Brussels makes major concessions on Northern Ireland trade - Daily Mail

EU's big Brexit offer: Brussels makes major concessions on Northern Ireland trade amid three more weeks of wrangling between officials

• Brussels offered scrap most checks on British goods arriving in Northern Ireland 
• However the major climbdown last night was not enough for Boris Johnson
• Britain and  EU will now head back to the negotiating table today for more talks

By John Stevens and Harriet Line and James Franey For The Daily Mail

Published: 22:04 BST, 13 October 2021 | Updated: 22:31 BST, 13 October 2021

Brussels offered to scrap most checks on British goods arriving in Northern Ireland in a major climbdown last night – but it was not enough for Boris Johnson.

The EU made a string of concessions, but rejected the UK Government's demand to axe the oversight role of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in the province.

Britain and the EU will now head back to the negotiating table today for yet more Brexit talks – more than five years after Britain voted to leave, and almost two years after Mr Johnson announced he had an 'oven-ready' deal.

The European Commission conceded it was 'preparing for the worst' amid concerns Mr Johnson will not accept its deal, aimed at resolving the dispute over Northern Ireland.

EU officials last night arrived in London as the two sides embark on around three weeks of intense negotiations to see if they can bridge their differences.

Brussels offered to scrap most checks on British goods arriving in Northern Ireland  but it was not enough for Boris Johnson.

Brexit minister Lord Frost and his EU counterpart Maros Sefcovic are expected to hold a face-to-face meeting tomorrow as part of the fresh round of talks. 

If they fail to make progress, the minister has threatened the UK could trigger a clause that would allow it to unilaterally suspend parts of the agreement.

Britain begins talks with Italy

Britain has begun talks with Italy on a new partnership to boost trade. International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan said officials will look at how they can increase exports for both British and Italian firms.

Speaking alongside Italian foreign minister Luigi Di Maio in Sorrento yesterday, she said: 'Enhancing our bilateral relationship with Italy is a win-win.

'Italy is our ninth-largest trading partner, while the UK is Italy's fifth-largest export market – I am delighted we are kicking off this discussion.'

 

Such a drastic move could provoke a trade war, as the EU may retaliate by imposing new tariffs on British goods. 

As part of Brexit negotiations, the UK and EU agreed to the Northern Ireland protocol, designed to avoid the need for a border.

But this has led to disruption to goods crossing the Irish Sea, with new checks imposed.

Concerns have also been raised that Northern Ireland's place within the UK is being undermined. 

The European Commission last night put forward a package of measures aimed at addressing some of the issues, including slashing red tape.

Under the plan, around 80 per cent of checks on supermarket products arriving in Northern Ireland from Britain would be removed and customs paperwork halved. 

A ban on the import of chilled meats would be ditched so British sausages can continue to be sold in the province.

Brussels would also allow medicines licensed for sale in the UK to be prescribed in Northern Ireland without needing further checks by European regulators.

However, the proposals do not address the Government's key demand that European judges lose their oversight function.

The UK wants the current system, which gives the ECJ the final say in any future trade dispute, to be replaced with an independent arbitration process.

Mr Sefcovic told a press conference in Brussels last night that the EU had turned its rules 'upside down and inside out' to find a resolution.

The EU made a string of concessions, but rejected the UK Government's demand to axe the oversight role of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in the province

'Now I invite the UK Government to engage with us earnestly and intensively on all our proposals,' he said. 'With them I'm convinced we could be in the home stretch when it comes to the protocol.' 

At a private meeting with MEPs last night, Mr Sefcovic signalled the EU would stand firm on the issue of European judges. 'We made the rules of the game very clear,' he said.

The European Commission vice president said he believed they had 'an offer that will be difficult for [Britain] to refuse'. 

But one EU official conceded there 'remains a very big gap between the ideas that we're putting on the table... and what the UK Government is asking for', adding: 'Of course, we hope for the best, we prepare for the worst.'

Speaking in the Lords yesterday, Lord Frost said he was hopeful of finding an agreement.

He told peers: 'We're beginning a negotiation and we've got a track record of reaching successful outcomes in negotiations despite the predictions that we would not, and I hope we'll do so again this time.'

From sausages to drugs, what the Eurocrats are proposing

SUPERMARKET GOODS

Proposals could see 80 per cent of checks removed on goods moving from Great Britain to be sold on supermarket shelves in Northern Ireland

Proposals put forward by the European Commission would see 80 per cent of checks removed on goods moving from Great Britain to be sold on supermarket shelves in Northern Ireland. 

Lorries transporting different food products would only need one certificate stating all the goods rather than a separate one for each type.

VERDICT: Britain will welcome this.

SAUSAGES

The EU ban on the import of chilled meats, which would have prevented sausages and burgers entering Northern Ireland from Great Britain, will end 

An EU ban on the import of chilled meats, which would have prevented sausages and burgers entering Northern Ireland from Great Britain, will end thanks to a special exemption. 

Brussels is proposing a new category of ‘national identity’ products to include British produce.

VERDICT: Britain will welcome this.

CUSTOMS CHECKS

Paperwork will be halved for goods arriving into Northern Ireland from Britain under the EU’s offer

Paperwork will be halved for goods arriving into Northern Ireland from Britain under the EU’s offer. 

For example, a car dealer in Belfast buying parts from London will only need to provide basics such as the total value of the shipment rather than detailed information.

VERDICT: Britain will welcome this.

MEDICINES

EU will allow medicines licensed for sale in the UK to be prescribed in Northern Ireland 

The EU will allow medicines licensed for sale in the UK to be prescribed in Northern Ireland without having to undergo further checks by European regulators. 

Brussels promised to change legislation to ensure no disruption to medical supplies.

VERDICT: Britain will welcome this.

EUROPEAN COURT OF JUSTICE

The proposals by the European Commission offered no progress on this issue. Brexit minister Lord Frost has made clear the removal of the oversight function of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in policing the protocol is a red line for the Government. 

The UK wants to remove a provision that gives the ECJ the final say in any future trade dispute and to replace it with an independent arbitration process.

VERDICT: Failure to move forward on this key issue threatens to blow up the talks.

LABELLING AND SURVEILLANCE

Brussels is demanding extra safeguards to stop goods arriving into Northern Ireland being smuggled into the EU

In return for removing checks and customs paperwork, Brussels is demanding extra safeguards to stop goods arriving into Northern Ireland being smuggled into the EU. 

They want real-time access to British government databases on products crossing from Great Britain and for products to be labelled as for sale only in the UK.

VERDICT: Britain has until now resisted these but may agree if they unlock other compromises.

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2021-10-13 21:04:34Z
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Afghan refugee student Hazrat Wali, 18, stabbed to death in Twickenham - Daily Mail

PICTURED: Afghan refugee student, 18, stabbed to death in Twickenham as teacher tried to save his life - and onlookers filmed as he lay dying

• Met Police were called to playing fields near Twickenham, south west London 
• 18-year-old had suffered stab wounds following 'a row' near to a playing field
• He was rushed to hospital by ambulance but was pronounced dead at 5.54pm
• Police are investigating and believe witnesses may have filmed the incident
• Witnesses are asked to contact the Met Police quoting reference 5697/12OCT

By James Robinson for MailOnline

Published: 16:21 BST, 13 October 2021 | Updated: 17:02 BST, 13 October 2021

A teenager stabbed to death in front of a group of school children in south west London has today been named.

Hazrat Wali, 18, a student at Richmond Upon Thames College, was fatally wounded in a knife attack in Craneford Way, Twickenham.

After being stabbed, Mr Wali, an Afghan refugee who is reported to have come to the UK two years ago, is said to have staggered onto a playing field where local school children were playing rugby. 

Witnesses say a teacher from the school ran over to give the teenager CPR in a desperate attempt to try to save his life. But Mr Wali died in hospital soon after.

Police meanwhile say witnesses filmed the shocking incident using mobile phones. It is believed the video has been circulating on social media.  

Today a relative of Mr Wali described the teenager as a 'very good boy'.  

Hazrat Wali, 18, a student at Richmond Upon Thames College, was fatally wounded in a knife attack in Craneford Way, Twickenham, south west London

After being stabbed, Mr Wali, an Afghan refugee who is reported to have come to the UK two years ago, is said to have staggered onto a playing field where local school children were playing rugby. Pictured: A police forensic tent at the scene today 

The unnamed relative told the Evening Standard: 'He came here to study, he was living all on his own in London. His immediate family are all back in Afghanistan.

'I saw him in hospital. He had a fight is all that I had heard.' 

His close friend Sahil Kochay said: 'He was a very good person. Very caring and loved everyone. I wish I knew why someone would hurt him. He wasn't the kind of guy to fight.'

Lessons today were called off at the College Mr Wali attended as a mark of respect. 

Dr Jason Jones, Principal of Richmond upon Thames College told MailOnline: 'Our thoughts and prayers are with the student's family and friends at this difficult time.

'This loss is sure to raise many emotions, concerns, and questions for our students, parents, staff and local community.'

He said the school had implemented an emergency response plan and had increased security around the school in response to the fatal stabbing.

Dr Jones added: 'We have enhanced security and surveillance at our entrances following yesterday's incident and are continuing to work in full co-operation with the Metropolitan police, who are handling the matter'. 

It comes as police continue to hunt for Mr Wali's killer following the incident on Tuesday. 

The teenager was rushed to an outer London hospital by ambulance following the stabbing, which took place around 4.45pm. Mr Wali was pronounced dead at 5.54pm.  

Police are today appealing for information and believe witnesses may have filmed the shocking incident. They are urging people not to share the footage online.

Detective Chief Inspector Vicky Tunstall said: 'The incident occurred in a playing field area and was witnessed by a number of people. 

'Some of those people are believed to have filmed events as they unfolded; I ask that any videos are not shared via social media to avoid causing the young man's family any more distress at this already incredibly difficult time for them.

The 18-year-old victim was fatally wounded after a row broke out during a kick-around in south-west London, local residents say. Pictured: Police at the scene today

Metropolitan Police are investigating the death of a teenager after he was fatally stabbed on playing fields in southwest London. Pictured: Police at the scene last night

'Instead, please go to the police immediately. A number of people have spoken to us, but we need to hear from anyone who has information that could help.

'We're working to establish the motive behind this tragic incident and following a number of leads. If you believe you can help us, then please make contact.'

One local student, 17, said the video was being shared on social media site Snapchat. 

The student, who asked not to be named, said: 'Things like this are not normal and should just not be happening.

'I saw people posting about it on Snapchat saying 'someone has been stabbed outside Richmond College' and posting laughing emojis.

'Imagine if that was your child, they are a human being.

'I didn't know him well but he seemed like a nice chilled guy, we would say hello to each other. 

'I am a rugby coach nearby, I could have been coaching round here and it could have happened to me.

'I said goodbye to my nan, gave her a hug and returned home. He never got the chance to come home.'

The scene of the incident - near to the Harlequins Rugby Club - was sealed off today while forensic officers carry out an investigation.

Detectives are working to inform the victim's next of kin. No arrests have yet been made, the force said.

Officers were called to an incident on Craneford Way in Twickenham yesterday afternoon. They found a man, believed to be aged in his late teens, who was suffering from knife wounds

The scene of the incident - near to the Harlequins Rugby Club - has been sealed off while forensic officers carry out an investigation.

In a statement, the Met Police said: 'Police were called at 16:45hrs on Tuesday, 12 October to reports of a stabbing in Craneford Way, Twickenham.

'Officers and London Ambulance Service (LAS) attended.

'At the scene a male, believed to be in his late teens, had sustained knife wounds.

'He was taken by LAS to an outer London hospital where he was pronounced dead at 17:54hrs.

'Enquiries are underway to notify his next of kin.

'A crime scene and cordons remain in place and at this early stage there have been no arrests.

'Anyone who witnessed this incident or has footage is asked to call police on 101 or Tweet @MetCC quoting 5697/12OCT.'

Information can also be provided to Crimestoppers, anonymously, by calling 0800 555 111.

The incident is believed to be the  25th teenager to be murdered in London this year.

It is also believed to be the 102 investigation launched by the Met Police homicide team in 2021. 

The victim was rushed to an outer London hospital by ambulance but was pronounced dead at 5.54pm

It comes after officers investigating the death of Nicole Hurley, 37, in Primrose Hill, west London, on Sunday.

Ms Hurley's boyfriend Jason Bell, 40, was arrested later that day and was last night charged with her murder. He appeared in court yesterday.

Meanwhile, police are also investigating the death of a 51-year-old man found dead after police were called to a home in Chelsfield Lane, Orpington, at around 11.46pm on October 9.

A woman in her 40s, who was known to the victim, was arrested on suspicion of murder and later released on police bail. 

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2021-10-13 15:21:10Z
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Insulate Britain protesters dragged off M25 junction by angry drivers and police - Sky News

Angry motorists and police dragged Insulate Britain protesters off an M25 junction as the group blocked roads for the 13th time.

The clashes between drivers and protesters ensued after demonstrators blocked the junction to St Clements Way and London Road in Thurrock on Wednesday morning.

Image: Police said they made arrests

Image: Protesters blocking the road on Wednesday morning. Pic: Insulate Britain

Police later arrived and removed more protesters from the roads. Essex Police said 35 people had been arrested.

Several Insulate Britain members had glued themselves to the road, causing long queues of vehicles.

Some members of the group were dragged off the road multiple times by drivers, who pulled their backpacks and clothing, before the demonstrators immediately returned to their spots to sit down again.

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Lorry drivers blasted their horns and some motorists ripped banners out of the hands of the demonstrators as they stayed sitting or lying in the road.

Meanwhile, a female protester was almost run over after stopping in front of a blue Hyundai car, and was berated by the driver who told her: "This is stupidity."

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Footage also circulated online showing a mother getting out of her black Range Rover and argueing with those gathered around her car.

"Move out of the f****** way, my son needs to get to school," she told demonstrators.

Image: The group is calling for homes to be insulated. Pic: Insulate Britain

Image: Protesters could face prison time after the High Court granted an injunction

Image: Protesters block a slip road at Junction 13 of the M25. Pic: Insulate Britain

"I don't care what the f****** issue is. My son is 11 and he needs to get to school today, so move out of the way and let me get him to school."

Responding to the incident, Essex Police said: "Officers were at the scene within five minutes and are currently working to resolve the situation quickly and safely. Arrests have been made."

HGV drivers also warned that the protests could cause the ongoing fuel crisis to worsen as tankers will be unable to reach filling stations.

One driver told LBC news: "If this protest stays here for much longer, I'm afraid the night shift driver will not be able to deliver fuel for any garages or anyone.

Image: Police work to remove protesters from the road

Image: Several glued themselves to the tarmac

Image: A protester is handcuffed by police

"So talking about lorry driver shortages and fuel shortages, today it may get worse. This is a hotspot.

"We also deliver to commercials, bus garages, train depots, which are all essential for transport."

Delivery driver Robert J Foulger, 57, said: "There were nine police vehicles there and countless officers not out catching criminals, costing the taxpayer money.

"I took pictures whilst sitting in traffic trying to deliver fresh produce to a supermarket distribution centre. I was on the moving side of traffic so didn't wait long, luckily."

The High Court has granted National Highways several injunctions against protesters blocking sections of the M25 as well as other major transport routes in recent weeks.

The injunctions mean anyone breaching the order could face a prison sentence, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has said.

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Insulate Britain activists refused to move for a woman who was begging them to let her through to see her mum, who was in an ambulance on her way to hospital.

Image: Protesters sat or lay in the road

Image: Police work to remove protesters

But despite this, the group returned to the M25 on Wednesday to demand that the government insulate homes in the UK ahead of winter, starting with the poorest.

Dr Diana Warner, an Insulate Britain supporter, said: "Many people are going out of their way to thank us. Some come out of their cars to thank us, some are police officers involved with our arrests. To them, we bring hope - we haven't yet given up. We are still pushing for life saving changes.

"It is a big step to move from thanking us to taking action. But if you make some move to help us, however small, you will be helping us to achieve change."

Image: Police responding to the protests

Image: The protesters returned to the M25 despite an injunction which threatens them with prison terms

The group said on Wednesday that the action is coinciding with the release of a report by the charity Shelter, which found the health of 22% of renters in England - or 1.9 million households - is being harmed by poor housing.

The report said people are living in homes "that make them sick because they are mouldy, cold, unaffordable and grossly insecure".

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2021-10-13 11:29:56Z
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Felixstowe: HGV driver crisis sees cargo ships diverted away from port - Metro.co.uk

Conservative Party Co-Chair Oliver Dowden admitted there is a ‘challenging problem’ this morning (Picture: Bav Media)

Brits could face gaps on shelves this Christmas as toys and electrical goods are diverted away from the UK’s biggest port due to congestion.

Shipping bosses are sending vessels away from Felixstowe in Suffolk after it ran out of space amid a shortage of HGV drivers. The port deals with around 36% of the country’s imports and exports.

Danish shipping giant AP Moller-Maersk has warned the crisis could continue into the New Year, with the company recently forced to redirect one ship a week out of two or three.

They are travelling to continental ports like Rotterdam and Antwerp, where cargo is loaded onto smaller vessels to dock at other British ports – when space allows.

A spokesperson for Felixstowe said the situation had improved over the last few days, but shipping bosses have cautioned it is the ‘perfect storm’ for shortages over the festive season.

It’s believed ministers have been warned stock levels of toys, electronics, bikes and homeware items could be impacted, sparking fears for Christmas presents.

One shipping boss told The Times: ‘I don’t want to sound like a Grinch but there are going to be gaps on shelves this Christmas.’

It comes after the shortage of HGV drivers spurred fuel shortages and amid rising gas prices, with four more companies ‘set to collapse’.

Conservative Party Co-Chair Oliver Dowden admitted there is a ‘challenging problem’ when questioned on the supply chain disaster this morning.

Ships are being redirected from Felixstowe, the UK’s biggest port (Picture: Bav Media)

He told Sky News: ’Well, first of all, it is worth noting that Felixstowe authorities have said this morning that the situation is improving, which is welcome news.

‘There is, clearly, a challenging problem, particularly with HGV drivers – and not just here, it’s across Europe, Poland, US, even China has this challenge.

‘That’s why we’ve been taking steps to address it, whether it is training 5,000 more HGV drivers, making the process more flexible, we’re working through these challenges to address them.

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‘I know it’s a worrying time for your viewers and they’ll be concerned by the reports, but I want to assure them the Government is very much getting on with the job of addressing these challenges.’

The most recent figures show only 127 people have applied for a temporary visa scheme designed to stabilise the crisis, as foreign lorry drivers insist they ‘won’t help UK out of the s**t they created’.

A spokesman for Felixstowe said: ‘The vast majority of import containers are cleared for collection within minutes of arriving and there are over 1,000 unused haulier bookings most days.

‘However, the situation is improving and there is more spare space for import containers this week, than at any time since the beginning of July, when supply chain impacts first started to bite.’

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

For more stories like this, check our news page.

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2021-10-13 06:52:00Z
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Former Health Secretary Matt Hancock given United Nations role - BBC News

Reuters

Former Health Secretary Matt Hancock has been given a role with the United Nations as a special representative.

Writing on Twitter, the ex-minister said the job would focus on helping Africa's economy recover from Covid.

It comes four months after Mr Hancock resigned from his cabinet post for breaking social distancing guidelines by kissing a colleague.

The Under Secretary General of the UN, Vera Songwe, praised his "success" in tackling the UK's pandemic response.

In a letter posted online by Mr Hancock, Ms Songwe said the "acceleration of vaccines that has led the UK move faster towards economic recovery is one testament to the strengths that you will bring to this role, together with your fiscal and monetary experience".

The announcement also comes on the day a report from MPs was published, claiming the government and its scientists' failure to do more to stop Covid spreading early in the pandemic was one of the country's worst public health failures.

• Did Matt Hancock break the law?
• Matt Hancock: High profile former health secretary
• How will Covid-19 affect African economies?

Mr Hancock's official title will be "UN special representative on financial innovation and climate change for the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa".

His new role will be unpaid and he will continue as a Conservative MP.

Mr Hancock said he was "honoured" to be appointed and would help "promote sustainable development", alongside working on the economic recovery.

Ms Songwe said the UN had been working with people across the world on Africa's climate actions and resilient recovery - and that she wanted to appoint Mr Hancock "given your global leadership, advocacy reach and in depth understanding of government processes through your various ministerial cabinet roles".

She added: "The role will support Africa's cause at the global level and ensure the continent builds forward better, leveraging financial innovations and working with major stakeholders like the G20, UK government and COP26."

In his acceptance letter, which he also posted on Twitter, Mr Hancock wrote: "As we recover from the pandemic so we must take this moment to ensure Africa can prosper."

The chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat, said it was a "fascinating and important appointment".

He added: "Boosting the economies of Africa is one of the most essential tasks of this generation."

Exit from cabinet

Mr Hancock announced his resignation in June after the Sun newspaper published pictures and a video of him and Gina Coladangelo - who were both married at the time with three children - kissing.

The newspaper said the images had been taken inside the Department of Health and Social Care on 6 May.

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Following the revelations, a number of Conservative MPs, as well as Labour and the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group, had called for Mr Hancock to go.

Ms Coladangelo also left her role as a non-executive director at the DHSC.

Mr Hancock ended his 15-year marriage to his wife, Martha, and the relationship with Ms Coladangelo is understood to be a serious one.

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2021-10-12 18:08:02Z
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COVID-19: Reaction to highly critical COVID report, as Cummings brands prime minister and Labour leader 'jokes' - Sky News

The prime minister's former adviser, Dominic Cummings, has branded both Boris Johnson and the Labour leader as "jokes" in the wake of the highly critical report into the government's handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

His remarks were made following the publication of the MPs' report which said thousands of lives were lost due to delays and mistakes by both ministers and their scientific advisers as coronavirus began to spread.

The report published by the health and social care committee and the science and technology committee, titled Coronavirus: Lessons learned to date, covers a variety of successes and failings across 150 pages.

Image: Boris Johnson said earlier this year that he took 'full responsibility for everything that has happened' and was 'truly sorry for the suffering the people of this country have experienced'

The pandemic has claimed more than 150,000 lives in the UK to date.

Some have suggested the country did not go into lockdown soon enough, partly through concern that people would not stick to restrictive measures for long periods of time, while others suggest the government system for dealing with crises in general was a big failing.

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Here's what has been said so far by some of those involved:

Stephen Barclay

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Minister declines 11 times to say sorry

Former treasury minister and now Cabinet Office minister Stephen Barclay told Sky News the government followed the advice given by scientific advisers.

"We followed, throughout, the scientific advice. We got the vaccine deployed extremely quickly, we protected our NHS from the surge of cases," he said.

Asked again by Kay Burley if he would be apologising in the wake of the report, Mr Barclay replied: "Well no, we followed the scientific advice, we protected the NHS, we took the decisions based on the evidence before us.

"But of course, we've always said with something so unprecedented as the pandemic, there will be lessons to learn, we're keen to learn them."

Dominic Cummings

Image: Dominic Cummings called the prime minister a 'joke'

The PM's former adviser Mr Cummings said: "The government system for dealing with crises is a disaster".

Approached by reporters on Tuesday morning, Mr Cummings - who left Downing Street in November 2020 after his relationship with the prime minister nosedived - added: "Me and others put into place work to try and improve the system in 2020 after the first wave."

He continued: "Unfortunately the prime minister, being the joke that he is, has not pushed that work through."

Mr Cummings added: "We have a joke prime minister and a joke leader of the Labour party and we obviously need a new political system."

He also suggested that the testing target "should have been more than 100,000".

David Nabarro

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COVID-19 report a 'cold hard look'

Dr Nabarro , World Health Organisation (WHO) special envoy for COVID-19, said that delayed action when responding to a virus spreading in communities leads to people "suffering".

He also suggested that more people would have isolated at home when told to if they had been financially compensated for doing so from the beginning.

"What we're learning is when you get a virus, starting to really spread in a community, the one thing that you must not do is to delay - it doesn't help anybody," he told Sky News.

"And occasionally people think: 'Well if we delay, everybody will get infected. So the problem will go away, because they'll all be immune.' That also doesn't work.

"So I think what we have to remember is: be rapid and be firm as soon as you get cases of the disease.

"It doesn't mean you have complete lockdown, it just means you need to be able to test and to isolate and to stop spread."

Noting that the WHO "don't think it is relevant to apportion blame at this stage", Dr Nabarro continued: "If you delay, what we're learning all over the world, is that people suffer."

On Test and Trace, he added: "What we have learned in Britain, and in many other countries, is you can't just tell people to isolate and expect them to stay at home without any kind of financial compensation."

Sir Keir Starmer

Image: Sir Keir Starmer said ministers should apologise for failings

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday lunchtime, the Labour leader said the committee's report is a "damning indictment" of the government's handling of the pandemic and that ministers must "accept responsibility and apologise".

Sir Keir said he is "quite surprised" that "the government has not found it within themselves to just get out there and apologise to the bereaved families and bring forward that public inquiry as quickly as possible".

Jeremy Hunt

Image: Jeremy Hunt said the UK should have locked down earlier

Speaking on Tuesday, Mr Hunt - who was health secretary from 2012 to 2018 and now chairs the health and social care committee - admitted he was part of the "groupthink" that focused too much on flu and failed to adequately plan for a pandemic such as COVID.

The Conservative MP told ITV's Good Morning Britain the UK should have locked down earlier and "the prime minister is of course ultimately responsible, but some of the advice that he got was also wrong".

Mr Hunt added: "There was a groupthink that the way you tackle a pandemic should be similar to a flu pandemic, I was part of that groupthink too when I was health secretary.

"In fact, you know, during that period, an American university said we were the second-best prepared country in the world. We know that clearly wasn't the case."

The former health secretary said the countries "that have direct experience of Sars and Mers were the ones who responded best in the first half the pandemic".

Mr Hunt added that "the question we have to ask is why across the whole of the system in those early months, everyone was advising the wrong approach?"

Greg Clark

Image: Tory MP and chair of the science and technology select committee Greg Clark says it was thought people would not obey lockdown measures for a 'very long period of time'

Tory MP Greg Clark, who chairs the Commons science and technology committee, told BBC Breakfast that the failure to implement an earlier lockdown was a "consensus decision" partly because it was not believed that individuals would obey the measures for a very long period of time.

The former business secretary said: "It wasn't that the government went against the scientific advice, or that there was some great row about it. Everyone agreed that this was the right thing to do.

"We now know that it wasn't - that is using the benefit of hindsight, but it's important to do so.

"So what were the reasons for that? Well, one of the mistakes that was made was that we thought - there was a widespread assumption - that people wouldn't obey lockdown measures for a very long period of time, so you had to delay imposing them until almost the last possible moment, so that they could have the longest effect.

"What we discovered in practice, was that people were perfectly prepared to follow instructions to stay at home because they realised the importance of it, so that was an error that we made.

"We also didn't have enough testing capacity at the outset, we had to stop testing in the community, and if you're not testing that means you don't have information as to how quickly the virus is spreading, who is getting it, how ill they're becoming. And so that means that we were operating in the dark."

Jonathan Ashworth

Image: Jonathan Ashworth said ministers 'were warned but responded with complacency'

Labour shadow health secretary Mr Ashworth told Sky News: "This mantra 'we're following the science' actually doesn't hold up to scrutiny. There were many instances where they were not following scientific advice.

"We're not through this pandemic yet. The progress we have made is immense. But we're not out the woods yet."

He added: "There are still things the government could be doing now which is actually why you need a public inquiry to start as soon as possible, because we've got to learn lessons so mistakes like this aren't made in the future.

"Because sadly we are probably going to see more infectious diseases outbreaks. Hopefully not on the scale of this, but it is likely to become a feature of the future."

Sadiq Khan

Image: London Mayor Sadiq Khan said urgent global action is needed to tackle climate change

The London mayor said the report should act as a "wake-up call" to ministers.

"It's quite clear that what some of us have been saying for some time has been found to be true, which is the government was ill-prepared in relation to this pandemic, made mistakes during the course of this pandemic, and many people may have lost their lives as a consequence of that," he said.

"It's important the government doesn't wait for a public inquiry, but learns lessons in real time, and... [makes] sure that this autumn and winter isn't as bad as last year's."

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN)

Chair of RCN Council, Carol Popplestone, said: "The report highlights how staff stepped up to be redeployed to areas of critical care to protect those most in need and yet they were continually let down by failures at the highest levels. The massive nursing shortage meant student nurses being called to the frontline, disrupting their studies and readiness to qualify.

"Nursing staff across the whole health and care system were given false reassurances on PPE and those in their care were put at risk by failures in test and trace. Warnings were repeatedly ignored and the terrible impact on the most vulnerable is laid bare in this report."

What has the government said?

A government spokesperson said: "Throughout the pandemic we have been guided by scientific and medical experts and we never shied away from taking quick and decisive action to save lives and protect our NHS, including introducing restrictions and lockdowns.

"Thanks to a collective national effort, we avoided NHS services becoming overwhelmed and our phenomenal vaccination programme has built a wall of defence, with over 24.3 million infections prevented and more than 130,000 lives saved so far."

"As the prime minister has said, we are committed to learning lessons from the pandemic and have committed to holding a full public inquiry in spring."

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Insulate Britain protester married to Transport for London boss - The Times

An Insulate Britain protester who has been arrested on numerous occasions for blocking the M25 is married to a Transport for London boss responsible for traffic flow, it emerged last night.

Cathy Eastburn, a Cambridge University philosophy graduate, lives with Benedict Plowden, 58, in South London and she has allowed David McKenny, 38, a fellow activist, to stay at the home, The Sun said.

Greg Smith, a Conservative MP and member of the transport select committee, told the newspaper: “Insulate Britain has caused untold misery for individuals and businesses over recent weeks. It is an absolute kick in the teeth that someone senior in TfL — an arm of the British state — has been harbouring them in their house. This is unacceptable.

Eastburn glued herself to a DLR train in London in 2019

DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

“It is

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2021-10-12 08:00:00Z
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