Inside Politics – Coronavirus special: Rishi Sunak warns of ‘hardship’ ahead

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Donald Trump has compared himself with Captain Bligh from The Mutiny on the Bounty, as he revels in his own feud with “mutineer” state governors over who controls lockdown decisions in the US. The president described a mutiny as “an exciting and invigorating thing to watch”. Things are a little more sedate on the good ship Britannia. The chancellor Rishi Sunak has insisted there will be no revolt over the UK’s lockdown, despite the dire economic outlook – saying there is no such thing as a straight choice between health and wealth. I’m Adam Forrest, and welcome to The Independent’s daily Inside Politics briefing during the coronavirus outbreak.

Inside the bubble

Our political commentator Andrew Grice on what to look out for today:

The government will set out new measures on social care, following criticism that residents in care homes have become the forgotten victims of the crisis. Health secretary Matt Hancock is expected to lead the Downing Street press conference later. Police are due to announce new figures on the number of fines imposed for breaching social distancing rules. And the Commons procedure committee will discuss (by video link, of course) plans for a “virtual parliament” when it returns next Tuesday.

Daily briefing

GOING GETS TOUGH: The UK’s economy could shrink by a record 35 per cent in the quarter to June, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has warned, with unemployment predicted to rise by more than 2 million to 10 per cent. Rishi Sunak said it was only one scenario, but made little attempt to brighten up the grim picture at the Downing Street press conference. “These are tough times and there will be more to come,” the chancellor said of the “hardship” ahead. Questioned about the lockdown, Sunak – believed to be one of the cabinet “hawks” keen to get back to normal sooner rather than later – played down the idea of a rift and insisted it was not a case of “choosing” between people’s health and the health of the economy. It comes as another 778 deaths were reported in UK hospitals on Tuesday. Professor Stephen Powis, NHS England’s national medical director, said there was evidence admissions in London and the Midlands were now “plateauing”.

CARE TO COUNT US: Anger is steadily building over the failure to include care home deaths in official daily figures – and the failure to test care home staff for the virus. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said there were 2,100 more deaths linked to the virus in England and Wales than what has been reported in the daily hospital stats. Experts have told The Independent coronavirus deaths could be occurring in “community settings” without being officially recorded on death certificates. In truth, Sunak and his health advisers didn’t have many clear answers on the subject at the latest press conference, with the chancellor saying all the data presented a “logistical challenge”. Elsewhere, health secretary Matt Hancock promised all social care staff who need a coronavirus test would get one. He said the Care Quality Commission was contacting all 30,000 care providers to let them know.

EXIT IN ORDERLY FASHION: Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has called on the government to publish an exit strategy from the coronavirus lockdown in the week ahead. Writing to Boris Johnson’s acting deputy Dominic Raab, Starmer said it was time to be “open and transparent with the public”. While remaining largely supportive of the strategy, the opposition leader claimed restrictions have “exacerbated existing inequalities”. With so many lockdown pressures to manage, the authorities are also dealing with widespread stupidity. Despite scientists dismissing 5G coronavirus conspiracy theories as “utter rubbish”, mobile networks reported 20 cases of phone masts being targeted in suspected arson attacks over the Easter weekend – including a mast providing connectivity to the new Nightingale Hospital in Birmingham. Ofcom announced it was reviewing comments made about the 5G nonsense by ITV presenter Eamonn Holmes.

AMERICAN MUTINY: Donald Trump said the US will stop funding the World Health Organisation while his administration reviews the body’s role in “covering up” the spread of the coronavirus. The UN chief Antonio Guterres said it was not the time to cut funding. It’s not the only feud Trump has going right now. He claimed Democratic governors like New York’s Andrew Cuomo were staging a “mutiny” over who has the power to lift lockdowns – and claimed on Twitter that Mutiny On The Bounty is “one of my all-time favourite movies”. Which was obviously very strange. Cuomo accused Trump of behaving like a king, before dialing down the rhetoric. “The president will have no fight with me. I will not engage with him.” It comes as Trump was forced to deny appointing his daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner were part of an economic council deciding when lockdowns should be lifted.

MIGRANTS’ REVOLT: Restrictions are not proving easy to manage. On the final day of India’s three-week lockdown, the country’s prime minister Narendra Modi announced he was extending the measures until 3 May. It didn’t stop hundreds of migrant workers in Mumbai heading outside to protest at a railway station – demanding transport was put on so they could return to their homes outside the city. Police were seen beating back some of the migrant demonstrators with batons in a bid to disperse the huge crowd. “From the economic angle, we have paid a big price,” Modi told the nation in his TV address. “But the lives of the people of India are far more valuable.” India has had more than 9,000 cases and 339 coronavirus deaths so far.

BEATLE SPEAKS OUT ON BATS: Sir Paul McCartney has condemned Chinese wet markets, as concerns grows about their public health risk. “I really hope that this will mean the Chinese government says, ‘Okay guys, we have really got to get super hygienic around here,’” the former Beatle told radio host Howard Stern. “Let’s face it, it is a little bit medieval eating bats.” The Independent has launched a new campaign calling for tighter restrictions on the trade of wild animals. Elsewhere, China’s CanSino Biologics has begun the second phase of testing a potential coronavirus vaccine, the country’s science ministry has announced. State media reported that 273 volunteers had already been injected as part of the human trials.

On the record

“[It is] not the time to reduce the resources for the operations of the World Health Organisation or any other humanitarian organisation in the fight against the virus.”

UN secretary general Antonio Guterres on the US funding withdrawal.

From the Twitterati

“That the UK govt doesn’t know how many people have died in care homes or their own homes of coronavirus & isn’t *tripping over themselves* trying to find out makes me very angry.”

Left-wing comedian Rob Delaney is indignant over care homes...

“Struck by change of tone on major TV news bulletins this evening. ITV leading on unemployment threat, BBC lead critical on care homes (as was C4), and second lead the huge problems facing economy.”

…while right-wing Peter Hitchens suggests the mood is changing.

Essential reading

Rachel Shabi, The Independent: The myth of Great Britain must finally end when our government has failed us so badly over coronavirus

Jason S Reed, The Independent: I’m a defender of free speech – but not when it comes to the coronavirus

Jonathan Miller, The Spectator: Macron has lost the coronavirus war

Sarada Peri, The Atlantic: Trump is the obstacle to defeating the coronavirus

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