NEW: PM slaps down Michael Gove’s comments this morning about potentially extending lockdown.
Tomorrow he’ll tell MPs:
“On 2nd December, we will seek to ease restrictions, going back into the tiered system on a local and regional basis according to the latest data and trends.”
Tomorrow he’ll tell MPs:
“On 2nd December, we will seek to ease restrictions, going back into the tiered system on a local and regional basis according to the latest data and trends.”
Note that the semantics here don’t quite rule out extending lockdown. But No 10 is clearly keen to steer public expectation back towards this being a four week blitz. Perhaps in the hope that it’ll encourage greater compliance and of course keep more Tory MPs on side.
PM will also defend his approach tomorrow, telling MPs:
“Models of our scientists suggest that unless we act now, we could see deaths over the winter that are twice as bad or more compared with the first wave.
“Faced with these latest figures, there is no alternative...”
“Models of our scientists suggest that unless we act now, we could see deaths over the winter that are twice as bad or more compared with the first wave.
“Faced with these latest figures, there is no alternative...”
“...but to take further action at a national level.
“I know some in the House believe we should have reached this decision earlier, but I believe it was right to try every possible option to get this virus under control at a local level.”
“I know some in the House believe we should have reached this decision earlier, but I believe it was right to try every possible option to get this virus under control at a local level.”
PM trying to please all quarters here. An attempt to convince the lockdown-sceptics in his party that a) it really is needed and b) it really is time-limited.
And an attempt to assuage pro-lockdown MPs that it was right to hold out and try a regional approach first.
And an attempt to assuage pro-lockdown MPs that it was right to hold out and try a regional approach first.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
