Inside Politics: Rishi Sunak set to reveal local furlough scheme for pub workers

The chancellor hopes to soften the blow caused by coming restrictions in the north of England by unveiling a new plan to subsidise the wages of hospitality workers in affected areas, writes Adam Forrest

The chancellor, Rishi Sunak, says the country cannot afford it. In reality the country cannot afford not to do it (Getty)

Have you tried the new government website for career switches? Some furloughed workers have been told to try their luck as stunt doubles. Boris Johnson must wish he could call upon a stand-in right now. The PM faces fury from northern leaders over looming lockdown measures, and pressure to finally decide whether to go for a Brexit trade deal. Fortunately, Johnson has hired a mouthpiece to stand in for him at press conferences, the former TV journo Allegra Stratton. Unfortunately, she doesn’t start for another month – so the PM will have to explain any political stunts all by himself for a little while longer.

Inside the bubble

Our political editor Andrew Woodock on what to look out for today:

EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier is in London on Friday for talks, less than a week ahead of Boris Johnson’s self-imposed deadline to reach a trade agreement or prepare for a no-deal Brexit. New restrictions on hospitality venues in Scotland come into effect this evening, with pubs and restaurants across the country subjected to a 6pm curfew, alcohol ban indoors and a ban on drinking outside after 10pm – with pubs shutting completely in the central belt.

Daily briefing

NORTHERN EXPOSURE: What news from the north? Local leaders are furious about the coming Covid measures. Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham is livid about having to read about plans to shut pubs next week in the press – complaining of London “diktat”. Liverpool’s metro mayor Steve Rotheram said: “The north should not be a petri dish”. Large chunks of the north west and north east are set to be placed in the highest tier when the new, three-tier traffic light system is announced, possibly as soon as Monday. Rishi Sunak will hope to soften the blow today. The chancellor is expected to announce a local furlough scheme to subsidise two-thirds of the wages of pub and restaurant workers in affected areas. Keir Starmer called for local leaders to be “in the room” when decisions are made – but he made clear Labour will not side with Tory rebels to vote down the 10pm pub curfew next week.

HOME ALONE: Hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people in England could be told to stay at home right through the winter as part of the highest-tier restrictions. The Times reports on the plan, but says the decision could be delayed because of fears about the mental health of people forced to stay inside alone for several months. Some of the scientists advising Downing Street do not believe the coming restrictions to be announced next week will go far enough. Speaking anonymously, members of Sage told The Guardian shutting pubs and restaurants in the north and Midlands is unlikely to bring cases down significantly. They shared their frustration over the failure to impose a “circuit breaker” weeks ago. Meanwhile, the situation has sufficiently improved on the Greek islands of Lesbos, Santorini, Serifos, Tinos and Zakynthos for them to be removed from England’s quarantine list.

KEEP CALM AND NEGOTIATE ON: Brace yourself for a wild ride on the Brexit rollercoaster over the next few weeks. The rhetorical games and grandstanding are about to get intense. EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier has reportedly told a meeting of European ambassadors that a trade deal is now close. But talks will have to continue beyond next week’s big EU summit because national leaders will be too be edgy and angsty to agree on any compromises. Emmanuel Macron is said to be on a “short fuse” over fisheries. EU chiefs have also been told not to react to any of Boris Johnson’s efforts to turn the summit into a deadline, according to The Times. European Council president Charles Michel was in Dublin on Thursday, and said the “moment of truth” was approaching. Meanwhile Brussels officials have been slagging off British “spin” about the rising chances of a deal, telling Politico the UK was “pushing a sense of positivism … but we just don’t see it”.

REVOLUTION WILL BE TELEVISED: Poor Allegra Stratton faces the unenviable task of making Boris Johnson seem competent. But let’s not feel too sorry for her. The former BBC and ITV journalist is said to be getting at least £100,000 to become the face of the government at the new, daily White House-style TV press briefings from November. Having started out at the left-wing Guardian, it may seem a strange journey for Stratton to be working for a group of right-wing oddballs at No 10. But she does currently work for Rishi Sunak as the Treasury’s communications director, and she is married to The Spectator’s political editor James Forsyth. Sunak, incidentally, was best man at their wedding. So posh people doing posh things, innit? Elsewhere, fellow TV star Jamie Oliver is getting political again. He has accused the government of avoiding scrutiny over post-Brexit farming regulations – warning against “race to the bottom” in standards.

GRID AND BEAR IT: Remember when Boris Johnson huffed and puffed about the marvellous potential for wind power was during his big conference speech? There was certainly no mention of nuclear energy. It turns out the government is considering spending £2bn of taxpayers money on up to 16 small nuclear reactors to help contribute to the national grid. Elsewhere, MPs on the defence committee are hoping to revive the 5G Huawei dispute all over again. Their report said the government’s 2027 removal deadline was sensible, but it also suggested ministers act faster. “The government should consider whether a removal by 2025 is feasible,” it stated. Meanwhile Theresa May is the latest senior Tory to speak out against the government’s planning reforms. The ex-PM warned they amount to “removing local democracy, cutting the number of affordable homes … and building over rural areas”.

MR PERFECT: Watch out, America – Donald Trump will to return to public engagements across the country this Saturday after he was cleared by White House doctors. “I’m back, because I’m a perfect physical specimen,” the president said. Following his steroid treatment and antibody drug cocktail, the perfect physical specimen thinks he’s well enough for in-person TV debates – refusing to take part in a mere virtual debate with Joe Biden. The commission organising the next encounter has said it should take place remotely. Both teams now appear to agree on 22 October as a rescheduled date, though what form it will take is still unclear. Meanwhile, Speaker Nancy Pelosi has questioned Trump’s fitness to serve, announcing legislation that would create a commission allowing Congress to intervene (under the 25th Amendment) and remove the president from his duties if he’s shown to be unfit.

On the record

“I would say that the mood appears to have changed. But the mood is one thing. It does need substance to follow the mood.”

Irish premier Micheal Martin is hoping for Brexit breakthrough.

From the Twitterati

“I don’t like to criticise other journalists, but from Guardian journalist to mouthpiece for this hard right, hard Brexit, international law-breaking PM is really quite a leap. I honestly can’t imagine why she wants to do it.”

Writer Christina Patterson is surprised Stratton is taking the job...

“Johnson’s idea of smashing elites and making the UK a meritocracy: Allegra Stratton … is married to James Forsyth, political editor of the Spectator, which Johnson once edited. Mary Wakefield, its commissioning editor, is married to Dominic Cummings.”

…but Tim Walker doesn’t find it so shocking.

Essential reading

Mark Steel, The Independent: What’s next for the northern lockdown? Telling us when to breathe?

John T Bennett, The Independent: His latest Fox interview proves it – Trump is losing and panicking

Gaby Hinsliffe, The Guardian: While Sturgeon takes decisive action, Johnson just blusters

Ezra Klein, Vox: Obamacare is still the Democrats’ most powerful political weapon

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