conservativehome--2020-03-18--Jenrick announces measures to help councils focus on social care

Naturally , the challenges to be faced by the NHS due to coronavirus have been the focus of much attention .
But the difficulties for local government are also considerable .
The most obvious is the added pressure on social care .
There is the question not only of coping with an increased number of vulnerable people who need help , but also the tricky question of how to balance providing help to those who are supposed to be in isolation .
One of the ways central Government can help is to ease requirements on the town halls to undertake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was seen in the context of reducing physical contact .
That was an important consideration .
But there is also pressure on the council staff time in running elections .
I understand that those Council by-elections that have already been called will proceed but no Council by-elections will not be called for the time being .
Another way that usual standards of local democracy will be waived will be requirements for Council meetings and committee meetings .
Council AGMs were due to take place in the early summer – when some expect the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They will now be postponed .
This is less of an issue for Councils where a single party has a clear majority .
But in some hung councils the leadership can shift at the AGMs .
Though I would be surprised if there was much complaint over the delays .
Routine Care Quality Commission inspections will be temporarily suspended .
Ofsted will “ look very favourably ” on any requests to defer inspections because of coronavirus .
Councils will be able to use their discretion on deadlines for Freedom of Information requests .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be extended to 30 September 2020 .
Robert Jenrick , the Housing , Communities and Local Government Secretary spoke to over 300 council leaders on a conference call this week .
He says : “ As part of the national effort to keep the public safe and deliver essential public services , this government stands with local councils at this difficult time .
My absolute priority is to ensure they are well placed to respond to coronavirus and protect vital services , including social care .
Everyone needs to play their part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and support their local economy , and the government will do whatever is necessary to support these efforts.
” During the call , he also reiterated the practical measures introduced by the government which will give councils greater flexibility and allow them to further focus their resources on the response to coronavirus .
Another category is the relaxation of restrictions on supermarket deliveries .
It hardly makes sense for councils to be devoting resources to enforcement of rules which disrupt supply chains .
The good news is that there is nothing like a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Across the country , there has been a surge in offers of vounteering .
Sometimes they are being organised formally by such bodies as Age UK and the British Red Cross .
Sometimes they are made by people contacting their local town halls and speaking to a “ community officer ” .
They might be organised by local churches , residents groups , or by Parish Councils .
Sometimes new initiatives have been set up – helped by using Facebook and other social media .
Of course , a huge amount is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a principle that local authorities themselves adopt .
Often adjoining councils are in contact with each other – as well as other public services – via local resilience forums .
That means that if one local authority is under particular pressure , then others can rally round .
If some or all universities are temporarily shut down , then even more offers of help are likely from student volunteers .
Making full use of the volunteers will mean lifting some of the red tape around vetting and so forth .
It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a practical way .
Not all care workers are council employees , of course .
Many of those with “ care packages ” are provided with funding to make their own arrangements .
The difficulties will be the same .
If , for instance , their regular carer is unwell and alternative help is needed .
The likely scenario is that volunteers will be asked to take on the straightforward , lower risk cases – such as those who have not contracted the virus .
The obvious example is dropping off shopping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way that avoids close physical proximity .
That could allow care workers to spend more time on other cases .
They might need to wear PPE ( “ Personal Protective Equipment ” ) secure suits – that would mean their tasks take longer to complete .
There will be some variations in how councils respond .
Mistakes and misjudgments are inevitable .
But the general mood is for a flexible approach – of bureaucrats willing to overcome their jobsworth inclinations .
They will find the British people will offer an army of volunteers @ @ @ @ @ @

Naturally, the challenges to be faced by the NHS due to coronavirus have been the focus of much attention. But the difficulties for local government are also considerable. The most obvious is the added pressure on social care. There is the question not only of coping with an increased number of vulnerable people who need help, but also the tricky question of how to balance providing help to those who are supposed to be in isolation.
One of the ways central Government can help is to ease requirements on the town halls to undertake other things. Postponing the local elections was seen in the context of reducing physical contact. That was an important consideration. But there is also pressure on the council staff time in running elections. I understand that those Council by-elections that have already been called will proceed but no Council by-elections will not be called for the time being.
Another way that usual standards of local democracy will be waived will be requirements for Council meetings and committee meetings. Council AGMs were due to take place in the early summer – when some expect the epidemic to be at its peak. They will now be postponed. This is less of an issue for Councils where a single party has a clear majority. But in some hung councils the leadership can shift at the AGMs. Though I would be surprised if there was much complaint over the delays.
Routine Care Quality Commission inspections will be temporarily suspended. Ofsted will “look very favourably” on any requests to defer inspections because of coronavirus. Councils will be able to use their discretion on deadlines for Freedom of Information requests. The deadline for local government financial audits will be extended to 30 September 2020.
Robert Jenrick, the Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary spoke to over 300 council leaders on a conference call this week. He says:
“As part of the national effort to keep the public safe and deliver essential public services, this government stands with local councils at this difficult time. My absolute priority is to ensure they are well placed to respond to coronavirus and protect vital services, including social care. Everyone needs to play their part to help the most vulnerable in society and support their local economy, and the government will do whatever is necessary to support these efforts.”
During the call, he also reiterated the practical measures introduced by the government which will give councils greater flexibility and allow them to further focus their resources on the response to coronavirus.
Another category is the relaxation of restrictions on supermarket deliveries. It hardly makes sense for councils to be devoting resources to enforcement of rules which disrupt supply chains.
The good news is that there is nothing like a crisis for bringing out the bulldog spirit. Across the country, there has been a surge in offers of vounteering. Sometimes they are being organised formally by such bodies as Age UK and the British Red Cross. Sometimes they are made by people contacting their local town halls and speaking to a “community officer”. They might be organised by local churches, residents groups, or by Parish Councils. Sometimes new initiatives have been set up – helped by using Facebook and other social media. Of course, a huge amount is informal, good neighbourliness.
Good neighbourliness is a principle that local authorities themselves adopt. Often adjoining councils are in contact with each other – as well as other public services – via local resilience forums. That means that if one local authority is under particular pressure, then others can rally round.
If some or all universities are temporarily shut down, then even more offers of help are likely from student volunteers.
Making full use of the volunteers will mean lifting some of the red tape around vetting and so forth. It is a matter of balancing the risks involved in a practical way.
Not all care workers are council employees, of course. Many of those with “care packages” are provided with funding to make their own arrangements. The difficulties will be the same. If, for instance, their regular carer is unwell and alternative help is needed.
The likely scenario is that volunteers will be asked to take on the straightforward, lower risk cases – such as those who have not contracted the virus. The obvious example is dropping off shopping – which can be done in a way that avoids close physical proximity. That could allow care workers to spend more time on other cases. They might need to wear PPE (“Personal Protective Equipment”) secure suits – that would mean their tasks take longer to complete.
There will be some variations in how councils respond. Mistakes and misjudgments are inevitable. But the general mood is for a flexible approach – of bureaucrats willing to overcome their jobsworth inclinations. They will find the British people will offer an army of volunteers to be at their disposal.


conservativehome--2020-03-18--The prospect seems remote.  But is National Government on its way?

The Conservatives had a thumping majority in 1940 .
Yes , on paper the Government was a National Government .
But it was in practice a Tory-dominated one , with the Conservatives having won 387 of the Government ’ s 429 seats in 1935 .
None the less , the exigencies of war compelled a wartime coalition government , including Labour , headed by Winston Churchill .
The Liberals were in a good position in 1915 – in terms of Commons numbers , at any rate .
The second general election of 1910 had left them with only one more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were propped up in power by 70 or so Irish Nationalist MPs .
However , war had weakened H.H.Asquith ’ s administration , and he was compelled to turn to the Conservatives to form a wartime coalition .
Readers will see where all this is going .
Boris Johnson has a near-landslide majority of 80 .
Unlike Chamberlain in 1940 or Asquith in 1915 , he has not held office for long and nor is his administration exhausted .
Indeed , he won his near-landslide election victory only just over three months ago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , presumably after Keir Starmer ( presumably ) becomes Labour leader on April 4 , that the Prime Minister will feel he must form some sort of all-party “ War Cabinet ” – and a national administration ?
At present , co-operation between the two main parties is holding after a wobble last weekend .
Labour front-benchers are being briefed on privy council terms .
Cabinet members are consulting their shadow counterparts .
The local elections have been cancelled – and the party political temperature thereby cooled .
If the death toll soars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; if mass social distancing is not observed , and if there are problems with essential supplies and public order – that ’ s four big ifs – is a next step unimaginable ?
One can conceive of Ministers seeking an all-party public front , and Labour objecting to responsibility with no power .
Those wartime brief histories are in one sense not precedents .
Britain is not at war .
But the struggle against the Coronavirus is in some ways like one – which is why so many are now using the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it threatens to wreak on the economy , here and abroad , could in some respects be even more severe .
To fall back on a figure of speech we ’ ve used before , the impact of the virus may be comparable to a mass attack of V2 rockets , taking out major sectors of the economy in our major cities and towns .
From a Tory party political vantage , the argument potentially cuts either way .
On the one hand , it looks like an elementary strategic error to help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaders the respectability of office .
On the other , if Ministers must take increasingly controversial decisions , it might be wise for the fingerprints of the Labour Party also to be on the steering wheel .
And looming above both vantages is the national interest .
“ If the crisis becomes existential , then it ’ s imaginable , ” one Cabinet member told ConHome .
“ But I haven ’ t heard any talk of it and , after December ’ s results , we are the national party – representing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ After the events of recent years , you can ’ t rule anything out , ” said another , looking back to the EU referendum , the resignation of David Cameron , Theresa May ’ s leadership victory , the 2017 general election reverse , Parliamentary gridlock , over 40 Ministerial resignations , Change UK , May ’ s fall , Johnson ’ s arrival , the Supreme Court ruling…and last December ’ s election .
It is almost impossible to imagine Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell , with Len McLuskey and Seumas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ round the Cabinet table with Johnson and Rishi Sunak .
( Though remember : May fell back on pleading with them to get her deal through – one of the main causes of her downfall . )
A Starmer-led Opposition with the likes of Yvette Cooper , Rachel Reeves and Hillary Benn back on board might be different .
We raise the prospect not to recommend it , but to say : you read it here first .

The Conservatives had a thumping majority in 1940. Yes, on paper the Government was a National Government. But it was in practice a Tory-dominated one, with the Conservatives having won 387 of the Government’s 429 seats in 1935.
None the less, the exigencies of war compelled a wartime coalition government, including Labour, headed by Winston Churchill.
The Liberals were in a good position in 1915 – in terms of Commons numbers, at any rate. The second general election of 1910 had left them with only one more seat than the Conservatives. But they were propped up in power by 70 or so Irish Nationalist MPs.
However, war had weakened H.H.Asquith’s administration, and he was compelled to turn to the Conservatives to form a wartime coalition.
Readers will see where all this is going.
Boris Johnson has a near-landslide majority of 80. Unlike Chamberlain in 1940 or Asquith in 1915, he has not held office for long and nor is his administration exhausted. Indeed, he won his near-landslide election victory only just over three months ago.
But is it impossible to imagine, presumably after Keir Starmer (presumably) becomes Labour leader on April 4, that the Prime Minister will feel he must form some sort of all-party “War Cabinet” – and a national administration?
At present, co-operation between the two main parties is holding after a wobble last weekend. Labour front-benchers are being briefed on privy council terms. Cabinet members are consulting their shadow counterparts. The local elections have been cancelled – and the party political temperature thereby cooled.
If the death toll soars relentlessly; if NHS pressures becomes unbearable; if mass social distancing is not observed, and if there are problems with essential supplies and public order – that’s four big ifs – is a next step unimaginable?
One can conceive of Ministers seeking an all-party public front, and Labour objecting to responsibility with no power.
Those wartime brief histories are in one sense not precedents. Britain is not at war. But the struggle against the Coronavirus is in some ways like one – which is why so many are now using the metaphor. Indeed, the damage that it threatens to wreak on the economy, here and abroad, could in some respects be even more severe.
To fall back on a figure of speech we’ve used before, the impact of the virus may be comparable to a mass attack of V2 rockets, taking out major sectors of the economy in our major cities and towns.
From a Tory party political vantage, the argument potentially cuts either way.
On the one hand, it looks like an elementary strategic error to help make Labour electorally respectable by allowing its leaders the respectability of office.
On the other, if Ministers must take increasingly controversial decisions, it might be wise for the fingerprints of the Labour Party also to be on the steering wheel.
And looming above both vantages is the national interest.
“If the crisis becomes existential, then it’s imaginable,” one Cabinet member told ConHome. “But I haven’t heard any talk of it and, after December’s results, we are the national party – representing all parts of the country.”
“After the events of recent years, you can’t rule anything out,” said another, looking back to the EU referendum, the resignation of David Cameron, Theresa May’s leadership victory, the 2017 general election reverse, Parliamentary gridlock, over 40 Ministerial resignations, Change UK, May’s fall, Johnson’s arrival, the Supreme Court ruling…and last December’s election.
It is almost impossible to imagine Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell, with Len McLuskey and Seumas Milne in the wings, sharing space round the Cabinet table with Johnson and Rishi Sunak. (Though remember: May fell back on pleading with them to get her deal through – one of the main causes of her downfall.)
A Starmer-led Opposition with the likes of Yvette Cooper, Rachel Reeves and Hillary Benn back on board might be different. We raise the prospect not to recommend it, but to say: you read it here first.


conservativehome--2020-03-18--WATCH: Williamson. “After schools shut their gates on Friday afternoon, they will remain closed unti

WATCH: Williamson. “After schools shut their gates on Friday afternoon, they will remain closed until further notice.”

“ After schools shut their gates on Friday afternoon , they will remain closed until further notice ”

“After schools shut their gates on Friday afternoon, they will remain closed until further notice”
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson confirms school closures in England
Latest: https://t.co/EYcnIDZDvl #Covid19 pic.twitter.com/va8V0ydY8m
— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) March 18, 2020


conservativehome--2020-03-18--Andrew Gimson’s PMQs sketch: Johnson steps forward as the leader of a National Government

Never has the Prime Minister looked so sombre or sounded so consensual .
His demeanour has undergone the transformation demanded by the crisis .
Boris Johnson was brought up to tell every joke a situation might offer .
Today there were no jokes , no humorous asides at the expense of opponents , no smirks .
In their place came a sombre and unwavering bipartisanship .
He sounded as if he was leading a Government of National Unity , not a Government of Conservatives .
Jeremy Corbyn said the Labour benches “ will do our duty to hold the Government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ the Chancellor offered nothing to 20 million people living in rented homes ” .
A momentary look of vexation seemed to cross Rishi Sunak ’ s stern features , in the second or two the television showed his face , for this report was being written remotely .
But Johnson allowed no hint of annoyance to disturb his furrowed brow .
“ He ’ s making a series of very powerful points , ” the Prime Minister said of the Leader of the Opposition , and assured MPs that the Government “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
When Corbyn turned to the provision of protective equipment for medical staff , Johnson declared that “ he ’ s absolutely right to raise this ” .
Ian Blackford , for the Scottish Nationalists , welcomed this bipartisanship , and suggested people should be given “ the security of a Universal Basic Income ” .
Johnson thanked him “ for the spirit in which he has spoken ” , observed that it is “ very important as we go forward that we try ” to build a consensus , and did nothing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Basic Income .
In this early phase of the crisis , bipartisanship is fairly easy to maintain .
Later on , one suspects , bipartisanship fatigue may set in .
The Chamber was three-quarters empty , but the Speaker , Sir Lindsay Hoyle , informed us at the start of PMQs that this was deliberate , having been arranged through the usual channels , i.e .
the Whips , in accordance with medical advice about sitting a reasonable distance apart .
Sunak , sitting next to the Prime Minister , looked for most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statue , immobile yet somehow at ease .
The Commons had shown its ability to register the national mood , and so , to the astonishment of those who see him as an incorrigible buffoon , had the Prime Minister .

Never has the Prime Minister looked so sombre or sounded so consensual. His demeanour has undergone the transformation demanded by the crisis.
Boris Johnson was brought up to tell every joke a situation might offer. Today there were no jokes, no humorous asides at the expense of opponents, no smirks.
In their place came a sombre and unwavering bipartisanship. He sounded as if he was leading a Government of National Unity, not a Government of Conservatives.
Jeremy Corbyn said the Labour benches “will do our duty to hold the Government to account”, and complained that “the Chancellor offered nothing to 20 million people living in rented homes”.
A momentary look of vexation seemed to cross Rishi Sunak’s stern features, in the second or two the television showed his face, for this report was being written remotely.
But Johnson allowed no hint of annoyance to disturb his furrowed brow. “He’s making a series of very powerful points,” the Prime Minister said of the Leader of the Opposition, and assured MPs that the Government “will protect private renters from eviction”.
When Corbyn turned to the provision of protective equipment for medical staff, Johnson declared that “he’s absolutely right to raise this”.
Ian Blackford, for the Scottish Nationalists, welcomed this bipartisanship, and suggested people should be given “the security of a Universal Basic Income”.
Johnson thanked him “for the spirit in which he has spoken”, observed that it is “very important as we go forward that we try” to build a consensus, and did nothing to rubbish the idea of a Universal Basic Income.
In this early phase of the crisis, bipartisanship is fairly easy to maintain. Later on, one suspects, bipartisanship fatigue may set in.
The Chamber was three-quarters empty, but the Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, informed us at the start of PMQs that this was deliberate, having been arranged through the usual channels, i.e. the Whips, in accordance with medical advice about sitting a reasonable distance apart.
Sunak, sitting next to the Prime Minister, looked for most of the time like an Easter Island statue, immobile yet somehow at ease.
The Commons had shown its ability to register the national mood, and so, to the astonishment of those who see him as an incorrigible buffoon, had the Prime Minister.


conservativehome--2020-03-18--WATCH. The Prime Minister at PMQs: “We will beat” coronavirus “and we will beat it together”.

“ It ’ s absolutely right that whatever their circumstances we should ensure workers get the support they need ” @ @ @ @ @ will bring forward “ further measures ” to support “ workers of all kind through @ @ @ @ @ https : //t.co/0v0cGWtvjM pic.twitter.com/J3FPXfAaUV

“It’s absolutely right that whatever their circumstances we should ensure workers get the support they need”
PM Boris Johnson says he will bring forward “further measures” to support “workers of all kind through this crisis”#PMQs https://t.co/0v0cGWtvjM pic.twitter.com/J3FPXfAaUV
— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) March 18, 2020


conservativehome--2020-03-19--Sunak needs a big, big, bigger bazooka

Sunak needs a big, big, bigger bazooka

John Glen responded for the Government today to an Urgent Question on the Coronavirus from Greg Clark .
The former Business Secretary said that firms are laying workers off now , and that the massive loans scheme that Rushi Sunak has announced “ is not enough to prevent that ” .
It ’ s worth also clocking what other Conservative MPs said .
Iain Duncan Smith agreed with Clark : a recent Cabinet Minister from the Conservative centre-left was thus teaming up with a former Party leader from its centre-right .
Bob Stewart raised the prospects of freelancers and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far more radical measures ” .
Nickie Aiken wants National Insurance Contributions suspended .
Peter Aldous recommended that “ the Government…support payroll costs far more directly ” .
Joy Morrissey supported tax incentives , advice and support for the self-employed .
Richard Graham worried that “ the business interruption loans package will be too clunky for most small and medium-sized businesses , and the cash grants will take too long to get to businesses before decisions are made about jobs ” .
Tobias Ellwood spoke of government funding some salaries “ immediately ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ look at VAT rebates .
We list these contributions to give readers a flavour of the norm-defying transformation of opinion across a cross-section of the Conservative backbenchers .
They recognise that emergency surgery is essential if the economy is to be kept alive .
Glen was responding for the Government at the despatch box because , as he told the Commons , the Chancellor was “ meeting the TUC , the CBI , the British Chambers of Commerce , and the Federation of Small Businesses ” .
The Minister repeated that the meeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ urgently developing new forms of employment support to help protect people ’ s jobs and incomes through this period ” .
We believe that Sunak knew only too well , even as he made his second major financial statement to the present crisis yesterday , that his package wouldn ’ t be enough : that for the Government to mimic the insurance market , as our columnist Ryan Bourne has put it , won ’ t provide firms with the confidence they need to carry on operating as usual – even if the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ package was potentially worth a third of public spending .
So why didn ’ t he go further ?
Clearly , because what will have been daunting him is not whether to deploy an even bigger bazooka , but how to do so .
This site has called for some very left-wing means : direct payments to employers , on the condition that they don ’ t lay off their staff , and to workers themselves .
It has also urged some very right-wing ones : tax cuts and deregulation .
On direct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against trying to rush in a Universal Basic Income scheme in present circumstances is that our tax and benefit system is not set up to provide it .
An uncompromised scheme of that kind would demand the creation of a new payment system capable of paying out to billionaire and pauper alike .
That is not the way our tax and benefit system works .
Essentially , it has two main vehicles : HMRC , working hand in glove with the Treasury , and the Department of Work and Pensions , and its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use HMRC ’ s records as the basis of payments to the employed , for whom records will mostly be up to date , and also for the self-employed , for whom they will be less regular .
The state might have to pay out on the basis of the most recent sets of earnings .
The more simple the payments are , the easier they will to administer ( but also the more expensive ) .
There is a vogue for using statutory sick pay ( SSP ) as the main vehicle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not all workers are eligible for it .
So it might have to last for longer , be more widely available – and rise in value .
SSP comes via employers who are then reimbursed , but the Chancellor is also ready to pay grants to smaller businesses .
The welfare system for people of working age covers some of both those who don ’ t have jobs and those that do .
Ministers should ease the conditions that govern access to Universal Credit – the main aim of which , after all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people in work .
Duncan Smith was surely right to argue that the floor for the payments should be pushed up .
The Government should also ease debt deductions from benefits .
On tax , it makes no sense for Ministers to be distributing more money through a revised SSP or new flat payments or Universal Credit while simultaneously raking it back in tax .
That implies a council tax and national insurance holiday – as well as a wider business rates one – and an income tax break too at the standard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to find their living standards hard-hit .
Self-employed people would gain from a VAT payment waiver .
Italy has suspended mortgages , rent and household bills .
So should we .
That means the Government effectively standing behind the entire economy .
The Chancellor has already doubled his original hardship fund , and in due course will have to go further .
Where will the money come from ?
Crudely speaking , from borrowing and if necessary printing – the route that both Donald Trump and now the ECB are taking .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the constraints that govern pubs , and Bourne has a mass of other suggestions : relaxing licensing requirements , child-staff ratios for childminders , overtime , agency worker rules , Sunday trading regulations .
If the rule that nothing is so permanent as the temporary applies to higher state spending , there ’ s no reason why it shouldn ’ t to cutting through red tape .
We suspect that Sunak will be planning an announcement as soon as Monday , if he can get his ducks in a row .
That is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It is fast , in the sense of tearing up the known financial and economic order .
And it is slow , because traditional media will fill the news gap , with social media acting as an outlier , for the next three days , with its usual mix of leaks , scoops and unattributable briefings .
This is all very well when it ’ s business as usual , but different altogether when the world is upside-down .
Mixed signals have been sent over herd immunity , the scale of testing and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ London .
There is a case for running the daily press conferences right through the weekend , to clear up speculation in the Saturday and Sunday papers – though these obviously wouldn ’ t be fronted by the Governments ’ top team .
So the Chancellor must scramble not only to get his next package of measures in place , but rush too in order to ensure that the Sunday press is briefed in an orderly way .
He deployed a big bazooka in the Budget .
Then an even bigger one earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the biggest one of all .

John Glen responded for the Government today to an Urgent Question on the Coronavirus from Greg Clark. The former Business Secretary said that firms are laying workers off now, and that the massive loans scheme that Rushi Sunak has announced “is not enough to prevent that”. It’s worth also clocking what other Conservative MPs said.
Iain Duncan Smith agreed with Clark: a recent Cabinet Minister from the Conservative centre-left was thus teaming up with a former Party leader from its centre-right. Bob Stewart raised the prospects of freelancers and the self-employed. Bernard Jenkin called for “far more radical measures”. Nickie Aiken wants National Insurance Contributions suspended.
Peter Aldous recommended that “the Government…support payroll costs far more directly”. Joy Morrissey supported tax incentives, advice and support for the self-employed. Richard Graham worried that “the business interruption loans package will be too clunky for most small and medium-sized businesses, and the cash grants will take too long to get to businesses before decisions are made about jobs”.
Tobias Ellwood spoke of government funding some salaries “immediately”. Anthony Mangall asked the Treasury to look at VAT rebates. We list these contributions to give readers a flavour of the norm-defying transformation of opinion across a cross-section of the Conservative backbenchers. They recognise that emergency surgery is essential if the economy is to be kept alive.
Glen was responding for the Government at the despatch box because, as he told the Commons, the Chancellor was “meeting the TUC, the CBI, the British Chambers of Commerce, and the Federation of Small Businesses”. The Minister repeated that the meeting was undertaken with “a view to urgently developing new forms of employment support to help protect people’s jobs and incomes through this period”.
We believe that Sunak knew only too well, even as he made his second major financial statement to the present crisis yesterday, that his package wouldn’t be enough: that for the Government to mimic the insurance market, as our columnist Ryan Bourne has put it, won’t provide firms with the confidence they need to carry on operating as usual – even if the total value of the Chancellor’s package was potentially worth a third of public spending.
So why didn’t he go further? Clearly, because what will have been daunting him is not whether to deploy an even bigger bazooka, but how to do so. This site has called for some very left-wing means: direct payments to employers, on the condition that they don’t lay off their staff, and to workers themselves. It has also urged some very right-wing ones: tax cuts and deregulation.
On direct payments, one of the main arguments against trying to rush in a Universal Basic Income scheme in present circumstances is that our tax and benefit system is not set up to provide it. An uncompromised scheme of that kind would demand the creation of a new payment system capable of paying out to billionaire and pauper alike. That is not the way our tax and benefit system works.
Essentially, it has two main vehicles: HMRC, working hand in glove with the Treasury, and the Department of Work and Pensions, and its network of Jobcentres. The Government could use HMRC’s records as the basis of payments to the employed, for whom records will mostly be up to date, and also for the self-employed, for whom they will be less regular. The state might have to pay out on the basis of the most recent sets of earnings.
The more simple the payments are, the easier they will to administer (but also the more expensive). There is a vogue for using statutory sick pay (SSP) as the main vehicle. It ends after six months and not all workers are eligible for it. So it might have to last for longer, be more widely available – and rise in value. SSP comes via employers who are then reimbursed, but the Chancellor is also ready to pay grants to smaller businesses.
The welfare system for people of working age covers some of both those who don’t have jobs and those that do. Ministers should ease the conditions that govern access to Universal Credit – the main aim of which, after all, is to help get and keep people in work. Duncan Smith was surely right to argue that the floor for the payments should be pushed up. The Government should also ease debt deductions from benefits.
On tax, it makes no sense for Ministers to be distributing more money through a revised SSP or new flat payments or Universal Credit while simultaneously raking it back in tax. That implies a council tax and national insurance holiday – as well as a wider business rates one – and an income tax break too at the standard rate for workers, who are going to find their living standards hard-hit. Self-employed people would gain from a VAT payment waiver.
Italy has suspended mortgages, rent and household bills. So should we. That means the Government effectively standing behind the entire economy. The Chancellor has already doubled his original hardship fund, and in due course will have to go further. Where will the money come from? Crudely speaking, from borrowing and if necessary printing – the route that both Donald Trump and now the ECB are taking.
On deregulation, Robert Jenrick is to relax the constraints that govern pubs, and Bourne has a mass of other suggestions: relaxing licensing requirements, child-staff ratios for childminders, overtime, agency worker rules, Sunday trading regulations. If the rule that nothing is so permanent as the temporary applies to higher state spending, there’s no reason why it shouldn’t to cutting through red tape.
We suspect that Sunak will be planning an announcement as soon as Monday, if he can get his ducks in a row. That is both dizzying fast and worryingly slow. It is fast, in the sense of tearing up the known financial and economic order. And it is slow, because traditional media will fill the news gap, with social media acting as an outlier, for the next three days, with its usual mix of leaks, scoops and unattributable briefings.
This is all very well when it’s business as usual, but different altogether when the world is upside-down. Mixed signals have been sent over herd immunity, the scale of testing and, today, a potential shutdown of London. There is a case for running the daily press conferences right through the weekend, to clear up speculation in the Saturday and Sunday papers – though these obviously wouldn’t be fronted by the Governments’ top team.
So the Chancellor must scramble not only to get his next package of measures in place, but rush too in order to ensure that the Sunday press is briefed in an orderly way. He deployed a big bazooka in the Budget. Then an even bigger one earlier this week. Now he must reach for the biggest one of all.


conservativehome--2020-03-19--What’s the Government’s real record on testing?

Among many criticisms levelled at the Government during the Covid-19 crisis , one of the biggest is that the UK isn ’ t doing enough testing for the virus .
The World Health Organisation ( WHO ) has consistently advised that this is key to stopping the pandemic , with Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus , its director-general , insisting “ you can not fight a fire blindfolded… test , test , test ” , so this has become an extremely pressing area for politicians everywhere .
Especially as widespread testing was credited for reducing cases and deaths in China and South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ look very poor , indeed , including graphs that compare the UK ( which has tested 828 people per million of the population ) to Bahrain ( 8,430 ) and South Korea ( 5,767 ) .
These countries test at significantly higher rates than the rest of the globe , so isolating the UK against them will make us look disproportionately bad .
Other analyses paint a fairer picture ; having issued over 50,000 tests , the UK is above Canada , the US , Norway , India and France .
Patrick Vallance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country is one of the “ top three or four countries ” in terms of testing .
With that being said , it is still vital the Government increases its capacity , and at PMQs yesterday Boris Johnson announced that the number of tests would increase to 10,000 a day – with the goal of reaching 25,000 a day .
So far , tests have been reserved for people in hospital , but there are growing demands from other groups ( people at home who are sick ) to hurry up and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told MPs there is no capacity for “ mass testing ” , so this creates something of a headache for Johnson and his team ( and , indeed , other leaders around the world ) .
How do they prioritise tests when they have a limited amount ?
The Government has been advised that priority should go to “ the most vulnerable groups ” .
But NHS staff are , at the same time , asking that they be prioritised as a matter of course .
Understandably many have huge fears of inadvertently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other employees .
Their concerns are so grave that almost one million people ( at the time of writing ) signed a petition asking the Government to act .
And so , yesterday , at PMQs , Johnson did – assuring that : “ We are prioritising NHS staff for the obvious reason that we want them to be able to look after everybody else with confidence that they are not transmitting the disease.
” It is a start in allaying concerns , but the Government will still have complaints of not doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pointed out that the healthcare frontline workforce is far larger than the numbers of tests being provided .
So even if Johnson did redirect the resources , there would not be a sufficient amount .
There are other variables , too , that influence the Government ’ s use of tests .
Statistical modelling is a huge factor .
In order to fight the virus and calibrate the next Government response , Johnson ’ s team has to understand how it has spread across the population .
Some of this involves random testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trivial , but is nonetheless crucial in getting a grip on the pandemic .
Overall , the lack of tests in the UK will be a wake-up call about why it ’ s important to have a proactive healthcare system .
The Financial Times suggests the main reason countries like South Korea have an advantage in terms of testing is that they learnt from the SARS epidemic .
Following that , they invested heavily in preparing for future such incidences , whereas other countries were more relaxed about the aftermath , hence they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tests .
It is an important lesson ; that economic dominance can be threatened by pandemics , and similar events .
But critics of the Government should take note of how data is being used , and whether parts are being cherry picked it to make Johnson look hopeless .
There are additional , complex factors around the tests that need to be taken into account when judging the UK ’ s credentials .
Quantity is not everything ; there will also be questions about how good each country ’ s tests are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out one million of its own tests , but governments and academic institutions are also allowed to create their own , which risks variance in how good each is – and the data they produce .
In China , for instance , an official claimed the tests being used were 10-50 percent accurate at spotting the infection , with the country producing 1.6m tests a day .
While the country appears to have stopped the spread , it does raise questions about whether global estimates of coronavirus are right .
But the UK-bashing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On ITV ’ s Peston last night , Mark Walport , professor and Chief Executive of UK Research and Innovation , told the TV presenter that the UK is “ very close ” to having a Covid-19 test that can tell if someone has already had the disease and is immune to it .
With so many of us feeling dread about being locked in doors for the foreseeable future , this provides hope of a future ; one in which our workforce can start to trickle back again .
“ Very close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ onto .

Among many criticisms levelled at the Government during the Covid-19 crisis, one of the biggest is that the UK isn’t doing enough testing for the virus.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has consistently advised that this is key to stopping the pandemic, with Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, its director-general, insisting “you cannot fight a fire blindfolded… test, test, test”, so this has become an extremely pressing area for politicians everywhere. Especially as widespread testing was credited for reducing cases and deaths in China and South Korea.
Some data makes the UK look very poor, indeed, including graphs that compare the UK (which has tested 828 people per million of the population) to Bahrain (8,430) and South Korea (5,767). These countries test at significantly higher rates than the rest of the globe, so isolating the UK against them will make us look disproportionately bad. Other analyses paint a fairer picture; having issued over 50,000 tests, the UK is above Canada, the US, Norway, India and France. Patrick Vallance, Chief Scientific Officer, has said the country is one of the “top three or four countries” in terms of testing.
With that being said, it is still vital the Government increases its capacity, and at PMQs yesterday Boris Johnson announced that the number of tests would increase to 10,000 a day – with the goal of reaching 25,000 a day. So far, tests have been reserved for people in hospital, but there are growing demands from other groups (people at home who are sick) to hurry up and hand them out.
Sir Patrick has told MPs there is no capacity for “mass testing”, so this creates something of a headache for Johnson and his team (and, indeed, other leaders around the world). How do they prioritise tests when they have a limited amount?
The Government has been advised that priority should go to “the most vulnerable groups”. But NHS staff are, at the same time, asking that they be prioritised as a matter of course. Understandably many have huge fears of inadvertently passing the virus on to patients and other employees. Their concerns are so grave that almost one million people (at the time of writing) signed a petition asking the Government to act. And so, yesterday, at PMQs, Johnson did – assuring that: “We are prioritising NHS staff for the obvious reason that we want them to be able to look after everybody else with confidence that they are not transmitting the disease.”
It is a start in allaying concerns, but the Government will still have complaints of not doing enough, especially as Jeremy Corbyn has pointed out that the healthcare frontline workforce is far larger than the numbers of tests being provided. So even if Johnson did redirect the resources, there would not be a sufficient amount.
There are other variables, too, that influence the Government’s use of tests. Statistical modelling is a huge factor. In order to fight the virus and calibrate the next Government response, Johnson’s team has to understand how it has spread across the population. Some of this involves random testing that produces negative results. It seems trivial, but is nonetheless crucial in getting a grip on the pandemic.
Overall, the lack of tests in the UK will be a wake-up call about why it’s important to have a proactive healthcare system. The Financial Times suggests the main reason countries like South Korea have an advantage in terms of testing is that they learnt from the SARS epidemic. Following that, they invested heavily in preparing for future such incidences, whereas other countries were more relaxed about the aftermath, hence they are now frantically trying to create more tests. It is an important lesson; that economic dominance can be threatened by pandemics, and similar events.
But critics of the Government should take note of how data is being used, and whether parts are being cherry picked it to make Johnson look hopeless. There are additional, complex factors around the tests that need to be taken into account when judging the UK’s credentials. Quantity is not everything; there will also be questions about how good each country’s tests are. Currently, the WHO has sent out one million of its own tests, but governments and academic institutions are also allowed to create their own, which risks variance in how good each is – and the data they produce.
In China, for instance, an official claimed the tests being used were 10-50 percent accurate at spotting the infection, with the country producing 1.6m tests a day. While the country appears to have stopped the spread, it does raise questions about whether global estimates of coronavirus are right. But the UK-bashing is misled…
In other more cheerful news…
On ITV’s Peston last night, Mark Walport, professor and Chief Executive of UK Research and Innovation, told the TV presenter that the UK is “very close” to having a Covid-19 test that can tell if someone has already had the disease and is immune to it. With so many of us feeling dread about being locked in doors for the foreseeable future, this provides hope of a future; one in which our workforce can start to trickle back again. “Very close”. They are words to hold onto.


conservativehome--2020-03-19--WATCH: Sunak must do more and act now 2) Duncan Smith – “Universal Credit has three basic levers tha

WATCH: Sunak must do more and act now 2) Duncan Smith – “Universal Credit has three basic levers that could be pulled.”

“ Universal Credit has three basic levers that could all be pulled now… to help people who are in work @ @ @ @ @ Iain Duncan Smith “ This could be done today ” Treasury economic secretary John Glen @ @ @ @ @ “ all options ” https : //t.co/5vned14aOf pic.twitter.com/kf3ttTZnnH

“Universal Credit has three basic levers that could all be pulled now… to help people who are in work,” says Conservative MP Iain Duncan Smith
“This could be done today”
Treasury economic secretary John Glen says he is looking at “all options”https://t.co/5vned14aOf pic.twitter.com/kf3ttTZnnH
— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) March 19, 2020


conservativehome--2020-03-19--WATCH: Sunak must do more and act now 1) Clark – “The loan scheme is not enough”

“ If the government does not act immediately , large numbers of people will be unemployed ” Former business secretary @ @ @ @ @ scheme announced by the Chancellor is not enough to prevent businesses from laying off staff @ @ @ @

“If the government does not act immediately, large numbers of people will be unemployed”
Former business secretary Greg Clark says the loan scheme announced by the Chancellor is not enough to prevent businesses from laying off staff https://t.co/5vned14aOf pic.twitter.com/jncAs53qng
— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) March 19, 2020


conservativehome--2020-03-19--Henry Hill: Sturgeon abandons bid for 2020 independence referendum due to epidemic

The First Minister has announced that her Government is formally abandoning its bid to try and stage a re-run of the Scottish independence referendum this year , according to the Daily Telegraph .
Mile Russell , the SNP ’ s constitution minister , has reportedly written to Michael Gove to confirm that the Scottish Government has ‘ paused work ’ on a second referendum on account of the coronavirus crisis .
Although the Government had no intention of granting Sturgeon the legal authority to stage a plebiscite this year in any event , the move will ease tensions between London @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public health operations .
The paper reports that this move comes “ as the coronavirus lockdown across Scotland intensified , with the Catholic Church suspending public masses and the National Trust for Scotland shutting its buildings.
” Meanwhile Sturgeon has announced that schools across the country will close by the end of the week .
Another sign of the impact the crisis is already having on civil society is that Heart of Midlothian football club have reportedly asked both players and staff to accept a 50 per cent pay reduction .
Meanwhile the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that over a million vaccines against COVID-19 will be available by the end of the year , with “ first responders , medical staff and those with underlying medical conditions given priority.
” Ulster is facing a shortage of inhalers due to stockpiling as the shadow of the coronavirus epidemic spreads across the UK , according to the Belfast Telegraph .
The Northern Ireland Executive has also unveiled a £370 million fund to help support ‘ vulnerable firms ’ as the Province prepares to close its schools from next week .
The one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ healthcare workers ’ , who will be able to attend so as not to prevent their parents from working .
Driving tests have also been suspended for three months .
In other grim news , charities have warned that the imposition of social isolation and other quarantine measures could lead to an ‘ explosion ’ in domestic abuse as people are trapped in their homes .
There has also been a warning of a ‘ tsunami ’ of job losses in the hospitality trade as job losses mount .
All of this has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official report into the ‘ cash-for-ash ’ scandal , the fallout from which collapsed devolution in Northern Ireland back in 2017 .
Both Arlene Foster and the DUP more widely were strongly criticised in the report , the FT reports , but she has insisted that she will remain as First Minister .
Meanwhile in Wales , Cardiff Council has announced sweeping closures of public spaces – including leisure centres .
This raises the prospect of even swimming pools , which might have been hoped to stay open as chlorinated water is safe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The funeral service of a popular rugby star has also been scaled back and will be streamed online as social distancing takes hold , and schools across the Principality will be closing .
Meanwhile Vaughan Gething , the devolved health minister and one-time contender for the leadership of Welsh Labour , has gone into self-isolation as the overall number of cases in Wales continues to climb .
This column isn ’ t going to be picking over the gory details of the Salmond case – better safe than sorry – but here are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this week ’ s coverage : ‘ Women told not to work with Salmond alone at night ’ ( FT ) ; ‘ Salmond says sexual assault claims exaggerated for political reasons ’ ( The Times ) ; ‘ Woman ex-SNP chief allegedly tried to rape ‘ not at Bute House that night ’ ’ ( Scottish Sun ) ; ‘ Nicola Sturgeon met Alex Salmond ’ s accuser in March 2018 ’ ( FT ) ; ‘ I stayed quiet for Scotland , Alex Salmond accuser tells court ’ ( The Times @ @

COVID-19: Sturgeon abandons 2020 independence push…
The First Minister has announced that her Government is formally abandoning its bid to try and stage a re-run of the Scottish independence referendum this year, according to the Daily Telegraph.
Mile Russell, the SNP’s constitution minister, has reportedly written to Michael Gove to confirm that the Scottish Government has ‘paused work’ on a second referendum on account of the coronavirus crisis.
Although the Government had no intention of granting Sturgeon the legal authority to stage a plebiscite this year in any event, the move will ease tensions between London and Edinburgh and free up resources for public health operations.
The paper reports that this move comes “as the coronavirus lockdown across Scotland intensified, with the Catholic Church suspending public masses and the National Trust for Scotland shutting its buildings.” Meanwhile Sturgeon has announced that schools across the country will close by the end of the week.
Another sign of the impact the crisis is already having on civil society is that Heart of Midlothian football club have reportedly asked both players and staff to accept a 50 per cent pay reduction.
Meanwhile the Scotsman reports claims by a Scottish scientist that over a million vaccines against COVID-19 will be available by the end of the year, with “first responders, medical staff and those with underlying medical conditions given priority.”
…as Northern Ireland faces inhaler shortages and job losses…
Ulster is facing a shortage of inhalers due to stockpiling as the shadow of the coronavirus epidemic spreads across the UK, according to the Belfast Telegraph.
The Northern Ireland Executive has also unveiled a £370 million fund to help support ‘vulnerable firms’ as the Province prepares to close its schools from next week. The one exception is for children of ‘key healthcare workers’, who will be able to attend so as not to prevent their parents from working. Driving tests have also been suspended for three months.
In other grim news, charities have warned that the imposition of social isolation and other quarantine measures could lead to an ‘explosion’ in domestic abuse as people are trapped in their homes. There has also been a warning of a ‘tsunami’ of job losses in the hospitality trade as job losses mount.
All of this has served to overshadow the publication of the official report into the ‘cash-for-ash’ scandal, the fallout from which collapsed devolution in Northern Ireland back in 2017. Both Arlene Foster and the DUP more widely were strongly criticised in the report, the FT reports, but she has insisted that she will remain as First Minister.
…and Wales sees venue closures and more
Meanwhile in Wales, Cardiff Council has announced sweeping closures of public spaces – including leisure centres. This raises the prospect of even swimming pools, which might have been hoped to stay open as chlorinated water is safe, may close across the country.
The funeral service of a popular rugby star has also been scaled back and will be streamed online as social distancing takes hold, and schools across the Principality will be closing.
Meanwhile Vaughan Gething, the devolved health minister and one-time contender for the leadership of Welsh Labour, has gone into self-isolation as the overall number of cases in Wales continues to climb.
The Salmond trial
This column isn’t going to be picking over the gory details of the Salmond case – better safe than sorry – but here are a few stories providing a sample of this week’s coverage: ‘Women told not to work with Salmond alone at night’ (FT); ‘Salmond says sexual assault claims exaggerated for political reasons’ (The Times); ‘Woman ex-SNP chief allegedly tried to rape ‘not at Bute House that night’’ (Scottish Sun); ‘Nicola Sturgeon met Alex Salmond’s accuser in March 2018’ (FT); ‘I stayed quiet for Scotland, Alex Salmond accuser tells court’ (The Times);


conservativehome--2020-03-19--Calling Conservatives: New public appointments announced. Chair of NHS Resolution – and more

Eight years ago , the TaxPayers ’ Alliance reported that “ in the last year , five times more Labour people were appointed to public bodies than Tories ” .
It currently reports that almost half of avowedly political appointees last year owed their allegiance to Labour Party , compared to less than a third for the Conservatives .
Despite the selection of some Party members or supporters to fill important posts , over time , the Conservatives have punched beneath their weight when it comes to public appointments .
One of the reasons seems to be that Tories simply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number as Labour supporters .
To help remedy this , each week we put up links to some of the main public appointments vacancies , so that qualified Conservatives can be aware of the opportunities presented .
“ Robert Chote will be stepping down as Chair of the BRC later this year , after 10 years in post .
We are seeking a successor with deep expertise in economic and fiscal analysis who can lead the BRC and provide intellectual leadership to the OBR ’ s staff .
This is a high profile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ skills and integrity .
Candidates must command broad respect for their objectivity in dealing with issues of political sensitivity .
Appointments to the BRC are for a five-year term .
There is the possibility of reappointment at the end of the term and members can serve a maximum of two terms .
This post can be undertaken on either a part or full-time basis.
” “ The Office for Nuclear Regulation ( ONR ) is a Public Corporation responsible for the regulation of nuclear safety and security across the UK .
Its vision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inspires respect , trust and confidence .
ONR is sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ) who have principal responsibility for governance , finance and its performance in relation to conventional Health and Safety .
The Department for Business , Energy and Industrial Strategy ( BEIS ) is accountable for the UK civil nuclear regulatory framework and policies and for appointing a Security Non-Executive Director ( NED ) to the ONR Board.
” “ As we enter the Fourth Industrial Revolution , a wave of technological innovation is creating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transforming the way things are made and the way we live .
From AI-powered legal services to autonomous ships , new products , services and business models are emerging which don ’ t fit with existing regulatory systems .
In its White Paper on Regulation for the Fourth Industrial Revolution , the Government committed to establishing a Regulatory Horizons Council ( RHC ) to identify the implications of technological innovation with high potential benefit for the UK economy and society and advise the government on regulatory reform needed to support its rapid and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opportunity to take on an intellectually demanding role at the heart of international financial services , leading a sizeable and complex organisation .
There is a requirement for strong leadership in a challenging environment to undertake a critically important role .
Under Andrew Bailey , the FCA has formulated a transformation programme , to equip the organisation for the next phase of its development : a data strategy and enhanced analytical skills to rapidly identify harm across an exceptionally broad range of firms of all sizes exploiting fast-moving changes in technology and distribution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and processes to act swiftly on the harms identified ; [ and ] and with a regulatory framework which is appropriate following the completion of EU withdrawal , and which takes advantage of the opportunities for better and more efficient regulation brought by technology and behavioural science.
” “ The Chief Executive will assume office at a time of unprecedented external change .
The political landscape in Europe and around the globe is altering with increasing pace and less predictability .
The British Council is also in constant transformation to deliver within funding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and customer-facing world .
The aims and goals of the British Council are more necessary than ever .
Delivering them in the complex world of 2020 is more difficult than at any time since 1945 .
The resulting demands on the Chief Executive in terms of vision , agility , ability to simplify and lead with clarity and purpose are substantial .
The Chief Executive will be instrumental in redefining both ‘ soft power ’ and ‘ cultural relations ’ at this pivotal moment and will help define the place of the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a ‘ disrupted ’ and uncertain geopolitical world.
” Remuneration : Up to £150k per annum plus bonus to 8 per cent and Civil Service Pension “ The Coast to Capital Strategic Board comprises private sector and local authority Members , setting a vision for and overseeing delivery of economic prosperity for all in the Coast to Capital area , including through Government funding of projects through the Local Growth Fund .
They are accountable to the LEP Board and for the proper governance of the LEP .
Coast to Capital is seeking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the C2C area to help lead the region and meet the ambitious vision set out in its strategic plan .
Currently chaired by Tim Wates , who will be stepping down in July 2020 , the Board brings together a diverse mix of regional business leaders alongside senior politicians and leaders from Universities and Further Education.
” “ The last few years have seen major changes to NHS Resolution ’ s role and standing in the system as a result of both its revised strategy and the new clinical negligence scheme for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and privilege to Chair the organisation through this period of significant change .
Although the course is set for the next few years some of these changes are still at an early stage and need to be embedded , there is now a need to progress the development of our infrastructure to support the enhanced role and the NHS will continue to evolve .
I am sure therefore that the next Chair will also find the role both challenging and rewarding.
” “ The Office of the Complaints Commissioner is headed by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) who is a statutory appointment required under the Financial Services Act 2012 .
This is a senior position and , whilst the appointment is made by the regulators , it is an independent role , subject to approval by HM Treasury .
The current Commissioner carries out his duties through a company limited by guarantee ( Office of the Complaints Commissioner ) from premises based in the City of London .
He is assisted by three staff .
The Commissioner ’ s role is to review independently complaints about the actions or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ financial services regulators , the Financial Conduct Authority , the Prudential Regulation Authority and the Bank of England ( but only in respect of its oversight of the banking clearing houses and payment schemes ) .
” Remuneration : “ Remuneration is on a level with judicial salaries , pro-rated as appropriate .
”

Eight years ago, the TaxPayers’ Alliance reported that “in the last year, five times more Labour people were appointed to public bodies than Tories”.
It currently reports that almost half of avowedly political appointees last year owed their allegiance to Labour Party, compared to less than a third for the Conservatives.
Despite the selection of some Party members or supporters to fill important posts, over time, the Conservatives have punched beneath their weight when it comes to public appointments. One of the reasons seems to be that Tories simply don’t apply in the same number as Labour supporters.
To help remedy this, each week we put up links to some of the main public appointments vacancies, so that qualified Conservatives can be aware of the opportunities presented.
– – – – – – – – – –
Office for Budget Responsibility – Chair
“Robert Chote will be stepping down as Chair of the BRC later this year, after 10 years in post. We are seeking a successor with deep expertise in economic and fiscal analysis who can lead the BRC and provide intellectual leadership to the OBR’s staff. This is a high profile and influential role, requiring outstanding communication skills and integrity. Candidates must command broad respect for their objectivity in dealing with issues of political sensitivity. Appointments to the BRC are for a five-year term. There is the possibility of reappointment at the end of the term and members can serve a maximum of two terms. This post can be undertaken on either a part or full-time basis.”
Time: Full- or part-time.
Remuneration: £158,762 per annum (FTE).
Closes: 19 March
– – – – – – – – – –
Office for Nuclear Regulation – Security Non-Executive Director
“The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) is a Public Corporation responsible for the regulation of nuclear safety and security across the UK. Its vision is to be an exemplary regulator that inspires respect, trust and confidence. ONR is sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) who have principal responsibility for governance, finance and its performance in relation to conventional Health and Safety. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is accountable for the UK civil nuclear regulatory framework and policies and for appointing a Security Non-Executive Director (NED) to the ONR Board.”
Time: Approx. 30 days per annum.
Remuneration: £15,000 plus expenses.
Closes: 22 March
– – – – – – – – – –
Regulatory Horizons Panel – Member
“As we enter the Fourth Industrial Revolution, a wave of technological innovation is creating new industries, disrupting existing ones and transforming the way things are made and the way we live. From AI-powered legal services to autonomous ships, new products, services and business models are emerging which don’t fit with existing regulatory systems. In its White Paper on Regulation for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the Government committed to establishing a Regulatory Horizons Council (RHC) to identify the implications of technological innovation with high potential benefit for the UK economy and society and advise the government on regulatory reform needed to support its rapid and safe introduction.”
Time: 1-2 days per month.
Remuneration: £380 per diem.
Closes: 23 March
– – – – – – – – – –
Financial Conduct Authority – Chief Executive
“This is an opportunity to take on an intellectually demanding role at the heart of international financial services, leading a sizeable and complex organisation. There is a requirement for strong leadership in a challenging environment to undertake a critically important role. Under Andrew Bailey, the FCA has formulated a transformation programme, to equip the organisation for the next phase of its development: a data strategy and enhanced analytical skills to rapidly identify harm across an exceptionally broad range of firms of all sizes exploiting fast-moving changes in technology and distribution to target consumers; enhance employee capabilities and processes to act swiftly on the harms identified; [and] and with a regulatory framework which is appropriate following the completion of EU withdrawal, and which takes advantage of the opportunities for better and more efficient regulation brought by technology and behavioural science.”
Time: Full-time.
Remuneration: Competitive.
Closes: 27 March
– – – – – – – – – –
British Council – Chief Executive
“The Chief Executive will assume office at a time of unprecedented external change. The political landscape in Europe and around the globe is altering with increasing pace and less predictability. The British Council is also in constant transformation to deliver within funding constraints in a demanding, more client and customer-facing world. The aims and goals of the British Council are more necessary than ever. Delivering them in the complex world of 2020 is more difficult than at any time since 1945. The resulting demands on the Chief Executive in terms of vision, agility, ability to simplify and lead with clarity and purpose are substantial. The Chief Executive will be instrumental in redefining both ‘soft power’ and ‘cultural relations’ at this pivotal moment and will help define the place of the United Kingdom, for the better, in a ‘disrupted’ and uncertain geopolitical world.”
Time: Full-time.
Remuneration: Up to £150k per annum plus bonus to 8 per cent and Civil Service Pension
Closes: 27 March
– – – – – – – – – –
Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership (C2C LEP) – Chair
“The Coast to Capital Strategic Board comprises private sector and local authority Members, setting a vision for and overseeing delivery of economic prosperity for all in the Coast to Capital area, including through Government funding of projects through the Local Growth Fund. They are accountable to the LEP Board and for the proper governance of the LEP. Coast to Capital is seeking an influential and persuasive senior business figure from the C2C area to help lead the region and meet the ambitious vision set out in its strategic plan. Currently chaired by Tim Wates, who will be stepping down in July 2020, the Board brings together a diverse mix of regional business leaders alongside senior politicians and leaders from Universities and Further Education.”
Time: Four days per month, three-year term.
Remuneration: £20,000 per annum.
Closes: 30 March
– – – – – – – – – –
NHS Resolution – Chair
“The last few years have seen major changes to NHS Resolution’s role and standing in the system as a result of both its revised strategy and the new clinical negligence scheme for GPs. It has been a pleasure and privilege to Chair the organisation through this period of significant change. Although the course is set for the next few years some of these changes are still at an early stage and need to be embedded, there is now a need to progress the development of our infrastructure to support the enhanced role and the NHS will continue to evolve. I am sure therefore that the next Chair will also find the role both challenging and rewarding.”
Time: 2-3 days per week.
Remuneration: £63,000 per annum.
Closes: 06 April
– – – – – – – – – –
HM Treasury – Financial Regulators Complaints Commissioner
“The Office of the Complaints Commissioner is headed by the Financial Regulators Complaints Commissioner (the Commissioner) who is a statutory appointment required under the Financial Services Act 2012. This is a senior position and, whilst the appointment is made by the regulators, it is an independent role, subject to approval by HM Treasury. The current Commissioner carries out his duties through a company limited by guarantee (Office of the Complaints Commissioner) from premises based in the City of London. He is assisted by three staff. The Commissioner’s role is to review independently complaints about the actions or inactions of the UK’s current financial services regulators, the Financial Conduct Authority, the Prudential Regulation Authority and the Bank of England (but only in respect of its oversight of the banking clearing houses and payment schemes).”
Time: Est. three days per week.
Remuneration: “Remuneration is on a level with judicial salaries, pro-rated as appropriate.”
Closes: 13 April


conservativehome--2020-03-19--The prospect seems remote.  But is National Government on its way?


Coronavirus Count

Total number of cases in the UK : 2,625 ( Up from 1,950 at the last count on this site ) .
From the Government ’ s website Number of coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) cases and risk in the UK .
Total UK cases COVID-19 Cases Update .
The above are figures for England .
“ The risk to the UK has been raised to high ” – From the Government ’ s website Number of coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) cases and risk in the UK .
THE GOVERNMENT ’ S NEW ADVICE ON SOCIAL DISTANCING , AND PROTECTING OLDER @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Published on Monday March 16 .
THE GOVERNMENT ’ S GUIDANCE ON WHAT THE CORONAVIRUS BILL WILL DO See here .
Published on Wednesday March 18.. HOW TO AVOID CATCHING OR SPREADING CORONAVIRUS • Wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds .
• Always wash your hands when you get home or into work .
• Use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available .
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve ( not your hands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • Put used tissues in the bin straight away and wash your hands afterwards .
• Try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell .
The symptoms of coronavirus are : However , these symptoms do not necessarily mean you have the illness .
The symptoms are similar to other illnesses that are much more common , such as cold and flu .
NHS 111 has an online coronavirus service that can tell you if you need medical help and advise you what to do .
Use this service if : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
• In the last 14 days you ’ ve been to a country or area with a high risk of coronavirus – see the coronavirus advice for travellers .
• You ’ ve been in close contact with someone with coronavirus .
• In Scotland call your GP or NHS 24 on 111 out of hours .
• In Wales call 111 ( if available in your area ) or 0845 46 47 .
• Do not go to a GP surgery , pharmacy or hospital .
• What the coronavirus is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how to avoid catching it – Government NHS website overview .
• Stay at home advice and how to manage self-isolation .
All information taken from Government sources .
Update as of 7am on Thursday 19th March .

HEADLINE FACTS
Total number of lab-confirmed UK cases: 292,950 (Up from 291,409).
Total number of COVID-19 associated UK deaths: 41,481 (Up from 41,279).
Daily number of lab-confirmed UK cases: 1,541 (Up from 1,266).
Daily number of COVID-19 associated UK deaths: 202 (Up from 151).
England total cases: 156,410 (Up from 156,018 ).
England total deaths: 37,069 (Up from 36,883).
England death rate: 279.4 (Was 278.7).
Scotland total cases: 15,709 (Up from 15,682).
Scotland total deaths: 2,439 (Up from 2,434).
Scotland death rate: 288.9 (Was 288.4).
Wales total cases: 14,658 (Up from 14,581).
Wales total deaths: 1,435 (Up from 1,425).
Wales death rate: 467.0 (Was 464.6)
Northern Ireland total cases: 4,838 (Up from 4,822)
Northern Ireland total deaths: 538 (Up from 537).
Northern Ireland death rate: 257.1 (Was 256.3).
From the Government’s website Number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and risk in the UK.
DAILY NUMBER OF COVID-19 ASSOCIATED DEATHS BY DATE REPORTED
DAILY NUMBER OF LAB-CONFIRMED ENGLAND CASES
From the Government’s website Number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and risk in the UK.
– – –
RISK
“The risk to the UK has been raised to high” –
From the Government’s website Number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and risk in the UK.
– – –
NHS VOLUNTEER RESPONDER FORM
See here
(The Government’s scheme to recruit 250,000 volunteers.)
– – –
OUR PLAN TO REBUILD: THE UK GOVERNMENT’S COVID-19 RECOVERY STRATEGY
See here. New as of Monday May 11.
GOVERNMENT GUIDANCE ON THE LOCKDOWN.
See here. New as of Tuesday June 2.
GOVERNMENT GUIDANCE ON SHIELDING AND PROTECTING PEOPLE WHO ARE CLINICALLY EXTREMELY VULNERABLE FROM COVID-19
See here. New as of Tuesday June 2.
GOVERNMENT GUIDANCE ON SOCIAL DISTANCING
See here. New as of Tuesday June 2.
GOVERNMENT WEBSITE: GENERAL ADVICE
See here.
GOVERNMENT WEBSITE: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS. WHAT YOU CAN DO AND CAN’T DO
See here.
GOVERNMENT GUIDANCE FOR LANDLORDS, TENANTS AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES NEW
See here. Published on Saturday March 28.
– – –
HOW TO AVOID CATCHING OR SPREADING CORONAVIRUS
Wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds .
Always wash your hands when you get home or into work .
Use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available .
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze .
Put used tissues in the bin straight away and wash your hands afterwards .
Try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell.
SYMPTOMS
The symptoms of coronavirus are:
A cough.
A high temperature.
Shortness of breath.
However, these symptoms do not necessarily mean you have the illness.
The symptoms are similar to other illnesses that are much more common, such as cold and flu.
USING 111
NHS 111 has an online coronavirus service that can tell you if you need medical help and advise you what to do.
Use this service if:
You think you might have coronavirus.
In the last 14 days you’ve been to a country or area with a high risk of coronavirus – see the coronavirus advice for travellers.
You’ve been in close contact with someone with coronavirus.
In Scotland call your GP or NHS 24 on 111 out of hours.
In Wales call 111 (if available in your area) or 0845 46 47.
In Northern Ireland call 111.
Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.
FURTHER LINKS TO GOVERNMENT ADVICE
– – –
(All information taken from Government sources.
Updated as of 19.00 on Friday June 12.)


conservativehome--2020-03-19--Stephen Booth: A decision on extending Brexit transition will be made sooner rather than later

Stephen Booth is Head of the Britain in the World Project at Policy Exchange .
This week , leaders across Europe announced a step-change in their response to the coronavirus pandemic .
“ We are at war ” , declared Emmanuel Macron in a televised address to the nation on Monday .
France is now in lockdown for an initial period of 15 days , with only the most essential movement permitted .
Angela Merkel announced similar measures in Germany .
Tourist travel has been banned and bars , theatres , museums , cinemas and non-essential shops have also been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in new public guidance following evidence that the virus is spreading more quickly , particularly in London , than initially thought .
The UK ’ s approach has been questioned for appearing to lack the urgency of some countries but others , such as the Netherlands and Sweden have adopted a similar strategy .
Rather than a full lockdown , the focus has been on managing the caseload facing healthcare systems by imposing the measures scientific advisors believe to be sustainable and most likely to suppress the spread of the virus .
Meanwhile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a sense of coordination to the European response after witnessing a raft of individual national measures .
Several EU states – the Czech Republic , Cyprus , Denmark , Hungary , Latvia , Lithuania , Poland , Slovakia , and Spain – unilaterally closed or partially closed their borders to non-nationals .
Long queues have formed at Poland ’ s border with Germany , with reports of lorries facing tailbacks of up to 40 kilometres .
Several countries , including Germany , have also imposed bans on the export of medical equipment , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countries are within their rights to pursue a national course , since the EU treaties grant a great deal of leeway over matters of public health or in a national emergency .
However , the European Commission has introduced EU-wide measures in an effort to persuade governments not to impose such controls on their fellow member states .
This includes a 30-day travel ban on non-EU nationals entering the Schengen passport-free area and a six-week ban on the export of key medical equipment outside the bloc , which only can be overridden by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an urgent global public health crisis .
The economic implications of the measures adopted by governments across the globe will be immense and the economy will need life support .
The UK has adopted Mario Draghi ’ s pledge , made during the height of the eurozone crisis , to do “ whatever it takes ” .
France and Spain have also unveiled emergency packages including direct payments to employees as well as loans and guarantees for companies to mitigate the impact of quarantining measures on demand across the economy .
The concern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the eurozone will need more help .
In Italy , the European country hit hardest by the virus , yields on government bonds have already risen as the crisis weighs on its economy and adds to its already sizeable sovereign debt .
Debate is already underway about how the eurozone ’ s bailout fund and the various instruments open the European Central Bank might play a role in ensuring adequate access to financing .
Many Italians felt abandoned by the EU during the eurozone and refugee crises , helping to launch anti-establishment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ afford a repeat over this crisis ?
It is understandable that the short-term measures taken by governments have been rather uncoordinated .
Ultimately , above all , they are responsible for the safety and wellbeing of their own citizens .
However , it is increasingly clear that we will be dealing with this crisis for the long haul and therefore it is important that there is a coordinated international response .
While the fiscal response of governments may be turning free market thinking upside down , as Ryan Bourne described on this site @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make the argument for free trade to ensure that medical equipment gets to where it is needed .
According to experts at the Word Bank , seven countries account for 70 per cent of world exports of ventilators for artificial respiration .
If export bans become the norm , global supply will be reduced and prices will increase for everyone , affecting the poorest countries the most .
Clearly current demand is unprecedented but protectionism can be self-defeating .
Hamilton Medical , the Swiss-based global market leader in the manufacture of ventilators , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recently classified a required component as a “ medical device ” , restricting its export .
Keeping markets open is essential to provide confidence to foreign companies willing to invest in producing this equipment .
Inevitably , the impact of the pandemic on the Brexit negotiations is becoming a live issue .
Given the scale of the current crisis , understandably the government is now focused on little else but battling the virus .
However , there are two distinct questions that arise .
Firstly , will the economic impact of the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UK might seek with the EU ?
It is difficult to see why this would be the case .
Secondly , what logistical impact will there be on the process ?
The answer to this second question could yet have a bearing on whether the UK and EU consider extending the transition , which is currently due to end on 31 December 2020 .
The UK is expected to publish its preferred draft trade agreement text soon , but this week ’ s round of talks has been postponed and both sides are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ future negotiating rounds .
Undoubtedly , some officials will be able to use technology to continue working on Brexit , and progress on reaching a deal could well be made this year .
Indeed , the crisis might impress on politicians the need to find a way through .
However , the bigger challenge is likely to be implementing whatever results from this year ’ s talks , be it a “ Canada-style ” deal or “ Australia-style ” no deal .
Both outcomes will require intensive cooperation between UK and EU governments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ systems and processes at a time when there are much bigger issues at stake .
Extending the transition would be politically tricky .
The government points out that the current deadline is enshrined in law .
There would also need to be another discussion about money .
Nevertheless , an extension in the new circumstances we find ourselves in would be very different from the extension proposed by many at the very outset of this process .
We have left the EU .
If talks on the future relationship are effectively paused , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attention elsewhere , an extension would provide more of a reset than extra time , which might have been used as negotiating leverage .
Ultimately , the battle against the virus is now the primary concern and a decision on transition does not need to be taken right now .
However , the question of a delay is likely to return sooner rather than later .

Stephen Booth is Head of the Britain in the World Project at Policy Exchange.
This week, leaders across Europe announced a step-change in their response to the coronavirus pandemic. “We are at war”, declared Emmanuel Macron in a televised address to the nation on Monday. France is now in lockdown for an initial period of 15 days, with only the most essential movement permitted. Angela Merkel announced similar measures in Germany. Tourist travel has been banned and bars, theatres, museums, cinemas and non-essential shops have also been closed.
The UK has also brought in new public guidance following evidence that the virus is spreading more quickly, particularly in London, than initially thought. The UK’s approach has been questioned for appearing to lack the urgency of some countries but others, such as the Netherlands and Sweden have adopted a similar strategy. Rather than a full lockdown, the focus has been on managing the caseload facing healthcare systems by imposing the measures scientific advisors believe to be sustainable and most likely to suppress the spread of the virus.
Meanwhile, the EU is trying to restore a sense of coordination to the European response after witnessing a raft of individual national measures. Several EU states – the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Denmark, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, and Spain – unilaterally closed or partially closed their borders to non-nationals. Long queues have formed at Poland’s border with Germany, with reports of lorries facing tailbacks of up to 40 kilometres. Several countries, including Germany, have also imposed bans on the export of medical equipment, including to other EU states.
These countries are within their rights to pursue a national course, since the EU treaties grant a great deal of leeway over matters of public health or in a national emergency. However, the European Commission has introduced EU-wide measures in an effort to persuade governments not to impose such controls on their fellow member states. This includes a 30-day travel ban on non-EU nationals entering the Schengen passport-free area and a six-week ban on the export of key medical equipment outside the bloc, which only can be overridden by government authorisation.
This is not only an urgent global public health crisis. The economic implications of the measures adopted by governments across the globe will be immense and the economy will need life support. The UK has adopted Mario Draghi’s pledge, made during the height of the eurozone crisis, to do “whatever it takes”. France and Spain have also unveiled emergency packages including direct payments to employees as well as loans and guarantees for companies to mitigate the impact of quarantining measures on demand across the economy.
The concern, however, is that certain members of the eurozone will need more help. In Italy, the European country hit hardest by the virus, yields on government bonds have already risen as the crisis weighs on its economy and adds to its already sizeable sovereign debt. Debate is already underway about how the eurozone’s bailout fund and the various instruments open the European Central Bank might play a role in ensuring adequate access to financing. Many Italians felt abandoned by the EU during the eurozone and refugee crises, helping to launch anti-establishment parties into government. Can the EU afford a repeat over this crisis?
It is understandable that the short-term measures taken by governments have been rather uncoordinated. Ultimately, above all, they are responsible for the safety and wellbeing of their own citizens. However, it is increasingly clear that we will be dealing with this crisis for the long haul and therefore it is important that there is a coordinated international response. While the fiscal response of governments may be turning free market thinking upside down, as Ryan Bourne described on this site yesterday, the UK should continue to make the argument for free trade to ensure that medical equipment gets to where it is needed.
According to experts at the Word Bank, seven countries account for 70 per cent of world exports of ventilators for artificial respiration. If export bans become the norm, global supply will be reduced and prices will increase for everyone, affecting the poorest countries the most. Clearly current demand is unprecedented but protectionism can be self-defeating. Hamilton Medical, the Swiss-based global market leader in the manufacture of ventilators, is reportedly facing supply bottlenecks because Romania recently classified a required component as a “medical device”, restricting its export. Keeping markets open is essential to provide confidence to foreign companies willing to invest in producing this equipment.
Inevitably, the impact of the pandemic on the Brexit negotiations is becoming a live issue. Given the scale of the current crisis, understandably the government is now focused on little else but battling the virus. However, there are two distinct questions that arise. Firstly, will the economic impact of the pandemic alter the type of future relationship the UK might seek with the EU? It is difficult to see why this would be the case. Secondly, what logistical impact will there be on the process? The answer to this second question could yet have a bearing on whether the UK and EU consider extending the transition, which is currently due to end on 31 December 2020.
The UK is expected to publish its preferred draft trade agreement text soon, but this week’s round of talks has been postponed and both sides are exploring whether video-conferencing can be used for future negotiating rounds. Undoubtedly, some officials will be able to use technology to continue working on Brexit, and progress on reaching a deal could well be made this year. Indeed, the crisis might impress on politicians the need to find a way through. However, the bigger challenge is likely to be implementing whatever results from this year’s talks, be it a “Canada-style” deal or “Australia-style” no deal. Both outcomes will require intensive cooperation between UK and EU governments and the private sector to ready new systems and processes at a time when there are much bigger issues at stake.
Extending the transition would be politically tricky. The government points out that the current deadline is enshrined in law. There would also need to be another discussion about money. Nevertheless, an extension in the new circumstances we find ourselves in would be very different from the extension proposed by many at the very outset of this process. We have left the EU. If talks on the future relationship are effectively paused, with the UK and EU focusing their attention elsewhere, an extension would provide more of a reset than extra time, which might have been used as negotiating leverage.
Ultimately, the battle against the virus is now the primary concern and a decision on transition does not need to be taken right now. However, the question of a delay is likely to return sooner rather than later.


conservativehome--2020-03-19--Shaun Bailey: Our communities are capable of greatness when we pull together

Shaun Bailey is a member of the London Assembly and the Conservative candidate for Mayor of London .
Growing up we were told about the famous ‘ Blitz spirit ’ .
My grandfather served in the British Army and I learned from him and other elders of personal sacrifice and difficulties faced by their generation in the face of great challenges .
These are uncertain times , which call for a new generation to step up and lead from the front .
We don ’ t yet know where the coronavirus is set to take us , but we do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and prolonged fight to keep it under control .
For many of us it will be the first time we ’ ve faced a material threat to our health and safety .
The 2008-09 global recession might have set us back financially , but it represented a different kind of threat to what we ’ re facing now .
People are scared .
I was a youth worker on the streets of west London for over 20 years and saw firsthand how people act in times of distress : it can be toug @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heads are ultimately needed .
And while it ’ s trite to simply call for a re-initiation of the ‘ Blitz spirit ’ to fight our fear , it ’ s clear that London will need an epidemic of coming together to see us through the rough days ahead .
Our families and cities have atomised as we ’ ve migrated to chase our educations and careers ; now it ’ s time to see if we can pull together as communities to care for each other .
The good news is that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Having done youth work on London ’ s streets for over 20 years , I know what good our communities are capable of when we pull together .
There might be many more languages and nationalities than in 1940 , but there is still only one London spirit and we will rally to this fight as Londoners .
The key to making a difference is first knowing that you can make a difference ; sometimes when problems appear too big we talk ourselves out of making our contributions .
But know this : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can ’ t fix coronavirus on your own , but you can ask one elderly neighbour if they ’ re alright or need help with their shopping .
You can pop your contact info through the doors on your street with an offer to help .
And you can also do the simple things that will help keep coronavirus at bay , like washing your hands and listening to the public health authorities .
For my part , I pledge to share only expert advice and keep my comments constructive ; people aren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minute .
I will continue to work constructively with the Prime Minister and the Government as well as within City Hall as a London-wide Assembly Member .
Local councillors and London MPs will also have my support .
We will get through this together , and we will get through it with a better sense of community and belonging .
If my experience has taught me anything , it is that heroes don ’ t wear capes , they just show up when they ’ re needed .
This is something we know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nurses , emergency responders , and other front line workers , but it is also true of ourselves .
It ’ s time for us ordinary Londoners to stand up and be counted .

Shaun Bailey is a member of the London Assembly and the Conservative candidate for Mayor of London.
Growing up we were told about the famous ‘Blitz spirit’. My grandfather served in the British Army and I learned from him and other elders of personal sacrifice and difficulties faced by their generation in the face of great challenges. These are uncertain times, which call for a new generation to step up and lead from the front.
We don’t yet know where the coronavirus is set to take us, but we do know that it will be a long and prolonged fight to keep it under control. For many of us it will be the first time we’ve faced a material threat to our health and safety. The 2008-09 global recession might have set us back financially, but it represented a different kind of threat to what we’re facing now. People are scared. I was a youth worker on the streets of west London for over 20 years and saw firsthand how people act in times of distress: it can be toug. However, personal responsibility and calm heads are ultimately needed.
And while it’s trite to simply call for a re-initiation of the ‘Blitz spirit’ to fight our fear, it’s clear that London will need an epidemic of coming together to see us through the rough days ahead. Our families and cities have atomised as we’ve migrated to chase our educations and careers; now it’s time to see if we can pull together as communities to care for each other.
The good news is that I know we can do it. Having done youth work on London’s streets for over 20 years, I know what good our communities are capable of when we pull together. There might be many more languages and nationalities than in 1940, but there is still only one London spirit and we will rally to this fight as Londoners.
The key to making a difference is first knowing that you can make a difference; sometimes when problems appear too big we talk ourselves out of making our contributions. But know this: even the littlest bit helps. You can’t fix coronavirus on your own, but you can ask one elderly neighbour if they’re alright or need help with their shopping. You can pop your contact info through the doors on your street with an offer to help. And you can also do the simple things that will help keep coronavirus at bay, like washing your hands and listening to the public health authorities.
For my part, I pledge to share only expert advice and keep my comments constructive; people aren’t looking for politics at the minute. I will continue to work constructively with the Prime Minister and the Government as well as within City Hall as a London-wide Assembly Member. Local councillors and London MPs will also have my support. We will get through this together, and we will get through it with a better sense of community and belonging.
If my experience has taught me anything, it is that heroes don’t wear capes, they just show up when they’re needed. This is something we know to be true of our doctors, nurses, emergency responders, and other front line workers, but it is also true of ourselves.
It’s time for us ordinary Londoners to stand up and be counted.


conservativehome--2020-03-20--Calling Conservatives: New public appointments announced. Chair of NHS Resolution – and more


conservativehome--2020-03-20--Sunak needs a big, big, bigger bazooka

Sunak needs a big, big, bigger bazooka