Jennifer Williams Profile picture
Northern correspondent, Financial Times. Ex-Manchester Evening News. ‘Cynical’ - Boris Johnson. Also find me on Bluesky. jennifer.g.williams@ft.com

Sep 30, 2020, 11 tweets

Speaker is having a massive go at govt about the way it has gone about local lockdown rules. Shows 'total disregard' for the House.

KS starts #pmqs immediately with local lockdowns. Says only one place has gone into them and come out - Luton. Why does he think that is? PM says Luton was a 'success' because people pulled together and followed the guidance.

Interesting implication, there.

KS: What is the PM's strategy for bring places out of restrictions?

PM: We don't want to bring places into them. It appears atm that the illness 'is more localised', so localised action is needed, as well as the 'strong national measures' announced last week.

KS: I wasn't surprised the PM couldn't remember the rules.

He goes on to quote David Greenhalgh, Tory leader at Bolton council: the measures are 'breeding resentment; people...feel forgotten'.

PM: People do understand the rules, despite Labour's sniping from the sidelines. (So is the Tory leader at Bolton sniping from the sidelines?)

PM says KS should be 'trying to instil some confidence in the British people in the rules he supports'.

KS: The idea anyone questioning the govt at PMQs on these measures is undermining them is 'wearing a bit thin'.

KS moves on to the situation in Newcastle and elsewhere in the NE. Quotes @nick_forbes, who was furious that their measures were announced on Mon before conversations had concluded.

PM says he was surprised; was his 'understanding' that leaders in the NE wanted those measures.

@nick_forbes KS: Chancellor has made a political choice to reduce financial support just as new measures come in. Cites an example from PM's own constituency; wedding venue owner who says the Chancellor's latest plan 'does nothing to help us.'

Oh sorry it wasn't the PM's constituency, think it was the Chancellor's. PM says he 'of course' feels for people affected, but the Labour Party would have bankrupted the country.

KS says PM is 'tin earred' to those whose jobs are at risk.

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