Coronavirus: UK to trace contacts of 10,000 new cases from 1 June - BBC South East Wales

The PM says the UK will have a "world-beating" tracing system from June, as he was accused of leaving a "huge hole" in the country's coronavirus defences.

Boris Johnson said 25,000 contact tracers, able to track 10,000 new cases a day, would be in place by 1 June.

This also marks the earliest possible date for the gradual reopening of schools and shops in England.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer had challenged the PM over the absence of a tracing system since March.

The PM was also questioned over testing in care homes during the pandemic.

• How does contact tracing work?

Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions, Sir Keir asked why there had been "no effective" attempt to trace the contacts of those infected with Covid-19 since 12 March "when tracing was abandoned".

Mr Johnson replied: "We have growing confidence that we will have a test, track and trace operation that will be world-beating and yes, it will be in place by June 1."

He added that 24,000 contact tracers had already been recruited.

Contact tracing is a system used to slow the spread of infectious diseases like coronavirus, and is already being used in Hong Kong, Singapore and Germany.

One method involves the infected person listing all the people with whom they have had prolonged and recent contact, to be tracked down by phone or email.

Another uses a location-tracking mobile app, which identifies people the patient has been in contact with.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said last week that a contact tracing app - part of the test, track and trace plan - would be rolled out across England from mid-May, but that has now been pushed back.

Mr Johnson did not mention the app - currently being trialled on the Isle of Wight - as part of his plan for 1 June.

The PM also insisted that the UK was now testing more than "virtually every country in Europe", and promised that the system would be stepped up in the next fortnight.

Do not expect a fully-functioning perfect track-and-trace system to be up-and-running by 1 June.

What will be launched will effectively be a prototype. The app may not be ready by that point, but the army of contract tracers will be available.

Given where we are today (and plenty argue mistakes have been made, which means we are in a weaker position than we should be) this is perhaps understandable.

The government does not have the luxury of testing and piloting this behind the scenes for months to come.

So, the system will have to evolve as it goes.

The question is whether it will be robust enough to provide a track-and-trace service that will work on a basic level and help contain local outbreaks, which of course is vital as we gradually move out of lockdown.

The prime minister's assertion that it will be able to deal with 10,000 new cases a day is interesting.

Surveillance data provided by the Office for National Statistics suggests we may well be seeing around that number.

The work that has been done so far is about to be put to the test.

Also at PMQs, Sir Keir queried whether people were being tested in care homes, after the boss of a body representing care homes in England said on Tuesday that testing remained an issue.

Mr Johnson said 125,000 care home staff have been tested and that the government was "absolutely confident" it would be able to increase testing in care homes and "across the whole of the community".

He added: "And thanks to the hard work of [Health Secretary Matt Hancock] and his teams, we will get up to 200,000 tests in the country by the end of this month."

Meanwhile, Mr Johnson rejected calls to scrap the "surcharge" for overseas NHS and care home workers to use the health service.

Currently, the fee is £400 a year, but is expected to increase later this year.

Sir Keir told the Commons that it should be dropped, saying the Labour party supported criticism of the fee as a "gross insult" to international healthcare workers.

It comes as the prime minister said the deaths of 181 NHS workers and 131 social care workers had reportedly involved Covid-19.

In other developments:

• At least 11 councils have expressed safety concerns over the government's plan to reopen English primary schools to some pupils on 1 June
• Derby-based firm Rolls-Royce, which makes plane engines, has said it will cut 9,000 jobs because of the coronavirus crisis hitting the airline industry
• War veteran Captain Tom Moore who raised £32m for NHS charities has said he is "overawed" after finding out he will receive a knighthood
• The boss of Marks and Spencer's has warned that customers "may never shop the same way again"
• Outsourcing firm Serco has apologised after accidentally sharing the email addresses of almost 300 contact tracers

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiJmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jby51ay9uZXdzL3VrLTUyNzQxMzMx0gEqaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmJjLmNvLnVrL25ld3MvYW1wL3VrLTUyNzQxMzMx?oc=5

2020-05-20 13:41:15Z
52780798519007

1,500 schools could refuse Government advice to reopen on June 1 as MP admits doubt over summer target - The Sun

AROUND 1,500 schools could defy plans to reopen - as a minister admitted doubts over the June 1 start date.

Justice Secretary Robert Buckland today revealed he was not expecting everyone to be back by then, with at least 18 councils expressing concern about the Government plans.

⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates

3

Robert Buckland admitted he was not expecting everyone to be back in schools.

Officials have instructed schools to get ready for reception, year one and six to return from the start of June, if it's safe to still do so.

They have issued advice on how to make sure classrooms and playgrounds are as secure as possible - including maximum class sizes of 15 and keeping desks further apart.

However, the plans have sparked a fierce backlash with unions warning teachers not to go, and now councils all over Britain saying they won't sanctions schools who don't reopen.

Among those against the plans are Birmingham, Calderdale council in Yorkshire, and Conservative-controlled Solihull.

More councils are expected to join in rejecting the plans today.

This morning Mr Buckland insisted the government is still "working towards" a June 1 date, but admitted it was not looking good.

He said: "I'm not going to sit here and pretend that suddenly on June 1 everything will be uniform.

"We always said the 1st of June was conditional, not just on the R-rate but the need to make places of work safe.

"I am hearing what’s being said by our union representatives and brilliant teachers.

"We have to accept the fact that councils are employers and decisions have to be made collectively."

The councils who have cast doubt on the Government plans

BURY

Hartlepool

Bradford

Leeds

Wakefield

Calderdale

Rochdale

Solihill

Birmingham

Stockport

Wirral

Liverpool

Wigan

Slough

Essex

Brighton and Hove

Redbridge

Barking and Dagenham

3

Schools all over Britain could refuse to reopenCredit: AFP or licensors

Pupils listen to their teacher in Nice, France, as countries across Europe reopen schoolsCredit: Reuters

Schoolchildren wearing protective face masks line up before entering Claude Debussy college in FranceCredit: AFP or licensors

Schoolchildren wear protective mouth masks and face shields at a school in Angers, western FranceCredit: AFP or licensors

Labour support kids going back to school, but only when three tests have been met.

For schools to reopen, they want the scientific advice behind the June 1 date published , track and trace to be in place, and the Government to bring parent groups, teachers and unions together to find a consensus.

Sir Keir Starmers spokesperson said today: "We accept the return to school is a priority for the sake of pupil education and wellbeing.

"There are practical concerns with the proposals that have been put forward by the government and these have been raised by parent groups, school leaders, teaching staff and unions over recent weeks.

"Ultimately we recognise this is difficult and will be difficult for any government but the priority has to be finding a consensus that has the confidence of teachers, parents and all those concerned."

Sir Keir also backed councils refusing to follow the Government guidelines and re-open.

His spokesman said: "Ultimately councils will want to do what's in the best interest of children in their area, and there is no doubt the infection rate varies from area to area, so there is no surprise that some councils have particular concerns.

"It comes back to a wider point about there being a national consensus on this issue and the gov needs to work with teachers, parents and local authorities about finding a common way forward.”

It comes as a doctors' union said it no longer opposes the reopening of schools on June 1.

The British Medical Association said evidence shows the risk to kids is "extremely small," but schools should only reopen if it is “safe to do so".

Last week, doctors said it was too risky for kids to return to schools, despite the country's biggest primary school chains backing the Government's plans.

In an apparent softening of its stance, the British Medical Association (BMA) has admitted there was “growing evidence that the risk to individual children from Covid-19 is extremely small."

However, it warned there was still no consensus around how easily kids could spread the disease to vulnerable adults.

Writing for The Telegraph, Dr Peter English, the chairman of the BMA’s Public Health Medicine Committee, said: “The BMA wants schools to reopen as soon as it is safe to do so and the evidence allows – this could be before June 1 or after.

"A zero-risk approach is not possible. This is about ‘safe’ being an acceptable level of risk.”

UNION WARS

Dame Angela McLean, the deputy chief scientific adviser, said an effective track and trace system was needed to isolate those infected by the coronavirus before changes were made to lockdown rules.

She told The Times that this should be based on "observed levels of infection . . . and not on a fixed date".

And scientist John Edmunds, another member of SAGE, told Sky News that a track and trace system must be "embedded and working well" before schools re-opened.

Teaching unions are opposed to the Government's plan to re-open schools on June 1, claiming teachers, pupils and their families will be at risk of catching the deadly virus.

They were backed last week by the British Medical Association, who said unions were "absolutely right" to urge caution and prioritise testing before reopening schools on June 1.

BMA council's chair, Chaand Nagpaul, the BMA council's chair, said at the time: "We cannot risk a second spike or take actions which would increase the spread of this virus, particularly as we see sustained rates of infection across the UK."

Our current assessment is that schools aren’t safe to open, as our five tests have not been met.

Kevin Courtney, NEU

Kevin Courtney, the joint general secretary of the National Education Union (NEU), refused to back down on Tuesday, saying: “Our current assessment is that schools aren’t safe to open, as our five tests have not been met.

"But if our five tests are met, then on a national level, it would be permissible to go ahead with reopening schools.”

According to the Daily Mail, its leaders were caught making a series of slurs in a Zoom meeting last night.

The video footage exposed the joint general secretary Mary Bousted accusing children of being mucky by spreading germs and wiping their snot on people's clothes.

The hard-line leaders also discussed how to threaten head teachers should they try to get their staff back to work.

The NEU’s five tests include lowering the number of virus cases, plans for social distancing, more testing, strategies for entire schools and protection for the vulnerable.

3

The reopening of primary schools could be delayed beyond June 1 as local authorities yesterday advised their schools to stay closed, including the first Tory-run council.

The Government made clear today that every school’s circumstances were different and that if a head teacher felt unable to open next month, they should “discuss options” with their local authority or trust.

CHEERS TO THAT

Pubs could open from July with social distancing, minister says

BEST CASE SCENARIO

London reports NO new virus cases for 24hrs in huge boost for lockdown

ROLL WITH IT

Lockdown 'rollover of 50 days on & 30 off until 2022 is way to beat Covid-19'

‘I WAS TOO HOT’

Russian nurse faces sack for wearing only 'lingerie' under transparent PPE

Exclusive

ALMOST A DONER!

Gun terror in kebab shop as masked thugs blast bullet into chicken doner

It comes as France makes a mockery of British demands, with teachers returning to French schools wearing masks and taking simple extra precautions.

They are among 22 European to countries which have re-opened classrooms - and evidence suggests that doing so has not been harmful to kids or teachers.

A schoolboy has his temperature checked at a school in FranceCredit: AFP or licensors

A teacher wears a protective masks as she gives her lessonCredit: Getty Images - Getty

CORONAVIRUS CRISIS - STAY IN THE KNOW

Don't miss the latest news and figures - and essential advice for you and your family.

To receive The Sun's Coronavirus newsletter in your inbox every tea time, sign up here.
To follow us on Facebook, simply 'Like' our Coronavirus page.
Get Britain's best-selling newspaper delivered to your smartphone or tablet each day - find out more.

Tony Blair BACKS Government plans to reopen schools on June 1

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiV2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnRoZXN1bi5jby51ay9uZXdzLzExNjYyNjM4L3VrLXNjaG9vbHMtcmVvcGVuLWp1bmUtZ292ZXJubWVudC1sb2NrZG93bi1wbGFuL9IBW2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnRoZXN1bi5jby51ay9uZXdzLzExNjYyNjM4L3VrLXNjaG9vbHMtcmVvcGVuLWp1bmUtZ292ZXJubWVudC1sb2NrZG93bi1wbGFuL2FtcC8?oc=5

2020-05-20 12:55:34Z
CAIiEAHAk4oK955fJ4m8MkNbGecqGQgEKhAIACoHCAow0Ij8CjCRwIgDMMCBzAU

Leaders of the National Education Union are caught discussing how to 'threaten' headmasters - Daily Mail

Leaders of the National Education Union are caught discussing how to 'threaten' headmasters who try to get their staff back to work with 'mucky children' in Zoom meeting footage

• NEU chiefs insist members shouldn't engage in school meeting to get them open
• Mary Bousted, the NEU’s joint general secretary, shown accusing children of being ‘mucky’, spreading germs and ‘wiping snot on your trousers or on your dress’ 
• Union chiefs have urged members to bombard headteachers with queries 

By Josh White and Daniel Martin and Jason Groves for the Daily Mail

Published: 11:02 BST, 20 May 2020 | Updated: 11:55 BST, 20 May 2020

The cynical tactics of a union trying to stop schools reopening were laid bare last night.

Video footage showed leaders of the National Education Union discussing how to ‘threaten’ headmasters who tried to get their staff back to work. 

The officials told their members they should refuse to engage if they were asked to return on June 1.

In a further sign of their hardline approach, they described their opposition to the date as a ‘negotiating position’. Mary Bousted, the NEU’s joint general secretary, was even shown accusing children of being ‘mucky’, spreading germs and ‘wiping their snot on your trousers or on your dress’.

The remarks were made in Zoom meetings for thousands of NEU members, recorded on May 14 and posted on the union’s open Youtube account.

A final decision on whether to reopen schools for some classes on June 1 is now in the balance, with Downing Street admitting yesterday that it was not a ‘hard deadline’.

Mary Bousted, the NEU’s joint general secretary, was even shown accusing children of being ‘mucky’, spreading germs and ‘wiping their snot on your trousers or on your dress’ in a Zoom call posted on YouTube (pictured)

Talks between Education Secretary Gavin Williamson and the teaching unions broke up last night without a breakthrough.

Just one in 20 teachers believe it is safe to return to school, claims union 

A poll from teachers' union NASUWT suggested that only 5% of teachers think it will be safe for more pupils to return to school next month. 

In a letter to the Education Secretary, Patrick Roach, general secretary of the NASUWT, said the union remains 'unconvinced' that wider reopening of schools from June 1 is 'appropriate or practicable'.

The survey, of nearly 29,000 NASUWT members across England, found that around nine in 10 teachers believe that social distancing will be impossible, or will present major issues and a similar proportion are not confident that the proposed measures will protect their health or the health of pupils.

It also found that 87% of teachers believe that PPE is essential to protect staff against the virus. 

Advertisement

Ministers are also facing a nationwide rebellion against reopening from councils. In other developments last night:

The deputy chief scientific adviser said changes to the lockdown, which would include schools reopening, needed a highly effective track and trace system to be in place first;

• Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was poised to enter the row by backing the unions, while his successor, Sir Keir Starmer, faced accusations that he had gone missing;
• Official figures showed the number of deaths linked to Covid-19 fell by more than a third in the week before the VE Day holiday;
• Chancellor Rishi Sunak warned of an unprecedented recession with unemployment having soared to 2.1million;
• Furloughed workers were urged to ‘pick for Britain’ by taking on fruit and vegetable harvesting;
• A minister suggested mistakes in the coronavirus strategy were the result of poor scientific advice;
• Captain Thomas Moore is to be knighted for his extraordinary fundraising efforts; 
• Hopes for a summer getaway suffered a blow last night as Downing Street played down the prospect of foreign flights;
• Experts warned that thousands of cancer patients might die early due to delays to surgery;
• Research showed Type 2 diabetics are twice as likely to die from coronavirus and obesity further increases the risk;
• A study found the global lockdown drove carbon emissions down by 17 per cent.

Mr Williamson is pushing for the reopening of primary schools for reception classes and Years 1 and 6 on June 1. Officials accept that some local authorities will refuse, but believe that academy schools could reopen and form a ‘bridgehead’ to show parents that classes can operate safely.

But some senior figures in government are reluctant to press ahead if the reopening is likely to be boycotted by a large proportion of schools and parents.

Downing Street indicated that Boris Johnson was not wedded to the June 1 deadline.

Experts have repeatedly warned that the pause in education will affect disadvantaged children the most. And 22 European Union states have partially reopened schools without any evidence of an increase in infections.

The Zoom recordings shine a light on the strength of the NEU’s opposition. In one of the videos, Kevin Courtney, its joint general secretary, was shown briefing teachers on how to pressure schools that tried to reopen.

He said the aim was to ‘back heads away’ from reopening on June 1 by suggesting they could be ‘putting lives at risk’. The tactics could involve multiple complaints by union members with hostile social media campaigns.

Teaching Assistant Sarah Yates applies tape to the floor to define a 2m boundary around the teacher's workspace in Huddersfield as unions demand answers to hundreds of questions before teachers return

Mr Courtney described the union’s planned ‘escalation procedure’, saying teachers should use NEU health and safety documents to undermine reopenings.

He said ‘employers wouldn’t go near challenging somebody if they are breaking health and safety law in this situation’. Mr Courtney told teachers and union officials to pressurise heads, first by accusing them of violating regulations, and then by ‘threatening’ to denounce them on social media.

Dr Bousted boasted that the 450,000-member NEU had ‘made the running in this crisis’ and said the union’s opposition to June 1 was a ‘negotiating position’.

Former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said: ‘What these conversations expose is the sheer utter hypocrisy of the National Education Union.

‘They now clearly admit that it is nothing to do with what they are saying it is – it is to get back at the Government. They are using despicable tactics which ultimately will damage the economy and will damage lives.

‘They have swept aside concern for vulnerable children and the needs of children from poorer communities; they have swept them aside in a ghastly attempt to damage the Conservative government.’

An NEU spokesman said: ‘This Government is putting an unbearable strain on school leaders and the wider education workforce to work through an impracticable and potentially unsafe timetable.

‘The NEU’s position is well known and well recorded. We want the wider opening of schools when Government provides the scientific evidence to show it is safe to do so. We believe the vast majority of head teachers agree with us and will work with us to avoid any prospect of unsafe working environments.

‘We continuously engage with our members and the wider school community on how best to guarantee this. Families also need to know that there is a sensible and measured approach to the wider opening of schools.’

A DfE spokesman said: ‘We have engaged closely with a range of relevant organisations, including the unions, throughout the past eight weeks, including organising for them to hear directly from the Government’s scientific advisers last Friday, and will continue to do so. We have also published detailed guidance on the protective measures schools should take.’

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMifWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmRhaWx5bWFpbC5jby51ay9uZXdzL2FydGljbGUtODMzOTUxNS9MZWFkZXJzLU5hdGlvbmFsLUVkdWNhdGlvbi1Vbmlvbi1jYXVnaHQtZGlzY3Vzc2luZy10aHJlYXRlbi1oZWFkbWFzdGVycy5odG1s0gGBAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmRhaWx5bWFpbC5jby51ay9uZXdzL2FydGljbGUtODMzOTUxNS9hbXAvTGVhZGVycy1OYXRpb25hbC1FZHVjYXRpb24tVW5pb24tY2F1Z2h0LWRpc2N1c3NpbmctdGhyZWF0ZW4taGVhZG1hc3RlcnMuaHRtbA?oc=5

2020-05-20 11:24:28Z
CAIiECnt4oA7tzx6hAnfqSwszmoqGQgEKhAIACoHCAowzuOICzCZ4ocDMKiaowY

Coronavirus: Boris Johnson answers questions at PMQs – watch live - Guardian News

[unable to retrieve full-text content]

1. Coronavirus: Boris Johnson answers questions at PMQs – watch live  Guardian News
2. Labour calls for bosses to risk-assess staff given higher BAME Covid-19 death rate  Evening Standard
3. Coming up: Boris Johnson faces Keir Starmer at Prime Minister's Questions  The Telegraph
4. UK coronavirus live: Boris Johnson faces Keir Starmer for PMQs  The Guardian
5. PMQs: Boris Johnson faces MPs' questions  BBC News
6. View Full coverage on Google News

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiK2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnlvdXR1YmUuY29tL3dhdGNoP3Y9Um4zQjlGRHdWWTDSAQA?oc=5

2020-05-20 10:43:29Z
52780798519007

Captain Tom Moore to be knighted after raising millions for NHS during coronavirus crisis - The Telegraph

[unable to retrieve full-text content]

Captain Tom Moore to be knighted after raising millions for NHS during coronavirus crisis  The TelegraphView Full coverage on Google News
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiK2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnlvdXR1YmUuY29tL3dhdGNoP3Y9RFBRQ24zanM0QmfSAQA?oc=5

2020-05-20 10:10:26Z
CCAiC0RQUUNuM2pzNEJnmAEB

Barnier left red faced as UK negotiator David Frost destroys EU argument in three points - Express

David Frost pulled no punches in his letter to the EU's top negotiating team as the UK published its terms for a free trade agreement with the bloc in a move to ramp up pressure on Brussels to back down over its demands. It comes after the third round of talks between UK and EU negotiators, charged with thrashing out post-Brexit trade terms, once again ended in stalemate last week.

Related articles

In a four-page letter to his EU counterpart Mr Barnier, Mr Frost highlighted a number of areas where his team thought Brussels was not acting in good faith during the talks.

In three bullet points, he perfectly highlighted a series of contradictions in the EU's claims using previous agreements as examples.

He said the UK found it "perplexing" that the EU was continuing to make "unbalanced, and unprecedented" demands but argued "rapid" progress could be made if the bloc was willing to offer terms similar to those found in free trade agreements (FTA) it had already ratified with third countries such as Canada and Japan.

He said: "Overall, at this moment in negotiations, what is on offer is not a fair free trade relationship between close economic partners, but a relatively low-quality trade agreement coming with unprecedented EU oversight of our laws and institutions.

Brexit news: David Frost has written a strongly worded letter to Michel Barnier (Image: GETTY)

Brexit latest: David Frost has written a strongly worded letter to Barnier (Image: PA)

"It does not have to be like this.

"I remain convinced that it would be very straightforward for us to agree a modern and high-quality FTA and other separate agreements, like those you have agreed with other close partners around the world, and that we could do so quickly. "

Mr Frost also called out the EU on three arguments it has used to justify its proposals for a future relationship with the UK.

He said that the EU claims the UK is being "offered a future relationship of unprecedented depth".

READ MORE: Brexit breakthrough: New tariffs will make household items CHEAPER 

Brexit news: Michel Barnier has thanked the UK for its transparency but shows no signs of backing down (Image: GETTY )

Related articles

However, Mr Frost hit back saying "this not obvious on the basis of the evidence we have so far", saying there must be a mutual commitment to zero tariffs.

Mr Frost said the EU had used the "level of economic integration between the UK and the EU" to justify its demands.

But the UK's Brexit negotiator argued: "as a share of our economy, the UK is already less integrated in trade terms with the EU than Switzerland, Norway, or Ukraine".

He points out that the EU "did not insist that the US made any 'level playing field' commitments in the TTIP negotiations beyond those typical to an FTA, although US and UK trade flows with the EU are roughly similar".

DON'T MISS  
Spain responds to UK's Brexit attack as talks with EU [INSIGHT] 
British fishermen tell Boris 'do NOT back down' over deal [COMMENT]
Britons FURIOUS as EU opens door for Sturgeon's independence bid [REVALED]

Brexit news: David Frost dismantled the EU's points (Image: GETTY)

Brexit news: David Frost and Michel Barnier at the start of Brexit talks (Image: GETTY )

In his third and final point, he said the EU "claim that the provisions are required on grounds of 'proximity'".

But Mr Frost said this was a "novel" argument and one the UK could not accept in " the 21st century".

He said: "The US and Canada, for example, trade together through a trade agreement without provisions of the kind the EU would like to see.

"This proximity argument amounts to saying that a country in Europe cannot expect to determine its own rules, simply on the grounds of geography, and that it must bend to EU norms."

The Brexit timeline revealed (Image: EXPRESS)

The letter comes after the UK published its terms for a free trade agreement with the EU.

Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove told MPs the Government had decided to make public the UK's draft legal texts, with a 291-page draft comprehensive free trade agreement among the 12 documents.

Meanwhile, International Trade Secretary Liz Truss has also published the tariff schedule the UK would operate at the end of the transition period for those countries with whom the UK does not have a free trade agreement.

Sticking points include disagreements over how fishing access will work after the transition period ends in December and the bloc's call for Britain to continue following level-playing field arrangements.

Making the UK's proposition public on a host of topics, ranging from energy to law enforcement, means all of the EU 27 member states will be able to see the offer on the table, not just the European Commission, which is conducting the talks.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson's official spokesman said the documents were published as a "constructive contribution to the negotiations" and to ensure they were "available to all and so that the Commission can share the text with the member states."

But the spokesman added: "We are not seeking to negotiate directly with member states and never have."

Mr Barnier tweeted to say he welcomed the "transparency" being shown by the UK in publishing its draft documents, noting that the commission had made a similar move "over two months ago".

But, in a sign the EU does not have plans to back down from some of its key demands, he added: "In the next round, we must make tangible progress across all areas, including level-playing field and governance."

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMicWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmV4cHJlc3MuY28udWsvbmV3cy91ay8xMjg0NjA1L2JyZXhpdC1uZXdzLUJyZXhpdC11ay1ldS10cmFkZS1taWNoZWwtYmFybmllci1kYXZpZC1mcm9zdC1CcmV4aXQtbGF0ZXN00gF1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXhwcmVzcy5jby51ay9uZXdzL3VrLzEyODQ2MDUvYnJleGl0LW5ld3MtQnJleGl0LXVrLWV1LXRyYWRlLW1pY2hlbC1iYXJuaWVyLWRhdmlkLWZyb3N0LUJyZXhpdC1sYXRlc3QvYW1w?oc=5

2020-05-20 09:06:11Z
52780795856849

Captain Tom Moore 'overawed' by knighthood for NHS fundraising - BBC News

Media playback is unsupported on your device

Captain Tom Moore said he was "overawed" on finding out he was to be awarded a knighthood for his fundraising efforts.

The war veteran raised more than £32m for NHS charities by walking 100 laps of his garden before his 100th birthday in April.

Capt Tom's initial reaction was "this can't be true" when told about the honour.

The centenarian received the special nomination from the prime minister.

Boris Johnson said the veteran had provided the country with "a beacon of light through the fog of coronavirus".

Capt Tom said he had been "given an outstanding honour by the Queen and the prime minister".

"I am certainly delighted and overawed by the fact this has happened to me," he said.

"I thought this can't be true, I've always said this won't happen and it appears it actually has.

"I certainly never anticipated that this letter would arrive for me."

Media playback is unsupported on your device

As an honorary colonel, his official title will be Captain Sir Thomas Moore under Ministry of Defence protocol.

Capt Tom, who was given the honorary title of colonel on his 100th birthday, had initially set out to raise £1,000 for NHS charities by walking laps of the 25m (82ft) loop in his garden in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire.

But he eventually raised £32,794,701 from more than one and a half million supporters.

His daughter, Hannah Ingram-Moore, said the knighthood was "simply extraordinary".

Grandson Benjie Ingram-Moore said: "You never even dream of a letter like this coming through the door.

"It was an amazing moment for him and the entire family."

Captain Tom has also decided to set up a loneliness foundation, out of concern for the many people "who are feeling so very much on their own" at the moment.

He does not know when he will receive the honour, but he hopes the Queen "is not very heavy-handed with the sword, as by then I might be a rather poor old weak soul".

Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiP2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jby51ay9uZXdzL3VrLWVuZ2xhbmQtYmVkcy1idWNrcy1oZXJ0cy01MjczNTE5MtIBQ2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jby51ay9uZXdzL2FtcC91ay1lbmdsYW5kLWJlZHMtYnVja3MtaGVydHMtNTI3MzUxOTI?oc=5

2020-05-20 08:11:31Z
52780797353362