Inside Politics: London headed for lockdown, as Boris Johnson shuts schools

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Thursday 19 March 2020 08:46 GMT

Johnson touches upon Brexit during coronavirus conference: 'There’s legislation in place that I have no intention of changing'

We’ll meet again. Don’t know where, don’t know when, and possibly at the safe distance of six metres – but I know we’ll meet again some sunny day. Britain’s songbird Dame Vera Lynn, 102-years-old and still fighting fit, has called on the nation to “pull together” and “weather the storm” of the coronavirus outbreak. With Glastonbury and Eurovision both cancelled, perhaps it’s time for Boris Johnson to start playing Dame Vera’s old records over the airwaves. As he wages war on the virus, the PM is not ruling out a complete lockdown in London after schools close across the land. I’m Adam Forrest, and welcome to The Independent’s Inside Politics newsletter.

Inside the bubble

Our political correspondent Ashley Cowburn on what to look out for at Westminster today:

The government will publish its emergency coronavirus powers bill, giving police and immigration officials the power to detain those infected. Work and pensions ministers will hold a teleconference roundtable for gig economy businesses and self-employed groups to look at how those not covered by statutory sick pay can get support. And Boris Johnson will announce the government’s latest plans at his daily press conferences.

Daily briefing

SCHOOLS OUT FOR … A WHILE: Boris Johnson said schools across England would shut from Friday to help “apply further downward pressure with that upward curve” of coronavirus cases. Since Scottish and Welsh governments had announced closures at the end of this week, the PM found himself slightly behind the curve, for a few hours at least. How will NHS staff and others in essential services cope? The plan is for the children of key workers to be able go to “skeleton” schools covering wide catchment areas. Johnson – who insisted he was a “believer in freedom” – did not rule out harsh legal restrictions to prevent people flouting health advice to stay at home. Measures which could come in by the weekend include the closure of cafes, pubs and restaurants in London. According to the FT, officials have drawn up plans for the capital that would see only one person allowed to leave home at a time, with supermarkets and pharmacies guarded by police to prevent looting. Strange and frightening times. No doubt about that.

THE UNIVERSAL: Pressed by Labour into providing some reassurance to Britain’s 20 million renters, Johnson said the government will introduce emergency legislation to protect private renters from eviction. He told Jeremy Corbyn at PMQs he wanted to avoid “passing on the problem” by “taking steps to protect other actors in the economy”. Must look out for the landlords, after all. Housing associations will not evict tenants hit by the virus and behind on rent payments, the National Housing Federation confirmed. The government is also facing calls to axe VAT and national insurance, and consider providing all workers with a monthly subsidy. Johnson didn’t sound too keen on the idea of setting up a “universal minimum wage” – but agreed to meet opposition leaders to discuss it. Rebecca Long-Bailey said it was a “streamlined” way of dealing with the economic problems caused by the virus. The Labour leadership candidate (yes, the long contest continues) said the policy could take the form of a “fixed payment made to all, providing everyone with a basic minimum income of at least the real living wage”.

STOP THE SPIVS: The spate of panic buying shows little sign of abating despite repeated attempts by supermarket bosses, government officials and Lorraine Kelly to get people to quit it (“For the love of God stop buying pasta and toilet roll,” the ITV host fumed earlier in the week). Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Asda all introduced a limit of only three items per customer on every grocery product so more people would have access. One Tory MP urged the government to bring in yet more emergency laws to prevent “black market profiteers” from cashing in. Alexander Stafford wrote to the PM urging him to take action against “callous and avaricious” behaviour. A new public health message advert – fronted by chief medical officer Chris Whitty – is being run across TV, radio and the internet from today. But we might need another ad soon telling the nation to stop the hoarding. Or a more comprehensive system of rationing, reminiscent of WWII, may be necessary.

EMPTYING THE BENCHES: Labour’s Lloyd Russell-Moyle has become the third MP to test positive for Covid-19. Complaining about receiving his test results after six days of waiting, he said: “If we are serious about the WHO advice of ‘test, test, test’ then we need to do better than this.” Johnson told the Commons the aim was to increase the number of tests carried out per day will be increased from 5,000 to 25,000. Easier said than done, of course. Wednesday saw a diminished PMQs amid fears over the virus spreading at Westminster, with only a few dozen who had questions and points of order allowed into the Commons. Labour MP Harriet Harman raised concern over the still “bustling” tea room. Elsewhere, the Scottish government put plans for indyref2 this year on hold. Constitution secretary Mike Russell said the push had been “paused” and urged No 10 to pause the Brexit process. The Lib Dems said the PM had “his head in the sand” by refusing to extend the transition period.

STUPIDITY SPREADERS: Over in the US, the Florida Republican Mario Diaz-Balart has become the first member of Congress to test positive for coronavirus. Will it lead to more enlightened attitudes in the party? Not likely. Republican congressman Tom Cotton somehow has time to dream of the day China will be held “accountable” for all this. “We will emerge stronger from this challenge, we will hold accountable those who inflicted it on the world, and we will prosper in the new day.” Donald Trump defended his use of the phrase “Chinese virus”, claiming that “because it comes from China, it’s not racist at all. It comes from China. I want to be accurate”. Asked about Cotton’s “accountable” remarks, Trump said: “We will see what happens”.

On the record

“His refusal to guarantee an extension to the Brexit talks is reckless and a dangerous example of putting politics above the needs of the country.”

Acting Lib Dem leader Ed Davey on the PM’s unwillingness to extend the transition.

From the Twitterati

“I wanted to take a quick moment to say thank you to everyone doing the right thing just now – following health advice, looking out for others and showing kindness. These are difficult days and we face a big challenge – but, together, we will get through it.”

Nicola Sturgeon tries to lift her country’s spirits…

“One of the advantages of a small place is the intimacy it fosters between its politicians & those they represent. Looser, less formal, quicker. Nicola has, thus far, done pretty much all you could hope for during this crisis.”

…and The Spectator’s Alex Massie thinks she’s done well at it.