MPs ETC

Dan Rosenfield is Johnson’s new Chief of Staff. That’s the admin sorted (we hope). But what about the politics?

That he seems to have no discernable political views whatsoever is clearly one of the reasons why Johnson wants him.

The Health Secretary’s statement full text. “Hope is on the horizon” in Covid-19 battle.

“We mustn’t give up now. We must follow these new rules and make sure that our actions today will save lives in future and help get our country through this.”

The new coronavirus restriction areas in full

Ahead of the end of national lockdown in December, the Government has announced which areas will fall under the new tier system.

The Chancellor’s Spending Review statement. Full text – “The UK is forecast to borrow a total of £394 billion this year”

This is “the highest recorded level of borrowing in our peacetime history”, says Sunak, as he outlines new steps for the economy.

Mak is co-Chair of the new Conservative Party Policy Board

O’Brien has arrived to find the MP for Havant already in place, who though not a former think tank head is no policy slouch.

The Prime Minister’s full text. ‘Scientific breakthroughs will ultimately make these restrictions obsolete’.

“From next month, weekly tests will be available to staff in prisons, food manufacturing, and those delivering and administering Covid vaccines.”

Please register for today’s joint Policy Exchange and ConservativeHome event on One Nation after Covid

The panellists are: Isaac Levido, Arlene Foster, Kirstene Hair, Danny Kruger & Jane Stevenson. Paul Goodman will chair the event.

The 32 Conservative MPs who voted against lockdown

Theresa May abstained and seems to have done so deliberately, after making a speech critical of the Government’s proposals.

Johnson is pressed in the Commons by Tory MPs about an end to shutdown by Christmas

Fox floated a new Parliamentary committee to “determine that decisions across all parts of Government have been taken on the best available evidence”.

“Let me spell out the medical and moral disaster we face.” The Prime Minister’s statement to MPs. Full text.

“We would also reach a point where the NHS was no longer there for everyone. The sick would be turned away because there was no room in our hospitals.”

“I am optimistic that this will feel very different and better by the spring.” The Prime Minister’s statement. Full text.

England goes into lockdown and furlough is back, but “the scientists…are unanimously optimistic about the medium and the long term future.”