secretary

Labour would "understand" the need for further restrictions being imposed on the country, but the party wants an overhaul of the Test and Trace system. 

Jon Ashworth, shadow health secretary, told Sky News that outsourcing the system to Serco and G4S was not working. 

Instead more should be made of local groups, he added. 

And if people are asked to self-isolate "we need a system that properly supports people as well", he added. 

There were "fundamental" points that Labour disagreed with the Government on, but if it comes to reimposing national restrictions, "we do support them in that," Mr Ashworth said.

"With a heavy heart," he added, noting the reasons restrictions were being imposed was because of Test and Trace failings.

10:16 AM

Government is 'losing control of the virus', Labour claims

The UK's testing system is "broken" and the Government is "losing control of the virus", Labour has said. 

Jon Ashworth, shadow health secretary, told Sky News he was deeply concerned about the implications of being "on the cusp of a deadly second spike". 

Labour had told the Government "months ago" to fix the testing regime and develop better advice, he noted, but sufficient work had not been carried out. 

"We all tear our hair out... us MPs have all got constituents who have tried to book tests and been told to travel for miles.... and when the Government say people only have to travel six or seven miles, that is because they only count people who actually take the journeys," he added. 

"It is clearly a mess.. the Government should have expected these increased demands."

10:12 AM

Home Office has 'frighteningly little grasp' of immigration policies, MPs claim

The Home Office has "frighteningly little grasp" of its immigration policies, a group of cross-party MPs has said. 

The Public Accounts Committee, chaired by Labour MP Meg Hillier, has published a damning report today claiming the department was not making  policy decisions based on evidence, but rather "anecdote, assumption and prejudice".

The Home Office still does not know the size of the illegal population in the UK or "what harm" that causes the country. It had "no answer" to questions that official estimates had been exaggerated by unofficial sources, despite fears this could inflame hostility towards immigrants. 

Ms Hillier said: "The Home Office has frighteningly little grasp of the impact of its activities in managing immigration. It shows no inclination to learn from its numerous mistakes across a swathe of immigration activities – even when it fully accepts that it has made serious errors." 

The committee has ordered " a detailed plan, with set priorities and deadlines" to overhaul the department in six months.  

Meg Hillier - PA

09:57 AM

Which areas of the UK are seeing the highest rate of infections?

Matt Hancock this morning confirmed that coronavirus cases were doubling every eight days - some way off where we were during the peak this spring, but enough to raise serious concerns about the second wave. 

Find out which areas are seeing the highest rates in the interactive graphic below.

09:53 AM

Government has 'failed children' as 94pc of schools confirm pupil absences already this term

Children at 94 per cent of schools have already had to stay at home due to suspected or confirmed cases of Covid-19 so far this term, while 78 per cent have staff who have had to self-isolate, school leaders’ union NAHT has claimed.

Of those schools who have had to send pupils home, 70 per cent have sent home individual pupils only, while seven per cent have had to send home whole classes and five per cent an entire year group.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of NAHT, last week wrote to the Prime Minister over the lack of tests.

Today he said: "We are hearing the same thing repeatedly from our members across the country – chaos is being caused by the inability of staff and families to successfully get tested when they display symptoms. This means schools are struggling with staffing, have children missing school, and ultimately that children’s education is being needlessly disrupted."

He added: The Government has failed schools and children. It is unacceptable for this to happen when schools have put so much effort into getting their part of the plan right, and when pupils have had to endure so much uncertainty and disruption already.”

09:46 AM

Government's social care plan 'does not give confidence', National Care Forum warns

The Government's winter social care plan "does not give confidence" that the sector will be able to ride out the coming second wave, the National Care Forum (NCF) has warned. 

Matt Hancock unveiled the details of the plan, which includes free PPE in care homes and a new data dashboard to monitor infections, this morning. Care home staff will be prevented from working in multiple premises, with a £546 million fund to provide full wages. 

Executive director Vic Rayner said it was positive that the Government had listened to some concerns, other "essential issues" such as worker pay had gone unaddressed.  

"While we support effective oversight and regulation, the headlines suggest yet more strong action and enforcement in an already tightly regulated and monitored sector. This does not give confidence at a time when we can only deliver on our ultimate shared objective around the provision of quality care in the midst of a pandemic in winter by working together in partnership."

09:37 AM

Two week 'circuit break' unlikely to bring down rates if schools and universities stay open, expert claims

A two-week "circuit break" is unlikely to be sufficiently long to bring coronavirus rates down and resolve the chaos of NHS Test and Trace, the Government has been warned. 

Ministers are considering a short-term nationwide lockdown of parts of the economy, while protecting schools, in a bid to dampen the second wave. 

But Prof Rowland Kao, Professor of Veterinary Epidemiology and Data Science, University of Edinburgh, said:“While a two week lockdown will undoubtedly reduce the infection rate, the danger is that it is uncertain whether something less than the total lockdown of March will have enough of an impact to actually reduce R below one under the current circumstances – e.g.  if schools and universities are allowed to continue to operate with in-person contact.

“If it does not, the pressures on Test and Trace and the risks to the vulnerable including those in hospitals, will only continue to increase. Crucially, two weeks will be insufficient time to fully assess the impact of those restrictions. Even if R drops below one, cases will continue at similar levels for some time.

"Thus, for the slowing down effect of the ‘circuit break’ to be helpful, this would require that there be enough time for the current Test and Trace difficulties to be resolved. Two weeks is unlikely to be enough for this.”

09:33 AM

Journalists claim they were 'misled' over lockdown proposals

Today's lobby briefing with Number 10 is shaping up to be a fairly bruising among, amid accusations that journalists were misled yesterday. 

Yesterday the spokesman was asked it Chris Whitty had at any point recommended a two-week national lockdown, to which he responded "specifically on that point... we don't recognise that at all". 

He was then asked if he could rule out whether it had been said, to which the spokesman said "yes". 

However today's reports, and Matt Hancock's responses, make it clear that the circuit breaker had been discussed by the time he was asked, albeit with restrictions not going as far as the full lockdown that was imposed in March. 

Either way, journalists are asking privately and publicly if they haven't been misled.

I'll fill you in on what happens after the midday briefing today. 

09:15 AM

Internal Market Bill rebel Geoffrey Cox posts pointed clip about the importance of law

Former attorney general Geoffrey Cox has just posted a pointed clip of the 1966 classic film A Man for All Seasons, about Sir Thomas More fighting Henry VIII's efforts to get an annulment for his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, from the Pope. 

The clip includes the line: “I’d give the devil the benefit of law for my own safety’s sake."

Although the MP for Torridge and West Devon has gone quiet since the compromise struck between Boris Johnson and the rebels on the Internal Market Bill earlier this week, it seems he might still have serious misgivings. 

08:57 AM

When is a national lockdown not a national lockdown?

There is plenty of concern about the chances of a October half-term lockdown - but for many in the country, those restrictions are already here. 

Millions of people in the North East have this morning woken up to tighter restrictions, putting the total number of people in some form of lockdown in Britain above 10 million. 

But as Bob points out in today's cartoon, the lines are blurring between local restrictions and Boris Johnson's feared "disastrous" national lockdown.

Today's Bob cartoon

08:47 AM

Boris Johnson 'enormously vigorous', says Matt Hancock

Matt Hancock said that Boris Johnson remained "enormously vigorous" despite his brush with coronavirus, and that the seriousness of the decisions taken by the Government should not be overestimated.

Responding to questions on Times Radio about Boris Johnson's fitness to run the country, having recently appeared to be "exhausted and defeated", the Health Secretary said: "Yes of course absolutely, (he's) enormously vigorous and I think it's important to recognise that this is a really big moment.

"The seriousness of the decisions we take can't be overestimated and we're making judgments about how to protect the health of the nation and how to save tens of thousands of lives whilst balancing that with the enormous social and economic and health impacts of the measures that we have to take.

"These are huge decisions and very weighty ones and so it's hugely understandable that the people making them should be taking them extremely seriously."

Boris Johnson 'enormously vigorous', says Matt Hancock - Reuters

08:44 AM

Evidence stacks up of testing chaos as Matt Hancock tries to insist tests are available everywhere

Matt Hancock this morning insisted tests are available in “every part of the country” and that people should not “believe what’s in the newspapers”.

However there is plenty of evidence available to prove the system is chaotic. 

As well as the video taken outside a London testing centre (see 8:11am), one journalist yesterday posted a picture of what she said was a two-mile queue outside the Sunderland site. 

The picture below, in Watford, Hertfordshire, shows the problems are indeed all around the country. 

n NHS worker gestures at the Covid-19 testing centre outside Watford General Hospital in Hertfordshire

08:29 AM

Have your say on: The chances of a October half-term lockdown

Matt Hancock had a sobering warning for the country this morning, telling the public the increase in coronavirus transmission is " deadly serious". 

The Health Secretary said it was "a big moment", adding: "These are very serious times... people need to follow the rule of six, full stop."

But do you think following the rules - social distancing, rule of six and local lockdowns where they are in place - will be enough to prevent a lockdown during October half term? Could it be the short-term "circuit break"? Or is it the start of an inevitable longer-term tightening of restrictions? 

Have your say in the poll below. 

08:12 AM

Matt Hancock insists the Government has a strategy for dealing with second wave

Matt Hancock has insisted the Government has a strategy for dealing with the second wave of coronavirus, despite criticism that the response has been chaotic. 

Yesterday Dido Harding told MPs that the modelling on which test capacity was based had not foreseen the spike in demand for tests that coincided with children going back to schools. 

Labour has accused the Government of "incompetence".

But asked if the Government was following a strategy, this morning the Health Secretary said: "The strategy is to keep the virus down as much as is possible whilst protecting education and the economy."

He told Radio 4's Today programme: "And doing everything we possibly can for the cavalry that's on the horizon of the vaccine and mass testing, and the treatments that, frankly, this country has done more than any other around the world to develop."

08:03 AM

People must not follow 'natural' feelings on coronavirus, Matt Hancock says

The Health Secretary has warned people not to trust "natural" feelings about how they might catch coronavirus, warning they "aren't helpful". 

Matt Hancock told the Today programme there were two misconceptions that meant the virus was spreading again, despite Government warnings. 

"One is that people feel really naturally that they are more likely to catch this from a stranger, from somebody they don't know, but, actually, most people catch it from somebody they know, and know well," he said. 

"And, the second thing is that if you have been in close contact with somebody who has tested positive you need to self-isolate for two weeks.

"And, it doesn't matter whether you get a test result in that time because the virus incubates, you can't then be released from that self-isolation.

"So, the self-isolation rules are so important as part of this and it is vital that people follow them."

07:47 AM

Maternity ward mistakes costing NHS £1bn a year, Jeremy Hunt claims

Mistakes made on maternity wards are setting the NHS back almost £1bn each year in lawsuits, Jeremy Hunt has said.

The former health secretary claims nearly twice as much is being spent on lawsuits after poor care for mothers and babies as the total pay of labour doctors in hospitals in England.

Using a freedom of information request, Mr Hunt obtained figures that show £952m was paid in compensation and litigation related to maternity services in 2018/19.

Mr Hunt wrote in the Daily Mail that "something has gone badly wrong" when, by comparison, obstetricians and gynaecologists working in the NHS in England earned a total of £586m during the same period.

Jeremy Hunt - PA

07:32 AM

Matt Hancock defends team behind modelling that led to shortfall in test capacity

Matt Hancock has defended the modelling that test capacity has been based on, saying it was "very, very hard to predict a behavioural demand" from people seeking tests without symptoms. 

Yesterday Dido Harding told MPs that no one had foreseen the extent to which demand would go up this month. 

The Health Secretary said capacity had been built faster than almost any other country, but people should only come forward when they have symptoms. 

"There are tests in every part of the country, and if you have symptoms come forward - if you don't, don't. "

But he accepted that people weren't "carping", as suggested by Jacob Rees-Mogg yesterday. 

If you missed it, here is what the Leader of the Commons said. 

07:28 AM

Health Secretary: I refused to pull tests from care homes to plug gap in demand

Asked about Jacob Rees-Mogg's description of people "carping", Matt Hancock said "I totally understand people's frustration" about not being able to get a test. 

But he stressed it was important that tests are used for those who need them, rather than people using them to "free" themselves from self-isolation. 

The Health Secretary added: "Prioritisation is so important... we saw that demand was shooting up, we could have reduced the 100,000 test a day sent to social care that would have taken a load of noise out the system. But I refused to do that and the Prime Minister actively backed this decision, because that is where tests are needed more than anywhere."

Asked about Dido Harding's comments last week, suggesting that no one had anticipated the spike prompted by schools reopening, Mr Hancock told Radio 4's Today programme: "Of course we knew demand was going to go up, the challenge has been it has gone up incredibly high including among people who do not have symptoms, who are not eligible for a test... it has gone through the roof."

The people who are building test capacity are "on track", he added. 

07:22 AM

'This is deadly serious', says Matt Hancock

Future circuit breaking rules will follow "the shape of interventions we have put in place" in local lockdowns, Matt Hancock has said. 

This will focus on socialising "because that is primarily where this virus spreads," he says. People will be told they "should not socialise with people outside the household, ie people you don't live with", the Health Secretary told the Today programme. 

Workplaces and schools have Covid-secure rules, making them safer, he added. There are also "very very stringent Covid-secure rules for universities, but the challenge with universities going back is ensuring students also follow social distancing rules when they are off campus."

Asked if people should report rule-breaking to the police, Mr Hancock said: "We have all got to follow the rules - it is deadly serious. 

"The results of not doing will be this goes more out of control and we have to take more stringent rules, which have a bigger economic impact and also that we have more people catching the virus, more people going in hospital and I fear more people will die." 

"These are very serious times... people need to follow the rule of six full stop."

07:17 AM

Hospitality will be closed before schools and workplaces, says Matt Hancock

Hospitality will be closed before schools and workplaces, the Health Secretary has said, noting that the "vast majority"of transmission takes place in "social settings". 

"This is a big moment for the country," Matt Hancock said. "The number of cases are doubling every eight days... we are now starting to see the effect in the hospitals," he told Today programme. 

But he stressed "we know far, far more about this virus now than we did six months ago", including how it is transmitted, and that the "vast majority" of transmission happens in social settings, both hospitality and in people's homes. 

Protecting work and schools "can be done alongside restrictions of our social lives," he added. Asked if those woule be closed, he said the Government wanted to avoid it, but "I have learned over the last nine months not to rule anything out, however it is not the proposal on the table". 

07:11 AM

Watch: London test centre in 'absolute pandemonium'

Chaos at testing centres continued on Thursday as Baroness Harding, the head of NHS Test and Trace, admitted that up to one million people a day are applying for 230,000 available tests.

The former Talk Talk boss admitted that tests had been diverted from London to areas where there was greater need, however that has caused "absolute pandemonium" in at least one test site in the capital, according to a patient who said he was turned away. 

See the video below

07:06 AM

Labour blames Government 'incompetence' for rising fears of second lockdown

Government "incompetence" is to blame for the threat of a second national lockdown, Labour has said. 

Jonathan Ashworth shadow health secretary, said: “Labour warned months ago that unless the Government spent the summer fixing the testing regime then we would face a bleak winter.

“The Government ignored that advice, the testing regime is collapsing and so it is not surprising national restrictions are back on the table.

“The Conservatives’ incompetence is holding Britain back and damaging the national effort to stop the spread of this virus.”

Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth - PA

07:02 AM

Follow the rules or risk another national lockdown, says Matt Hancock

It is "absolutely critical" that people follow the basic rules if the UK is to avoid another nationwide lockdown, Matt Hancock has said. 

Some 10m people in the North of the country are coming under new restrictions just short of a full lockdown today, in the hope of bringing cases down. 

"We have seen an acceleration in the number of cases over the last couple of weeks and we've also sadly seen that the number of people hospitalised with coronavirus is doubling about every eight days, so we do need to take action," the Health Secretary told BBC Breakfast.

"It is absolutely critical that people follow these rules, follow the rule of six, follow local restrictions if you have them in your area.

"If we do all these things then we can avoid having to take serious further measures.

"A further national lockdown is the last line of defence and the first line of defence is all of us doing 'hands face and space' and the basics.

"We all know the rules now and we know the basics, the rule of six is super simple to make it as easy as possible to follow and that's what we've all got to do to try to get through this and get this back under control."

06:59 AM

Matt Hancock defends Test and Trace programme

Matt Hancock has insisted the NHS Test and Trace system is "working very well", despite boss Dido Harding admitting several failings with the programme yesterday. 

Baroness Harding told MPs there were "big gaps" in contact tracing because it was impossible to trace all the unknown contacts without an app, saying demand for tests was three-to-four times capacity because of a spike in demand that no one had foreseen, despite it coinciding with children returning to schools and their parents going back to work. 

This morning, the Health Secretary said: "The contact tracing system, which is working very well, that is the second line of defence.

"After that, these local lockdowns.

"And the last line of defence is for national action.

"And, I don't want to see that. But we will do whatever is necessary to keep people safe in a very difficult pandemic."

06:49 AM

Matt Hancock: I want to avoid a national lockdown

Matt Hancock has stressed he hopes the rule of six and local lockdowns will be sufficient to avoid a national lockdown. 

Bringing in another national lockdown would be "the last line of defence", the Heath Secretary has said.

Asked about the possibility of a two-week imposition of national restrictions to deal with the coronavirus outbreak, Mr Hancock told Sky News: "A national lockdown is the last line of defence and we want to use local action."

He added: "I want to avoid a national lockdown."

06:45 AM

Raab urges US politicians to turn fire on Brussels over Brexit talks

Dominic Raab, the Foreign Secretary, has urged US politicians to pressure Brussels into publicly ruling out a hard border on the island of Ireland, after the UK's own position was criticised by Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. 

On the third day of a visit to Washington DC that risked being overshadowed by the very public warnings from Democrats over Brexit talks, Mr Raab used a CNN interview to try to turn the spotlight onto the European Union.

“I think it would be helpful for all those concerned about this to elicit the same unilateral, absolute commitment not to require any infrastructure at the border between the North and the South. So far it’s actually only the UK that has said that,” Mr Raab said.

He added: “I think actually if the EU did come out and make the same commitment it would also help the negotiations. So I hope our American colleagues will reinforce that point on both sides.”

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