UK politics live: Minister eases lockdown further, as rising Covid cases prompt urgent call to action

Good Morning. It’s been a while since covid has been leading the news, but cases are on the rise in the UK, and they are now Far more than in other European countries. As we reported overnight, the NHS Confederation, which represents hospitals and other NHS trusts, is saying that ministers must apply immediately Comprehensive “Plan B” winter measures or derailing efforts to tackle a backlog of 5 million patients.

today morning quasi quartengo, Business Secretary, on microphone duty for Govt. He was asked about a suggestion on Sky News Prof. Stephen Reacher, professor of social psychology at the University of St Andrews and one of the government’s science advisers, said that the government’s refusal to act now has raised the possibility of future lockdowns.

Stephen Reicher
(@RisherStephen)

No one wants to re-enforce the ban.
We will be subject to sanctions if we fail to implement the protections that other countries have used to control the Delta version.
More than ever, it is clear that ‘do nothing’ advocates are the real lockdown party. pic.twitter.com/jMSJeu3wE1


October 19, 2021

Fifteen minutes He said he would rule out another lockdown. He told the program:


No, I’ll dismiss it. Clearly, throughout this process people are saying that the lockdown was unnecessary, and others are saying that we should continue with the lockdown. We’ve actually found a way between those two extremes. I think it has worked. And that’s one of the reasons we’ve got the fastest growing economy in the G7.

I will soon post about covid, and other matters from his interviews.

Here is the agenda for the day.

at 10 am: The Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Cressida Dick, gives evidence to the London Assembly on the safety of women and girls in the capital following the deaths of Sarah Everard and Sabina Nessa.

11 a.m.: Sarah Crews, temporary chief constable for the Avon and Somerset Police and leading the National Police Chiefs’ Council for Rape and Adult Sex Offenses, gives evidence of the Commons Home Affairs Committee’s investigation into the rape prosecution. Other police officers and legal experts are also giving evidence.

12:00 pm: boris johnson Sir Keir starrer faces off in PMQs.

2.30 pm: Catherine Birbalsingh is questioned by the Commons Women and Equality Committee about her proposed appointment as chair of the Social Mobility Commission.

3 pm: Alok Sharma, president of Cop26, evidences a joint hearing of the Commons Science and Transportation committees about Cop26.

3 pm: National Security Adviser Sir Stephen Lovegrove gives evidence on withdrawal from Afghanistan to the Joint Committee on National Security Strategy.

I try to keep an eye on the comments below the line (BTL) but it’s impossible to read them all. If you have a direct question, include “Andrew” somewhere in it and I’m more likely to find it. I try to answer questions, and if they are of general interest, I’ll post questions and answers above the line (ATL), although I can’t promise to do this for everyone.

If you want to get my attention quickly, maybe it’s better to use Twitter. I’m on @AndrewSparrow.

Alternatively, you can email me here andrew.sparrow@theguardian.com

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