Downing Street denies existence of back-to-work campaign as office staff stay home

Cat Neilan
·46 min read
Boris Johnson is back at work - but many office workers are not - PA
Boris Johnson is back at work - but many office workers are not - PA

Downing Street has denied there was ever a campaign to encourage employees back to the office, amid criticism the drive was struggling to tempt people to leave their homes.

A public information campaign encouraging people to return to their workplaces was originally scheduled to begin on Friday, with ministers such as Transport Secretary Grant Shapps saying last week the message from Government was that "it is now safe to go back to work".

But the initially aggressive messaging - in which home workers were threatened with losing their jobs - prompted a huge backlash, including from Tory backbenches.

Today the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "There has never been a 'back to work' campaign."

Instead, he claimed there was a "press partnership campaign with regional and local media... on a variety of topics to do with the coronavirus response".

That content - primarily around guidance for ensuring safe workplaces - would appear "shortly," he said.  The purpose was to ensure "more people can spend some of their time working from the office".

The Cabinet Office, which is in charge of the media blitz, also wanted more civil servants to be back at their desks before ministers start to tell others to do the same. Today, Downing Street was unable to confirm how many were back on Whitehall.

Follow the latest updates below.

03:10 PM

And that's it for another day...

Recess is over, but it's clear that Westminster is still not quite at maximum buzz levels. Many MPs are still working remotely - and many appear likely to do so throughout the autumn and winter, along with their staff and, perhaps many civil servants. 

With commuter levels down significantly and Tory backlash against plans for an "emotive" back-to-work push, it's perhaps not surprising that Downing Street now says there were never plans for such a campaign. Someone might want to let Grant Shapps, Therese Coffey, Rishi Sunak and all the other ministers diligently pressing the case for a return to the office know.

Is this another case of Number 10 dipping a toe in the waters before launching a policy? As with the putative tax rises, that certainly seems likely, and while it avoids the embarrassment of another screeching U-turn come autumn, it is not going unnoticed by those within Westminster and further afield. 

Unlike the tax rises, however, it's hard to see what Downing Street gets out of it. 

Another possible U-turn could be on the horizon in the form of Tony Abbott, after opposition leaders including Sir Keir Starmer and Nicola Sturgeon raised objections with his appointment. Tory MPs have similarly voiced concerns, and Downing Street this afternoon refused to confirm whether he would be joining the Board of Trade. 

But in today's poll, taken by more than 1,000 readers, the result was emphatic: 85 per cent of you think his appointment should go ahead. 

I'll be back from 8am tomorrow, with the latest from Westminster and beyond.

02:56 PM

Donald Trump's son-in-law meets ambassador Woody Johnson during UK trip

Woody Johnson, the US ambassador to the UK, tweeted after the Foreign Office meeting that he had met with Mr Kushner for breakfast at his residence near London's Regent's Park.

"Great to have Jared Kushner and team at Winfield House for breakfast - congratulations on moving peace & prosperity forward in the Middle East!" he tweeted.

The other Mr Johnson "dropped in" on a meeting between Mr Kushner and Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab - prompting questions about whether this was appropriate during the US presidential campaign. 

Asked whether the Prime Minister would be "endorsing" Donald Trump in the November election, the No 10 spokesman said: "The long-standing position in the UK is that elections are a matter for the electors of that particular country."

02:52 PM

All eyes on Portugal and Greece ahead of quarantine decision

All eyes are on Portugal, which is likely to be removed from the travel corridor list just a couple of weeks after first joining it, as cases surge above the 20 per 100,000 threshold. 

There are also questions over whether Greece may be added, with Athens accused of fudging figures to avoid a quarantine being imposed on key tourism spots. 

The number of cases in Greece is now 14.3 cases per 100,000 over the last seven days – below the threshold of 20 cases, after which a quarantine is considered by the UK Government. Portugal is currently recording 22.7 cases per 100,000.

A decision is being taken today, and will be made public tomorrow lunchtime, Matt Hancock said this morning. 

Previously changes to the travel corridor list have been announced on Thursday evening, ahead of being introduced early on Saturday morning. 

A lone tourist wears her mandatory face mask while sitting surrounded by seats marked as unavailable. - Corbis News

02:34 PM

Planet Normal: Why the BBC’s ‘Great Awokening’ must stop

The BBC is making the headlines for all the wrong reasons, and Telegraph columnists Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan have something to say about it.

On today’s Planet Normal podcast, Allison tells us why she feels as if she’s in a toxic relationship with the broadcaster, Liam weighs in on why the corporation’s “mini moral lectures” must stop.

Plus, editor of the Jewish Chronicle, Stephen Pollard gives the real reason why he believes Britons are increasingly embarrassed by their nationality - and why he’s a big fan of Rishi Sunak.

02:21 PM

Have your say on: Tony Abbott's trade envoy role

Tony Abbott's looming appointment as a trade envoy is causing some consternation among Conservative backbenchers.

The former prime minister of Australia is poised to be confirmed as a member of the British Board of Trade, assisting the Government in securing trade deals after Brexit. 

However critics point to his inflammatory comments on climate change, women and the LGBT community, while others have questioned his experience. 

Could his appointment hinder trade deals because of those views? Or should the Government ignore the naysayers and appoint the man they want? 

Have your say in the poll below.

02:16 PM

Charity mounts legal challenge against Government over care home policy

A charity is mounting a legal challenge over the Government's guidance on family visits to care home residents during the coronavirus outbreak.

John's Campaign is seeking a judicial review of the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC)'s care home visiting guidance issued on July 22, which said visits could resume in specific care homes in England once local directors of public health and local authorities decide it is safe to do so.

But the charity argues that close family members are not an "optional extra" but integral to residents' wellbeing, and that the Government has failed to take into account individuals' human rights.

A DHSC spokesman said: "We know that limiting visits in care homes has been difficult for many families and residents who want to see their loved ones, but our first priority is to prevent infections in care homes, and this means that visiting policy should still be restricted, with alternatives sought wherever possible.

"Visiting policies should be tailored by the individual care home and taking into account local risks in their area."

02:12 PM

Strictly Embargoed press release snapped by political photographer

One of Downing Street's many political photographers has tweeted a snap of a "strictly embargoed" press release setting out plans for a new bill to protect jobs within the UK's internal market after Brexit.

Notable is the fact that whoever was reading it came from the Scottish office - rather than, say, Beis - with the SNP claiming that these changes represent a power grab of devolved responsibilities by Westminster. 

01:59 PM

Watch: Trial of 20-minute Covid-19 tests could help UK return to normal says Matt Hancock

Matt Hancock has been championing the new quickfire tests, which give results in 20 minutes, as giving the UK a real chance at returning to normality this side of Christmas. 

The Health Secretary has been cautious with his language - having been burned by previous claims that something would be "game-changing" only for it never to surface. 

But if mass, regular testing becomes widespread, that will give people in Britain confidence to get back to “a more normal way of life”, he said. Watch below. 

01:50 PM

Scottish independence tracker: Polls put support at all time high amid Covid surge

Support for Scottish independence is at an all time high, Telegraph analysis shows, with every opinion poll conducted this summer showing more Scots in favour of leaving the UK than remaining. 

Around 47.9 per cent of Scots now support independence versus 44.0 per cent against, according to a Telegraph aggregation of opinion polls taken since the 2014 independence referendum.

My colleagues have crunched the numbers - read the full story here. 

01:42 PM

Commuters using the Tube down 70 per cent on last year, TfL figures show

The number of people using the Tube has risen week-on-week - but is still more than two-thirds down on the same time last year, official figures show. 

Transport for London said 650,000 passengers used the London Underground network on Thursday from the start of service until 10am.

This was 17.2 per cent higher than during the same period last week, but still 70.6 per cent lower than the period last year.

There were 760,000 bus journeys made. This was up 22.2 per cent on last week, but 54.3 per cent down on 2019.

The figures are published as Downing Street appears to pull back from the Prime Minister's back-to-work campaign. 

01:18 PM

No further Covid deaths in Wales, officials confirm

There have been no further reported deaths of people who tested positive for coronavirus in Wales, health officials have said.

The total number of deaths since the beginning of the pandemic remains at 1,596.

Public Health Wales said the total number of Covid-19 cases in the country had increased by 50, bringing the revised confirmed cases to 18,155.

01:12 PM

NHS England confirms further 15 coronvirus deaths

A further 15 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 29,585.

Patients were aged between 50 and 95 years old. All had known underlying health conditions.

Date of death ranges from 27 March to 2 September 2020, with the majority on or before 31 August.

Two deaths were recorded in four regions: East of England, London, Midlands and the South East, with three in the North East and Yorkshire and four in the North West.

Only the South West recorded no Covid fatalities. 

01:09 PM

Lobby latest: No decision taken over Tony Abbott yet, says Downing Street

Downing Street has stressed that "no decision" has been taken over whether to appoint Tony Abbott to the Board of Trade, following widespread criticism of the move. 

Liz Truss, the Trade Secretary, was forced to defend the decision during questions this morning, claiming Labour wanted to "virtue signal and indulge in tokenism rather than take real action to improve the lives of women".

Trade minister Greg Hands claimed the country should "welcome the fact that the former prime minister of Australia is willing to help this country out." 

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said in an interview: "I have real concerns about Tony Abbott and I don't think he's the right person for the job. If I was prime minister I wouldn't appoint him."

This afternoon, the Prime Minister's official spokesman insisted that "no decision" on the board's make-up had been made. He declined to comment on the "political debate" surrounding Mr Abbott.

12:50 PM

Russia warns West not to 'rush to judgement' over Navalny poisoning

Russia has warned the West not to "rush to judgement" over the poisoning of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.

Yesterday German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that the opposition figure had been poisoned with Novichok in an attempt to murder him - the same nerve agent used in Salisbury. 

But Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Berlin had not provided Moscow with proof.

"There is no reason to accuse the Russian state," Peskov said, rejecting talk of economic sanctions and urging the West not to "rush to judgement".

Just now the Prime Minister's official spokesman said Dominic Raab, the Foreign Secretary, would have "a discussion with his German counterpart Heiko Maas later today to discuss what action we can take."

Stefan Löfven, the Prime Minister of Sweden, said today: "It is clear the Russian government has some answers to deliver and must investigate the matter thoroughly and transparently.The use of chemical weapons under any circumstances is a breach of international law."

The EU stands united and "ready to act further", he added.

12:37 PM

Lobby latest: No update on how many civil servants have returned to Whitehall

Number 10 has refused to give an update on how many civil servants have returned to their offices, with anecdotal evidence suggesting Whitehall workers are still thin on the ground. 

The Prime Minister's official spokesman told reporters: "We would expect to see more civil servants returning to their workplaces over the next coming weeks.

"The permanent secretaries in individual departments are taking forward the work to return civil servants to the workplace, they are setting out their own plans, making sure that offices and other work spaces are Covid-secure and they are providing updates to the Cabinet Office permanent secretary."

12:26 PM

Lobby latest: Downing Street denies there was a back-to-work campaign

Downing Street has denied there was ever a plan to encourage employees back to the office, amid criticism the drive was struggling to tempt people to leave their homes. 

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "There has never been a 'back to work' campaign.

"As I talked about earlier in the week, we've been doing this press partnership campaign with regional and local media and that is sponsored content on a variety of topics to do with the coronavirus response.

"It is also looking at some sponsored content to reiterate and guide people to our guidance on returning safely to work. You can expect that content to be placed with our partners shortly."

He added:  "What you'll see over the weekend is directing businesses towards the safer workplace guidance that is on gov.uk (website) through some paid, own and other media channels which the Government has been using."

He said the purpose was to ensure "more people can spend some of their time working from the office".

12:22 PM

Lobby latest: Michel Barnier accused of 'misleading' the situation over Brexit talks

Downing Street has accused Michel Barnier of painting a "misleading" representation of UK proposals in "deflecting scrutiny" from Brussels' position.

The EU’s chief negotiator said Britain had shown no willingness to compromise over fishing rights and warned that unless the UK caved there would be no trade deal with the EU.

But the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "Michel Barnier's comments are a misleading representation of our proposals aimed at deflecting scrutiny from the EU's own positions which are unrealistic and unprecedented.

"For our part we've been consistently clear that we're seeking a relationship that respects our sovereignty and has a free trade agreement at its core similar to those the EU has already agreed with like minded countries.

"The EU have refused to engage with our proposals and the documents we've brought to the table insisting we must accept continuity with EU fisheries policy and disregarding the UK's status as an independent coastal state.

"We need more realism from the EU on the scale of the change that results from our leaving the EU.

"We do want an agreement and are looking for a relationship based on the EU's existing bilateral arrangement on fishing with Norway which is the most relevant precedent to relationships between two independent coastal states."

12:17 PM

Lobby latest: Boris Johnson 'dropped in' during Raab-Kushner meeting today

Downing Street has confirmed that the Prime Minister "dropped in" on a meeting between Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and senior White House adviser Jared Kushner earlier today.

"It was due to be a short drop-in," the Prime Minister's official spokesman said when asked how long Boris Johnson was in the meeting.

He added it was "due to be a short meeting and it was due to be about the Middle East".

Asked whether it was appropriate for the Prime Minister to meet with Mr Kushner, who is Donald Trump's son-in-law, during the US presidential election campaign, the spokesman said: "It was specifically a discussion about the Middle East peace process, which I think we all would agree it is important we continue to be fully engaged in that work."

Mr Johnson's spokesman, when asked whether the Prime Minister would be "endorsing" Donald Trump in the November election, said: "The long-standing position in the UK is that elections are a matter for the electors of that particular country."

12:16 PM

Lobby latest: Salisbury suspects should return to UK to face 'a British court', says Downing Street

Downing Street has urged the two alleged Russian spies accused of deploying Novichok in Salisbury to return to face justice in the UK.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "These men who we have publicly identified and whose methods we exposed claim to be innocent so they should step forward come back to the UK and have this tested in a British court."

The comment was made after Sarah Bailey, the wife of Wiltshire Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey who fell ill after he was exposed to the substance while responding to the 2018 attack, told Boris Johnson on Twitter that "action speak louder than words".

The Prime Minster had tweeted about the case of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who Germany says was also poisoned with Novichok.

12:13 PM

Lobby latest: Dominic Raab to discuss next steps over Navalny with German counterpart

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab will discuss actions to take against Russia with his German counterpart Heiko Maas over the suspected Novichok poisoning of Alexei Navalny, Downing Street has said.

Asked if the UK would support sanctions against Russia, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "The Foreign Secretary has said that there will be consequences for the use of banned chemical weapons.

"I'm not going to pre-empt what might happen next but he will be having a discussion with his German counterpart Heiko Maas later today to discuss what action we can take."

He added: "The OPCW (Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons) will also have an investigating an important role to play in investigating this attempted murder."

12:04 PM

Have your say on: Tony Abbott's trade envoy role

Tony Abbott's looming appointment as a trade envoy is causing some consternation among Conservative backbenchers.

The former prime minister of Australia is poised to be confirmed as a member of the British Board of Trade, assisting the Government in securing trade deals after Brexit. 

However critics point to his inflammatory comments on climate change, women and the LGBT community, while others have questioned his experience. 

Could his appointment hinder trade deals because of those views? Or should the Government ignore the naysayers and appoint the man they want? 

Have your say in the poll below.

12:01 PM

Labour attacks Government as Test & Trace drops to lowest level yet

Labour has branded the latest Test and Trace figures "hugely disappointing" as latest figures reveal the number of contacts being reached is at its lowest since the system was launched.

New figures from the Department of Health and Social Care show that 69.4 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 August 26.

This is down from 77.1 per cent in the previous week, and the lowest weekly percentage since Test and Trace was launched in May. Despite this, the figures showed a six per cent rise in cases, the highest weekly number since the week to June 3.

Justin Madders, Labour's health minister, said: "“With cases on the increase and the Government pushing for everyone to return to work it is more important than ever that test and trace is working to its potential.

“It is therefore hugely disappointing to see that the number of people the system reached went down again in the last week. There is also clearly a problem with testing infrastructure as people across the country are sent hundreds of miles for testing appointments.

“With over 100,000 tests every day not being used it is clear there should be enough capacity in the system to cope with demand. Ministers need to urgently get to the root of this problem so that speedy testing is available for all who need it.”

11:56 AM

Minister's husband claims coronavirus is 'mental illness'

A Government minister's husband has claimed coronavirus is a "mental illness" and joined a march against social distancing measures.  

Sandy McFadzean, husband of Cabinet Office minister Chloe Smith, wrote in a now-deleted post on Twitter: “Government need to be clear. Either there is a killer virus on the loose or there isn’t. (Spoiler alert: There isn’t)”

In July he wrote: “Covid-19 is most likely an outbreak of mental illness.”

He also attended Saturday’s march in London where protesters carried signs against coronavirus measures.

A poster for the march, retweeted by Mr McFadzean on Twitter, also called for no track and trace, an end to social distancing, and no facemasks.

Ms Smith told the Eastern Daily Press: “My husband’s a private citizen. Everyone’s entitled to their own view, and to debate. I take a different view.”

Chloe Smith

11:49 AM

Jacob Rees-Mogg plays Rule, Britannia! in the Commons

Jacob Rees-Mogg played a snippet of Rule, Britannia! in the House of Commons to celebrate the BBC reversing its decision about the Last Night Of The Proms.

The Commons Leader held his mobile phone close to the microphone near the despatch box and pressed play, ensuring MPs heard the words: "When Britain first, at heaven's command."

Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle intervened to joke Mr Rees-Mogg had broken the values of the House, and teased: "How dare he."

Watch the moment below.

11:31 AM

R-rate could be as high as 1.4 in Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon warns

I am now turning from the Home Affairs Committee, which is close to winding up, to Nicola Sturgeon, who is giving her regular coronavirus briefing.

The First Minister has warned that latest estimate for R, the reproduction number, in Scotland, is likely to be above 1, and could be as high as 1.4.

If R is above 1, that means the spread of the virus is increasing, not decreasing.

Ms Sturgeon says another 101 people have tested positive for coronavirus. Of those cases, 53 were in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde areas, she says.

One further death has been reported, although this occurred in mid August, and has only just been reported. 

11:25 AM

Rise in 'spurious claims' of underage migrants, says Home Office official

Officials are "investing significantly" in improved age assessments because of an increase in the number of people who claim to be unaccompanied children crossing the Channel. 

The vast majority of individuals deemed to be under 25 - 75 per cent - are granted asylum, Abi Tierney, director general of the visa and immigration department within the Home Office said. 

Asked if this was an incentive to people smugglers, she told MPs: "Yes, I do."

The assessment is "difficult", and there are a "significant numbers of legal challenges", where the age is being questioned, he said. 

"We are seeing a lot of what we believe are spurious claims," Ms Tierney said. "We are investing significantly [in this field]."

A thorough age assessment takes place, with two social workers who have been specially trained, she said. 

11:12 AM

Facebook and YouTube 'refusing to take people smuggler's posts down', MPs told

Social media companies are refusing to take down posts by people smugglers encouraging migrants to travel to northern France, MPs have be told. 

Robert Jones, director of threat leadership at the National Crime Agency, told the Home Affairs Committee that more than half of posts referred were not taken down because they failed to meet the firms' "bar" for unacceptable activity. 

Further regulation, including the Online Harms Bill, could help, he said. 

Asked repeatedly to name the firms, Mr Jones demurred, saying it would be "wrong to call out one particular company, because the same process takes place in all companies".

"They apply a bar which isn't regulated and make their own mind whether should be taken down," he said. "They use the same methodology applied by all companies... It is their own decision-making, their own policies and we have no traction over that."

Asked if Facebook and YouTube would be included among the companies he was referring to, Mr Jones said "yes they would". 

11:03 AM

'Very unlikely' that migrants cross Channel undetected, MPs told

It is "very unlikely" that any migrants who managed to land on beaches have remained undetected, MPs have been told.

Speaking to the Home Affairs Committee Dan O'Mahoney, the new clandestine Channel threat commander, said: "I am not aware of any landings where migrants got off the boat and we did not subsequently intercept them," 

"I assess it to be very unlikely that migrants would land on a beach, pick the boat up, somehow deflate it and take it with them.

"I can say with a high degree of certainty there are no known situations where a boat has landed on a beach and the migrants have made off and we haven't apprehended them. I think that's very unlikely."

10:57 AM

Migrants 'forced onto boats' or told UK 'streets are paved with gold', MPs told

Officials are fighting against a "huge misinformation campaign" by people smugglers who tell migrants the "streets are paved with gold" in the UK, MPs of the Home Affairs Committee have been told. 

Conservative MP Tim Loughton claimed that people were "coming here on a false premise" that it was easier to work illegally once they got to the UK, saying this "misinformation should be dealt with but it would appear that French Members of Parliament are party to putting around these misconceptions about how they are actually going to be looked after if they do make it to the UK."

Dan O'Mahoney, the new clandestine Channel threat commander, did not comment on what French politicians were doing, but agreed that his job was "both an operation in traditional sense but also trying to bring about behavioural change". 

He said: "These ruthless criminals are taking advantage of the vulnerabilities of migrants, some of whom don't even want to come to the UK.  There are migrants who are literally forced onto boats, have no idea where they are when they arrive.

"There is a huge misinformation campaign going on, where they are told the streets are paved with gold."

10:44 AM

UK and France must apply 'same thinking' behind Eurotunnel crisis to current problem, MPs told

The UK and France must apply "the same thinking" that helped bring the Eurotunnel migrant crisis under control in 2015, MPs have been told.

Dan O'Mahoney, the new clandestine Channel threat commander, told the Home Affairs Committee that increased surveillance was a key priority in cutting back the number of people attempting the crossing in small boats.

But the area that needed to be covered was "about the distance from Dover to Brighton", he noted.

"If we could invest in additional surveillance in sea and air it would help officers [on the ground]," he said. 

Pointing to the work that went into preventing Eurotunnel crossings some years back, Mr O'Mahoney added: "We have proved that joint investment can work... we need to apply the same thinking to this problem." 

10:34 AM

UK seeking 'return agreement' for all migrants who make crossing, MPs told

The UK is seeking a post-Brexit agreement by which migrants will be returned to France even if they arrive in the UK, the new clandestine Channel threat commander has said. 

Dan O'Mahoney told the Home Affairs Committee he was hoping to "get to the point where both migrants and OCGs realise it is futile to try and make these crossings". 

That would include making it "extremely difficult in France" to leave, including making sure migrants were "denied access to the beaches".

He added: "We very much hope to get a post-transition return agreement with the French which means if they successfully arrive in the UK they will be returned to France, to dissuade them from making the journey in the first place.

"We need to create a number of conditions to make sure that the route becomes unviable to protect migrants lives and stop them from thinking this is a viable route."

10:24 AM

UK pays for drones, night vision kit and aerial surveillance in bid to stop small boats crossing, MPs told

The UK has ramped up its collaboration with France to prevent migrants from crossing the Channel but the UK authorities are still "frustrated" by the numbers making the journey, MPs have been told. 

Dan O'Mahoney, the new clandestine Channel threat commander, told the Home Affairs Committee that there was "significantly improved intelligence sharing" between the UK and France, with a "significant uplift" in what the UK is supplying, both in terms of "people and kit". 

He said: "We have paid for drones, paid for night vision equipment, paid for aerial surveillance aircraft... and it is delivering results, [although it is] no where near the level we need it to be and it is a frustration." 

So far around 3,000 people have been prevented from crossing this year "including close to 200 yesterday alone, who were prevented from leaving the beaches of France," Mr O'Mahoney said. 

10:19 AM

UK deploying 'various tactics' to intercept small boats crossing the Channel, MPs told

The UK is deploying "various tactics to intercept" migrants as they cross the Channel - but it is not being done "aggressively", MPs have been told. 

Dan O'Mahoney, the new clandestine Channel threat commander, told the Home Affairs Committee that the UK was deploying a multi-agency approach including "law enforcement, policing, the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines, and others to come up with new tactics". 

But he stressed they were "not intercepting aggressively in any way", instead pursuing a "safety of life at sea operation to ensure no more lives are lost".

Instead they were going after "compliant migrants and beginning the process of evidential and intelligence capture".

10:01 AM

Back-to-work push needs to be more consistent, warns Sir Graham Brady

Ministers must ensure "greater consistency" between Government policy on getting people back into the office and the official guidance, so people will be reassured about returning to work, a senior backbencher has said.

The chairman of the 1922 committee, Sir Graham Brady, is the latest veteran Conservative MP to criticise Boris Johnson's handling of the back-to-work drive, which has faltered in its first few days, as white collar workers continue to stay away. 

He told Radio 4's Today programme this was because of a "lag" between Government policy - to get people back - and official guidance, which remains that people should work from home if they can.

"We need greater consistency so we can have a steady push in one direction, reassuring people and giving them common sense advice," Sir Graham said. He claimed there was a "fundamental problem" in the way it had been approached so far, urging that "when the Government knows what it wants so achieve it needs to make sure all of the official advice being issued is in tune with advice being put out by ministers."

09:59 AM

'Massive drop' in lorries and good weather has prompted rise in small boats crossing Channel, MPs told

Yvette Cooper's Home Affairs Committee is now taking evidence on the rise in people crossing the Channel this year from officials at the Home Office. 

Abi Tierney, the director general of visas and immigration at the Home Office says there has been a drop in the number of people seeking asylum, which she attributes to travel restrictions as a result of the pandemic. 

The "massive drop" in the number of lorries travelling, and the weather, has had a "significant increase" in the number of people using small boats instead, says Dan O'Mahoney, the new clandestine channel threat commander. 

But asked if the drop in people seeking asylum was four times the number of people coming by boats, Mr O'Mahoney says the number sounds about right but he is unable to confirm specifically. 

09:40 AM

ICYMI: Official who answered Dominic Cummings 'misfits' call sacked after BLM 'live rounds' tweet

A data specialist who joined the Government after answering Dominic Cummings' job advert seeking 'misfits and weirdos' was sacked after saying that police should use live rounds against Black Lives Matter demonstrators.

Will O’Shea, 57, posted the comment about BLM protests on July 5, when marches were being organised across Britain following the killing of George Floyd by police officers in the US. 

Responding to a social media post suggesting that Metropolitan Police officers had been chased out of a housing estate in London by demonstrators, and another post that called the police cowards, Mr O’Shea reportedly replied on Twitter: “Time to get out the live rounds.”

Read the full story here.

Dominic Cummings arriving at work yesterday - Geoff Pugh

09:28 AM

Liz Truss hits back over Tony Abbott criticisms

Liz Truss has hit back at criticism over the Government's decision to appoint Tony Abbott as its post-Brexit trade envoy. 

Labour MP Ruth Cadbury highlighted Matt Hancock's comments this morning where he appeared to acknowledge the former Australian prime minister was a homophobic misogynist, when he said "but he is also a trade expert". 

Ms Cadbury asked if the Government could not find a candidate for the job with "positive British values, and by the way, is not a climate change denier". 

But Ms Truss, the Trade Secretary and Women and Equalities Minister, said this was "absolute hypocrisy". She noted Labour's former shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, had "called for the lynching of one of my female colleagues and never apologised for it". 

Ms Truss added: "This is a party that has never elected a female leader despite having the opportunity time and time again."

Instead Labour wanted to "virtue signal and indulge in tokenism rather than take real action to improve the lives of women".

Tony Abbott

09:15 AM

Have your say on: Tony Abbott's trade envoy role

Tony Abbott's looming appointment as a trade envoy is causing some consternation among Conservative backbenchers.

The former prime minister of Australia is poised to be confirmed as a member of the British Board of Trade, assisting the Government in securing trade deals after Brexit. 

However critics point to his inflammatory comments on climate change, women and the LGBT community, while others have questioned his experience. 

Could his appointment hinder trade deals because of those views? Or should the Government ignore the naysayers and appoint the man they want? 

Have your say in the poll below.

09:09 AM

Tony Abbott's trade envoy appointment 'very strange late career rebrand', says former negotiator

A former Australian trade negotiator has said calling Tony Abbott a trade expert is "pushing it" and a "very strange late career rebrand". 

This morning Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, defended the Government's appointment of Australia's controversial former prime minister, saying the man was an expert in this field.

But Dmitry Grozoubinsk,  a former Australian trade negotiator at the WTO and founder of ExplainTrade, said "in what universe?"

"By his own admission [Mr Abbott's] contribution to Australian FTAs was to tell negotiators not to sweat the technical details and to just get 'er dun. I'm not saying he has no experience to contribute on trade, but "expert" is pushing it."

08:57 AM

Minister praises Tony Abbott for 'helping out' on trade deals

A Government minister has said he welcomes the fact that Tony Abbott is "willing to help this country out" by becoming a post-Brexit trade envoy. 

Mr Abbott's appointment, which has not been confirmed, has come under attack by Conservative and Labour MPs, with the  former Australian prime minister making controversial statements about women, the LGBT community and the elderly. 

But asked about his comments in which he said his approach to trade deals was not to be distracted by environmental issues, Greg Hands, the trade minister, told MPs the UK's approach to climate change was "unchanged". 

He added: "No appointments been confirmed, but personally I welcome the fact that the former prime minister of Australia is welling to help this country out." 

"I think we should welcome his interest and welcome the endeavours that he has potential to make on all our behalves."

08:43 AM

Government working closely with farmers' union on post-Brexit food standards, says Liz Truss

Liz Truss has confirmed that the ban on chlorinated chicken and hormone-treated beef will remain in place after Brexit, and insisted the Government is working closely with the National Farmers' Union to maintain food standards. 

During International Trade Questions in the Commons, the Secretary of State confirmed there would no compromising of food standards, adding that NFU Scotland "sit as part of the Trade and Agriculture commission" looking at future policy. 

But Labour's shadow trade secretary Bill Esterson claimed that the union felt its position was being misrepresented. 

Ms Truss said she was "working extremely closely" with the union to ensure "our fantastic farmers " were not undermined. 

"What we want them doing is exporting more around the world," she added. 

08:26 AM

Scottish Labour is 'at sea' over what it stands for, says Nicola Sturgeon

Scottish Labour must decide what the party is for before, after four Labour MSPs resigned over the leader Richard Leonard's refusal to quit. 

She told Sky News she had no particular view on whether Mr Leonard should stay or go, saying the more important decision for the party was to work out "what exactly is Scottish Labour for". 

It is "at sea" over the issue of independence, she added, noting she had "lost count of the number of leaders" the party has had. 

"Until they get a position that distinguishes them from Conservatives on the matter of Scotland's future, they can have as many leaders as they like," she added. 

Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard - PA

08:19 AM

Tony Abbott could 'hinder' UK's trade, warns Nicola Sturgeon

Nicola Sturgeon has said Tony Abbott should not be a trade envoy for the UK, saying " he’s a misogynist, he’s a sexist, he’s a climate change denier."

The First Minister told Sky News: “If I had anything to do with that decision he wouldn’t be a trade envoy for the United Kingdom," and attacked his recent comments suggesting older people should have been left to die during the pandemic. 

Asked about Matt Hancock’s remarks that he “also knows a lot about trade”, Ms Sturgeon said "trade is not separate from the values and the reputation that a country wants to reflect internationally. 

"Trade in many respects should reflect our ethics," she added. "I think having somebody with those views representing the UK probably does not help us boost trade, and might actually hinder that.”

08:17 AM

Scotland care home death rate because nation has 'more accurately categorised' fatalities, says Nicola Sturgeon

Nicola Sturgeon has stressed that the proportion of care home deaths in Scotland is because the nation has "more accurately catagorised" fatalities. 

Some 47 per cent of Covid deaths in Scotland were in care homes. 

The First Minister said she would not push back from the description of the death rate in care homes in Scotland as a "disgrace", telling Sky News it was "deeply regrettable", but overall deaths were "lower" than in the rest of the UK. 

However, Ms Sturgeon argued that the higher rate in Scotland may be to do with a different counting method,"which gives the impression that care home deaths were higher".

She insisted that the number of cases and deaths in care homes has dropped dramatically "as we’ve learned lessons".

08:12 AM

Ending furlough early will cause 'tsunami of avoidable redundancies', says Nicola Sturgeon

Ending furlough too early will cause a "tsunami of avoidable redundancies", Nicola Sturgeon has warned. 

The First Minister said because the Scottish parliament doesn’t have the power to vote to authorise borrowing, she is unable to extent furlough in Scotland.

But she urged the Westminster Government to change its stance on furlough being wound down in October, saying even voices within the Conservative party were calling for an extension while "otherwise viable businesses" cannot trade normally.

"If that support is prematurely withdrawn we will see a tsunami of avoidable redundancies," she told Sky News. "I really do hope we see common sense prevail here."

Other countries "very sensibly" are sticking with furlough schemes for the time being. "Businesses still need help and that’s going to be the case for some time." It would "make no sense" to remove that support early because of the longer-term consequences on the economy. 

Nicola Sturgeon - PA

08:03 AM

Matt Hancock urges people to follow social distancing so 'maybe we can have Christmas'

Matt Hancock has said he "hopes we can have a happy and loving Christmas" - but stressed there are no guarantees. 

The Health Secretary said "if this mass testing regime comes off, if the new technologies we are working so hard on work, or if we manage to get a vaccine between now and then" the Christmas "that people yearn for" would be possible.

He told the Today programme: " Let us all try to pull together, do the social distancing, back all these new innovative technologies and then just maybe we can have that Christmas that everyone wants to see."

Mr Hancock stressed that although measures "aren't there to make me popular, they are there to make people safe". 

He added that "the cavalry of the vaccine" was coming - but that it was not here yet. 

07:59 AM

Matt Hancock defends local lockdown U-turn

Matt Hancock has defended the Government's U-turn on local lockdowns after reversing plans to lift Trafford and Bolton from restrictions banning gatherings in homes and gardens “following a significant change in the level of infection rates over the last few days”.

The decision was attacked at the time by local leaders, who claimed it was taken at the behest of Conservative MPs rather than councils. 

But the Health Secretary said Bolton council "was in favour of lifting measures and then in favour of not doing" after cases began to spike. 

He told the Today programme: "We give absolute clarity and then the facts change. 

In Bolton, we did take the decision to lift Bolton out of lockdown. It then had biggest rise if anywhere in the country."

07:53 AM

'Everyone has a part to play' in defending country from second wave, says Matt Hancock

Matt Hancock has said he cannot put a date on when mass regular testing - codenamed Operation Moonshot - could be rolled out after previous "game-changing" pledges went awry. 

The Health Secretary was reminded of other similar promises, such as the contact tracing app, which is yet to be rolled out nationwide several months after it was promised. 

He told the Today programme that Test and Trace was "among the finest anywhere you will find in the planet", and pointed to the fact cases in the UK were not rising as sharply as they were elsewhere. But he was "very worried" about a second wave.

"We have the lines of defence in this country, everyone has a part to play. The first line of defence: social distancing. The next line of defence: Test and Trace, and then if we have to, going to these local lockdowns."

07:49 AM

New testing technology could help reduce social distancing measures, says Matt Hancock

Matt Hancock has said the new tests he is announcing today could help reduce social distancing before a vaccine is developed. 

There are three different new technologies being brought forward - one is a spit test rather than the swab, another is the rapid turnaround with labs in the back of a van, and the third is test that is like a pregnancy test where you get the result immediately.

The Health Secretary said mass regular testing - codenamed Operation Moonshot - “could help remove some of the restrictions that we currently have…if you can get to the point that regular testing is possible and you’re pretty confident you don’t have it… that allows people more freedom.

"It allows us some confidence about lifting social distancing measures", he added. "It’s about bringing back confidence, helping support people get back into work.”

He added: “Short of a vaccine, this is the best chance we have of reducing social distancing while controlling the virus.”

Matt Hancock

07:44 AM

Matt Hancock defends test shortage after people forced to drive hundreds of miles

Matt Hancock has defended the lack of tests in parts of the country, saying the "vast majority" of people can get one. 

He said there were "operational challenges" that meant some people did have to travel some distance, following reports that people have been forced to drive hundreds of miles to get one. 

The Health Secretary said regular testing was also being rolled out now - having been promised back in June - because of another "operational problem" with the supplier of that particular test. 

They were "not fully clean, they didn't pass our cleanliness test", which is why the programme had been "paused", he told the Today programme. 

07:39 AM

Matt Hancock dodges questions over appointment of 'homophobic misogynist' Tony Abbott

Matt Hancock repeatedly dodged questions about the suitability of controversial former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott taking on a role in post-Brexit trade talks.

Mr Abbott is in talks with the Government about joining the British Board of Trade. But the appointment has been greeted with anger from both sides of the Commons, including former immigration minister Caroline Nokes.

Asked this morning if he was a suitable appointment, Mt Hancock said the proposal was "that Mr Abbott supports the UK in trade policy... We need to have the best experts in their field. Mr Abbott has a huge amount of experience."

Challenged over Mr Abbott's "homophobic misogynist" opinions, the Health Secretary said: "He is also an expert in trade."

"I bow to nobody in my support for everybody to love who they love," he added.  

"I am doing everything in my power to prevent a second wave…  The best thing to say is that I am totally focused on coronavirus crisis and the future of social care. I do know that Mr Abbott is very good and very experienced in trade, it is clearly a very important decision that the Trade Secretary [Liz Truss] is across."

07:24 AM

Portugal quarantine decision to be published tomorrow lunchtime, says Health Secretary

The Government will publish its decision about whether Portugal and Greece will be added to the quarantine list tomorrow lunchtime, Matt Hancock has said. 

A decision was widely expected to be announced today, in line with previous weeks. 

The Health Secretary would not be drawn on what direction ministers were leaning, but told Sky News that people should only travel if they were willing to quarantine on their return. 

He said: "We are prepared to take decision to put individual countries back on quarantine list if that is what is necessary. We keep this constantly under review and announce decisions usually on Friday lunchtime... "

"We are going to publish a further decision tomorrow, having looked at the data. I am not going to prejudge that.

"The Government looks very carefully at data and publishes [the decisions] in organised way."

07:19 AM

New rapid test will not change quarantine policy, Matt Hancock says

The new 20-minute test will not result in a change of quarantine policy, Matt Hancock has said. 

The aviation industry has long been calling for the Government to introduce testing at airports, followed up by a second test some days later, which it says could cut the amount of time people have to self-isolate for by nearly a week. 

But the Health Secretary insisted that the new quickfire tests did not solve this problem. 

He told Sky News: "The challenge with quarantine is because the virus incubates for up to two weeks, if people get a test when they get off the plane there is only a small chance that will catch virus even if they have got it...That is why you have to quarantine.

"I know our policy caused a few ripples when we introduced it a few weeks ago, but if you’ve seen what happened in the US, Brazil and now a few countries in Europe, our policy has protected this country."

Mr Hancock said the quarantine policy "has absolutely proved its worth".

07:14 AM

Testing availability could be patchy for next "weeks and months", Matt Hancock admits

Matt Hancock has been challenged over the patchiness of testing availability around the country, as he sets out a new £500m package for "next generation" tests, including one that can be turned around in just 20 minutes. 

Asked why some people are forced to travel for hundreds of miles to get a test, he told BBC Breakfast that home tests were also available, and that the focused was on areas of outbreaks.

But the new tests would be rolled out "at a radically bigger scale" to help solve this problem which he says is inevitable because of the size of the operation. 

Asked when the tests would be rolled out nationwide, he said "in the weeks and months to come". 

He echoed this phrase during an interview with Sky News, adding: "The system works well. Of course there are operational challenges from time to time, and we are finding a higher and higher proportion of people in the country who have coronavirus... 

"We need to roll out more testing, as we have done throughout this crisis and today is another step in solving problems with existing technology."

07:08 AM

Chancellor should be 'very, very cautious' about tax hikes, warns Sir Graham Brady

The Chancellor should be "very, very cautious" about imposing any tax rises, the chair of the 1922 committee has warned, in a further sign that Conservative backbenchers will resist widespread hikes in the coming Budget. 

Sir Graham Brady told Radio 4's Today programme that the Government must ensure it doesn't "make this crisis worse than it has to be". 

He added: "Fundamental to that is making sure the country gets back to work and people resume as far as possible normal life... 

"Raising taxes, and the wrong types of taxes especially, can be a way in which you stifle growth rather than guaranteeing it."

Sir Graham Brady, chair of the 1922 committee - Zenpix

06:49 AM

Campaign to get Britain back to work flounders

Boris Johnson’s drive to get workers back to the office has been postponed amid warnings that the Government’s own social distancing guidelines prevent firms from getting all of their staff back to their desks.

A public information campaign encouraging people to return to their workplaces was originally scheduled to begin on Friday, but it will not now begin until next week at the earliest.  

The Cabinet Office, which is in charge of the media blitz, wants more civil servants to be back at their desks before ministers start to tell others to do the same.  

There are fears within Government and among business leaders that many firms that depend on trade from office workers will go to the wall if home working becomes a permanent way of life.