Children's minister Vicky Ford said if kids get lateral flow test positive, then PCR negative, they CAN’T go back to school
That is wrong, No 10 makes clear. Lateral flow test positive then PCR negative means kids CAN go back to school
Clarity is emerging from the muddle, via an education source.
1) IN SCHOOL
If a pupil gets a lateral flow positive at school... they are advised not to get a PCR test... and even if they do get a PCR test which is negative they must stay at home.
But...
2) AT HOME
If a pupil gets a lateral flow positive at home... they are advised to get a PCR test... and if that PCR test is negative they can go back to school.
Why the difference? Gov argues lateral tests done in school are more trustworthy as those giving them are trained.
The key question from a Government comms point of view is why that wasn’t explained with clarity during Today interview.
(There are separate qus about whether a lateral flow test in school is really so much more reliable than one done at home.)
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Seems to me Keir Starmer’s ‘no tax rises now’ position makes strategic sense.
One of Labour’s big failings in 15, 17, 19 elections was being soundly beaten on the economy.
Having a ‘why are you so pro-business’ row now only helps Starmer’s rebranding project for 2024.
Which is why you suspect Starmer’s office will be pretty relaxed with Corbyn frontbenchers criticising the stance and PM noting it’s a big departure from Labour’s 2019 manifesto.
(All giving big air time to the fact Starmer is abandoning Corbyn’s position on tax and business)
Having Tories throw the quotes from this week back at Starmer in the run-up to the next election (when Labour’s tax offering will inevitably be more progressive than the Conservatives) is the weakness in the strategy. But can worry about that in 2024.
Secrecy at all costs: Inside the Downing Street bunker preparing Britain’s lockdown exit. Longish read with @LOS_Fisher
Rishi, Gove, Hancock handed numbered paper copies of road map they couldn’t take with them amid heightened leak fears 1/ telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/…
Special advisers explicitly warned on recent Zoom calls with No 10 chief of staff Dan Rosenfield against Covid leaks, per multiple sources.
Some have taken a vow of silence fearing for their jobs if they discuss the road map. One: “I don’t want to be sacked”. 2/
Cabinet ministers being “kept in the dark” about the road map. So too many ministers whose briefs directly relate to countering Covid.
The heart of decision-making is ‘The Quad’ (PM, Rishi, Gove, Hancock) plus the scientists: Whitty, Vallance, sometimes JVT. 3/
Skimmed Obama’s new memoir for British references yesterday. There are some standout ones.
Says Cameron had “the easy confidence of someone who’d never been pressed too hard by life”. 1/ telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/11/1…
Obama on Gordon Brown: He “lacked the sparkly political gifts of his predecessor” Tony Blair. 👀
But also calls him “thoughtful” and “responsible”. 2/
Obama recounts the media reaction to Michelle touching the Queen’s shoulder during the 2009 G20 summit in Britain. Says the Queen “didn’t seem to mind”. 3/