.@BorisJohnson notably ducking @Keir_Starmer#PMQ about how many extra hours a single parent would have to work to make up Uni Credit cut.
Wonder why he's not repeating No10 defence that @theresecoffey was referring to those on Work Allowance [ie parents] before taper kicks in?
One issue that this whole UniCredit/extra hours controversy puts front and centre is that many on Uni Credit *do* work.
Interesting that @BorisJohnson response includes attack line that Labour wants "uncontrolled immigration"
After Starmer shouts about taxes and bills going 'Up!', @BorisJohnson says "I see the panto season has come early".
Responds with his own call-and-response 'Up!' [on wages etc].
Note that @RachelReevesMP started that season quite effectively last week.
Not entirely convinced that 'Vote Labour, wait longer' is a useful soundbite for the PM.
Simply reminds people of how long those NHS waiting lists are already.
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I've long thought @trussliz would be Williamson's replacement. Ex minister of state at DfE, comprehensive educated and....more than aware that a certain M Thatcher was Education Secretary.
But if @trussliz becomes the new Foreign Secretary, her future leadership credentials certainly will be burnished even more.
V popular among Tory grassroots and in any final run-off with Rishi Sunak, members could back her.
Chris Whitty just burned @nickiminaj for promoting untruths about Covid jabs and it was a beautiful thing.
❤️🔥
Fair play to @BorisJohnson for saying "I am not as familiar with the works of @nickminaj as I am with the works of Nikki Kanani, superstar GP of Bexley [Medical Director of Primary Care for NHS England], who will tell you vaccines are wonderful'
Whitty: Minaj line re male impotence 'designed to scare' + 'just untrue'.
On antivaxxers who discourage others from getting jabbed: “Many of those people, I regret to say, know they are peddling untruths but they still do it. In my view, they should be ashamed”.
Mic. Dropped.🎤
What's most interesting about their advice is:
🚨 children in most deprived areas hit most by loss of schooling
🚨 serious risk to mental and physical health over short term and long term from disruption to education
🚨 'competent' under-16s can get jab without parental consent
Key line from their advice: "It is essential that children and young people aged 12-15 and their parents are supported in their decisions, whatever decisions they take, and are not stigmatised either for accepting, or not accepting. Individual choice should be respected."
On plans to exempt 'critical workers' from isolation, @KwasiKwarteng tells @BBCr4today: "I don't think it's a question of applying...we will be publishing today the sectors that will be affected."
2 days ago, No.10 said firms *would* have to apply + there'd be no list of sectors
PM's official spokesman on Tuesday: "We’re not going to be producing a list covering individual sectors, these business-critical areas will be able to apply for exemptions to their host departments."
So, another U-turn today. Dizzying rate of these this week.
I explicitly asked the spokesman why the govt was not repeating its practice last year of precisely defining list of critical workers exempted from overseas travel bans in the 1st lockdown.
He said cos this was a smaller list of ppl it would be done on a "case by case" basis
U-turn on a U-turn.
Govt press release confirms 3% pay rise for NHS staff.
.@sajidjavid “We asked the independent pay review bodies for their recommendations and I’m pleased to accept them in full, with a 3% pay rise for all staff in scope, from doctors and nurses to paramedics and porters...
"NHS staff are rightly receiving a pay rise this year despite the wider public sector pay pause, in recognition of their extraordinary efforts.."
Interesting mask wearing by party allegiance in #PMQs.
I'd say only a quarter of Tory MPs are wearing face coverings.
Every Labour MP, @theSNP
and @LibDems MP wearing masks.
DUP MPs also not wearing masks.
Update, more Tory MPs have now out them on.
Current count: 14 with masks (tho just two on front bench), 17 without (including the Leader of the Commons, Jacob Rees-Mogg)