Sajid Javid in the Commons offers condolences to Prime Minister and his brother Jo (former MP and now Lord Johnson) over the death of their mother Charlotte
Javid on the Covid Winter Plan
- More than 6m people over 16 still no vaccination, so new push to encourage them to get jabbed
- Booster programme for over 50s, care home frontline workers. Will kick off the roll-out next week
- 1st doses of vaccine offered for 12-15 yr olds
Javid: "Highly likely" frontline NHS staff and those working in frontline care settings will be required to get vaccinated to protect those around them.
Javid on toolkit:Brits "should be wearing a face mask in crowded & enclosed spaces where you come into contact with people you don't normally meet" this winter. Some shouts of protest in HoC > went to theatre at w/end, barely anyone wearing masks, this will require a step-change
Javid goes one to say there may be legal mandating for face masks in certain settings if necessary
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Winter plan in a nutshell
- Vaccine push. Booster push
- Test & Trace
- Support NHS more cash (£5.4bn)
- Public do their bit (try to meet outside/wear masks in crowded settings
- Managing borders
Plan B
- Ask public to be more cautious
- Mandatory Covid passports in certain settings
- Compulsory mask wearing in certain settings
- Work from home if you can for certain period of time
- *should* be poss to handle resurgence without lockdowns & social restrictions of past
But govt doesn't rule out lockdown: "The nature of this virus means its not poss to give guarantees. Govt remains committed to taking whatever action is nece to protect NHS from being overwhelmed but more harmful ec & social restrictions would only be considered as a last resort"
Rape Review, govt action plan
- Increase no. of rape cases reaching court to 2016 levels (2,102 prosecutions 2019/20. 5,190 in 2016/17)
Criminal justice system to be rated to try to improve peformance
No victim left w/out phone for over 24 hrs
*Can’t see more funding in plan*
Rape review CONTEXT
- 55,130 rapes recorded but 2,102 prosecutions, 1,439 convictions in Eng & Wales 2019/20 (41,616 rapes - ⅓ less - 5,190 prosecutions, 2,991 convictions 2016/17).
CPS prosecuted & convicted fewer people in 2019/20 than in any other year where data exists 2/
HM Crown Prosecution service warned (Dec '19) gov cuts could be driving down rape prosecutions after leaving criminal justice system “close to breaking point”. HMCPSI said stretched police forces were taking mths to investigate allegations & referring fewer for potential charges
NEW Sky News/Opinium polling
- Seat projections: SNP on for outright majority with 67 seats. Con on 29, Lab on 20
- Scots tied 50-50 on support for indy referendum
- 28% want #indyref within 2 yrs (SNP pledged to hold ref by end 2024)
Via @SamCoatesSky news.sky.com/story/election…
Outright SNP majority nightmare for UK govt. Despite Tory assertions #indyref would be "illegal" without Westminster's consent, govt insiders concede more complicated than that - UK govt WOULD have to challenge Scot Gov down in Supreme Court, can't just ignore 1/
UK govt clear UK's constitution reserved for Westminster. But govt insiders concede UK govt little option but to go to block #indyref if the Scottish government passes legislation for a referendum. 2/
What’s to come if SNP take Holyrood. Sturgeon throws down gauntlet to PM: If UK govt doesn’t challenge the Scot govt in court, referendum wld be legal. Govt insiders concede there’s no choice but to fight in court, with all the political danger that brings news.sky.com/story/nicola-s…
ANALYSIS: For Johnson, an outright SNP victory is nothing short of a nightmare. It puts future of the 300-year Union into play. It is a fight that the PM can neither ignore nor afford to lose: Is there a worse legacy than being the PM who lost the Union? news.sky.com/story/scottish…
Cummings on chatty rat/lockdown leak: If Newman is confirmed as the leaker then I will have to fire him, and this will cause some very serious probs with Carrie as they’re best friends”
Cummings on the lockdown leak. Says PM tried to block inquiry: “I told him that he could not possibly cancel an inquiry about a leak that affected millions of people, just because it might implicate his girlfriend’s friends”
Adds PM “knows that I was not the source of the leak”
And on the flat refurbishment: “I told him I thought his plans to have donors secretly pay for the renovation were unethical, foolish, possibly illegal and almost certainly broke the rules on proper disclosure”