Boris Johnson has reversed the decision to end free school meal vouchers next month. Following intense campaigning by Manchester United star Marcus Rashford, No 10 announced the major U-turn and said vouchers would be available for families over the holiday.
It comes as new figures show number of UK workers on payrolls fell by more than 600,000 in the early days of the coronavirus lockdown. Transport secretary Grant Shapps said “difficult days would lie ahead” if the economy did not pick up soon.
Elsewhere, people across the political spectrum have paid tribute to Jo Cox, the Labour MP who was murdered in her constituency by a far right extremist on this day four years ago.
Mr Johnson has said he is proud of the "biggest breakthrough yet made by a fantastic team of scientists right here in the UK" who have found a coronavirus treatment proven to reduce the risk of death.
He also thanked the patients who volunteered as part of the study.
The prime minister says Dexamethasone, a cheap anti-inflammatory drug, is ready to be made available across the NHS, and there will be enough supplies in the event of a second peak.
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Mr Johnson says it is good to see shops and businesses reopening this week and more children going back to school. The prime minister has sought to reassure parents it is safe for their children to return.
The prime minister, Boris Johnson, is currently giving the latest coronavirus figures at today's daily briefing.
He says while the numbers are sad, they show the country is making "good progress".
He says while the numbers are sad, they show the country is making "good progress".
Opinion: Boris Johnson’s foreign aid department merger will usher in a return to the shady era of ‘aid for trade’
Today’s announcement by Boris Johnson is an act of political vandalism, writes Amanda Khozi Mukwashi.
Today’s announcement by Boris Johnson is an act of political vandalism, writes Amanda Khozi Mukwashi.
Stripping the Department for International Development (DfID) of its independence and folding it into the Foreign and Commonwealth office (FCO) is a perverse attack on people in poverty, and an undermining of our standing in the world.
Read more here:
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Opinion: Boris Johnson’s foreign office merger will see a return to the days of shady ‘aid for trade’
We once set the gold standard for government development agencies. Thanks to the prime minister, that legacy is now at risk.
Government’s ‘slow' response to coronavirus risks unemployment spike, Labour warns
Labour has called on the government to commit to a “back to work” budget to prevent soaring unemployment in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, business correspondent Ben Chapman reports.
Anneliese Dodds, Labour’s shadow chancellor, accused the government of following a “slow and confused” response to the Covid-19 health emergency with a similarly lethargic approach to jobs, despite the huge long-term costs of high unemployment.
Labour has called on the government to commit to a “back to work” budget to prevent soaring unemployment in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, business correspondent Ben Chapman reports.
Anneliese Dodds, Labour’s shadow chancellor, accused the government of following a “slow and confused” response to the Covid-19 health emergency with a similarly lethargic approach to jobs, despite the huge long-term costs of high unemployment.
Tony Blair becomes third former PM to hit out at end to International Development department
Tony Blair has followed on from Gordon Brown and David Cameron in hitting out at the current prime minister's decision to scrap the department for international development.
DfID was put founded by Mr Blair back in 1997.
He said: “I am utterly dismayed by the decision to abolish DFID. We created DFID in 1997 to play a strong, important role in projecting British soft power. It has done so to general global acclaim.
"It is a leader in both programmes and thought in development, helping millions of the world’s most vulnerable to be relieved of poverty and killer diseases.
"The strategic aims of alignment with diplomacy and focus on new areas of strategic interest to Britain could be accomplished without its abolition. Wrong and regressive move.”
Tony Blair has followed on from Gordon Brown and David Cameron in hitting out at the current prime minister's decision to scrap the department for international development.
DfID was put founded by Mr Blair back in 1997.
He said: “I am utterly dismayed by the decision to abolish DFID. We created DFID in 1997 to play a strong, important role in projecting British soft power. It has done so to general global acclaim.
"It is a leader in both programmes and thought in development, helping millions of the world’s most vulnerable to be relieved of poverty and killer diseases.
"The strategic aims of alignment with diplomacy and focus on new areas of strategic interest to Britain could be accomplished without its abolition. Wrong and regressive move.”
Opinion: Bravo Rashford. But it shouldn't have taken a footballer to show the serious food poverty in this country
"Rashford is a rarity in modern Britain", James Moore writes, "he’s a prominent figure who knows what it’s like to rely on free school meals, and sometimes on food banks".
He adds: "The government’s U-turn may be the most meaningful goal that Rashford scores this year. Thousands of children will get fed over the summer. That’s something we should all cheer."
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"Rashford is a rarity in modern Britain", James Moore writes, "he’s a prominent figure who knows what it’s like to rely on free school meals, and sometimes on food banks".
He adds: "The government’s U-turn may be the most meaningful goal that Rashford scores this year. Thousands of children will get fed over the summer. That’s something we should all cheer."
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Opinion: Bravo Rashford. But it shouldn't have taken a footballer to show the serious food poverty in this country
The Conservative Party sometimes likes to deny that poverty exists. And how many Tory MPs have ever come close to encountering it?
The response - DfID demise decried
A number of politicians have taken to Twitter to hit out at Mr Johnson's decision to fold the department for international development (DfID) into the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).
Here is former international development minister Alistair Burt:
Former prime minister Gordon Brown:
And current LOTO Keir Starmer:
A number of politicians have taken to Twitter to hit out at Mr Johnson's decision to fold the department for international development (DfID) into the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).
Here is former international development minister Alistair Burt:
Former prime minister Gordon Brown:
And current LOTO Keir Starmer:
The UK's coronavirus jobs crisis in charts
The number of people on employers’ payrolls fell by 612,000 between March and May in the clearest sign yet of problems facing the UK’s jobs market.
Official data released on Tuesday show that vacancies, pay and employment all fell while the number of people claiming jobseeker’s allowance or universal credit to support their income rose sharply.
Here are the key figures from the Office for National Statistics.
The number of people on employers’ payrolls fell by 612,000 between March and May in the clearest sign yet of problems facing the UK’s jobs market.
Official data released on Tuesday show that vacancies, pay and employment all fell while the number of people claiming jobseeker’s allowance or universal credit to support their income rose sharply.
Here are the key figures from the Office for National Statistics.
The UK's coronavirus jobs crisis in charts
Latest figures show average wages, vacancies and the number of people employed have fallen sharply
Rashford - this was never about me
Marcus Rashford has welcomed the move to continue free school meals into the summer break, saying to MPs "we have listened and we have done what is right"
Marcus Rashford has welcomed the move to continue free school meals into the summer break, saying to MPs "we have listened and we have done what is right"
How Robert Jenrick became embroiled in Tory donor's 'highly contentious' property scheme
Cabinet minister Robert Jenrick is under growing pressure over a controversial decision to approve a major property scheme involving a billionaire Conservative Party donor.
Labour has raised concerns about an “apparent cash-for-favours” scandal – but the housing secretary has insisted “rules were followed” when he gave the green light to an east London apartment complex involving former Express newspapers’ owner Richard Desmond.
So what is the row all about? And what questions remain about contact between Mr Jenrick and Mr Desmond?
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Cabinet minister Robert Jenrick is under growing pressure over a controversial decision to approve a major property scheme involving a billionaire Conservative Party donor.
Labour has raised concerns about an “apparent cash-for-favours” scandal – but the housing secretary has insisted “rules were followed” when he gave the green light to an east London apartment complex involving former Express newspapers’ owner Richard Desmond.
So what is the row all about? And what questions remain about contact between Mr Jenrick and Mr Desmond?
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How Robert Jenrick became embroiled in Tory donor's 'highly contentious' property scheme
Labour claims plenty of questions remain over ‘apparent cash-for-favours in the planning process’. So how did the row unfold?
Michael Gove makes EU-UK statement
The chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster, Michael Gove, is making a statement on negotiations with the EU.
The chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster, Michael Gove, is making a statement on negotiations with the EU.
David Cameron comes out against DfID decision
David Cameron has hit out against Boris Johnson's decision to merge the department for international development with the foreign office.
He wrote on Twitter: "The Prime Minister is right to maintain the commitment to 0.7 [of the UK budget being devoted to international aid] - it saves lives, promotes a safer world and builds British influence. But the decision to merge the departments is a mistake."
David Cameron has hit out against Boris Johnson's decision to merge the department for international development with the foreign office.
He wrote on Twitter: "The Prime Minister is right to maintain the commitment to 0.7 [of the UK budget being devoted to international aid] - it saves lives, promotes a safer world and builds British influence. But the decision to merge the departments is a mistake."
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UK will lose respect overseas with Boris Johnson's 'mistaken' decision to scrap foreign aid department, David Cameron warns
David Cameron has attacked Boris Johnson’s decision to axe the department for international development, warning the UK’s reputation will suffer.
'At a moment of international crisis the PM is changing the letterhead at the foreign office'
Strong words from Labour's Chris Bryant in the debate over the PMs statement on the merging of the department for international development with the foreign and commonwealth office.
He said: "The world increasingly thinks that this country, under this prime minister, is a basket case.
"The highest excess death rates in the world, the deepest economic collapse, schools returning in complete and utter chaos and a quarantine after the horse has already bolted.
"And at a moment of international crisis the biggest idea that the prime minister has is that he should change the letterhead from the foreign office. This is a nonsense - doesn't he realise that this isn't a statement on global Britain, it's a statement from little England."
Mr Johnson responded by saying it was an important change in the way the nation manages its foreign policy and said he should "not run this country down".
Strong words from Labour's Chris Bryant in the debate over the PMs statement on the merging of the department for international development with the foreign and commonwealth office.
He said: "The world increasingly thinks that this country, under this prime minister, is a basket case.
"The highest excess death rates in the world, the deepest economic collapse, schools returning in complete and utter chaos and a quarantine after the horse has already bolted.
"And at a moment of international crisis the biggest idea that the prime minister has is that he should change the letterhead from the foreign office. This is a nonsense - doesn't he realise that this isn't a statement on global Britain, it's a statement from little England."
Mr Johnson responded by saying it was an important change in the way the nation manages its foreign policy and said he should "not run this country down".
Tobias Ellwood expresses concern of DfID announcement's timing
Conservative Tobias Ellwood, who chairs the Defence Committee, questioned the timing of the announcement and suggested that there are other priorities.
He said: "I am concerned about the timing of this because there is an enduring emergency that must be the Government's priority.
Conservative Tobias Ellwood, who chairs the Defence Committee, questioned the timing of the announcement and suggested that there are other priorities.
He said: "I am concerned about the timing of this because there is an enduring emergency that must be the Government's priority.
"And he (Mr Johnson) himself mentioned the defence, security and foreign policy review which was designed to understand what our Whitehall architecture should be in understanding what our vision, what our outlook, what our place in the world should be and what aspires to be. Surely that should come first?"
Mr Johnson responded: "The reason we're having this discussion now is because we need to get going and yes, absolutely right, that we face a crisis now but we also face a post-Covid world when the UK is going to need to be able to speak with one, powerful voice on the international stage in which our idealistic ambitions for development are wholly integrated with our views on foreign policy.
"And the UK will therefore speak all the more powerfully for that."
Swayne compares Commons to 'a stunt by 1984's Junior Anti-Sex League'
Desmond Swayne has contributed to the debate.
"So long as the Kingdom & this house resembles a stunt by 1984's Junior Anti-Sex League", he tells the Commons, "the recovery necessary to sustain his global ambition, will evade us. Surely a yard is more than enough".
The comment, applying a reference to the George Orwell book mentioned to social distancing measures, appears to be the first time the words "Junior Anti-Sex League" have been mentioned in parliament, according to Hansard.
Desmond Swayne has contributed to the debate.
"So long as the Kingdom & this house resembles a stunt by 1984's Junior Anti-Sex League", he tells the Commons, "the recovery necessary to sustain his global ambition, will evade us. Surely a yard is more than enough".
The comment, applying a reference to the George Orwell book mentioned to social distancing measures, appears to be the first time the words "Junior Anti-Sex League" have been mentioned in parliament, according to Hansard.
DfID 'undermined coherence of UK foreign policy' - PM
Keir Starmer also sought guarantees over the full Dfid budget being ring-fenced in the new department, adding in the Commons: "Abolishing Dfid diminishes Britain's place in the world. There's no rationale for making this statement today.
"The Prime Minister should stop these distractions and get on with the job of tackling the health and economic crisis we currently face."
Keir Starmer also sought guarantees over the full Dfid budget being ring-fenced in the new department, adding in the Commons: "Abolishing Dfid diminishes Britain's place in the world. There's no rationale for making this statement today.
"The Prime Minister should stop these distractions and get on with the job of tackling the health and economic crisis we currently face."
Boris Johnson said he is "very proud" of what the Government is doing, adding: "Anybody who has any experience of the matter will know that the UK overseas, we are less than the sum of our parts.
"If you travel to important foreign capitals where we need to make points to our friends and partners you have UK diplomats saying one thing and then finding that the message from overseas aid, from UK aid, from Dfid is different. That undermines the coherence of our foreign policy."
The Prime Minister added: "Of course we will make sure that we guarantee the Dfid budget but what will happen within the new department is that every single person working in that department, in the new Whitehall super-department - the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office - will have all the idealism and sense of mission that comes from Dfid but also the understanding of the need to project UK values, UK policies and UK interests overseas.
"This is a long overdue reform and he should support it."
Labour accuses Johnson of distraction tactics over DFiD demise
Keir Starmer has accused Boris Johnson of deploying distraction tactics in his announcement on the department for international development (DfID).
The Labour leader said: "Abolishing DfID diminishes Britain's place in the world. There is no rationale for making this statement today. The prime minister should stop these distractions and get on with the job of tackling the health and economic crisis we currently face.
Shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy tweeted: "Extraordinary that in the middle of a global crisis, the UK is retreating from the world. Aid has long been one of Britain's strengths helping us to build strong alliances, act as a moral force and creating greater global security. Once again we are diminished in the world."
Keir Starmer has accused Boris Johnson of deploying distraction tactics in his announcement on the department for international development (DfID).
The Labour leader said: "Abolishing DfID diminishes Britain's place in the world. There is no rationale for making this statement today. The prime minister should stop these distractions and get on with the job of tackling the health and economic crisis we currently face.
Shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy tweeted: "Extraordinary that in the middle of a global crisis, the UK is retreating from the world. Aid has long been one of Britain's strengths helping us to build strong alliances, act as a moral force and creating greater global security. Once again we are diminished in the world."
Johnson announces end of Department for International Development
Boris Johnson has confirmed the Department for International Development will merge with the Foreign Office to become the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office
Saying that the nation "possess the third biggest aid budget and diplomatic network in the world ", he said the government had a duty to "the British taxpayer" to ensure all money is spent as effectively as possible.
Mr Johnson added that the differences between aid and diplomacy were "artificial and outdated".
Boris Johnson has confirmed the Department for International Development will merge with the Foreign Office to become the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office
Saying that the nation "possess the third biggest aid budget and diplomatic network in the world ", he said the government had a duty to "the British taxpayer" to ensure all money is spent as effectively as possible.
Mr Johnson added that the differences between aid and diplomacy were "artificial and outdated".
Boris Johnson is in the commons
The PM is in the commons - and opens up his statement with a tribute to Jo Cox.
