thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-13--Business Insurers Won't Pay Up For Coronavirus. But The Solution Could Kill Small Firms For Good

Small businesses fear going bust as a result of the FCA's decision to pursue legal clarity on business interruption claims. Dan Kitwood via Getty Images
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Business insurers that won’t pay up for coronavirus losses now face legal action – but paradoxically the move could destroy some small firms for good.
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The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is to pursue a legal case over the wording of insurers’ business interruption (BI) cover.
HuffPost revealed in April that conflicts between SMEs (small and medium enterprises) and insurance companies had arisen over the wording in these policies, meaning business owners were not getting the cover they had been paying for and desperately needed to see them through coronavirus and the ensuing nationwide lockdown.
Major insurers have avoided paying out on business interruption claims citing what appeared to be technicalities, telling policy holders that the wording of their documents meant they weren’t covered for their losses as a result of Covid-19.
The reasons given to business owners ranged from assertions that the global pandemic “wasn’t an incident” as defined in the policy, the fact there wasn’t an outbreak specifically on the business premises, and interpretations of the word “plague” to refer only to the now largely extinct bubonic plague.
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Hundreds of businesses have raised their concerns about the conduct of insurers, and on May 1 the FCA set out their intention to pursue a court declaration on the uncertainty when it comes to BI cover.
But with the timeline for this legal case unclear, many SME owners fear that the judgment will come too late – with business owners forced to fold without payment.
As the owner of the Lazy Claire Patisserie in Belfast – which has been refused a business interruption payment by Hiscox – and an organiser of the Hiscox Action Group, which now has more than 450 businesses on its books, Daniel Duckett has seen firsthand how SME owners have been impacted by the failure of their insurers to pay out during the Covid-19 crisis.
Despite a need for clarity on the wording of policies, he believes the FCA’s decision to follow a legal route has left businesses in an even worse position.
He said: “It leaves everybody in limbo. It gives nobody any quick or decisive action, and it leaves us actually a bit worse off than if the FCA were to take action immediately.
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“Personally speaking, I’m really having to start considering taking out the bounce back loan [a scheme specifically set up for businesses who are losing revenue as a result of Covid-19], but I’m really unwilling to as I already have a business loan and equipment lease for a coffee machine which were due to be paid off next April.
“They’ve been deferred for three months, so that’s another three months of repayments I hadn’t really wanted to deal with, but if I do take out the bounce back loan then you’re looking at perhaps another five years of repayments.”
Duckett explained that while he was facing difficult decisions, small, seasonal businesses such as bridal boutiques faced an even greater threat.
“This would be their busy season, but there’s no cash coming in,” he explained. “Eventually they’ll have to close, they’ll have to fold, and that’s the reality of it.
“They really cannot wait. As a cafe we could probably reopen when we can and get a bit of business, but for some of these small businesses there will be nothing. They will have to face up to that hard decision to wind up their business.”
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A spokesperson for the FCA said: “Our legal action is designed to avoid the protracted legal processes which might be involved in pursuing individual cases.
“It is the quickest route to clarity and by covering multiple policies and insurers, it will also be of most use across the market.
“In no way does it prevent parties from taking their own separate action, nor does it prevent insurers reaching settlements sooner.”
While HuffPost UK has spoken to business owners who hold policies with a number of different policies, the FCA has not yet made public the names of the insurers involved in the legal process.
In a statement on its website the regulator said it was “intending to take this action in the public interest to advance our consumer protection and market integrity objectives”, with the current uncertainty “resolved as quickly as possible.”
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In a letter published in April entitled “Dear CEO” and addressed to business owners, FCA interim chief executive Christopher Woolard wrote that when “it is clear that the firm has an obligation to pay out... it is important that claims are assessed and settled quickly.”
In Duckett’s view, the FCA’s decision to pursue legal clarification does the opposite.
He said: “I told the FCA: ‘What good are you if you cannot make decisions on your own?’
“They are the regulatory body for the insurance industry. If they’re wringing their hands and have to go to the courts, then what good do they do?
“We may as well just take every dispute to the court in a very lengthy process and do away with the FCA altogether.”
Many companies had decided to take up their complaints against insurers with the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS), instead of pursuing their own complicated and potentially expensive legal challenge.
But, as Duckett explained, the FCA’s decision to pursue a court ruling means that the majority of cases pursued by the FOS could be put on hold indefinitely until the decision from a judge on the wording comes in.
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For many SMEs – faced with high running costs, low income, and the burden of additional loans waiting months for a judgement – isn’t an option.
In a letter to the Hiscox Action Group, the FOS told campaigners that without further details on the legal case being brought forward by the FCA, they were unable to say exactly how ongoing cases could be impacted.
Duckett said: “The FOS sent us a letter basically saying they would have to hear more detail from the FDA about the legal action that they’re not yet able to say how that might affect the progression of cases.
“Effectively, there’s no complaints process at the moment. During conversation we had with the FCA they agreed that it was ambitious for their timeline, but they would really like a trial by July.
“That’s another month-and-a-half away. It might be some 16 weeks since the start of lockdown, and that’s just the start of the trial – who knows how long it will last?
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“And then, the FCA did absolutely agree that there could be an appeal process, and there’s no guarantee that would be expedited up to the Supreme Court. So we’re looking at maybe August or September before there’s any decision.
“Many of our members just simply do not have time to wait.”
With little clarity, many businesses across the UK – some of whom have been paying for cover to protect them in an event just like Covid-19 – face an anxious wait and impossible decisions about whether or not to fold in order to avoid ever-mounting costs and loan repayments as lockdown restrictions continue.
Duckett also said that that some small businesses feared the FCA’s move had indirectly benefited insurers because SMEs would be forced to fold before they could push their claims further.
He explained: “The only recourse that we will eventually have is to pursue the legal route.
“As weird as it seems, you know, this is what the insurers want. They want a very lengthy process. They want something that will reduce the amount of claimants there are because they will have gone out of business.”
The FOS told HuffPost UK: “We do understand the concerns of small businesses. We are in contact with those who have brought a complaint to our service, and are engaging with business representative groups.
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“When looking at complaints we take into account relevant law, regulation, codes of conduct and good industry practice. In light of FCA’s announcement that it intends to obtain a court declaration in relation to the meaning of some business interruption insurance policy wordings, we will need to consider what this means for cases at our service.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-13--English Tourist Spots On Alert For ‘Weekend Mayhem’ After Lockdown Rules Change

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Government advice telling people they can travel to “outdoor open space irrespective of distance” has been labelled as “reckless” amid fears it will lead to places like the Lake District and Blackpool being swamped with visitors.
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Prime minister Boris Johnson addressed the nation on Sunday and raised eyebrows when he told people in England that, from Wednesday, they could drive anywhere they liked within England for exercise.
That coronavirus lockdown easing advice has now been reiterated in a 51-page official government confirming what people can and can’t do. Under the question: “Are there restrictions on how far I can travel for my exercise or outdoor activity?”, the answer states: “No. You can travel to outdoor open space irrespective of distance.”
The surprise move – which is contrary to that in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland where the Stay At Home slogan and insistence on only local exercise remain – has led to widespread condemnation, particularly from beauty spots and tourist destinations where people fear the easing of lockdown will lead to a spike in cases.
Windermere, Lake District United Kingdom danaibe12 via Getty Images
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Professor John Ashton, former north west regional director of public health told HuffPost UK the decision was reckless and could have deeply damaging consequences, particularly in places like Cumbria which have some of the highest coronavirus infection rates in the UK.
Latest figures show there are 2,115 coronavirus cases in Cumbria – which is 424 cases per 100,000 of the population.
“People will now drive to the Lake District and the concern is they will congregate around honeypot areas such as Grasmere, Ambleside and Windermere rather than going walking with their family away from the beaten track,” said Ashton.
“This advice is very reckless and unwise and it is going to lead to the motorway being chock-a-block and you can only imagine what it will be like in car parks.
“This is an ill thought-out and unhelpful decision and the consequences could be severe.”
“This is not about science – this is making it up as you go along. I hope it doesn’t lead to a weekend of mayhem.” - Professor John Ashton
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Ashton said this week was not the right time to be easing off on restrictions.
He said: “In Cumbria and Lancashire, infection rates of coronavirus are a lot higher.
“If people start moving around and travelling to different areas, it is going to mix the virus back up again and reignite the spread of it.”
He pointed to problems with the UK receiving sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE) and testing.
“When you consider all the talk about following the science, this is not about science,” he said. “This is making it up as you go along.
“I hope it doesn’t lead to a weekend of mayhem, but it means that those who have got transport will now have that freedom to roam.”
Professor John Ashton, former North West regional director of public health John Ashton
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Ashton said the move also undermines the idea that “we are all in this together.”
“Everyone has been pulling together but this move will erode that and undermine social solidarity,” he said.
“People who don’t have personal transport won’t be able to go anywhere while those who are stuck in high-rise flats will continue to be stuck there.”
The government decision to allow people to travel as far as they want for exercise in open spaces has angered former Lib Dem leader Tim Farron, MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, who says he will be fighting for the guidance to be changed to protect communities in the Lake District.
He told HuffPost UK Cumbria Police had issued more than 100 fines to people over the bank holiday weekend for making non-essential journeys and that it is now “simply inevitable” that this new guidance will see a huge influx of people visiting the Lake District.
Farron is particularly alarmed as the South Lakeland area has the third highest rate of coronavirus infections in the country per head of population.
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“This has caused major concern and anxiety for local people, especially as we have the third highest rate of Covid-19 infections here in South Lakeland,” he said.
“With hundreds of people sadly dying from the disease every single day, now is not the time for a surge in people from outside of Cumbria to visit the Lakes – we will simply not be able to cope.
“That’s why it’s critical that the government urgently reviews its guidelines to introduce a maximum limit of miles people can travel for exercise.
“The prime minister spoke to the people – it’s now time he listened to them, too.”
We are frustrated to see the PM single out national parks as places for people to travel long distances to.
We are eager to warmly welcome visitors to the Lake District, but only when it is safe to do so.
Please don't rush back to the Lakes yet. pic.twitter.com/LMZZ7MNgFm — Tim Farron (@timfarron) May 11, 2020
New Govt. guidance confirms that people will be able to travel as far as they want for exercise.
We'll fight for this guidance to be changed so we can protect communities in the Lakes.
Last night the Prime Minister spoke to the people - it's now time he listened to them too. pic.twitter.com/1labYA0K3X — Tim Farron (@timfarron) May 11, 2020
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Farron had written an open letter to Boris Johnson urging him to put a limit on the number of miles people can drive for exercise to prevent an influx of people descending on the Lake District, especially as Snowdonia in Wales remains off limits to those on the English side of the border.
This morning I wrote an open letter to the PM urging him to put a limit on the number of miles that people can drive for exercise to help prevent an influx of people travelling to the Lake District.
Restricting mass movement at this time is the responsible and safe thing to do. pic.twitter.com/bu9dWhNoJ3 — Tim Farron (@timfarron) May 11, 2020
Cumbria Police chiefs are imploring people not to rush back to the Lake District and fells. They tweeted a map showing infection rates and asked people to “take a long hard look at your own conscience”, use common sense and carry on exercising close to home.
Before considering travelling to #Cumbria #LakeDistrict please grab a brew☕, examine this map, and take a long hard look at your own conscience. We urge you to use common sense and to continue to exercise close to your own home. We need to break the cycle of infection #lockdown pic.twitter.com/bC5yQOMrqr — South Lakes Police (@SouthLakesPol) May 10, 2020
Andy Slattery, assistant chief constable of Cumbria Police, told HuffPost UK he was concerned about the safety of visitors and the local population, and about ensuring any increase in people going to the Lake District is managed in line with social distancing.
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Tourists tend to congregate to “honeypot” areas of the Lake District, which makes it very difficult for people to socially distance.
“The fear is that we will see a re-emergence of what we saw in the early days of the pandemic when people were in close contact with each other.” he said.
Andy Slattery, assistant chief constable of Cumbria Police Cumbria Police
Slattery also pointed out that while the new guidance might lead to people flocking to the Lake District, facilities such as shops, cafes, restaurants, public toilets and car parks will remain closed so large numbers of people will find there are no facilities to cater for them.
Slatterly also said there are deep concerns about the prospect of people who need rescuing while walking in the fells and mountains of the Lake District.
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“If mountain rescue volunteers are attending accidents on the fells and potentially coming into contact with people with Covid-19,” he told HuffPost UK, “they might have to self isolate and that will take them away from their core medical roles in the community.”
“The Lake District will still be here when it is safe for people to come here and we will gladly welcome them then.” - Douglas Chalmers, Friends of the Lake District
Douglas Chalmers, chief executive of the Friends of the Lake District charity, said he was “very concerned” people would bring coronavirus with them when travelling to the region.
“Our infrastructure is designed for around half a million people so we could not cope with millions of people descending here,” he added.
“Just for the sake of a bit longer, we would prefer people not to come because of the damage it could do to the local community.
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“The Lake District will still be here when it is safe for people to come here and we will gladly welcome them then.”
(AP Photo/Jon Super) ASSOCIATED PRESS
In Blackpool, the Visit Blackpool site is the tourism arm of Blackpool Council, showcasing the area as a holiday destination.
It has rebranded itself as DoNotVisitBlackpool on social media.
Alan Cavill, director of tourism and regeneration for Blackpool Council, said: “We welcome the government’s road map towards recovery, but this is not a time to throw caution to the wind and it is definitely not yet a case of business as usual.
“Throughout this pandemic, the safety of our residents is of paramount importance.
“Those who do seek to exercise on the coast should do so responsibly and we strongly urge people to respect the rules around social distancing and mass gatherings.”
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Pretty much every one of my family and friends live in the Lake District. If you think this is a time to come here to go on walks or a mini break, don't. Just don't. My dad works for the NHS and I do not want to see him and others under more stress because of idiots like you — George(Gina) (@ThorburnGina) May 11, 2020
@BorisJohnson We will now have thousands of people travelling to hotspots like Blackpool and the Lake District. This is just so dangerous that I can’t believe Science is behind this decision! — Matt Taylor (@MattTay38212365) May 11, 2020
Just a thought for any folks now planning a trip to Cumbria, not only are all pubs, cafes & non-essential shops closed, the public toilets are all shut too. 🙂#cumbria #LakeDistrict #lockdown pic.twitter.com/G8Z8ELCefr — Beth Pipe (@CumbrianRambler) May 11, 2020
Car parks in the lakes are not just closed, they are completely blocked off. Toilets and other such visitor facilities are also closed. No one plans to have an accident, but if you unfortunately do, you’ll need a minimum of 8 mountain rescue volunteers to get you to safety (1/4) pic.twitter.com/o6IjwMmIds — Sarah Anderson (@MountainSJA) May 11, 2020
I live in Cumbria/Lake District which has the highest rate for Covid-19 outside of London. We DON'T Want visitors, please stay away we have enough to deal with. Extra car parks are being shut to show we are not open at the present time. — Mykila Gutkowski (@Dollymyk) May 11, 2020
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Regarding travel, if people are allowed to travel why did you not make it so they had to stay in their county boundaries! The Lake District and places like Blackpool are going to get swamped by people travelling!!! 😡😡😡 — Gary Mills Wedding DJ (@Djgarymills) May 11, 2020
I genuinely hope people see through that bungled message from Boris and stay local. The Lake District is beautiful but it will still be there in 12 months and beyond. I will be staying near home and walking from my house. Good luck to you, I suspect you will need it sadly. — Walk Hike Climb (@walkhikeclimb) May 11, 2020


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-13--I Watched Coronavirus Kill My Father. As A Medic, I Know Our Government Let Him Down

Courtesy of the author HuffPost UK
As children, my father taught us the essence of community work, and the value of serving those less fortunate than ourselves.
He moved to London in 1969, answering a plea from the NHS to come to the UK. A newly-qualified pharmacist, his first post was Whittington Hospital in London, though he later moved to a community pharmacy where he served the Essex area for 35 years. His was the first pharmacy to open seven days a week. and the first pharmacy to offer home delivery to the elderly on his bicycle. Countless community awards followed.
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Most want to retire at 65, but not my father. Instead, he started a national chain that provides NHS dental, GP and pharmacy services. He was still actively working 12 hours a day this year.
Then he fell ill with coronavirus.
When Covid-19 hit our shores, my parents began isolating – at 80 and 74, I knew if either caught the virus, it could be deadly. So, I made sure they were ready for the isolation period ahead: sanitisers were installed, pulse oximeters delivered along with plenty of PPE, which I advised them to wear if they received any deliveries.
“Not sounding himself, I persuaded my father to let me take him to get tested... His Covid-19 swab was confirmed as positive.”
Unfortunately, I contracted coronavirus. Assuming a median incubation period of five or six days followed by seven days of symptoms, I contracted the virus around the same time hospital admission data shows Covid-19 was beginning to spread in the capital. Around the same time we were sleepwalking into an epidemic.
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By late March I recovered, and was calling my parents every day to ensure they were showing no symptoms. Not sounding himself, I persuaded my father to let me take him to get tested. Blood tests, a swab and a chest radiograph were taken and he was isolated in a room, where I stayed with him for the next five days. His Covid-19 swab was confirmed as positive, and was diagnosed with pneumonia.
On the ward, I could see how underprepared the NHS were for the tsunami that was coming. Two days after my father joined the half-empty ward, it was full – as was the ICU. The government had plenty of warning of course, they just chose not to sound the siren to let us know. In my view as a doctor, the government failed to capitalise on the vital weeks after the first confirmed cases. NHS staff on the were falling sick and positions struggling to be filled. I saw how consultants were stretched, with a lot were off sick unable to get tested. My father was visited only briefly each day for a five-minute review with the consultant.
The author, with his family and father Courtesy of the author
At the time, no overall protocol had yet been reached as to how to treat Covid-19. No trials were underway and there was no agreed methodology for treatment. It’s thankfully the norm now – but for my father it was all too late.
Five days after admission his condition deteriorated further, and he was moved to ICU. It would be the last time I saw him conscious. I remember kissing him, and telling him how much I loved him. After two days in ICU, the hospital said they needed to return him to a normal ward as they needed the bed in ICU. Under normal circumstances he would not have been moved. My father gave 45 years service to the NHS and was still contributing and working in society – and yet the decision was made to move him. Just hours later, his condition worsened and he was readmitted.
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There was no doubt that my father wanted to live. He enjoyed life and had never been happier. Not once had he contemplated he was going to die while in hospital. He had faith that his son – that I – would get him home.
“I did everything I could to protect my family. But I was too late.”
But four weeks in ICU with multiple hospital-acquired infections had destroyed his lungs. He would be dependent on oxygen, and constant care, and would never have been able to leave the bed.
My father had taught me one thing that he would never like to be dependent on anyone as he was a man of dignity and integrity. And so, in the interest and wishes of my father, I decided to turn the ventilator off. I held his hand and apologised that I was unable to keep my promise of taking him home.
At home, my 74-year-old mother recovered from Covid-19, as did my pregnant wife. Both of which are high risk groups, and I could easily have lost all of them.
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I did everything I could to protect my family. I was being proactive by isolating my parents weeks before the government-mandated lockdown. But I was too late, and I failed to protect the people I love most in the world. I saw how NHS staff acted bravely and valiantly – but so many lives have been lost unnecessarily due to our government’s inept decisions.
How could the government not have known keeping airports open as the Covid-19 outbreak went global – without proper quarantine measures and track and trace community testing – was going to lead to huge community transmission in the UK. When the virus in London was becoming rampant in the community, guidance did not come quickly enough. Testing capability was albeit limited, but why was it not picked up? The warning signs were all there – I have no choice but to believe they were ignored.
My father contributed so much to this country – and in exchange the government failed to protect him, and thousands like him. It’s unacceptable.
Have a compelling personal story you want to tell? Find out what we’re looking for here, and pitch us on ukpersonal@huffpost.com


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-12--Hamilton The Film Is Coming To Disney+ And We Don't Have Long To Wait

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Lin-Manuel Miranda, the writer and star of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway musical, Hamilton, has revealed that the show will be released on Disney+ in July.
The film features the cast of the original Broadway production of Hamilton performing on stage at the Richard Rodgers Theatre.
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It’s only a matter of time...
Our Hamilton film.
THIS July 3rd.
On Disney+.#Hamilfilm pic.twitter.com/cXTM949hRr — Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) May 12, 2020
Miranda’s wife Vanessa Nadal shared a behind-the-scenes snapshot of her husband nervously waiting to share the news of the film’s release date:
Sneaky photo of @Lin_Manuel excitedly/nervously waiting to drop this news. He woke up like a jolt of energy (more than usual) and could not keep still! pic.twitter.com/kN59udV8kC — Vanessa A M Nadal (@VAMNit) May 12, 2020
Footage of a live performance of the musical was seen in the 2016 PBS Great Performances documentary Hamilton’s America. But the full performance has never been released, until now.
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Hamilton the film, directed by the play’s stage director Tommy Kail, reportedly uses footage from three live performances, plus some shots without an audience.
“All of the footage was used to create multiple angles, to ensure the cinematic nature of the event, without a bad seat in the house,” Deadline wrote earlier this year.
Miranda, in a statement announcing the film’s release, said the date had been moved up to the July 4 weekend “in light of the world turning upside down.” He said the movie would provide everyone watching “the best seat in the house.”
“I’m so grateful to all the fans who asked for this, and I’m so glad that we’re able to make it happen,” he said. “I’m so proud of this show. I can’t wait for you to see it.”
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In addition to Miranda as Alexander Hamilton, the film features original Broadway cast members Daveed Diggs as Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson; Renée Elise Goldsberry as Angelica Schuyler; Leslie Odom, Jr. as Aaron Burr; Christopher Jackson as George Washington; Jonathan Groff as King George; Phillipa Soo as Eliza Hamilton; Jasmine Cephas Jones as Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds; Okieriete Onaodowan as Hercules Mulligan/James Madison; and Anthony Ramos as John Laurens/Philip Hamilton.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-13--New Coronavirus Antibody Test Found To Have 100% Accuracy, Public Health England Reveals

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A new coronavirus antibody test has been found to be 100% accurate, public health leaders have said.
Public Health England (PHE) said that last week the scientific experts at its Porton Down facility had carried out an independent evaluation of a new antibody blood test developed by a Swiss pharmaceutical company.
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The examination found that Roche’s serology test was “highly specific” and had an accuracy of 100%.
The findings have been hailed as a “very positive development” in combating the coronavirus outbreak.
The test is designed to help determine if a patient has been exposed to the virus that causes Covid-19 and whether they have developed antibodies against it.
The detection of these antibodies could help to indicate if a person has gained immunity against the virus.
Professor John Newton, national coordinator of the UK Coronavirus Testing Programme, said: “We were confident that good quality antibody tests would become available when they were needed.
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“Last week, scientific experts at PHE Porton Down carried out an independent evaluation of the new Roche Sars-CoV-2 serology assay in record time, concluding that it is a highly specific assay with specificity of 100%.
“This is a very positive development because such a highly specific antibody test is a very reliable marker of past infection.
“This in turn may indicate some immunity to future infection although the extent to which the presence of anti-bodies indicates immunity remains unclear.”
A lab technician holds a rackpack for the new serological antibody test in the Roche development lab. picture alliance via Getty Images
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said it was delighted that devices were progressing through validation and was working on plans to roll out antibody testing.
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It added that an announcement will be made “in due course”.
A spokeswoman said: “Antibody testing is an important part of our strategy to counter the spread of Covid-19 and to help us understand who has had the disease.
“In addition to the recent huge expansion of the UK’s swab-based coronavirus testing capacity, we are exploring the use of antibody testing across the NHS and ultimately the wider public.
“We are delighted that devices are progressing through validation, and are actively working on our plans for rolling out antibody testing and will make announcements in due course.”
Health Secretary Matt Hancock last week said the UK was in talks with Roche about a “very large-scale roll-out” of coronavirus antibody testing.
Speaking at the daily Downing Street press briefing on May 4, Mr Hancock said: “Today, Roche, the Swiss global diagnostics company, made a very positive announcement about progress with their antibody test and we’re in discussions with them about a very large-scale roll-out of antibody testing, as well as with some others who may be able to bring this forward.”
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But Hancock acknowledged that there had been problems with antibody testing, having previously said the UK would order 17.5 million home testing kits only to find they did not work.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-13--Keir Starmer Puts The ‘Opposition’ Into ‘Constructive Opposition’

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Starmer chameleon
It’s been coming for some time, but today Keir Starmer finally served notice on Boris Johnson that he really does mean business. Devoting all six of his PMQs to the UK’s awful death toll in care homes from Covid-19, the Labour leader showed a flash of steel that ought to worry even this 80-strong majority government.
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Ever since he was elected, some on the Left of his party have accused Starmer of being too soft on Johnson, too evenly toned, too lawyerly. After his first PMQs, there was even a Momentum-style meme that the word ‘forensic’ was overused, and somehow a badge of shame. Anything that was seen as even an implicit attack on Jeremy Corbyn was to be ridiculed, even if it had Johnson squirming.
But no-drama-Starmer showed last week, and even more this week, that he can mix it up, throwing combinations of punches to keep his opponent on the parliamentary ropes. Left hooks (on austerity) and right hooks (on the dignity of the WW2 patriots) were today supplemented by uppercuts on the growing scandal of the care home death rate.
Putting the ‘opposition’ into ‘constructive opposition’, Starmer showed a chameleon-like ability to shift easily from loyal public servant, offering support in the national interest, to ruthlessly focused critic. Yes, it was his prosecutorial (you could even call it ‘forensic’) nous that unearthed the pre-March 12 government guidance to care homes. But it was the raw politics of competence that was most on display. No wonder Jacob Rees-Mogg wants the protective wall of cheering Tory MPs to return as soon as possible.
The key line - “it remains very unlikely that people receiving care in a care home or the community will become infected” - certainly sounded woefully complacent. It was a killer quote, in every sense of the word. Johnson blurted out that “it wasn’t true” and even later tried to accuse Starmer of being misleading, when in fact he had indeed quoted the advice accurately.
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Deputy chief medical officer Jenny Harries tried to defend the guidance but her argument (that there was no “sustained community transmission” at the time) didn’t feel like it would hold up in the court of public opinion. Just as damaging was the cardiologist cited by Starmer, who said the NHS discharged known and unknown cases of Covid into care homes without enough testing or PPE.
With elderly patients in hospital dubbed ‘bed blockers’ for far too long, the political upsides for Labour in fighting for a key voter group are obvious. Much more importantly, if Starmer can somehow help develop a consensus on a national care service, something of real value could still come out of this awful pandemic.
The PM tried to use PMQs to hail a new £600m injection of cash into social care. But even this appeared more like an admission of error than a present to be received by a grateful nation. When Robert Jenrick told the No.10 press conference that the package would ensure care homes got “the best infection control, access to testing, the right protective equipment”, many will have wondered why all those were lacking in the first place.
Similarly, Jenrick’s talk of “the new discharge policies” to ensure residents only arrive or leave “once we know that they are free from Covid-19” begged the question why the ‘new’ policies had taken this long.
As I’ve written before, only a fool would write off Johnson’s ability to defy political gravity. The Telegraph’s leak of the Treasury’s economic response to the crisis underlines that Johnsonomics means higher levels of debt over the long term, far from the austerity of the Osborne era. Freezes on public sector pay were ruled out today, but tax hikes were not.
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Yet even on the economic response, Starmer can claim plenty of credit for pushing the government to make the right (Left) choices. The furlough scheme and its extension, the extra state backed loans for business, the self-employed scheme (which began today with big numbers, and surely soon to be extended too), are all the products of ‘constructive’ Opposition pressure, just as more PPE and testing are.
The real danger for Johnson is that a global recession, particularly if the US is hard hit, could rip away every sticking plaster he has so far applied to our wounded economy. Given that Labour was blamed by the Tories in 2010 for a global financial crisis, the irony of a role reversal won’t be lost on some. There’s often talk among ministers of ‘balancing’ health and wealth in the lockdown exit plan, yet mass unemployment on top of mass deaths would truly be the worst of both worlds.
Meanwhile, a YouGov poll has put Starmer ahead of Johnson on a net rating of +23 for the first time. After barely four weeks in the job, and with lots of people still in the ‘don’t know’ camp, that’s not a bad achievement. It’s a reminder too that there is one big job loss that Starmer may ultimately be happy to see out of this Covid crisis: the prime minister’s.
Quote Of The Day
“The people who suffer the most from schools not being open are those children who are so desperate to attend”
Education secretary Gavin Williamson on why the poorest pupils need to catch up in the classroom
Wednesday Cheat Sheet
Chancellor Rishi Sunak admitted that it was “very likely” the UK is in a “significant recession”, as new figures showed GDP fell by 2% in the first three months of 2020. With just one week of lockdown in those stats, the next quarter will be much much worse.
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Boris Johnson should “step back” from his June 1 return date for schools amid continuing safety fears, an alliance of education trade unions warned. Gavin Williamson hit back at what he called Labour “scaremongering” over claims that new chains of infection would result. He also hinted some schools could open this summer with volunteers offering ‘catch up’ tuition.
Williamson’s chief scientific adviser Osama Rahman had to ‘clarify’ his evidence to the Commons science and tech committee after he suggested he had not assessed the reopening plans and claimed they were a ‘first draft’.
More than 110,000 self-employed people hit by coronavirus applied for government grants on the first day of the new Self Employed Income Support Scheme. It aims to match the support being given to furloughed employees.
Police in England revealed they have no powers to enforce two-metre social distancing. New guidelines issued by the College of Policing and the National Police Chiefs’ Council urges officers to only enforce what is written in law.
Transport secretary Grant Shapps warned the public they would be “taking a chance” with their money if they booked a summer holiday at present. He added he would avoid packed buses
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Housing secretary Robert Jenrick said building sites would be able to stay open as late as 9pm or even longer during the summer months to allow workers to socially distance in staggered shifts.
Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg faced a backlash as declared the “virtual veneer of a parliament” stifled real debate. He signalled that current video questions and remote voting would end on 2 June.
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The Future Of University Education Post-Covid - New York Magazine
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-13--Government Rejects Proposed Ban On 'Poor Quality' US Food Imports After Brexit Transition

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The government has defeated a Tory rebellion intended to stop the UK importing “poorer quality” food after signing free trade deals with Donald Trump’s United States or other countries.
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Tory MP Neil Parish’s amendment to ensure agriculture imports adhere to UK animal health and welfare, environment and environmental standards was rejected by 328 votes to 277, majority 51.
There appeared to be 22 Tory rebels, including chancellor Rishi Sunak, but Commons deputy speaker Eleanor Laing later confirmed that some MPs had accidentally voted the wrong way as they were trialling a new electronic voting system.
The move against Parish’s amendment will once again raise fears that the UK could water down its standards as it strikes post-Brexit free trade deals.
Agriculture, fisheries and food minister Victoria Prentis insisted that all current EU food import standards would be converted into domestic law, including a ban on growth hormones in beef and chlorine-washed chicken – which is among the greatest concerns about a US free trade deal.
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But Parish, Tory chair of the Commons environment, food and rural affairs committee, said MPs should not be frightened of ensuring US food imported to the UK “cannot undercut our present production methods” and animal welfare.
"We're being led down the garden path, we really are" - @CommonsEFRA chair @neil_parish on advice from fellow Tories to try to amend the Trade Bill rather than today's Agriculture Bill in order to rule out foreign food imports which don't meet UK welfare & environmental standards pic.twitter.com/zTddM1yXEB — Martyn Oates (@bbcmartynoates) May 13, 2020
Calling on MPs to amend the agriculture bill, he said: “I would say quite clearly to the secretary of state for trade [Liz Truss] she should actually spend her time going out and dealing with a trade deal that has equivalence and makes sure we actually export our very important animal and environmental welfare.
“And I’d say to the Americans, why don’t you upgrade your production? Why don’t you reduce the density of population of your chicken? Why don’t you reduce the amount of antibiotics you’re using and then you can actually produce better chicken? Not only for America – it can also come into this country.”
Parish said rebels and their cross-party backers were “being led down the garden path” by ministers, who urged them to wait to see future legislation on trade deals before attempting to put the guarantees in law.
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Fellow Tory Simon Hoare said, without changes to the bill, “food imports to this country would be cheap for no other reason bar the fact that they were raised to lower standards”.
“Anybody can look at a whole variety of websites to realise some of the pretty horrendous ways in which livestock is raised in a number of countries across the world,” he said.
“And I think we should shun that and be a beacon for excellence and high standards.”
Please share my message to @BorisJohnson and all MPs. Tomorrow marks the start of a historic moment as the #AgricultureBill returns to the House of Commons. pic.twitter.com/yXCu0pkiYv — minette batters (@Minette_Batters) May 12, 2020
Labour’s shadow environment secretary Luke Pollard told the Commons that a failure to guarantee food standards in the agriculture bill could lead to a “race to the bottom”.
He said: “The political handcuffs placed on the environment secretary [George Eustice] and his ministers to tie them to oppose these reasonable, sensible, necessary and essential amendments betray the bigger political agenda at play here.”
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Pollard added: “If orders are coming from the Department for International Trade then they have my sympathy for being caught in the invidious place of choosing between what is right and what they’re told to do.
“The inevitable deregulatory pressure from poorer quality food will put pressure on Britain to slash our high standards so farmers can compete.
“It would risk a race to the bottom.”
But Prentis said: “I’d like to reassure colleagues that all food coming into this country will be required to meet existing import requirements.
“At the end of the transition period, the Withdrawal Act will convert all EU standards into domestic law.
“This will include a ban on using artificial growth hormones in beef. Nothing apart from potable water may be used to clean chicken carcasses and any changes to these standards would have to come before this parliament.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-13--Gavin Williamson’s Scientific Adviser Says He Didn't Make Assessment Of School Reopening Plans

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The Department for Education’s own chief scientific adviser stunned MPs by revealing he had not made an assessment of plans to reopen English schools amid the Covid-19 crisis.
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Osama Rahman suggested to the Commons science and technology committee that he had not personally assessed how the proposal to restart classes for primary pupils could be implemented effectively.
He added that the decision to push for a June 1 reopening timetable was not a decision made by the DfE, but by the cabinet on the advice of the government’s Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies (Sage).
Rahman also surprised the committee by suggesting that Public Health England had not yet approved new guidance on the June 1 reopening proposals, describing it as a “first draft”.
In evidence to the MPs, he further admitted he did not know how many under-18s had died from the virus, and declared that children could “possibly” become vectors for transmission under the government plans.
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When asked by Labour MP Zara Sultana what assessment he had made on how effectively the new guidance could be implemented, the DfE’s chief scientific adviser replied: “I haven’t.”
He also suggested he had not attended Sage meetings on personal protective equipment (PPE).
Following concern over his remarks, Rahman later sent a letter to the committee offering “clarification” of his evidence, stressing that he and the department had been “closely involved” in the new guidance.
Growing unease among education unions over the June 1 timetable spilled over into outright opposition on Wednesday, when they urged education secretary Gavin Williamson to “step back” from the date amid safety concerns for staff, parents and pupils.
Appearing by video link before the committee, the DfE’s chief scientist and director of analysis faced repeated questions about the safety of the government’s plans to reopen primary schools next month.
Rahman said the decisions on the guidance had been taken by Sage, with the details for schools discussed by a special subgroup.
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On the issue of what underpinned the DfE decision to reopen schools on June 1, Rahman said: “That was not a departmental decision – that was a cabinet decision following advice from Sage.”
He also said the DfE is “going to be working with PHE [Public Health England]” on the first draft of the new guidance. “I’m sure we will be discussing this with PHE and others,” he said. “I expect that guidance to be developed.”
The June 1 reopening – with reception classes, Year 1 and Year 6 the first to return – “is dependent on a bunch of conditions being met”, he added. Evidence would be published by Sage in due course, he said.
In a letter to Parliament’s Science and Technology Committee, the Department for Education’s Chief Scientific Adviser has clarified some of the evidence he gave today. pic.twitter.com/C02hFeGPd8 — Department for Education (@educationgovuk) May 13, 2020
In his later letter to the committee, Rahman said “my team and I have been closely involved” in advising on the government’s proposals and “I have full confidence in the plan to reopen education institutions”.
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He added that the “final clearances” on the guidance were secured from Public Health England and the chief medical officer Chris Whitty, and that he had attended all the meetings of a Sage sub-group for schools.
But Rahman also surprised some MPs when he talked about the uncertainty of the evidence about how much children could transmit the virus to adults.
Asked directly by SNP MP Carol Monaghan – a former teacher – to clarify the role of children in transmitting the virus, Rahman said there was no evidence to suggest children transmitted the virus any more than adults.
“There are some studies which suggest that they might transmit less than adults, but this evidence is mixed, it’s quite early, and so there’s a low degree of confidence. What I would say is currently the evidence would suggest that they might transmit it less.”
Monaghan then asked: “So, since there’s a low degree of confidence, we are potentially putting together hundreds of potential vectors, that can then go and transmit. Is that correct?” Rahman replied: “Possibly, depending on school sizes.”
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The SNP MP said: “I don’t think the profession is going to be at all satisfied by what they’re hearing at the moment, or certainly been put at ease by it.”
Elsewhere in his evidence Rahman stressed that risk could never be ruled out. “There’s always a risk of transmission. Can we get the risk of transmission to zero? No. The question is: ‘What can you put in place that will help reduce risks as much as possible?’
“So there will always be always some risk. And the question is: ‘Is that a tolerable risk?’ Even going to school anyway is not a risk-free environment.”
Monaghan told HuffPost: “It was clear from the Chief Scientist’s response that there is little evidence regarding the role of children in transmission.
“If it turns out that children can act as asymptomatic vectors for the virus, then opening schools in England as widely as the Government hopes to do is a sure way of causing the R value to rapidly increase. Without more robust scientific evidence this is a potentially harmful risk.”
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However, chief medical officer Whitty said this week that Sage modelling suggested that careful reopening would not raise the R or reproduction rate of Covid-19.
Government insiders stress that ‘bubbles’ of small classes and teachers will remove the need for protective equipment and social distancing among very young children. Any symptoms of coronavirus would be more easily detected, and testing and tracing implemented swiftly.
Patrick Roach of the NASUWT teaching union said: “The admissions by the Department for Education’s Chief Scientific Adviser are truly shocking and disturbing.
“The Government has simply not provided a single shred of evidence that opening schools from June 1st will be safe for children or for teachers.”
Earlier, education secretary Gavin Williamson hit out at “scaremongering” by Labour over the risks associated with the phased return, stressing the need to help the most disadvantaged children to catch up on schoolwork missed during the lockdown.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-13--Back To Work: What Your 9-to-5 Could Look Like After Lockdown

Back To Work: What Your 9-to-5 Could Look Like After Lockdown
Parts of England have returned to work as the government eases lockdown measures for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic shut down the country. While those who can are being encouraged to work from home, some businesses are using this period to trial new office-working procedures. Jasleen Saran from Leicester works for Digital Ethos, a digital marketing agency doing just that. Here we see what her 9-5 job now looks like and the procedures being implemented that may soon be rolled out by other businesses across the country.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-13--The Strange Origins Of Trump’s Hydroxychloroquine Obsession

President Donald Trump’s obsession with the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for the coronavirus may have started in part because of a self-described philosopher in China who is a fan of white nationalists, tweets anti-Semitic rhetoric and calls chloroquine “a Nazi drug that is here to teach a lesson to leftists about bias.”
Weeks before Trump first promoted the drug, a Twitter conversation about hydroxychloroquine between “philosopher” Adrian Bye and two cryptocurrency investors set off a chain of events that would bring the unproven drug to the attention of Elon Musk, Fox News pundits and Trump.
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Trump has touted hydroxychloroquine as potentially “one of the biggest game-changers in the history of medicine” and repeatedly promoted its use on the coronavirus. He has asked about it both in public and privately, until recently mentioning it on a nearly daily basis, and the Trump administration has allegedly pressured health officials to distribute it despite their concerns about its safety. The drug’s bizarre path to Trump’s embrace highlights a dangerous information pipeline from questionable sources in right-wing media to the president.
On March 11, cryptocurrency investors Gregory Rigano and James Todaro mused about coronavirus treatments and potential death tolls on Twitter to their then-small number of followers. Bye, who says he has been living in the Wudang Mountains in central China for the past few years and formerly interviewed tech “thought leaders” for his startup, responded to one of Todaro’s tweets about the virus.
“Chloroquine will keep most people out of hospital. The US hasn’t learned about that yet,” Bye replied to Todaro.
The three briefly discussed medical studies and a YouTube video about chloroquine’s use. As Politico has reported, Rigano asked Bye for more information about chloroquine and data on its uses before telling Todaro and Bye on March 12 that he would be “publishing a report tomorrow [with an] eminent scientist, peer reviewed.”
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“thank u james and adrian. next level humans,” Rigano tweeted.
On March 13, Rigano and Todaro touted chloroquine in a self-published, non-peer-reviewed Google doc falsely claiming to be affiliated with Stanford University School of Medicine, the National Academy of Sciences and the University of Alabama, Birmingham School of Medicine. (All three institutions told HuffPost that they had no connection to the document, and Google later removed it from its platform for violating its terms of service.) The paper largely cited a French study that scientists and the publisher of the journal it appeared in have subsequently criticised for its shaky methodology.
Bye complained to Todaro and Rigano on Twitter that their paper didn’t acknowledge him, saying, “I told you both about Chloroquine, and you didn’t even bother to mention me.” He also expressed his hesitation about the paper’s findings. Rigano replied minutes later that he wanted Bye’s permission to include him but “time was of the essence,” telling Bye to send him his email address. The Google doc was updated to include an acknowledgment of Bye.
The Google doc, with its grand claims and the help of its false affiliation with Stanford and other institutions, quickly went viral and was tweeted out to millions by prominent venture capitalists and Tesla CEO Musk – none of whom appeared to vet its methods or sources. Fox News and other right-wing media jumped on the paper and touted the drug as a potential quick fix for the virus. Fox News host and informal Trump adviser Tucker Carlson had Rigano on his prime-time show, with Rigano falsely identified as an adviser to Stanford and claiming “what we’re here to announce is the second cure to a virus of all time.” Rigano made a similar appearance on right-wing radio host Glenn Beck’s program and with Fox News host Laura Ingraham, who then privately met with Trump in early April to promote the drug.
The day after Rigano appeared on Carlson’s show, Trump mentioned the drug during a briefing for the first time and in the following days heavily promoted it. He called himself a “big fan” and heralded it as a potential “game-changer,” though Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, cautioned against the anecdotal evidence surrounding the drug.
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Although Rigano and Todaro may have pushed hydroxychloroquine into Trump’s view, the drug was being studied and evaluated before they made radical claims about its effectiveness that skewed the public discourse on it.
Hydroxychloroquine is currently being tested in clinical trials, but its effectiveness is still unclear and there is no solid evidence for claims it is the “cure” some have promoted. One recent study by Veterans Affairs and academic researchers that is pending peer review linked the drug to higher death rates in coronavirus patients than those who did not receive it, raising concern about its use and leading to complaints from veterans advocate groups. Another study published this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association found no benefit to patients hospitalised in New York. Other research is looking into whether it is effective in treating Covid-19 at earlier stages of the disease.
The Food and Drug Administration issued a warning in late April that hydroxychloroquine should not be used outside of a clinical trial or hospital setting while it assessed the risk of adverse effects, including abnormal heart rhythms. A top US government scientist has filed a whistleblower complaint saying that he was pressured to distribute the drug and then was removed from his position when he resisted.
Hydroxychloroquine pills. ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Men Behind The ‘Miracle Cure’
Bye, Rigano and Todaro are questionable sources for medical advice on coronavirus treatment and public health. Neither Bye nor Rigano is a doctor – Bye has openly stated he’s not qualified to talk about medicine – and Todaro is a medical school graduate who became a tech entrepreneur.
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In addition to his lack of medical expertise, Bye also appears to repeatedly engage with bigoted ideology and far-right extremists. Bye has repeatedly tweeted anti-Semitic ramblings, has replied to white nationalists such as Richard Spencer and once tweeted a link to an Australian website that has promoted Holocaust denial. In one thread, he complained about Jews taking over “major power centres” and speculated about “Jewish verbal IQ” while asking if another user had “even read Mein Kampf?” He has stated “my hobby is researching Jews. It is very enjoyable.”
Bye also talked about chloroquine in late March on the podcast of Jean-Francois Gariepy, a Canadian white nationalist who The Daily Beast reported is accused of luring and trying to impregnate a developmentally disabled teenager while his U.S. immigration status was being contested.
“I’m not a white nationalist, not at all. I have a lot of friends who are and I like white nationalists, but I’m not one. I learned from them because there’s important ideas there that we need to understand,” Bye told Gariepy. Bye claimed that he researched chloroquine “using philosophy” and that coronavirus would “destroy feminism.” He also stated that he had been diagnosed with autism.
In a lengthy email to HuffPost, Bye denied that he was anti-Semitic or a white nationalist, asserted the existence of the Holocaust and condemned violence.
“I believe both white nationalists and Jews have important ideas, and it is necessary to understand the truth directly from them, not just soundbites labelling one side or the other as ‘evil.’ I am critical of Jewish power, and will continue to be so,” Bye told HuffPost.
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“I stopped publishing on hydroxychloroquine some time ago because I am not a doctor or scientist, and I think the validity of the evidence must be in the hands of doctors and scientists to determine.”
Meanwhile, Rigano falsely claimed to be an adviser to Stanford, appearing on multiple right-wing news shows with that title and including it in his Twitter bio. Rigano also claims to have been working with Vladimir Zelenko, a small-town New York doctor popular in right-wing media and with Trump associates. Federal prosecutors are reportedly scrutinising Zelenko over his false claims that he received federal approval for a drug study to treat coronavirus.
As questions mount about hydroxychloroquine’s use and potential side effects, some right-wing media has pulled back from its breathless coverage of the drug. Fox News and the Fox Business Network ― which mentioned chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine more than 1,300 times between mid-March and late April, according to The Washington Post ― both dialled down their focus on the drug. Rigano never appeared on Carlson or Ingraham’s show again.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-13--Belly Mujinga: Police Weren't Told About Fatal Coronavirus Spit Attack For 7 Weeks

Belly Mujinga PA
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An assault on a railway ticket officer who died of coronavirus after being coughed and spat at while on duty was not reported to police until weeks after she died, sparking fears vital evidence may have been lost.
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Belly Mujinga was working on the concourse at London’s Victoria rail station on March 21 when she and a colleague were attacked by a man who told her he had Covid-19.
The 47-year-old died in hospital in Barnet after testing positive for coronavirus two weeks later. Her colleague continues to recover.
According to Mujinga’s union, the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA), Mujinga had been left extremely shaken by the incident and urged her bosses at Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) to call the police.
She is said to have pleaded not to be sent back outside, asking instead to work from inside the ticket office. Mujinga had underlying health issues for which she had taken time off work previously, and said she was scared for her life.
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The request was allegedly refused and Mujinga was sent back out on the concourse. She died on April 5, leaving behind an 11-year-old daughter Ingrid, and husband Lusamba Gode Katalay.
British Transport Police (BTP) has since confirmed to HuffPost UK it was only made aware of the incident on May 11, seven weeks on. It also said the original date given for the assault, March 22, was incorrect, and it in fact took place the previous day.
The delay in reporting the incident significantly lowers the likelihood of officers finding useable forensic evidence at the station, which will have been cleaned, or of witnesses emerging who have clear memories of the incident.
GTR said on Wednesday it had shared footage of the incident with the force but in a statement on Wednesday evening BTP said only that officers were “exploring possible CCTV opportunities”.
GTR made no further comment other than to say it was investigating the allegations station bosses had forced Mujinga to keep working outside after the attack.
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A spokesperson could not say why the matter had not been reported to the police earlier.
There were initially fears the footage may have been wiped altogether as CCTV from mainline stations is typically kept for 14 days unless police request it.
Downing Street has described the attack as “despicable”.
As tributes pour in for Mujinga, her union revealed it had been asking for the CCTV footage for more than a month in vain.
The TSSA reported the incident to the Railways Inspectorate, the safety arm of the Office for Road and Rail (ORR), in April following her death.
A union spokesperson told HuffPost UK: “We’ve repeatedly asked the company about CCTV from the day of the incident. We put this in writing in April and continue to wait for an answer on this vital point.”
In the absence of any clarification on this matter, one factor that might be relevant in Mujinga’s case is whether any existing CCTV footage may have been overwritten in the time between the attack and when the police were notified. It is not known whether the footage now supplied to police was taken on the station concourse or a third party, such as a shop.
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Detective Chief Inspector Sam Blackburn said: “I know the death of this member of staff has shocked many of us, and our thoughts remain with her family who are being supported by specially trained family liaison officers as they come to terms with their loss.
“We will always investigate any report of assault thoroughly when we receive it, and it’s vital for us to establish the full circumstances behind this incident. We are conducting extensive enquiries to help us do so, including exploring possible CCTV opportunities and speaking to key witnesses.
“I would ask anyone with information to contact BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 359 of 11/05/20.”
Manuel Cortes, TSSA General Secretary, said: “Sadly, Belly’s is just one of many family tragedies where children have had their parents taken away from them.
“However, there are serious questions about her death. It wasn’t inevitable. As a vulnerable person in the ‘at risk’ category and her condition known to her employer, there are questions about why GTR didn’t stand her down from front line duties early on in this pandemic. The assault she suffered at work was scary and we do not think the company treated it seriously enough.”
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Mujinga’s colleague Linda Freitas, who has worked at Victoria station for 13 years, told the Press Association: “I don’t think people realise how much abuse we get.”
She said: “We have occasions where people become aggressive. It’s very bad – it’s scary.”
Of Mujinga’s death, she said: “I was so shocked. You never think it’s going to happen to someone that you work with.”
Freitas added she was “anxious and a bit scared” about the prospect of more commuters travelling back to work after the relaxation of lockdown and an increase in passenger numbers from Wednesday.
She said: “But eventually we will have to go back to normality. As long as we have protection and can keep our distance, but it will be hard.
“If it’s done gradually let’s see, but if it’s too many people then it will be a bit of a problem.”
A security worker who asked to remain anonymous said he was given a mask on Wednesday for the first time and has to bring his own gloves, adding: “I think they’re trying to cover themselves. This should have been done right at the beginning.”
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-13--How Europe Is Getting People Back To Work

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For nearly two months, the UK government has warned the public to “stay home” in order to curtail the spread of the coronavirus. Now, the emphasis is shifting toward getting people back to work.
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“We now need to stress that anyone who can’t work from home — for instance, those in construction or manufacturing — should be actively encouraged to go to work,” prime minister Boris Johnson said in an address to the nation on Sunday night.
Johnson’s announcement was short on details, leaving many to wonder how workers might return to work safely. On Tuesday, however, the UK government outlined measures that offices, factories, construction sites and other workplaces should implement in order to minimize the risk of infection.
Together with the steps that companies and government officials in other European countries are taking to get people back to work, these guidelines provide a blueprint for what the workplace of the future may look like.
The guidelines stress the need to maintain social distancing and limit personal contact. To achieve those goals, job sites and office spaces will need to be reconfigured, work schedules should be adjusted, and common aspects of work life — such as mingling with colleagues by the coffee machine in the break room or huddling together around a desk — will no longer be feasible.
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“Employers have a duty to keep employees safe in the workplace — that is absolutely enshrined in law,” UK business secretary Alok Sharma said on Tuesday.
Many workers might cheer the demise of certain elements of professional life, such as endless in-person meetings. Yet for those who look forward to socialising with their colleagues again, the guidelines suggest that offices and job sites will become somewhat foreboding places, requiring dramatic changes in behavior in order to prevent the coronavirus from spreading. Even sharing a pen with a colleague could be risky, the guidance warned.
People practice social distancing inside an elevator in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on May 11. Dinuka Liyanawatte / Reuters
Plexiglass Screens, Fewer Desks And New Elevator Etiquette
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to minimising the risk of infection in the workplace. Each employer will need to conduct its own risk assessment and determine which measures are feasible. The approach that officials in the UK and other countries are taking, however, suggests that certain measures will likely become commonplace.
In France, government rules require shops and offices to establish a minimum space of 4 square meters per employee (roughly the equivalent of a 6-foot by 7-foot area), according to HuffPost France. If the requirement can’t be met, the company will need to provide masks to its workers.
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Work surfaces, toilets and door handles must also be disinfected every day, or even several times a day. If this is not possible, hand sanitiser should be provided nearby.
In Spain, some companies are spreading desks further apart and limiting the number of people allowed in elevators.
The UK guidance said workers should be encouraged to use stairs whenever possible, and that if people do use elevators, they should use hand sanitiser and stand facing away from each other.
Inside offices, floor tape and paint should be used to mark off areas and help workers stay 2 metres (approximately 6 feet) apart from each other. Workers should avoid sitting face to face and sharing hot desks. If workstations can’t be spaced out, plexiglass screens may be installed to keep people separated.
Already, plexiglass manufacturers have been experiencing unprecedented demand, as companies rush to install dividers and sneeze guards in shops and offices.
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Access to common areas like break rooms and staff cafeterias should be limited to avoid crowding, the guidance said, and employees are encouraged to bring their own food to work. Large meetings and other gatherings are ill-advised.
“There will be more space for staff, fewer people in rooms and the layout of the offices will have to change,” Davide Sala, the head of human resources at the Italian tiye company Pirelli, told Reuters.
Employees measure visitors' temperatures at a Ford car factory in Germany on May 4. picture alliance via Getty Images
Temperature Checks And Proximity Wristbands
In addition to reconfiguring their workplaces, some businesses are also turning to high-tech solutions. For example, companies in Spain and the United States have started installing temperature checks at office entrances.
The US Food and Drug Administration is temporarily allowing companies to market infrared thermal camera systems for use in workplaces, such as factories and warehouses, to monitor the temperatures of workers.
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Fever is a common symptom of Covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, but studies have revealed that asymptomatic people can also transmit the virus — meaning that temperature checks would not necessarily catch all infected people. And experts warned that temperature scanners may not be accurate and could give companies access to employees’ private medical information.
“I think employers need to look carefully before they jump into any of this,” Michael T Osterholm, director of the Centre for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, told The New York Times. “Some companies are embarking upon things that are not going to help and may actually set us back.”
Other companies are also exploring technological methods to ensure that workers follow social distancing guidelines. A small group of workers at a Ford plant in Michigan are testing the use of “proximity wristbands”, which alert workers when they get too close to colleagues. Workers in the port city of Antwerp, Belgium, are testing similar wristbands this month.
Last month, Ford announced that it would be restarting its main European car factories with enhanced safety measures for workers, including mandatory face masks, temperature checks and reconfigured workspaces.
Commuters in Nice, France, wait on a tramway dock on May 11, abiding by the painted markers on the ground that help people maintain social distancing rules. VALERY HACHE via Getty Images
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More Walking, Biking and Working From Home
It’s not enough to simply redesign offices and implement new workplace policies, however. Getting people back to work will also mean ensuring they can travel to their jobs safely.
“We can’t just limit ourselves to demanding that individual companies respect safety protocols in the workplace,” Italy’s prime minister, Giuseppe Conte, said last month. “We also need to assess the number of workers involved in the reopening of a business, how many use public transport or private vehicles, at what time, how densely.”
Italy has been at the forefront of rethinking its approach to public transportation, providing a model for other countries to follow.
The country is working to limit crowding on buses and in train stations, and the transport ministry has suggested that electronic ticket machines will likely become standard, with hand sanitizer dispensers installed nearby. Trains and buses will be disinfected regularly, and the way passengers board and exit vehicles and stations will be adjusted.
It’s clear that daily commutes need to be reconsidered. On Monday, the first day of relaxed lockdown restrictions in France, the Paris metro was packed with riders. Tube platforms in London were crowded as well.
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To alleviate such crowding, people who can continue to work from home are being encouraged to do so, while those who do need to travel to work are encouraged to stagger their commutes and use alternate modes of transportation.
“When you do go to work, if possible do so by car — or, even better, by walking or bicycle,” Boris Johnson said during his address on Sunday.
Even if the UK’s public transportation network operates at full capacity, social distancing requirements will mean that only 10% of the usual number of passengers will be able to travel, Grant Shapps, the country’s transport minister, said last week.
To compensate for that, the United Kingdom and other countries are widening pedestrian walkways, increasing the number of bike lanes and even closing streets to cars. The UK plans to unveil a national cycling plan to help double cycling and increase walking by 2025, and a trial of electric scooters, which was scheduled to take place next year, is being moved up to next month.
In Paris, Mayor Anne Hidalgo announced last week that limits will be imposed on car traffic, and that passengers on public transportation will need to have signed authorization from their employers — or another imperative reason — in order to travel during morning and evening rush hours. The city is also adding thousands of bicycles to Velib, its bike-sharing service.
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A man wearing a face mask rides a Velib bicycle in the deserted and car-free "rue de Rivoli" in Paris, France, on May 5. Chesnot via Getty Images
A New Way of Working
Beyond considering how to reopen their workplaces, many companies are considering whether they even need to.
In New York, Barclays, JPMorgan Chase and Morgan Stanley — three of the biggest commercial tenants in the city — have said it is highly unlikely that all of their employees will return to their offices, according to The New York Times.
On Tuesday, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey sent an email to employees saying that, if they chose to, they could continue working from home permanently even after the coronavirus pandemic is over.
Nearly 60% of French workers who are working from home hope to keep doing so, either on a regular or ad hoc basis — a position supported by the French government.
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“To succeed in deconfinement, companies must make maximum use of telework,” France’s Ministry of Labour said last week.
In many cases, however, working from home is a luxury that is largely reserved for office workers with higher incomes.
In the United States, Starbucks has reopened the vast majority of its locations and asked its employees to return to work — forcing baristas to decide whether they feel safe enough to do so.
Tesla founder Elon Musk announced that the company’s car factory in Fremont, California, would reopen next Monday, in defiance of Alameda County’s coronavirus restrictions.
In the UK, trade union officials expressed concern about Johnson’s initial announcement that workers should return to their jobs.
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Frances O’Grady, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, which represents the majority of British trade unions, said the prime minister’s address had caused “anxiety” for workers.
Keir Starmer, the leader of the opposition Labour Party, said Johnson appeared to be “effectively telling millions of people to go back to work without a clear plan for safety.”
On Tuesday, however, business secretary Alok Sharma stressed that workers should not be forced to work in an unsafe environment, and that any workers who had safety concerns should speak with their employers or union officials.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-13--Furlough Doesn’t Mean Workers Are Lazy Or ‘Addicted’ – We Just Don’t Want To Die

Workers are having to make impossible decisions about their safety. PA
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced the coronavirus job retention scheme will now be extended to October 2020. The programme, which pays workers 80% of their salary if they’re unable to work, was introduced in March as a way to avoid mass unemployment and long-term damage to the economy.
And it’s a welcome relief that has, so far, kept a quarter of the UK’s workforce, around 7.5 million people, in employment. More importantly, it has meant workers do not feel forced to go into unsafe environments.
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I was one of these workers. I’m now working from home, but was furloughed from my job for five weeks earlier in the crisis. It gave me a safety net in a time where safety nets are particularly hard to come by. It can reduce people’s anxieties around job security and their financial situations. It keeps people afloat instead of falling into unnecessary debt, which could affect people for years to come.
However, even though the furlough scheme has been extended for another four months, the government also announced that workers who cannot work from home are now being “actively encouraged” to go back to work. This is part of measures introduced this week in an effort to ease lockdown.
The furlough scheme being extended, but also actively encouraging workers who cannot work remotely to go back to work, seems to be at odds with each other. And that’s because the government is shifting its narrative around employment and workers.
The Conservative Party is built on limiting state regulation and involvement. It’s one of its core values. It has positioned itself as far from being a “nanny state” as possible. But this pandemic has forced them into new territory, as they stepped in to support the economy, jobs, business, and transport, to name just a few.
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But this was never going to last. We’ve already heard senior government officials accusing workers of being “addicted” to the furlough scheme and of needing to be “weaned off”. As if we are children being told off. As if it’s our choice that we’re unable to work. The narrative has moved to treating furloughed workers as lazy or scrounging off the state.
While the chancellor rejected these suggestions yesterday in an interview stating: “Nobody who is on the furlough scheme wants to be on this scheme,” make no mistake, the shift in narrative around the furlough scheme and workers is very much a conscious and deliberate move by the government.
It serves to shame people that are using the furlough scheme and effectively pushes them back into work, even if that workplace isn’t safe to go back to.
But we aren’t lazy or addicted to state funds. We are just extremely wary and nervous about the fact lockdown is being eased without any concrete safety measures put in place for people to go back into work.
In his national address on Sunday, the prime minister encouraged people to go back to work, without having finalised or published measures for employers on the health and safety of work environments. This government is prioritising the health of the economy over the health of its people.
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This week, we heard about the awful case of Belly Mujinga – a rail worker who died from the virus after being spat on whilst on duty. Questions are now being asked as to why she was made to work in the first place, as she had an underlying health condition, so she was at a higher risk from the virus.
Sadly, this most likely won’t be a unique case. Many people may feel as though they have to go back to work. Otherwise, they may lose their job, even if it does come with heightened risks to their health.
This is why the furlough scheme is so vital to the health and safety of workers. It keeps us safe from the risk of being exposed to the virus, whilst retaining our jobs and salaries. It doesn’t mean we’re lazy or avoiding work, and it definitely doesn’t mean we’re addicted to the scheme. We shouldn’t be made to feel ashamed. We have every right to feel anxious and nervous about returning to work with the pandemic still very much raging on.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-13--Watch Live: Robert Jenrick Holds Daily Coronavirus Update

Watch Live: Robert Jenrick Holds Daily Coronavirus Update
Local government secretary Robert Jenrick leads the coronavirus press briefing alongside England’s deputy chief medical officer Jenny Harries. It comes after Boris Johnson clashed with Labour leader Keir Starmer over the extent of care home deaths at PMQs earlier today.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-13--494 More Coronavirus Deaths Recorded Across UK In 24 Hours

Drawings in support of the NHS in the windows of a college opposite St Thomas' Hospital in London last week as the UK continues in lockdown EMPICS Entertainment
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The number of people who have died in the UK after testing positive for coronavirus has risen to 33,186 – an increase of 494 over 24 hours.
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The figures include deaths in hospitals, care homes and the community, and cover the period up to 5pm on Tuesday. But the true number of deaths may be significantly different. Here’s a quick primer on what all the different numbers mean and how to understand them.
Meanwhile, the government tested 61,741 people for coronavirus in the 24 hours up to 9am today. Of them, 3,242 tested positive, bringing the UK’s total (including people who have since recovered) to 229,705.
The total of 87,963 tests carried out comes 13 days after the government claimed to have hit its target of doing 100,000 tests every day on April 30. Since then, it has only tested 100,000 or more twice: on May 1 and on Sunday.
It has blamed technical problems at a lab for the low figure, but also confusingly claims that capacity remains at 108,000 a day.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-13--Government Rules Exclude 'Isolated' Single Parents From Meeting Someone Outside Of Their Household

Mother's day. Young woman walking in spring park with baby carriage. Mother spends time with her toddler kid outdoors Maryviolet via Getty Images
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Single parents of young children who want to meet people outside of their household after weeks at home under lockdown will be at the mercy of police officers’ discretion, HuffPost UK understands.
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From Wednesday, as part of the government’s measures to ease the Covid-19 lockdown, people in England can meet up with one person outside of their household as long as they remain outdoors and stay two metres apart.
But single parents with babies and young children have effectively been banned from enjoying this freedom, with these gatherings strictly limited to a maximum of two people.
Asked whether the two-person limit would apply to single parents whose children were too young to be left at home alone, a spokesperson for the government said: “The regulations are clear that gatherings of more than two people outside are still banned if they are not all members of the same household.”
The guidance comes at a time when schools and nurseries remain closed to the vast majority of children and family members cannot be relied upon for childcare.
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HuffPost UK understands that single parents who want to meet up with someone with their children in tow will be at the discretion of police officers upholding social distancing rules.
It is little comfort to thousands of single parents who have been in isolation with their children for weeks on end during lockdown.
Yasmine Camilla, a single mum with two small children, said she was “desperate to see a friendly face” having “worked, parented and home-schooled all at once for the last eight weeks”.
“I have no other adult in my household, so this means I am still unable to socialise with anyone,” she said.
“I keep hearing how the government is taking steps to support people’s physical and mental health, but as yet, despite being in an increasingly difficult situation, there is no respite for me as a single parent.”
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Single mum Genevieve Roberts, who also has two children, said it was clear the government had overlooked single parents – “the group of people who have had the least contact with other adults, yet have been busier than ever” during lockdown.
“Many single parents who I’m in touch with are starting to face mental health issues as a result of having no adult company and no face-to-face conversation for such an extended time,” said Roberts, author of ‘Going Solo: My Choice To Become A Single Mother Using A Donor’.
“There has been such confusion over messaging. We have been told to use our common sense, so I suspect that many responsible adults… will believe in good faith that as the main, or sole, carer for their children that they can bring them along when they meet up with another adult.”
Gingerbread, a charity that supports single parent families, said it had seen a 130% increase in calls to its helpline during the coronavirus lockdown.
“Isolation is affecting many people but it is particularly tough for single parents – many of whom won’t have seen another adult for weeks,” said chief executive Victoria Benson.
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“Single parents don’t have the option of leaving their children at home and because of this they still won’t be able to meet another adult for a socially distanced chat in an outdoor space.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-13--Boris Johnson Accused Of Hiding Data Showing UK Has Most Coronavirus Deaths In Europe

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Boris Johnson has been accused of trying to hide the fact the UK appears to have the highest death toll from coronavirus in Europe.
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Speaking during prime minister’s questions on Wednesday, Keir Starmer said it was “pretty obvious” the government had stopped publishing daily international comparison charts to avoid drawing attention to the “unenviable” position.
But the prime minister said it was still too early to make comparisons between countries in terms of Covid-19-related deaths.
“As for the international comparisons that he seeks to draw now, he will have to contain his impatience,” Johnson said of the Labour leader.
Every day for seven weeks at the Downing Street press conference, a chart has been shown displaying the number of deaths related to coronavirus in different countries.
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But yesterday’s briefing, led by business secretary Alok Sharma, did not include one.
International death comparison charts like this have been shown every day at the Downing Street press conference. No.10
Starmer said he was “baffled” by Johnson’s dismissal of the need for international comparisons.
“It’s not me seeking to draw the comparisons,” he said. “These are the government slides that have been used for seven weeks to reassure the public.
“It’s pretty obvious for seven weeks when we weren’t the highest number in Europe they were used for comparison purposes. As soon as we hit that unenviable place, they’ve been dropped.”
As of Tuesday, figures showed that 32,692 people in the UK have lost their lives after testing positive for the disease, after deaths in hospitals, care homes and the community were included.
For Italy, Spain, France and Germany, the national figures stood at 30,911, 26,920, 26,643 and 7,667 respectively. America, meanwhile, had recorded a total of 81,779 deaths.
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Johnson said today the “correct and final way” of making comparisons would have to wait until the “excess death totals for all the relevant countries” was available.
“We do not yet have that data. I’m not going to try to pretend to the House that the figures when they are finally confirmed are anything other than stark and deeply, deeply horrifying. This has been an appalling epidemic,” he added.
A government spokesperson told HuffPost UK last night the graph had been dropped because No.10 wanted to vary the “content and format” of data and that it was “difficult to compare statistics across countries”.
Statistician and Cambridge University professor David Spiegelhalter has said while it is “completely fatuous” to compare the figures for countries in Europe that have a similar number of deaths so far – such as the UK and Italy – it was useful to examine the difference between the UK and European countries with a much lower rate such as Germany or Portugal.
“What’s happened in this country is not inevitable,” he told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show on Sunday. “When you see really massive differences between countries then it is really worth trying to investigate why.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-13--Boris Johnson Is Wrong To Claim Government Didn't Say Coronavirus Unlikely To Spread In Care Homes

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Boris Johnson has claimed that government advice never said the spread of coronavirus in care homes was “very unlikely” – but he is wrong.
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The prime minister told the Commons it “wasn’t true that the advice said that”.
But Public Health England (PHE) guidance, withdrawn on March 13, clearly states: “It remains very unlikely that people receiving care in a care home or the community will become infected.”
The guidance, first highlighted by the Sunday Telegraph, was issued on February 25 but remained the government’s only guidance for care homes until March 13, when it was pulled.
By that point there were 798 coronavirus cases in the UK and had been 10 confirmed deaths.
There were also eight days between England’s chief medical officer Chris Whitty saying on March 5 transmission of Covid-19 in the community was now “highly likely” and the guidance being withdrawn on March 13.
Labour leader Keir Starmer has written to Johnson urging him to “correct the record” in the Commons, insisting “at this time of national crisis, it is more important than ever that government ministers are accurate in the information they give”.
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Starmer said the government had been “too slow” to protect people in care homes and highlighted the guidance at prime minister’s questions.
In #PMQs @Keir_Starmer quoted govt advice in place until March 12 which stated
“It remains very unlikely that people receiving care in a care home will become infected.”
PM said: "It wasn't true the advice said that."
But here it is in black and white. https://t.co/jAtTcj8JRe pic.twitter.com/sGe6vFNO0R — Paul Waugh (@paulwaugh) May 13, 2020
“In his speech on Sunday the prime minister said that we need to rapidly reverse the awful epidemic in our care homes,” the Labour leader said. “But earlier this year and until March 12, the government’s own official advice was – I’m quoting from it – ‘it remains very unlikely that people receiving care in a care home will become infected’.
“Yesterday’s ONS figures show that at least 40% of all deaths from Covid-19 were in care homes.”
Johnson then replied incorrectly: “It wasn’t true that the advice said that. Actually we brought the lockdown in care homes ahead of the general lockdown.”
After Downing Street sources later attempted to claim Starmer had quoted the guidance “selectively”, a spokesman for the Labour leader said: “The British people can read the guidance for themselves. It was official government guidance until March 12.
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“We stand by the letter.”
The PM also announced a further £600m of funding for infection control in care homes.
He said: “What we’ve seen is a concerted action plan to tackle what has unquestionably been an appalling epidemic in care homes, and a huge exercise in testing is going on – a further £600m I can announce today for infection control incomes.
“And, yes, it is absolutely true that the number of casualties has been too high, but I can tell the House [...] the number of outbreaks is down, and the number of fatalities in care homes is now well down.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-13--Grant Shapps Says He Wouldn't Board Packed Bus – As No.10 Tells Public To Go Back To Work

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The transport secretary has admitted he wouldn’t get on a packed bus or Tube during the coronavirus pandemic, on the same morning the public was encouraged by the government to return to work.
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Grant Shapps said people should continue to avoid public transport except for essential journeys. It comes as videos posted on social media on Wednesday morning showed busy buses and Tubes in London.
Boris Johnson said those in England who were unable to work from home should return to their jobs on Wednesday, and Shapps insisted the government is taking a “common sense” approach, gradually easing the restrictions.
But London Underground workers said there was “complete shambles” during rush hour when part of the Victoria Line was suspended after reports that a passenger had collapsed.
“Social distancing during the peak was a joke. During the suspension our carriages were heaving – it will get worse,” said one worker.
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Asked by BBC Breakfast whether he would personally go on a packed bus or Tube, Shapps said: “No. People should try to avoid that.”
He also urged people not to “flood back” on to public transport, warning that the system will not be able to cope.
Mick Cash, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union, said: “This incident shows just how fraught with danger the government’s return to work call is for our transport services in the midst of this pandemic.
“One incident and we are reduced to crisis management with reports that social distancing is impossible with Tube carriages rammed.
“RMT warned this would happen and we were ignored. We are monitoring the situation across services this morning and will discuss any appropriate action with our local reps.”