Evening Summary
Indoor gyms, swimming pools and leisure centres will open on 25 July with new guidance on spacing out and cleaning equipment, limiting the number of people in facilities and smaller class sizes.
Outdoor pools can reopen from 11 July, while certain team sports such as cricket will also be able to return from this weekend.
Outdoor performances of theatre, opera, dance and music with social distancing will resume from 11 July. Outdoor opera at Glyndebourne, Sussex, and plays at Cornwall’s Minack Theatre, are examples of what can now take place.
Health secretary Matt Hancock has said care homes will open up to visitors “in the next few days”.
Boots announced that it expects 4,000 jobs to be lost through store closures, while John Lewis also announced the closure of two full-size department stores in Birmingham and Watford, four At Home shops as well as two travel hub outlets putting 1300 jobs at risk.
Britain’s leading tax and spending thinktank has criticised the flagship policies in Rishi Sunak’s £30bn summer statement as badly timed, poorly targeted and likely to do little to stop unemployment from rising.
Beauty businesses, including tattoo studios, nail bars and spas, will be allowed to reopen for some services from 13 July.
A further 85 people have died with coronavirus in the UK, bringing the official total number of deaths to 44,602
Confirmed infections in England have fallen by 25% in the week to 5 July, data from Public Health England shows.
Leicester’s Covid-19 case rate has declined slightly, but remains the highest in England, according to new figures from Public Health England.
All state school pupils in Wales are set to return to classrooms on 1 September and will be taught within “contact groups” of about 30 children with only limited social distancing.
Boris Johnson failed to meet his target of having all coronavirus tests completed within 24 hours by the end of June, newly released data shows.
Scots can meet people from other households indoors from tomorrow for the first time in over three months, as the first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, confirmed that the country was now ready to enter phase 3 of her government’s route map to reopening.
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Gym, spa and salon owners have reacted with delight and relief at the government’s latest rollback on lockdown restrictions. PA Media reports.
Richard Darwin, the chief executive of the Gym Group, which runs 179 gyms across the UK, said he was “delighted” by the announcement:
Reopening gyms is an important step forward for the physical and mental wellbeing of our members and millions of other gym goers, and we can’t wait to welcome them all back.
We are really confident our new procedures will ensure that we can operate safely, with distanced equipment, enhanced cleaning and our busyness tracker to help manage the number of people in the gym.
Duncan Bannatyne, the owner of the health club and spa firm Bannatyne Group and former star of Dragon’s Den, said:
I am incredibly pleased that we have a definite date for reopening our 57 health clubs in England.
The fitness sector is vitally important, both for the nation’s health and the economy.
In my discussions with ministers over the last week or so, I was gratified that they understood that the majority of health clubs could reopen safely and that it was essential to do so.
The Feel Good Group, which runs 90 tanning salons across the UK, welcomed the government’s decision to allow its shops to reopen on 13 July, but said they should be able to reopen immediately. Adam Mooney, the founder and chief executive, said:
While we welcome the decision to finally allow us to reopen, the Government could have allowed us to open last week, when hairdressers reopened.
We are ready to reopen today, not next week.
More than 90% of our staff are women, and most in the 18 to 25-year-old age group, which is the demographic which has been worst hit financially by the pandemic, and they are very keen to get back to work.
Mike Cherry, the national chair of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), said:
It’s good news to see the Government announce the reopening of thousands more small firms across England.
Beauticians, nail salons, gyms and the wider fitness sector have faced months without customers, and they’ll be pleased to see that they can finally get back to business.
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An autumn series of exams for pupils in England who want to try to improve on the calculated grades they receive in the summer for their GCSEs and A-levels will be held over six weeks beginning in October, it has been confirmed.
The Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ), which represents the exam boards, said AS and A-levels would be held first, beginning on 5 October. GCSEs will follow, starting on 2 November, running for three weeks. Exams will be available in all subjects.
The summer exams were cancelled because of the Covid-19 pandemic and pupils will instead receive grades based on teacher assessment, a pupil’s ranking within their class in a particular subject, and prior attainment of both the individual and the school, among other measures.
Headteachers have expressed concern about hosting an entire series of exams just as pupils are settling back into school after months of disruption due to the pandemic.
Announcing the dates of the autumn series, the JCQ director general, Dr Philip Wright, said:
In August, we will be celebrating the success of young people and their progression to the next stage of learning or move into a career. The grades will be reflective of what they might have achieved had they been able to sit their exams and will enable them to move on to the next phase in their lives.
The autumn series will be available for young people for whom it was not possible to issue a grade or who wish to improve their grades based on taking an exam. Full details on the autumn series will be available shortly from the exam boards.
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Health secretary: care homes will open to visitors in next few days
ITV has interviewed the health secretary Matt Hancock, who has said care homes will open up to visitors “in the next few days”.
Care homes will open up to visitors 'in the next few days' Health Secretary @MattHancock tells @PaulBrandITV https://t.co/i3KyG64RDX pic.twitter.com/VwNpwLuEb6
— ITV News Politics (@ITVNewsPolitics) July 9, 2020
Updated
85 coronavirus deaths recorded in the last 24 hours, bringing total to 44,602
A further 85 people have died with coronavirus in the UK, bringing the official total number of deaths to 44,602
A further 85 people have died with coronavirus in the UK, bringing the official total number of deaths to 44,602https://t.co/hOKvRmR6zR pic.twitter.com/2xeIRapwoY
— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) July 9, 2020
Hancock said:
In a few days we will be setting out how Covid secure visiting can happen in care homes. How we can have more visits of loved ones in a way that is very careful and in a way that keeps care homes safe.
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Confirmed infections in England have fallen by 25% in the week to 5 July, data from Public Health England shows.
There were just over 3,300 positive tests in the week to 5 July, compared with 4,400 positive tests in the week to 28 June.
The incidence of confirmed cases in Leicester, which is still in local lockdown, has fallen to about 120 per 100,000, compared with about 140 per 100,000 last week.
There were two cases in Merthyr Tydfil, south Wales, this week, down from 108 the preceding week when there was a spike due to testing following an outbreak at the Kepak meat plant.
The top 10 local authorities in the UK, after Leicester, all recorded fewer than 30 cases per 100,000 people in the week to 5 July.
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Julian Bird, the chief executive of the Society of London Theatre & UK Theatre, has reacted to the news, saying the publication of guidance was welcome, but asking for more clarity regarding indoor performances.
My statement on the announcements being made now by @OliverDowden @DCMS https://t.co/yBgSJpoXGJ
— Julian Bird (@julianpbird) July 9, 2020
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Summary of new reopenings
- Outdoor performances will be able to be held with socially distanced audiences from July 11.
- Beauticians, tattooists and tanning salons can open from 13 July.
- Outdoor pools and water parks can open from 11 July.
- Indoor gyms, pools and sports facilities can reopen on 25 July, with the public told to “work out to help out”. Reduced class sizes and booking systems will be put in place.
- All measures are conditional and reversible.
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Dowden is asked about train travel, which is still restricted. If people can go to the pub, shouldn’t they be able to get on a train?
Dowden says in London lots of people use public transport, but outside of London most people use cars.
He says the position remains that people should continue to avoid public transport where necessary.
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Dowden is asked if face coverings will be required in gyms.
He says that in gyms there are a lot of measures set out. The government has not taken the decision to require the wearing of face masks.
Dowden says he went to the Royal Academy and wore a face covering.
He adds that face covering are context specific, and that is the right way rather than enforcing the wearing of them.
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Dowden is asked how the government is going to persuade people that it’s worth going back to gyms and swimming pools with all the added regulations (like no butterfly stroke).
Dowden says it is better to reopen with restrictions than not to reopen, but says it will take a little time for confidence to come back.
He was also asked – by the Express reporter – if the government can force the BBC not to extend the licence fee to over-75s.
He says the government regrets the fact the BBC has not kept the licence fee free for the over-75s.
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Dowden is asked, how are these decisions still based on the science? What data have you seen since Saturday’s reopening to suggest it’s safe to reopen gyms?
Dowden says we continue to be informed by the science and gives an example of ensuring social distancing and ventilation.
He says there is a rolling programme of reopening, and the government continues to analyse data – which is one reason why the opening of gyms has been delayed.
He is asked if the government is confident it is safe according to the data, after a Sage scientist said it might take weeks for the data to emerge.
Dowden says all of the data is continuing to move in the right direction.
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Sky News’s Sam Coates asks if testing people without symptoms is a government goal.
Dowden says the government continues to massively “ramp up” testing.
He said tens of thousands of people who had been in contact with people who had tested positive for coronavirus are self-isolating as a result of test and trace.
Coates repeats the question, which Dowden avoids and says: “We have an effective regime.”
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Spas, tattooists and beauty salons can reopen from Monday
Dowden also announced that beauticians, spas, tattooists, and tanning salons can reopen from Monday with “some restrictions” on particularly high risk services.
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Dowden asked what precautions will be taken in schools in September.
We all want to do the best for our children, he says. He said the education secretary and the prime minister would not open if it were not safe.
There will be extra cleaning and distancing were possible.
Testing will be available for those who have symptoms he says.
Dowden is urging British people to “make the most of this summer safely” adding: “We need them to support the places we love.”
Dowden has also said that local sports teams can reopen this weekend.
Outdoor pools and water parks will open this weekend.
But gyms and indoor pools will only be allowed to open from 25 July.
Updated
Gyms, pools and leisure centres to reopen
Gyms, swimming pools and leisure centres will open later this month in England with social distancing measures after growing unhappiness from the health and fitness sector that pub and restaurant reopening had been prioritised.
Our full story is here:
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Theatres able to perform outdoor shows
Culture secretary Oliver Dowden is now taking the Downing Street briefing.
Dowden announces that as of this weekend artists musicians and artists can perform live outside to a outdoor socially distanced audience.
Outdoor swimming pools will also be opened from 11 July.
Dowden says it’s an important milestone.
From the 11 July theatres, opera houses, dance venues and music venues can put on performances for socially distanced performances.
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British companies will face new barriers selling their products in the European Union, while UK nationals will face “thorough checks” when travelling to the continent even if there is a Brexit trade deal, the European commission has said.
In a document warning businesses to prepare for the end of the Brexit transition period, the EU executive said many changes were “inevitable” even if the two sides reached an agreement by the end of the year.
EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier released the document, after three days of talks with his counterpart David Frost in London, where he said “significant divergences” remained between the two sides.
This week’s discussions confirm that significant divergences remain between 🇪🇺 & 🇬🇧. We will continue working with patience, respect & determination.
— Michel Barnier (@MichelBarnier) July 9, 2020
Regardless of the outcome, there will be inevitable changes on 1/1/21. Read more here 👇https://t.co/CzbGX7VGQY
The 35-page document contained a thinly-veiled criticism of the UK government’s decision not to opt for a one or two-year extension of the Brexit transition period.
The choices made by the United Kingdom’s government on the future relationship and on not extending the transition period mean that these inevitable disruptions will occur as of 1 January 2021 and risk compounding the pressure that businesses are already under due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
It also underscores that Brussels has no intention of phasing in border controls, an approach favoured by the British government. From 1 January 2021, customs officers in EU member states are expected to carry out full controls, which are “ likely to lead to increased administrative burdens for businesses and longer delivery times in logistical supply chains” the commission said. These controls will apply even if the EU and UK are successful in agreeing a trade deal that sets tariffs at zero, with no limits on quantities of exports and imports.
As Barnier has long trailed, British financial firms in the City of London will lose the “passports” that allow them to sell services in the rest of the union.
As well as losing their right to live, work and travel freely in the 27-country zone, British nationals will also face “thorough checks” at the border and cannot stay for more than 90 days in any 180-day period.
Travellers will no longer be assured protection under EU passenger rights law that guarantees some compensation, nor will they have sure access to reduced roaming rates, while cats, dogs and other domestic animals will be stripped of the EU pet passport.
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Here’s our report on the IFS’s judgment on the chancellor’s jobs policies:
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Leicester's Covid-19 case rate remains highest in England
Leicester’s Covid-19 case rate has declined slightly, but remains the highest in England, according to new figures from Public Health England.
There were 116 cases per 100,000 people in Leicester reported in the week to 5 July, down from 141 per 100,000 in the previous week. A local lockdown in the city began on 30 June.
Leicester’s infection rate was more than triple that of Rochdale, which had the second highest rate at 33 per 100,000 people. Bradford, Kirklees and Blackburn were also among the worst-affected areas, according to the PHE figures.
Cllr Ian Hudspeth, chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, called for better data sharing between government agencies and local authorities.
He said:
More information is being shared with councils but we also need to see improvements to the individual case data, including making the data available daily, adding UPRNs (property reference numbers), and providing more information about workplaces.
The public and those working on the frontline need to have a complete picture of the impact this virus has had in our neighbourhoods and communities.
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Millions of pounds have been wiped from council budgets in England by the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on parking revenue, new figures indicate.
Government data show that local authorities in England expected to bank more than £885m in parking fees and fines during the 2020-21 financial year, PA reports.
The AA said the coronavirus lockdown and the suspension of parking charges means councils are not receiving the income they expected when they drew up their budgets.
It stated that this has put councils in a “difficult position”, as they balance the need to reapply charges to pay for road improvements and pothole repairs, with the importance of helping high streets recover by keeping parking free.
Many councils across England lifted parking charges in March to support communities during the coronavirus outbreak.
The AA’s head of roads policy, Jack Cousens, said:
If councils weren’t already under significant pressure, they’ll be bracing themselves even more as they see a huge chunk of their income for the year lost.
For being so dependent on this income stream, councils are now stuck at a crossroad.
Waive the fees entirely and absorb the financial hit, or reapply them and risk hurting, or worse losing, businesses that bring in business rates and jobs in their towns.
This loss of revenue should also act as a wake up call to towns and cities intent on banning drivers from their centres.
If they ban cars completely, they need to be prepared to lose a huge chunk of a major income source.
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Ministers are set to ditch target of 50% of young people in England going to university, with education secretary Gavin Williamson calling the idea an “absurd mantra”.
Read the full story by my colleague Richards Adams below.
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All state school pupils in Wales to return on 1 September
All state school pupils in Wales are set to return to classrooms on 1 September and will be taught within “contact groups” of around 30 children with only limited social distancing.
The scientific group advising the Welsh government has recommended that schools re-open in the autumn with “100% of pupils physically present” - as long as Covid-19 continues to steadily decline in the community.
An extra £29m is to be made available to recruit the equivalent of 600 teachers and 300 teaching assistants.
Speaking at the Welsh government’s briefing on Thursday, the education minister, Kirsty Williams, said it would be “disingenuous to say fully opening schools is a zero-risk proposition” but argued the “balance of risks” allowed a return to full-time schooling in September.
She said: “We all know the devastation Covid-19 has caused, especially to our young people. Our priority must be to deliver maximum learning with minimal disruption for our young people.
The minister announced that:
- Schools will return to full capacity, with only limited social distancing within contact groups.
- A contact group should consist of around 30 children. Some direct or indirect mixing between children in different contact groups will also be unavoidable, such as on transport, receiving specialist teaching or due to staffing constraints.
- Social distancing for adults should remain in line with regulations and guidance.
Williams said all schools that can accommodate all pupils from the start of the term – 1 September - should do so.
There will be a period of flexibility in recognition that schools may want to focus on priority year groups, such as those new to secondary schools, those sitting exams next summer or those in reception classes.
But the minister said she wanted to see all children back by 14 September. She added that parents and carers would not face a fine for not sending their child to school in Wales.
On the additional funding, Williams said: “We will target extra support at Years 11, 12 and 13, as well as disadvantaged and vulnerable learners of all ages.
“The support package, provided at a school level, could include extra coaching support, personalised learning programmes and additional time and resources for exam year pupils.
Schools re-opened in Wales at the end of June for all pupils – but only for a limited time for most.
Wales TUC general secretary Shavanah Taj, said: “Our schools workforce have been working tirelessly so that children could return to the classroom safely this term for ‘keeping in touch’ days. This announcement will mean that they can finish the term with some certainty about the new school year.”
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Yesterday’s weekly data drop from the National Records of Scotland included one of their occasional ethnicity analyses. The key finding was that deaths amongst people in the South Asian ethnic group were almost twice as likely to involve Covid-19 as deaths in the white ethnic group. But another figure that stood out was the number of deaths amongst the white Irish group, prompting calls for the Scottish government to stop “ignoring” the Irish community.
The umbrella body Bemis Scotland posted an interesting thread on this, noting that both the Irish and Pakistani ethnic groups have been disproportionately affected.
Thread. 1/7 @NatRecordsScot today published data on COVID 19 + ethnicity. @ScotGovFM
— BEMIS (@bemis_scotland) July 8, 2020
Covid 19 deaths as a proportion of the population.
White Irish 0.09%
White Scottish 0.08%
White Other British 0.06%
Pakistani 0.05%
Indian 0.03%
Bangladeshi 0.03%
Chinese 0.03%
Bemis told the Guardian that the new data indicated “pre-existing inequalities and demographic realities” for both the Irish and Pakistani ethnicities. “Both are more likely to reside in socio / economic deprivation, have older populations and are affected by pre-exisiting health inequalities such as diabetes, haemochromatosis and in relation specifically to the Irish group, alcohol related issues. The additional inequality that is specific to the Irish is the political decision taken somewhere on consistent basis not to include them as an ethnic minority community.”
Jeanette Findlay of the anti-sectarian charity Call It Out told the Guardian: “It is of grave concern that we now have clear evidence of increased incidence of Covid-19 deaths among the Irish community relative to all other ethnic groups in Scotland. It is of equal concern, but not surprise, that this fact has not been picked up or investigated by the Scottish Government or any of its agencies. Yet again the Irish community are ignored.”
Anas Sarwar, Labour MSP for Glasgow, said it was disappointing that it had taken so long for Scottish data to be made available and called for Scotland’s minority ethnic communities to be given greater protection, especially those working as frontline staff.
That means ensuring risk assessments are carried out, and I believe tailored messaging for Scotland’s BAME population could further improve health outcomes, including the promotion of vitamin D supplements.
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A further 22 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died in hospital in England, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths in hospitals to 28,991.
NHS England said the patients were aged between 53 and 94-years-old and one person, aged 77, had no underlying health conditions.
The culture secretary, Oliver Dowden, is to host the Downing Street press conference at 5pm.
Dowden is expected to confirm a date for the reopening of gyms, which government sources suggested would be before the end of July.
You can read the full story on the expected announcement from my lobby colleagues Peter Walker and Heather Stewart here:
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The number of emergency food parcels given out by food banks in the UK more than doubled during lockdown, providers have said.
Almost two and a half times the number of parcels handed out in February were distributed in May, according to a survey of 191 food banks who are part of the Independent Food Aid Network (IFAN).
Some 36,445 three-day packages were given out in February, in comparison with 90,400 in May.
Meanwhile, 26,623 people used the food banks in February, compared with 56,023 in May.
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A further two people have died after testing positive for Covid-19 in Wales, taking the total number of deaths to 1,540.
Public Health Wales said the total of cases recorded in the country increased by 16 to 15,929 on Thursday.
An average of 14,000 people in private households in England had coronavirus at any given time between 22 June and 5 July, according to new estimates from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
This was equivalent to around 0.03% of the population, or one in 3,900 individuals.
The figures do not include people staying in hospitals, care homes or other institutional settings.
The estimate is based on swab tests collected from 25,662 participants, of which eight individuals from eight different households tested positive for Covid-19.
I’m Amy Walker, taking over from my colleague Lexy Topping while she has a break.
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The former prime minister Theresa May has urged employers to think about who they ask to work from home in the future because of an increase in domestic violence during lockdown.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s The World At One programme as the domestic abuse bill - which aims to protect victims - was passed in the House of Commons. May said it was important to recognise that the workplace was a safe space for domestic abuse victim.
She said:
One of the concerns I have as we come out of lockdown is there’s a lot of talk about a new way of working people working at home, it’s been shown that people can work at home now, many people, not everybody, but many people can. What I don’t want to see is employers simply saying that everybody who can work at home should be doing so in the future. Because if you’re a victim of domestic abuse, work is your safe place. And employers need to think about that. Think about those of their employees, for whom in the workspace is a safe place and being at home is not.
As home secretary May restricted the police’s powers to do stop and search because black people were seven times more likely to be stopped by police than white people, but her reforms have since been overturned.
Research published last night by the home affairs select committee showed that young black men were stopped and searched by police more than 20,000 times in London in the lockdown - equivalent to more than a quarter of every black 15-24-year-olds being stopped once.
May told the BBC she believes the police powers should be looked at again and people should not be stopped on the streets of our country simply because of the colour of their skin.
She said:
Alexander Paul, who came in to the Home Office to tell me about his experience with a group of others. A upright young man, never been in trouble, but been stopped so many times. And that made me think we needed to look at this. And when we looked at it, the inspectorate of police found that actually about a quarter of stops and searches were not being conducted lawfully. So I put a code of conduct in place and said you must do it according to the law. It seems pretty simple to me, for the police to do something according to the law. And I fundamentally believe that you should not be stopped on the streets of our country simply because of the colour of your skin.
Asked how the current government is handling the pandemic she said the last few months have been incredibly difficult for Boris Johnson and for the whole of the government. She says there is nobody in the country who would rather be them dealing with it.
I think the last few months have been incredibly difficult for Boris and for the whole of the government because they’ve been dealing as governments have around the world with something that nobody expected and something new. I think it’s been incredibly difficult. They’ve been working flat out every day to make sure that they’re responding to this pandemic. And it’s, I don’t think there’s anybody in the country sitting, listening to this programme, who is saying it was would rather be them dealing with it.
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PM fails to meet 24-hour target for return of all coronavirus tests by end of June
Boris Johnson failed to meet his target of having all coronavirus tests completed within 24 hours by the end of June, newly released data shows.
There was only a minimal increase in the proportion of tests completed within the timeframe after the prime minister made his pledge, statistics from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) suggested on Thursday.
In making the commitment to Conservative former health secretary Jeremy Hunt on 3 June, Johnson said that 90% of tests were already turned around in 24 hours and that he would increase that to all but those with “insuperable problems” by the end of the month.
This rose to 91% of in-person tests being completed within the timeframe at regional test sites between 25 June and 1 July, according to the DHSC data.
However, the department said the proportion of tests returned by the end of the following day increased to 97.5%.
Separate data from NHS England said 97% of the health service’s own labs had an average test turnaround time of under 24 hours, up from 90% last week. But officials could not immediately provide the proportion of tests completed within Johnson’s target.
Dido Harding, the executive chair of the NHS test and trace programme to stem the spread of Covid-19, said they remained “committed to continually improving” the programme.
“This week we have seen test turnaround times improve further, with the majority of positive cases reached by contact tracers in under 24 hours,” she added.
Johnson made the commitment in response to Hunt, who chairs the Commons health and social care committee, during PMQs amid concerns that not enough people were being tested for Covid-19.
The PM said: “We already do 90% of tests turned around within 24 hours. Of the tests conducted at the 199 testing centres, as well as the mobile centres, they’re all done within 24 hours, and I can undertake to him (Mr Hunt) now to get all tests turned around within 24 hours by the end of June except for difficulties with postal tests or insuperable problems like that.”
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Gyms in England to reopen after intense lobbying from fitness sector
The government is to allow gyms in England to start reopening this month, it is understood, following intense lobbying from the fitness sector and MPs over why they had to remain closed when restaurants and bars could admit customers.
It is expected that the culture, media and sport secretary, Oliver Dowden, will set out plans formally later on Thursday, with the expectation of reopening soon, if gyms are able to maintain social distancing and other coronavirus hygiene measures.
Dowden is expected to confirm a date for reopening, which government sources suggested would be before the end of July.
The culture secretary is also expected to announce the date when some other sectors left out of the 4 July easements, such as nail bars, can open their doors. There was, however, no immediate clarity on the position for swimming pools, which have also not yet been allowed to reopen.
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Tens of thousands of people who work in high-risk jobs, such as taxi drivers, cleaners and shop workers, will be tested for coronavirus even though they have no symptoms, the government has announced.
Government to launch pilot asymptomatic Covid testing for taxi drivers and cleaners in Bradford, Brent, Newham and Oldham.
— lisa o'carroll (@lisaocarroll) July 9, 2020
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said the pilot study, which begins immediately, would improve understanding of the prevalence of the virus in asymptomatic people in higher-risk jobs.
It is believed that people without symptoms can spread coronavirus to others without being aware that they are infectious.
Firms included in the trial are taxi firm Addison Lee, BT, services firm Mitie and pharmacy giant Boots.
Workers will be given a one-off test to see how common asymptomatic Covid-19 is among these groups.
Local authorities in Bradford, Newham, Brent and Oldham will also select groups of people for asymptomatic testing who are deemed to be high-risk.
The DHSC said each business will receive thousands of tests for staff via home-testing delivery or a mobile testing unit.
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A 57-year-old man has become the first person to be arrested in connection with an alleged fraud of the government furlough scheme.
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) said it had arrested a male from Solihull, West Midlands, on Wednesday, in connection with allegations of a £495,000 fraud of the coronavirus job retention scheme (CJRS).
HMRC said it was the first such arrest to happen.
Officers executed a search warrant, seizing computers and other digital devices, while funds held in a bank account relating to the arrested man’s business have been frozen.
Richard Las, acting director, fraud investigation service, HMRC, said:
The coronavirus job retention scheme is part of the collective national effort to protect jobs.
The vast majority of employers will have used the CJRS responsibly, but we will not hesitate to act on reports of abuse of the scheme.
This is taxpayers’ money and any claim that proves to be fraudulent limits our ability to support people and deprives public services of essential funding.
As usual, we have built steps in to prevent mistakes and fraud happening in the first place, but anyone who is concerned that their employer might be abusing the scheme should report it to HMRC online.
More than £27.4bn has been claimed through the scheme, supporting 1.1 million employers and 9.4 million furloughed jobs.
HMRC added that the man was also arrested in relation to a suspected multimillion-pound tax fraud and alleged money laundering offences.
A further eight men from across the region have also been detained as part of this linked investigation, which involved the deployment of more than 100 HMRC officers to 11 locations.
Computers, digital devices, and business and personal records were also seized during the raids.
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I am faintly obsessed with Rishi Sunak’s social media output, and from a glance at Twitter, I know I am not on my own.
But the chancellor has defended “Brand Rishi”, saying he wants to get the government’s message across to as many people as possible and that if it means “they poke fun at me in the process” then “so be it”.
The minister has been gently - and not so gently - mocked for posting graphics and soft-focus pictures overlaid with his signature and artistic text.
We covered Sunak’s appearance on the Today programme this morning (see 8.55), but it’s interesting to see what he said when questioned about “Brand Rishi” on the same programme.
Asked about the posts, he said:
This is about communication, and the way we communicate is changing. We’ve seen a change in how people engage with the way they get their news, and the way they get their information.
I’m keen to try and get our message across to as many people as possible and engage them, and if that means they poke some fun at me in the process so be it if it means they’re talking about what we’re doing and debating it.
The chancellor visited a Wagamama restaurant after delivering his summer statement in the Commons on Wednesday, where he had photographs taken by a Treasury photographer.
Sunak did not wear a face covering despite serving food to customers in the restaurant.
No other cabinet ministers have been photographed in public wearing a face covering, yet the government guidance says people should wear a face covering in “enclosed public spaces where social distancing isn’t possible and where you will come into contact with people you do not normally meet”.
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Now this sounds like a good idea!
PA Media reports that remote workers could be given the chance to relocate to Barbados under new proposals being considered by the Caribbean island.
Apparently the prime minister, Mia Amor Mottley, is looking at plans to introduce a “12-month Barbados welcome stamp” that would allow visitors the option to work remotely from the Caribbean island for a year at a time.
The scheme is being considered because short-term travel has become more difficult due to testing restrictions.
Tourism makes up around 40% of the country’s gross domestic product and has been directly impacted by the coronavirus crisis.
Mottley said:
You don’t need to work in Europe, or the US or Latin America if you can come here and work for a couple of months at a time; go back and come back.
Currently, British passport holders don’t need a visa to visit Barbados but are granted a period of time to stay.
Barbados plans to officially reopen its borders to international travel on 12 July. However, current guidance states people travelling to the country must have had a Covid-19 test within 72 hours prior to leaving.
They must also submit a form 24 hours before travelling. Anyone who hasn’t taken a test will be tested upon arrival to the country and placed in isolation if necessary. Might schedule in a chat with my boss - who’s with me?
Updated
Scots can meet people from other households indoors from tomorrow for the first time in over three months, as the first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, confirmed that the country was now ready to enter phase 3 of her government’s route map to re-opening.
Announcing a raft of new guidance, she also said that non-cohabiting couples were now allowed to meet outdoors, indoors and overnight without physical distancing.
Sturgeon has also brought forward the date when places of worship can re-open for congregational services and communal prayer to 15 July.
Sturgeon made the announcements as she confirmed there had been no further coronavirus deaths in Scotland overnight, telling the chamber that the virus “has now been suppressed to a low level”.
Describing the measures as “the most significant milestone in Scotland’s emergence from lockdown”, she said that Scots could meet in extended groups of up to 15, and up to five households, outdoors and indoors up to eight people from up to three households, including overnight stays, from tomorrow.
Under-18s can meet an unlimited number of households indoors or outdoors from tomorrow.
She also confirmed that pubs, restaurants and hairdressers are allowed to open indoors from next Wednesday, with exemptions to the 2-metre rule, although face coverings will be mandatory from tomorrow.
Updated
No new coronavirus deaths in Scotland
No new coronavirus deaths have been reported in Scotland in the last 24 hours, the first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, said.
A total of 2,490 patients have died in Scotland after testing positive for coronavirus, no change on yesterday’s figure.
Speaking in the Scottish parliament, the first minister said 18,315 people had tested positive for the virus in Scotland, up by six from 18,309 the day before.
There are 646 people in hospital with confirmed or suspected Covid-19, down 121 on Wednesday.
Of these patients, nine were in intensive care, a fall of two.
Updated
Boots announces the loss of 4,000 jobs
Boots has said it is consulting on plans to restructure its head office and store teams and close 48 Boots Opticians stores - resulting in a loss of 4,000 jobs (7% of its workforce).
Earlier John Lewis announced it was shutting down eight stores, putting 1,300 jobs at risk. (see 10.33)
The free TV licence for over-75s will be means tested from August 1, the BBC has said.
The broadcaster was due to introduce means testing at the start of last month, but it was delayed until August because of the coronavirus.
The BBC chairman, Sir David Clementi, said:
The decision to commence the new scheme in August has not been easy, but implementation of the new scheme will be Covid-19 safe. The BBC could not continue delaying the scheme without impacting on programmes and services.
Around 1.5 million households could get free TV licences if someone is over 75 and receives pension credit, and 450,000 of them have already applied. And critically it is not the BBC making that judgment about poverty. It is the government who sets and controls that measure.
Like most organisations the BBC is under severe financial pressure due to the pandemic, yet we have continued to put the public first in all our decisions. I believe continuing to fund some free TV licences is the fairest decision for the public, as we will be supporting the poorest oldest pensioners without impacting the programmes and services that all audiences love.
The BBC agreed to take on responsibility for funding the scheme as part of the charter agreement hammered out with the government in 2015.
Updated
Dr Sophie John, an expert in adult social care, health analysis and life events at the Office for National Statistics has written an interesting blog on the impact on those working in the care sector.
It’s too long to recount in full - but you can read the whole thing here.
And here’s an excerpt:
Health and social care workers are the largest proportion of key worker occupations, making up 31% of these roles while 15% of key workers are identified to be at moderate risk from Covid-19, mostly due to certain health conditions such as asthma, heart disease and diabetes. Using the coronavirus infection survey, we found that people working in patient-facing roles like NHS professionals and nursing home or care home workers had a higher positive Covid-19 test rate (1.58%) than those who work in non-patient facing roles (0.27% tested positive).
The nature of these roles, where staff are in close contact with patients and other employees, may result in them being more likely to come into contact with someone who has Covid-19. To explore this we have reported on elevated death rates involving coronavirus for male and female social care workers.
And on care home residents:
Since the beginning of the pandemic nearly 30% of all care home resident deaths in England and Wales were deaths involving Covid-19. Total care home resident deaths currently (19,394) make up 40% of all Covid-19 related deaths. Of the deaths involving Covid-19 in care home residents almost three-quarters (74.9%) occurred within the care home.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) also collects information on recipients of domiciliary care in England; that is care provided in a private home by a home care agency registered with CQC. From 10 April 2020 (when data are first available) to 19 June 2020, there were 6,523 deaths of recipients of domiciliary care in England, which is almost double the three-year average. Of these 12.6% involved Covid-19 which is lower than the levels of Covid-19 in those living in care homes.
Looking at infection, of the 56% of care homes that reported having at least one confirmed case of coronavirus, 20% of residents are estimated to have tested positive for Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic.
Updated
Nearly 1.45 million people in England waiting more than 18 weeks for hospital treatment
The number of people waiting longer than 18 weeks for hospital treatment in England is now almost 1.45 million - the highest figure since 2007, figures show.
PA Media reports that data from NHS England shows the number of people having to wait more than 18 weeks to start hospital treatment rose to 1,448,357 million in May this year. This is more than double the number in May 2019 (576,237) and the highest number for any calendar month since December 2007.
The figure was also a rise on the 1,132,602 recorded for the previous month of April 2020.
Just 62.2% of people were seen within 18 weeks, the records for May show, against a target of 95%.
The number of people having to wait more than 52 weeks to start hospital treatment in England also rose to 26,029 in May 2020, up from 1,032 in May 2019 and the highest number for any calendar month since September 2009.
Within the figures, more than half a million patients in England had been waiting more than six weeks for a key diagnostic test in May 2020, after having been referred by a GP.
A total of 571,459 patients were waiting for one of 15 standard tests, including an MRI scan, non-obstetric ultrasound or gastroscopy. The equivalent number waiting for more than six weeks in May 2019 was 43,230.
The latest data also shows that the number of patients admitted for routine treatment in hospitals in England was down 82% in May compared with a year ago due to the impact of Covid-19.
A total of 54,550 patients were admitted for treatment during the month, down from 295,881 in May 2019.
Some 106,535 urgent cancer referrals were made by GPs in England in May 2020, down from 200,599 in May 2019 - a fall of 47%. This is the number of people seen by a cancer consultant within two weeks of being referred.
Urgent breast cancer referrals showed an even bigger drop: down from 15,802 in May 2019 to 5,371 in May 2020, a fall of 66%.
Dr Nick Scriven of the Society for Acute Medicine, told PA Media:
Clearly NHS performance across the board continues to be hugely affected by Covid-19, though we must also remember performance has been poor for a lot longer than that and questions need to be answered as to how we ensure the sustainable future of the service.
We are very concerned about the growing crisis in accessing diagnostic tests, with the total number of patients waiting six weeks or more from referral for one of the 15 key tests at almost 571,500 - 58.5% of the total number of patients waiting - which is shocking given the target is 1%.
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John Lewis said it will shut two full-size department stores in Birmingham and Watford, four At Home shops in Croydon, Newbury, Swindon and Tamworth, as well as two travel hub outlets at Heathrow and St Pancras.
It said the eight shops were already “financially challenged” before the pandemic, which had ramped up the shift towards online shopping.
The group estimated that between 60% and 70% of John Lewis sales are set to be made online this year and next, compared with 40% before the coronavirus crisis.
Sharon White, chairman of the John Lewis Partnership, said:
We believe closures are necessary to help us secure the sustainability of the partnership - and continue to meet the needs of our customers however and wherever they want to shop.
Redundancies are always an absolute last resort and we will do everything we can to keep as many partners as possible within our business.
Updated
The Institute for Fiscal Studies also questioned the impact of two of Rishi Sunak’s most eye-catching announcements - the “eat out to help out” meal discount scheme and the VAT cut.
The IFS’s deputy director, Helen Miller, said one question in relation to the meal discount scheme and the VAT cut for hospitality was whether the issue was a problem with demand, due to people not wanting to go out, or supply, with businesses unable to accommodate customers due to social distancing constraints.
Many businesses would not pass on the VAT cut to customers so “the firms that benefit most would be those who have the highest sales, who are operating closest to normal”.
She questioned why the eat out to help out scheme did not included takeaways.
Just a week ago we thought the risks of eating in restaurants were sufficiently high that we banned it.
Now we are effectively saying that in August we are going to make takeaways relatively more expensive than eating in, even for the same food eaten from the same establishments.
There were fewer supply constraints on takeaways, so more firms would be able to benefit and it could also help keep within social distancing rules.
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The Resolution Foundation said the chancellor’s “remarkably conventional” spending on his coronavirus recovery package “risks falling short of what will be required”.
Torsten Bell, the thinktank’s chief executive, said the “vast bulk” of spending went on families and firms during the early phase of the crisis.
“The amount spent on stimulating the recovery is, in contrast, remarkably conventional,” he added.
The focus on young people and the sectors most affected by the crisis, particularly via the targeted VAT cut, shows the Treasury is rightly focused on the highly unusual nature of this crisis.
But the scale of support offered - through ‘eat out’ vouchers and the job retention bonus - risks falling short of what will be required, while the likes of bricks and mortar retail have fallen through the cracks.
By not going further the chancellor is taking quite a gamble on the strength of the recovery in the months ahead. Given the lasting impact of coronavirus on our economy, the chances are he will need to return to the House of Commons to announce more support in the autumn.
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Repairing UK's coronavirus debt will take 'decades' and higher taxes more likely, IFS finds
The Institute for Fiscal Studies director, Paul Johnson, warned that a “reckoning, in the form of higher taxes” would have to come eventually to repair the battered public finances.
He questioned whether the billions of extra spending announced by Rishi Sunak would offer value for money but acknowledged that measures needed to be taken now in the face of a recession that was the “deepest in our history”.
At a presentation of the thinktank’s findings on the chancellor’s statement, he said that normally they would be asking “what can be afforded” but “today the question is better posed as what is needed and what can be delivered?” There was also the issue of whether the extra funding would offer the benefits claimed.
“Even in a crisis we shouldn’t ignore the basics,” he said.
A lot, probably a majority, of the job retention bonus money will go in respect of jobs that would have been, indeed already have been, returned from furlough anyway.
This money will go even in respect of jobs which were briefly furloughed, are already back at work and can expect to be still back at work in January, the employer still gets £1,000.
Much of the VAT cut and the stamp duty cut will be deadweight; but that may be fine if they have a significant behavioural consequence.
Committing £15bn for PPE may be necessary, but I think we can expect to pay quite a lot for the equipment that that buys.
It will take “decades” to manage the UK debt back down to pre-coronavirus crisis levels, the IFS deputy director, Carl Emmerson, warned.
He said:
The chancellor also said in his speech yesterday that over the medium term we must and we will put our public finances back on a sustainable footing.
Now what I think that means is that once we’re through the crisis phase, once the economy has established its new normal, we are probably going to find that the economy is not as big as what it would have been had the coronavirus never hit.
If that’s the case, and it’s very likely to be the case, revenues will still be depressed, and if we want to try then to bring the deficit back to where it would have been absent the crisis we will need to do some spending cuts, or given a decade of austerity, perhaps more likely some tax rises.
Emmerson said managing the elevated debt from the crisis would be a task “for not just the current chancellor, but also many of his successors”.
It’s going to take decades before we manage that debt down to the levels we were used to pre this crisis.
Updated
A bag of Covid-19 test samples has been found on the roadside near Tain, north of Inverness, by a member of the public. BBC Highlands is reporting the pretty jaw-dropping find – apparently the samples were discovered on the A9 near Tain and handed in to the local police station before being transferred to a laboratory team at Raigmore.
The samples were being transported from Caithness General Hospital in Wick to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, according to NHS Highland, which has since launched an investigation into the circumstances.
Pressure mounts on chancellor to extend support to excluded taxpayers
Speaking of those left behind by the chancellor’s schemes, Forgotten PAYE has expressed outrage at the lack of acknowledgement in the summer statement of the 1.75 million taxpayers who are now in their fourth month of receiving no support. They are not eligible for SEISS because they are taxed, or partially taxed, at source.
It is devastating that the summer economic update didn’t include an extension to the scope of SEISS to open it up to those who are still excluded and who have received £0 financial support for four months now. Most of those excluded can’t even access universal credit.
As opposed to spending £900m on work coaches, he could instead have pledged to invest that money into the 3-5 million self-employed taxpayers who’ve received no support during this crisis, so that they can continue in their chosen professions; professions which they’ve trained for and have developed skills in, professions which they were thriving in and through which they were positively contributing to the economy - until lockdown was enforced.
‘Eat out to help out’ doesn’t help those people who don’t have the money to eat in the first place.
‘Everyone has been able to access some support,’ is the line which Rishi Sunak keeps spouting. We hope the chancellor reconsiders his decision to continue excluding 3-5 million UK taxpayers from financial support, and sticks to his pledge to not leave anyone behind.
In its interim report, the Treasury select committee identified more than 1 million taxpayers who have received nothing from the chancellor’s schemes, and the grassroots organisation, Excluded UK, estimates that between 3-5 million taxpayers in total have been locked out of support.
The affected groups include, among others, the PAYE freelancers, limited company directors who pay themselves through dividends, sole traders earning more than £50,000 a year, and new starters.
More than 200 MPs across different parties have pledged their support for those excluded from accessing support from the government’s schemes, and the Lib Dem MP Jamie Stone founded the ExcludedUK APPG to fight in parliament for support to be extended to them.
A message of thanks to all of the excluded people who got us to 200 members of the #ExcludedUK APPG
— Jamie Stone MP (@Jamie4North) July 8, 2020
I know today was just the latest disappointment in a long string of them but don't lose hope.
Thank you all. pic.twitter.com/1lw9SuvkiE
Updated
Rishi Sunak said more than a million businesses had benefited from government financial support during the crisis, but apologised to those who had not been reached.
He told Times Radio:
Over a million businesses have benefited, for example from the furlough scheme a million businesses have accessed some of our loans, almost a million businesses have got access to cash grants or business rates holidays.
So clearly the scale of what we’re doing is reaching a lot of people. Is it going to reach absolutely every single person and every single company in exactly the way they would like? I’m sure not and I can only apologise for that.
He also apologised to freelancers who feel left behind by the support schemes.
Does everyone feel that they’ve been helped in the way that they would like to have been? Of course not and I can only apologise for that.
The chancellor has said the £1,000 bonus being offered to businesses that keep furloughed staff in jobs until January would be a “dead weight” cost, as some employers who intend to retain workers anyway would benefit.
In an apparent admittance that this means some public money will be wasted, Rishi Sunak told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme:
Throughout this crisis I’ve had decisions to make and whether to act in a broad way at scale and at speed or to act in a more targeted and nuanced way.
In an ideal world, you’re absolutely right, you would minimise that dead weight and do everything in incredibly targeted fashion.
The problem is the severity of what was happening to our economy, the scale of what was happening, and indeed the speed that it was happening at demanded a different response.
He said that “without question there will be dead weight - and there has been dead weight in all of the interventions we have put in place”.
Away from the economy, Metro reports that Transport for London officers stopped more than 3,000 people from getting on buses last weekend until they put on a face covering.
Last week, police and transport officers were given orders to enforce the face coverings rule after reports of people being seen on public transport without one.
Face coverings were made compulsory on public transport on 15 June, except for individuals who are exempt. Fines of up to £100 can be issued and there is the possibility of prosecution if people don’t wear one.
Labour has accused the chancellor of taking a “one-size fits all” approach in its incentive scheme to persuade employers to keep on furloughed staff beyond October.
The shadow chancellor, Anneliese Dodds, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme:
My major concern with the way government is proceeding now is that they’re withdrawing the job retention scheme and the self-employed scheme at the same time, right across the whole economy.
We all know that some sectors are being much more strongly impacted than others, the chancellor’s continuing with that one-sized fits all approach, we would urge him to look again at this, we have been continuously.
She added:
I do find it a little peculiar that we now have this bonus that will be paid to all employers regardless of whether their business are back operating up to full capacity or not.
We really need to have targeted support, this is a crisis like no other where the impact is very strongly sectoral, we should have had a more sectoral approach from the chancellor.
Shadow Chancellor @AnnelieseDodds says Rishi Sunak needs to take a targeted approach to healing the economy.
— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) July 9, 2020
She is concerned the Chancellor is applying a ‘one size fits all’ across the economy when the pandemic has impacted different sectors in different ways. pic.twitter.com/1qX6VdfBkg
Asked about why the job retention bonus had not been more targeted, Rishi Sunak told BBC Breakfast:
I actually think it will make a significant difference, it is something that people were actually interested in calling for.
Given the income distribution of those on furlough, we know that £1,000 can be a significant reward and incentive to employers to successfully bring staff back and continuously employ them.
I think actually having a broad offer to all those 9 million people is the right thing to do.
In situations like this and throughout this crisis I’ve always had a choice whether to act at speed and at scale, given the severity of what we’re facing, or to do things in a more nuanced and targeted way and in an ideal world you would do that.
The problem with doing things in a more targeted and nuanced way is that it takes a lot longer and we don’t necessarily have the luxury of time when you’re dealing with a crisis of this magnitude.
He added:
I would make the same decisions again and I’m sure if we had a more targeted approach in this instance you’d probably have me on this show saying: well, why are these people excluded?
Updated
The chancellor Rishi Sunak has told BBC Breakfast the government’s support plan is one of the “most comprehensive and generous set of interventions” in the world, but acknowledged some people would still be badly affected.
After outlining the schemes announced on Wednesday, Sunak said:
The analysis we published yesterday which shows the totality of what we’ve done demonstrates very clearly that the lowest income households are the ones who have been supported the most by everything we have done but I would acknowledge that this has been a period of extreme hardship for many people and indeed hardship lies ahead.
Sunak was later asked about self-employed curtain fitter Mark Whittaker, who said he was severely struggling and felt abandoned as he was not eligible for the self-employment support scheme.
“I can’t get my head around how the Chancellor expects anyone to survive on zero income”
— BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) July 9, 2020
This is what the Chancellor Rishi Sunak had to say when we put self-employed Mark’s concerns to him on #BBCBreakfast ⤵️
More here: https://t.co/4HnJdiBF94 pic.twitter.com/0x6t5oaB43
The chancellor said the scheme had helped 2.5 million people and later added:
If you’re saying to me there are individual people who are suffering hardship as a result of what’s happened then I completely agree and I sympathise with that, it is not possible to ensure that every single person is not impacted by what’s happening.
We’ve shut our country and economy down for months on end, that is sadly going to have a significant impact and I’ve consistently been honest with people that hardship lies ahead and that’s why we’ve tried to mitigate as much of that hardship as possible.
Are we going to be able to mitigate all of it for every single person? Of course not, but when I look at the totality of what we’ve done, I do know that it stacks up as being one of the most comprehensive and generous set of interventions out of any country in the world.
Despite the focus on eating out on many of the front pages this morning, the real highlight of the chancellor’s statement was the confirmed ending of the furlough scheme in October.
My colleagues Larry Elliott and Heather Stewart report that despite Rishi Sunak’s rescue package and “plan for jobs”, fears of a looming crisis of mass unemployment are visceral.
Len McCluskey, the general secretary of the Unite union, said:
Redundancy notices are already flying around like confetti, so today was the day we needed the chancellor to put a stop to this with policies as bold and as necessary as the jobs retention scheme.
This statement failed that test. With no modification to the JRS, that dreaded October cliff edge for businesses and workers has now been set in stone. Our fear is the summer jobs loss tsunami we have been pleading with the government to avoid will now surely only gather pace.
Updated
Here is the moment the chancellor got his orders mixed up while serving customers - and not wearing a face covering - at a Wagamama’s in London.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak walks into confusion when he takes a meal to the wrong table.
— SkyNews (@SkyNews) July 9, 2020
Read more about the chancellor’s eating out discount here: https://t.co/zLok3ORSpi pic.twitter.com/hKNYZfHCkU
Updated
'There are difficult times ahead', chancellor says
The chancellor Rishi Sunak is doing the morning broadcast round, and has just told Sky News that jobs are at risk unless economic activity returns to normal.
Sunak said:
We’ve moved through the acute phase of the crisis where large swathes of the economy were closed. We’re now fortunately able to safely reopen parts of our economy, that’s the most important thing that we can do to get things going.
But we won’t know the exact shape of that recovery for a little while - how will people respond to the new freedoms of being able to go out and about again. We have to rediscover behaviours that we’ve essentially unlearned over the last few months.
But unless activity returns to normal, those jobs are at risk of going which is why we acted in the way that we did.
The chancellor also said he was “anxious” about the state of the economy, and that the UK was “entering into a very significant recession”.
We acted at the beginning of this crisis to protect as many businesses and jobs as we could, with initiatives like the furlough scheme and the unprecedented support that we have provided to business.
We did that so that when we emerged from the other side of this crisis we could bounce back as strongly as possible.
Now that we’re there we want to try and make that recovery as strong as it could be, which is why having people out and about, back in restaurants, moving house, renovating homes, installing energy efficiency measures in homes.
Asked if everyone who has been furloughed will go back to work, Sunak said:
No. I’ve been very clear that we are not going to be able to protect every single job and it would be wrong of me to pretend otherwise.
There are going to be difficult times ahead and... there are forecasts for people predicting significant levels of unemployment. That weighs very heavily on me.
"We can't protect every job and it would be wrong of me to pretend otherwise."
— Kay Burley (@KayBurley) July 9, 2020
Chancellor @RishiSunak says there will be difficult times ahead but he hopes the furlough scheme and other measures around jobs training announced yesterday will improve opportunities. RH #KayBurley pic.twitter.com/3AxWLjbqbI
Updated
Good morning. I’m Lucy Campbell, here to steer you through the latest developments in UK politics and all things coronavirus as the morning unfolds.
Leading the front pages this morning is the “eat out to help out” aspect of the chancellor’s £30bn emergency support package to protect against a coronavirus recession and mass youth unemployment. His summer statement - or mini budget - that he delivered on Wednesday, was packed with giveaways to tempt consumers out of their Covid-19 hibernation and to nurse the country through the pandemic.
Among the freebies, Rishi Sunak pledged £300m to subsidise food, including discounted dining, with VAT reduced from 20% to 5% in the tourism and hospitality sectors, as well as a stamp duty holiday, raising the threshold in England and Northern Ireland to £500,000.
However, while offering relief in the short-term, the papers also point out that we will ultimately all have to pay for these giveaways. The Times (paywall) has worked out that public spending has soared to £189bn to get the economy through the crisis – more than we currently spend on the NHS. Meanwhile, the FT (paywall) has calculated that borrowing of £350bn will be needed this year to pay for everything – pushing the deficit to twice the size it was after 2008 – and that Sunak ultimately faces the challenge of stabilising the public finances when all this is over. “Mr Sunak will not be able to play Santa Claus forever,” an analysis piece reads.
The chancellor is due to have his sums marked by economic experts as they prepare to go over his plans to boost the economy after coronavirus with a fine-tooth comb. We expect the IFS’s analysis at 9:30am.
We also expect that more elements of the UK’s economy could be given the green light to reopen.
Please feel free to get in touch with me throughout the morning as I work. Your thoughts, comments and news tips are always welcome!
Email: lucy.campbell@theguardian.com
Twitter: @lucy_campbell_
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