Times lobby team’s inside read:
* PM following doctor’s advice to letter & won’t be back any time soon
* Ministers believe scientists are in charge - in PM’s absence there’s no appetite for political risk
* Ministers turning on Hancock over test target
thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/c…
* PM following doctor’s advice to letter & won’t be back any time soon
* Ministers believe scientists are in charge - in PM’s absence there’s no appetite for political risk
* Ministers turning on Hancock over test target
thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/c…
Boris Johnson following doctor’s advice to the letter, limiting himself to exchanging texts with colleagues
‘He will have been told very clearly that he risks killing himself if he goes back to work too soon’
‘He will have been told very clearly that he risks killing himself if he goes back to work too soon’
Dominic Raab is taking a deliberately low-key approach to his role as stand-in leader
‘He is being very careful not to try to be the prime minister,’ one ally said. ‘He doesn’t want to be seen as overstepping the mark.’
‘He is being very careful not to try to be the prime minister,’ one ally said. ‘He doesn’t want to be seen as overstepping the mark.’
On Thursday Cabinet rubber-stamped 3 week extension - but there were hints of concern about lockdown
Therese Coffey, work and pensions secretary, warned of long-term impact on people’s mental health of people being cooped up for so long
Therese Coffey, work and pensions secretary, warned of long-term impact on people’s mental health of people being cooped up for so long
There’s mounting opposition in Cabinet to Government’s omertà on discussing the exit strategy for fear of muddying stay at home message
‘Never assume electorate is stupid,’ one minister said. ‘They are highly intelligent and can digest message as well as any cabinet minister’
‘Never assume electorate is stupid,’ one minister said. ‘They are highly intelligent and can digest message as well as any cabinet minister’
During Cobra on Thursday Dominic Raab’s initial plan was to say that the lockdown would last until the end of the month, without specifying length of time
They wanted to avoid building up expectations
Ministers say they were ‘bounced’ into specifying 3 weeks by Nicola Sturgeon
They wanted to avoid building up expectations
Ministers say they were ‘bounced’ into specifying 3 weeks by Nicola Sturgeon
Inside No 10 Dominic Cummings is back and ‘making himself felt’
He was said to be behind hardening message on ruling out transition extension
In No 10 there’s an increasing conviction we are heading for no-deal
'The two sides are a million miles away from each other'
He was said to be behind hardening message on ruling out transition extension
In No 10 there’s an increasing conviction we are heading for no-deal
'The two sides are a million miles away from each other'
Most Cabinet ministers feel they are as much in the dark as the public. ‘The centre is clearly keeping some things back,” one minister said.
Several are highly critical of Matt Hancock and his 100,000 tests target, warning it could erode public trust
Several are highly critical of Matt Hancock and his 100,000 tests target, warning it could erode public trust
