Top story: Call for inquiry into Covid-19 failings
Hello, Warren Murray here to round out the week with the top stories of Friday.
Officials failed to stockpile gowns and personal protective equipment in the build-up to the Covid-19 pandemic despite warnings to do so, Whitehall’s spending watchdog has revealed. The National Audit Office (NAO) said this meant less than half of the expected pieces of certain equipment were handed out to frontline workers as the crisis developed. About 300 UK health workers have so far died of Covid-19, and many NHS staff groups and families claim inadequate PPE played a key role in exposing them. The NAO also confirmed 25,000 hospital patients were discharged to care homes at the height of the pandemic before testing became routine.
Lawyers representing 450 relatives of Covid-19 victims have called on Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock to hold an immediate public inquiry into the government’s handling of the crisis. Their petition questions the lockdown not taking place until 23 March, later than almost all of Europe; the state of the government stockpile of PPE and testing capacity; the 2017 Exercise Cygnus report that warned the UK was not adequately prepared for a pandemic; and the disproportionately high number of BAME deaths, among other issues.
A possible reduction of the two-metre physical distancing rule in England has councils and retailers fearing they have wasted millions of pounds on signs and other preparations for the reopening of high streets from Monday. Conservative MPs are increasingly pushing for a reduction to one metre. Retail groups say this would be a boost for shops but have expressed frustration at the lack of notice.
Our global coronavirus live blog has all the updates as they arrive.
There’s more in our Coronavirus Extra section further down … and here’s where you can find all our coverage of the outbreak – from breaking news to factchecks and advice.
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Brexit news flash – In breaking news this morning: the government is set to back away from imposing full EU border checks from 1 January 2021. The cabinet office minister, Michael Gove, is anticipated to make an announcement today. The UK had committed to introduce import controls on EU goods in the new year, but ministers are now expected to adopt a more flexible approach to prevent the departure compounding the chaos from Covid-19.
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BLM seeks to avert far-right clashes – Black Lives Matters organisers have said they are calling off a planned protest at Hyde Park in London on Saturday, warning that far-right “hate groups” were threatening the safety of those planning to come. BLM protests are expected to go ahead in London this afternoon but there is uncertainty and tension headed into the weekend. Tens of thousands of people have waded into the debate over statues of historical figures linked to slavery and racism that has raged since the weekend, signing petitions for and against a growing number of plans for their removal.
In the US, Mark Milley, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, has apologised for taking part in Donald Trump’s infamous walk to the Church of the Presidents for a photo opportunity, through streets that had been forcibly cleared of protesters. “I should not have been there,” Milley said. “My presence in that moment and in that environment created a perception of the military involved in domestic politics. As a commissioned uniformed officer, it was a mistake that I have learned from, and I sincerely hope we all can learn from it.” In Seattle, hundreds of people have taken over several city blocks and are calling it the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone, or “Chaz”, which they have declared a police-free area after the local precinct withdrew following dangerous clashes with protesters.
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Equality probe of ‘hostile environment’ – The Home Office is being investigated over whether it breached equality law when it introduced the “hostile environment” measures against illegal immigration that were catastrophic for thousands of lawful Windrush generation residents. As part of a drive to end “systemic and entrenched race inequalities” the Equality and Human Rights Commission will examine whether, and how, the Home Office complied with its equality duties and whether it considered the likely impact on the thousands who came to the UK legally in the 1950s and 1960s but found themselves misclassified as illegal immigrants. Many lost their homes, were sacked from their jobs, were denied healthcare, or in extreme cases were detained and deported.
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Arrests over beating of police – Four people, including a 13-year-old boy, have been arrested over the assault of two police officers in Hackney, east London. A video circulated on social media showed a male officer pinned to the ground being kicked, while his female colleague was pushed when she tries to intervene. Two men, aged 32 and 20, were arrested at the scene on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker. Further arrests were made of a 13-year-old boy and a 34-year-old man.
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‘Go Green for Grenfell’ – Windows of tower blocks will glow green and the bells of St Paul’s and Southwark cathedrals will toll 72 times on Sunday to mark the third anniversary of the Grenfell Tower disaster. Due to coronavirus restrictions, the annual vigil at the base of the burned-out council block will not take place, instead being replaced by a programme of remote commemoration including online faith services and song. After nightfall, residents of tower blocks and other homes across the UK will be asked to stream a bright green light from their TV sets in solidarity with the bereaved and survivors.
Coronavirus Extra
Once discouraged in favour of modern, smarter cities, street hawkers have been praised as “the lifeblood” of China, with the government encouraging their resurgence as a way to keep low-skilled people in work.
The idea that parenting is a burden suggests work done outside the home is more interesting than work at home. Is it? Jean Hannah Edelstein on her pandemic ephiphany: “I’d be happy to parent full-time”.
Today in Focus podcast: Finding Madeleine – a nation still gripped
The disappearance of a three-year-old British girl at a Portuguese holiday resort in 2007 quickly became a global news story as the hunt for her grew ever more extensive. Thirteen years later, with the mystery still unsolved, German police revealed they had a new prime suspect. Is there now a conclusion in sight?
Lunchtime read: Spike Lee Q&A
Prior to the release of Da 5 Bloods, the director takes questions from readers, film-makers and politicians about George Floyd, Covid-19 and the worst thing about actors.
Sport
The Irish government has contacted the United Arab Emirates over the involvement of an Irish crime boss in the proposed heavyweight title fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. Sports stars including Dina Asher-Smith, Lewis Hamilton, Maggie Alphonsi and David Beckham have put their names to a letter calling for greater diversity across the UK sports media, in response to the Black Lives Matter movement. Harold Varner, one of only three black American regulars on the PGA tour, struck a blow for equality as he joined Justin Rose in the lead at the Charles Schwab Challenge.
The Rugby Football Union has no plans to introduce the Rooney Rule to its existing recruitment policy despite calls from senior England players for more opportunities for black and ethnic minority coaches. Commonwealth Games authorities have promised not to ban or punish any athlete at Birmingham 2022 who takes a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Reports that Michael Schumacher is to undergo stem cell surgery within days are inaccurate, it is understood. And The US Open will join Wimbledon on the 2020 tennis scrapheap unless key players and other stakeholders can be persuaded over the weekend that it will be safe to travel to New York in August.
Business
Asian shares have fallen sharply on Friday after Wall Street and oil tumbled as coronavirus cases in the US increased again, deflating recent optimism for a quick economic recovery. MSCI’s index of non-Japan regional shares slid 1.3%. Australian stocks dropped 1.74%, while shares in China fell 0.67%. The pound is worth $1.257 and €1.113 while the FTSE is tracking half a percent off at time of writing.
The papers
It’s a tale of two stories on the front pages today – coronavirus and protest. The Mail and Express both concern themselves with the vexed two-metre rule. The Mail has “2-metre meltdown”, while the Express insists “2-metre rule must stay to save lives”. The Mirror wants the public to “Spend to save Britain”.
Growing rows over race and history fill three other front pages. The Guardian splashes on “Tensions rise over race as more statues targeted”. The Telegraph leads with the home secretary responding to accusations she has exploited her Asian heritage: “Patel: I will not be silenced on race”. The Times has a warning that “Violent protesters to be jailed within 24 hours”.
The Financial Times, meanwhile, is splashing on Brexit. “Post-Brexit border controls to be limited after government U-turn”. And the Sun has a story about JK Rowling’s first husband.
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