Preston pre-empts Matt Hancock decision by reintroducing local lockdown measures

Cat Neilan
·41-min read
Matt Hancock is chairing the JBC Gold meeting with Chris Whitty
Matt Hancock is chairing the JBC Gold meeting with Chris Whitty

Preston council has told its residents to start following the same restrictions that Greater Manchester and parts of West Yorkshire are following, after official figures showed a spike in cases.

The council has also advised residents to wear face coverings at all times and to get tested even if they are experiencing only mild symptoms.

The move comes as Matt Hancock has convened his most senior health and data experts, to decide whether further steps need to be taken to stamp out rising cases in parts of the country. The Health Secretary will then confirm any changes tomorrow morning.

However Preston City Council chief executive Adrian Phillips told the BBC: "We are not waiting for some Government announcement.

"We know our rates are increasing and they have increased over the last week to a level now where we are concerned that we could face Government intervention.

"We've been working with our communities to make sure we get those key messages out."

Local authorities increasingly appear to be losing faith with the national system, with councils including Blackburn with Darwen and Calderdale deploying their own contact tracing operation over concerns NHS Test and Trace was not reaching sufficient numbers of people.

Follow the latest updates below.

03:02 PM

And that's it for another day

Boris Johnson and Robert Jenrick have defended Government proposals to shake up the country's planning regime, which would create designated areas where developers can "automatically" get the right to build on land. 

Critics - including at least one Conservative MP - have warned it could tip the balance in developers' favour, cutting local people from a final decision while undermining commitments to social housing. 

But you were fairly evenly divided on the matter, with 48 per cent of people saying the reforms solve the wrong problem and leave residents without a say, while 46 per cent said it would be a much-needed boost to housebuilding and the economy. 

Mr Johnson was also forced to defend the Government's Test and Trace strategy, with numbers of people falling, and local teams apparently being more successful than the national call centre operation. 

With Matt Hancock deciding today what the next steps are for parts of the country where cases are rising, it seems that there is a growing trend of councils working independently. Will Preston be brought into the Northern lockdown - and could other towns be affected?

We will be here tomorrow to find out the answer to that and other questions from 8am. 

02:57 PM

Easing lockdown did not push R-rate up, survey suggests

The easing of lockdown restrictions did not lead to an increase in infection rates in England, the largest swab testing survey carried out to date has found.

Although there are fears that releasing measures too soon has led to localised spikes in some areas, new data suggests that there was no overall rise after schools returned and nonessential shops reopened.

In fact, according to Imperial College London and Ipsos Mori, community prevalence actually fell after lockdown measures were relaxed, from 12 infections per 10,000 people in May, to eight in 10,000 by mid-June to early July.

Read the full story here.

02:49 PM

Northern Ireland identifies 23 coronavirus clusters

More than 20 coronavirus clusters have been identified in Northern Ireland.

Of the 23 pinpointed in the region since May 25 when the Test and Trace programme went live, 11 clusters remain open, according to the Public Health Agency (PHA).

Some 168 cases of Covid-19 have been associated with these clusters, with nine of the clusters having had five or more cases associated with them.

Earlier this week, two businesses in Newcastle, Co Down, closed temporarily following outbreaks among their staff.

The statement from the PHA came as the Department of Health's daily updates showed that 43 more positive cases of coronavirus have been detected in the region, bringing the total to 6,049. No new deaths were recorded today, leaving the total in the region at 556, according to departmental figures.

02:36 PM

Manchester pubs criticised for 'flouting social distancing rules'

Pubs and restaurants in Manchester have been criticised for "flouting social distancing rules", and the public have been urged to "take responsibility" ahead of another heat wave.

After additional lockdown laws were introduced in Manchester among other northern locations on Wednesday, Sacha Lord, night time economy adviser for Greater Manchester, said he had heard of "numerous" pubs, bars and restaurants "squeezing customers in, flouting social distancing rules, ignoring contact tracing and actively persuading mixed groups not to cancel bookings". 

He added: "These venues clearly have a disregard for the safety of both their customers and their staff, and I support our Mayor Andy Burnham and Greater Manchester Police in taking action over repeat breaches in these venues.

"It's also crucial that the general public takes responsibility too. We must work together to show venues that we will not stand for those who break the rules.

"If you feel uncomfortable, or that an establishment does not have the right procedures in place, then I urge you to take your booking elsewhere."

02:20 PM

Patrick Minford: Getting the economy back on track will require new thinking about money

For now, during the Covid crisis, little controversy surrounds the Bank of England's actions.

It is all hands, fiscal and monetary, to the pump, to aid economic recovery from the virus. But what comes next?

On this issue fights are breaking out among economists. On the far left of the political spectrum, ‘modern monetary theory’ (MMT) holds that government deficits can be as large as you like and should be financed by printing money. 

We are on the cusp of a huge experiment on the world’s economies as recovery occurs. But, argues Patrick Minford, it is not a good idea to experiment deliberately on this scale on economies in real time.

02:04 PM

France, Belgium and Malta risk being added to UK's 'red' quarantine list

France has recorded its highest daily number of new Covid-19 cases since June, raising the prospect of it joining Spain on the Foreign Office's (FCO) quarantine "red" list. 

The summer holiday favourite reported 1,695 positive tests during a 24-hour period on Wednesday, only slightly fewer than the 1,772 seen in Spain. Over the past 14 days it has seen 22.4 new cases per 100,000 residents – up from around 13 a week ago (when Spain was removed from the quarantine-free "green" list its figure was around 35 per 100,000; it has since risen to 78). 

Should France be unable to stem the rise, the FCO could add it to its list of countries from which returning holidaymakers must self-isolate for two weeks – a move which would force thousands of Britons to cancel their breaks.

Belgium looks almost certain to be taken off the green list on Thursday, while another nation at risk of being removed is Malta. 

A decision by the Government is expected within the next 24 hours when ministers consider the latest data as part of their weekly review of quarantine. 

01:48 PM

Sixth of US population have claimed unemployment benefits in last 20 weeks

Meanwhile, over the pond, my colleague Ben Riley-Smith reports the staggering new jobs figures for the US.

01:46 PM

Have your say on: Robert Jenrick's planning reforms

Robert Jenrick has been fending off much criticism for his planning reforms today, with opponents claiming it will undermine commitments to social housing, and risks leaving locals without a say on what gets built. 

Central to the new approach is a plan to give developers "automatic" permission to build homes and schools on sites that have been designated for "growth", one of three categories that land can be assigned.

The Housing Secretary claims this will  "cut red tape, but not standards," and decried as "nonsense" critics' suggestions it would lead to the creation of slums. However he conceded that local residents would not have the right to object to developments if they didn't like the design. 

Boris Johnson has intervened this afternoon to stress the new system will create more affordable housing, amid concerns it will remove key commitments. 

But what do you think? Have your say in the poll below.

01:44 PM

People must have confidence to go back to work, says Prime Minister

People should have the confidence to go back to workplaces to help boost the economy, the Prime Minister has said. 

During a visit to a housing development in Warrington, Boris Johnson told reporters there were "real signs of strength in the UK economy".

"Unquestionably it will require people to have the confidence to go back to work in a Covid-secure way," he continued.

"It's also very, very important that we get all the schools back in September, on September 1 get all the pupils back into their schools. That will be also very, very important for getting our economy overall moving again."

01:43 PM

Planning reforms create 'simpler' system with more affordable housing, Boris Johnson claims

Boris Johnson has insisted the Government's planning reforms will see more social housing built despite critics warning it could erode existing commitments. 

Under the proposals published today, the Government would do away with the Community Infrastructure Levy and the Section 106 agreement, in favour of a single Infrastructure Levy. 

Robert Jenrick this morning fended off criticism from the likes of Shelter, claiming developers would actually pay more. 

During a visit to a housing development in Warrington, the Prime Minister told reporters: "What we're doing is simplifying the process so you actually get much more affordable housing.

"This solution gives [developers] a much simpler infrastructure levy that enables them to go ahead and build a much bigger chunk of affordable housing and help people onto the property ladder.

"So I think it's going to have the reverse effect and enable us to build more homes for lots of different types of tenure, whether that's social rent, whether it's part-buy part-rent, all kinds of things that will help people onto the property ladder."

01:37 PM

Boris Johnson 'very disappointed' about 50m unsafe masks

Boris Johnson has said he is "very disappointed" that masks bought for the NHS will not be able to be used due to safety concerns.

Some 50 million face masks bought by the Government as part of a £252 million contract will not be used because have ear loops rather than head loops, and there are concerns over whether these are adequate (10:21am).

The Prime Minister told reporters: "I'm very disappointed that any consignment of PPE should turn out not to be fit for purpose."

He said there were legal proceedings under way so he would not be drawn on the specific example.

But he added: "We have achieved a colossal race against time to produce billions of items of PPE, sourcing them from abroad but now increasingly making them here in the UK as well, and stockpiling them now in case we have a second wave in the autumn and the winter.

01:35 PM

Boris Johnson defends Test and Trace system, saying it's 'absolutely crucial'

Boris Johnson has insisted the NHS Test and Trace system is "world beating", despite growing criticism that the operation is not up to the job. 

Latest figures show the number of people being reached is actually falling, with local teams having more success than national call centres. Earlier this week a study published by the Lancet warned that it was only running at around 50 per cent - falling well below the level required to be effective in preventing a second wave. 

Despite this the Prime Minister told reporters: "If you look at what we are doing, actually I think it certainly is - it certainly does fit that description of 'world beating'.

"I think I'm right in saying that we are now testing more - per head of population - than virtually any other country in Europe, certainly, in America they are testing a huge number of people."

It was "absolutely crucial" for the Government's coronavirus strategy, he added. 

"If you look at what we are doing with some of the local social distancing measures that we are bringing back in, that's entirely driven by our ability to detect cases through local test and trace, working with our local authorities and taking the right local measures," he said.

"That is how we hope that we will be able to keep the lid on the disease."

01:26 PM

Further five coronavirus deaths in England, NHS says

A further five people who have tested positive for coronavirus have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 29,376.

Patients were aged between 45 and 86 years old, NHS England said. All had known underlying health conditions.

There were no deaths recorded in London, the North East & Yorkshire and the South West, while the Midlands, South East and East of England each reported one death. The North West was the worst affected region, with two deaths registered.  

01:24 PM

Boris Johnson defends decision not to suspend Tory MP over rape claims

Boris Johnson has defended the decision not to suspend the senior Tory MP who was arrested on suspicion of rape.

Asked during a visit to Warrington if he was confident it was the right decision not to remove the whip from the former minister amid safeguarding concerns, the Prime Minister told reporters: "I think it's very, very important that we take all these cases extremely seriously and we will continue to do so.

"I think we've got to wait for the police to decide whether they want to make charges and take a decision on that basis."

01:23 PM

Labour still deemed unready to govern, Ipsos Mori poll finds

Almost half of the country does not believe that Labour is ready to lead the country, despite views towards the party "softening", latest polling suggests. 

Some 47 per cent of respondents to an Ipsos Mori poll said the party was not ready to become the next Government, while 29 per cent said it was. However, the figures represent the best result for the party in terms of support since February 2014. 

Boris Johnson remains the most popular leader, with 43 per cent of respondents saying the Prime Minister has handled the crisis well, compared to 31 per cent who said the same of Sir Keir Starmer. 

However Rishi Sunak continues to secure the best approval ratings, with three in five (60 per cent) believing he is doing a good job.

Gideon Skinner, head of political research at Ipsos Mori, said the Chancellor was "one of the biggest winners" from the crisis, but noted it was "a bigger step to be seen as a PM-in-waiting, and public opinion is not there yet".

He added: "Some of the negative views towards Labour have softened from last year, and people are much less likely to think they would bring chaos if elected."

01:02 PM

Labour calls on Government to end 'failed contract' with Serco as Test and Trace falters

Labour has called on the Government to end its "failed contract with Serco" and support local teams to establish their own track and trace systems, as official figures show a decline in the number of people being contacted. 

Some 72.4 per cent of close contacts were reached in the week ending July 29, down from 76.2 per cent in the previous week, and down on the 90.7 per cent reached in the first week of Test and Trace (11:32am) with a huge discrepancy between local teams tracing contacts in person compared with those doing it over the phone (11:44am).

Justin Madders, shadow health minister, said: "It’s deeply concerning that the numbers are heading in the wrong direction again this week, with so many of the close contacts of people who have tested positive, and over 40 per cent of people in the same households, not being reached. 

“We now need a plan of action from Ministers that sets out what they are doing to address these huge holes in the contact tracing system. 

“If this means supporting local areas to establish their own local contact tracing systems and ending the failed contract with Serco – as Labour has been calling for, for some time – then Ministers must get on and implement this without delay. We urgently need to get test and trace back on track.” 

12:58 PM

Tory MP warns planning reforms could build 'slums of tomorrow'

A Conservative MP has raised concerns over the Government's proposed reform of the UK's planning system, warning it may result in "building slums of tomorrow". 

Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, who represents the Cotswolds, said he was concerned about the quality of new homes which could be built under the proposals.

The veteran MP, treasurer of the backbench Conservative 1922 Committee, told BBC Radio 4's World At One: "We do need some reform, but as people who have tried this before have found, if you are not careful it does have knock-on effects.

"Whilst I'm all in favour of building more houses, they need to be good-quality houses, we have got to be really sure that we are not building slums of tomorrow by building today at low quality."

He said the "devil is always in the detail" and added that he had concerns about "how much local democratic control there is going to be".

12:22 PM

Pandemic will cause 'structural change' to economy, Bank of England boss says

Andrew Bailey has warned that the pandemic will lead to "structural change" in the economy, with "social consumption" sectors at risk in the longer term. 

The governor of the Bank of England told Sky News it was "reasonable" to think there will be "structural change" in the economy as a result of the crisis. 

"There will be some parts of the economy that will just not be viable going forwards," he added. "If you look at this uneven pattern of recovery and you think what are the characteristics of those parts that haven't recovered effectively, it is the often sectors that have very high social consumption element, which involves people working or consuming them at very close quarters."

He added: "The UK does have a higher share of those sectors than quite a number of areas when you look at other developed countries... we are at the top of that list."

Mr Bailey said that partly explained why "the UK looks more exposed" economically. 

12:04 PM

Labour leader calls for investigation over Government's decision to buy 50m 'unsafe' face masks

Sir Keir Starmer has called for an inquiry into the Government's purchase of 50 million face masks, as part of a £252 million contract, that cannot be used in the NHS (10:21am).

During a visit to north Wales, the Labour leader  told reporters: "For months we were told that the Government was purchasing the right equipment for the front line. Yet again it hasn't happened.

"There needs now to be an investigation, an inquiry, into what went wrong with this particular contract because it's just not good enough to people who need that protective equipment that we find ourselves in this position."

11:58 AM

Parents cannot be school lockdown back-up plan again, campaigners say

Home-schooling must be significantly improved if schools are forced to close amid local lockdowns as many parents can no longer take on the teaching role, campaigners say.

Parent-led campaign group Sept for Schools has heard from parents who felt they were "on their knees" after months of remote learning, with many saying they will not do it again.

The group says parents cannot be assumed to be the back-up plan in the event of further lockdowns as home-schooling is not achievable for many.

It comes after the schools minister said the Government cannot "decree" that keeping schools open must be prioritised over pubs during local lockdowns to combat spikes in coronavirus cases.

Nick Gibb has insisted that all children will return to school in England in September, but he said the decisions to enforce closures to prevent new outbreaks will be made locally.

11:46 AM

Without reforms Lebanon will suffer more, President Macron warns

Emmanuel Macron has called on Lebanon's government to carry out swift and urgent reforms as he arrived in Beirut today.

"Lebanon is facing political and economic crisis and an urgent response to this is required,” the French president said.

He promised to help organise international aid for Lebanon but said its government must implement economic reforms and crack down on corruption.

"If reforms are not made, Lebanon will continue to suffer," he said.

Mr Macron was greeted on the tarmac by Lebanese President Michel Aoun before travelling to the port to meet Lebanese and French teams in the disaster area.

11:25 AM

No coronavirus deaths in Scotland for three weeks in a row

There have been no coronavirus deaths in Scotland for three weeks in a row, Nicola Sturgeon has said, as she restated the Aberdeen lockdown rules.

The First Minister gave the latest figures at the Scottish Government's daily coronavirus briefing in Edinburgh.

A total of 2,491 patients have died in Scotland after testing positive for Covid-19.

Ms Sturgeon said 18,847 people have tested positive for the virus, up by 67 from the day before.

There were 270 people in hospital with confirmed Covid-19, up by three in 24 hours.

Of these, four were in intensive care, an increase of one.

11:12 AM

Criticism of new planning laws 'complete nonsense', says Robert Jenrick

Robert Jenrick has rejected claims that the Government's planning reforms would lead to a rise in slums as "complete nonsense", arguing the critics had not even read the proposals before commenting. 

The long-awaited white paper promises a new streamlined process designed to reduce red tape and harness technology to deliver homes more rapidly, with the Housing Secretary insisting there would be no dilution in building standards.

But the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) described the proposals as “shameful” and said they would do “almost nothing to guarantee the delivery of affordable, well-designed and sustainable homes”.

“While they might help to ‘get Britain building’ – paired with the extension of permitted development rights last week – there’s every chance they could also lead to the development of the next generation of slum housing,” said RIBA president Alan Jones.

However Mr Jenrick told Sky News: "That, I'm afraid, is complete nonsense. I saw those comments and they were put out before we'd even published the document."

Developers would not "be able to wriggle out of obligations" including paying a standard levy that would be used to boost social housing and contribute to "things that we all care about like GP surgeries, hospitals, schools, roads, parks and playgrounds."

11:06 AM

Boris Johnson misses 24-hour test target

Boris Johnson has failed to hit his target to ensure all tests carried out in-person would be returned within 24 hours. 

The Prime Minister had told the House of Commons on June 3 he would get "all tests turned around within 24 hours by the end of June, except for difficulties with postal tests or insuperable problems like that".

However figures published today show that just over three in four people (77.9 per cent) who were tested for Covid-19 in the week ending July 29 at a regional site or mobile testing unit received their result within 24 hours.

This is up on 76.4 per cent in the previous week, but down on 90.8% per cent in the week to July 1.

11:00 AM

Half a million patients have 'long Covid' with after-effects lingering for months

MPs yesterday heard some appalling stories about the long-term effects of coronavirus, which include psychosis, fatigue, loss of eyesight and mobility issues. 

Up to half a million Britons are suffering the effects of "long Covid", MPs were told, with some doctors dismissing many of the long-term symptoms suffered in the wake of coronavirus as ME.

My colleague Amy Jones has the full story.

10:44 AM

Huge discrepancy between physical and remote contact tracing success, figures show

There is a huge discrepancy between the numbers of contacts reached by call centres or online compared with local teams, official figures show.  

The Test and Trace figures also show that, for cases handled by local health protection teams, 98 per cent of close contacts of people who tested positive for Covid-19 have been reached and asked to self-isolate.

By contrast, for those cases handled either online or by call centres, 56.1 per cent of close contacts have been reached and asked to self-isolate.

These figures cover the whole nine-week period of Test and Trace.

Earlier this week, Simon Clarke, the local government minister, said the Government was now looking at whether "there should be some physical follow-up if you can't reach [potential cases] on the phone".

It comes as local authorities in areas under partial lockdown have resorted to sending their own teams out as concern grows that the national system is failing to reach enough people to stop the virus spreading. 

10:32 AM

Proportion of Test and Trace contacts reached falls since launch

The proportion of people being contacted through the NHS Test and Trace system has fallen since it was launched, official figures have shown.

A total of 47,762 people who tested positive for Covid-19 in England have had their cases transferred to the NHS Test and Trace contact tracing system since its launch, according to figures from the Department of Health and Social Care.

Of this total, 37,231 people (78.0 per cent) were reached and asked to provide details of recent contacts, while 9,032 (18.9 per cent) were not reached.

A further 1,499 people (3.1 per cent) could not be reached because their communication details had not been provided.

However weekly figures show that 72.4 per cent of close contacts were reached in the week ending July 29, down from 76.2 per cent in the previous week, and down on the 90.7 per cent reached in the first week of Test and Trace (week ending June 3).

10:13 AM

Have your say on: Robert Jenrick's planning reforms

Robert Jenrick has been fending off much criticism for his planning reforms today, with opponents claiming it will undermine commitments to social housing, and risks leaving locals without a say on what gets built. 

Central to the new approach is a plan to give developers "automatic" permission to build homes and schools on sites that have been designated for "growth", one of three categories that land can be assigned.

The Housing Secretary claims this will  "cut red tape, but not standards," and decried as "nonsense" critics' suggestions it would lead to the creation of slums. However he condeded that local residents would not have the right to object to developments if they didn't like the design. 

So what do you think? Have your say in the poll below.

10:07 AM

Deputy mayor of London attacks Robert Jenrick over communities levy plan

The deputy mayor of London has attacked Robert Jenrick over Government plans to shake up planning rules, with a side-swipe about the Housing Secretary's intervention in the Westferry development. 

Mr Jenrick fast-tracked approval for the £1bn scheme, saving developer Richard Desmond more than £40m in a community levy that was due to be introduced by Tower Hamlets Council. 

Although the decision was subsequently overturned by the High Court on grounds of “apparent bias”, Mr Jenrick has defended his actions, saying the levy was “a material consideration that a planning minister could take into account”.

Tom Copley today has been scathing about Mr Jenrick's planning reforms, which will scrap this CIL and other commitments in favour of a single infrastructure levy. 

09:53 AM

NHS workers to demonstrate over pay rise demands

Thousands of NHS workers are expected to take to the streets this weekend demanding a pay rise.

A socially-distanced demonstration will take place in London on Saturday morning, while protests will also take place in other towns and cities across the UK. It is being supported by Unite, the union. 

Health workers are in the final year of a three-year deal and are due a pay rise next April, but unions want the Government to bring it forward to this year.

Unite national officer for health, Jackie Williams, said: "Last week, health workers marched to Downing Street to vent their anger that all their efforts during the pandemic, which has claimed so many of their colleagues' lives, have appeared to be ignored when it comes to recognition in their pay packets.

"In a decade of Tory austerity, NHS staff has seen their pay cut by 20 per cent in real terms - and no amount of Thursday evening clapping and warm ministerial words can compensate for this dramatic loss in income."

09:37 AM

Planning reforms could undermine social housing commitment, Shelter warns

The Government’s plan to reform planning rules could undermine a key requirement to build social housing, a leading homelessness charity has warned. 

Robert Jenrick, the Housing Secretary, has unveiled the plan today insisting that developers would contribute more than they currently do through a single infrastructure levy. 

However scrapping the section 106 agreement would remove "one of the only ways we get social homes built", Shelter claims. 

Polly Neate, the charity's chief executive, said: “Decades of political decisions have left social housing gravely endangered. If the government now removes the requirement for developers to build their fair share it could face extinction... It makes no sense to remove this route to genuinely affordable homes without a guaranteed alternative. 

"This pandemic has shown us the importance of a safe home like nothing before, but a safe home will remain a pipe dream for too many if the Government fails to invest in social housing. Cutting up the planning system must not result in cutting social homes.” 

09:29 AM

Labour calls for NAO to investigate Government over 'mishandling' PPE procurement

Labour has called on the National Audit Office to investigate the Government over its "mishandling of PPE procurement", after it emerged it bought 50m masks that are not safe to be used by NHS staff. 

Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, said the case for the National Audit Office to investigate was "overwhelming". 

"The latest PPE scandal cannot be swept under the carpet," the Labour frontbencher said. "These mistakes can never happen again. We owe it to all those who care for us."

She added: "It is astounding that ministers allowed the national PPE stockpile to run down and then spent millions with an offshore finance company with no history of providing vital equipment for the NHS."

09:21 AM

50m face masks bought by Government can't be used by NHS

Some 50 million face masks bought by the Government as part of a £252m contract will not be used in the NHS due to safety concerns.

The masks, ordered from Ayanda Capital, have ear loops rather than head loops. 

The Good Law Project and EveryDoctor, which are suing the Government over its Ayanda contract, estimate the 50 million masks would have cost more than £150m.

Ayanda Capital also supplied 150 million masks of another type, which the Government says are unaffected but will be subject to further testing in the UK before any are released for use in the NHS.

The Government also disclosed in court papers that the original approach to sell the masks came from a businessman called Andrew Mills, director at a company called Prospermill, which had secured exclusive rights to the full production capacity of a large factory in China to produce masks and offer a large quantity almost immediately.

Mr Mills, who is an adviser to the UK Board of Trade and a senior board adviser at Ayanda, told the BBC his position played no part in the award of the contract, the broadcaster reported.

A Government spokesman said: "Throughout this global pandemic, we have been working tirelessly to deliver PPE to protect people on the front line...There is a robust process in place to ensure orders are of high quality and meet strict safety standards, with the necessary due diligence undertaken on all Government contracts."

09:06 AM

Have your say on: Robert Jenrick's planning reforms

Robert Jenrick has been (virtually) touring the studios this morning as he touts his proposals for shaking up the planning system. 

Central to the new approach is a plan to give developers "automatic" permission to build homes and schools on sites that have been designated for "growth", one of three categories that land can be assigned.

The Housing Secretary claims this will  "cut red tape, but not standards," and decried as "nonsense" critics' suggestions it would lead to the creation of slums. However he condeded that local residents would not have the right to object to developments if they didn't like the design. 

So what do you think? Have your say in the poll below.

08:56 AM

Sherelle Jacobs: Voters will turn on Boris Johnson if there is a second lockdown

As second wave fears slowly reach a crescendo, the Summer 2020 soundtrack crackles of deja vu. But strain your ears, for the national mood music is changing.

Received wisdom is starting to toy with the idea that avoiding both a second wave and a second lockdown is perfectly possible. If the idea sticks, opinion could rapidly turn against the Tories.

Sherelle Jacobs explains why.

08:35 AM

Hong Kongers snap up property in northern England after BNO status change

Here's one unintended consequence of the Government's decision to give Hong Kongers with BNO status a route to UK citizenship: they are buying up property in the north of England. 

While people from Hong Kong have long bought high-end London properties, agents are reporting a surge in interest in mid-range, three-bedroom semi-detached houses. 

Oliver James, a Manchester estate agent, said: “In the last two weeks we have done seven sales to Hong Kong buyers. We’ve sold three properties just today. Previously, we would maybe sell one to a Hong Kong buyer every six months.” 

Read the full story here.

08:30 AM

Labour urges Rishi Sunak to 'change course' on furlough scheme

Labour has urged Rishi Sunak to "change course" on the furlough scheme, which is due to end in October, warning that the Bank of England's forecast "shows this is a critical moment for our economy". 

This morning the BoE said the economy shrank by a fifth in the first half, and estimated that unemployment will hit 7.5 per cent by the year end, warning the economy won’t recover until the end of 2021.

Anneliese Dodds, Labour’s shadow chancellor,  said: “A short-term, post-lockdown rise in spending sits alongside a much more uncertain long-term picture of very low levels of business investment and the prospect of a sharp rise in unemployment... [but] the Chancellor is still ploughing on with his one-size-fits-all approach to withdrawing income support, despite calls from businesses to think again.

"If he won't, the recovery will be stopped in its tracks and the jobs crisis Britain faces will get much worse. It’s not too late to change course.”

08:20 AM

Serco boss says 20 per cent of contacts will never be traced

The boss of outsourcing giant Serco has defended its work on the NHS Test and Trace system - but said a fifth of people will probably never be contacted.

Rupert Soames, Serco chief executive, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I think we need to get this into proportion. You're giving me the numbers saying that we're tracing 50 per cent of contacts, let me tell you that 96 per cent of the people that we talk to agree to self-isolate.

"So we've got a very, very high success rate of people that we get to contact."

But challenged on the fact that just half of contacts are reached, he said: "If somebody rang you now and I said tell me everybody that you have met, been in contact with, in the last 48 hours and tell me on the telephone, give me their contact details, how many do you think that you'd be able to reel off of the top of your head?

"And the fact is that about 20 per cent of the contacts that people give us, say I know I sat next so somebody on a bus on the way in but I don't have their contact details. I'm sorry, but my brother-in-law brought around a friend last night, I don't have their contact details.

"So there is an element of that and it is about 20 per cent at the moment where people can't remember or never knew the contact... the details of where they were."

08:14 AM

Ambrose Evans-Pritchard: The Economic Consequences of Mr Sunak

Britain is heading for an unemployment crisis of Biblical proportions by the end of the year unless the Treasury's policy is torn up very soon.

Businesses will start "shedding" jobs rapidly in September as the furlough scheme dials down to 70pc of wages. It will reach a grim crescendo when support stops altogether at the end of October, long before the economy is in any fit state to absorb the army of unemployed. 

“It is one of the biggest policy mistakes in modern British history,” said Nobel laureate Chris Pissarides from the London School of Economics. 

Why pull away the fiscal rug so soon when there is every chance of a transforming vaccine by early next year, asks Ambrose Evans-Pritchard.

08:06 AM

NHS Test and Trace update today as criticism of system grows

The Department of Health and Social Care will publish the latest week’s statistics on NHS Test and Trace this morning, amid growing criticism of the system.

Labour has been particularly vocal following the Lancet study earlier this week, which warned that the failure risks a second wave more than double the size of the first.  The study estimated that just half of contacts are being reached, well below the 80 per cent target required for the system to be effective. 

There are rumours that the long-awaited NHSX app could be close to launch - albeit a scaled back version of the original. 

Instead of helping with tracing, it could let users know about infection rates in their local area, and individual “risk scores” based on their age, ethnicity and profession.

07:46 AM

Preston could be next for local lockdown, council warns

Preston could be the next area to face Government intervention after a rise in coronavirus rates, the city council's chief executive said.

The authority has advised residents in the Lancashire city to avoid having visitors to their homes, although there are no official restrictions such as the laws brought in for other parts of the county, as well as Greater Manchester and parts of West Yorkshire.

Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Preston City Council chief executive Adrian Phillips said: "We are not waiting for some Government announcement.

"We know our rates are increasing and they have increased over the last week to a level now where we are concerned that we could face Government intervention. We've been working with our communities to make sure we get those key messages out."

The council has also advised residents to wear face coverings at all times and to get tested even if they are experiencing only mild symptoms.

07:45 AM

Planning reforms will 'shift dynamic away from developers', Robert Jenrick claims

Robert Jenrick has insisted the planning reforms will not hand developers greater power at the expense of local people, insisting communities will benefit. 

Mr Jenrick told the BBC's Today programme there were "definitely lessons to be learned" from the Westferry case, saying: "I wish I hadn't been sat next to the developer [Richard Desmond] at an event and I regret sharing texts messages with him afterwards. 

"But I don't regret the decision because I think it was right to get housing built on a brownfield site in a part of London that desperately needs it."

He claimed the new system "will actually move us forward significantly on some of the challenges that case rose". 

But challenged on whether the reforms were being made because of developers giving big donations to the party, he said: "You're entirely mis-characterising what we are doing here... actually we are asking developers to pay more [and] we are asking them to abide by design code... so the standards and look and feel of development will be set by local people."

He claimed the proposals would "shift the dynamic away from big developers".

07:32 AM

Robert Jenrick concedes people will not be able to stop developments under new planning system

Robert Jenrick has conceded that people will not be able to prevent developments on land once it has been designated for "growth" - but insisted the current system does not allow that either.  

Speaking with Today programme, he said less than four per cent of people engaged with local planning permissions, but the planning stage still took seven years to complete.

The new approach would create a "more predictable and certain system which will help people get on and build," he said. Developments would be "subject to the design code, high environmental standards, with developers and land owners paying a significant charge - our new infrastructure levy."

Challenged whether people would be able to stop a development if they didn't like the way it looked, or the density of the project. 

"You wont be able to do something then but you wouldn't be able to do much under the current system," he said. 

The "debate locally will be about the plan-making process... this is a very certain system, which lets everyone know where they stand."

07:21 AM

Mortgage support could be extended, Robert Jenrick says

Robert Jenrick has said the Government could extend measures to support homeowners and renters, as the country moves through the economic downturn. 

He declined to comment on the number of people he thought might lose their home as a result of the recession, although conceded that "people do lose their homes" in downturns. 

But he told BBC Breakfast: "We are working very closely with the lenders to put in measures and to show forbearance.

"You have seen some of those already... they have been extended already, they could be [extended further]. that is something we keep under review."

He pointed to the mortgage holiday and a ban on evictions when the market was closed at the height of the pandemic, as the kind of measures that the Government has put in place.

Courts will "take account of the individual circumstances" to ensure people aren't evicted if they are in vulnerable circumstances, he said. 

07:18 AM

Government 'needs to go further' to save jobs, says Robert Jenrick

Robert Jenrick has said the Government 'need to go further' in supporting jobs and businesses, following today's gloomy economic update from the Bank of England. 

The BoE warned that unemployment could peak at 7.5 per cent at the end of this year - more than one million people - almost double the most recent rate but lower than the previous estimate of just under 10 per cent. 

Speaking with BBC Breakfast after the figures came out, the Housing Secretary urged people to "safely use" shops and restaurants to support the economy. 

He added: "Nobody wants to live in a country where there is unemployment at the at that level... we  need to go further." In particular, he said the Government would be looking to support young people to avoid long-term "scarring".  

"I don't think any of us can gloss over how difficult this situation is," he added. 

07:09 AM

Pandemic could cut housebuilding by 30-40 per cent this year, warns Robert Jenrick

Robert Jenrick has warned that the pandemic could reduce the number of houses started this year by between 30 and 40 per cent. 

Last year housebuilding in England reached a 30-year high, with more than 240,000 properties added to the country's housing stock in 2018-10. 

However the Housing Secretary told Sky News: "We do still have major housing challenge as country. It is much more difficult to get on the housing ladder than it was 10 or 20 years ago.

"There is a huge generational challenge - we want to rise to it."

The planning reforms would see 300,000 homes built every year, Mr Jenrick said, which would be a "boost to the sector" at a difficult time.  

"As a result of pandemic, the number of starts will be well down - 30 or 40 per cent less," he added. "This year and next year will be very challenging for the industry."

07:05 AM

Government told to prove how planning system is 'desperately broken'

The director of the Town and Country Planning Association called on the Government to provide evidence as to how the current planning system is "desperately broken".

Hugh Ellis told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Change is a good thing to planning, there's no doubt about that, but the most important thing is that people's voice is not going to be enhanced, this is not a democratisation of planning and that is really troubling to us.

"So people might struggle to involve themselves in the system at the moment but they do get two bites of the cherry, they can have an involvement in the plan, they can comment on planning applications. Half that process is going to effectively disappear."

He added: "Just to be absolutely clear, the planning system in England consented 370,000 units for housing last year in the year and the Local Government Association estimates that there are 1 million consents not built.

"So, I'm sorry, the Government are going to have to present some detailed evidence which is not in the white paper about why they say the planning system is desperately broken."

07:03 AM

All new streets to be tree-lined under Government plans

All new streets will have to be tree-lined under proposed new planning laws that will bring an end to "identikit estates".

Green belt land will remain protected and the new rules will be designed to ensure that new-build homes are in keeping with their surroundings.

Ministers will also speed up the planning process in what Robert Jenrick, the Housing Secretary, has called a "once in a generation" reform of the system. Mr Jenrick will publish a white paper entitled "Planning for the Future", which will form the basis for new laws expected to be in place by next year.

He said on Wednesday that the current planning system has been "a barrier to building the homes people need" and promised to create "better quality neighbourhoods" around the country.

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