Babak Belurs

Rabu, 16 Desember 2020

Covid: UK keeps Christmas rules but some advice changes - BBC News

The four UK nations have "unanimously" agreed to keep relaxed Christmas Covid rules in place, the prime minister has said - but some advice will change.

The eased rules will still be in place between 23 to 27 December, but sterner warnings will be issued to urge people to keep social contact low.

Boris Johnson said people must show "personal responsibility" and try to avoid contact with vulnerable people.

Wales and Scotland have separately updated their advice.

Only two households are now advised to mix in Wales, and First Minister Mark Drakeford has announced that all non-essential retail and close contact services in Wales must close at the end of trading on Christmas Eve.

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said her "strong recommendation" was that people should, if they can, spend Christmas "in your own home with your own household".

UK leaders have come under pressure to review the five-day plan as Covid infections continue to rise in Wales and parts of south-east England.

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2020-12-16 12:48:00Z
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Brexit: EU's Ursula von der Leyen says there is a 'path to an agreement' - Sky News

There is a "path" to a Brexit trade deal being agreed before the end of the month, the president of the European Commission has said.

"As things stand, I cannot tell you whether there will be a deal or not," Ursula von der Leyen told the European Parliament in Brussels.

"But I can tell you that there is a path to an agreement now. The path may be very narrow but it is there."

Britain left the EU at the end of January and entered into an 11-month transition period, following EU rules and regulations whilst trying to negotiate a free trade deal by the end of this year.

The two teams have been attempting to thrash out an agreement ahead of that deadline, although negotiations have continued to remain stuck on a number of issues.

Ms von der Leyen indicated that fishing rights remains a key sticking point, but suggested progress had been made on the so-called "level playing field".

This is a reference to measures to prevent what is seen as unfair competition through the lowering of standards or the use of state subsidies.

"We have found a way forward on most issues but two issues still remain outstanding: the level playing field and fisheries," she continued.

"I am glad to report that issues linked to governance now have largely been resolved. The next days are going to be decisive."

On fisheries, Ms von der Leyen told the parliament "the discussion is still very difficult" and it sometimes felt as if "we will not be able to resolve these questions", but she vowed to continue to negotiate.

Her remarks were reflected on financial markets as the pound gained half a cent against the US dollar.

Sterling hit $1.35 - continuing its recovery from lows of $1.31 last week when the talks looked to be heading towards a no-deal outcome.

Shares were also higher with the FTSE 100 and domestic-focused FTSE 250 up by more than 1%.

The European Commission president held talks with Boris Johnson on Sunday, with the pair agreeing to "go the extra mile" and continue discussions.

A UK government source said on Monday that the talks "remain difficult" and "have not made significant progress in recent days".

Despite the two sides agreeing to continue discussions, the prime minister has described no-deal as the "most likely" scenario.

Mr Johnson has insisted that Britain can thrive in this scenario.

But opponents say having to trade on World Trade Organisation terms from 1 January would cause problems for business and push up prices for consumers.

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2020-12-16 10:08:20Z
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Supreme Court lifts ban on Heathrow third runway - BBC News

The Supreme Court has breathed new life into plans for a third runway at Heathrow Airport.

The scheme was previously blocked by the Appeal Court, who said the government’s airports strategy didn’t meet up-to-date UK climate targets.

But the Supreme Court has ruled the strategy was legitimately based on previous, less stringent, climate targets at the time it was agreed.

The firm behind Heathrow can now seek planning permission for the runway.

But it still faces major obstacles, including having to persuade a public enquiry of the case for expansion.

And if planning inspectors approve the scheme, the government will still have the final say.

What are the Heathrow third runway plans?

Ministers have been advised by their Climate Change Committee that, in order to keep emissions down, Heathrow should only expand if regional airports contract.

This will pose a problem for a government that’s committed to improving infrastructure away from the South-East.

And a full application from Heathrow Airport may still be more than a year away as the airport re-assembles a planning team and strives to cope with Covid.

'Important moment'

Heathrow will comment on the decision shortly. But the business coalition Back Heathrow’s executive director, Parmjit Dhanda, celebrated the news that the runway can progress to the planning application stage.

She said: “This is an important moment for local communities, desperate for jobs and apprenticeships at a very hard time for our economy.

“It is also a huge moment for the UK as it moves towards an uncertain Brexit, but now with the confidence that international trade could be boosted by additional capacity at the country’s only hub airport.

“We believe this news reflects a unity of purpose between the highest court in the land and our parliament – which has already delivered a majority of 296 for sustainable expansion at Heathrow.”

The ruling is a blow for campaigners who’ve been hounding the runway project in the courts because they say it breaches the government’s policy of removing almost all carbon emissions from the economy by 2050 – the so-called Net Zero commitment.

But environmentalists still plan to challenge every stage of the planning application in the courts – including at the European Court of Human Rights, where campaigners will argue that relying on outdated emissions targets is inconsistent with the right to life.

The old UK emissions strategy was based on the target of holding global temperature rise to 2C, whereas the latest government aim is a maximum temperature rise of 1.5C. This means emissions must be cut by more than previously thought.

On the back of the previous Appeal Court ruling in their favour, environmentalists have launched copy-cat legal actions against plans for other government projects that will fuel climate change.

These include the £27bn roads programme; expanding North Sea oil and gas; and a proposed Cumbria coal mine.

Map of Heathrow airport showing expansion area

They fear the Supreme Court ruling signals that judges aren’t willing to hold the government’s feet to the fire on climate policy - as the Dutch Supreme Court did last year, when it ruled that the country’s failure to act urgently against climate change constituted a violation of human rights.

Similar cases are underway in several other nations where citizens want politicians to keep promises to tackle emissions.

'Terrible verdict'

The Supreme Court case was taken by Friends of the Earth in conjunction with a tiny NGO called Plan B.

Its founder Tim Crosland told BBC News: “This is a terrible verdict – the runway plan is in clear breach of climate change targets and it can’t be allowed to go ahead. I can’t imagine how the judges came to this decision.”

Paul McGuinness from the No 3rd Runway Coalition, said before the court ruling that a decision in favour of Heathrow wouldn’t change the underlying case against the proposed runway.

He argued: “Heathrow expansion can’t proceed. Putting aside investors' lack of appetite to find new money - even to maintain the airport as a going concern through the pandemic - expanding Heathrow no longer ticks any boxes.

“Since the Airports Commission recommended Heathrow expansion, five years ago, the world has changed and the assessments on noise, air quality and carbon have been exposed as inadequate.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is a long-term opponent of Heathrow expansion, and significantly, his government didn’t join the appeal against the previous Appeal Court verdict, which was made by Heathrow Airport plc.

A government spokesperson said before the verdict: “We have always been clear that Heathrow expansion is a private sector project which must meet strict criteria on air quality, noise and climate change, as well as being privately financed, affordable, and delivered in the best interest of consumers”.

Follow Roger on Twitter @rharrabin

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2020-12-16 09:55:00Z
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Brexit: 'Narrow path' in view for trade deal - EU chief - BBC News

A "narrow path" has opened up for the UK and EU to strike a post-Brexit trade deal, the president of the European Commission has said.

Ursula von der Leyen said the "next few days are going to be decisive", with negotiators working "day and night" to reach an agreement.

She said negotiations over how a deal would be enforced are "largely being resolved".

But she added talks over fishing rights are "still very difficult".

Officials from both sides are continuing talks in Brussels, as they race to strike a deal before the UK stops following EU trading rules on 31 December.

Despite weeks of intensive talks, they have remained stuck over fishing rights and how far the UK should be able to depart from EU rules.

Updating the European Parliament on an EU leaders' summit last week, Mrs von der Leyen said: "As things stand, I cannot tell you whether there will be a deal or not.

"But there is a path to an agreement now - the path may be very narrow, but it is there".

She said that negotiators had agreed a "strong mechanism" to ensure neither side lowers their environmental or social standards, which was a "big step forwards".

But she added differences remained over how to "future proof" rules in this area, although disagreements over how to enforce a deal "by now are largely being resolved".

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson told his cabinet the UK still wanted a deal, but would not agree to one "at any cost".

According to his spokesman, he also reiterated view to senior ministers that the talks are still "most likely" to end without an agreement.

The basics

Brexit happened but rules didn't change at once: The UK left the European Union on 31 January 2020, but leaders needed time to negotiate a deal for life afterwards - they got 11 months.
Talks are happening: The UK and the EU have until 31 December 2020 to agree a trade deal as well as other things, such as fishing rights.
If there is no deal: Border checks and taxes will be introduced for goods travelling between the UK and the EU. But deal or no deal, we will still see changes.

What happens next with Brexit?

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2020-12-16 09:42:00Z
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Boris Johnson resists Christmas visiting rule changes as talks resume with Nicola Sturgeon - Daily Record

Boris Johnson is resisting changes to the UK’s Christmas visiting restrictions despite growing fears easing lockdown will lead to “many” deaths.

The Prime Minister’s Tory colleague Michael Gove is joining day-two of crisis talks on the future of plans for up to three households to mix between December 23 and 27.

The talks involve all devolved governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

They broke up yesterday after the first summit ended without an agreement.

It was called in light of a string of alarming warnings from public health experts about the rapid spread of Covid-19 and a potential third spike in infection.

In Holyrood yesterday, Sturgeon said: “I do think there is a case for us looking at whether we tighten the flexibilities that were given any further, both in terms of duration and numbers of people meeting.”

A UK Government source said the four UK nations could take differing approaches, but insisted there would be no change in the law for the festive freedoms in England, the Press Association reported.

Instead it was said leaders would continue discussions on strengthening warnings, including advising people to stay local and reconsider whether they should spend Christmas with the elderly and clinically vulnerable.

Linda Bauld, professor of public health at the University of Edinburgh, today said Christmas celebrations should be held in the “most modest way possible” if it is necessary to mix households.

She told BBC Breakfast: “I think, when this decision was made to have this loosening, we were in a slightly different position than we are now, in the middle of the lockdown in England, the tougher tier system was about to be introduced, and I think Governments hoped that numbers would continue to go down, and that is not the case."

English communities secretary Robert Jenrick, on Sky News today, said people will use their personal judgement but insisted the UK Government will not change the “legal framework” which allows people to form household “bubbles” over five days of the holiday period.

Scottish politics

Talks began on Tuesday after two leading medical journals warned that a lessening of restrictions would “cost many lives”, and the British Medical Association echoed Labour leader Keir Starmer in demanding an urgent rethink.

Three Scottish council areas are moving back to level 3 restrictions from Friday after a rise in infections. They are Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and East Lothian.

Nearly 10.8 million people in London, Essex and Hertfordshire are moving into the toughest restrictions in England

After Gove’s first round of talks, a UK Government source said: “There are no plans to change the regulations in England.” But the source added they are “keen to maintain a UK-wide approach.”

Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford said “the choice is a grim one” but said the current plans were a “hard-won agreement” that he would not put aside “lightly”.

The meeting was held as the Government said a further 506 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19, bringing the UK total to 64,908. Another 18,450 infections were also confirmed in labs as of 9am on Tuesday.

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2020-12-16 07:51:00Z
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COVID-19: Boris Johnson resisting calls to 'cancel Christmas' as tier system is reviewed - Sky News

Boris Johnson is resisting demands to "cancel Christmas", claiming it is too late to change plans to allow families to meet up during a five-day relaxation of COVID rules.

He will face MPs in the Commons and later address Tory backbenchers and declare his opposition to dropping plans for three households to meet up from 23 to 27 December.

Live COVID-19 updates from the UK and around the world

But the prime minister is expected to urge people to self-isolate before joining up with other households and the government is poised to issue tougher guidance for the festive period.

Besides isolating before meeting up, the new guidance is expected to include a plea to stay local where possible and think carefully before meeting elderly and clinically vulnerable people.

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick told Sky News that people should "use their own personal judgement and think carefully" about what is right for their family over Christmas.

Citing the rise in infections in the United States following the Thanksgiving holiday, Mr Jenrick acknowledged that allowing different households to meet up over the festive period "will have consequences".

"This is a virus that thrives on social interaction. So bringing more people together, even for this relatively short period of time, is not cost free," he said.

"It will have consequences in terms of increasing the rate of infection."

Mr Jenrick added: "But these are the sorts of judgements that people need to weigh up - how much do they want to bring members of their broader family together at Christmas. Or whether they think, on this occasion, let's just keep it small and we can meet up in the spring.

"Easter can be the new Christmas for some people."

Mr Johnson is set to clash at PMQs with the Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who has demanded an urgent review of Christmas COVID rules and claims the tier system has failed to control the virus.

But speaking to the 1922 Committee of Conservative MPs later, the prime minister will attempt to reassure backbenchers who claim a change in the rules at this stage would be met with widespread defiance.

Mr Johnson's "carry on Christmas" message, defying pressure from medics to scrap the five-day relaxation, emerged after Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove held talks with the leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

After the talks, a UK government source said: "There are no plans to change the regulations in England. We're keen to maintain a UK-wide approach and will have further discussions with DAs [devolved administrations] tomorrow morning."

Later, commenting on England, a government source told The Daily Telegraph: "We've set out the rules. People know what they are. It would be wrong to change them this close to Christmas when they have made plans."

But the source added: "However, the prime minister will want to be clear that minimising the risk to themselves and their loved ones is something they should consider."

And Mr Jenrick told Sky News: "Our position is clear I hope, the legal framework will continue."

In his talks, Mr Gove found little appetite for changing the Christmas plans.

Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford described the four nations approach as a "hard-won agreement" and said he would "not lightly put it aside".

A Scottish government spokeswoman said: "The four nations call was a good opportunity to review the position on Christmas and discuss whether the messaging or guidance requires to be reinforced."

But earlier, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told the Scottish parliament: "I do think there is a case for us looking at whether we tighten the flexibilities that were given any further, both in terms of duration and numbers of people meeting.

"And I will consider the views of the other nations - if we can come to a four nations agreement, I think that would be preferable.

"If that is not possible, then of course we will consider within the Scottish government what we think is appropriate."

A snap UK-wide YouGov poll suggested 57% of respondents believed the relaxation of COVID rules over Christmas should be dropped and only 31% said the easing of rules over the festive period should go ahead.

As well as reviewing the Christmas rules, the government is also reviewing the three-tier system in England, with some areas outside London, which is now in Tier 3, possibly moving from Tier 3 into Tier 2.

In the Commons on Monday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock gave a strong hint to the former Labour cabinet minister Hilary Benn that Leeds could be about to move from Tier 3 to Tier 2.

Mr Benn said since the recent national lockdown began the infection rate in Leeds had fallen from over 400 cases per 100,000 to less than 140 and the number of COVID patients in hospital has declined by 45% in the past month.

Mr Hancock replied: "You have made a typically wise intervention ahead of the decision making on Wednesday as to the wider tiering decisions for the rest of the country."

Later, at a Downing Street news conference, Mr Hancock hinted that Manchester, Newcastle, the Tees Valley, Bristol and Nottingham may also have some hope of following Liverpool out of Tier 3 into Tier 2 in the review.

He said all had shown the same pattern of strong local resolve to cut infections, as the Liverpool city region had when it secured its move to the lower tier. "We can do this, but we need to do it together," Mr Hancock said.

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2020-12-16 07:41:15Z
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Selasa, 15 Desember 2020

COVID-19: Boris Johnson resisting calls to cancel Christmas as the tier system is reviewed - Sky News

Boris Johnson is resisting demands to "cancel Christmas", claiming it is too late to change plans to allow families to meet up during a five-day relaxation of COVID rules.

He will face MPs in the Commons and later address Tory backbenchers and declare his opposition to dropping plans for three households to meet up from December 23 to 27.

But the prime minister is expected to urge people to self-isolate before joining up with other households and the government is poised to issue tougher guidance for the festive period.

Besides isolating before meeting up, the new guidance is expected to include a plea to stay local where possible and think carefully before meeting elderly and clinically vulnerable people.

Mr Johnson is set to clash at PMQs with the Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who has demanded an urgent review of Christmas COVID rules and claims the tier system has failed to control the virus.

But speaking to the 1922 Committee of Conservative MPs later, the PM will attempt to reassure backbenchers who claim a change in the rules at this stage would be met with widespread defiance.

The PM's "carry on Christmas" message, defying pressure from medics to scrap the five-day relaxation, emerged after the Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove held talks with the leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

But the source added: "However, the prime minister will want to be clear that minimising the risk to themselves and their loved ones is something they should consider."

In his talks, Mr Gove found little appetite for changing the Christmas plans. Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford described the four nations approach as a "hard-won agreement" and said he would "not lightly put it aside".

A Scottish government spokeswoman said: "The four nations call was a good opportunity to review the position on Christmas and discuss whether the messaging or guidance requires to be reinforced."

But earlier, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told the Scottish Parliament: "I do think there is a case for us looking at whether we tighten the flexibilities that were given any further, both in terms of duration and numbers of people meeting.

"And I will consider the views of the other nations - if we can come to a four nations agreement, I think that would be preferable.

"If that is not possible, then of course we will consider within the Scottish government what we think is appropriate."

A snap GB-wide YouGov poll suggested 57% of respondents believed the relaxation of COVID rules over Christmas should be dropped and only 31% said the easing of rules over the festive period should go ahead.

In the Commons on Monday, the Health Secretary Matt Hancock gave a strong hint to the former Labour Cabinet minister Hilary Benn that Leeds could be about to move from Tier 3 to Tier 2.

Mr Hancock replied: "You have made a typically wise intervention ahead of the decision making on Wednesday as to the wider tiering decisions for the rest of the country."

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Rabu, 16 Desember 2020

More from Brexit

'Important moment'

'Terrible verdict'

The basics

Scottish politics

More from Covid-19

Selasa, 15 Desember 2020

More from Covid-19