Babak Belurs

Rabu, 18 November 2020

Christmas 2020: Will you be able to see family and friends? - Metro.co.uk

5 days of household mixing over xmas FOR SOCIAL Picture: Getty — Other reports suggest it may only be three days of mixing (Picture: Getty)

Coronavirus lockdown rules could be relaxed for up to five days to save Christmas, reports claim.

Ministers are discussing plans to allow households to mix indoors for a short amount of time, according to The Sun, which says the easing of restrictions could come in on Christmas Eve and last until Bank Holiday Monday, December 28. The Express suggests it may only last three days, and would see up to 10 people allowed to gather inside.

The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) are reportedly modelling how allowing more than six people to mix would affect Covid-19 rates, with ministers fearing that Brits could ignore the rules over the festive period.

Ministers also hope they can thrash out a plan with the leaders of all the nations of the UK.

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It comes amid fears that England’s national lockdown, due to automatically expire on December 2, could be extended.

But even if it is lifted, the tier system still bans indoor household mixing in tiers one and two – meaning the ban would have to be relaxed to allow any festive celebrations involving people from more than one home.

Number 10 told the Express and the Sun last night: ‘We are looking at ways to ensure that people can spend time with close family over Christmas at the end of what has been an incredibly difficult year.’

A number of different options are thought to be under discussion and children under 12 may be exempted from limits on numbers, but no firm decisions are thought to have been decided yet.

A pedestrian wearing a face mask or covering due to the COVID-19 pandemic takes a photograph of Christmas trees in Covent Garden in central London on November 17, 2020. — A pedestrian wearing a face mask gets a shot of Christmas trees in Covent Garden, central London (Picture: AFP)

The Government will decide next week how to end the second national lockdown as ministers come under pressure to outline any restrictions which could be in place over the festive period.

It comes as Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon imposed the harshest coronavirus restrictions on 11 areas, saying it gave the country the best chance of being able to ease some rules for Christmas.

Professor Neil Ferguson, whose modelling led to the original lockdown in March, suggested support bubbles could be extended to help enable families to meet at Christmas.

He told BBC Radio 4’s PM programme on Tuesday that the proposal would increase the risk of coronavirus transmission but in a ‘controllable way’.

‘There are ways of going part way which still reduce the risk – basically extending what are called bubbles – social bubbles, support bubbles,’ he said.

Girl, 16, killed and burned in 'sexual murder' by aunt's husband, court told

‘You could think of allowing three or four households to bubble together for a week but not contact anybody else, which would give more opportunity to see loved ones but not a free-for-all.

‘And that, modelling would suggest, increases risk somewhat but in a controllable way.’

But Professor Ferguson also warned that reopening pubs and restaurants in the run-up to Christmas would be likely to lead to rising infection levels.

Meanwhile, the British Medical Association (BMA) branded England’s tier system ‘inadequate’ and said it must be revised before England leaves lockdown.

It said the system did not contain the spread of the virus, echoing a Government adviser who warned the tiers needed ‘strengthening’.

Ministers have insisted it is too early to tell whether the lockdown has succeeded and virus infection levels will be low enough to allow festivities to go ahead but Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said it was his ‘very firm expectation’ that measures will be eased significantly in December.

Now the BMA, which represents doctors, has presented its own blueprint for leaving lockdown including ‘triggers’ under which areas would move up and down the tiers.

The blueprint suggests non-essential travel between tiers should be ‘restricted’ and ‘more robust’ quarantine procedures should be put into place.

Social mixing should be encouraged to take place outdoors and there should be a two-metre distance between tables in pubs and restaurants, according to the proposals.

The blueprint also suggests the rule of six be replaced with a ‘rule of two households’.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

MORE : Christmas in peril as pubs face staying shut and lockdown could be extended

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2020-11-18 07:18:00Z
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Ban on new petrol and diesel cars in UK from 2030 under PM's green plan @BBC News live - BBC - BBC

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2020-11-18 06:59:07Z
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Selasa, 17 November 2020

COVID-19: England's 'inadequate' tier system 'did not contain the spread of coronavirus' say doctors - Sky News

The tiered system introduced in England in an effort to fight COVID-19 is "inadequate" and "did not contain the spread of the virus", according to the British Medical Association (BMA).

The BMA has also said it was "inconsistent" in the way it was applied, and that it must be "urgently revised" before the country exits its second lockdown on 2 December.

In a blueprint for exiting the strict measures, leading medics have suggested a new system should have "triggers" whereby different areas would move up and down different tiers - and that non-essential travel between tiers in higher and lower prevalence areas should be "restricted".

On clearer guidance being needed for the hospitality industry, the report adds: "Crowded restaurants and pubs with little social distancing, as seen after the first lockdown, encouraged by the Eat Out to Help Out initiative, represents a danger to public health."

Council chair, Dr Chaand Nagpaul, said: "We must not squander the efforts of the many people who have followed the law, stayed at home, sacrificed freedoms and incurred financial loss in order to contain the virus.

"When the first lockdown ended, there was no coherent plan for keeping COVID-19 at bay, no clear and simple public messaging; this was followed by spiralling infection rates, more businesses failing, new 'local' lockdowns, and now we have a death toll at more than 52,000.

"As England prepares to exit its second lockdown, it is unthinkable that we make the same mistakes again because this time, the impact will be far worse.

Ministers have implied that England will return to a tiered approach when its lockdown ends next month.

The BMA blueprint has made several suggestions, including:

The "rule of six" should be replaced with a "rule of two households"
A "more robust" quarantine procedure - which could possibility include: "provision of transport for those returning home or to other locations in order to quarantine and could include facilities for quarantine close to ports of entry"
Criteria should be published for establishing and removing travel corridors
The government should produce an "airline safety style" video telling people how to properly wear masks
Social mixing should be encouraged to take place outdoors
There should be a required 2m distance between tables in pubs and restaurants
More financial support for businesses to fit screens and signage
The "work from home where possible" message should continue
Masks should be worn in all indoor settings where social distancing is not possible. Face coverings should also be worn outside in some circumstances

Dr Nagpaul continued: "It's reasonable to conclude, that without these measures, the NHS will not be able to cope with caring for even the most critically ill patients.

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"This report demonstrates a sustainable plan for reducing the level of infections from COVID-19 until a vaccine programme is under way."

The BMA also said that before lockdown the government should ensure that the Test and Trace programme is fit for purpose.

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2020-11-18 02:16:25Z
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Labour leader Keir Starmer pledges independent complaints process in new year - BBC News

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to introduce an independent process for dealing with anti-Semitism complaints in the new year.

It comes after the party readmitted ex-leader Jeremy Corbyn as a member, following his suspension for suggesting political opponents had dramatically overstated the scale of anti-Semitism.

Mr Corbyn issued a statement saying he regretted any "pain" caused.

But his opponents inside Labour are calling for further action to be taken.

BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said a decision had not yet been taken on whether to restore the Labour whip to Mr Corbyn, which would allow him to sit once more as one of its MPs.

Why was Jeremy Corbyn suspended from Labour?

A panel of five members of Labour's ruling National Executive Committee decided to readmit Mr Corbyn after he had clarified the comments which had led to his suspension, stating that he had not belittled concerns about anti-Semitism.

His remarks had been made in response to a damning Equalities and Human Rights Commission report.

The former leader's critics have said his case should not have been heard until the party had set up an entirely independent complaints process - as recommended by the human rights watchdog.

'Backward step'

Following the decision to readmit Mr Corbyn, Sir Keir tweeted that it had been a "painful day for the Jewish community and those Labour members who have fought so hard to tackle anti-Semitism".

He said Mr Corbyn's remarks were "wrong and completely distracted from a report that identified unlawful conduct in our tackling of racism within the Labour Party".

Sir Keir said he stood by the commitments he made after the report, adding: "That must mean establishing an independent complaints process as soon as possible in the new year."

He is coming under pressure privately from some of his own MPs - and publicly from the Board of Deputies of British Jews - to take further action.

Former Labour MP Dame Louise Ellman, who quit the party over anti-Semitism concerns last year, said the decision was a "backward step".

"What Keir Starmer and the chief whip should do now is to refuse to restore the whip to Jeremy Corbyn, in that way they can show that they are determined, as they have said they are, to rid the party of this dreadful stain," she told BBC Newsnight.

BBC political correspondent Iain Watson says he has been told that at least one Jewish MP is considering resigning if Mr Corbyn is welcomed back at Westminster.

Analysis box by Iain Watson, political correspondent

When Labour acted swiftly and decisively to suspend Jeremy Corbyn, it was seen as a signal the party wanted to distance itself from a toxic period in its recent past.

Sir Keir Starmer said he hadn't instigated the action but he supported it.

But whatever decision was reached on Tuesday, criticism would have followed.

Mr Corbyn didn't apologise for suggesting the scale of anti-Semitism had been overstated by political opponents, which was the reason for his suspension. He simply clarified what he had meant.

So reinstating him was bound to attract criticism from those cheered by his suspension.

Not to have reinstated him, however, would most likely have fuelled a factional war between those supportive of the Starmer leadership and those - including some union leaders - who remain close to Mr Corbyn.

Sir Keir reiterated his commitment to an independent complaints process in the New Year - an Equality and Human Rights Commission recommendation.

But putting Labour under fresh leadership hasn't silenced or banished those still supportive of the old leadership.

And the line Sir Keir wants to draw under the anti-Semitism rows hasn't been fully drawn.

In a statement earlier on Tuesday, Mr Corbyn - who is currently an independent MP - said it was "not his intention" to say anti-Jewish racism should be tolerated, and that he regretted the "pain" caused.

His statement added: "To be clear, concerns about anti-Semitism are neither 'exaggerated' nor 'overstated'.

"The point I wished to make was that the vast majority of Labour Party members were and remain committed anti-racists deeply opposed to anti-Semitism."

It is not yet clear whether Mr Corbyn will face further sanctions from the party.

Its general secretary, David Evans, took the decision to suspend him in October, although Sir Keir endorsed it.

The ECHR's report found Labour had breached the Equalities Act over its handling of complaints of anti-Semitism during Mr Corbyn's time in charge.

Labour said Mr Corbyn had been suspended "for a failure to retract" his words.

Following his readmission, the Islington North MP said: "I hope this matter is resolved as quickly as possible, so that the party can work together to root out anti-Semitism and unite to oppose and defeat this deeply damaging Conservative government."

'Zero tolerance'

But the Jewish Labour Movement called the decision to readmit Mr Corbyn "extraordinary", adding: "After his failure of leadership to tackle anti-Semitism, so clearly set out in the EHRC's report, any reasonable and fair-minded observer would see Jeremy Corbyn's statement today as insincere and wholly inadequate."

Karen Pollock, chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, said: "What message does this send? Zero tolerance either means zero tolerance or it's meaningless."

The co-chairman of the Conservative Party, MP Amanda Milling, has written to Sir Keir, saying: "You have claimed that Labour is 'under new leadership', but now is the moment to prove it - Mr Corbyn should be expelled permanently."

However, Len McCluskey, general secretary of the Unite union and a close ally of Mr Corbyn, called the reinstatement a "correct, fair and unifying decision".

He said Labour had to "move forward" in implementing the EHRC's recommendations and "redouble our efforts to inspire voters" about Sir Keir's policies, acting as a "unified and strong" party.

And Jenny Manson, co-chairman of pro-Corbyn group Jewish Voice for Labour, told BBC Newsnight that "an awful lot of us are very happy he (Mr Corbyn) is back in the party" and would be "very sad indeed" if the whip is taken away from him.

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2020-11-18 02:13:00Z
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Will Jeremy Corbyn's return to the Labour Party undermine Keir Starmer's leadership? - BBC Newsnight - BBC News

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2020-11-18 00:31:54Z
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Ban on new petrol and diesel cars in UK from 2030 under PM's green plan - BBC News

New cars and vans powered wholly by petrol and diesel will not be sold in the UK from 2030, prime minister Boris Johnson has said.

But some hybrids would still be allowed, Mr Johnson confirmed.

It is part of what the prime minister calls a "green industrial revolution" to tackle climate change and create jobs in industries such as nuclear.

Critics of the plan say the £4bn allocated is far too small for the scale of the challenge.

The total amount of new money announced in the package is a 25th of the projected £100bn cost of high-speed rail, HS2.

The government says it is part of a broader £12bn package of public investment that is expected to draw in much more private sector funding.

A Downing Street source said it would send a clear signal to investors where to put their money for the future.

The plan includes provision for a large nuclear plant - likely to be at Sizewell in Suffolk - and for advanced small nuclear reactors, which it is hoped, will create an estimated 10,000 jobs at Rolls-Royce and other firms.

The government hopes that as many as 250,000 jobs will be created overall - especially in the north of England and in Wales, with 60,000 in offshore wind.

The clean energy revolution will also creep into some people's homes.

The government will bring forward, to 2023, the date by which new homes will need to be cosy without using gas heating.

Free home insulation: Too good to be true?

It will aim to install 600,000 heat pumps a year by 2028 - these are low-energy electrical devices for warming homes.

And it has extended the Green Homes Grant for home insulation for a year after the first tranche was massively over-subscribed.

Clean hydrogen will be blended into the natural gas supply to reduce overall emissions from gas, and the government is seeking a town to volunteer for a trial of 100% hydrogen for heat, industry and cooking.

The hydrogen - attracting a subsidy of up to £500m - will be produced in places such as north-east England, partly by energy from offshore wind.

The government wants to breathe new life into de-industrialised areas by teaming hydrogen production with the manufacture of wind turbines, and with four clusters of firms using carbon capture and storage.

This is when emissions from chimneys are captured and forced into rocks underground. The hope is to transform depressed areas into high-tech hubs. This will get funding of an extra £200m.

Another key point of the plan is a £1.3bn investment in electric vehicle (EV) charging points. Grants for EV buyers will stretch to £582m to help people make the transition.

There is also nearly £500m for battery manufacture in the Midlands and north-east England.

In the greener-than-thou race on the roads, the UK is now in second place after Norway, with its fossil fuel vehicle abolition date of 2025.

UK car makers have warned about the scale of the challenge, but the government believes that forcing technological change can give firms a competitive edge.

Mr Johnson said he hoped his policies would create and support up to 250,000 UK jobs.

Experts said the £4bn would go a long way if it were spent on labour-intensive insulation, but not far if ploughed into expensive, mechanised carbon capture.

The prime minister said: "My 10-point plan will create, support and protect hundreds of thousands of green jobs, whilst making strides towards net zero by 2050.

"Our green industrial revolution will be powered by the wind turbines of Scotland and the North East, propelled by the electric vehicles made in the Midlands and advanced by the latest technologies developed in Wales, so we can look ahead to a more prosperous, greener future."

The prime minister made it clear that his plans aim to create jobs and address climate change at the same time. This time next year he will host an international climate summit in Glasgow, known as COP.

The COP - or COP26 UN summit, which was postponed by 12 months because of the pandemic - is seen as the most important round of talks to tackle climate change since the Paris Agreement in 2015.

The plans are aimed to put the UK on track to meet its goal of net zero emissions by 2050.

The PM's 10-point plan

Offshore wind: Produce enough offshore wind to power every home in the UK, quadrupling how much it produces to 40 gigawatts by 2030, and supporting up to 60,000 jobs.
Hydrogen: Have five gigawatts of "low carbon" hydrogen production capacity by 2030 - for industry, transport, power and homes - and develop the first town heated by the gas by the end of the decade.
Nuclear: Pushing nuclear power as a clean energy source and including provision for a large nuclear plant, as well as for advanced small nuclear reactors, which could support 10,000 jobs.
Electric vehicles: Phasing out sales of new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030 to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles and investing in grants to help buy cars and charge point infrastructure.
Public transport, cycling and walking: Making cycling and walking more attractive ways to travel and investing in zero-emission public transport for the future.
Jet zero and greener maritime: Supporting research projects for zero-emission planes and ships.
Homes and public buildings: Making homes, schools and hospitals greener, warmer and more energy efficient, including a target to install 600,000 heat pumps every year by 2028.
Carbon capture: Developing world-leading technology to capture and store harmful emissions away from the atmosphere, with a target to remove 10 million tonnes of carbon dioxide by 2030 - equivalent to all emissions of the industrial Humber.
Nature: Protecting and restoring the natural environment, with plans to include planting 30,000 hectares of trees a year.
Innovation and finance: Developing cutting-edge technologies and making the City of London the global centre of green finance.

'Falls well short'

Shadow business secretary Ed Miliband criticised the plan, saying that the funding "in this long-awaited" announcement doesn't "remotely meet the scale of what is needed" to tackle the unemployment emergency and climate emergency.

"Only a fraction of the funding announced today is new.

"We don't need rebadged funding pots and reheated pledges, but an ambitious plan that meets the scale of the task we are facing and - crucially - creates jobs now," the Labour MP said.

He said Labour wanted the government to bring forward £30bn of capital investment over the next 18 months and invest it in low-carbon sectors to support 400,000 additional jobs.

"Make no mistake," he said, "this announcement from the government falls well short of what is required."

The Green Party called for a transformation of the entire economy to reduce emissions, including scrapping the £27bn road-building programme, which will actually increase emissions.

Mike Hulme, professor of Human Geography at the University of Cambridge, said critics shouldn't "nit-pick about precise details" of the plan as it was "far more important is to endorse the direction of travel that has been set for the next decade".

He said: "The significance of this plan lies in the fact that this is a Conservative government committing substantial amounts of public money to secure medium and long-term welfare and environmental goals."

Tanya Steele from WWF-UK said the government had "fired the starting gun on the action we need to see".

She added: "We now need the chancellor to live up to the ambition expressed today through a spending review that tests every line of public spending to ensure it's compatible with meeting our climate goals."

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2020-11-17 22:51:00Z
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Jeremy Corbyn: Labour readmits ex-leader after anti-Semitism row - BBC News

Labour has readmitted former leader Jeremy Corbyn as a member following his suspension last month.

He was punished after saying the scale of anti-Semitism in the party had been "overstated", in response to a damning report by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission.

Mr Corbyn issued a statement earlier saying he regretted any "pain" caused.

But current leader Sir Keir Starmer maintained Mr Corbyn's initial reaction to the report had been "wrong".

BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said a decision had not yet been taken on whether to restore the Labour whip to Mr Corbyn, which would allow him to sit once more as one of its MPs.

Why was Jeremy Corbyn suspended from Labour?

A panel made up of members of the party's National Executive Committee met on Tuesday to decide whether to take further disciplinary action against him or to lift the suspension.

After it decided to readmit Mr Corbyn, Sir Keir tweeted that it had been a "painful day for the Jewish community and those Labour members who have fought so hard to tackle anti-Semitism".

He added: "Jeremy Corbyn's statement in response to the EHRC report was wrong and completely distracted from a report that identified unlawful conduct in our tackling of racism within the Labour Party. This should shame us all."