Boris Johnson news: EU warns it will not accept ‘pig in a poke Brexit deal’ as PM urges bloc to sign by ‘end of summer’
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Your support makes all the difference.Boris Johnson held talks with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen in an attempt to revive negotiations on a post-Brexit trade deal. No 10 said the prime minister urged the EU to reach an agreement “by the end of the summer”.
It came as Mr Johnson announced he would set up a commission to consider “all aspects” of racial inequality. The review will also consider wider disparities such as issues facing “working class white boys at schools”, Downing Street has said.
Labour’s shadow justice secretary David Lammy claimed the idea was “written on the back of a fag packet” and said it was time for action. Meanwhile, No 10 indicated the review of the two-metre rule may not be finished in time for the proposed reopening of pubs and restaurants on 4 July.
No new coronavirus deaths in Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon announces
No new coronavirus deaths have been reported in Scotland in the last 24 hours, the third time the figure has remained the same since lockdown began, the first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, announced.
A total of 2,448 patients have died in Scotland after testing positive for coronavirus, no change on Sunday's figure.
The death total previously remained the same on June 7 and June 8.
But the First Minister stressed that deaths are lower at weekends.
Speaking at the Scottish Government's coronavirus briefing, Ms Sturgeon said a further 29 people have tested positive for the virus.
New data means this brings the total number of people testing positive for the virus to 18,030.
There are 870 people in hospital with confirmed or suspected Covid-19, a decrease of 94.
Of these patients, 18 were in intensive care, an increase of three.
Review of two-metre social distancing rule to be completed in 'coming weeks', Downing Street confirms
A government review into the two-metre social distancing rule will be completed in the "coming weeks", Downing Street has confirmed.
The prime minister's official spokesman said the review would be led by Simon Case, permanent secretary at Number 10, and will report to the Covid Strategy Committee chaired by Boris Johnson.
"It will look at evidence around transmission of the virus in different environments, incidence rates and international comparisons," the spokesman told a Westminster briefing.
"It will draw on advice from scientific and medical experts as well as economists and papers from Sage.
"It will take advice from a range of experts including the chief medical officer and the chief scientific adviser."
Asked when it would be completed, the spokesman said: "It will be completed in the coming weeks."
No issue in government relations with scientists, Downing Street claims
Number 10 insisted there was not an issue in the government's relations with the scientists who appear at the daily coronavirus press conferences.
Asked if there was a problem as there are now fewer appearances by the scientists, the prime minister's official spokesman said: "No - last week you saw, from memory, the chief medical officer, the chief scientific adviser, you saw NHS England's medical director, you saw Baroness Harding who is in charge of test and trace, you also saw the Health and Safety Executive and a couple of others as well...
"There won't be an expert there every day but you will still see them."
It comes after reports that Professor Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance were on "resignation watch".
Government has received no applications to ban protests from senior officers
In response to Police Federation calls for a ban on further protests, Downing Street said it was a matter for senior officers.
The prime minister's official spokesman said: "We continue to urge people not to attend further protests because gatherings of over six people remain illegal.
"Ministers have no powers to initiate a ban on marches themselves, it's an operational matter for police."
At the request of their local police force, councils - or in London the head of the Metropolitan Police or City of London Police - can apply to the home secretary, Priti Patel, for consent to make a banning order.
"No applications have yet been received," the spokesman said.
'Anecdotal' evidence people complying with UK quarantine as no fines issued
A week after its introduction, Downing Street said there was "anecdotal" evidence that people were complying with quarantine measures on arrival in the UK.
The Home Office was still considering how to publish official figures on the quarantine regime.
The prime minister's official spokesman said: "As of midnight, no fines have been issued.
"Anecdotally we are not aware of anyone refusing to provide details when asked to do so."
PM ‘will respond’ to Marcus Rashford’s letter
Boris Johnson will reply to footballer Marcus Rashford’s plea for the government to extend its free school meal voucher scheme through the summer holidays, No 10 has said.
The Manchester United and England striker urged the authorities to make a U-turn and allow vulnerable pupils who have been getting free meals during the lockdown to still receive them over the summer break.
The 22-year-old’s open letter – which calls on the government to reconsider its decision not to extend the current food voucher scheme –has received support from education leaders and teachers’ unions.
The prime minister’s official spokesman said: “The PM will respond to Marcus Rashford’s letter as soon as he can – he has been using his profile in a positive way to highlight some very important issues.”
Sturgeon wants ‘enhanced support’ for pupils learning at home
Nicola Sturgeon went on to state the Scottish government would be working with councils to ensure “enhanced support” is available “for any time that young people do spend learning at home”.
The first minister made clear it was the government’s “clear intention” that exams will go ahead in in 2021.
“Our aim will be to return to normal schooling as quickly as we possibly can, recognising that along the way we must build the confidence of parents, young people and teachers that schools are safe,” she said.
“It is absolutely not the case that we are planning for blended learning, with children learning at home for part of the school week, to last a year or anything like it.
“On the contrary, we do not want blended learning to last a single second longer than is absolutely necessary, so we will be working with councils to return schools to normal as quickly as we can.”
Review into racial equality will also look at ‘white working class boys’, says No 10
Boris Johnson’s promised review into racial inequalities will also consider wider disparities such as issues facing white working class boys at school, Downing Street has said.
No 10 said the new Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities would be led by equalities minister Kemi Badenoch, and it would report back by the end of the year.
Pressed on the scope of the review, the PM’s official spokesman told journalists that it “will look at wider inequalities, including issues facing working class white boys in schools, for example”.
“It will examine continuing racial and ethnic inequalities in Britain,” the spokesman went on.
“The aim is to set out a new policy agenda for change, balancing the needs of individuals, communities and society, maximising opportunities and ensuring fairness for all.”
Two-metre review may not be finished for pub re-openings
A review of the two-metre social distancing rule may not be completed in time for the 4 July date for the proposed re-opening of pubs and restaurants, Downing Street has indicated.
Boris Johnson’s official spokesman confirmed that the review will be conducted by No 10 permanent secretary Simon Case and will receive advice from scientists, but the final decision on any change will be a political decision for the Covid strategy committee chaired by the PM.
The spokesman said that the aim was to complete the review “in the coming weeks” – but could not offer a guarantee that recommendations will be available by the date set out for the possible reopening of the hospitality sector.
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