Rishi Sunak surges ahead of Boris Johnson in popularity stakes as Tory unrest grows

Cat Neilan
·46 min read
Rishi Sunak is the most popular chancellor since 1978 - Shutterstock
Rishi Sunak is the most popular chancellor since 1978 - Shutterstock

Rishi Sunak is surging ahead of Boris Johnson in the polls, despite the Chancellor’s stark warning yesterday that his new jobs package would only support those deemed “viable”.

As Conservative backbenchers grumble about a Prime Minister who is “AWOL”, the country has put his Downing Street neighbour ahead on several key metrics, including being “good in a crisis” and having “sound judgment”.

Almost two thirds of the country are pleased with the way Mr Sunak is doing his job as Chancellor, while just 21 per cent are dissatisfied, an Ipsos Mori poll has found, the highest job satisfaction ratings among the public since Labour's Dennis Healey in 1978.

Among Conservative voters, his rating soars to 83 per cent but even 59 per cent of Labour supporters say they are happy with Mr Sunak’s performance.

The poll, conducted for the Evening Standard, found that 54 per cent of people thought Mr Sunak was “good in a crisis”, while just 32 per cent said that applied to Mr Johnson.  Forty-nine per cent said the Chancellor “has sound judgment”, while Mr Johnson lagged behind yet again with 30 per cent.

Asked this morning who was in charge Steve Barclay, chief secretary to the Treasury, dodged the question, instead saying both men were “working extremely closely together”.

Foreign Affairs committee chairman Tom Tugendhat said while he was “sure” Mr Johnson was running the country “Rishi Sunak did an extremely impressive job yesterday”.

Follow the latest updates below.

03:07 PM

And that's it for another day...

After a week of high drama against the swelling second wave, today was an opportunity for Boris Johnson to catch his breath before going once more unto the breach - but there has been a taste of things to come. 

Several Conservative MPs including Tom Tugendhat and Harriett Baldwin going public with their grievances. The MP for West Worcestershire was particularly sobering, warning that without the amendment curbing Downing Street's powers, we risk "going down a slippery slope towards a more dictatorial powers for our executive." 

That was echoed by a Conservative peer Lord Forsyth of Drumlean who accused the Government of using the law "improperly in order to avoid parliamentary scrutiny". 

Speaking to Tories, the overall sense is that discipline has not broken down to the extent it did under Theresa May - but the atmosphere is undeniably febrile. 

Conversations will now be taking place in the hope of regaining control before the Prime Minister loses it - but with Rishi Sunak's popularity surging, there are questions over whether it's just a matter of time before a leadership challenge comes. 

However, the majority of you do not even believe Mr Johnson is in charge now, according to our daily poll. Some 48 per cent of you said Dominic Cummings is really the man in charge - compared with 29 per cent for Boris Johnson and 23 per cent for Rishi Sunak. 

I'll be back on Monday to see just how this pans out. 

02:52 PM

Boris Johnson speaks with Met Police Commissioner following killing of officer in Croydon

Boris Johnson has spoken with Cressida Dick and "expressed his condolences" to the colleagues, friends and family of a Metropolitan Police officer who was shot dead in south London, Downing Street said.

A Number 10 spokesman said: "The Prime Minister has spoken with the Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick.

"He expressed his condolences to the officer's colleagues, friends and family and thanked the police for their work on the ongoing investigation into this shocking incident."

02:40 PM

Madeline Grant: Sunak's Thatcherite confession was a compelling audition for head boy

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is assailed on all sides by his Cabinet of temptations.

Michael Gove perches on one shoulder, a Lockdown Devil, insisting children remain in the 'rule of six', while the cherubic Matt Hancock flutters overhead, the anti-Eros, ordering couples in "non-established relationships" to remain celibate. 

Meanwhile Rishi Sunak sits at Boris’s right hand, the PM’s economic conscience, reminding him of tough decisions ahead and urging a little more opening up. 

Boris, being a fan of bread, circuses, jam today, tomorrow and thereafter, has usually succumbed to the seductions of Hancock and Gove.  

Winter campaigns rarely fare well, notes Madeline Grant. Perhaps that’s why they decided to cancel the Budget and replace it with the Winter Economy Plan in the first place – to remind us of even worse winters. Ours may be bleak, but it’s nothing on Napoleon’s.

02:27 PM

Have your say on: Who is in charge of the Government?

Yesterday MPs told this blog that Boris Johnson was "AWOL" and lacking in strategy, with "every faction [in the Conservative party] hoping he quits after Brexit". 

Today serious questions are being asked about his notable absence from the Commons during Rishi Sunak's key economic update, as the Chancellor's popularity surges. 

Steve Barclay, the Treasury minister, was asked at least twice during the broadcast round who is in charge, to which he responded that the pair were "working extremely closely together" - hardly dampening rumours that the Chancellor is driving the Government. 

But Mr Johnson has always been one for delegating - something people argue is a good thing when there are so many spinning plates.

So who is in charge? Have your say in the poll below. 

02:20 PM

Andy Burnham calls for 'wholesale change' of NHS Test and Trace

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham called for a "wholesale change" of NHS Test and Trace.

He said: "I'm really convinced there needs to be a major change ahead of the winter and that is to take resource out of a system at a national level that isn't working. We read that has now risen to £12 billion in the Chancellor's statement yesterday.

"It is not delivering the results, quite simply. So that money now needs to be redirected to the teams on the ground in districts like Greater Manchester, but across the country, so that we have people in communities doing that testing and that contact tracing.

"For me that is the only hope we have got of rescuing this system ahead of the winter."

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham - PA

02:02 PM

Jeremy Warner: The Government is floundering within a disaster of its own making

This was not the way it was meant to be. As lockdown measures eased over the summer months, a strong V-shaped recovery took hold; with things picking up nicely, there seemed every reason to believe that, in line with Bank of England projections, the economy would soon be back at pre-Covid levels.

Most epidemiologists always thought it inevitable that there would be a renewed surge in infections into the winter months as the economy opened up again, but the working assumption at HM Treasury was that, by then, test, track and trace would be sufficient to contain the virus without need for further national lockdowns.

As Jeremy Warner sets out, over the past week, all those assumptions have been blown away.

01:54 PM

'Patchwork' restrictions are confusing and ineffective, says Manchester mayor

The Mayor of Greater Manchester has raised doubts over the effectiveness of "patchwork" restrictions, saying they have simply served to confuse people. 

Speaking during his regular press conference, Andy Burnham said: "There are doubts here about the extent to which the restrictions have been effective.

"At best I think we can say they have have probably stopped the growth in cases we might otherwise have seen, but the patchwork nature of these restrictions, the confusion there is among the public, I think is diminishing any remaining effectiveness that they have.

"It can't be the case that it's restrictions alone that are being used to try and control the virus, because if we try that then I'm afraid we will be overtaken by this.

"Fixing Test and Trace is the answer, not loading more and more restrictions on local authorities.

"With the numbers we have at the moment, it is difficult to argue against measures that will try to seek to bring those numbers under control, and I think it's difficult to argue against a consistent approach across Greater Manchester given the position we are now in, but there is a limit to what any restrictions like this can achieve."

01:38 PM

Tom Tugendhat warns against 'putting country in prison' over coronavirus

A senior Conservative has warned against "putting the country in a prison" over coronavirus, in response to draconian new measures being brought in for universities in Scotland. 

Tom Tugendhat, the Foreign Affairs Committee chairman who is among those planning to rebel against the Government over emergency coronavirus, said: "Life isn’t lived simply to survive. If it was, we’d never cross a road or drive a car."

He urged against hoping that restrictions could be lifted by a vaccine "which may never come or not be very effective".

01:29 PM

Hospital coronavirus deaths in England tick up again

A further 33 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died in hospitals in England, as the daily death rate continues to tick up. 

It brings the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 29,871.

Patients were aged between 56 and 93 years old. All except two, aged between 84 and 88, had known underlying health conditions.

Date of death ranges from 21 April to 24 September 2020 with the majority on or after 22 September.

Once again there were no deaths recorded in the South West, while the North West was the worst-affected regions, with 10 deaths. There were eight deaths recorded in both London and the Midlands, five in North East and Yorkshire and one in both the East of England and South East.

01:16 PM

The UK's R-rate climbs again, Sage data shows

The UK's reproduction number, or R-rate, has risen again, Sage data shows. 

The official estimate for R-rate is between 1.2 and 1.5, up from between 1.1 to 1.4 last week.

All regions of England have an R-rate that is higher than 1, according the Government's scientific advisers.

The growth rate, which estimates how quickly the number of infections is changing day by day, is between 4 per cent and 8 per cent for the UK as a whole.

The most likely value is towards the middle of that range, the experts say.

01:13 PM

Watch: Priti Patel 'deeply saddened and shocked' by police officer death

Priti Patel is meeting with the Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick to discuss the investigation that is currently taking place into the fatal shooting of a police officer in Croydon in the early hours of this morning. 

It is still unclear how the 23-year old was man was able to shoot the officer while in a custody centre. It is believed the suspect then shot himself, with Met Police saying none of their weapons were discharged.

This afternoon, the Home Secretary said she was "deeply shocked and saddened" by the death of the officer. 

"All our thoughts are with the officer's family, friends and colleagues across the Metropolitan Police force, but also policing family across the country."

Watch her statement below. 

01:03 PM

Labour's Lisa Nandy confirms new restrictions for Wigan

Lisa Nandy, Labour MP for Wigan, said that additional restrictions on mixing between households are to be reimposed on the borough in line with most of Greater Manchester.

She tweeted: "The Health Minister confirmed in a call this morning that a rise in infections in Wigan means we're subject to wider Greater Manchester restrictions again."

Restrictions were previously eased in Wigan on August 26 as infection rates were low but latest seven-day rolling figures show 106.2 positive cases per 100,000 population.

01:02 PM

Friday book club: Diary of an MP's Wife is entertaining, but superficial - just like the cast

Who has the time - or inclination - to write a diary, my husband asked last night, as I finished off the tome that has got much of Westminster chatting. If Sasha Swire's compilation of the last 10 years is much to go by, it's someone with plenty of time, some decent insight but little in the way of revelations. 

Much has already been made of the score-settling contained within Diary of an MP’s Wife, and it is true that at times it feels quite bitter. 

There is little in the way of self-awareness as she turns from chastising her husband for failing to understand why private member's clubs might not be the thing for a modern, inclusive Tory during the peak of the Pestminster scandal to groping a male adviser. 

But the fact a decade has been edited into 500 pages means you lose a lot beyond the headlines, rattling through terror attacks, referenda and reshuffles without time to catch your breath. 

It's a readable and entertaining book - but felt at times, as superficial and glib as the governments and players Lady Swire bemoaned. 

Diary of an MP's Wife by Sasha Swire is published by Little, Brown at £20. To order your copy for £16.99, call 0844 871 1514 or visit Telegraph Books

12:42 PM

Britain raises 'grave concerns' about China's human rights abuses

Britain has expressed 'grave concerns' about China's policies towards Uighur Muslims in the Xinjiang region of the country.

Foreign Office Minister Lord Ahmad told the United Nations human rights council on Friday that the world body needed "unfettered access" to Xinjiang.

Lord Ahmad, who is Minister of State for South Asia and the Commonwealth, said: "Of grave concern, in Xinjiang, there is compelling evidence, including from the Chinese authorities' own documents, of systematic human rights violations.

"Culture and religion are severely restricted, and we have seen credible reports of forced labour and forced birth control. Staggeringly, up to 1.8 million people have been detained without trial.

"Across the country, we also remain seriously concerned about the pressure on media freedom.

"We call on China to uphold the rights and freedoms in the joint declaration, to respect the independence of the Hong Kong judiciary, allow unfettered access to Xinjiang and to release all those who are arbitrarily detained."

12:36 PM

Government using law 'improperly' to avoid scrutiny, peer claims

A lack of parliamentary scrutiny is creating a "farce" where Covid-19 rules are already out of date by the time they are debated, a Tory former minister claimed.

Former Tory Scottish secretary Lord Forsyth of Drumlean accused the Government of using an inappropriate law to avoid parliamentary scrutiny. 

He added: "Has the Government used the Public Health and Control of Diseases Act improperly in order to avoid parliamentary scrutiny and created today's farce where we are debating regulations that were made seven weeks ago which are already superseded?"

Former Labour cabinet minister Lord Blunkett said the "elephant in the room" was whether the Eat Out To Help Out scheme might have driven a spike in infections.

He added: "Infection rates during August rose and admissions to hospital by the end of August had started to rise.

"Has this any correlation with the Eat Out To Help Out, which economically was incredibly successful, but might actually have contributed to where we are today."

12:23 PM

Chopper's Politics: Boris Johnson 'has got his mojo back and is not quitting after Brexit', says ex-minister

Boris Johnson is under pressure today, as he braces for a significant challenge in the Commons next week, while battling against falling approval ratings among the wider public. 

But not everyone is downbeat about the Prime Minister. 

In an interview with today's Chopper's Politics podcast, which you can listen to on the audio player below, Simon Clarke, who stood down as communities minister on Sept 8, said: "I think Bojo has got his mojo back actually."

The MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland tells Chopper this week we saw "'the Boris' that really does connect and resonates. 

"And I hope, as we all do, that, you know, this is a sign that his physical health is returning to absolutely 100 percent, which is what we need."

Listen below.

12:06 PM

Have your say on: Who is in charge of the Government?

Yesterday MPs told this blog that Boris Johnson was "AWOL" and lacking in strategy, with "every faction [in the Conservative party] hoping he quits after Brexit". 

Today serious questions are being asked about his notable absence from the Commons during Rishi Sunak's key economic update, as the Chancellor's popularity surges. 

Steve Barclay, the Treasury minister, was asked at least twice during the broadcast round who is in charge, to which he responded that the pair were "working extremely closely together" - hardly dampening rumours that the Chancellor is driving the Government. 

But Mr Johnson has always been one for delegating - something people argue is a good thing when there are so many spinning plates.

So who is in charge? Have your say in the poll below. 

12:04 PM

Priti Patel: Croydon police officer killing a 'sad day for our country'

The killing of a Metropolitan Police officer in the line of duty is a "sad day for our country", the Home Secretary has said.

The victim died in hospital in the early hours of this morning after the gunman, who was being detained, opened fire at Croydon custody centre in south London.

Speaking at the Home Office,  Priti Patel said: "I'm deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic killing of the officer in Croydon overnight.

"All our thoughts are with the officer's family, friends and colleagues across the Metropolitan Police force, but also policing family across the country.

"This is a sad day for our country as once again we see the tragic killing of a police officer in the line of duty as they're trying to protect us and keep us safe.

"Later on today I'll be meeting with the Metropolitan Police Commissioner to discuss the investigation that is currently taking place, and of course the Metropolitan Police Service now need the time and the space to get on with the inquiry that now needs to follow."

12:03 PM

Lobby latest: Boris Johnson congratulates Princess Eugenie on pregnancy

Boris Johnson has congratulated Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank, after the pair announced they are expecting their first child in the new year.

The couple, who married at St George's Chapel in October 2018, will be having a baby in early 2021. 

The baby will be a first grandchild for Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York, and a ninth great-grandchild for the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh.

A Downing Street spokesman said: "The Prime Minister would obviously like to congratulate Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank on the news that they are expecting."

11:54 AM

Lobby latest: 'Useful exchanges' during informal Brexit talks this week

Downing Street has said there were "useful exchanges" with Brussels during informal trade talks this week. 

A No 10 spokesman said: "We've had useful exchanges with the EU over the past couple of weeks and progress has been made in certain areas.

"The EU has now confirmed that normal processes will be followed on third country listings.

"But we've always been clear that a number of challenging areas remain, which is why we continue to be committed to working hard to reach an agreement and we look forward to the next negotiating round in Brussels."

State aid and fisheries remain areas of contention, he added.

11:41 AM

Nicola Sturgeon says she is 'heart sorry' for students stuck in university outbreak

Nicola Sturgeon has said she is "heart sorry" for students who are stuck in student accommodation during the pandemic, stressing they were not to blame for the spread of the virus.

University students have been asked to avoid hospitality businesses this weekend by the Scottish Government and Universities Scotland.

The First Minister said: "I am so sorry, so heart sorry, that this time of your lives is being made as tough as it is just now - I really feel for you, but I feel especially for those of you starting university for the first time and, of course, living alone for the first time.

"This is an exciting time in your lives but I remember from my own experience that it's also a time of adjustment and it's also a time of home sickness as well, and that's the case for students every year without Covid-19 but it is much more difficult given the circumstances you are all facing right now."

The First Minister urged students not to visit other households and asked them not to go to bars and restaurants over the September weekend, as well as download the Protect Scotland app.

11:39 AM

London Councils urge capital's residents to 'work together' to bring cases down

Here is the full statement from London Councils regarding the capital. 

The good news for the city's 10m-plus residents is that there is no change to restrictions for now - but as we have seen in other parts of the country, there is a high chance they could be brought in soon. 

A statement said: "There are no additional measures at this stage but it is welcome that that the city's testing capacity is boosted so that Londoners have timely access to Covid-19 tests and the Government must ensure that this is sustained from now on. If Londoners have Covid-19 symptoms they should apply for a test at nhs/coronavirus or call 119."London boroughs are working with their communities, business and the police to engage, educate, explain and, if necessary, enforce the new restrictions and regulations, and the Government must ensure that it funds these so resources do not need to be drawn from other services."We ask all Londoners to work together and abide by the national restrictions announced on Tuesday."

11:25 AM

London on coronavirus 'watch list' as infections in capital rise

London is being added to the national coronavirus 'watch list' following a spike in infections.

A formal Public Health England announcement will take place later today, but the news has already been confirmed this morning by London Councils.

The organisation said that it serves as a reminder of the need for "all Londoners to pull together and take action to keep themselves, their families and communities safe, and to ensure that London's economy is protected".

11:14 AM

Leeds braced for further restrictions, says council leader

Leeds is likely to face new restrictions from midnight in the fight against Covid-19, including a ban on households mixing, its city council leader has said.

The Government usually updates its local lockdown restrictions on a weekly basis every Friday. 

Judith Blake said she expected Leeds will be made an "area of intervention", meaning "more household restrictions along the lines of those already in force across three of the West Yorkshire districts in Bradford, Kirkless and Calderdale".

She told reporters: "We expect them to come in from midnight."

The addition of Leeds' 793,000 population would take the number of people living under local restrictions to more than 16.2 million people across the UK.

11:13 AM

ONS: Nearly 10,000 new coronavirus cases a day last week

There were around 9,600 new coronavirus infections per day in England in the last week, the Office for National Statistics has estimated. 

Around 103,600 people "within the community population" had the virus in the period between 13 to 19 September 2020, equating to around 1 in 500 people, the ONS said. There is evidence of higher infection rates in the North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, London and North East.

In Wales, during the same week, the ONS estimates that at any given time 10,800 people had Covid-19, around 1 in 300 people.

 

10:53 AM

Christopher Chope questions need for forensic labs bill

Over in the Commons, veteran private members bill-blocker Sir Christopher Chope has questioned the need for the Bill as a regulator for forensic labs is already in place which has non-statutory powers to uphold standards.

Sir Christopher, who has in the past blocked bills with broad consensus support, most notoriously the upskirting legislation, told MPs: "The scepticism that I have about this is that we've had the regulator in place since 2007 and that regulator has got the powers to bring in codes of practice and essentially, by one method or another, encourage people to comply with the codes of practice.

"This Bill talks about the introduction of statutory codes of practice which would have to be subject to consultation but it is not clear to me whether the existing powers have already been used sufficiently.

"It is one thing to say you've got the powers, you've been using them and you haven't been able to make them work and therefore you need to have them put on a statutory footing.

"But it is not clear to be that the existing regulation has been using the non-statutory powers that are available."

10:42 AM

Alan Cochrane: Scotland's locked-down students are being held hostage thanks to Nicola Sturgeon

A thousand new students have been imprisoned across Scotland - victims of Nicola Sturgeon’s preoccupation with looking good and fighting propaganda battles with London rather than taking the measures that would really beat Covid.

And now, incredibly, all of Scotland’s students have been hit with a brutal list of restrictions including a ‘stay away from pubs’ order.

The locked-down teenagers, just starting their varsity careers, are not so much prisoners as hostages - held captive until there’s an improvement in the official statistics about which Ms Sturgeon has thus far  been only too pleased to boast.

10:33 AM

Rebellion over emergency powers to halt 'slippery slope towards dictatorial powers', says Tory MP

A rebel MP has insisted that backing an amendment seeking to curb powers is not a sign of waning confidence in Boris Johnson - but to stop us "going down a slippery slope" towards dictatorship. 

Harriett Baldwin is one of 42 Tory MPs who have backed an amendment tabled by the 1922 Committee chairman, Sir Graham Brady to require a new Parliament vote "as soon as reasonably practicable" on new powers.

She told Sky News she supported the approach the Government had taken so far, but "we need to scrutinise what is happening in Parliament - we need to have healthy debate". 

That would "result in better outcomes", she added. Scrutiny "even on a retrospective basis" would be an improvement, she said. 

"The Government has got this very, very difficult balance correct. It is not meant to be in any way about disagreeing with these current measures

"But the point of principle, in a democracy, is that Parliament ought to have the ability to scrutinise, question and disagree from time to time by voting against the measures if necessary. This is about ensuring we are a democratically-run country and that we are not going down a slippery slope towards a more dictatorial powers for our executive." 

10:23 AM

Rebel MP backing Brady amendment on 'point of principle'

A rebel MP has said she is seeking to curb the executive powers on a "point of principle". 

Harriett Baldwin, the Conservative MP for West Worcestershire, told Sky News she was backing Sir Graham Brady's amendment not because she disagreed with the measures taken so far, but because MPs should be able to "question, debate and vote" on those measures. 

She said: "The Government has got a very difficult balance right in terms of restriction of freedoms and the economic support in the right place, but as a point of principle, where we are giving the executive the power to take away freedoms of our constituents, it's absolutely right we should debate those and vote on those in the House of Commons."

There had been "technological advances" made since the powers were first voted on that meant those votes could be taken remotely, she adds. 

10:17 AM

Have your say on: Who is in charge of the Government?

Yesterday MPs told this blog that Boris Johnson was "AWOL" and lacking in strategy, with "every faction [in the Conservative party] hoping he quits after Brexit". 

Today serious questions are being asked about his notable absence from the Commons during Rishi Sunak's key economic update. 

Steve Barclay, the Treasury minister, was asked at least twice during the broadcast round who is in charge, to which he responded that the pair were "working extremely closely together" - hardly dampening rumours that the Chancellor is driving the Government. 

But Mr Johnson has always been one for delegating - something people argue is a good thing when there are so many spinning plates.

So who is in charge? Have your say in the poll below. 

09:59 AM

Yvette Cooper and David Lammy respond to 'appalling' death of police officer in Croydon

More reaction to the fatal shooting of a police officer in Croydon this morning is coming in from Westminster.

The shadow justice secretary, Labour's David Lammy, tweeted: "Appalling news that a police officer has been shot dead in Croydon.

"It is tragic when an officer loses their life in the line of duty while doing their job keeping the public safe.

"My thoughts and condolences are with the officer's family, colleagues and friends."

Yvette Cooper, chairman of the Commons Home Affairs Committee, said: "It is truly awful news that a brave police officer has been killed.

"My thoughts and deep sympathies go out to the family, friends and colleagues of this brave officer - and also to everyone in policing who will be feeling this loss deeply.

"Every day our police put themselves in harm's way to keep us all safe - it is devastating for this to happen to someone working to protect others".

A number of policing colleagues have changed their social media profile pictures to black, with a blue line, as a mark of respect to the officer who was shot dead inside a south London station.

09:56 AM

David Cameron's memoir goes into the bargain bucket

David Cameron's memoir For the Record has gone to paperback now - but as Lord Andrew Adonis, the former transport minister, points out, there are one or two hardbacks still knocking about.

09:32 AM

Italian president rebukes Boris over 'freedom-loving' comments as Carrie holidays in Como

The Italian president has rebuked Boris Johnson’s claims that, unlike Italy, the UK is a "freedom-loving country" where it is hard to enforce anti-virus measures, as it emerged that the Prime Minister’s fiancee is holidaying on the shores of Lake Como.

Sergio Mattarella, the head of state, on Thursday responded to the remarks made by the Prime Minister during this week's PMQs.

"We Italians also love freedom, but we also care about seriousness," the president said on an official visit to Sardinia.

The dispute broke out as Carrie Symonds, Mr Johnson’s partner, was pictured holidaying in Lake Como. 

Carrie Symonds was pictured in Italy yesterday - Shutterstock

09:29 AM

Supermarkets ration loo roll and other essential items to stave-off panic buying

Tesco, Morrisons and Waitrose have reintroduced food rationing in a bid to control panic-buying among consumers concerned about a second coronavirus wave. 

Tesco has today placed limits on toilet roll, with some customers saying there is a limit of just one pack per customer.

Morrisons has introduced buying limits on some of its most popular essentials. Purchases will be restricted to three items per customer on a small number of products including toilet toll and disinfectant, as the country records a high number of new coronavirus cases.

Shoppers at a Waitrose in west London reported limits on the amount of certain items you could buy at any one time. Read the latest updates on our coronavirus blog here.

Retailers are trying to prevent scenes like this, from March - Getty

09:14 AM

Local MPs respond to tragic killing of police officer in Croydon

Politicians continue to respond to the sad news about the police officer who was killed in Croydon in the early hours of this morning. 

Chris Philp, immigration minister and MP for Croydon South, has tweeted that he is "devastated" by the news, but said "justice will be done". 

Sir Bob Neill, MP for neighbouring Bromley & Chislehurst, also tweeted about the "awful" and "tragic" news. 

09:00 AM

Lockdown rebellion grows as PM is warned over controlling 65m people 'by fiat'

Downing Street cannot keep "controlling the lives of 65 million people by fiat", a senior Conservative has said today, urging Number 10 to give MPs a greater say on emergency coronavirus powers. 

Tom Tugendhat said that the Government must "enter this conversation" if it is to head off a rebellion over the extension of restrictions next week. 

"It's quite clear that there's at least another six months of it as the Government has announced and it may indeed be longer than that depending on whether a vaccine comes or not, so the idea that we can have a permanent state where the Government is making emergency decisions for people and effectively controlling the lives of 65 million people by fiat is not sustainable," the MP for Tonbridge and Malling told the Today programme. 

Asked who was running the Government, the Foreign Affairs Committee said he was "sure" Boris Johnson was but heaped praise on the Chancellor Rishi Sunak - a view is shared by many on the backbenches, as the Prime Minister's support continues to wane.

Mr Johnson was notably absent from the Commons yesterday, with backbenchers saying he was "AWOL", although Treasury minister Steve Barclay insisted this was because of social distancing restrictions. 

Last night 42 Tory MPs went public with backing an amendment tabled by the 1922 Committee chairman, Sir Graham Brady to require a new Parliament vote "as soon as reasonably practicable" on new powers.

The overall number of Tories rebelling is likely to grow over the coming days, meaning Mr Johnson could face a real test of his leadership next week. However it is by no means certain that the amendment will be chosen by Sir Lindsay Hoyle because the vote on Wednesday is on a statutory motion.

08:57 AM

Boris Johnson offers 'deepest condolences' to killed police officer's friends and family

Boris Johnson has offered his "deepest condolences" to the friends and family of the police offer who was killed in Croydon in the early hours of this morning.  

The Prime Minister, who yesterday visited new police recruits, tweeted: "We owe a huge debt to those who risk their own lives to keep us safe."

08:46 AM

Policing minister calls for 'justice for heinous crime' after officer killed in Croydon

Over in Parliament, policing minister Kit Malthouse has updated MPs about the officer's death, telling them: "May justice follow this heinous crime."

Raising a point of order in the House of Commons, a sombre-sounding Mr Malthouse said: "We ask our police officers to do an extraordinary job.

"The fact that one of them has fallen in the line of performing that duty is a tragedy for the entire nation.

"I know the entire House will offer their condolences to his family and friends and colleagues.

"May he rest in peace and may justice follow this heinous crime."

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle added: "It is shocking news. This should never happen to the people that protect us and make us safe. All our thoughts and prayers go with the family and friends and the police community."

08:35 AM

Unemployment levels 'going back towards 1980s', shadow chancellor warns

The shadow chancellor has warned that unemployment is heading towards "1980s levels" despite Rishi Sunak's wage subsidy package. 

Anneliese Dodds questioned whether the wage support scheme had been designed to "make it economically sensible" for businesses to keep their staff on, as they move towards paying a higher proportion of salaries than they have done throughout lockdown. 

"Certainly those unemployment levels are rising very substantially, they're going back towards 1980s levels," the Labour MP told BBC Radio 4's Today programme this morning.

"I think the real question now, and I asked this in Parliament yesterday of the Chancellor, is whether this system of targeted wage support will incentivise employers to keep people on.

"That's the real kind of million-dollar question, because if it doesn't, if it's not actually designed in a way that will make it economically sensible for employers to keep people on, then unfortunately it won't be living up to the promise of other wage support schemes that we've seen being so successful."

Anneliese Dodds in the Commons yesterday - PA

08:26 AM

Sir Keir Starmer and other Labour figures react to 'horrific' killing of police officer in Croydon

There is more political reaction coming in following the killing of a police officer in Croydon this morning. 

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer tweeted: "Horrific to hear of a police officer being shot and killed in Croydon.

"Our police put themselves in harm's way every day to keep us safe.

"All my thoughts are with the officer's family, friends and colleagues."

Steve Reed, Labour MP for Croydon North, said his thoughts were with the officer's family and colleagues.

He tweeted: "All of us in Croydon are in shock at this heartbreaking tragic news."

08:12 AM

Home Secretary 'deeply shocked and saddened' by Croydon police officer shooting

Priti Patel has said she is "deeply shocked and saddened" by the shooting of a police officer in Croydon this morning. 

The officer was shot by man who was being detained at Croydon Custody Centre at around 2:15am. He was treated to the scene before being taken to hospital but he could not be saved. 

A 23-year-old man was detained by officers at the scene. He was also taken to hospital with a gunshot wound and remains in a critical condition.

"My thoughts today are with his family, friends and policing colleagues in London and across the country," the Home Secretary said in a statement.

"This morning I spoke to Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick to express my condolences and to offer whatever support is needed as this tragic event is investigated.

"This is a sad day for our country and another terrible reminder of how our police officers put themselves in danger each and every day to keep the rest of us safe."

07:59 AM

Labour's shadow home secretary responds to 'terrible, devastating, shocking' police officer killing

Labour's shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds has said the death of a police officer this morning is "terrible - utterly devastating, shocking news".

Details are still emerging of what happened, but the Met confirmed that the police officer was shot at around 2:15am this morning, and died later at a hospital. 

The BBC is reporting the man was in a police station at the time.

A spokesman said: "No police firearms were discharged during the incident."

07:55 AM

Police officer dies after being shot by man being detained in Croydon

A police officer has died after being shot by a man who was being detained at Croydon Custody Centre in south London on Friday, the Metropolitan Police has confirmed. 

The officer was shot this morning at around 2:15am. He was treated to the scene before being taken to hospital but he could not be saved. 

A 23-year-old man was detained by officers at the scene. He was also taken to hospital with a gunshot wound and remains in a critical condition.

A spokesman said: "No police firearms were discharged during the incident."

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick said: "This is a truly shocking incident in which one of our colleagues has lost his life in the most tragic circumstances. My heart goes out to his family, direct colleagues and friends."

07:52 AM

Just nine countries left for Britons to travel without restriction

Those hoping to have an autumn get-away are finding their options increasingly closed off, with just nine holiday options that don’t include some form of test or restriction. 

Last night Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, announced on Twitter that Iceland, Denmark, Slovakia and Curacao were being axed from the UK’s quarantine-free “green list'' this afternoon.

From Saturday 4am any traveller from these destinations will have to quarantine for 14 days on arrival in the UK.

Germany, Poland, Italy, Sweden, Turkey, Greece, Gibraltar, Liechtenstein and San Marino are now the only countries where British travellers can avoid any quarantine or tests in either direction.

07:41 AM

'Spend now to save later', says Gordon Brown as he urges Rishi Sunak to go further

The Government must "spend now to save later", Gordon Brown has said, urging the Chancellor to go further than he has done to save jobs during the crisis. 

The former prime minister and chancellor told ITV's Good Morning Britain that "other countries are doing twice as much as Britain in this recovery phase, American is considering doing four times as much as Britain".

He added: "This is a one in a century event, we have got to take extraordinary measures so we spend now to save later. We can borrow at very low interest rates, and people are willing to lend money to us to do so."

"You've got to think of the future - if we destroy capacity, destroy jobs, that is at a huge cost to the economy later."

07:36 AM

Students may have to stay on campus over Christmas, warns Sage scientist

University students may have to be told to stay on campus over Christmas in the events of coronavirus outbreaks, a Sage scientist has warned.

Yesterday Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, did not rule out such a possibility, although he stressed he hoped it did not come to that. 

But today Sir Mark Walport, who is on the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "There's absolutely no doubt about that and we've seen that from universities across the world.

"There was a paper published, endorsed by Sage, at the beginning of September that noted there was a significant risk that higher education could amplify local and national transmission.

"Universities are very large communities, they bring together people from across the country and they're far from monastic communities these days.

"The one thing that we don't want is for an outbreak of coronavirus in a university to then result in students going home and spreading that infection to other parts of the country and other communities, to their parents, to their grandparents.

"If students are infected when it comes near to the end of term they may have to remain where they are."

07:25 AM

ICYMI: Who are the Tories rebelling over emergency coronavirus powers

Dozens of Conservative backbenchers have backed a bid by rebels to force Boris Johnson to put all future lockdown measures to a vote of MPs.

In all, 42 Tory MPs backed an amendment tabled by the 1922 Committee chairman, Sir Graham Brady to require a new Parliament vote "as soon as reasonably practicable" on new powers.

In proof that this cuts across the deep Brexit divides, those named include Tom Tugendhat, David Davis, Sir Iain Duncan Smith, Sir John Redwood, Damian Green, Tim Loughton and David Jones, as well as Sir Bernard Jenkin and Sir Bob Neill.

Read the full story here. 

07:18 AM

Shift from furlough to wage subsidies reflects longer-term view on pandemic, says Steve Barclay

The chief secretary to the Treasury has defended the new jobs protection scheme as a "targeted" approach to get people back to work while the unemployed can be retrained.

With some confusion over what the Government considers to be a "viable" job, Steve Barclay explained it was: "One where the employer is able to bring someone back to work."

The move away from furlough to subsidies "reflects a change in focus", he added "to the next phase where we recognise we will be living with this virus for a longer period of time than initially thought". 

Mr Barclay said: "We therefore we need to take more targeted measures rather than for people being home for a very long period of time, to start to bringing people back into the labour market where we can and, where that's not possible, then focus very much on the skills the training and how we get them into other jobs."

He denied the new jobs protection scheme would not give enough of an incentive to employers to keep workers on, with suggestions it is cheaper to bring back one furloughed employee than two on half-time.

"What that doesn't take on board, a spreadsheet interpretation, doesn't reflect the fact that many employers value the flexibility of being able to tailor how much time employees are working as we go through the uncertainty of the winter months and they want to retain the skills and expertise of their labour market."

07:07 AM

Boris Johnson absent because of 'social distancing restrictions', claims Treasury minister

The chief secretary to the Treasury has defended Boris Johnson's absence from the Commons yesterday during Rishi Sunak's winter economy plan statement. 

Steve Barclay told Radio 4's Today programme the Prime Minister was not there because "firstly there are social distancing restrictions within the chamber". 

And also because he was "in the real world" on a visit to Northamptonshire's Police Headquarters. 

Asked who is in charge, Mr Barclay said: "The Prime Minister and Chancellor are working extremely closely together.

"I think you can see that in the dovetailing of measures... in getting the right health package in place but also having an economy that can reopen in a Covid-safe way. "

Boris Johnson was notable by his absence yesterday - AFP

07:03 AM

Winter months will be 'very uncomfortable for lots of people', Next boss warns

One of the country's most senior retailers has warned that traditional jobs may become unviable after a shift to online shopping during the coronavirus pandemic.

Lord Simon Wolfson, chief executive of retail giant Next, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I wouldn't want to underestimate the difficulty that is going to cause a lot of people who work in retail.

"I think it's going to be very uncomfortable for a lot of people. We will inevitably, and have already, reduced the number of people working in our shops and I'd expect that to continue over the coming five or six years as the demand for retail goes down.

"We're taking on people in our call centre. We're training new recruits in our call centres, in our warehousing, our distribution networks are taking on new employees."

06:55 AM

Treasury minister defends decision to target support for 'viable' jobs

The chief secretary to the Treasury has defended emergency measures to save jobs from criticism there is not enough support for the hardest-hit industries, including hospitality.

A day after Chancellor Rishi Sunak said he could only save "viable" jobs, there is considerable concern and anxiety over precisely which jobs can survive the winter months. 

Steve Barclay told Sky News: "We've been honest with the public that we will not be able to save, regretfully, every job.

"There's a whole range of investment going into the economy in those sectors whilst we protect as many of those jobs that are viable, that people have been protected in initially through the furlough and now through the winter package.

"It is right that we also look at the cost to the wider economy, these measures come at a significant fiscal cost, and that's why it's right we target those jobs that are viable during what is going to be sadly a difficult winter."

06:51 AM

Treasury minister defends Rishi Sunak's exhortation to 'live without fear'

Chief secretary to the Treasury Steve Barclay has denied that Rishi Sunak's message to "live without fear" was a suggestion people should ignore the coronavirus rules.

Yesterday the Chancellor said there was no “risk-free solution” as the Government responds to the pandemic, and that everyone “must learn to live with it and live without fear”.

He told Sky News: "Quite the opposite. I think what's very clear from the message the Chancellor said we need to address the health risks in order to protect jobs.

"It's as a consequence of people following the health guidance, adhering to that, that's also how we enable the economy to recover and we protect as many jobs as possible.

"This false choice that's sometimes presented between the health needs and the economic needs is wrong. They both sit side by side and it's through taking strong measures to address the virus that we can get the business confidence back into the economy."

Rishi Sunak and Steve Barclay - AFP

06:40 AM

Tory MPs back rebel bid to force vote on future lockdown measures

Dozens of Conservative backbenchers have backed a bid by rebels to force Boris Johnson to put all future lockdown measures to a vote of MPs.

In all, 42 Tory MPs backed an amendment tabled by the 1922 Committee chairman, Sir Graham Brady to require a new Parliament vote "as soon as reasonably practicable" on new powers.

The scale of the rebellion – almost certain to grow over the next few days – means the rebels are presently just one MP short of overhauling the Government's working majority of 85, taking into account Sinn Fein MPs who do not vote, the Speaker and the deputy Speaker.

The MPs are hoping that the amendment will be voted on next Wednesday when the Government, by law, has to ask Parliament to approve its powers every six months.