Inside Politics: Johnson and Patel launch crime plan and Labour’s deal for workers

PM wants to crackdown on burglars as Labour pledges sick pay for gig economy workers, writes Matt Mathers

(PA)

Magic Monday. It was a gold rush for Team GB at the Olympics yesterday, with swimmer Tom Daley picking up his first place finish some 13 years after his inaugural games. The government today publishes its new crime plan, but Labour has given Boris Johnson a bronze medal for the proposals, accusing him of rehashing old policies. Elsewhere, scientists can’t yet explain a drop in Covid cases and the PM is said to be reconsidering plans for a hike in national insurance payments to fund social care reforms.

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Inside the bubble

Chief political commentator John Rentoul on what to look out for today:

Boris Johnson and Priti Patel will publish a “Beating Crime Plan” this morning, with a visit to provide footage of the prime minister and home secretary meeting police officers. Johnson will later also host police from across England and Wales at a Downing Street reception. It is as if Keir Starmer’s “tough on crime” pledge has struck a chord. Parliament is in recess but select committees are launching inquiries into voter ID law and Scottish airports.

Coming up shortly:

-Professor Neil Ferguson and Scottish national clinical director Jason Leitch on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme at 8.10am

-Policing minister Kit Malthouse on ITV’s GMB at 8.30am

Daily Briefing

CRIME PLAN: Today Johnson finishes self-isolation and he and Patel set out the government’s “Beating Crime Plan” – some five days after Labour leader Keir Starmer announced his campaign for safer communities. The story features on several of this morning’s front pages. The Times says “PM gets tough on burglars” while the Mail goes with: “Priti: I’ll make yobs clean the streets”. Included in the plan is a pledge that all burglars and thieves who have served a jail sentence of a year will automatically be fitted with a GPS tag on their release so that their movements can be tracked.

POLICY REHASH?: After a decade in power and following swingeing cuts to policing budgets, today’s announcement is aimed at tackling the growing sense that the Tories, traditionally the party of law and order, have become soft on crime. Labour is accusing Johnson of re-hashing old policies. Plans to extend stop and search powers are included in the plan – a move campaigners say is ineffective and will disproportionately impact black and ethnic minority communities. Nina Champion, director of the Criminal Justice Alliance, told The Independent: “We are dismayed that the government has announced it will be permanently relaxing restrictions on the use of section 60 before publishing an evaluation of the pilot.”

COVID ON THE RUN? The number of new reported Covid cases has dropped for the sixth consecutive day, although hospitalisations remain high. Some 24,950 cases were logged yesterday and the drop is baffling scientists, who aren’t yet able to fully explain it. A number of theories have been put forward: schools breaking up for summer, the end of the Euro football tournament and reduced testing capacity or a data glitch. Despite the decrease, the government and scientists are urging caution, with the PM warning we’re “not out of the woods yet”. Some experts are warning that it could be another week before we begin to see the full impact “freedom day” is having on cases. Elsewhere, the list of key workers who don’t have to self-isolate if they can provide a negative test has been extended to include soldiers, refuse collectors and prison staff. Ministers agreed to extend the list of those eligible to dodge 10-day quarantine after complaints that the so-called “pingdemic” risks bringing vital services to a halt across the country. Proposals for mandatory Covid vaccinations for university students have triggered a sharp backlash, with one union saying they would be “hugely discriminatory”, while Labour branded the idea a “barrier to learning”.

PLAN FOR WORKERS: Labour has announced some plans of its own and is pledging to give“gig economy” workers the right to sick pay. The party said its “new deal for working people” would mean an additional 6.1 million workers were eligible for statutory sick pay, many of whom are workers in the gig economy and are currently classed as self-employed, as well as the “genuinely” self-employed. Andy McDonald MP, Labour’s shadow employment rights and protections secretary, said: “Millions of workers are in insecure employment with low pay and few rights and protections, particularly key workers whose efforts got the country through the pandemic. We need a new deal for working people. Labour would ensure that all work balances the flexibility workers want with the security they deserve.” The party cited ONS figures, which suggest 4.2 million self-employed workers, including gig economy workers, do not currently qualify for Statutory Sick Pay, alongside 1.9 million people who are currently employed but cannot claim it. Elsewhere, Starmer has said Labour is ready to back plans for vaccine passports at large sporting events.

FUNDING RETHINK: Following a cabinet split, the PM could reconsider plans for a hike in national insurance payments to fund social care reforms, The Guardian reports. Amid concerns that the 1 per cent rise would disproportionately affect the young and low paid, at least five cabinet ministers are said to be against it. One of those opposing the plans told the paper: “The Treasury was trying to push the PM in a particular direction, and he’s put his foot down.” The beginnings of a briefing war between Nos 10 and 11 Downing Street? This one isn’t going away.

On the record

“This announcement of rehashed policies won’t make our streets safer. Police numbers are down and community policing has been decimated… little wonder that, on the Conservatives’ watch, anti-social behaviour is rocketing, there are record low convictions for rape, and violent crime is devastating communities across the country.”

Labour’s shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds on the government’s crime plan.

From the Twitterati

“Senior Labour figure talks about Brexit shock! ⁦@RachelReevesMP⁩ tells @FT she wants to fill in ‘gaps’ in Johnson deal. Also warns Labour will oppose using NICs to fund social care reform - grossly unfair on the young.”

Financial Times political editor George Parker on his interview with Labour’s shadow chancellor.

Essential reading

• Jonathan Portes, The Independent: Are we now being proved wrong about Brexit?
• Layla Moran, The Independent: Boris Johnson has reneged on his promise to ensure all girls get an education
• Sean O’Grady, The Independent: PM is ‘raging’ over vaccine uptake among young people – but it’s a mess of his own making
• Anna Isaac, The Independent: Britain’s climate defences need a flood of cash