MP links lockdown leak inquiry to departing PR chief Lee Cain

Cat Neilan
·53 min read
Lee Cain: MP asks if he was involved in the lockdown leak - Getty
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An MP has linked the resignation of Number 10's director of communications Lee Cain with the ongoing leak inquiry into who was behind pre-emptive stories about the second national lockdown.

The Cabinet Office is investigating how newspapers were briefed on the second round of national measures before Boris Johnson was able to announce the news to Parliament and the country.

In a Commons question, Peter Bone, the Conservative MP for Wellingborough, noted there had been reports suggesting the leak inquiry was no longer looking to Cabinet ministers and is now instead focusing on special advisers.

Mr Bone linked the inquiry to the resignation of the senior adviser. Mr Cain has denied involvement in the leak, along with Michael Gove and Matt Hancock, two ministers in the so-called "Quad" where the decision was made.

Responding, Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg said Mr Cain's departure would be a "loss to the Government", praising him as "a fantastic public servant he has been, somebody instrumental in ensuring the Vote Leave campaign was successful and somebody who has made a huge contribution to this Government."

The minister added: "There are opportunities to question the Prime Minister about the leak inquiry at Prime Minister's Questions. I'm not convinced it deserves a specific statement of its own."

Read all the day's news below.

05:52 PM

And that's it for another day...

It is a truth universally acknowledged that press conferences fronted by Alok Sharma will tell you nothing new. 

And so, true to form, the Business Secretary told the country that the Government was working very hard, but precisely on what was harder to pin down.

No information on what happens after lockdown is lifted on December 2, no detail on how the vaccination programme will work and - despite being asked several times - no response to questions about potential supply chain disruption to the vaccines in the event of a no-deal Brexit. 

Less surprisingly, he also gave nothing away on the squabbles within Number 10, but luckily for you my colleagues Gordon Rayner and Chris Hope are on the case. Read the inside story here.

Questions are being asked about Lee Cain's involvement in leaking the lockdown plans, and whether Dominic Cummings can continue to cling on. You were split on the matter, but more than 1,700 people voted in our daily poll. Some 57 per cent of readers reckon he will cling on, compared with 43 per cent who say it is time for Boris Johnson to get rid.

Perhaps we will find out tomorrow. For now, there appears to be one winner and one loser from the Number 10 civil war.

Lee Cain looks glum as he walks to work today - Getty
Allegra Stratton beams as she enters Number 10 - Getty

05:36 PM

Restrictions will still be in place after lockdown lifts, says NHS boss

Stephen Powis is asked if it is right to come out of lockdown with cases so high. 

He says that is a decision for the ministers, but notes it won't be "back to normal" and there will still be restrictions in place. 

The NHS boss also stresses we are only one week into four of the lockdown, and ministers will be "deciding what the best menu" of options is thereafter. 

Alok Sharma is then asked about possible supply chain disruption to vaccines, in light of a possible no deal Brexit. 

He highlights the work that has been taking place and is ongoing, urging businesses to look at the information that is being set out, but doesn't answer the question. 

And that is it - the press conference is over. 

05:32 PM

NHS boss 'confident' that Britons will have Covid vaccine

Alok Sharma is asked whether they will make vaccines compulsory. 

He says the first thing to do is ensure they are safe, and they won't be deployed until then. 

There will be a priority list, he adds. "I don't want to jump ahead here," the Business Secretary says. 

Stephen Powis notes that the UK has one of the highest vaccination rates in the world, and this year "we are further ahead" in flu vaccines than last year. 

"That gives me confidence," he adds, echoing Mr Sharma's points about the safety and regulation processes. 

"I am confident that the British people will understand the benefits, not just for themselves, but for everybody," he adds. 

05:29 PM

Alok Sharma challenged over anti-vaxxer problem with communication

Alok Sharma is then asked about the rise of anti-vaxxers and if the Government has a problem with its communications on this front, in light of the disarray in Number 10 and the departure of PR boss Lee Cain. 

The Business Secretary stresses that the focus has been to get support to businesses and individuals, and the work carried out to communicate this. 

In terms of vaccines, he adds it is "very good news" that people are participating with trials and "we will continue to communicate with people" on vaccines. 

It is important to get the messages out, but we have been able to do that, he adds. 

05:25 PM

Alok Sharma insists Government has 'singular' focus on pandemic

Alok Sharma is asked who advisers to president-elect Joe Biden should speak to in the UK. 

He says Boris Johnson has had a good call with Mr Biden already, and highlights the points of agreement between the two sides. 

He then stresses that the Government has a "singular" focus, which is on dealing with the pandemic. 

05:23 PM

It is possible that elective care could be affected if cases continue to rise, NHS boss warns

Stephen Powis is asked about the decision to stop procedures to deal with coronavirus, after the waiting list rose to 4.35m in September. 

He says they could see health systems coming under pressure around the world and testing was more limited at the first wave, so it was "absolutely critical" to create capacity within the NHS. 

"But of course we don't want to step down elective procedures where possible, and so in the second wave we haven't done that."

He says there is more to do, and there is a "possibility that elective care gets affected", if cases continue to rise. 

Everyone has a part to play in stopping that, he says. 

05:22 PM

Alok Sharma dodges question about Lee Cain

Alok Sharma is then asked about the internal squabbles in Number 10 over the last few days. 

The Business Secretary says "all of us in Government are focused on one thing - protecting lives and protecting livelihoods". 

He highlights the furlough scheme and other support as an example of that, saying ministers will "continue to do that". 

05:18 PM

NHS boss plays down record-high figure for new Covid cases

They then turn to questions from journalists, which start with a focus on today's record-high data. 

Stephen Powis says it is important to look at the seven day average, which is just about 22,000, rather than one day. 

He says the ONS has been looking at Covid infections in a segment of the population, and Imperial have been doing something similar, suggesting people look at multiple data sets as well as several days. 

"The real key thing about the data is to emphasis the importance of all of us complying with the restrictions," he adds. 

Alok Sharma is asked about the impact of a no deal Brexit. He says whatever form of deal, there will be changes for business, which must get ready for January 1, and have been through webinars and direct communication with Government. 

05:14 PM

No detail on exit plan after lockdown from Alok Sharma

They turn to questions from the public, which is about what happens after the national lockdown is lifted. 

Alok Sharma says they will end on December 2 and we will move back into the tiered system. 

He says what is "important right now" is to observe the rules. 

Boris Johnson will set out more details closer to Dec 2, he adds. 

05:13 PM

NHS boss: Don't stop following Covid measures, despite vaccine 'cavalry'

Stephen Powis thanks people for "following the latest restrictions - I know it is not easy, especially the second time around". 

He points to the single slide being used today, noting how much hospital inpatients have risen. 

Rise in number of people in hospitals

The NHS boss says the vaccine news is "extremely encouraging" but says while it might feel as though "the cavalry is coming" people must continue to follow the restrictions.

"We know these measures work, so don't stop now."

The vaccine will not help us in the second wave, he adds. 

05:08 PM

Alok Sharma praises businesses for being 'determined to soldier through' the pandemic

Alok Sharma turns to the extension of support including the furlough scheme to the end of next March. 

The Government will be distributing £2.2bn to councils to help more support through loans, he says. And more than 19,000 jobs have been created through the Kick Start scheme across the country and in a variety of sectors, describing it as "a ray of hope". 

The Business Secretary says: "I know how hard this jobs market is... I speak to businesses every day and I know that despite the tough times they are determined to soldier through this."

He praises Brew Dog for producing hand sanitiser as an example of the kind of pivoting businesses have been making to adapt to new circumstances. 

05:04 PM

Alok Sharma: 595 deaths in UK yesterday

Alok Sharma has opened the press conference confirming the average number of cases (22,524), people in hospitals (14,196), those on ventilators (1,219) and deaths. 

In total, there were 595 deaths in the UK yesterday. 

All numbers are rising. 

The seven-day average is now 375 "up from 295 a week ago," he adds. "A reminder to use of why we are taking the action we are to stop the spread of the virus and ultimately save lives". 

He notes the economic impact also, saying the Government will also support businesses "now and as they recover". 

04:59 PM

Michael Gove: There is 'complete focus' on pandemic, despite No 10 civil war

Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove insisted there is a "complete focus" in Government on coronavirus, Brexit and delivering on the manifesto, despite the turmoil in Downing Street.

He told the BBC: "There's a complete focus in Government on making sure we can work with business and work with citizens in order to deliver on the promise of Brexit and to take advantage of the opportunities of being outside the European Union."

Pressed if he can say that with a straight face, considering the staffing issues in No 10, Mr Gove replied: "I can completely.

"My focus, and the focus of other ministers, and the focus of the colleagues of whom I work is totally on delivering for the British people, honouring our manifesto promises, making sure we take back control and also making sure that the economic opportunities of our recovery from Covid are exploited to the full."

Dominic Cummings worked with Michael Gove eight years ago - Getty

04:49 PM

Alok Sharma to give press conference at 5pm amid gloomy coronavirus data

Alok Sharma is due to give a press conference from Downing Street shortly, alongside NHS England medical director Stephen Powis. 

The pair are expected to set out the latest in the Government's response to coronavirus. It comes a day after the UK became the first country in Europe to pass 50,000 Covid deaths. 

This morning a record number of cases were recorded. 

04:46 PM

UK records highest daily number of coronavirus cases

There have been a further 33,470 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK as of 9am today, the highest daily figure recorded since the outbreak began.

It brings the total number of cases in the UK to 1,290,195.

Experts have previously warned that describing the daily figure as a record could be "misleading" as it is not clear how many people were actually infected during the height of the first wave, due to a lack of community testing at the time.

04:31 PM

Stoke-on-Trent to get rapid mass testing rapidly following spike in cases

New rapid mass testing could be rolled out to Stoke-on-Trent schools within weeks as the city recorded its highest ever Covid-19 infection rate.

Health officials in the city, which has the highest seven-day positive test case rate of any council area in the West Midlands, are also planning to offer lateral flow tests to businesses.

It comes as council leader Abi Brown described the current infection rate rise as "alarming" and "hugely concerning".

Stoke public health workers are to start community testing on Friday, administering to residents the first 125 lateral flow tests from its Government allocation of 10,000.

The tests, which can provide a result within 20 minutes without any lab processing, are being rolled out nationally following earlier successful trials in both Stoke and Liverpool.

04:20 PM

Government called on to create new tobacco control plan to ensure England is 'smoke free' by 2030

An MP has called on the Government to develop a tobacco control plan now, to ensure England is "smoke-free" by 2030. 

Mary Kelly Foy, Labour MP for the City of Durham, told the Commons that despite ongoing efforts to prevent young people taking up smoking, almost 2,000 children do so every week "two-thirds of whom will go on to become regular smokers".

The Tobacco Control Plan, published in 2017, is "no longer fit for purpose in light of the ambition for England to be smoke free by 2030, the decision to abolish Public Health England and the Government's manifesto commitments to increase healthy life expectancy for five years by 2035 while narrowing inequalities," she added. 

"If a new tobacco control plan is to be put in place in a timely manner it needs to be done and in development now."

Ms Kelly Foy added: "We need bold announcements from the Government on tough new measures, along the lines set out in the road map to a smoke-free 2030 which has been endorsed by the all-party group on smoking and health, if we are to achieve a smoke free 2030."

04:08 PM

Business and union leaders welcome plans to create 2m green jobs

Business and union leaders have welcomed Government plans to create two million green jobs by 2030.

A Green Jobs Taskforce has been set up to ensure there are enough skilled workers in sectors such as offshore wind and home retrofitting. The plan will also support workers in high-carbon transitioning sectors, like oil and gas, to retrain in new green technologies.

Sue Ferns of the Prospect trade union, who will sit on the taskforce, said: "It is good to see the Government recognise that unions are well placed to advise on the skills our economy needs going forward and on the best way to fairly move to a low-carbon economy while safeguarding jobs."

Rhian Kelly of National Grid said: "We need taskforces like this so that we can work together to create training and maximise opportunities to ensure we have the right people with the right skills to deliver."

Tata Steel's representative on the taskforce, Tor Farquhar, added: "Preparing for a CO2-neutral future is about more than just investing in new technology, it is about ensuring all employees have the skills they need now to create the change we all need."

03:42 PM

Michel Barnier: "Looking for level playing fields"

We could probably all do with a laugh - or at the least a wry smile. But you probably didn't think it would be provided by the EU's chief negotiator. 

Michel Barnier has taken a break from "intense" Brexit talks to go "looking for level playing fields". 

Tres drole.

03:30 PM

Britain's R-rate falls below 1, new modelling from King's College suggests

Britain's reproductive number could now be below one, new data from King's College London has suggested.

Estimates published by the university suggest that the UK's R-value – the number of people infected by each individual case – could be as low as 0.9.

The study uses data gathered more than a million users of the Covid Symptom Study app, made by health-tech company ZOE.

It is one of the more optimistic evaluations of the country's epidemiological situation.

Elsewhere others have suggested that the UK's R-rate is hovering closer to the 1.1-1.3 mark, according to official Government statistics. 

03:13 PM

Ross Clark: Dominic Cummings is hanging by a thread

Man you’ve never heard of resigns from job you never knew existed – it doesn’t sound the most exciting of headlines.  

Except, that is, when it affects a man everyone has heard of and indeed who many believe has the most important job of all as the real leader of the country.

So forget Lee Cain and Carrie Symonds – the spat between them is like all those proxy wars in Korea, Afghanistan and so on during the Cold War.

As Ross Clark argues, the real battle is between the superpowers – Dominic Cummings on the one hand and Tory MPs on the other, with the Prime Minister, like Berlin, sandwiched in the middle.

The real war is between Cummings and the Tory party - PA

02:54 PM

British history 'under attack' and being 'woke-washed', MPs claim

Britain's history is "under attack" and heritage organisations are in the thrall of the "militant Black Lives Matter movement", a Conservative former minister has claimed.

Sir John Hayes told the Commons that "defending our history and heritage is our era's Battle of Britain", as he railed against heritage organisations, including the National Trust, for recent moves to contextualise historical figures in terms of their links to Britain's colonial past.

Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg echoed this, as he described "an avalanche of miserable Britain-hating nonsense filling the airwaves in recent months about our history and our culture".   

Mr Rees-Mogg said: "I would like to reiterate the points made in the letter sent by my right honourable friend the Culture Secretary to museums recently that they are not political campaigning institutions and they should not be intruding into today's politics."

Marco Longhi, Labour's MP for Dudley North, said he feared Britain's history is being "woke-washed".

02:48 PM

Further 317 people die with coronavirus in England

A further 317 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died in hospital in England, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths reported in hospitals to 35,640, NHS England said on Thursday.

Patients were aged between 33 and 98. All except nine, aged between 48 and 81, had known underlying health conditions.

The deaths were between October 10 and November 11.

The North West was the worst-affected region, with 90 deaths, followed by the North East & Yorkshire, with 80 and the Midlands with 74.

There were 23 deaths registered in London, 21 in the East of England,  15 in the South East and 14 in the South West. 

02:24 PM

Number 10 condemns 'shameful and cowardly' Jeddah attack

Number 10 has condemned as "shameful and cowardly" a bomb attack at a Remembrance Day ceremony attended by foreign diplomats in the Saudi city of Jeddah.

The embassies of France, Greece, Italy, the UK and the US said an improvised explosive device blew up at a cemetery for non-Muslims on Wednesday morning.

Several people were wounded, including one British person. 

The Prime Minister's spokesman said: "We condemn this shameful and cowardly act. Our thoughts are with those affected. 

"As minister James Cleverly has said, we have confidence the Saudi authorities will investigate the attack and prosecute those responsible."

02:14 PM

Boycott Chinese goods over Hong Kong treaty breach, say peers

A government-backed boycott has been urged of Chinese goods after Beijing ousted four opposition MPs in Hong Kong.

Speaking in the House of Lords, Tory peer Lord McColl of Dulwich said: "In view of this scandalous behaviour by the Chinese government and their rejection of the criticism of western governments, is it not time to encourage people not to support Chinese exports as their economy is all important to the Chinese?"

Foreign Minister Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon said: "We have a strategic relationship with China and we have continued to wish to strengthen that. But where there are abuses of human rights whether we are talking Hong Kong or indeed in mainland China, we will call those out."

01:55 PM

Use jubilee to promote the monarchy, says Culture Secretary

Oliver Dowden said the Jubilee in 2022 provides an opportunity to remind people "of the benefits of monarchy".

Conservative Sir Edward Leigh (Gainsborough) told MPs: "Street parties are great and all that sort of stuff, but can we also proclaim the virtue of the monarchical system during these celebrations?"

He added that if the UK "were tempted to become a republic, we could have President Trump as the head of state, or President Macron".

Oliver Dowden said he was an 'ardent monarchist' -  DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP

Mr Dowden replied: "Of course, I am an ardent monarchist and a jubilee provides an opportunity to remind us of the benefits of monarchy."

Labour's Chris Bryant (Rhondda) said: "I just hope that this will be a genuinely diverse celebration - I'm sure it will, I fully welcome it. I hope that it will not just be big events in big cities, that there will be big events organised from the centre in small towns."

Mr Dowden replied: "He's absolutely right about diversity. It is so important that everyone in our nation feels that they can come together and celebrate, and that it reflects the diversity of modern Britain."

01:49 PM

Care homes guidance is 'overly cautious', says MP

Huw Merriman, a Tory MP, has criticised government guidance for care homes for being “overly cautious”.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s World at One, the MP for Bexhill and Battle called for “regular testing for at least one designated family member” of care home residents and for safe and closer contact between families, provided that testing and better PPE is made available.

Mr Merriman said it was “crucial” that we have a system that “recognises one designated visitor, who is regularly tested” and then allowed “closer and more humane contact” with their family member in the care home.

Huw Merriman is a Tory backbencher - David Young/PA

He suggested that the government had “become so cautious” as it didn’t “want to be accused again of being in a position where lives are lost inside care homes”.

He described the government advice as “overly cautious” and said it put the onus onto care homes to make the decision over visiting – “which are also risk averse and so don’t allow visitors at all”.

“If it’s just down to the care home and they are being risk averse or don’t have the money to adapt then they will take the safer option, but is that the safer option for the resident? I would say it’s not”.

Mr Merriman said he would like government guidance “to make obvious that care home providers should be doing everything they can to make sure visiting happen”.

01:36 PM

Have your say: Is this the beginning of the end for Dominic Cummings?

Lee Cain's trajectory from supposed promotion to resignation in less than a day was met with no small amount of jubilation on the Conservative backbenches. 

On one hand, MPs do not believe the communications out of Number 10 has been strong enough with the pandemic, leaving them exposed on issues like free school meals and the exams row that they believe could have been better managed "if someone had seen the wood for the trees". 

There is no love lost between them and Dominic Cummings, who has been likened to evil adviser Wormtongue from Lord of the Rings, Austin Power's nemesis Dr Evil and many other unflattering characters. 

Guto Harri, Boris Johnson's adviser during his spell as Mayor, suggested that Mr Cummings' control was contributing to a lack of competence within Number 10, saying good candidates would not take the job will "all roads lead" to him instead of the PM. 

But he has clung on through worse scandals - notably Barnard Castle - and could cling on yet. 

So is this the beginning of the end, or will they dig their heels in yet again? Have your say in the poll below. 

01:35 PM

Lobby latest: Brexit bill law breach a world away from Beijing's, says Downing Street

Downing Street rejected any comparison between Beijing's actions and the Government's UK Internal Market Bill, which ministers have acknowledged breaches international law.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said the measures giving ministers powers to override provisions in the Brexit divorce settlement relating to Northern Ireland are designed to protect the peace process and the UK internal market from any "unintended consequences" of the agreement.

"We would expect other countries to recognise this and the exceptional circumstances we find ourselves in," the spokesman said.

"There is no way that you can extrapolate from our approach to these very specific parts of the Withdrawal Agreement to the UK's international behaviour more generally.

"As a country we stand for international law and the rules-based international system, and we always will."

01:28 PM

Boris Johnson must 'get a grip' on Number 10 civil war

Senior Conservative backbencher Sir Roger Gale said the power struggle in Downing Street is a "distraction" from the coronavirus pandemic and post-Brexit trade negotiations, and told Prime Minister Boris Johnson to "get a grip on it".

"The Government, and Downing Street particularly, should be concentrating all of its efforts on the pandemic and on the end game of Brexit, and frankly this is a distraction that cannot and should not be allowed to take place, and the Prime Minister has got to get a grip on it," he told the PA agency. 

"For my money Cummings is a liability and what the Prime Minister needs and deserves is a first-rate chief of staff who is a serious heavyweight, I think the expression currently in use is big boy pants."

01:11 PM

Dominic Cummings clings on to job as Tory anger grows over 'dysfunctional' Number 10

Conservative MPs have urged Boris Johnson to bring in grown ups to Number 10 in a bid to rescue the "dysfunctional" dynamic, as Dominic Cummings clings onto his job. 

The chief adviser is reported to have threatened to quit in solidarity with Lee Cain, Downing Street's director of communications, who sensationally announced he was resigning just hours after being tipped for a promotion to the Prime Minister's chief of staff.

However sources suggested he was staying put, alongside Sir David Frost, Mr Johnson's Brexit negotiator.  

Sir Charles Walker, vice chair of the 1922 committee of Tory backbenchers, told Radio 4's Today programme there had been "unhappiness about the No 10 operation for some time", with MPs feeling "excluded from the decision-making process". 

But there was "a real opportunity for the chief of staff role to be filled by someone with good links with Conservative party and parliament" now, Sir Charles said. 

He tipped Andrew Feldman, who served as party chairman under David Cameron, and David Canzini, who ran Mr Johnson's leadership bid last summer, as names that would go down well with MPs.  "Both would have the trust of the party but also the ear of the Prime Minister," he said. 

01:06 PM

Government right to splash the cash to fight against anti-vaxxer 'nutters', says Jacob Rees-Mogg

The Government's vaccine chief was right to spend money on public relations to counter misinformation spread by anti-vaxxer "nutters", Jacob Rees-Mogg has said.

The Commons Leader told MPs that people who oppose vaccination "go around spreading rumour and causing concern to people" and it is "reasonable" that the Government should "put out the true information to reassure people".

Mr Rees-Mogg's comments came as shadow Commons leader Valerie Vaz called for a public inquiry into reports that chairwoman of the UK's Vaccine Taskforce, Kate Bingham, allocated £670,000 to be spent on public relations.

The minister said Ms Bingham "deserves credit, plaudits and praise, paeans of praise, for what she has done for free - she has been working for free, she has not been charging the British taxpayer." 

But he noted there are "a few nutters around, Mr Speaker - I'm sure you've never met them - who are anti-vaxxers, and they go around spreading rumour and causing concern to people. We need to put out the true information to reassure people and that is a reasonable and a proper thing to do.

"And I think the attacks on Kate Bingham are discreditable and unpleasant." 

01:01 PM

Lobby latest: Downing Street defends Brexit stance after Taoiseach warns of 'very damaging' no deal

Downing Street has defended its negotiating position in EU trade talks after Taoiseach Micheal Martin said failing to reach an agreement would be "very, very damaging all around".

The Taoiseach said not securing a deal would have "ruinous" consequences for both the UK and Ireland and that it could lead to "tensions that are unnecessary" in Northern Ireland.

But the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "We have been working hard throughout to get a deal but we've always said that it needs to be a deal that fully respects UK sovereignty, and that's what we're continuing to pursue.

"Right from the outset I don't think we've been seeking anything that the EU hasn't agreed to with other sovereign countries and we're working hard and are continuing to work hard, but it is the case that significant gaps remain."

He said that the Prime Minister still intends for the UK to leave the bloc without a trade deal if one is not brokered by the end of the transition period on December 31.

Micheal Martin - PA

12:58 PM

Lobby latest: 'Significant gaps' remain in Brexit talks, says Downing Street

Downing Street has said that there remains "significant gaps" between the two sides in the post-Brexit trade negotiations with the EU.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "Talks are continuing in London and the negotiators are working hard to bridge the still significant gaps that remain.

"Time is in short supply and there are still significant gaps that remain."

He said that Prime Minister and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen have agreed to remain in contact.

Michel Barnier walks to Brexit talks in London - Getty

12:53 PM

Lobby latest: Boris Johnson 'fully focused' despite civil war rows

Downing Street has insisted that Boris Johnson remains "absolutely focused" on the coronavirus pandemic despite the infighting inside No 10 leading to the resignation of Lee Cain.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "The Prime Minister is fully focused on tackling coronavirus.

"I think you can see the progress that we're making in terms of rolling out mass testing, in securing vaccines and also in terms of making improvements to things such as test and trace.

"So, I think what you can see is the Prime Minister is absolutely focused on beating this virus and taking the measures that are necessary to get that R rate down and bring the infection rate back under control."

Pressed if the shake-up among senior staff was a distraction, he said: "You've seen from the Prime Minister this week that he's absolutely focused on taking all the steps that are required to equip the country to beat coronavirus."

The spokesman confirmed that he would replace Mr Cain as director of communications, though would remain a civil servant, and that Mr Cain would remain in the post until the new year.

Lee Cain quit last night amid reports of a No 10 civil war - David Rose

12:50 PM

Lee Cain's departure will be a 'loss to the Government', says Jacob Rees-Mogg

Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg has said Lee Cain's departure will be a "loss to the Government", as he was asked about the director of communication's connection to the lockdown leak.

Peter Bone, the Conservative MP for Wellingborough, noted there had been reports suggesting the leak inquiry was no longer looking to Cabinet ministers, instead focusing on special advisers, which he linked to Mr Cain's decision to resign last night. 

Responding Mr Rees-Mogg told MPs: "May I just say what a fantastic public servant he has been, somebody instrumental in ensuring the Vote Leave campaign was successful and somebody who has made a huge contribution to this Government.

"He will be a loss to the Government and has been a very important figure to it."

The minister added: "There are opportunities to question the Prime Minister about the leak inquiry at Prime Minister's Questions. I'm not convinced it deserves a specific statement of its own."

12:42 PM

Jacob Rees-Mogg defends decision to prevent vulnerable MPs from voting remotely

Jacob Rees-Mogg has defended the Government's position that MPs cannot vote remotely, saying those who are "seriously, critically vulnerable" can still participate in many ways. 

The Leader of the Commons was accused of suggesting that they were "shirking our duties" by former sports minister Tracey Crouch.  

Responding, Mr Rees-Mogg said: "I think the point with Westminster Hall is that that was brought back at a point at which the broadcasting facilities were already being fully utilised, so it wasn't an issue then of whether we wanted to do it or not, it simply wasn't an option, and the demand to bring back Westminster Hall was great across all parts of the House.

"But members who are shielding, who are seriously, critically vulnerable, are able to participate in many aspects of the House's business. They are able to participate in interrogative sessions such as this one, they are able to vote by proxy, they are able to participate in select committees.

"But we do have to get a balance between the needs of honourable members and the needs of the House as a whole to proceed with its business."

Jacob Rees-Mogg in Downing Street this week - AFP

12:29 PM

Former minister tells Jacob Rees-Mogg to stop accusing MPs of 'shirking' duties

A former minister who was diagnosed with breast cancer has told Jacob Rees-Mogg to stop thinking that MPs who are working at home are "shirking" their duties.

Tracey Crouch, who announced her diagnosis in June, noted there was a debate on breast cancer which, "because of his ruling, some of us with real and current life experience of the disease are disappointingly unable to participate in."

The former sports minister and Conservative MP for Chatham and Aylesford suggested that if Mr Rees-Mogg was "not the fine specimen of health and fitness he clearly is, he would be arguing forcefully for members to be able to contribute more often in proceedings by modern technology."

She added: "Given that hybrid proceedings have been extended, would he please stop thinking those of us at home are shirking our duties, in fact quite the opposite, and urgently reconsider virtual participation, even if just for general backbench and Westminster Hall debates."

12:14 PM

Jacob Rees-Mogg defiant as Labour slams refusal to allow remote voting as 'an affront to the House'

Jacob Rees-Mogg has reiterated that MPs will not be allowed to return to voting remotely, despite Labour's Valerie Vaz saying it is "an affront to the House and everything the House stands for that there were 203 proxy votes cast by the whip."

The shadow leader had quoted David Davis - leading Mr Rees-Mogg to suggest the former Brexit secretary had "proved the efficacy of the system because he was able to take his proxy away and vote the way he wanted to having listened to the debate".

The Commons leader added: "This is a way that is working, it is effective, it has reduced the queues in the division lobbies - which, I know, was a great concern of [Ms Vaz]."

He added: "I'm afraid we need to be here in person, Government business has to be carried through, important pieces of legislation have to be scrutinised and this is best done in person, as we found when we were hybrid earlier in the year.

"So there will not be a return to remote voting."

12:05 PM

UK should welcome Hong Kongers like those who fled Hungary and Iran, says former minister

The UK should welcome Hong Kongers like it did Hungarians in 1956 and Iranians in 1979, a former Foreign Office minister said.

Conservative Andrew Murrison told the Commons: "Depressingly, I think we know where all this will end and it isn't pretty. We should encourage and welcome Hong Kongers who wish to leave Hong Kong to the UK as other countries have also done.

"Noting those we welcomed from Hungary, for example, in 1956, Iranians in 1979 and Chinese after Tiananmen Square in 1989."

Foreign Office minister Nigel Adams replied: "He's absolutely right. Hong Kongers are highly-skilled individuals, they are highly-educated and we very much look forward to welcoming applications under our new immigration route."

Labour's Chris Bryant, another former Foreign Office minister, said the UK Government had "given up" on Hong Kong, adding: "Communism today looks remarkably like fascism."

11:59 AM

Cummings and goings: The morning in pictures

Westminster is always a flurry of activity - but today the world's eyes are on people who might normally go unnoticed.  

Lee Cain looked chipper as he walked into work this morning - despite having resigned as director of communications last night. 

The man tipped to replace him, James Slack, and deputy press secretary Jack Doyle, looked less happy as they arrived at Downing Street. But Allegra Stratton smiled wide from her official car. 

Lee Cain looked cheery as he headed into work this morning - despite having resigned last night - Eddie Mulholland
The Prime Minister's Official Spokesman James Slack is expected to take Lee Cain's role  - PA
Deputy press secretary Jack Doyle - PA
Mark Spencer, the chief whip: MPs are desperate for a more functional relationship with No 10 - Getty
Allegra Stratton: The face of Downing Street's new daily televised press briefings and winner of the No 10 power struggle - PA

11:41 AM

Move DCMS to Stoke-on-Trent, Michael Gove jokes

Michael Gove has suggested culture ministers should be relocated from Westminster to Stoke-on-Trent.

The Cabinet Office minister joked to MPs he "can't think of anywhere better to put" the team led by Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden.

Jonathan Gullis, Conservative MP for Stoke-on-Trent North, hailed his constituency's "rich" industrial heritage and cyber infrastructure asking the minister if he agreed "we're the perfect location for DCMS's new hub?"

Mr Gove replied: "I can't think of anywhere better to put DCMS ministers than Stoke-on-Trent.

"A jewel in the heart of Staffordshire, home to industrial innovation for generations now and also boasting three of the finest members of Parliament in this House of Commons."

He has previously talked about the desire to have civil servants based outside the M25, telling the Tory party conference last month that this could be one of the silver linings to the pandemic-induced shift towards working from home. 

11:33 AM

Have your say: Is this the beginning of the end for Dominic Cummings?

Lee Cain's trajectory from supposed promotion to resignation in less than a day was met with no small amount of jubilation on the Conservative backbenches. 

On one hand, MPs do not believe the communications out of Number 10 has been strong enough with the pandemic, leaving them exposed on issues like free school meals and the exams row that they believe could have been better managed "if someone had seen the wood for the trees". 

There is no love lost between them and Dominic Cummings, who has been likened to evil adviser Wormtongue from Lord of the Rings, Austin Power's nemesis Dr Evil and many other unflattering characters. 

Guto Harri, Boris Johnson's adviser during his spell as Mayor, suggested that Mr Cummings' control was contributing to a lack of competence within Number 10, saying good candidates would not take the job will "all roads lead" to him instead of the PM. 

But he has clung on through worse scandals - notably Barnard Castle - and could cling on yet. 

So is this the beginning of the end, or will they dig their heels in yet again? Have your say in the poll below. 

11:20 AM

Contact tracing rates fail to improve

Some 60.4 per cent of close contacts of people who tested positive for Covid-19 in England were reached through the Test and Trace system in the week ending November 4, according to the latest figures.

This is up very slightly from 60.2 per cent in the previous week and is also just above the all-time low of 60.1 per cent for the week to October 14.

For cases managed by local health protection teams, 99.1 per cent of contacts were reached and asked to self-isolate in the week to November 4.

For cases managed either online or by call centres, 59 per cent of close contacts were reached and asked to self-isolate. 

11:13 AM

Former minister accuses FCO of 'stalling' on sanctions over Uighur abuses

A former minister has accused the Foreign Office of "stalling" when it comes to applying Magnitsky sanctions against Chinese officials involved in abuse against the Uighur people. 

Nus Ghani, the former transport minister, asked Nigel Adams: "If friends and allies can gather enough evidence against Chinese officials in the abuse they undertake against the Uighur, what is stalling the minister's department to do the same?"

Mr Adams said it was "not appropriate to speculate on sanctions or individuals", but stressed that Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab would "consider any evidence that is put forward and if the hon lady has such, I would urge her to get in touch with the FCO."

Asked a similar question by Labour's Sarah Owen, he added: "We are very deeply concerned about the extra-judicial detention of over a million Uighur muslims and other minorities in so-called political re-education camps.

"We made our case very clear to the Chinese authorities in this regard...we are constantly considering designations under the Magnitsky regime, but it would not be helpful to speculate on the names of those people who are being considered at this moment."

11:01 AM

UK has summoned Chinese ambassador over Hong Kong breach

The UK has summoned the Chinese ambassador over the country's actions in Hong Kong, Foreign Office minister Nigel Adams told the Commons.

Responding to an urgent question, he said: "The permanent undersecretary of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has today summoned the Chinese ambassador to register our deep concern at this latest action by his Government."

It was "a subject we have been incredibly robust on over the last 12 months... The joint declaration is in force, the policies contained within it should remain unchanged for 50 years. It is a legally binding international agreement registered with the UN and we are absolutely fully committed to upholding Hong KOng's high degree of autonomy and freedoms."

10:43 AM

Camilla Tominey: The row that laid bare the tensions in Number 10

For months now, there have been rumours of a growing ruckus over who really has the Prime Minister's ear.

On one side, the omnipotent Dominic Cummings, aided by Michael Gove and their Vote Leave acolytes, have appeared to dominate the Downing Street landscape.

On the other, quietly manoeuvring in the background, have been Carrie Symonds, Mr Johnson's fiancee of eight months, and the Tory "old guard" Mr Cummings has grown to despise.

Supported by prominent figures such as the former Chancellor Sajid Javid, Ms Symonds, the Conservative Party's former director of communications, has been subtly pushing back at suggestions that she is merely in Downing Street for decoration.

Read Camilla Tominey's take on how the Lee Cain row laid bare the tensions at the heart of Mr Johnson's fledgling administration. 

Lee Cain in Westminster this morning - Eddie Mulholland

10:35 AM

Rishi Sunak signals plans for winter Eat Out to Help Out after second lockdown

Rishi Sunak has suggested that he is mulling a winter version of the summer's Eat Out to Help Out scheme to help boost the economy after the second national lockdown. 

During an interview about the latest GDP figures this morning, the Chancellor was asked if he was planning to dust off the scheme which gave diners 50 per cent off meals, up to £10 per person, from Mondays to  Wednesdays throughout August.

Speaking to Sky News this morning, Mr Sunak said: "We'll talk about specific measures, but more broadly I think it's right when we finally exit this (lockdown) and hopefully next year with testing and vaccines, we'll be able to start to look forward to getting back to normal.

"We'll have to look forward to the economic situation then and see what the best form of our support.

"We want to get consumers spending again, get them out and about, we'll look at a range of things to see what the right interventions are at that time."

10:14 AM

Dominic Raab accuses Beijing of 'clear breach' of Sino-British joint declaration

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has accused Beijing of a "clear breach" of the legally binding joint declaration on Hong Kong, 

Yesterday China announced that any Hong Kong legislators who promote or support the city's independence, refuse to recognise China’s sovereignty over Hong Kong, seek foreign countries to interfere in the affairs of Hong Kong, or endanger the national security of Hong Kong, should be disqualified from membership of the Hong Kong Legislative Council.  

That led to the immediate removal of four elected members of the legislative council who were - at that moment - sitting in the Chamber.  

"Beijing’s imposition of new rules to disqualify elected legislators in Hong Kong constitutes a clear breach of the legally binding Sino-British joint declaration," Mr Raab said today.

“China has once again broken its promises and undermined Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy.  The UK will stand up for the people of Hong Kong, and call out violations of their rights and freedoms.  With our international partners, we will hold China to the obligations it freely assumed under international law."

10:11 AM

Planet Normal: The secret thoughts of a GP in lockdown

This week's Planet Normal podcast, features an interview with a London GP, who shared her concerns about how the NHS is failing non-Covid patients.

Clare - not her real name -  spoke in detail to Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan about the experience of being a GP during the pandemic; you can listen to the conversation in full on the audio player below.

“We were scandalously under-prepared for [the pandemic] because Public Health England really were not ready for this, even though one of their main roles was to prepare for a pandemic. One of the problems is that the NHS always runs fairly close to capacity, and that's especially true in winter. So it's not uncommon for beds to be 85 to 90 percent occupied in the winter. And we quite frequently have red alerts, which means we are told not to send patients to our local hospital because they are already full. "

09:59 AM

Michael Gove dodges question about whether he is on 'Dom's side or Carrie's'

Michael Gove has played down suggestions that the row over Number 10 advisers is having an impact on government at a critical time. 

Pete Wishart, SNP's MP for Perth and North Perthshire, noted that with just 50 days left until the end of transition while the Covid death toll has reached 50,000 "the faceless characters that actually run this country in Number 10 are at each other's throats", before asking: "Whose side is he on - Dom's or Carrie's?"

Mr Gove said he was "on the side of people from Aberdeen to Aberystwyth who voted to leave the the European Union, who want us as a UK to make a great success of these new opportunities". 

He raised a laugh as he noted that the Scottish Government was "a total stranger to behind the scenes intrigue and briefing wars, so I can imagine his shock and amazement to see these things reported in the papers."

Lee Cain, a close ally of Dominic Cummings, resigned last night - Eddie Mulholland

09:49 AM

Boris Johnson's ex-wife has found 'freedom' after 'traumatic' few years

Boris Johnson’s ex-wife Marina Wheeler says she has found “freedom” following the “traumatic” end of her marriage.

After splitting from Mr Johnson in 2018, she was diagnosed with cancer and also lost her mother, about whom she has written a new book, The Lost Homestead.

“There is no getting away from the fact that it has been a very traumatic and difficult couple of years”, she told ITV's Good Morning Britain. “Divorce, cancer, etc. Other people go through those things but it all happening in such a short space of time has been a great challenge. But writing the book has been a great solace."

She compared a trip to Pakistan while still married to the Prime Minister as "very constrained, security decisions and all of that" with one she took along when she could "do what I wanted to do".

"That has become the template for the rest of my life… freedom is probably the catchword.”

Boris Johnson and his then wife Marina Wheeler in 2016 - PA

09:24 AM

Boris Johnson needs chief of staff who doesn't 'alienate people as Dominic Cummings does', says former adviser

Boris Johnson needs a new chief of staff who does not "alienate people as Dominic Cummings has done" - but he will struggle if "all roads" lead to the senior adviser, Guto Harri has said. 

The man who was Mr Johnson's director of communications for three years during his time as London Mayor told Radio 4 that his new hire should be "pragmatic, professional, non ideological, gets on with everyone and win people over with persuasion rather than alienate people, as Dominic Cummings has done," adding: "He needs that desperately."

But the Prime Minister has "found it almost impossible to to persuade anyone who would fit the bill to join administration where all roads lead not to him as Prime Minister, but to Dominic Cummings," he added. 

Allegra Stratton, the new press secretary, is "highly effective, but her life would have been miserable if she hadn't put her foot down and insisted she reported to the PM," he added, noting that her presence in the room "may have reminded the Prime Minister that the people in the room without her are not up to it."

"It is time he got more people like Allegra Stratton in the room to make sure he gets back on track," Mr Harri added. 

09:14 AM

When advisers become the story 'it is time to go', says former Spad

The public should "not know the name of advisers" and when "you become the story, that is the time to go", a former Spad has said. 

Peter Cardwell, who worked with ministers including James Brokenshire and Karen Bradley, told Radio 4 that yesterday saw the "grim milestone" of the UK passing 50,000 Covid deaths and said the public would be wondering why Number 10 was focusing on "intrigue" instead. 

But he said he did not expect Dominic Cummings to quit today, saying: "Dominic will want to see Brexit through to its conclusion."

He added: "Despite very close working relationships forged in the fire of Vote Leave or Number 10 [I don't expect anyone] to resign because someone else was sacked or the job made untenable."

Lee Cain this morning - Eddie Mulholland

09:06 AM

Number 10 shake-up will 're-establish Boris Johnson' as popular and effective, says former adviser

The shake-up at Number 10 is a "great opportunity to reset this Government and reestablish Boris Johnson as the politician he was", according to a former adviser during his time as London Mayor. 

Guto Harri, who worked with Mr Johnson for seven years including three as director of communications and corporate affairs, said it was an opportunity for the Prime Minister to return to a place where he was more "politically successful , popular and effective", while making Government "more professional, more pragmatic and more persuasive." 

Mr Harri told Radio 4's Today programme: "There may be a place for Dom Cummings in this Government - I've not met him but I can see he has certain talents. 

"But he has loomed far too large in this administration. His brief has become too broad, he controls too much access to the Prime Minister, every special adviser answers to him."

That had led to a situation where people had become "Dom Cummings groupies, not a counterweight, which is what you need at the heart of power."

08:58 AM

Dominic Cummings ignores reporters in brief escape from house

Boris Johnson's chief adviser Dominic Cummings did not respond to questions from reporters over his future as he briefly left his home in north London.

He reportedly threatened to resign over the row which led to the resignation of his key Vote Leave ally Lee Cain last night. 

Mr Cummings departed in a black cab before getting out and walking back down the street to return home.

Dominic Cummings ignored reporters this morning - PA

08:44 AM

Country to get extra bank holiday as part of 'blockbuster' plans to mark Queen's platinum jubilee

The country will be granted an extra bank holiday in 2022, as part of plans for "a blockbuster weekend of celebrations" to mark The Queen’s 70th anniversary as monarch.

The May Bank Holiday Weekend will be moved to Thursday 2 June and an additional Bank Holiday on Friday 3 June will see a four-day weekend to celebrate her platinum jubilee - the first time any British monarch has reached this historic milestone.   

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “Her Majesty’s platinum jubilee will be a truly historic moment - and one that deserves a celebration to remember.

“We can all look forward to a special, four-day jubilee weekend, when we will put on a spectacular, once-in-a-generation show that mixes the best of British ceremonial splendour with cutting edge art and technology.

"It will bring the entire nation and the Commonwealth together in a fitting tribute to Her Majesty’s reign.”

08:32 AM

Lee Cain 'a decent enough chicken', says Ken Clarke

Tory grandee Ken Clarke last night had a fairly bruising indictment of Lee Cain last night, telling ITV's Robert Peston he was "a decent enough chicken" on the one time the two men met. 

If you're confused, the back story should explain all: Boris Johnson's outgoing director of communications is famous among MPs and journalists for his brief stint as the Mirror chicken, when he had to chase high profile politicians around Westminster. 

Watch the newly-ennobled Lord Clarke of Nottingham below. 

08:25 AM

Rishi Sunak says 'reasons to be cautiously optimistic' after record GDP growth

Rishi Sunak has said there are "reasons to be cautiously optimistic", after figures showed the UK economy surged by a record 15.5 per cent between July and September. 

The third-quarter growth was the highest since records began in 1955 and came as restrictions eased after the spring lockdown, the ONS said. But month-on-month growth slowed to 1.1 per cent in September as the Government's Eat Out To Help Out hospitality-boosting scheme ended, leaving gross domestic product (GDP) 9.7 per cent below pre-crisis levels.

The Chancellor said: "Today's figures show that our economy was recovering over the summer, but started to slow going into autumn. The steps we've had to take since to halt the spread of the virus mean growth has likely slowed further since then.

"But there are reasons to be cautiously optimistic on the health side - including promising news on tests and vaccines," he added. "There are still hard times ahead, but we will continue to support people through this and ensure nobody is left without hope or opportunity."

08:18 AM

Sir Keir Starmer blasts 'squabbles' in Number 10 as 'pathetic'

Sir Keir Starmer has said the drama in Number 10, which has led to director of communications Lee Cain resigning last night, is "pathetic". 

The Labour leader told LBC: "This is pathetic. I think millions of people will be waking up this morning, scratching their heads, saying what on earth is going on?

"We're in the middle of a pandemic, we're all worried about our health and our families, we're all worried about our jobs, and this lot are squabbling behind the door of Number 10.

"It's pathetic. Pull yourselves together, focus on the job in hand."

The 'squabbles' in Number 10 are 'pathetic', said Sir Keir Starmer - PA

08:15 AM

Boris Johnson 'taking back control of Government' with departure of Lee Cain, says former minister

The Prime Minister is "stamping his Johnsonian authority" on Downing Street, following the resignation of director of communications Lee Cain, a former minister has said.

Jake Berry, the MP for Rossendale and Darwen  and former northern powerhouse minister, said:: "The departure of Lee Cain does show, I think, that the Prime Minister is taking back control of his Government.

"He's moving from a campaigning operation to an operation solely focused on good Government. I think it's a good move for the Prime Minister."

Speaking to ITV's Good Morning Britain, he added: "As we go past that grim milestone of 50,000 deaths from this appalling disease, it's high time, I think, that there was a bit of a change of guard in Number 10."

Asked about Carrie Symonds' involvement, Mr Berry said: "I have been in touch with people in the building, that's not actually completely my understanding of what has happened."

Boris Johnson had a "renewed sense of mission", he said.

"This is a good sign - he is moving away from just being a campaigning government, coming out of the general election, and then the Covid crisis, and really stamping his Johnsonian authority across the Number 10 operation."

08:11 AM

Cabinet minister plays down suggestion of chaos in Number 10

Robert Jenrick has played down suggestions that Number 10 has been engulfed in warfare over the fate of Lee Cain and Dominic Cummings. 

The Communities Secretary told BBC Breakfast that it was "understandable" people were interested in what was happening, but insisted: "The Prime Minister runs the Government, he is surrounded by a good team, a strong team of advisers, and of course the Cabinet. 

"It is s a challenging time, but our sole focus in Government is trying to steer country through the pandemic, protect jobs and make sure all things we care about are protected.

"The figure about 50,000 deaths is a very sad one. But we have seen hope as well this week, particularly with the vaccine news and the prospect of moving into a better world next year."

08:07 AM

Tory MPs predict the demise of 'Dr Evil'

Dominic Cummings might be staying for now, but Conservative backbenchers think this could be the beginning of the end for the man seen as monopolising Boris Johnson. 

Several Tory MPs have complained about the "contempt" they feel held in, noting the relationship has even broken down between Number 10 and the whips office, leading to what is perceived as bad decisions and poor handling of issues like the exams chaos and the free school meals row.

Another added: "There is so much upset in the parliamentary party in terms of the shambles that has been going on, and poor policy, politics and communication. It is across all the divides."

Pointing to the Austin Powers characters, he added: "They will come for Dr Evil next after getting Mini-me."

Dr Evil and Mini-me

07:36 AM

Dominic Cummings to stay on in wake of Lee Cain fall-out

Dominic Cummings is expected to stay on at No 10, despite the departure of his colleague amid a power struggle with the Prime Minister's fiancee. 

Lee Cain quit as Downing Street's director of communications after Carrie Symonds effectively vetoed his promotion to Mr Johnson's chief of staff.

It followed an extraordinary briefing battle between allies of Ms Symonds and allies of Mr Cain – who include Mr Cummings, who is Mr Johnson’s most senior aide – exposed a civil war inside No 10.

The departure of Mr Cain - who will go at the end of the year - is likely to diminish the influence of his fellow Vote Leave veteran Mr Cummings, and prompted inevitable questions about his future.

But while Mr Cummings was said to be unhappy at the way his friend had been treated, it was reported he had decided to stay on for now to work on the Government's response to the coronavirus - in particular the acceleration of the mass testing programme.