Inside Politics: No 10 rejects Tory MPs’ demand to drop curbs by May

Downing Street has dismissed the idea of an ‘arbitrary’ target for the lifting of lockdown – but is dropping hints about changes in spring, writes Adam Forrest

Prime minister Boris Johnson has come under pressure from lockdown-sceptic Tory MPs to lift restrictions by April (Ian Forsyth/PA)

The future can be frightening. Donald Trump’s acquittal leaves us with the prospect that he and his family will try to dominate US politics over the next 10 years. On this side of the Atlantic, Dominic Raab is excited about the 10 years ahead. The cabinet minister thinks Brexit will be a success by then. But Tory MPs are only agitated about what happens 10 weeks from now – demanding the lifting of lockdown by the end of April.

Inside the bubble

Our policy correspondent Jon Stone on what to look out for today:

The government will be scrutinised on the effectiveness of the new hotel quarantine plan, which comes into force today. Boris Johnson may decide to give a press conference on the vaccination programme, after 15 million people received their first jab. In Scotland, the High Court will publish its judgment on the publication of Alex Salmond evidence.

Daily briefing

APRIL COME SHE WILL: Downing Street is ignoring Tory lockdown sceptics’ demand to lift restrictions by the end of April. Dominic Raab claimed ministers weren’t interested in setting some “arbitrary” date. The Covid Recovery Group (CRG) has written to Boris Johnson to say there’s no justification for curbs once the top nine priority groups have been vaccinated. “It’s not arbitrary at all – it’s completely tied to the rollout of the vaccination programme,” said CRG chief Mark Harper. Despite Raab’s dismissal of “arbitrary” dates, it seems the government is looking at some dates very closely. Reports suggest we will be able to meet one friend from outside our household outside by 8 March, when schools are set to reopen. No 10 is also considering allowing grandparents to see the grandkids again in April, says The Telegraph. Meanwhile The Times reports that self-catering breaks could be allowed from April. It comes as the vaccination programme enters a new phase, with the over-65s and clinically vulnerable next up for the jab.

FRESH SUPPLY OF UNICORNS: Losing money? Worried if your business will survive? Why not take the long view, says Dominic Raab. The foreign secretary urged businesses to take a “10-year view” on current Brexit struggles. “I think if you take a 10-year view … actually the growth opportunities in the future are going to come from emerging and developing economies around the world.” Could an underwater tunnel linking Scotland and Northern Ireland magically solve our Brexit problems? It emerged at the weekend that rail bosses think an Irish Sea tunnel is a serious prospect. But Northern Ireland committee chair Simon Hoare is seriously cynical about the scheme. “The trains could be pulled by an inexhaustible herd of unicorns,” said the Tory MP. “Let’s concentrate on making the protocol work and put the hallucinogenics down.” It comes as port chiefs called on the government to get real and extend grace periods on certain post-Brexit inspections. They said vital border infrastructure will not be finished before July.

HOTEL HELL: Hotel quarantine comes into force for British and Irish residents arriving in England today. Is the system ready? Heathrow bosses have complained about “significant gaps” in the scheme, despite recent meeting with Matt Hancock. “We are yet to receive the necessary reassurances.” One hotel chief, London Hotel Group’s Meher Nawab, has warned the quarantine sites could become Covid hotspots, because airport hotels depend upon central air flow systems. Union bosses aren’t happy either, raising concerns about the safety of members expected to come into contact with arrivals from countries on the “red list”. Scotland’s transport secretary Michael Matheson has said it is “absolutely critical” for UK ministers to closes a loophole – saying travellers bound for Scotland arriving at English airports should be offered quarantine facilities in England. It comes as around 120 travel businesses launch a Save Our Summer (SOS) campaign urging No 10 to restart travel by the middle of May.

THE BIG I ECK: Big couple of days ahead in the Salmond inquiry saga. The former SNP boss is expected to send the Holyrood committee a new submission, accusing the Crown Office of an “abuse of legislation” in trying to block publication of evidence. It follows a High Court judge’s decision to change an order preventing publication of certain evidence. Salmond may still decide to hold a press conference, with his nemesis Nicola Sturgeon set to appear at the inquiry on Tuesday morning. An unnamed woman – one of nine who gave evidence against Salmond last year – said the inquiry had descended into a “political fight” which makes it less likely that other women would come forward to report concerns. It’s a big week for Keir Starmer too. The Labour leader – who claimed at the weekend to have established “an effective opposition” – is set to make a big speech on Thursday setting on new policies and attempting a more combative approach, according to party sources. Starmer needs something to change. The Tories extended their poll lead to five points in the latest Opinium survey.

FWENDS TO THE END: Boris Johnson gave a big interview to US media at the weekend, telling CBS News his relationship with Joe Biden was “excellent”. The PM claimed he’d already had some “fantastic conversations” with the new president, and said the two countries were “coming together” on the environment, dealing with Iran and Nato’s future. Johnson also said US democracy remained “strong” – despite the recent “kerfuffle” over the US Capitol attack and Donald Trump’s impeachment trial. Not sure Biden will appreciate that characterisation. In fact, the president said US democracy was “fragile” after Trump’s acquittal. Tony Blair, someone with experience of playing nice with the White House, has said Britain has the chance to take the lead in creating an international Covid vaccination passport scheme. Dominic Raab appeared to admit the idea of a vaccine passport was “under consideration” for wider use in daily life – getting into restaurants etc. – but aides scrambled to point out that Raab had only been responding to a “hypothetical” question on Andrew Marr.

On the record

“I think the clear message that we get from the proceedings in America is that, after all the to-ings and fro-ings and all the kerfuffle, American democracy is strong.”

Boris Johnson brushes off the spot of bother at the US Capitol.

From the Twitterati

“Wait 10 years is an insult to businesses facing new barriers and workers losing their jobs today.”

David Lammy is scathing about Raab’s ‘10 year-view’ remark…

“All the forecasting suggests in ten years it will be worse.”

…and Jo Maugham says there’s little point in imagining a brighter 2030.

Essential reading

John Rentoul, The Independent: The last thing Keir Starmer needs now is a policy blitz

Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, The Independent: Priti Patel’s attempts to discredit Black Lives Matter is disgraceful

John Harris, The Guardian: Covid has damaged our small businesses – Brexit might finish them off

Julian Zelizer, CNN: What if Trump hadn’t had Twitter?

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