Politics latest news: Nicola Sturgeon fails to rule out border closures, but says she doesn't 'endorse' protests

Cat Neilan
·40-min read
Sturgeon said the protesters "did not speak for me" -  PA Photo
Sturgeon said the protesters "did not speak for me" - PA Photo

Nicola Sturgeon has said she would consider imposing border restrictions between England and Scotland if there was a "public health" requirement, but insisted she did not "endorse" protests this weekend.

On Saturday a handful of nationalists in hazmat suits urged English visitors to stay away from Scotland at the border telling motorists to “stay out”.  SNP MP Angus MacNeill tweeted approvingly about the protest, but justice minister Hamza Yousaf suggested it was racist.

Asked about this during her daily press briefing, Ms Sturgeon said the protesters "did not speak for me" and were "not communicating a message that I endorse in anyway".

But she did not rule out the possibility of border controls, pointing to the situation in Australia where authorities are restricting movement between Victoria and New South Wales.

"It is not a question about whether people from England are welcome in Scotland, of course they are... it's about public health," she said. "I will take decisions based on protecting the people of Scotland if there is a risk to public health."

"It's not political... and certainly not based on any desire to keep English people out of Scotland. That is not who I am, and it is not what my party is about."

For the rest of today's news, keep reading below.

03:20 PM

That's it for another day

MPs are united in backing the new sanctions regime, and it seems there are no shortage of individuals who could be added further down the line. 

Carrie Lam, the chief executive of Hong Kong, may be top of that list with Labour and Conservative MPs uniting in condemnation of her involvement in the new security law. 

Earlier today, we heard from China's ambassador to the UK, Liu Xiaoming, who made Beijing's position clear in respect to the decision to welcome BNO-passport holders to work and study in the UK ahead of gaining full citizenship. But Downing Street showed no sign of backing down. 

We also learned that a decision on Huawei will be made this month, and it now seems likely that there will be a major shift in the Government's position. 

We didn't get any confirmation about whether the reports of a stamp duty holiday were on the money - but you've had your say, with 60 per cent calling for the levy to be permanently scrapped, while 21 per cent said it should stay in place while we need those tax revenues. 

I'll be back from 8am tomorrow with all the latest from Westminster and beyond.

03:11 PM

Chris Bryant urges Dominic Raab to consider adding Carrie Lam to sanctions list

Chris Bryant then asks Dominic Raab to "look very carefully" into whether Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam should be put on the list of individuals being sanctioned, for "repression of democracy and rights of freedom of speech". 

Mr Raab says "we will look to progress, and develop and fine tune and enhance this regime as we proceed". 

Again, he certainly doesn't rule it out.  

03:06 PM

Nandy: Dirty money is not welcome here

Shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy said the UK has been a "haven" to those who use corruption, torture and murder to further their own ends, adding to the Commons: "Today I hope sends a strong message that the UK is not their home and that their dirty money is not welcome here."

She pressed on transparency and the scope of the measures announced by the Foreign Secretary, including the need to include corruption as it goes "hand in hand" with human rights abuses.

Dominic Raab replied: "On corruption, the work is already under way, we're committed to doing it.

"There are different definitions of corruption, which is one of the challenges there has been on the international level."

Mr Raab confirmed the legislation will apply to UK overseas territories and crown dependencies, and also noted the designations will be published online - which he said met Labour's desire for transparency.

03:05 PM

Iain Duncan Smith suggests sanctions imposed on Hong Kong head Carrie Lam

Iain Duncan Smith also asks Dominic Raab about "the issue of China", challenging the Foreign Secretary about the Uyghurs and Hong Kong protesters. 

He asks him to consider sanctions high up, "even if that meant starting with Carrie Lam". 

Mr Raab says the measures allow the UK to "continue to engage bilaterally with countries that frankly we need to, while having targeted sanctions on the individuals who may be responsible". 

He doesn't directly engage with the suggestion that the chief executive of Hong Kong be sanctioned - but neither does he reject it. 

03:00 PM

Next wave of sanctions being worked on, Raab confirms

Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat pays tribute to Dominic Raab "twice over" for his move but asks him about human rights violations in China, noting there is no sanctions on those who are "exploiting or abusing Uyghur minority" or those who are oppressing free speech activists in Hong Kong. 

The Foreign Affairs Committee chair asks if that is a policy change, or if it is because this is the first step. 

Mr Raab says the UK led a statement at the Human Rights Council very recently, but says he will consider additional measures but he won't "pre-empt the next wave of sanctions", beyond saying they are "being worked on". 

02:56 PM

Who the UK's new sanctions will target

The UK’s first wave of sanctions under this new regime will target 25 Russian nationals involved in the "mistreatment and death" of auditor Sergei Magnitsky, including former minister Aleksey Vasilyevich Anichin and Oleg Silchenko, an investigator. 

They also target 20 Saudi nationals involved in the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, including the deputy head of the Saudi intelligence services Ahmed Hassan Mohammed Al Asiri;  Saud Abdullah Al Qahtani, an adviser to the Crown Prince "who planned and directed the killing using a 15 man team" and Salah Muhammed Al Tubaigy, a forensic doctor who was "present at the time of Jamal Khashoggi’s death and held a direct role in Jamal Khashoggi’s killing and in the concealment of evidence relating to his death".

The sanctions are also targeted at two high-ranking Myanmar military generals -Min Aung Hlaing and Soe Win - involved in the systematic and brutal violence against the Rohingya people and other ethnic minorities. 

Two organisations involved in the forced labour, torture and murder that takes place in North Korea’s gulags - the Ministry of State Security Bureau 7 and the Ministry of People’s Security Correctional Bureau.

02:49 PM

Raab confirms list of first sanctions under new regime

Dominic Raab says people will be able to challenge the decision in court, and all decisions will be reviewed every three years. 

He confirms who new sanctions are being imposed on - those "involved in torture and murder of Sergei Magnitsky", a young Russian tax lawyer who exposed the "breath-taking corruption that plagues Russia". 

Mr Raab says those who were involved in the murder of the writer Jamal Khashoggi will also be targeted, as will those involved in war crimes against the Rohingya population in Myanmar, as well as two organisations involved in forced labour, torture and murder that takes place in North Korea’s gulags

"We will not look the other way. You cannot set foot in this country, and we will seize your blood-drenched ill-gotten gains if you try."

02:42 PM

Raab confirms launch of UK's new Magnitsky Act-style sanctions regime

Dominic Raab is making a statement about the UK's new sanctions regime, which will enable the UK to take action against human rights violators. 

The Foreign Secretary announces that the new regime will "make good on the pledge" to target individuals in Russia, Saudi Arabia and North Korea under Britain’s version of the 2012 US Magnitsky Act. 

The act is named after the Russian lawyer who died in a Moscow prison in 2009 after alleging officials were involved in tax fraud. 

Mr Raab says the targeted measures will include financial and travel penalties, and can target "a wider network of perpetrators" than was previously allowed. 

"Those with blood on their hands... will not be free to waltz into this country to buy up property on the Kings Road, do their shopping in Knightsbridge or siphon dirty money through British banks," he adds. 

02:28 PM

Government 'losing control over testing regime', claims Labour

Labour has accused the Government of "losing control over the testing regime", after Downing Street confirmed it had given up publishing the daily figures (1:11pm)

Justin Madders, shadow health minister, said it was "an absolute shambles".

He added: "It seems that the real reason why the Government stopped issuing figures for the number of people tested each day is because they never hit their 100,000 people a day target and they were too embarrassed to admit it. 

“We know that the number of people actually tested is less than a third of the number of tests they state are being completed. It is clear that Ministers are losing control over the testing regime and are failing to not only keep track of the tests but to ensure the results are returned swiftly. 

“Ministers need to get to grips with the state of the testing regime and be far more open about where the failings are. As lockdown measures are relaxed it is vital the public have confidence that there is an effective test and trace system in place.”

02:25 PM

Watch again: China's ambassador attacks UK for 'gross interference' over Hong Kong

Earlier today China's ambassador to the UK accused Boris Johnson of "gross interference" over Hong Kong. 

Liu Xiaoming also claimed the British media were "distorting" the facts. 

You can watch his comments again below. 

02:15 PM

Government 'thinking carefully' about Huawei, says Prime Minister

Boris Johnson has said he is "very, very determined to get broadband" rolled out across the UK, when asked about the future of Huawei's involvement in key British infrastructure. 

The Chinese tech giant had been given the green light to have limited involvement in the 5G network. However recently imposed US sanctions on the firm have made a Downing Street u-turn likely. 

Speaking today from Yorkshire, the Prime Minister said he was determined that the UK "should not be in any way vulnerable to high risk state vendors". 

He added: "We will have to think carefully about how we handle that, and come up with the right technological solutions."

02:08 PM

No coronavirus-related deaths in Wales, PHW confirms

There have been no further Covid-19-related deaths in Wales over the last 24 hours, the nation has confirmed. 

Earlier today, Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said there had been no deaths recorded for patients who had tested positive for coronavirus in the past 48 hours.

England has reported 15 in the last 24 hours.  

01:54 PM

People 'overwhelmingly' followed social distancing rules as pubs opened, Prime Minister says

Boris Johnson has said people "overwhelmingly" followed the coronavirus rules during the easing of the lockdown in England, despite scenes of crowded streets in parts of the country this weekend.

Asked if alcohol and social distancing cannot mix during a visit to Goole, in Yorkshire, the Prime Minister said: "I think they can mix if people are sensible.

"Actually my evidence I've seen is yes there have been some places where people have been imprudent and you can see there's been some people who have been getting it wrong.

"But actually overwhelmingly over the weekend I think the people of this country did the right thing.

"If we can keep it up, if we can keep going in the way we are, maintain discipline, enjoy ourselves but enjoy ourselves safely, then we will continue to drive down this virus and we will be able to get back to life as close to normal as possible as fast as possible."

01:51 PM

Care homes didn't follow coronavirus procedures, Boris Johnson says

Boris Johnson has accused some care homes of not properly following the procedures during the coronavirus crisis.

"One of the things the crisis has shown is we need to think about how we organise our social care package better and how we make sure we look after people better who are in social care," the Prime Minister said during a visit to Goole.

"We discovered too many care homes didn't really follow the procedures in the way that they could have but we're learning lessons the whole time.

"Most important is to fund them properly... but we will also be looking at ways to make sure the care sector long-term is properly organised and supported."

01:50 PM

Driverless trains should be part of funding deal with TfL, says Boris Johnson

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that driverless trains should be a condition of the funding settlement for Transport for London this autumn.

"You can run these trains without the need for somebody to be sitting in the driver's cab the whole time," he told reporters during a visit to Goole.

"So what I will be saying to the London transport authority is let's take advantage of this technological leap forward, let's not be the prisoners of the unions any more, let's go to driverless trains, and let's make that a condition of the funding settlement for Transport for London this autumn.

"That's the way forward for this country and we want to make use of the fantastic technology we've got and provide a better service for people in the capital and take the whole economy forward."

01:29 PM

Further 15 people die in English hospitals, NHS confirms

A further 15 people who have tested positive for coronavirus have died in the past 24 hours, NHS England has confirmed.

The total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England now stands at 28,904. Patients were aged between 42 and 93 years old, and all had known underlying health conditions.

 There were no deaths recorded in London, the North West and South West, with one death in the East of England, three in the North East & Yorkshire, five in the Midlands and six in the South East.  

01:15 PM

Former Conservative MP chanted 'I'm a naughty Tory' after groping woman, court hears

Charlie Elphicke, a former Conservative MP, chanted ‘I’m a naughty Tory’ after groping a woman at his home while his wife was away, a court has heard.

Mr Elphicke, 49, who represented Dover between 2010 and 2019, allegedly grabbed the woman’s breast after discussing his interest in bondage and whips. 

My colleague Martin Evans has the full story.

01:09 PM

Labour frontbencher apologises for 'puppet master' tweet

Shadow housing and communities secretary Steve Reed has apologised "unreservedly" for a tweet describing Richard Desmond as the "puppet master" behind the Government. 

Mr Reed, the MP for Croydon North, had quietly deleted the original tweet about the billionaire tycoon, who is of Jewish descent. 

Challenged about his frontbencher's actions during an interview with LBC this morning, Sir Keir Starmer - who has promised a zero-tolerance approach to anti-Semitism - said he was not aware of the post but he would speak to his junior colleague today. 

01:03 PM

An autumn stamp duty holiday will paralyse the property market

It has been reported that Chancellor Rishi Sunak will this week announce a stamp duty holiday, lifting the threshold at which the tax is payable from £125,000 to £500,000 – but starting only in the autumn.

As Isabelle Fraser writes, this means that those about to transact on a property will now wait, eager to make a chunky saving by simply putting off their purchase. 

But what do you make of the idea in general? Have your say in the poll below.

01:00 PM

Lobby latest: No one should be stopped by police on basis of race, says Downing Street

Downing Street has said no one should be stopped by police on the basis of their race.

In response to questions about the incident involving Commonwealth Games gold medallist Bianca Williams and her partner, Ricardo dos Santos, a Portuguese 400m sprinter, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "The Met Police have issued a statement in response to the specific case.

"What we would say is that no one should be stopped on the basis of their race or ethnicity."

12:18 PM

Lobby latest: Prime Minister got a haircut and had a pint this weekend

The PM has had a haircut Boris Johnson will be debuting his new hairdo this afternoon on a visit to a construction site in East Yorkshire this afternoon, the Prime Minister’s spokesman has revealed.

He also went for a drink near his country residence Chequers on Saturday.

But there is still no date for when theatres will reopen. 

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “We do want to get audiences back into theatres, as soon as possible only when it's safe to do so.

“We're continuing to work closely with the sector on this, and will be guided by public health and medical experts in terms of the steps that we're taking." 

The spokesman noted that actors can now meet for rehearsals and broadcast purposes and the Government homes to open theatres “outside and then indoors with socially distanced audiences”.

12:13 PM

Lobby latest: Police reported quieter than expected Super Saturday

Police reported ‘quieter than expected evening’ on Super Saturday, the Prime Minister's official spokesman has said.

When asked what Boris Johnson made of the scenes on “Super Saturday”, with Britons flooding the streets of London’s Soho, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “By far and away the vast majority of people acted in a safe, sensible and responsible manner.

“And, as I understand it, many police forces across England reported a quieter than expected evening.”

12:11 PM

Lobby latest: Government drops daily test data

The Government has given up providing a daily figure for the number of individuals being tested for coronavirus.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said this was because the system only allowed for people to be counted once, so "someone who was tested in February, and then tested again this month, would be counted once". 

He added: "Considering hospital and care home staff will now be tested on a regular basis, we don’t think this statistic would be an accurate reflection of the amount of daily testing that is taking place."

Test and trace statistics published weekly will include the number of people who have been tested.

Last week the Government decided to stop publishing the daily data on Twitter, instead updating a dashboard on its own website. The lastest figures showed there were 516 new cases as of 5pm yesterday, while there were 22 deaths across all settings in the 24 hours to 5pm on Saturday.

The Prime Minister’s spokesman insists that data continues to show that the country is “making good progress” in keeping the virus under control.

If there is a “significant uptick” in localised cases then the Government “can implement local lockdowns”, he said.

When asked about the success of Leicester’s local lockdown, the Prime Minister’s spokesman said: “It looks as if people are adhering to the measures which remained in place in Leicester and we will be carrying out extensive testing and Leicester and closely monitoring the infection rate.”

12:09 PM

Lobby latest: Downing Street stands firm on BNO rights for Hong Kong citizens

Downing Street has hit back at claims that the UK wants to "make China a hostile country", and warning of potential consequences, by the ambassador to the UK Liu Xiaoming.  

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman rubbished suggestions that Beijing's decision to impose a security law on Hong Kong was acceptable behaviour from China's central government, saying: : “The enactment and imposition of the National Security Law constitutes a clear and serious breach of the Sino-British joint declaration.

“It contains a slew of measures that directly threaten the freedoms and rights protected by the Joint Declaration, including allowing mainland or authorities to take jurisdiction over certain cases, without independent oversight and try them in Chinese courts.”

No 10 confirmed that Government is assessing the National Security Law and the legal ramifications in terms of extradition in Hong Kong. 

The Government has been “considering the impact” of US sanctions on Huawei's involvement in the UK's 5G network, the spokesman added. “It is an ongoing process, and will update further in due course.”

12:07 PM

Lobby latest: Brexit talks will be ‘more informal’ this week, Downing Street says

The Prime Minister’s spokesman said this week’s Brexit talks in London will be “slightly more informal in nature”.

The spokesman noted that there are still “significant differences” in areas such as the level playing field.

The UK is seeking a FTA deal “of the kind which the EU has agreed with other friendly countries like Canada”.

“We're not looking for anything special bespoke, or unique,” the spokesman added.

12:06 PM

Sturgeon: I do not endorse border protesters telling English people to stay away

Nicola Sturgeon has said she did not "endorse" the border protests at the weekend, which saw Scottish people telling English people to "stay the f*** out". 

Holyrood's justice minister Hamza Yousaf had already responded to the video that surfaced this weekend, saying: "If you are a racist you are no friend of mine and no part of the movement I belong to. Horrible, reprehensible and vile. Luckily these morons don't represent the Scotland I know and love."

However, SNP MP Angus MacNeil appeared more supportive. 

Asked about this today, Ms Sturgeon said the protesters were "not communicating a message" that she believed in, saying: "I don't endorse that."

She added: "It is not a question about whether people from England are welcome in Scotland, it's about public health... it's not political, and certainly not based on any desire to keep English people out of Scotland.

"That is not who I am, and it is not what my party is about."

11:54 AM

European Commission refuses to apologise for president's appearance in political ad

The European Commission has repeatedly refused to apologise after its president breached neutrality guidelines this weekend. 

Ursula von der Leyen appeared with other center-right politicians in a promotional video clip posted by the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) ahead of Sunday's vote, in breach of political neutrality guidelines for commission officials.

Ms Von der Leyen is a member of the centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and belongs to the same European People’s Party as HDZ.

The code of conduct for members of the European Commission states that they “shall abstain from making public statements or interventions on behalf of any political party or organization of the social partners of which they are members," except when they stand for election or participate in a vote.

11:35 AM

No deaths in Scotland for past 48 hours, says Nicola Sturgeon

Over the past 48 hours, no deaths were registered in Scotland from patients confirmed with having coronavirus, Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed. 

A power surge affected the registration process yesterday, which is why two days have been combined. The First Minister stressed, as she so often does, that the weekend often sees an artificial drop in numbers, but says the overall trend is positive. 

She turns to the local lockdown in Dumfries and Galloway, where there have been 12 cases in total, which means Holyrood is confident that it is back under control. A further review is being taken out and confirmation that the measures can be lifted will be made shortly. 

"This will not be the last localised outbreak we will see", says Ms Sturgeon, saying that this is the only tool available until treatments and a vaccine are found. 

11:31 AM

Don't scorn languages. It's the polyglots who prosper

Language is power – a fact that Anglophone nations seem reluctant to acknowledge.

But as Jane Shilling writes, globalisation exposes the myth of the bullish monoglot; in a post‑Brexit economy, it will be the nimble polyglots who prosper.

11:06 AM

Local lockdown Q&A: Put your questions to Daniel Capurro and Paul Nuki

If you've got some burning questions about which local lockdowns could be next and how effective measures have been in Leicester, why not join my colleagues Daniel Capurro and Paul Nuki for a live question and answer session. 

It's happening here right now. 

10:52 AM

Arts package to 'essentially weather the storm', says Culture Secretary

Oliver Dowden said arts institutions could seek grants and loans "essentially to weather the storm" of lockdown.

The Culture Secretary  said the Government’s £1.57bn bailout of the culture sector will begin with ‘crown jewels’ such as the Royal Albert Hall.

10:34 AM

'Nothing to fear' on Huawei, claims China's ambassador to the UK

Using Huawei to help build the UK's 5G infrastructure is a "win-win example of China-UK collaboration", which is "not in the interest of China, but in the interest of the UK", Beijing's ambassador has said. 

Liu Xioming claimed there was no proof of "this backdoor practice" - a claim made by the White House that the tech giant can secretly retrieve sensitive information in next-generation wireless networks and other systems it maintains around the world, saying the business was "very transparent" and there was "nothing to fear". 

"Huawei can do the job, but if the UK chooses to pay a high price for poorer quality... it's up to you," he added, noting: "When the west turns dark, the east will be brighter."

10:25 AM

UK-China relationship will 'suffer setbacks', says ambassador

China's ambassador to the UK has warned the relationship will "suffer setbacks" if Boris Johnson continues to press ahead with plans to welcome up to three million BNO passport holders a path to British citizenship. 

He also accused some British politicians of regarding China as a "threat" or a "hostile country".

"We want to be your friend, we want to be your partner, but if you want to make China a hostile country you have to bear the consequences," he said.

The move has come in the wake of Beijing's new national security law, which was imposed on Hong Kong last week. The Prime Minister has said it represents a breach of the Sino-British joint declaration. 

Liu Xioming said: "The relationship between China and the UK, or any country, has to be based on the international law and norms governing international relations... the fundamental principles is sovereign equality and no interference in each other's internal affairs."

He added: "Once those principles have been violated, the relationship will suffer setbacks."

Challenged over his claim that China has never interfered in the UK's affairs, he says: "If you have evidence please show me but please do make.. false accusations against China."

10:10 AM

China's ambassador attacks UK for 'gross interference' over Hong Kong

China's ambassador to the UK Liu Xioming has accused the UK Government is making "irresponsible" statements about the new Hong Kong security law, including the "gross interference in China's affairs" by offering three million BNO passport holders the right to work and study in the UK, with a pathway to full citizenship.

He accused British media of carrying "massive reports and comments which, to be frank, are full of misinterpretation, misunderstanding and... distortion".

Beijing's controversial move was in fact "powerful support" of the one country, two systems rule, in the face of violent protests - something which it's fair to say is widely contested outside of the People's Republic, he said.

The statement is being streamed here. 

No doubt Downing Street will have some thoughts on these claims, which come as the relationship between the UK and Beijing is being tested over the move, which has been attacked by the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary as a breach to the joint Sino-British declaration. 

China has already warned about retaliatory response to the decision to welcome up to three million BNO passport holders as a result of the move. 

09:56 AM

GB sprinter considering legal action against police over stop and search

A Team GB sprinter is considering legal action against the Metropolitan Police after accusing officers of racially profiling her and her partner in a stop and search.

Commonwealth Games gold medallist Bianca Williams and her partner, Ricardo dos Santos, a Portuguese 400m sprinter, were stopped in west London on Saturday.

Ms Williams, whose three-month-old son was in the car during the incident, called it an "awful experience" and believes the couple were targeted because they are black and drive a Mercedes.

"They see a black male driving a nice car, an all-black car, and they assume that he was involved in some sort of gang, drug, violence problem," she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

Scotland Yard said the vehicle was stopped after it was seen driving suspiciously, including on the wrong side of the road, and that the driver had sped off when asked to stop.

But Ms Williams said the car was "never" on the wrong side of the road, adding: "This isn't the first or fourth or fifth time - it must be about the 10th".

Footage of the incident was shared widely on Twitter after being posted by former Olympic medallist Linford Christie.

09:42 AM

Holidaymakers 'confused' by Government's travel corridors

The Government has been accused of confusing holidaymakers after it emerged only 25 of the 74 destinations on their “travel corridor” list are fully accessible to English visitors without restrictions.

A study by the PC Agency and Audiencenet has established that just a third of the countries or territories do not have some form of quarantine, closed borders or restrictions that might impede English holidaymakers.

Oliver Dowden, the Culture Secretary, shrugged off the discrepancy this morning, but, as our story here sets out, holidaymakers have been left confused and baffled.

09:31 AM

'Steep rebound' in construction as house building surges

There was a "steep rebound" in UK construction last month, with house building showing the fastest rise in activity for nearly five years, according to the latest purchasing managers’ index reading from IHS Markit.

The sector received a PMI score of 55.3 – where a reading above 50 indicates growth on the prior month.

Tim Moore, economics director at IHS Markit, said: "June's survey data revealed a steep rebound in UK construction output as more sites began to reopen and the supply chain kicked into gear.

"House building led the way with the fastest rise in activity for nearly five years, while commercial and civil engineering also joined in the recovery from the low point seen in April.

"As the first major part of the UK economy to begin a phased return to work, the strong rebound in construction activity provides hope to other sectors that have suffered through the lockdown period."

For that and more updates from the business world, check out my colleague Louis Ashworth's business blog.

09:19 AM

Why are ministers put in positions where they can be directly and inappropriately lobbied?

The 'cash for favours' row of recent weeks may have died down slightly - but in looking specifically at Richard Desmond and Robert Jenrick, we are missing the bigger issue.

Our problem is not really about individual politicians, nor even political parties, Nick Timothy argues today. The problem is our political system and culture. 

Read his compelling column here.

09:09 AM

What's on the agenda today?

Boris Johnson is continuing his renewed efforts to engage with the wider country today, with a trip to Yorkshire on the agenda today. 

Last week saw the Prime Minister head to the Midlands where he promised "jobs, jobs, jobs", by getting the country to "build, build, build". But his Dudley speech was somewhat overshadowed by the fact that 50 miles up the road, Leicester was having to shutter shops and schools once again as part of measures to get an outbreak under control. 

Today he will be hoping to put that partly behind him, as he confirms a £1.57bn package in support of the arts sectors, as well as a £100m traineeship fund.  You can read our story about that here. 

At midday, the usual lobby briefing will take place, followed at 12:30pm by the daily press briefings from the Scottish and Welsh governments. 

At 3pm, the Lords science committee will hear from Dido Harding, head of the NHS test and trace programme

And at some point after 3.30pm: Dominic Raab, the Foreign Secretary, is expected to make a statement to MPs about the Government’s new sanctions policy. Individuals from Russia, Saudi Arabia and North Korea are likely to be targeted under the UK's version of the Magnitsky Act, which is a key step away from the EU's sanctions regime.

08:50 AM

Have your say on: a stamp duty freeze

Reports are suggesting that Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor, is poised to announce a stamp duty freeze in his economic statement this week. 

There are high hopes that the mini Budget will deliver some support for the economy, to get people spending again, to stave off the worst effects of the coronavirus-induced recession. 

Reports suggest that it could just be a six-month holiday - but is that enough? Should it be made permanent? Or is it a vital revenue-raising tool at a time when the coffers are looking light? 

Have your say in the poll below.

08:33 AM

Labour's last manifesto was 'far too long' and 'people didn't believe it', says Starmer

Sir Keir Starmer has criticised Labour's 2019 manifesto, saying it was "far too long" and that "people didn't believe it". 

The new party leader said he will bring forward a "fully costed Labour manifesto, a much shorter one" closer to the next election. 

He told LBC: "The last one was far too long, it had far too much in it, and because of that people didn't believe it. 

"We will have a shorter manifesto with much clearer commitments."

But asked if Labour supported a wealth tax, after shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds said she backed such an approach, he said he would not get into details this far away from a general election. 

08:26 AM

Prime Minister 'pretends problems aren't there', claims Keir Starmer

Sir Keir Starmer has called on the Government to improve the test, trace and isolate system and be more pro-active when it comes to dealing with local lockdowns. 

He told LBC: "Nobody needs a world-beating system, we just need one that works. We haven't got it."

He added: "We need a very effective way if dealing with local outbreaks - seen in Leicester what happens if you delay."

The Labour leader criticised the Government for ditching the system in March, and said a "responsible leader" would have a conversation about how to fix it. 

"Instead of that we have a Prime Minister who pretends problems aren't there and that is my frustration", he added. 

"This isn't about hindsight," he claimed. 

08:22 AM

Keir Starmer calls for furlough scheme to run into 'early part of next year'

Sir Keir Starmer has called for the Government to take a "laser-like focus on protecting jobs" when it comes to the economic update this week. 

The Labour leader said: "That means more support for those who need it going into early part of next year probably."

He said the furlough scheme should be "more flexible with more support for those sectors who need it". 

Sir Keir said: "If potentially millions of people lose their job it will be very very hard for them to get it back... Unemployment could hit two or three million," he added. "It is possible, I hope it doesn't happen.

"I want the Government to succeed in protecting jobs," he added, noting "the businesses that might go under are perfectly viable good businesses."

08:17 AM

Keir Starmer to look into Steve Reed's 'puppet master' tweet about Richard Desmond

Asked if he stands by his decision to sack Rebecca Long-Bailey over sharing an interview with Maxine Peake, Sir Keir Starmer says the article included "one of the oldest tropes - that you see something awful in the world, point the finger at the Jews or at Israel". 

He said there were a "number of conversations over four hours or so" and he "wasn't satisfied by the outcome". 

Asked about Steve Reed's tweet calling tycoon Richard Desmond the "puppet master of the entire Government", Sir Keir says he hasn't seen the tweet but will discuss it with his shadow Cabinet minister after the interview. 

The tweet appears to have been deleted. 

The Labour leader is also asked about anti-Semitism within Black Lives Matter, and he stresses the movement is about the "broader principle" of racism. 

08:11 AM

Keir Starmer to 'lead by example' with unconscious bias training

Sir Keir Starmer has been challenged over his comments on Black Lives Matter, when he said defunding the police was "just nonsense" and described it as "a moment". 

The Labour leader told LBC listeners it needs to be "a defining moment, a turning point" rather than something "fleeting". 

He said he should "lead by example" by taking a course on unconscious bias training. "It is important, there is always the risk of unconscious bias," he adds. 

Sir Keir says he doesn't regret taking the knee, but says it is "much broader" than the killing of George Floyd. But he stresses that it is "an individual choice". 

08:08 AM

Keir Starmer accuses Prime Minister of 'flailing around blaming other people' on schools

Sir Keir Starmer has said he doesn't "buy" the Prime Minister's argument that schools are not reopening because of unions. 

The Labour leader told LBC he did support Government efforts to get schools reopened by September, saying he would be willing to work with Boris Johnson on a cross-party taskforce. 

"Don't flail around blaming other people," he said. "Get them in, stop blaming other people". 

07:57 AM

Restrictions for people shielding dropped, Matt Hancock confirms

Matt Hancock has confirmed that restrictions for people who are shielding have been dropped from today. 

The Health Secretary thanked everyone who has been under the more draconian measures since March, saying: "I know how hard it has been for you but your effort has been so important in our fight against coronavirus."

07:51 AM

UK is 'collateral damage' in trade war between China and US, says Peter Mandelson

The UK is "collateral damage" in the trade war between the US and China, Peter Mandelson has claimed. 

The Labour peer, who is running to become the next director general of the World Trade Organisation, told the Today programme that blocking Huawei from the country's 5G infrastructure would carry a "heavy cost", both in terms of finding alternative suppliers and stripping it from the network. 

He added that US President Donald Trump has "undoubtedly succeeded in overturning the Government's original decision", arguing that it was "not a question of security", but one of commercial interests. 

"The Prime Minister would never have given the original go-ahead to the use of Huawei equipment if he was giving China a back door to our 5G network."

Lord Mandelson said the UK needed to "pressure China constantly to change", taking a more joined-up approach with other Western countries.

"But I do not believe we should make an enemy of China," he added. "It's the second biggest economy in the world, and we... have to operate in both the two big economies in the world, the US and China. We need access to both their markets."

07:40 AM

Performances without social distancing 'some way off' warns minister

Oliver Dowden has warned that theatre performances without social distancing are "some way off", saying the whole point of today's £1.57bn package is to "preserve institutions".

The Culture Secretary said the reduction of social distancing rules, such as on planes, has only been implemented in "exceptionally limited circumstances" and insisted "slow and baby steps" must be taken.

Mr Dowden said: "The essence of the package is about preserving those institutions... it is about ensuring we protect those institutions for future generations."

The chief executive of the Lighthouse venue in Poole, Elspeth McBain, had earlier told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that theatres cannot be viable with social distancing.

"With social distancing even at a metre-plus, the economics don't work for live performance. Most venues work on a really tight margin - we need about 80 per cent capacity to be able to turn a profit," she said.

07:34 AM

Pub-goers breaking social distancing rules 'not acceptable, says minister

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said that he hopes outdoor performances can return "shortly" but there remains a "real risk" of coronavirus transmission inside theatres.

"I understand people's frustration. They're desperate for theatres to return, I'm desperate for theatres to return, but we have to do so in a safe way," he told BBC Breakfast.

He also criticised people who did not maintain social distancing when pubs reopened on Saturday but said the "vast majority" obeyed the rules.

Mr Dowden said: "In respect to what happen in a few places, and I should say a few places, on Saturday night clearly that is not acceptable and people should be socially distancing.

"And actually I think by and large the vast majority of people up and down Britain showed British common sense, listened to the rules and socially distanced."

Soho was busy as pubs and bars reopened on Saturday 

07:22 AM

Decision on Huawei this month, minister confirms

The Government will make a decision about whether Huawei should be stripped out of Britain's 5G network this month, the Culture Secretary has said, indicating a U-turn is on the cards. 

Oliver Dowden said US sanctions on Huawei will likely have a "significant impact" on the firm's reliability and he will be discussing the issue with Boris Johnson.

He told LBC Radio: "In relation to Huawei, we've had these US sanctions that were imposed a couple of months ago. I've asked the National Cyber Security Centre to analyse the impact of them.

"It seems likely they're going to have a significant impact on the reliability of Huawei, I've just received that advice, I will be discussing that with the Prime Minister and if there's any change of policy arising from it I will make an announcement.

"I would certainly aim to do that before Parliament rises for the summer recess, so later this month."

You can read our exclusive about the expected u-turn here.

07:10 AM

Stamp duty should be scrapped for good, says manifesto writer

Stamp duty is "one of the worst taxes" and should be scrapped for good, one of the people behind the Conservative party manifesto has said. 

Robert Colville, director of the Centre for Policy Studies think tank and one of the co-authors of the document which helped Boris Johnson sweep to victory in December, said plans to freeze the levy should be made "permanent".

It comes amid reports suggesting Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor, is poised to announce a stamp duty holiday in this week's mini-Budget, as part of  ambitions to support the country's economy through the coronavirus-induced recession. 

It is worth pointing out, however, that his lobbying to change stamp duty in this way then didn't make it into the manifesto just a few months ago. Have things changed sufficiently for it to be considered now?

06:53 AM

Government to give traineeship bonuses

Companies will be paid cash bonuses by the Government to hire young people as trainees, the Chancellor will announce, as part of a package of measures to alleviate post-coronavirus unemployment.

Rishi Sunak will deliver an economic statement on Wednesday, with the central focus of helping people get back to work.

He will announce £1,000 cash "bonuses" for employers who hire young people into traineeship programmes.

The £111 million scheme is the first time firms will receive direct government subsidies for taking on trainees.

The money is available for those aged 16 to 24 and will be capped at 10 jobs per employer, or £10,000.

It is understood employers will be able to determine how to spend the £1,000, as long as it directly or indirectly contributes to their traineeship schemes.

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