Afternoon summary
That’s all from me for today. But our Covid coverage continues on our global live blog. It’s here.
The GMB union has welcomed today’s announcement, but it says the travel sector still needs a lot more government support. It says 51% of aviation workers are still on furlough. Nadine Houghton, the GMB national officer, said:
Today’s changes are welcome – and will ease the pressure on a sector that’s been hit harder than almost any other.
But they’re not enough. More than half of the UK’s 300,000 aviation workers remain on furlough.
Government policy is killing the industry; they need to respond. We need urgent sector specific support as we head in to winter.
Details of new travel rules
Here are the key points from the travel announcement.
From Wednesday 22 September
- Eight countries are coming off the red list. They are: Turkey, Pakistan, the Maldives, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Oman, Bangladesh and Kenya. The change will take effect at 4am on the Wednesday.
From Monday 4 October
- Fully-vaccinated travellers from 17 more countries, including Japan and Singapore, will be subject to the same rules as fully-vaccinated British travellers when they arrive in the UK.
- The current traffic light system, with different rules for red, amber and green countries, will be replaced with a new system: red list (countries that pose a particular risk), and everywhere else (countries deemed safer, or more normal).
- Fully-vaccinated travellers who are travelling to England will no longer need to do a pre-departure test before they set off.
From the end of October
- Fully-vaccinated Britons, and people with an approved vaccine from a select group of non-red countries, will be able to replace the day two PCR test they currently must do after their arrival in England with a cheaper lateral flow test. The government wants this system to be in place in time for people returning from half-term holidays. If people test positive, they will need to isolate and take a confirmatory PCR test, at no extra cost.
- Unvaccinated passengers will still have to get pre-departure tests, and day two and day eight PCR tests. Test to release will remain an option.
From early in 2022
- A new travel policy is due to be announced.
Updated
Here is the Department for Transport news release with details of the new rules.
Huw Merriman, the Conservative MP who chairs the Commons transport committee, has welcomed the new travel rules, saying his committee has called for a rethink along these lines for some time. He said:
The committee has called out confusing watchlists and quarantines; criticised the delay in reaping the benefit of the vaccine dividend and puzzled over the high costs and lack of sequencing of PCR tests. We note that using lateral flow tests may now incur a cost; it’s important that any alternative testing system is fairly priced and administered.
The need for caution is clear but with 80% of our country now vaccinated, UK travel needs a shot in the arm and this could be it. It’s a relief to see the government move on these issues and this announcement, timed ahead of October half-term, could have an immediate impact on the UK’s travel industry.
Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, has said new travel testing rules announced this afternoon (see 4.45pm) are intended to stay in place at least until the new year. He told Sky News:
We wanted to bring in a new, simpler, easier to navigate and cheaper system as well, and so we’ve brought this in to the new year, at the very least.
The purpose is make it easier for people to travel without the bureaucracy, without so many tests, and with a greater level of certainty, now that we’ve got so many people vaccinated.
Amber list scrapped in shake-up of England’s Covid travel rules
Here is our story on the new rules from my colleagues Peter Walker and Ben Quinn.
Shapps says Turkey coming off red list as part of wide-ranging easing of travel rules
Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, has announced the new travel rules.
TRAVEL UPDATE🔊: we’re making testing easier for travel 🧳💉 From Mon 4 Oct, if you’re fully vax you won’t need a pre-departure test before arrival into England from a non-red country and from later in Oct, will be able to replace the day 2 PCR test with a cheaper lateral flow.
— Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) September 17, 2021
In addition, EIGHT countries and territories will come off the red list 🔴 from Weds 22 Sept at 4am, incl. TURKEY, PAKISTAN and MALDIVES.
— Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) September 17, 2021
We’ll also be introducing a new simplified system for international travel from Mon 4 Oct 🌐, replacing the current approach with a single red list 🔴 and simplified measures for the rest of the world - striking the right balance to manage the public health risk as No.1 priority.
— Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) September 17, 2021
Lord Bethell sacked from post as health minister
Lord Bethell has confirmed that he has been sacked from the government.
Sad to be standing down but I want to thank @borisjohnson for the opportunity to serve my country during this awful pandemic. It’s been a privilege to work with wonderful colleagues in @dhscgovuk (and healthcare generally) during these times. Tx to Tilly for infectious energy. 🚀
— Lord Bethell (@JimBethell) September 17, 2021
John McDonnell, the former shadow chancellor, warned in an interview published this morning that the expulsion of party members linked to four fringe groups now banned could trigger a row that would disrupt party conference. (See 11.30am.) Another battle is breaking out over the party’s decision not to allow a debate on a motion proposed by the Labour for a Green New Deal campaign.
The campaign says motions submitted to the conference by constituency Labour parties (CLPs) based on its template have been rejected by the conference arrangements committee on the grounds that they are too wide ranging. But it has welcome the decision of two frontbenchers, Rachael Maskell, shadow minister for the voluntary sector, and Olivia Blake, a shadow environment minister, to say the motion should be debated.
It is essential @UKLabour debate @LabGND at Conference. Our climate is in crisis, our environment is being torn up and secure, productive jobs are no where to be seen. Today I raised this in Parliament with regards to #BioYorkshire - York's GND. There is no time to be lost. https://t.co/sAE7KD2DBR
— 💙Rachael Maskell MP (@RachaelMaskell) September 16, 2021
You can’t draw lines around the climate emergency - our response to it should thread through all the work we do. It’s therefore disappointing that the CAC have blocked this vital motion because it talks about more than one subject. I hope they reverse their decision. https://t.co/ycmPFUFo3J
— Olivia Blake MP (@_OliviaBlake) September 17, 2021
The full text of the motion, which is strongly backed by the pro-Corbyn group Momentum and which includes proposals like universal free broadband and the repeal of all anti trade union laws, is here.
And here are the latest figures from the government’s UK Covid dashboard. There have been 178 further deaths, and the total number of deaths in the past seven days is up 5.1% on the previous week. But new cases are down 23% week on week, with 32,651 reported today.
Hospital admissions are now falling week on week, by 1.3% on the latest figures, but these only go up to Monday, when there were 909 admissions. These figures are always a few days old because of the time it takes to get UK-wide statistics. Until recently admissions were rising week on week.
Updated
The government has published today its latest estimates for the Covid R number and for its growth rate. But there has been no change since the estimates last week. R is said to be between 0.9 and 1.1, and the growth rate is said to be between -1% and +1%.
Downing Street has announced four more government appointments.
George Freeman has been made minister for science, research and innovation at the business department. He has been promoted from the backbenches, but in the past he has been a transport minister and a life sciences minister.
And it has been confirmed that John Glen is staying as economic secretary to the Treasury, and Marcus Jones and James Morris are staying as whips (although both move up in terms of seniority in the whips’ office).
Although some of the pro-Brexit papers are very keen on the news that the government wants to lift the ban on selling goods in imperial measures, at the Downing Street lobby briefing the prime minister’s spokesman implied this was not really a big deal, saying it was just a “small part” of the regulatory reform agenda. (See 1.46pm.)
But the SNP thinks it should not be bothering at all. In a statement Kirsten Oswald, the party’s deputy leader at Westminster, said:
At a time when we are facing critical staff and food shortages, rising costs, food rotting in fields, businesses losing trade, and mountains of red tape – it beggars belief that the prime minister believes this is a priority.
Boris Johnson should listen to the concerns of farmers and business owners who fear for the wellbeing and future of their industries and offer financial packages to those who desperately need it – similar to what the European parliament have done, approving over €1bn worth of Brexit subsides to Ireland.
Pippa Musgrave, a trading law specialist, is also furious with the government plan, and explains why in a lively Twitter thread starting here.
Updated
Updated
Here are some more figures from the ONS Covid infection survey released earlier. (See 12.44pm and 12.54pm.) These are from the dataset issued alongside the main report.
Here are the estimated Covid rates in regions of England on 8 September.
North-east: 1 in 60
North-west: 1 in 70
Yorkshire and The Humber: 1 in 60
East Midlands: 1 in 65
West Midlands: 1 in 85
East of England: 1 in 120
London: 1 in 90
South-east: 1 in 85
South-west: 1 in 75
And here the estimated Covid rates by age group in England on 8 September.
Age 2 to school year 6: 1 in 60
School year 7 to school year 11: 1 in 35
School year 12 to age 24: 1 in 45
Age 25 to 34: 1 in 110
Age 35 to 49: 1 in 100
Age 50 to 69: 1 in 120
Age 70+: 1 in 150
UK scientist warns over relaxation of Covid travel rules
One of the scientists behind the UK’s testing network for quickly identifying Covid variants of concern has urged the government to continue surveillance of coronavirus cases brought in to the UK from abroad, my colleague Jamie Grierson reports.
Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, has said that a breakdown in the talks over the Northern Ireland Protocol would be “problematic” for a post-Brexit UK-US trade deal.
Speaking at a Chatham House event in London she was “glad that more time” had been afforded for talks between the UK and the EU on how to operate the protocol. But she said there “has to be an agreement” that respects the terms of the peace agreement in Northern Ireland or transatlantic relations and the prospect of a trade concord could suffer. She said:
This is not said as any threat, it is a prediction: if there is destruction of the Good Friday accords, it would be very unlikely to have a UK-US bilateral. We have to have a path that includes it. It would be problematic in terms of a bilateral.
Photograph: Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images
James Bethell is leaving his post as a health minister, the Times’ Henry Zeffman reports.
Am told Lord Bethell is out at the Department for Health
— Henry Zeffman (@hzeffman) September 17, 2021
Lord Bethell was made a health minister in March last year, when Matt Hancock (whose unsuccessful campaign for the Conservative leadership he helped to run in 2019) was health secretary, and after Hancock resigned there was a perception he was on borrowed time. If he is going, at least he will now have more time to look for his phone.
Updated
Welsh Tories and Lib Dems attack plans for 'medical ID cards in all but name'
The Welsh Conservative and Welsh Liberal Democrats have both criticised the plan to make the NHS Covid pass compulsory for crowded venues. (See 12.14pm.)
The Welsh Conservative Senedd leader, Andrew RT Davies, said:
This is another disappointing U-turn from Labour’s first minister who told me in July he was against the idea of people having to show a Covid passport to enter a venue or event in Wales.
Welsh Conservatives have been against the introduction of such documentation from the outset, due to the wide-ranging ethical, equality, privacy, legal, and operational ramifications.
The inclusion of the lateral flow test element eases one area of concern but a whole host remain, particularly regarding the overall effectiveness of this measure and the impact it will have on businesses, jobs and Wales’ economic recovery.
And the Welsh Lib Dem leader, Jane Dodds, said:
They are medical ID cards in all but name and Welsh Liberal Democrats will lead the fight against their introduction.
The introduction of the cards would mean that for the first time, you will be asked to provide your private medical data to a stranger to enjoy certain freedoms in our society.
The government reshuffle is continuing today, and Downing Street has announced some more appointments. These are all ministerial appointments at parliamentary under secretary of state level (the most junior ministerial rank).
James Cartlidge has been made a justice minister, and a government whip.
Tom Pursglove has been made a joint Home Office and justice minister.
Maria Caulfield has been made a health minister.
David Rutley has been made a work and pensions minister.
Rutley, who was first elected in 2010, was previously a whip, but Cartlidge, Pursglove and Caulfield, who were all first elected in 2015, have been promoted from the backbenches.
David Duguid, who was a whip and a Scotland Office minister, has left the government.
And here are some more lines from the Downing Street lobby briefing.
- The PM’s spokesman said that the government was making “steady progress to ease [travel] restrictions” and he confirmed a further announcement is coming this afternoon.
- He said the PM has not yet decide whether Chevening, the grace-and-favour country home traditionally allocated to the foreign secretary, would go do Liz Truss or Dominic Raab, the former foreign secretary she replaced who is now deputy PM.
- The spokesman defended the government’s decision to review the ban on marking and selling products in imperial units as part of its overhaul of legacy EU legislation. The spokesman said:
Pounds and ounces are an easily understood and widely used unit of measurement. This is one small part of a wide-ranging drive across government to establish the right regulatory environment to support jobs and growth across the UK.
- The spokesman dismissed concerns about Michael Gove, the new housing secretary, receiving £100,000 in donations from a property developer. “All donations made to the secretary of state have been declared publicly and the proper processes followed,” the spokesman said.
- The spokesman would not comment on the leak of a recording showing Kemi Badenoch referring to trans women as men before she became equalities minister. The story has been published by Vice. The spokesman said he had not spoken to the PM about this. But he went on:
The minister for equalities is working hard to deliver for LGBT people, whether that’s modernising the process of applying for a gender recognition certificate, driving forward LGBT rights in the workplace or banning conversion therapy.
Another government spokesperson told Vice that Badenoch’s comment had been taken out of context. But Labour has said the comments are “disgusting”. This is from the party’s deputy leader, Angela Rayner.
These comments are disgusting.
— Angela Rayner (@AngelaRayner) September 17, 2021
With hate crimes and transphobia on the rise we need an Equalities Minister who will stand up for trans people, not add fuel to the fire of abuse and discrimination faced by LGBT+ people in our country. https://t.co/jqoUkxuhqt
Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, has confirmed he will announce changes to Covid travel restrictions later today.
I'll set out measures to simplify international travel later today in order to reduce costs, take advantage of higher levels of vaccination, and keep us all safe. ✈️🚢🚆
— Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) September 17, 2021
The number of European Union nationals who are living in the UK has fallen, figures show. As PA Media reports, ONS data for 2020 shows that within a year, the population of EU nationals in the UK dropped by 200,000, from 3.7 million to 3.5 million.
Welsh government to consider making falsifying Covid pass an offence
At his news conference the Welsh first minister, Mark Drakeford, rejected the idea that his plan to make Covid passes compulsory for some venues (see 12.14pm) was a vaccination passport in all but name, pointing out it was possible to get a pass by taking a lateral flow test. He said:
They are clearly not vaccine passports, you can get a Covid pass without being vaccinated. It avoids those difficult ethical issues of people who cannot be vaccinated.
Drakeford said it was possible that falsifying a Covid pass could be made a specific criminal offence. He said:
We will consider over the next few days whether to introduce a special offence of knowingly and deliberately falsifying a Covid pass.
At cabinet this morning Boris Johnson told his ministers they had “a record of getting things done”, Downing Street said. Summing up what happened at cabinet, the prime minister’s spokesperson said:
The prime minister opened cabinet by congratulating members on their appointments, saying he was delighted to have such a strong team in place to build back better from the pandemic and deliver on the priorities of the public.
He set out that this government has a record of getting things done, including delivering on Brexit and taking on one of the most difficult questions that has bedevilled British governments for decades through the health and care levy which will fix the social care system and enable our NHS to bounce back from the pandemic.
The spokesman said ministers were also given a briefing by Emily Lawson, head of No 10’s delivery unit. The spokesman said: “Cabinet agreed that shared data would be vital to this work, enabling ministers and the public to clearly see what progress is being made on each challenge.”
I will post more from the briefing soon.
Covid rates rising in secondary school children in England, ONS figures show
Coronavirus infection levels have risen in school children, the latest ONS data has revealed, although rates appear to be slowing down in Scotland after a recent spike that has put Scottish hospitals under intense pressure.
According to figures from the Office for National Statistics, based on swabs collected from randomly selected households, an estimated one in 80 people in England had Covid in the week ending 11 September – a slight drop relative to the week before – while the rate was higher in the other three nations. (See 12.44pm)
Once again, there were differences by regions, and by age. While the proportion of people testing positive rose in the north-west of England and decreased in the West Midlands and the east of England, the trends were unclear in other parts of the nation.
In England secondary school-age children and over-50s also saw rises. According to the latest report, in the week ending 11 September 2021, 2.74% of children in school year 7 to school year 11 tested positive for the virus.
Sarah Crofts, the head of analytical outputs for the Covid-19 infection survey, said the results showed a mixed picture across the UK. She said:
While Scotland continues to have the highest level of infection, the sharp increase over the last few weeks may now be slowing.
In England, we could be starting to see the impact of schools returning after the summer, with the highest infection levels seen in young people at secondary school.
Updated
ONS says Covid rates increasing in Wales and Scotland, decreasing in NI, and broadly stable in England at 1 in 80
The Office for National Statistics has published its latest weekly Covid infection survey. This is seen as one of the most reliable guides to the prevalence of Covid in the community because these figures are based on the results from an extensive, representative sample, not just the results from people who have chosen to get a test.
Here are the new figures for the ONS’s estimate of how many people in each country in the UK would have tested positive in the week ending Saturday 11 September
England
Covid rate: 1 in 80 people
Trend: “Uncertain”, the ONS says. Last week it gave the rate for England as 1 in 70 people, which implies an improvement this week, but the ONS is always cautious because its figures are estimates within a range.
Wales
Covid rate: 1 in 60
Trend: Covid rate continuing to increase, the ONS says. Last week it was 1 in 65.
Northern Ireland
Covid rate: 1 in 75
Trend: Covid rate decreasing, the ONS says. Last week it was 1 in 60.
Scotland
Covid rate: 1 in 45
Trend: Covid rate increasing, but the rate of increase has slowed, the ONS says. Last week it also put the Covid rate at 1 in 45.
All the ONS figures are central estimates. The 95% credible interval figures, showing the wider range within which the true figure is likely to be, are in the ONS report.
Wales to make NHS Covid pass compulsory for nightclubs and crowded events, Drakeford says
People will have to show an NHS Covid pass to enter nightclubs and attend many events in Wales from next month, the first minister, Mark Drakeford, has announced.
Drakeford also encouraged everyone to work from home wherever possible and get fully vaccinated if they are not already.
He also said enforcement of other measures such as wearing face coverings in indoor public places and on public transport, would be increased.
Wales is at alert level zero – and will remain so for the next three weeks – but the Labour-led government said Covid cases were “very high”
Drakeford said:
Across Wales, coronavirus cases have risen to very high levels over the summer as more people have been gathering and meeting. Tragically, more people are dying from this terrible virus.
The very strong advice we have from our scientific advisers is to take early action to prevent infections increasing further.
The last thing we want is further lockdowns and for businesses to have to close their doors once again. That’s why we must take small but meaningful action now to control the spread of the virus and reduce the need for tougher measures later.
The NHS Covid pass allows people to use the NHS app to show that either they are fully vaccinated or that they have had a recent negative test. It is not the same as the vaccine passport floated as an option, but not yet implemented, by the UK government for England, which would only apply to people fully vaccinated,
The requirement in Wales to show an NHS Covid pass will come into force from 11 October. It will mean all over-18s will need to have a NHS Covid pass to enter:
• Nightclubs
• Indoor, non-seated events for more than 500 people, such as concerts or conventions
• Outdoor non-seated events for more than 4,000 people
• Any setting or event with more than 10,000 people in attendance
People who are fully vaccinated in Wales can already download the NHS Covid pass to securely show and share their vaccine status. It also allows people to show they have had a negative lateral flow test result within the last 48 hours.
Drakeford added:
We have high levels of the virus in our communities and while our fantastic vaccination programme has helped stop thousands more people from becoming seriously ill or dying, the pressure on the NHS is increasing.
We hope introducing the requirement to show a Covid pass will help keep venues and events – many of which have only recently started trading again – open.
Showing a Covid pass is already part of our collective effort to keep businesses open with some major events, such as the successful Green Man festival, using it. We will continue to work closely with all businesses affected to ensure a smooth introduction and operation of this system.
Updated
John McDonnell claims Labour losing members 'hand over fist' because Starmer alienating the left
Keir Starmer is being urged to hold a summit next week with some of his leftwing critics in the Labour party to stop a bitter row about expulsions destabilising conference.
The proposal has come from John McDonnell, shadow chancellor when Jeremy Corbyn was Labour leader. McDonnell claims that Labour is haemorrhaging party members because Starmer is alienating the left.
In an interview with the BBC, McDonnell focused in particular on the consequences of Labour’s decision to ban members of four far-left factions, although this is by no means the only grievance that the left have with Starmer.
The Labour annual conference is starting next weekend, and the left are pushing for a vote that could in theory lead to the removal of the general secretary, David Evans.
McDonnell told the BBC that Starmer would hold a meeting with his critics next week to try to address some of their concerns. He said:
The best thing that Keir and David Evans can do is get people round the table, accept there are grievances that have to be addressed. To be frank he [Starmer] lacks an element of political experience. He hasn’t been in politics that long. He needs to talk to people across the political spectrum in the party and engage more.
McDonnell claimed people were being expelled unfairly. He said:
What’s happened is a number of groups have been proscribed and we are now receiving reports of large numbers of members of the party being excluded from the party on the basis of statements or retweeting something from one of these groups before they were proscribed.
This flies in the face of natural justice … It is like being guilty of pre-crime.
McDonnell said that the party was now “losing members hand over fist” because people did not feel welcome. Asked how serious this problem was, he replied:
My understanding is we have lost at least 100,000 members so far. If you start losing that mass membership, we are undermining our ability to fight elections - which is appalling.
Labour has been asked for a response. I will post one when I get it.
Updated
Updated
Scottish ambulance service confirms soldiers being drafted in to help deal with long waits
Soldiers will be drafted in to drive ambulances, the head of the Scottish service has confirmed, as more horrific stories emerged overnight of patients forced to endure lengthy waits for emergency treatment and transport.
The Scottish ambulance service chief executive, Pauline Howie, told BBC Radio Scotland that logistical staff would also be made available to support paramedics and technicians, and the details would be worked out in the coming days as the service faced “unprecedented” pressure.
Welcoming military involvement, Scottish Labour’s health spokesperson, Jackie Baillie, said SNP ministers had “taken their eye off the ball” after delays were reported in June. She said:
What it demonstrates is that the ambulance service and the NHS are absolutely in crisis, and this is all before the winter starts.
After a succession of harrowing cases were highlighted at Thursday’s FMQs, including a frail elderly man found collapsed at his home in Glasgow who died after a 40-hour wait for an ambulance, the Glasgow Times reported this morning that an unconscious man suspected to be on the brink of an overdose had to wait almost three and a half hours for an ambulance in the city.
Updated
DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson criticises Irish president for missing Northern Ireland centenary service
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, the DUP leader, has criticised the Irish president, Michael Higgins, for deciding not to attend a church service in Armagh next month to mark the centenary of partition and the creation of Northern Ireland.
The Queen is attending, but Higgins has said that the title of the event – saying it will “mark the centenaries of the partition of Ireland and the formation of Northern Ireland” – made it political. He also objected to being referred to in the invitation as president of the Republic of Ireland, not president of Ireland.
Donaldson told Radio Ulster this morning:
The president has made his position clear but I have to say I’m very surprised – I really thought that the president would have risen above the politics of all of this.
He uses language that, I think, is unfortunately retrograde. He talks about being the president of Ireland, not the president of the Republic of Ireland, despite the fact that people voted to remove the territorial claim over Northern Ireland and that there was recognition in the constitution of the Republic of Ireland of the existence of Northern Ireland as part of the United Kingdom.
I think the language used by the president is not forward-looking and doesn’t recognise the reality that Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom. It’s back to the old days when the president believes that he is president of the whole island, which we all know he is not.
I have to say that the comments made by President Higgins really are not conducive towards reconciliation.
Updated
According to PA Media, Boris Johnson made a joke about the large number of children he has had as he lectured his new cabinet on the importance of delivery. He told his ministers:
I want to thank you all because you’re all here on your merits because you’ve worked incredibly hard, but I want you to work even harder now.
I’m just thinking about delivery, I’ve seen a few delivery rooms, probably seen as many delivery rooms as anybody in this... Apart from the exception of Jacob [Rees-Mogg].
I know that delivery normally involves a superhuman effort by at least one person in the room. But there are plenty of other people in that room who are absolutely indispensable to that successful outcome.
Johnson has at least six children, although refuses to say exactly how many he has, and there is speculation there could be more. His wife, Carrie, is pregnant with their second child. Rees-Mogg, the leader of the Commons, also has six children.
At cabinet Johnson was sitting with Simon Case, the cabinet secretary, to his right and Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, to his left. Dominic Raab, the justice secretary and deputy PM, sat opposite Johnson, alongside Liz Truss, the new foreign secretary, and Michael Gove, the new housing secretary.
Last week, after the government announced its £12bn tax hike to fund the NHS and social care, a YouGov poll put Labour in the lead for the first time this year after the Tories saw their support fall five points in a week.
It has not lasted. As the Times’ Patrick Maguire reports, the latest YouGov poll shows Conservative support more or less back to where it was.
Tories bounce back to a four-point lead in this week's YouGov poll for The Times
— Patrick Maguire (@patrickkmaguire) September 17, 2021
As national insurance hike has receded from headlines, so too has slippage from Tories to smaller parties
CON 39 (+6)
LAB 35 (=)
LD 7 (-3)
GREEN 7 (-2)
REFORM UK 3 (-2) pic.twitter.com/4FpBBJAfQY
Sarah Jones, the shadow Home Office minister, told Sky News this morning that Labour had been “calling for ages” for ministers to scrap the amber travel list because it is poorly understood by the public. She said:
We want travel to open up as safely and as quickly as possible.
We’ve been calling for ages for the amber list to be scrapped, which has been touted in the papers today, because it always added to confusion - people never quite understood what the system was.
And we’ve been calling for a proper process to work out an international vaccine passport so we can get people safely moving around.
Asked if Labour favoured getting rid of PCR tests for fully vaccinated people arriving in the UK, she said:
I think we need to make it simpler, we need to make it clearer. People have been confused about what the rules are, they have been paying extortionate prices - we need to see what the government is going to suggest and hopefully it will be based on evidence and, if it is, then we will support them.
Johnson opens cabinet with 'half-time pep talk' telling his ministers to work as a team
Boris Johnson opened this morning’s cabinet meeting by giving his ministers what he described as a “half-time pep talk”, PA Media reports. He told them:
This is, if you like, the half-time pep talk.
This is the moment when we spit out the orange peel, we adjust our gum shields and our scrum caps.
And we get out on to the pitch in the knowledge that we’re going to have to do it together and we’re going to have to do it as a team.
Good morning. Boris Johnson is chairing the first meeting of his new cabinet this morning. We are expecting to see some video footage from it, although whether Johnson gets his ministers to chant his dishonest “40 new hospitals” slogan, as he did when the cabinet first met after the 2019 election, remains to be seen.
And later we are expecting an important announcement about Covid travel rules. My colleague Aubrey Allegretti has a preview.
In an interview this morning George Eustice, the environment secretary, confirmed that a decision was imminent. He told Sky News:
My understanding is that no decisions have actually been taken yet, although I understand there may be a meeting today to review this. We regularly review those travel restrictions.
Obviously we took an important step earlier this summer when we removed the need to quarantine for those countries coming from amber list countries – that was a really big step forward – but we have retained the need for testing, and that’s really so we can pick up any variants of concern through that PCR test.
But, look, I know this has been raised by the travel industry, that they think some of that testing may be unnecessary, may be onerous – the government will be listening to that and the Covid subcommittee of cabinet that decide these things will be considering that probably later today.
Here is the agenda for the day.
9am: Boris Johnson chairs a meeting of his new cabinet.
11.15am: Downing Street holds its daily lobby briefing.
12pm: The ONS publishes its weekly Covid infection survey.
Lunchtime: Mark Drakeford, the Welsh first minister, holds a press conference.
Afternoon: The government is due to announce changes to the Covid travel rules.
2pm: Mark Pack, the Lib Dem president, gives a speech opening the party’s online conference. Alistair Carmichael, the party’s home affairs spokesperson, speaks at 3.15pm.
Also in Chorley Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Commons Speaker (and local MP), is hosting the G7 Speakers conference today.
For more Covid coverage, do read our global live blog.
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