skynewspolitics--2020-11-20--Patel damaged by bullying inquiry process - and there's a chance it may rear its head again

The Cabinet Office report into whether or not Priti Patel bullied her civil servants has been sitting on the prime minister 's desk for months .
Since March , political reporters have asked about the progress of the inquiry into the home secretary on a near-daily basis , only to be told by Boris Johnson 's official spokesman : `` I do n't have any update for you . ''
It 's not entirely clear why this week was chosen as the moment to finally publish the findings , but the controversial nature of the prime minister 's response might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such a delay in Number 10 in coming forward with it .
Sir Alex Allan , his independent adviser on ministerial ethics , had concluded Ms Patel had behaved in a way that constituted bullying , and was in breach of the ministerial code .
Normally it would then be for the prime minister to determine whether that breach constituted a sackable offence .
Instead , Mr Johnson decided that was immaterial because in his eyes there was no breach .
He was within his rights to make that call , because he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the code , but it is a fact there is no precedent for prime minister contradicting the conclusion of their ministerial ethics adviser following such an investigation .
The response of Sir Alex was to immediately resign from his post .
The justification Number 10 gave for this unprecedented approach was that the prime minister had to consider the matter `` in the round '' .
His spokesman said Mr Johnson had concluded there was no breach because any offence caused was inadvertent and that the home secretary had not been made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to say that given Ms Patel had made an `` unreserved apology '' the matter was now `` closed '' .
But is it ?
Has the `` unreserved apology '' , as Ms Patel described it herself , done enough for the issue to go away ?
The short answer is no .
Already opposition politicians are expressing outrage that the home secretary 's apology was for the upset caused , rather than the behaviour itself .
The full publication of the report is another issue that is likely to linger .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ can not be published without compromising the private information of those who contributed evidence to it .
However , Yvette Cooper , who chairs the Home Affairs Select Committee , has already requested a copy for scrutiny of whether key evidence has been overlooked in the summary that was published on Friday .
A political row will ensue if that is denied .
Similarly , Lord Evans , the chair of the Committee for Standards in Public Life , has said Sir Alex 's resignation was `` deeply concerning '' and indicated it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his ongoing inquiry into the ministerial code .
On top of all that , the former senior civil servant whose resignation sparked the inquiry in the first place has raised questions about whether the findings presented on Friday were accurate .
Sir Philip Rutnam , who quit as permanent secretary at the Home Office in February , has said it is false to claim the home secretary was not made aware of the offence that her behaviour had caused .
In a statement , Sir Philip said Ms Patel had indeed been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and September of last year , and again in February of this year .
All of this is likely to be raised at the employment tribunal Sir Philip has launched for what he claims was constructive dismissal .
But that tribunal , if it goes ahead , is not expected to be held until next September .
The select committees that are indicating they want to investigate these matters are unlikely to move forward particularly quickly .
Given the reaction from the Conservative backbenches has been broadly supportive of the prime minister 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why Downing Street chose to publish the findings on Friday .
The matter may not be as closed as Mr Johnson claims it to be , but given the next few weeks are likely to be dominated by a focus on the spending review , Brexit talks , vaccine rollouts and rows over changing coronavirus restrictions , the scope for this issue to remain at the top of the agenda is limited .
That does not mean Ms Patel is safe in her post for good .
There is no doubt she has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there 's plenty of scope for it to rear its head once again .
But Number 10 appears to have concluded that the storm created by sticking by a home secretary , who is popular with Conservative MPs and party members alike , will soon be blown away by the bigger political storms on the horizon .

The Cabinet Office report into whether or not Priti Patel bullied her civil servants has been sitting on the prime minister's desk for months.
Since March, political reporters have asked about the progress of the inquiry into the home secretary on a near-daily basis, only to be told by Boris Johnson's official spokesman: "I don't have any update for you."
It's not entirely clear why this week was chosen as the moment to finally publish the findings, but the controversial nature of the prime minister's response might at least explain why there had been such a delay in Number 10 in coming forward with it.
Sir Alex Allan, his independent adviser on ministerial ethics, had concluded Ms Patel had behaved in a way that constituted bullying, and was in breach of the ministerial code.
Image: Priti Patel behaved in a way that constituted bullying, said an independent ethics adviser
Normally it would then be for the prime minister to determine whether that breach constituted a sackable offence.
Instead, Mr Johnson decided that was immaterial because in his eyes there was no breach.
He was within his rights to make that call, because he has the final say on matters relating to the code, but it is a fact there is no precedent for prime minister contradicting the conclusion of their ministerial ethics adviser following such an investigation.
The response of Sir Alex was to immediately resign from his post.
The justification Number 10 gave for this unprecedented approach was that the prime minister had to consider the matter "in the round".
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His spokesman said Mr Johnson had concluded there was no breach because any offence caused was inadvertent and that the home secretary had not been made aware of it. He went on to say that given Ms Patel had made an "unreserved apology" the matter was now "closed".
But is it? Has the "unreserved apology", as Ms Patel described it herself, done enough for the issue to go away? The short answer is no.
Already opposition politicians are expressing outrage that the home secretary's apology was for the upset caused, rather than the behaviour itself.
The full publication of the report is another issue that is likely to linger.
Image: Boris Johnson has stuck by his home secretary
The government have said the final document cannot be published without compromising the private information of those who contributed evidence to it.
However, Yvette Cooper, who chairs the Home Affairs Select Committee, has already requested a copy for scrutiny of whether key evidence has been overlooked in the summary that was published on Friday. A political row will ensue if that is denied.
Similarly, Lord Evans, the chair of the Committee for Standards in Public Life, has said Sir Alex's resignation was "deeply concerning" and indicated it would now be looked at as part of his ongoing inquiry into the ministerial code.
On top of all that, the former senior civil servant whose resignation sparked the inquiry in the first place has raised questions about whether the findings presented on Friday were accurate.
Sir Philip Rutnam, who quit as permanent secretary at the Home Office in February, has said it is false to claim the home secretary was not made aware of the offence that her behaviour had caused.
In a statement, Sir Philip said Ms Patel had indeed been warned about shouting at staff in August and September of last year, and again in February of this year.
All of this is likely to be raised at the employment tribunal Sir Philip has launched for what he claims was constructive dismissal.
But that tribunal, if it goes ahead, is not expected to be held until next September.
The select committees that are indicating they want to investigate these matters are unlikely to move forward particularly quickly.
Given the reaction from the Conservative backbenches has been broadly supportive of the prime minister's decision, it is possible to see why Downing Street chose to publish the findings on Friday.
Image: Sir Philip Rutnam quit as permanent secretary at the Home Office in February. File pic
The matter may not be as closed as Mr Johnson claims it to be, but given the next few weeks are likely to be dominated by a focus on the spending review, Brexit talks, vaccine rollouts and rows over changing coronavirus restrictions, the scope for this issue to remain at the top of the agenda is limited.
That does not mean Ms Patel is safe in her post for good.
There is no doubt she has been damaged by this process, and there's plenty of scope for it to rear its head once again.
But Number 10 appears to have concluded that the storm created by sticking by a home secretary, who is popular with Conservative MPs and party members alike, will soon be blown away by the bigger political storms on the horizon.


skynewspolitics--2020-11-20--EU 'thinks Brexit deal 95% agreed' but anxiety remains, secret notes reveal

Confidential notes seen by Sky News reveal European Union officials think a Brexit deal is 95 % agreed - but show the extent of anxiety over the potential impact if negotiations break down .
The notes come from a meeting of the most senior diplomats in Brussels on Friday morning , when they were briefed about the state of Brexit talks by the European Commission 's Secretary General Ilze Juhansone .
She was standing in for Michel Barnier , the EU 's chief negotiator , who went into self-isolation on Thursday .
Ms Juhansone told the meeting the legal text @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finalised '' in almost all areas , `` covering almost all subjects '' .
However , she cautioned that problems still remained in three well-established areas - fisheries , governance and competition rules , often referred to as the level playing field .
`` On these matters , the UK has not made significant moves , '' she told the meeting , adding there `` will be no economic partnership '' without an agreement in these areas .
The notes state the UK is still insisting on annual negotiations around fishing quotes and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ negotiators have been debating a compromise on fishing that would see a future review , and possible amendment , to any Brexit deal .
Other areas of disagreement include the UK 's provision of healthcare to EU workers , family allowance , financial services , freight access and intellectual property .
Helga Schmid , the Secretary General of the EU 's foreign affairs department , was also at the meeting , telling ambassadors the UK had shown `` a lack of eagerness to have an agreement on foreign , security and defence policy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changes in approach .
However , despite these differences , the meeting heard Mr Barnier 's assessment was that a deal was possible `` if the political will is there and the overall balance is maintained '' .
Ms Juhansone told the meeting there was `` a commitment to find workable solutions '' to get a deal done , and then ratified , in time for the end of the transition period on 31 December .
If a deal was agreed , one option for speeding it through would be to have the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that proposal was rejected by the French diplomats at the meeting as `` sacrificing legal certainty '' .
Another proposal being considered is for the European Parliament to hold an emergency meeting between Christmas Day and New Year 's Eve .
Senior contacts at the parliament have told Sky News they would be prepared to do this , but insist they should not be hurried into making such a crucial decision .
A third proposal , and perhaps the most eye-catching , is for a deal to be given a `` provisional application @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come into effect while awaiting ratification .
Diplomats have said this is the worst option , because it is so precarious - but that it may also be the only option if time runs out .

Confidential notes seen by Sky News reveal European Union officials think a Brexit deal is 95% agreed - but show the extent of anxiety over the potential impact if negotiations break down.
The notes come from a meeting of the most senior diplomats in Brussels on Friday morning, when they were briefed about the state of Brexit talks by the European Commission's Secretary General Ilze Juhansone.
She was standing in for Michel Barnier, the EU's chief negotiator, who went into self-isolation on Thursday.
Image: The European Commission's Secretary General Ilze Juhansone briefed the diplomats. File pic
Ms Juhansone told the meeting the legal text of a trade deal was now "finalised" in almost all areas, "covering almost all subjects".
However, she cautioned that problems still remained in three well-established areas - fisheries, governance and competition rules, often referred to as the level playing field.
"On these matters, the UK has not made significant moves," she told the meeting, adding there "will be no economic partnership" without an agreement in these areas.
The notes state the UK is still insisting on annual negotiations around fishing quotes and access to British waters.
However, negotiators have been debating a compromise on fishing that would see a future review, and possible amendment, to any Brexit deal.
Other areas of disagreement include the UK's provision of healthcare to EU workers, family allowance, financial services, freight access and intellectual property.
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Image: Negotiators have been debating a compromise on fishing
Helga Schmid, the Secretary General of the EU's foreign affairs department, was also at the meeting, telling ambassadors the UK had shown "a lack of eagerness to have an agreement on foreign, security and defence policy" but that she was now seeing changes in approach.
However, despite these differences, the meeting heard Mr Barnier's assessment was that a deal was possible "if the political will is there and the overall balance is maintained".
Ms Juhansone told the meeting there was "a commitment to find workable solutions" to get a deal done, and then ratified, in time for the end of the transition period on 31 December.
Image: Michel Barnier, the EU's chief negotiator, who went into self-isolation on Thursday
If a deal was agreed, one option for speeding it through would be to have the text written only in English, but that proposal was rejected by the French diplomats at the meeting as "sacrificing legal certainty".
Another proposal being considered is for the European Parliament to hold an emergency meeting between Christmas Day and New Year's Eve.
Image: The European Parliament in Brussels could hold an emergency meeting between Christmas Day and New Year's Eve
Senior contacts at the parliament have told Sky News they would be prepared to do this, but insist they should not be hurried into making such a crucial decision.
A third proposal, and perhaps the most eye-catching, is for a deal to be given a "provisional application", which would mean it could come into effect while awaiting ratification.
Diplomats have said this is the worst option, because it is so precarious - but that it may also be the only option if time runs out.


skynewspolitics--2020-11-20--Man jailed for 'explicit and repeated' threats to kill Theresa May

A man has been jailed for two years after threatening to kill Theresa May with `` a knife or a gun '' while she was prime minister .
Wajid Shah , from Slough , who has severe learning disabilities , sent abusive emails to Ms May and five other politicians , including Labour former cabinet minister Lord Blunkett and then-immigration minister Caroline Nokes .
Baroness Lister , then-armed forces minister Mark Lancaster and his local MP , Labour 's Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi , were also targeted by emails Judge Philip Bartle QC described as `` extremely offensive and abhorrent '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would kill Ms May with `` a knife or a gun '' , and called Lord Blunkett a `` retarded blind bastard '' .
Mrs May , who was replaced as Conservative Party leader and prime minister by Boris Johnson in July 2019 , found the email `` extremely offensive , threatening and disturbing '' .
She was `` left feeling anxious and concerned '' , prosecutor Barry McElduff told Southwark Crown Court , given the `` explicit and repeated '' threats to kill .
The court heard that Lord Blunkett found the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deeply offensive and threatening '' .
Ms Nokes was reminded of Jo Cox - the MP murdered in 2016 - as Shah appeared to have found her constituency address , the judge said .
Baroness Lister found the contents of the email sent to her `` threatening , horrible and upsetting '' , Mr McElduff said .
Mr Dhesi , who was Shah 's constituency MP , had contact with him before regarding the citizenship test , which was `` something of a theme in this case '' , Mr McElduff said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ defendant , which included a threat to kill , he closed his office on police advice .
The judge sentenced Shah , who he said had an IQ of 58 which is in the `` extremely low range '' , to 24 months in jail following a six-day trial .
The jury , he said , was convinced Shah had sent the messages , which contained `` vile abuse '' .
Further attempts to send more emails , including to Mr Johnson , were intercepted , the court heard .
Shah was convicted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or article conveying a threatening message between 27 March and 11 April after a trial at Southwark Crown Court last month .

A man has been jailed for two years after threatening to kill Theresa May with "a knife or a gun" while she was prime minister.
Wajid Shah, from Slough, who has severe learning disabilities, sent abusive emails to Ms May and five other politicians, including Labour former cabinet minister Lord Blunkett and then-immigration minister Caroline Nokes.
Baroness Lister, then-armed forces minister Mark Lancaster and his local MP, Labour's Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, were also targeted by emails Judge Philip Bartle QC described as "extremely offensive and abhorrent".
Image: Theresa May found the email 'extremely offensive'
Image: The former Labour Home Secretary Lord Blunkett was called 'retarded'
Shah, 27, said he would kill Ms May with "a knife or a gun", and called Lord Blunkett a "retarded blind bastard".
Mrs May, who was replaced as Conservative Party leader and prime minister by Boris Johnson in July 2019, found the email "extremely offensive, threatening and disturbing".
She was "left feeling anxious and concerned", prosecutor Barry McElduff told Southwark Crown Court, given the "explicit and repeated" threats to kill.
The court heard that Lord Blunkett found the two emails he received to be "deeply offensive and threatening".
Ms Nokes was reminded of Jo Cox - the MP murdered in 2016 - as Shah appeared to have found her constituency address, the judge said.
Baroness Lister found the contents of the email sent to her "threatening, horrible and upsetting", Mr McElduff said.
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Image: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi closed his office on police advice
Mr Dhesi, who was Shah's constituency MP, had contact with him before regarding the citizenship test, which was "something of a theme in this case", Mr McElduff said.
After receiving four abusive emails from the defendant, which included a threat to kill, he closed his office on police advice.
The judge sentenced Shah, who he said had an IQ of 58 which is in the "extremely low range", to 24 months in jail following a six-day trial.
Image: Former immigration minister Caroline Nokes was among those targeted
The jury, he said, was convinced Shah had sent the messages, which contained "vile abuse".
Further attempts to send more emails, including to Mr Johnson, were intercepted, the court heard.
Shah was convicted of six counts of sending a letter/communication or article conveying a threatening message between 27 March and 11 April after a trial at Southwark Crown Court last month.


skynewspolitics--2020-11-21--PM tried to water down Patel bullying report, say Whitehall sources

Boris Johnson attempted to water down the official inquiry that found Home Secretary Priti Patel bullied staff , Whitehall sources have confirmed to Sky News .
It follows claims the prime minister tried and failed to convince his ministerial standards adviser Sir Alex Allan to tone down his finding that her behaviour amounted to bullying as he found instances of shouting and swearing .
The adviser resigned on Friday after Mr Johnson overruled his conclusion that Ms Patel breached the ministerial code and stood by his home secretary .
Offering what she described as an `` unreserved , fulsome apology @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alex 's finding that she received no feedback on the impact of her behaviour .
However , this was disputed by Sir Philip Rutnam , who quit as the Home Office 's permanent secretary after accusing Ms Patel of a `` vicious and orchestrated briefing campaign '' against him .
He said she was advised not to shout and swear at staff the month after her appointment in 2019 and that he told her to treat staff with respect `` on a number of further occasions '' .
Sir Philip also said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him having launched a constructive dismissal claim at an employment tribunal .
Speaking to Sky News , former diplomat and national security adviser Lord Ricketts said Sir Alex must have felt his position was `` untenable '' after being overridden by Mr Johnson .
He said : `` The ministerial code is policed by the prime minister and if the prime minister rejects the finding of his independent adviser then there is clearly something quite wrong with the situation .
`` It seems to imply that bullying by a senior minister is acceptable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for relations between ministers and the civil service . ''
He added : `` The country is facing such a serious issue with recovery from the pandemic , we need ministers and civil servants to be working together confidently , with trust and with frankness on both sides and this episode has not helped that . ''
Downing Street has not denied reports that Mr Johnson tried to influence the report 's findings , with a spokesman instead saying : `` As you would expect , the prime minister spoke to Sir Alex @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report .
`` Sir Alex 's conclusions are entirely his own . ''
Labour has called for an urgent investigation and called for the `` initial , unedited report '' to be published in full .
Shadow home office minister Holly Lynch said : `` These are serious allegations that suggest Boris Johnson tried to interfere with an investigation into bullying accusations against one of his closest political allies . ''
However , Number 10 has indicated the full report into Ms Patel 's conduct would not be published in order to protect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Committee on Standards in Public Life , Lord Evans of Weardale , said Sir Alex 's resignation was `` deeply concerning '' and that his committee would look `` urgently '' at what had happened as part of its review of the ministerial code .

Boris Johnson attempted to water down the official inquiry that found Home Secretary Priti Patel bullied staff, Whitehall sources have confirmed to Sky News.
It follows claims the prime minister tried and failed to convince his ministerial standards adviser Sir Alex Allan to tone down his finding that her behaviour amounted to bullying as he found instances of shouting and swearing.
The adviser resigned on Friday after Mr Johnson overruled his conclusion that Ms Patel breached the ministerial code and stood by his home secretary.
Image: Sir Alex Allan quit after his conclusion was overruled by the PM
Offering what she described as an "unreserved, fulsome apology", Ms Patel seized on Sir Alex's finding that she received no feedback on the impact of her behaviour.
However, this was disputed by Sir Philip Rutnam, who quit as the Home Office's permanent secretary after accusing Ms Patel of a "vicious and orchestrated briefing campaign" against him.
He said she was advised not to shout and swear at staff the month after her appointment in 2019 and that he told her to treat staff with respect "on a number of further occasions".
Sir Philip also said he was not interviewed for the inquiry despite him having launched a constructive dismissal claim at an employment tribunal.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:23 'I'm sorry that my behaviour upset people'
Sir David Omand, a former permanent secretary at the Home Office, told Sky News the controversy indicated "a gradual erosion of standards in public life".
He said the PM had "got himself in a completely unnecessary problem by rejecting the advice of his independent adviser because he doesn't like it".
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"Well, that's not a very good reason for rejecting a very well-reasoned report," Sir David added.
"It's a rather adversarial approach and we saw that with his former adviser Dominic Cummings' comments.
"It's starting out from a position of 'I can't trust these officials' which is exactly the wrong position to start with.
"It's very much like President Trump's book The Art Of The Deal: you try and sort of bully your opponent into agreeing a deal, and that may work in real estate but it doesn't work when you're negotiating on behalf of the country or reaching long-term agreements on behalf of the country."
Image: Boris Johnson has stood by the home secretary
Speaking to Sky News, former diplomat and national security adviser Lord Ricketts said Sir Alex must have felt his position was "untenable" after being overridden by Mr Johnson.
He said: "The ministerial code is policed by the prime minister and if the prime minister rejects the finding of his independent adviser then there is clearly something quite wrong with the situation.
"It seems to imply that bullying by a senior minister is acceptable and that sends a very bad signal for relations between ministers and the civil service."
He added: "The country is facing such a serious issue with recovery from the pandemic, we need ministers and civil servants to be working together confidently, with trust and with frankness on both sides and this episode has not helped that."
Downing Street has not denied reports that Mr Johnson tried to influence the report's findings, with a spokesman instead saying: "As you would expect, the prime minister spoke to Sir Alex Allan to further his understanding of the report.
"Sir Alex's conclusions are entirely his own."
Labour has called for an urgent investigation and called for the "initial, unedited report" to be published in full.
Shadow home office minister Holly Lynch said: "These are serious allegations that suggest Boris Johnson tried to interfere with an investigation into bullying accusations against one of his closest political allies."
However, Number 10 has indicated the full report into Ms Patel's conduct would not be published in order to protect those who gave evidence.
The chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, Lord Evans of Weardale, said Sir Alex's resignation was "deeply concerning" and that his committee would look "urgently" at what had happened as part of its review of the ministerial code.


skynewspolitics--2020-11-21--Sunak pledges to invest in 'all corners of UK' as part of infrastructure plan

The much-delayed National Infrastructure Strategy for £100bn of long-term investment will be unveiled by Rishi Sunak next week .
The chancellor will publish the strategy to help tackle the climate crisis and invest in transport on Wednesday , when he will also outline his spending review .
The infrastructure strategy to boost transport connectivity and work towards achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 had been expected to be published in March but was delayed .
Mr Sunak said he would unveil it on Wednesday alongside tens of billions of pounds of infrastructure investment , including £1.6bn to tackle potholes .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a down payment on flagship programmes including fibre broadband , flood defences and transport schemes .
Mr Sunak said : `` We are absolutely committed to levelling-up opportunities so those living in all corners of the UK get their fair share of our future prosperity .
`` All nations and regions of the UK have benefited from our unprecedented £200bn COVID support package .
And after a difficult year for this country , this spending review will help us build back better by investing over £600bn across the UK during the next five @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Treasury 's northern headquarters as part of a drive to get more civil servants working outside of London will be announced `` in the coming weeks '' .
Jake Berry , who is leading a group of Tory MPs representing the North of England , welcomed the chancellor 's announcement for putting `` 'levelling-up ' at the heart of this government 's agenda '' .
But the government is facing the threat of industrial action if it imposes a pay cap on millions of public sector workers .
Unions reacted angrily to reports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the spending review , though frontline NHS doctors and nurses are expected to be exempt .

The much-delayed National Infrastructure Strategy for £100bn of long-term investment will be unveiled by Rishi Sunak next week.
The chancellor will publish the strategy to help tackle the climate crisis and invest in transport on Wednesday, when he will also outline his spending review.
The infrastructure strategy to boost transport connectivity and work towards achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 had been expected to be published in March but was delayed.
Image: The chancellor says he is 'committed to levelling-up opportunities'
Mr Sunak said he would unveil it on Wednesday alongside tens of billions of pounds of infrastructure investment, including £1.6bn to tackle potholes.
The Treasury said the infrastructure strategy would contain a down payment on flagship programmes including fibre broadband, flood defences and transport schemes.
Mr Sunak said: "We are absolutely committed to levelling-up opportunities so those living in all corners of the UK get their fair share of our future prosperity.
"All nations and regions of the UK have benefited from our unprecedented £200bn COVID support package. And after a difficult year for this country, this spending review will help us build back better by investing over £600bn across the UK during the next five years."
The location for the Treasury's northern headquarters as part of a drive to get more civil servants working outside of London will be announced "in the coming weeks".
Jake Berry, who is leading a group of Tory MPs representing the North of England, welcomed the chancellor's announcement for putting "'levelling-up' at the heart of this government's agenda".
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But the government is facing the threat of industrial action if it imposes a pay cap on millions of public sector workers.
Unions reacted angrily to reports the chancellor would announce a pay limit at the spending review, though frontline NHS doctors and nurses are expected to be exempt.


skynewspolitics--2020-11-21--Rishi Sunak must plot a route out of the economic devastation caused by COVID

The last nine months have been dominated by the health emergency of coronavirus .
We 've stocked up on hand sanitiser and searched for the most comfortable face mask .
We 've become so horribly familiar with the weekly choreography that we know which days of the week have the highest death tolls and when to expect a news conference from the prime minister .
Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance make such regular appearances in our living rooms that we feel on first name terms ( or in the case of JVT , initials are enough ) .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dominated by the health crisis - ordering lockdowns , spending billions on contracts , furloughing , shielding the NHS at all costs .
But this week , the previously all-encompassing health emergency will have to shift to make space .
It wo n't be a pivot - the situation is still too perilous for that - but the developing economy can be ignored no longer .
On Sophy Ridge on Sunday this week we 'll be speaking to Chancellor Rishi Sunak ahead of next week 's Spending Review , which will lay bare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
UK debt is now bigger than the entire economy and now stands at over £2trn - or 100.8 % of GDP .
Around 10 million jobs have been furloughed throughout the crisis - with the government stepping in to directly pay up to 80 % of their wages .
The scheme has been extended - at significant cost - until the end of March .
Wednesday , when Mr Sunak will put forward the one year spending review , will be dominated by the appalling public finance figures .
And his immediate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to set out a plan to rebalance the books , with an expected public sector pay freeze and spending restraints across government departments ( not an easy sell for a prime minister and a chancellor who promised an end to austerity ) .
Rebalancing the finances is a colossal task .
But there is an even bigger challenge for the chancellor : charting a road for the economy out of the devastation that coronavirus has caused .
The Treasury is increasingly worried about the longer-term economic consequences of the pandemic .
Some industries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may never fully recover .
Others such as hospitality and events will take time to get back on their feet .
Where will the jobs of the future come from instead ?
There is also a concern about the unprecedented move to home working - a situation that many are embracing .
But if major corporations have proved that their staff can effectively work remotely , there will be consequences .
If proximity to the office is no longer an issue , British workers will no longer be competing for jobs against people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but those in Beijing , Bangladesh or Brazil as well .
What will this mean for employment in the future ?
How do we build an economy fit for the post-COVID world ?
They are questions that at some point the chancellor must answer .
Watch Sophy Ridge On Sunday live from 8.30am on Sunday , followed by Sophy Ridge : The Take at 9.30am .

The last nine months have been dominated by the health emergency of coronavirus.
We've stocked up on hand sanitiser and searched for the most comfortable face mask.
We've become so horribly familiar with the weekly choreography that we know which days of the week have the highest death tolls and when to expect a news conference from the prime minister.
Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance make such regular appearances in our living rooms that we feel on first name terms (or in the case of JVT, initials are enough).
And the politics, too, has been dominated by the health crisis - ordering lockdowns, spending billions on contracts, furloughing, shielding the NHS at all costs.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:35 Sunak warns of 'hard choices' on debt
But this week, the previously all-encompassing health emergency will have to shift to make space. It won't be a pivot - the situation is still too perilous for that - but the developing economy can be ignored no longer.
On Sophy Ridge on Sunday this week we'll be speaking to Chancellor Rishi Sunak ahead of next week's Spending Review, which will lay bare the full extent of the economic crisis.
UK debt is now bigger than the entire economy and now stands at over £2trn - or 100.8% of GDP.
Around 10 million jobs have been furloughed throughout the crisis - with the government stepping in to directly pay up to 80% of their wages. The scheme has been extended - at significant cost - until the end of March.
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Wednesday, when Mr Sunak will put forward the one year spending review, will be dominated by the appalling public finance figures.
And his immediate challenge will be to at least begin to set out a plan to rebalance the books, with an expected public sector pay freeze and spending restraints across government departments (not an easy sell for a prime minister and a chancellor who promised an end to austerity).
Rebalancing the finances is a colossal task. But there is an even bigger challenge for the chancellor: charting a road for the economy out of the devastation that coronavirus has caused.
The Treasury is increasingly worried about the longer-term economic consequences of the pandemic.
Some industries - airlines being the obvious example - may never fully recover. Others such as hospitality and events will take time to get back on their feet. Where will the jobs of the future come from instead?
There is also a concern about the unprecedented move to home working - a situation that many are embracing.
But if major corporations have proved that their staff can effectively work remotely, there will be consequences.
If proximity to the office is no longer an issue, British workers will no longer be competing for jobs against people who can base themselves in the UK, but those in Beijing, Bangladesh or Brazil as well.
What will this mean for employment in the future? How do we build an economy fit for the post-COVID world?
They are questions that at some point the chancellor must answer.
Watch Sophy Ridge On Sunday live from 8.30am on Sunday, followed by Sophy Ridge: The Take at 9.30am.


skynewspolitics--2020-11-21--UK rules to be eased over Christmas - but England's tier system will be strengthened when lockdown e

UK rules to be eased over Christmas - but England's tier system will be strengthened when lockdown ends

Boris Johnson is poised to announce up to a week of freedom from COVID-19 restrictions at Christmas - but tough rules will remain in force in England after the national lockdown ends on 2 December .
The aim - subject to agreement from the governments of Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland - is for a UK-wide relaxation of rules , reportedly from December 22 to 28 , so that several families can join in one `` bubble '' .
It is also likely that , under the `` four nations '' plan , families will be allowed to attend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restaurants may be able to open for a limited period over the holiday period .
The prime minister , still isolating in Downing Street , will chair a rare Sunday afternoon Cabinet meeting , and then on Monday he will make a Commons statement to MPs and publish his `` COVID Winter Plan '' .
Foreshadowing the PM 's Commons statement , Number 10 said : `` It will also set out how people will be able to see their loved ones at Christmas , despite ministers being clear this will not be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Cabinet meeting , First Ministers Arlene Foster , Nicola Sturgeon and Mark Drakeford held a meeting with Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove `` on a UK-wide approach to celebrate Christmas despite COVID '' .
Ms Foster , Northern Ireland 's first minister , disclosed that during the meeting she outlined the need for extra flexibility to help those travelling in either direction between Great Britain and Northern Ireland .
In his statement to MPs , the PM will confirm that England 's national lockdown will end on 2 December , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three-tier system of regional restrictions , which was in force from October 14 until November 5 .
But Downing Street has also confirmed that while some local measures will be similar to those in place previously , the tiers will be strengthened in some areas to safeguard gains made during the national lockdown .
Ministers will announce on Thursday which areas in England will be in each tier , but the government has signalled that more areas will be in higher tiers to keep the virus under control and avoid another national shutdown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ current national restrictions have helped bring the virus back under control , slowed its spread and eased pressures on the NHS , '' a Number 10 spokesperson said .
`` But the prime minister and his scientific advisors are clear the virus is still present - and without regional restrictions it could quickly run out of control again before vaccines and mass testing have had an effect .
`` That would put in jeopardy the progress the country has made , and once again risk intolerable pressure on the NHS . ''
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ further 341 coronavirus deaths , bringing the UK total to 54,626 .
Saturday 's figure was down on the previous day , when 511 deaths were recorded , as well as last Saturday 's total of 462 deaths .
The Office for National Statistics has said the number of coronavirus infections in England appears to have `` levelled off '' in recent weeks .
According to Number 10 , Mr Johnson will tell MPs the pre-Christmas restrictions will not last any longer than absolutely necessary and will take into account the need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He will pledge that the tiers will be reviewed on a regular basis and there will be a Commons vote on the three-tier system before it comes into force .
But rebel Tory MPs have served notice that they are preparing to oppose the prime minister 's plans for restrictions to replace the national lockdown without extensive evidence they will save more lives than they cost .
The COVID recovery group ( CRG ) , led by former chief whip Mark Harper and ex-Brexit minister Steve Baker , is threatening to withhold support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the four-week lockdown in England expires on 2 December .
The pair have written to Mr Johnson with their demands , in a letter it is claimed has been signed by 70 Conservative MPs , though the individuals have not been identified .
In the letter , the MPs complain : `` Even the tiered system of restrictions infringes deeply upon people 's lives with huge health and economic costs .
`` We can not support this approach further unless the government demonstrates the restrictions proposed for after December 2 will have an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and will save more lives than they cost . ''
They called for the government to publish a `` full cost-benefit analysis '' of the proposed restrictions , as they warn `` the lockdown cure prescribed runs the very real risk of being worse than the disease '' .
They also raise specific concerns about outside sport , the 10pm curfew for pubs and restaurants , closure of non-essential retail and care home visits .
`` We can not live under such a series of damaging lockdowns and apparently arbitrary restrictions , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for being let out to enjoy the festive season , only to have strict restrictions imposed on them afterwards that cause them health problems and destroy their livelihoods , '' the MPs wrote .
In his Commons statement , Mr Johnson will claim recent positive developments on vaccines and mass testing provide real confidence that economic and social restrictions to control coronavirus can be gradually reduced in the run-up to Spring .
The prime minister will confirm that , provided vaccines are approved by regulators , the first injections can be made next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the new year .
And despite the failings of the government 's much criticised test and trace system , the PM will also claim progress in mass testing is expected to help provide a way to suppress the virus and relax restrictions .
The government 's scientific advisers , SAGE , are likely to publish further papers on Monday , setting out the scientific advice that the previous tiers were not strong enough , and that a tougher regional approach is required .
Downing Street added : `` The COVID Winter Plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in vaccination , treatments and testing will help enable life to gradually return closer to normal .
`` Next month , the vaccination programme will begin - provided regulators approve the vaccines - and increases in mass testing will allow us to identify and isolate people who do n't have symptoms .
`` It is the prime minister 's hope and belief that progress in mass testing can - if everyone continues to pull together - provide a way to suppress the virus and relax restrictions until a vaccine becomes available . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ announce in his Spending Review a £3bn one-year package to support the NHS in tackling the impact of COVID-19 .
According to the Treasury , £1bn will be to tackle backlogs and allow patients who have experienced delays this year to be fast-tracked and treated for non-urgent procedures .
Mr Sunak will also announce £325m next year for NHS diagnostics , which could replace more than two-thirds of older screening equipment and help diagnose patients with cancer and other serious illnesses .
And around £500m will fund a Winter Mental Health Plan , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to the pressures of pandemic and support measures to invest in NHS workers .

Boris Johnson is poised to announce up to a week of relaxed COVID-19 restrictions at Christmas - but tough rules will remain in force in England after the national lockdown ends on 2 December.
It's understood the aim - subject to agreement from the governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - is for a UK-wide softening of rules so that several households can join in one "bubble".
That system will reportedly be in force from 22 to 28 December.
The objective was confirmed in a statement by Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove following talks with leaders in the devolved administrations, which said they have all "endorsed a shared objective" of changing the rules "for a small number of days" over Christmas to allow "additional household bubbling".
It is also likely that, under the "four nations" plan, families will be allowed to attend Christmas church services and that pubs and restaurants may be able to open for a limited period over the holiday period.
It's understood that when lockdown ends the 10pm curfew for bars and restaurants could be extended by an hour. Last orders would still be called at 10pm, but people would have until 11pm to finish their food and drink.
The prime minister, still isolating in Downing Street, will chair a rare Sunday afternoon cabinet meeting, and then on Monday he will make a Commons statement to MPs and publish his "COVID Winter Plan".
Foreshadowing the prime minister's Commons statement, Number 10 said: "It will also set out how people will be able to see their loved ones at Christmas, despite ministers being clear this will not be a normal festive period."
Professor Calum Semple - a member of government advisory body SAGE - told Sky's Sophy Ridge on Sunday that "hopefully" some rules could be relaxed over Christmas "for a few days", but added: "There will be a price for that."
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He said he broadly agreed with the idea floated by Public Health England earlier this week that for every day of looser restrictions five days of extra lockdown might be needed.
However, he said assumptions should not be made about how tough the rules might be if extra days are added, saying it did not necessarily mean "draconian restrictions".
Image: Boris Johnson will make a statement to MPs on Monday
Ahead of Sunday's cabinet meeting, first ministers Arlene Foster, Nicola Sturgeon and Mark Drakeford held a meeting with Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove "on a UK-wide approach to celebrate Christmas despite COVID".
In his statement to MPs, Mr Johnson will confirm that England's national lockdown will end on 2 December, but the country will move back into a three-tier system of regional restrictions, which was in force from 14 October until 5 November.
But Downing Street has also confirmed that while some local measures will be similar to those in place previously, the tiers will be strengthened in some areas to safeguard gains made during the national lockdown.
Image: Cardiff was busy with shoppers on Saturday after restrictions in Wales were relaxed
Ministers will announce on Thursday which areas in England will be in each tier, but the government has signalled that more areas will be in higher tiers to keep the virus under control and avoid another national shutdown.
"Everyone's efforts during the current national restrictions have helped bring the virus back under control, slowed its spread and eased pressures on the NHS," a Number 10 spokesperson said.
"But the prime minister and his scientific advisers are clear the virus is still present - and without regional restrictions it could quickly run out of control again before vaccines and mass testing have had an effect."
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:59 Coronavirus: Can the PM save Christmas?
But rebel Tory MPs have served notice that they will oppose the prime minister's plans for restrictions to replace the national lockdown without extensive evidence they will save more lives than they cost.
The COVID recovery group (CRG), led by former chief whip Mark Harper and ex-Brexit minister Steve Baker, is threatening to withhold support for the prime minister's measures.
The pair have written to Mr Johnson with their demands, in a letter it is claimed has been signed by 70 unidentified Conservative MPs.
In the letter, the MPs complain: "Even the tiered system of restrictions infringes deeply upon people's lives with huge health and economic costs.
They call for the government to publish a "full cost-benefit analysis" of the proposed restrictions, as they warn "the lockdown cure prescribed runs the very real risk of being worse than the disease".
The Downing Street statement added: "The COVID Winter Plan will also set out how scientific advances in vaccination, treatments and testing will help enable life to gradually return closer to normal.
"Next month, the vaccination programme will begin - provided regulators approve the vaccines - and increases in mass testing will allow us to identify and isolate people who don't have symptoms.
"It is the prime minister's hope and belief that progress in mass testing can - if everyone continues to pull together - provide a way to suppress the virus and relax restrictions until a vaccine becomes available."


skynewspolitics--2020-11-21--NHS to get an extra £3bn to help recover from coronavirus crisis

A £3bn package of new spending to support the NHS in recovering from the pandemic is expected to be announced by the chancellor at next week 's Spending Review .
The NHS will get £1bn to address backlogs by catching up on checks , scans and operations that were delayed by COVID-19 .
Around £1.5bn will be used to ease existing pressures in the health service and £500m will help support mental health services .
Rishi Sunak , who will appear on Sky News ' Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme from 8.30am , will pledge to tackle the backlog of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : `` The pandemic has had a major impact on mental health because of increased isolation and uncertainty .
`` So it is vital we do everything we can to support our mental health services and ensure help is there for people .
`` This funding will make sure those who need help get the right support as quickly as possible so they do n't have to suffer in silence . ''
But he had a warning for the nation 's finances , telling the Sunday Times : `` People will see the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We can see the data every month , and obviously the shock that our economy is facing at the moment is significant . ''
He hinted that some combination of spending cuts and tax rises will have to follow but said it is a `` question of timing '' while the economy is in difficulty .
`` While that 's happening , absolutely the right thing to do is to support the economy , and jobs are my number one priority , but - obviously - you ca n't sustain borrowing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` Once we get through that , we 'll have to figure out what the best way of returning to sustainable public finances is .
I 'm hopeful that by the spring , with positive news on both mass testing and vaccines , we can start to look forward . ''
Mr Sunak 's Spending Review is highly-anticipated , but it could also spark industrial action if he confirms the government will impose a pay cap on millions of public sector workers .
Unions have reacted angrily to reports the chancellor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though frontline NHS doctors and nurses are expected to be exempt .
Mr Sunak will also unveil the much-delayed National Infrastructure Strategy for £100bn of long-term spending to help tackle the climate crisis and invest in transport .
He will also alter the Treasury 's `` green book '' , a set of rules to determine the value of government schemes which is thought to favour London and the South East of England .

A £3bn package of new spending to support the NHS in recovering from the pandemic is expected to be announced by the chancellor at next week's spending review.
The NHS will get £1bn to address backlogs by catching up on checks, scans and operations that were delayed by COVID-19.
Around £1.5bn will be used to ease existing pressures in the health service and £500m will help support mental health services.
Image: Rishi Sunak will announce his spending review on Wednesday
Rishi Sunak, who will appear on Sky News' Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme from 8.30am, will pledge to tackle the backlog of adult mental health referrals.
He said: "The pandemic has had a major impact on mental health because of increased isolation and uncertainty.
"So it is vital we do everything we can to support our mental health services and ensure help is there for people.
"This funding will make sure those who need help get the right support as quickly as possible so they don't have to suffer in silence."
But he had a warning for the nation's finances, telling The Sunday Times: "People will see the scale of the economic shock laid bare.
"We can see the data every month, and obviously the shock that our economy is facing at the moment is significant."
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Image: There will be a £500m package to support mental health services
He hinted that some combination of spending cuts and tax rises will have to follow but said it is a "question of timing" while the economy is in difficulty.
"While that's happening, absolutely the right thing to do is to support the economy, and jobs are my number one priority, but - obviously - you can't sustain borrowing on this level indefinitely," he said.
"Once we get through that, we'll have to figure out what the best way of returning to sustainable public finances is. I'm hopeful that by the spring, with positive news on both mass testing and vaccines, we can start to look forward."
Mr Sunak's spending review is highly-anticipated, but it could also spark industrial action if he confirms the government will impose a pay cap on millions of public sector workers.
Unions have reacted angrily to reports the chancellor would be announcing a pay limit, though frontline NHS doctors and nurses are expected to be exempt.
Mr Sunak will also unveil the much-delayed National Infrastructure Strategy for £100bn of long-term spending to help tackle the climate crisis and invest in transport.
He will also alter the Treasury's "green book", a set of rules to determine the value of government schemes which is thought to favour London and the South East of England.


skynewspolitics--2020-11-22--'No return to austerity', says chancellor as he hints at public sector pay freeze

Rishi Sunak has told Sky News there will be no return to austerity in his upcoming spending review , but hinted at a future public sector pay freeze .
Speaking to the Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme , the chancellor said any wage settlements needed to be considered `` in the context of the wider economic climate '' .
However , Labour has warned a cap on public sector pay would be `` a kick in the teeth '' for frontline workers who provided support through the coronavirus pandemic , while unions have argued it would be `` morally obscene @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the threat of strike action .
In a wide-ranging interview , the chancellor also : • Warned `` Christmas is not going to be normal '' despite moves to relax the rules • Argued it was `` very hard to be precise '' on the economic impacts of restrictions • Pointed out increased support like the furlough scheme ran to April and so no decision was needed on it now • Defended the prime minister 's decision to stand by Priti Patel , despite her having bullied staff The growing row over pay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unveil a £100bn plan for long-term infrastructure investment and a £3bn package of new funding to support the NHS in recovering from the COVID-19 crisis .
The chancellor told Sky News : `` You will not see austerity next week , what you will see is an increase in government spending , on day-to-day public services , quite a significant one coming on the increase we had last year .
`` So , there 's absolutely no way in which anyone can say that 's austerity , we 're spending more money on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He said that he `` can not comment on future pay policy '' , but added : `` When we launched the spending review I did say to departments that when we think about public pay settlements I think it would be entirely reasonable to think of those in the context of the wider economic climate .
`` I think it would be fair to also think about what is happening with wages , with jobs , with hours , across the economy when we think about what the right thing to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Chancellor has warned over the state of the nation 's finances and the need to get them back on a sustainable footing .
The latest official figures show public sector debt stood at £2.076trn at the end of October - bigger than the entire UK economy - with borrowing at record levels .
But hitting out at prospect of a pay cap , which is expected to exempt NHS staff , Labour 's shadow business minister Lucy Powell told Ridge : `` Of course it would be morally absolutely a kick in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for all those frontline workers who helped support us through this pandemic from the bin collectors to those working in public health , in the mortuaries , the fire fighters and so on .
`` It would be an absolute kick in the teeth for them after what has been an horrendous few months and might still be a difficult few months to come . ''
Also appearing on Ridge , Frances O'Grady , head of the TUC federation of trade unions , said : `` There 's still time for the Government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them to think again , this is not smart politics , it 's morally obscene and it 's bad economics too . ''
She added : `` Surely the Government does n't think it can reintroduce austerity for the people who put their health , and in some cases their lives , on the line to help the rest of us .
`` If you want to motivate a workforce when we are still facing a second wave of a pandemic , and we 're going to have a tough winter - we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you do is threaten to cut their pay . ''
: : Subscribe to Sophy Ridge on Sunday on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Ms O'Grady also refused to rule out the possibility of strike action by public-sector workers .
She said : `` I 'm really conscious of the feeling out there that governments only seem to recognise the true value of labour when it 's withdrawn , but of course there is time to sort this out .
`` Nobody can rule anything out at the moment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asking for is that the Government stands by key workers , respects the contribution they are continuing to make , recognises that this is absolutely the wrong time to be talking about pay cuts , and instead we need to start talking about fairness . ''

Rishi Sunak has told Sky News there will be no return to austerity in his upcoming spending review, but hinted at a future public sector pay freeze.
Speaking to the Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme, the chancellor said any wage settlements needed to be considered "in the context of the wider economic climate".
However, Labour has warned a cap on public sector pay would be "a kick in the teeth" for frontline workers who provided support through the coronavirus pandemic, while unions have argued it would be "morally obscene" and have not ruled out the threat of strike action.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chancellor also:
Warned "Christmas is not going to be normal" despite moves to relax the rules
Argued it was "very hard to be precise" on the economic impacts of restrictions
Pointed out increased support like the furlough scheme ran to April and so no decision was needed on it now
Defended the prime minister's decision to stand by Priti Patel, despite her having bullied staff
The growing row over pay comes as Mr Sunak is due to unveil a £100bn plan for long-term infrastructure investment and a £3bn package of new funding to support the NHS in recovering from the COVID-19 crisis.
The chancellor told Sky News: "You will not see austerity next week, what you will see is an increase in government spending, on day-to-day public services, quite a significant one coming on the increase we had last year.
"So, there's absolutely no way in which anyone can say that's austerity, we're spending more money on public services than we were."
He said that he "cannot comment on future pay policy", but added: "When we launched the spending review I did say to departments that when we think about public pay settlements I think it would be entirely reasonable to think of those in the context of the wider economic climate.
"I think it would be fair to also think about what is happening with wages, with jobs, with hours, across the economy when we think about what the right thing to do in the public sector is."
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The chancellor has warned over the state of the nation's finances and the need to get them back on a sustainable footing.
The latest official figures show public sector debt stood at £2.076trn at the end of October - bigger than the entire UK economy - with borrowing at record levels.
But hitting out at the prospect of a pay cap, which is expected to exempt NHS staff, Labour's shadow business minister Lucy Powell told Ridge: "Of course it would be morally absolutely a kick in the teeth, wouldn't it, for all those frontline workers who helped support us through this pandemic from the bin collectors to those working in public health, in the mortuaries, the fire fighters and so on.
"It would be an absolute kick in the teeth for them after what has been an horrendous few months and might still be a difficult few months to come."
Mr Sunak is also facing pressure from the group of One Nation Conservative MPs not to cut foreign aid spending to pay for the coronavirus crisis - as has been reportedly considered and not denied by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Doing so would "undermine our efforts to promote a Global Britain" and "reduce our soft power", they warned in a letter, adding: "We must not balance the books on the backs of the poorest around the world."
Also appearing on Ridge, Frances O'Grady, head of the TUC federation of trade unions, said: "There's still time for the government to step back and I would encourage them to think again, this is not smart politics, it's morally obscene and it's bad economics too."
She added: "Surely the government doesn't think it can reintroduce austerity for the people who put their health, and in some cases their lives, on the line to help the rest of us.
"If you want to motivate a workforce when we are still facing a second wave of a pandemic, and we're going to have a tough winter - we all know that - the last thing you do is threaten to cut their pay."
:: Subscribe to Sophy Ridge on Sunday on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
Ms O'Grady also refused to rule out the possibility of strike action by public-sector workers.
She said: "I'm really conscious of the feeling out there that governments only seem to recognise the true value of labour when it's withdrawn, but of course there is time to sort this out.
"Nobody can rule anything out at the moment, but what I am saying and asking for is that the government stands by key workers, respects the contribution they are continuing to make, recognises that this is absolutely the wrong time to be talking about pay cuts, and instead we need to start talking about fairness."


skynewspolitics--2020-11-21--UK rules to be eased over Christmas - and pub closing time could be extended beyond 10pm

Boris Johnson is poised to announce up to a week of relaxed COVID-19 restrictions at Christmas - but tough rules will remain in force in England after the national lockdown ends on 2 December .
It 's understood the aim - subject to agreement from the governments of Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland - is for a UK-wide softening of rules so that several households can join in one `` bubble '' .
That system will reportedly be in force from 22 to 28 December .
It is also likely that , under the `` four nations '' plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Christmas church services and that pubs and restaurants may be able to open for a limited period over the holiday period .
It 's understood that when lockdown ends the 10pm curfew for bars and restaurants could be extended by an hour .
Last orders would still be called at 10pm , but people would have until 11pm to finish their food and drink .
The prime minister , still isolating in Downing Street , will chair a rare Sunday afternoon cabinet meeting , and then on Monday he will make a Commons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID Winter Plan '' .
Foreshadowing the prime minister 's Commons statement , Number 10 said : `` It will also set out how people will be able to see their loved ones at Christmas , despite ministers being clear this will not be a normal festive period . ''
Professor Calum Semple - a member of government advisory body SAGE - told Sky 's Sophy Ridge on Sunday that `` hopefully '' some rules could be relaxed over Christmas `` for a few days '' , but added : `` There will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He said he broadly agreed with the idea floated by Public Health England earlier this week that for every day of looser restrictions five days of extra lockdown might be needed .
However , he said assumptions should not be made about how tough the rules might be if extra days are added , saying it did not necessarily mean `` draconian restrictions '' .
Ahead of Sunday 's cabinet meeting , first ministers Arlene Foster , Nicola Sturgeon and Mark Drakeford held a meeting with Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove `` on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID '' .
In his statement to MPs , Mr Johnson will confirm that England 's national lockdown will end on 2 December , but the country will move back into a three-tier system of regional restrictions , which was in force from 14 October until 5 November .
But Downing Street has also confirmed that while some local measures will be similar to those in place previously , the tiers will be strengthened in some areas to safeguard gains made during the national lockdown .
Ministers will announce on Thursday which areas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but the government has signalled that more areas will be in higher tiers to keep the virus under control and avoid another national shutdown .
`` Everyone 's efforts during the current national restrictions have helped bring the virus back under control , slowed its spread and eased pressures on the NHS , '' a Number 10 spokesperson said .
`` But the prime minister and his scientific advisers are clear the virus is still present - and without regional restrictions it could quickly run out of control again before vaccines and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' But rebel Tory MPs have served notice that they will oppose the prime minister 's plans for restrictions to replace the national lockdown without extensive evidence they will save more lives than they cost .
The COVID recovery group ( CRG ) , led by former chief whip Mark Harper and ex-Brexit minister Steve Baker , is threatening to withhold support for the prime minister 's measures .
The pair have written to Mr Johnson with their demands , in a letter it is claimed has been signed by 70 unidentified Conservative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MPs complain : `` Even the tiered system of restrictions infringes deeply upon people 's lives with huge health and economic costs .
They call for the government to publish a `` full cost-benefit analysis '' of the proposed restrictions , as they warn `` the lockdown cure prescribed runs the very real risk of being worse than the disease '' .
The Downing Street statement added : `` The COVID Winter Plan will also set out how scientific advances in vaccination , treatments and testing will help enable life to gradually return @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the vaccination programme will begin - provided regulators approve the vaccines - and increases in mass testing will allow us to identify and isolate people who do n't have symptoms .
`` It is the prime minister 's hope and belief that progress in mass testing can - if everyone continues to pull together - provide a way to suppress the virus and relax restrictions until a vaccine becomes available . ''


skynewspolitics--2020-11-22--Legal challenge launched over 'unlawful' coronavirus crisis appointments

A legal challenge alleging that the prime minister and health secretary acted `` unlawfully '' when appointing key figures to top posts during the coronavirus crisis , has been submitted by campaigners .
According to The Observer the case had been lodged jointly by the Good Law Project and race equality think tank the Runnymede Trust .
It said the judicial review , submitted to the High Court , alleged that three appointments were made without advertising the positions and without the open competition normally required for senior public sector roles .
The case relates to the recruitment of test @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dido Harding ; Kate Bingham , head of the UK 's vaccine taskforce ; and Mike Coupe , director of NHS Test and Trace , the Observer added .
Jolyon Maugham QC , director of the Good Law Project , said on social media : `` This is our belief , that cronyism - which undermines the public interest , discriminates against those who do n't rub shoulders with cabinet ministers , and shuts out those who lack the family fortune to work unpaid - is unlawful .
`` And we at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Mr Maughan said that the organisation will publish the full court documents later .
A Number 10 spokesman said : `` We do not comment on ongoing legal proceedings . ''
The Good Law Project and Runnymede Trust 's crowdfunding page said that Lady Harding was just `` handed the job '' as head of the National Institute for Health Protection without any other candidates being considered .
It said that she was not the only one to land a top job this way and that `` very often '' people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and political connections to the government '' .
While the page said that appointing `` your mates '' was not new or the `` preserve of the Conservative Party '' it was time to put a stop to it .
It added : `` This government 's approach discriminates against those born without a silver spoon in their mouth .
`` It 's unfair to those who do n't rub shoulders with high-ranking ministers .
And it 's unfair to groups who the data shows are shut out of public life . ''

A legal challenge alleging that the prime minister and health secretary acted "unlawfully" when appointing key figures to top posts during the coronavirus crisis, has been submitted by campaigners.
According to The Observer the case had been lodged jointly by the Good Law Project and race equality think tank the Runnymede Trust.
It said the judicial review, submitted to the High Court, alleged that three appointments were made without advertising the positions and without the open competition normally required for senior public sector roles.
The case relates to the recruitment of test and trace boss and Tory peer Baroness Dido Harding; Kate Bingham, head of the UK's vaccine taskforce; and Mike Coupe, director of NHS Test and Trace, the Observer added.
Image: Mike Coupe (L), incoming director of COVID-19 testing at NHS Test and Trace, with Baroness Harding
Jolyon Maugham QC, director of the Good Law Project, said on social media: "This is our belief, that cronyism - which undermines the public interest, discriminates against those who don't rub shoulders with cabinet ministers, and shuts out those who lack the family fortune to work unpaid - is unlawful.
"And we at @GoodLawProject mean to prove it in court."
Mr Maughan said that the organisation will publish the full court documents later.
A Number 10 spokesman said: "We do not comment on ongoing legal proceedings."
Image: Kate Bingham heads the UK's vaccine taskforce
The Good Law Project and Runnymede Trust's crowdfunding page said that Lady Harding was just "handed the job" as head of the National Institute for Health Protection without any other candidates being considered.
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It said that she was not the only one to land a top job this way and that "very often" people who had been recruited had "personal and political connections to the government".
While the page said that appointing "your mates" was not new or the "preserve of the Conservative Party" it was time to put a stop to it.
It added: "This government's approach discriminates against those born without a silver spoon in their mouth.
"It's unfair to those who don't rub shoulders with high-ranking ministers. And it's unfair to groups who the data shows are shut out of public life."


skynewspolitics--2020-11-22--Trouble afoot for PM as Tory councils warn about being ignored in spending review

Boris Johnson was probably right to kick off a much needed conversation about devolution of power last week , even if the manner of doing so - saying it had been a disaster in Scotland - was for many Tories the kind of quip the head-exploding emoji 🤯 was invented for .
In fairness to the PM , you need to highlight this subject in an eye-catching way because it is so immensely dull and complex .
Any question to which well-meaning people can then suggest the answer is a `` constitutional convention '' ( Google it and you 'll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ better not asked in the first place .
Devolution in all its forms is a mess - precisely because it is just so boring and complex to sort out .
The coronavirus pandemic has driven home in Westminster what has been obvious in Manchester , Belfast , Edinburgh , Cardiff , Birmingham - most places outside of London in fact : That devolution of power is a serious business , and has involved the transfer of serious powers .
Every bit of local regional and national government has had to step up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of COVID-19 , causing much wailing and gnashing of teeth in Downing Street .
It is presumably no coincidence that London mayoralty has some of the weakest powers of any devolution deal .
City Hall and its bully pulpit alone were the travellator which took Mr Johnson from backbench obscurity to Downing Street .
Westminster was , and is , vaguely in favour of the devolution of power , but can not decide where and how decisions should be made , and ministers always have an aversion to anything that looks or smells @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's all inconsistent : the devolution settlement with Edinburgh is different to the one with Cardiff ( the scale of tax-raising powers in the former being the biggest difference ) .
Northern Ireland operates without directly elected government for years at a time .
Meanwhile in England each `` City Deal '' is different : NHS spending is devolved to the 10 councils in the Greater Manchester region , but not in Birmingham .
Some areas are without mayors altogether , and after the PM 's row with Andy Burnham last month , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The uncertain attitude to devolution was captured by Mr Johnson rather brilliantly in his speech to Tory Scottish conference .
`` Devolution should be used not by politicians as a wall to sequester , to break away , an area of the UK from the rest , '' Mr Johnson said .
`` It should be used as a step to pass power to local communities and businesses to make their lives better .
It 's that kind of localism which I believe in and want to take further . ''
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communities '' are - be they councils , regional authorities or mayors .
He wo n't tell us where power should be devolved to .
Maybe he does n't know .
The Tory answer seems to be putting Union Jacks on everything .
Labour 's answer looks like it will be a constitutional convention .
Neither answer will go down well with those trying to run services across the country .
Nobody captured this ambiguity better than George Osborne , whose messy legacy Rishi Sunak must now decide whether to clear up .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Northern Powerhouse - he oversaw the `` City Deals '' and was in office when more powers were handed to Scotland .
Yet he was also the Chancellor who put an extraordinary squeeze on council day-to-day spending .
A breakdown by the Financial Times of council spending between 2010 and 2015 revealed that local government budgets cut by £18bn in real terms .
This trend accelerated .
The House of Commons library says this year 's local government finance settlement leaves most authorities `` well below '' the level of funding that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Osborne raided local authority budgets with impunity because he knew there was very unlikely to be political repercussions in Parliament , unlike squeezing the education and welfare budgets which both came to his cost .
This legacy , on top of present day problems , is unsettling leaders of Tory councils in Conservative heartlands .
Keith Mans , the Tory leader of Hampshire council , told me that he wished his party had been more concerned with local government .
Now they want sums which sound eye-watering .
`` We would expect with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the moment to expect at least the same increase as the health service is getting because our increase in demand is very similar , '' Mr Mans said , adding : `` The NHS has got £30bn more .
Local government has got £20bn less . ''
There are similar views from the Tory leader of Leicester Council Council , who said the government made a promise at the start of the pandemic it now looks in danger of breaking .
`` When we first started off with the coronavirus - the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took that to mean that whatever we spent would be covered by grant , '' said Nicholas Rushton .
`` They have been relatively generous but they 've possibly only funded 50 % of our increased costs .
The problems are entirely about money .
We need money to carry on what we 're doing . ''
He spelt out which services were at risk .
`` 20 % of our budget is spent on things that people appreciate that is n't protected ( in law so could be cut ) .
Subsidising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is n't protected , cleaning road signs not protected , repainting markings , not protected .
Libraries are not protected .
We need money to ensure we can provide 20 % of services unprotected by statute . ''
There are two fronts when it comes to fighting coronavirus - one for national government , the other local councils .
But council leaders are worried that they do n't have the same megaphone or the same representation round the cabinet table , as , say , the Department of Health , which the Treasury @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the spending review .
Mr Sunak was once a local government minister , but budgets are tight , and the reason Mr Osborne was able to squeeze local authority budgets was because it came with no political cost to the Tories in Westminster .
So the dilemma continues .
For ministers , local councils are often seen as a cost centre .
For voters , an everyday lifeline .
Will the pandemic mean warnings are heeded this time ?

Boris Johnson was probably right to kick off a much-needed conversation about devolution of power last week, even if the manner of doing so - saying it had been a disaster in Scotland - was for many Tories the kind of quip the head-exploding emoji 🤯 was invented for.
In fairness to the PM, you need to highlight this subject in an eye-catching way because it is so immensely dull and complex.
Any question to which well-meaning people can then suggest the answer is a "constitutional convention" (Google it and you'll wish you hadn't) is often better not asked in the first place. Devolution in all its forms is a mess - precisely because it is just so boring and complex to sort out.
The coronavirus pandemic has driven home in Westminster what has been obvious in Manchester, Belfast, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Birmingham - most places outside of London in fact: That devolution of power is a serious business, and has involved the transfer of serious powers.
Every bit of local regional and national government has had to step up to the plate to deal with the effects of COVID-19, causing much wailing and gnashing of teeth in Downing Street.
It is presumably no coincidence that the London mayoralty has some of the weakest powers of any devolution deal. City Hall and its bully pulpit alone were the travellator which took Mr Johnson from backbench obscurity to Downing Street.
Image: The mayoralty took Boris Johnson from backbench obscurity to Number 10
Westminster was, and is, vaguely in favour of the devolution of power, but cannot decide where and how decisions should be made, and ministers always have an aversion to anything that looks or smells like an alternative powerbase.
So it's all inconsistent: the devolution settlement with Edinburgh is different to the one with Cardiff (the scale of tax-raising powers in the former being the biggest difference). Northern Ireland operates without directly elected government for years at a time.
Meanwhile in England each "City Deal" is different: NHS spending is devolved to the 10 councils in the Greater Manchester region, but not in Birmingham. Some areas are without mayors altogether, and after the PM's row with Andy Burnham last month, they seem likely to stay that way.
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The uncertain attitude to devolution was captured by Mr Johnson rather brilliantly in his speech to Tory Scottish conference.
"Devolution should be used not by politicians as a wall to sequester, to break away, an area of the UK from the rest," Mr Johnson said.
"It should be used as a step to pass power to local communities and businesses to make their lives better. It's that kind of localism which I believe in and want to take further."
It's entirely ambiguous who these "local communities" are - be they councils, regional authorities or mayors. He won't tell us where power should be devolved to. Maybe he doesn't know.
The Tory answer seems to be putting Union Jacks on everything. Labour's answer looks like it will be a constitutional convention. Neither answer will go down well with those trying to run services across the country.
Nobody captured this ambiguity better than George Osborne, whose messy legacy Rishi Sunak must now decide whether to clear up. For some he is the champion of the Northern Powerhouse - he oversaw the "City Deals" and was in office when more powers were handed to Scotland.
Image: George Osbourne's messy legacy has been left to Rishi Sunak to clear up
Yet he was also the chancellor who put an extraordinary squeeze on council day-to-day spending.
A breakdown by the Financial Times of council spending between 2010 and 2015 revealed that local government budgets were cut by £18bn in real terms.
This trend accelerated. The House of Commons library says this year's local government finance settlement leaves most authorities "well below" the level of funding that they were receiving in 2015.
Mr Osborne raided local authority budgets with impunity because he knew there was very unlikely to be political repercussions in parliament, unlike squeezing the education and welfare budgets which both came to his cost.
This legacy, on top of present day problems, is unsettling leaders of Tory councils in Conservative heartlands.
Keith Mans, the Tory leader of Hampshire council, told me that he wished his party had been more concerned with local government. Now they want sums which sound eye-watering.
"We would expect with the annual funding round going on at the moment to expect at least the same increase as the health service is getting because our increase in demand is very similar," Mr Mans said, adding: "The NHS has got £30bn more. Local government has got £20bn less."
There are similar views from the Tory leader of Leicestershire County Council, who said the government made a promise at the start of the pandemic it now looks in danger of breaking.
"When we first started off with the coronavirus - the government said whatever it takes, and I took that to mean that whatever we spent would be covered by grant," said Nicholas Rushton.
"They have been relatively generous but they've possibly only funded 50% of our increased costs. The problems are entirely about money. We need money to carry on what we're doing."
He spelt out which services were at risk. "20% of our budget is spent on things that people appreciate that isn't protected (in law so could be cut). Subsidising buses isn't protected, filling potholes isn't protected, cleaning road signs not protected, repainting markings, not protected. Libraries are not protected. We need money to ensure we can provide 20% of services unprotected by statute."
There are two fronts when it comes to fighting coronavirus - one for national government, the other local councils.
But council leaders are worried that they don't have the same megaphone or the same representation round the cabinet table, as, say, the Department of Health, which the Treasury confirmed on Sunday would get £3bn more in the spending review.
Mr Sunak was once a local government minister, but budgets are tight, and the reason Mr Osborne was able to squeeze local authority budgets was because it came with no political cost to the Tories in Westminster. So the dilemma continues.
For ministers, local councils are often seen as a cost centre. For voters, an everyday lifeline. Will the pandemic mean warnings are heeded this time?


skynewspolitics--2020-11-22--Tricky week ahead for chancellor that may yield tax rise hints

It is not going to be an easy week for Boris Johnson or Rishi Sunak .
Ahead of Wednesday 's spending review , the chancellor has been managing expectations , suggesting that what he is setting out this week will be government departmental plans rather than a full budget .
That said , we do expect to hear some sense of how damaging the coronavirus pandemic has been to the national economy .
And , as a result , we might get some sense of when the inevitable tax rises will come .
They might not be introduced until early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the chancellor is undoubtedly on the question of public sector pay restraint .
Labour have described the idea of a public sector pay freeze as a `` a kick in the teeth '' to frontline workers .
The battle lines have already been drawn , and Mr Sunk told Sky News ' Sophy Ridge On Sunday that `` you will not see austerity next week '' - clearly keen to see off suggestions that Cameron-era spending cuts are back .
But on public sector pay , he did indicate that departments should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the wider economic climate '' , and that may well be the sting in the tail .
That would set the government on a direct collision course not only with Labour but with the unions too .
Frances O'Grady supported the government measures when furlough was being replaced , but today told the Ridge programme there could even be strike action if the government were to go ahead with such a move .
A tricky period ahead for all of us - not least number 11 Downing Street .

It is not going to be an easy week for Boris Johnson or Rishi Sunak.
Ahead of Wednesday's spending review, the chancellor has been managing expectations, suggesting that what he is setting out this week will be government departmental plans rather than a full budget.
That said, we do expect to hear some sense of how damaging the coronavirus pandemic has been to the national economy.
Image: The state of coronavirus' impact on the economy will be revealed on Wednesday
And, as a result, we might get some sense of when the inevitable tax rises will come.
They might not be introduced until early next year and the most difficult decision for the chancellor is undoubtedly on the question of public sector pay restraint.
Labour have described the idea of a public sector pay freeze as a "a kick in the teeth" to frontline workers.
The battle lines have already been drawn, and Mr Sunak told Sky News' Sophy Ridge On Sunday that "you will not see austerity next week" - clearly keen to see off suggestions that Cameron-era spending cuts are back.
Image: The chancellor did not rule out a public sector pay freeze
But on public sector pay, he did indicate that departments should consider settlements "in the context of the wider economic climate", and that may well be the sting in the tail.
That would set the government on a direct collision course not only with Labour but with the unions too.
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Frances O'Grady supported the government measures when furlough was being replaced, but today told the Ridge programme there could even be strike action if the government were to go ahead with such a move.
A tricky period ahead for all of us - not least Number 11 Downing Street.