Politics latest news: We are not 'slamming the gates' in points-based immigration system, Boris Johnson says

Cat Neilan

13 July 2020 at 0:44 am·52-min read

Boris Johnson said there would be enough social care workers

The UK's new points-based immigration is not about "slamming the gates" shut, Boris Johnson has said, promising there will be enough recruits for the social care sector.

Speaking as the Government unveiled the details of the country's post-Brexit system, the Prime Minister said the UK will have a "humane and sensible" immigration system despite "taking back control" after Brexit.

Asked if he thinks there will be enough people coming in to work in the social care system, the Prime Minister told reporters: "I do... We're seeing huge numbers of people registering for their right to remain and that's great so we have a big, big stock of workers who are helping out in this country who have come from abroad."

Mr Johnson added: "Although of course we are going to be taking back control and we are controlling our immigration system we're not going to be simply slamming the gates and stopping anybody anywhere coming into this country."

His comments come amid confusion over whether social care workers will be given a special route to working the UK as part of a new NHS visa.

The points-based system announced today and outlined below gives eligible frontline workers receive fast-track entry with reduced application fees.

In a written ministerial statement, Priti Patel said: "We will be introducing a new-fast track health and care visa. This will make it easier and quicker for talented global health professionals to work in our brilliant NHS and in eligible occupations in the social care sector. "

However, Number 10 has since said that social care workers will not be included.

05:13 PM

That's it for today

The end of Michael Gove's statement on post-Brexit border controls rounds off a rather statement-heavy day.

The highlights include more details on the new points-based immigration system, accompanied with a Health and Care visa which, to the anger of some MPs, does not extend to social care workers.

The document also confirmed The Daily Telegraph's exclusive story today that foreign criminal jailed for more than a year will be banned from Britain.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister urged holidaymakers to take a "staycation" this year and confirmed he would be remaining in Britain this summer.

Elsewhere, ministers continued to sow confusion as to whether we should be wearing face masks in shops, although we are told the clarity is likely to be coming very shortly.

Whilst Mr Johnson appears to be in favour of making them mandatory, it appears our readers disagree.

According to our daily poll, 54 per cent of you believe it should be left to our discretion, compared with 38 per cent who believe it should be compulsory in enclosed spaces.

Just eight per cent of readers think they should be worn in all public spaces, including outdoors.

Please tune in again tomorrow from 8am.

04:43 PM

No lorry park sites confirmed

Former minister Damian Green raised concerns over the prospect of a permanent lorry park being developed in his constituency of Ashford.

Asking for clarity from Mr Gove, he said: "He may be aware that I consider the decision to put an outbound emergency lorry park in my constituency near where several thousand new homes are being built on one side and with a large hospital nearby on the other side to be wrong-headed.

"Can he confirm that when the transport minister writes to me that it is not the Government's plan to develop this area as a permanent lorry park, that that is indeed Government policy and can he let the House know what environmental impact assessment has been done for the site?"

Mr Gove responded: "It is not the case that any specific site has been absolutely confirmed. We're in commercial negotiations with a number of sites and as and when they are confirmed I will let him know. It is also the case that some of the infrastructure will be temporary, some will be permanent.

"But can I extend to him and all Kent Members of Parliament an opportunity to come into the Cabinet Office to discuss with me and officials the approach that we're taking."

04:38 PM

Michael Gove asked for clarity on lorry parks

Labour's Hilary Benn, the chairman of the Commons future EU relations committee, asked Mr Gove whether the plans to construct lorry parks to assist the post-Brexit border system would be for vehicles leaving the UK, for those entering, or both.

Mr Gove does not give a straight answer, although he suggests it will be the former.

"One of the most helpful things that came out of the Government's announcement was the commitment to construct new control infrastructure away from the port, away from the key pinch point and combined with the GVMS system to which he alludes this will ensure that we have the free flow of freight, none of the anticipated problems that have been mentioned," he told MPs.

"As a result, this investment infrastructure will ensure we have lorries moving out of the UK to the EU with our high quality goods."

04:26 PM

All systems go by 2021

Michael Gove pledged that all systems will be in place by the end of the Brexit transition period to ensure there is a fully operational border.

He told MPs: "It is the case that the GVMS (Goods Vehicle Movement Service) is going to be in place, as all systems are, so that we can have a fully operational border and it is of course the case that the additional infrastructure of the £705 million we've announced will ensure that it is in place on time.

"That additional infrastructure is there specifically in order to ensure that when vehicles arrive in Calais that they have passed through all the necessary checks and then they can proceed smoothly to market."

04:17 PM

Michael Gove asked for assurances on Northern Ireland

Rachel Reeves says that businesses need clarity on trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland in order to prepare and asks Mr Gove whether a deal with the EU can be expected in the next fortnight.

She adds that MPs were told to expect no fees, charges, tariffs or restrictions on goods across all sectors, adding: "It does not mean, as we had in the statement today, customs, physical checks, export declarations, a commodity code, economic operator restrictions and identification and it certainly doesn't mean a living document with guidance that changes day by day."

Responding, Mr Gove said that progress had been made but there were "significant differences" between the UK negotiators and their counterparts in Brussels.

04:04 PM

Border model is a 'picture of chaos', claims Labour

Commenting on the new border model, Labour's Rachel Reeves said a leaked letter from International Trade Secretary Liz Truss to Michael Gove "presents a picture of chaos".

Ms Reeves told MPs: "It is vital that businesses and jobs are supported and that the oven ready deal that the country was promised is delivered upon this year, and yet frankly, many of us are worried about whether the oven was even turned on.

"There have been alarm bells ringing within the Cabinet this last week expressed by the Trade Secretary in her extraordinary letter to (Mr Gove) and to the Chancellor of the Exchequer written on 8 July.

"The letter presents a picture of chaos, complacency and confusion right at the top of Government."

03:57 PM

Three stages for new border controls

Mr Gove reiterates that the new post-Brexit border controls will come in three stages up to the 31 July 2021.

In the first phase from January, traders importing standard goods will have to prepare for basic customs requirements. Full customs declarations will be need for goods such as alcohol and tobacco.

However, people importing these goods will have six months to make their declaration and pay tariffs on them.

In the second phase starting April 2021, all products of animal origin, as well as plant products, will need pre-notification and relevant health documents. Physical checks will take place at the point of destination.

In the third phase in July, traders moving all goods will have to make full customs declarations at the point of importation and pay relevant tariffs.

Checks for animal and plant products will take place at border control posts in Great Britain.

03:52 PM

Details on Northern Ireland will come later

Mr Gove said the Government's border operating model does not cover matters relating specifically to the Northern Ireland protocol.

This is because the customs arrangements for Northern Ireland are different to Great Britain.

Mr Gove told MPs: "Let me reassure the House the guidance specific to Northern Ireland will be published in the coming weeks and on an ongoing basis throughout the transition period.

"The actions we're taking today are an important step towards readiness for the new opportunities that Brexit can bring. It is time for our new start, time for us to embrace a new global destiny."

03:42 PM

Government publishes model for new border

An extra 215 million customs declarations could be required annually under new post-Brexit border controls, it is understood.

Each customs form will cost about £32, HMRC has said.

Despite the Brexit transition period ending this year, the full tracking of vehicle movements will also not be in place until next July.

This is the first time the Government has published an operating model for the border. It runs to 206 pages, and spells out how the import and export system will work.

Mr Gove said more than £700 million will be spent on building new infrastructure, hiring staff and developing technology to ensure that Britain's border systems are fully operational when the transition ends.

"The publication of the border operating model is an important step which gives business the certainty and direction they need to prepare for the end of the transition period when the UK becomes an independent trading nation for the first time in nearly 50 years," he added.

"We are committed to working closely with businesses and the border industry to help deliver not just a fully operational border at the end of the transition period, but also the world's most effective and secure border in the world by 2025."

New border infrastructure will be built inland where there is no space at ports, while ports will get one-off financial support to ensure the right infrastructure is in place.

There will be 10-12 inland sites.

The funding relates only to the implementation of the GB-EU border, and the Government is expected to publish specific guidance and measures for Northern Ireland in the coming weeks.

03:37 PM

Michael Gove sets out new Brexit information campaign

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is currently updating MPs on the latest Brexit developments.

Today the Government is announcing two significant new initiatives: a new public information campaign to help businesses and Britons adjust to new rules and requirements after the transition period ends, and the new model for how the GB-EU border will work.

Mr Gove starts by reiterating that the UK has ruled out any extension of the transition period, and that Brussels has accepted this.

He says that as the UK embarks on "the next chapter of our history", it will take back control in key areas, as well as building a new trading relationship with the EU as well as countries such as the US, Japan or Australia.

However, with ministers insisting the UK will be leaving the single market and customs union regardless of the deal reached, he says there is a need for the public and businesses to begin preparing for the changes due to take effect next year.

03:26 PM

Ministers under pressure over resumption of arm sales to Saudi Arabia

Labour's shadow international trade secretary Emily Thornberry has called for the Government to publish the assessment into the decision to allow arms sales to Saudi Arabia that could be used in the conflict with Yemen.

However, Greg Hands, the international trade minister, told MPs that confidentiality of intelligence means the Government will not publish the assessments.

He said: "She asked for a full analysis of each incident. Clearly those different incidents that took place in Yemen will be informed often by confidential information that comes to the Government not necessarily from Saudi Arabia.

"It would not be appropriate for us to publish those assessments.

"What we have published however is the consolidated criteria and also the quarterly lists of each licence that has been granted."

02:50 PM

Government has 'every support' for care sector, says minister

The Government ensures "every support" for the care sector - but immigration should not be used as an alternative to proper pay and training, a minister has said.

Shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds challenged Home Office minister Kevin Foster over the new points-based immigration system, after it emerged that social care workers would not be included in the new health and care visa.

Mr Thomas-Symonds, the MP for Torfaen, said he was "disappointed if unfortunately not shocked" at their exclusion, adding: "After the Prime Minister accused care workers of not following the guidance on Covid-19 and now this, can the Home Secretary please answer a simple question: What does the Government have against care workers?"

Mr Foster, the MP for Torbay, replied: "We have every support for our care workers and senior care workers will qualify under the new points-based system."

He stressed the "vision for the social care sector is not to carry on looking abroad to recruit at or near the minimum wage when we need to prioritise jobs here in this country."

Mr Foster added: "We are engaging regularly with the care sector, we're listening to what they said, but our priority is that these jobs should be valued, rewarded and trained for, not immigration be an alternative to that."

02:43 PM

Government treating social care sector as 'second class citizens', associations claim

The Government's decision to exclude social care workers from its new immigration rules is further proof of how the sector is treated as "second class citizens", associations have claimed.

Vic Rayner, executive director of the National Care Forum, said the system being brought forward "does not recognise the skills of those workers, and indeed the huge commitment and contribution of staff from around the world who are today involved in the delivery of care to millions of UK citizens".

She added: "We need to ensure that those workers continue to feel welcome, and to be able to bring their skills and expertise."

Mark Adams, chief executive of Community Integrated Care, warned there was already a shortage of 122,000 workers in social care in the UK.

He said: "Clearly the biggest opportunity to build the workforce capacity that the care sector desperately needs is by recruiting from within this country - this simply will not be possible so long as social care remains, largely, a minimum wage sector due to the restricted funding that care providers receive."

Martin Green, chief executive of Care England, said excluding social care workers was "another example of the way in which the Government treats social care staff as second class citizens".

He added: "There will be a continuing need for overseas staff, until the Government delivers a proper workforce strategy for social care and also the money required to give the staff the salaries and conditions they richly deserve."

02:30 PM

Home Office minister defends social care health surcharge from Labour attacks

A Home Office minister has been forced to defend the Government's new immigration system after it emerged that social care workers would not be included in the NHS visa.

Yvette Cooper, the Labour MP who chairs the Home Affairs Committee, said not exempting those frontline workers from the health surcharge would cost them "thousands of pounds".

Fellow Labour MP Rushanara Ali said it was "an insult to their sacrifices" made during the coronavirus crisis, saying: "The fact that the Government is taking so long to implement the promise that the Prime Minister made is an added insult."

Home Office minister Kevin Foster responded: "Refund payments have already started and we are imminent to implement the new health and care visa which will see those under it exempt. So work is continuing and to be clear, the health surcharge is about creating resources for the NHS and has supported the NHS.

"But we've announced this policy and we're driving it forward."

The new health and care visa would be brought in "significantly before" January 1 next year.

He told the Commons: "The details published this morning relate to the new system beyond January 1 (2021), however to be clear, we will refund those who've paid it since March 31, not just since the time when the Prime Minister made the announcement.

"And we expect to bring in the new health and care visa significantly before January 1 and we're planning actually before October 1 to have it in place and that means people will therefore applying for that will not have to pay the surcharge."

02:22 PM

Young people and women could be disproportionately affected by immigration system

Young people and women could be disproportionately affected by the Government's new immigration rules, according to an equality impact assessment.

The salary threshold for skilled workers is due to be lowered from £30,000 to £25,600 under the new plan, but migrants will still need to be paid the higher of the occupational specific salary threshold and the general salary threshold.

The Home Office assessment of the new points-based system - which is due to come into force on January 1 after freedom of movement ends - said younger workers both from within and outside the European Economic Area (EEA) could be particularly affected.

It said: "The skills and salary thresholds may have a particular impact on younger EEA workers and, although they broaden out the route for non-EEA citizens, may continue to have an impact on younger non-EEA workers."

But it added: "Although setting the salary threshold at the proposed levels may impact on certain age groups, the Government considers it is justified in order to protect the level of wages earned in the UK and to ensure that migrants are able to support themselves without relying on public funds."

The continued existence of the gender pay gap means more women than men could struggle to meet the minimum salary required, the report added.

02:16 PM

Employers should train and invest domestic workers, says minister

mployers should focus on improving the skills of their workforce rather than relying on immigrant labour, the Home Officer minister has said.

Kevin Foster said while the proposed points-based immigration system would still allow businesses to attract the "brightest and the best from around the world" the onus would be on businesses to upskill UK resident workers.

During Home Office questions, Tory MP Lee Anderson (Ashfield) asked for assurances the Government would implement a "firm but fair" immigration system while ensuring "British jobs for British workers."

Responding for the Government, Mr Foster said: "The points-based system will support our wider economic strategy by encouraging investment in the domestic UK workforce while ensuring that businesses can still attract the brightest and the best from the around the world."

He added: "We want employers to focus on training and investing in our domestic workforce, driving productivity and improving opportunities for resident workers with immigration policy being a part of, not an alternative to our strategy for the UK labour market."

02:00 PM

After 100 days, Keir Starmer needs to offer voters more than 'not being Jeremy Corbyn'

The new Labour leader has been in place for 100 days. After several years under Jeremy Corbyn, Sir Keir Starmer is a breath of fresh air - but a sense of relief will not be enough to win back former supporters.

With the moderate, centrist, sensible Sir Keir now at the helm, Tom Harris wonders: had Starmer rather than Corbyn been leader in the last five years, would he have resigned in the first place? And the honest answer is no.

01:50 PM

Government missed at least half of all test targets, says fact-checking charity

Full Fact, the fact-checking charity, has offered a fairly bruising assessment of the Government's targets when it has come to testing.

Three of the six targets were missed, but questions have been raised over the targets that were met including when the target was set, and how the Government is defining its parameters.

The government set itself six targets on Covid-19 testing.

Here's how they did ▼https://t.co/0rhQRfktDq pic.twitter.com/XTbc3P9ptT
— Full Fact (@FullFact) July 13, 2020

The full details can be found on Full Fact's website here.

01:41 PM

Further 11 people die with coronavirus: NHS England

A further 11 people who tested positive for the coronavirus have died in English hospitals, NHS has confirmed.

That brings the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 29,077.

Patients were aged between 72 and 95 years old, and all had known underlying health conditions.

There were no deaths recorded in the East of England, the South East and the South West, while there was one death in London and two in the Midlands. The North East and Yorkshire was the worst-affected region, with six deaths recorded.

01:37 PM

Priti Patel answering questions in the Commons

Priti Patel is now answering regular Home Office questions in the Commons, which starts with questions about domestic abuse.

There are some opportunities for MPs to quiz her about the new points-based immigration system, however, which seems likely given Labour's reaction so far.

Shame on the Government.

Their new 'Health and Care Visa' excludes social care workers.

After months of publicly clapping for carers, last week the PM blamed them for COVID deaths and now tells them they're not welcome to live and work here. Outrageous.
— Dr Rosena Allin-Khan (@DrRosena) July 13, 2020

01:34 PM

Face masks won't save Britain's economy

Will they? Won't they? Boris Johnson has promised an answer on whether face masks are going to become mandatory this week, and despite Michael Gove's best efforts it seems likely that is where we are headed.

Of course the real challenge is not whether or not we should all be going about our business looking like extras from a Ninja movie. It’s whether people can be convinced to cross the thresholds of Primark or Pizza Express once again.

As Alexandra Phillips writes, the mask debate is really a mask for a broader economic one.

01:20 PM

Government poised for 'biggest flu vaccination programme in history' says minister

The Government has procured enough vaccine to roll out the "biggest flu vaccination programme in history", the Health Secretary has said.

Matt Hancock said planning was already under way for dealing with the expected surge in demand on the NHS due to seasonal pressures over winter, including flu.

Speaking at the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) virtual conference on Monday, Mr Hancock said that following the coronavirus outbreak he was expecting high demand for flu jabs over winter.

But he said enough vaccine had already been procured for the "biggest flu vaccine programme in history", but added it would be a "big task".

"We all know that having had an incredibly hard six months the next big moment is as winter approaches," he said.

"We are currently planning in detail for winter. We are expecting high demand. We want the flu vaccine programme to be the biggest flu vaccine programme in history. We have procured enough vaccine to be able to deliver on that, but then it's a big task."

01:02 PM

Watch: Boris Johnson says face masks 'should be worn' in shops

Boris Johnson attempted to clarify the Government's position on face masks today, after he appeared to be contradicted by one of his ministers over the weekend.

The Prime Minister had said on Friday that he was minded to make the rules "stricter", hinting that coverings would be made compulsory for people going into shops and other enclosed spaces. However Michael Gove yesterday suggested otherwise.

Watch what the Prime Minister had to say today and decide for yourself which way the wind is blowing - then have your say in our poll, if you haven't already.

12:55 PM

What are the latest rules for socialising?

How many households can meet up in a public spaces in Wales? Or what about an indoor spot in Scotland?

If the latest lockdown guidelines are proving hard to follow, fear not. All the most up-to-date guidance, for each of the four nations, is below.

12:48 PM

Government's social care decision attacked by Age UK

An Age UK boss has also attacked the Government's decision not to include social care workers in the new health and care visa.

Despite the document published by the Home Secretary this morning saying that "eligible" social care workers would qualify (11:28am), a subsequent Number 10 briefing suggested that was not the case (12:29pm).

Caroline Abrahams, charity director for Age UK, said this was "patently the wrong decision", saying the "prudent approach" would be to allow firms to recruit EU workers for the next three-to-five year "at least".

@age_uk thinks this is patently the wrong decision. Reforming and refinancing care will take time, if it happens at all, so the prudent approach would be to keep the door open to EU based social care staff at all levels for 3-5 years at least. https://t.co/mKaxlEuPEd
— Caroline Abrahams (@Car_Abrahams) July 13, 2020

12:37 PM

Boss of biggest trade union retires after 20 years

The leader of the UK's biggest trade union will stand down at the end of the year after 20 years in the role.

Dave Prentis, who has been general secretary of Unison since 2001, is to retire on December 31, when his term of office ends.

Mr Prentis said: "As the health crisis turns to an economic crisis, I will be here to continue to lead Unison until the end of this year. There's much still to do - holding the Government to account for its handling of the pandemic, ensuring proper funding for our public services and a decent pay rise for all their hardworking employees."

A timetable for electing his successor will be agreed by the union's national executive by the end of the month.

12:36 PM

Lord Timble: Boris Johnson cannot allow his Brexit deal to rip up the Good Friday Agreement

The border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, together with the abuse and misuse of the Good Friday Agreement (GFA), has been used as the Trojan Horse by which the EU has sought to undermine the UK's attempt to gain back sovereignty, Lord Trimble writes for the Telegraph today.

It is important that in the final deliberations the Government steels itself to remove the unacceptable concessions made on the GFA and the damage done to the UK's aim to take back control from Brussels in the Withdrawal Agreement.

12:20 PM

Labour blasts Government over social care immigration rule

Labour's shadow home secretary has blasted the Government for not recognising care workers as skilled, after it emerged that those employed in the sector would not qualify for health visa in new post-Brexit immigration plans.

Despite the new points-based immigration system saying that "eligible" frontline workers, Downing Street confirmed earlier today that social care workers would not be included (12:29pm).

Nick Symonds-Thomas tweeted: "What does this Government have against care workers? The latest papers on the proposed immigration system confirm that the Tories do not consider carers as skilled workers. Have they learned nothing from this crisis? We will be seeking urgent clarification on this."

What does this Government have against care workers? The latest papers on the proposed immigration system confirm that the Tories do not consider carers as skilled workers. Have they learned nothing from this crisis? We will be seeking urgent clarification on this. https://t.co/VHnPVmCt9a
— Nick Thomas-Symonds MP (@NickTorfaen) July 13, 2020

11:53 AM

Our fearful leaders are failing to stand up to the radical woke minority

How is it that a minority of extreme activists can dictate to politicians, broadcasters, universities, firms and the wider world what can and cannot be said, and who can and cannot say it? Why do they get to determine the true meaning of words written or spoken by others?

The answer, according to Nick Timothy, comes from an old political thinker. “An organised minority,” Gaetano Mosca once said, “inevitably forces its will upon the disorganised majority.”

11:49 AM

No new coronavirus deaths in Scotland for fifth day in a row, says Nicola Sturgeon

No new coronavirus deaths have been reported in Scotland for the fifth day in a row, Nicola Sturgeon has announced.

The First Minister told the Scottish Government's coronavirus briefing 2,490 patients have died in Scotland after testing positive for Covid-19, no change on Wednesday's figure.

She said 18,365 people have tested positive for the virus in Scotland, up by six from 18,359 on Sunday.

This follows 19 new cases on Sunday, of which 12 were in Glasgow.

Of those, seven related to a single care home, and those who were found to have the virus were asymptomatic.

Speaking at the briefing, Ms Sturgeon said: "That is being looked at in much greater detail and all necessary follow up tests, checks and precautions are being undertaken."

The First Minister did not say which care home the cases were from, nor did she say if it was residents or members of staff who had tested positive.

11:47 AM

Wales makes face masks mandatory on public transport

Face coverings will be mandatory on public transport in Wales from July 27, First Minister Mark Drakeford has said.

He told a press conference in Cardiff: "Public transport moves across our porous border with England. There, the use of face coverings is mandatory on public transport.

"And for the sake of simplicity and consistency, as well as being part of our plan to help reduce the risk of transmissions while on public transport where it is not possible to maintain a two-metre physical distance, it will become mandatory in Wales."

It has been mandatory to wear face masks on public transport in England since mid-June; however Boris Johnson is under pressure to extend that to include shops.

11:35 AM

Labour demands clarity over Government's face mask position

Labour has asked the Government for urgent clarity on over whether face masks should be mandatory after "conflicting statements" from ministers.

On Friday Boris Johnson hinted that a rule change was in the pipeline, suggesting it was time for "stricter" measures - something he has reiterated today. However yesterday Michael Gove said they should not be made mandatory.

Jonathan Ashworth, Labour’s shadow health secretary, has written to Matt Hancock, asking which is the Government's official position.

He wrote: “Conflicting advice and conflicting statements from the Government only hinder our fight against the virus. Clear communication is vital in combatting the spread of Covid-19.

“For the public to know that they are doing the right thing in shops, restaurants and other crowded places, I am asking that you urgently set out the position on face coverings.

“As lockdown rules are further relaxed this week, it is vital that updated guidance on this issue is published by the Government without delay.”

11:29 AM

Lobby latest: Social care workers will not qualify for NHS visa

Downing Street has said that social care workers would not be able to take advantage of the new NHS visa.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "We want employers to invest more in training and development for care workers in this country.

"On care workers specifically, our independent migration advisers have said that immigration is not the sole answer here, which is why we have provided councils with an additional £1.5 billion of funding for social care in 2021/22, as well as launching a new recruitment campaign."

Existing European Union workers in the care sector could apply to stay in the UK through the settlement scheme "and a very large number have done so", the spokesman said.

"Those people will remain in the UK providing really important care to the elderly and the vulnerable."

11:25 AM

Prime Minister encourages people to take staycation this year

Boris Johnson has said he will take a "staycation" this year, and encouraged people to holiday at home.

"I think this is a great, great year for people to have a staycation. This country is uniquely blessed with fantastic places to holiday, whether coastal or otherwise," the Prime Minister told reporters during a visit to the London Ambulance Service.

"And I am certainly going to be doing that, but I won't necessarily tell you where at this stage.

"Obviously if people feel the need for a foreign holiday then that's completely a matter for them, I totally understand it, but there are fantastic, fantastic places, peerless, wonderful, superlative places in the UK to go on holiday and that's certainly what I will be doing."

11:23 AM

White supremacist group Feuerkrieg Division banned by Government

A white supremacist terrorist group which supports violent race war and targets young people has been banned by the Government.

Home Secretary Priti Patel has asked Parliament for permission to proscribe Feuerkrieg Division, which the Government says was founded in late 2018 and operates across North America and Europe.

Ms Patel said: "This vile white supremacist group advocates violence and seeks to sow division, targeting young and vulnerable people online.

"I am determined to do everything I can to stop the spread of extreme ideologies that encourage and glorify terrorism, which is why I have taken action to proscribe this group."

11:22 AM

Lobby latest: Downing Street defends migrant crossing response

Downing Street defended its response to migrants crossing the English Channel, after this weekend saw a new record reached.

As reported earlier (9:57am), at least 180 migrants were able to cross the English Channel to the UK on Sunday, according to the Home Office.

But Number 10 has insisted authorities are working hard to stamp out the problem, with 259 arrests and 101 convictions for the offence of people-smuggling itself so far this year.

"Last year there were 418 arrests made, which led to 203 convictions and a total of 437 years in prison," the Prime Minister's official spokesman said.

"We have been working very closely with the French to stop the illegal channel crossings," he added.

"The French government and others have been clearing migrant camps, patrolling beaches, and have stopped over 1,000 migrant crossings this year."

Officials insisted that migrants were returned back across the Channel "wherever possible".

11:14 AM

Lobby latest: Formal review in masks underway as UK ups domestic production capability

A formal review is under way into whether masks should be made mandatory in public places in England, while work is undertaken to produce face masks domestically, the Government has said.

Boris Johnson has in recent days appeared ready to back a shift towards making face masks mandatory in enclosed spaces. However this was contradicted by Michael Gove during an interview yesterday.

The Number 10 official said today: "A formal review is taking place and we will be discussing it with scientific advisers this week and setting out a final position in the next few days."

Asked whether there is new evidence behind Boris Johnson's thinking, the spokesman said: "I've always said we would keep this under review and so have the experts who advise the Government."

It comes as the UK invests "significantly increasing our capacity to manufacture face masks in the UK", according to Downing Street.

"Lord (Theodore) Agnew is leading a drive to ensure we have face masks manufacturing ability and to increase production of PPE," the spokesman added.

11:10 AM

Lobby latest: Work from home guidance under review

Number 10 said the current work from home guidance is under review after Boris Johnson encouraged employees last week to go back to work where they could.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "What the advice says is that employers should decide in consultation with their workers whether it is viable for them to continue working from home.

"Where it is decided that workers should come in to their place of work, then this will need to be reflected in the risk assessment and actions taken to manage to risk of transmission.

"The PM set out on Friday that if you're obeying the guidelines, and provided it is safe, then you should look to go back to work."

Asked whether the guidelines would be updated, the spokesman said: "The guidance we have is under review but it does say employers and employees should discuss and agree working arrangements to best suit the needs of the business."

11:07 AM

Lobby latest: Huawei stance to be made public 'as soon as possible'

Downing Street said any change to the Government's stance on Huawei would be presented to Parliament "as soon as possible".

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "I think we've said we will be in a position to say more on the NCSC (National Cyber Security Centre) review into the impact of the US sanctions soon, and we've also said that if there is a change in the Government's position then we would deliver an update to Parliament as soon as possible.

"What the NCSC review is looking at is the possible impact of the US sanctions and they will have studied exactly what they entail and looked at all the relevant parts of the UK's communication network to see if they are affected."

The spokesman said he was not going to "pre-empt" the review's findings, when asked about BT's warning that it would take more than a decade to remove Huawei entirely from the UK's network.

10:59 AM

New immigration system 'not simply slamming the gates', Prime Minister promises

Boris Johnson has said the UK will have a "humane and sensible" immigration system despite "taking back control" after Brexit.

Asked if he thinks there will be enough people coming in to work in the social care system, the Prime Minister told reporters: "I do.

"Don't forget, one of the amazing things we've seen in the last few months is actually there are more EU nationals, I'm proud to say, living and working in this country than we even thought.

"We're seeing huge numbers of people registering for their right to remain and that's great so we have a big, big stock of workers who are helping out in this country who have come from abroad.

"Although of course we are going to be taking back control and we are controlling our immigration system we're not going to be simply slamming the gates and stopping anybody anywhere coming into this country.

"Where people can contribute to this country, where people want to make their lives and do great things for this country, of course we're going to have a humane and sensible system."

10:55 AM

Brussels rules out renegotiating 'poison pill' Brexit treaty

Brussels has ruled out renegotiating the Brexit treaty after the European Research Group of MPs branded it a "poison pill for UK sovereignty".

A 120-page report compiled by pro-Leave MPs and lawyers states that exiting the transition period with the current provisions of the agreement in place would have "crippling" consequences for the UK and prevent the country from becoming a "fully sovereign state".

Mark Francois, the ERG chairman, said the remaining elements of the Withdrawal Agreement, particularly the continued role of the European Court of Justice after transition "cannot be allowed to stand as they are".

But today a European Commission spokesman said: "The Withdrawal Agreement is already in force and we are now dedicating all our efforts to agree our new partnership with the UK.

"We are not renegotiating the Withdrawal Agreement. We are negotiating our future partnership with the United Kingdom."

News to surprise no-one - Brussels won't renegotiate the Withdrawal Agreement even though the European Research Group (which voted for it) wants its too.
1/
— James Crisp (@JamesCrisp6) July 13, 2020

10:42 AM

Government should 'just raise pay' of social care now

The new points-based immigration system is unlikely to affect the NHS - but salaries in social care must rise, the former chair of the Migration Advisory Committee has said.

Priti Patel, the Home Secretary, has just revealed the details of the scheme, which include a fast-track visa for eligible occupations in the health and social care.

Alan Manning, professor of economics at the London School of Economics, told the Today programme that new plans to include an "NHS visa" for health care workers was "probably a good idea, but not really game-changing for those sectors", because the relatively high salary meant most jobs would come above the new salary threshold for overseas workers.

"The health care sector is predicted to be the least affected because most jobs are eligible anyway," he said. "The NHS, although people worry about it a lot because it is incredibly important sector, is not predicted to see a big impact [from the new immigration system].

However there was a "really serious problem" in social care because "they just don't offer competitive pay and other conditions," he said, noting there were "plenty of [British] people able to do those jobs but they don't want to ."

He added: "They need to find the money to pay those workers properly... Of course, it's quite easy to say these workers deserve to be paid more - it’s a bit harder to find that money."

But Prof Manning noted that the Government was "spending money hand over fist in all sorts of areas", concluding they should "just raise their pay now".

Priti Patel

10:32 AM

PM to make face masks announcement 'in next few days'

Boris Johnson has said the Government will make an announcement "in the next few days" on whether face coverings should be mandatory in shops.

"They have a great deal of value in confined spaces where you're coming into contact with people you don't normally meet," the Prime Minister told reporters during a visit to the London Ambulance Service.

"The scientific evaluation of face coverings and their importance on stopping aerosol droplets, that's been growing, so I do think that in shops it is very important to wear a face covering if you're going to be in a confined space and you want to protect other people and receive protection in turn.

"Yes, face coverings, I think people should be wearing in shops, and in terms of how we do that - whether we will be making that mandatory or not - we will be looking at the guidance, we will be saying a little bit more in the next few days."

What do you think? Have your say in the poll below

10:28 AM

'Eigible' social care workers can use NHS visa, says Home Secretary

Eligible workers in the social care sector will be able to access the so-called NHS visa, enabling them to circumvent some of the requirements of the UK's new points-based immigration system, Priti Patel has confirmed.

The Home Secretary said the new system would "encourage employers to invest in the domestic UK workforce, rather than simply relying on labour from abroad", while also attract "the best and brightest" where we have skills gaps.

She added: "We will be introducing a new-fast track health and care visa. This will make it easier and quicker for talented global health professionals to work in our brilliant NHS and in eligible occupations in the social care sector. The visa fee will be reduced and health professionals applying can expect a decision on whether they can work in the UK within just three weeks, following biometric enrolment.

"We will exempt frontline workers in the health and social care sector and wider health workers from the requirement to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge."

The Government is also "refining" the visa process for students and launching a graduate route next summer, the statement said, adding: "The student route will be streamlined for sponsoring institutions and applicants, and the graduate route will help retain the brightest and the best students to contribute to the UK post-study."

10:21 AM

Health and care visa to provide fast-track entry for doctors and nurses

The Home Office has just published a new written ministerial statement setting out further details of the UK's post-immigration status.

It includes the health and care visa announced by Priti Patel over the weekend, which will be incorporated into the new points-based immigration system under the "Skilled Worker" route. Under the new scheme, frontline staff from overseas will be given fast-track entry to the UK, with reduced application fees. They and their families will also be exempt from paying the immigration health surcharge.

It also flags that anyone already in the UK who has been sentenced to a year or more in prison "must be considered for deportation".

"Where the 12-month criminality deportation threshold is not met, a foreign criminal will still be considered for deportation where it is conducive to the public good, including where they have serious or persistent criminality," it says.

"For EU citizens who are protected by the Withdrawal Agreement or the UK's domestic implementation of the withdrawal agreements, the tougher UK criminality thresholds will apply to conduct committed after the end of the transition period.

"The EU public policy, public security or public health test will continue to apply to their conduct committed before the end of the transition period."

10:12 AM

Leicester's infection rate is not falling steadily

Leicester's rate of new Covid-19 cases has fallen from its recent peak, but is not declining steadily, the latest data suggests.

The equivalent of 115.4 cases per 100,000 people were detected in the seven days to July 9, according to the latest figures from NHS England.

This is down slightly on 119.9 cases per 100,000 people in the previous seven days to July 2.

Rolling data for the seven-day rate of new cases in the city shows a peak of 159.1 cases per 100,000 people in the seven days to June 25.

Since then the seven-day rate has gone down, though it is not dropping steadily.

For example, the rate jumped from 115.1 for the seven days to July 4 to 127.5 for the seven days to July 5.

09:32 AM

Immigration document: what to expect

With the latest details of the post-Brexit immigration system due to be published shortly, The Telegraph's Charles Hymas has a detailed preview of what we can expect...

Foreign criminals sentenced to more than a year in jail will be banned from Britain under new immigration rules.

Priti Patel, the Home Secretary, will on Monday set out details of the points-based system which will replace freedom of movement from January 1.

The 130-page document will abolish the route into the UK for unskilled migrants and instead award points to applicants if they have skilled job offers, speak English and meet minimum salary thresholds.

The new system will mean that EU citizens, including criminals, will be treated in the same way as migrants from the rest of the world with businesses expected to do more to recruit British workers and end their reliance on cheap foreign labour.

And it will give the Government powers to exclude or deport any foreign criminal who has received a prison sentence of more than a year.

You can read more here.

08:57 AM

Record migrant crossings on Sunday

At least 180 migrants were able to cross the English Channel to the UK on Sunday - a new single day record.

They were among more than 380 migrants who attempted the crossing, the Home Office confirmed on Monday morning.

More than 200 migrants were intercepted by the French and prevented from reaching the UK.

08:38 AM

A pint at Wetherspoon to get even cheaper ... thanks to the Sunak Special

The Pub giant is to reduce prices on meals and drinks following the decision to cut VAT on food, coffee and soft drinks.

It even produced posters praising the Chancellor.

Messages including Sunak's Specials and Dishi Rishi will be displayed alongside details of lower prices on some drinks and food following the decision to reduce VAT from 20% to 5%.

The company said it will fully pass on the tax cut to its customers from Wednesday, including real ale, coffee, soft drinks, breakfasts and other food.

Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin said:

Wetherspoon has campaigned for tax equality between pubs, restaurants and supermarkets for many years.

Supermarkets pay no VAT on food sales and pubs pay 20%.

Supermarkets pay about two pence per pint of business rates and pubs pay about 20 pence.

These tax differences have helped supermarkets to subsidise their selling prices of beer, wine and spirits, enabling them to capture about half of pubs' beer sales, for example, in the past forty years.

A VAT reduction will help pubs and restaurants reverse this trend - creating more jobs, helping high streets and eventually generating more tax income for the Government.

08:02 AM

Local lockdowns running at a hundred per week, Matt Hancock reveals

More than 100 outbreaks of coronavirus are happening each week, Matt Hancock has revealed, as it emerged door-to-door testing will be used increasingly to contain localised infections.

Writing for The Telegraph, the Health Secretary said many outbreaks were being dealt with “swiftly and silently”, through small lockdowns and new testing regimes such as portable walk-in centres.

Read the full story here.

07:59 AM

Have your say on: face masks

The value of face masks has been debated at length, and increasingly it seems the UK is an outlier, with coverings now mandatory in some public spaces in an estimated 120 countries, including Scotland.

Boris Johnson even suggested rules should become "stricter" on Friday, as he urged people to go back to work if they could. But yesterday Michael Gove signalled that the decision would still be left to the individual.

But what do you think? Have your say in the poll below.

07:54 AM

Face masks should be mandatory in shops, says Sage adviser

Face coverings should be mandatory in shops, according to the president of the Royal Society and Sage adviser.

Dr Venki Ramakrishnan told Good Morning Britain that the evidence on face coverings has "shifted", and was "now quite strongly in favour of using face coverings in enclosed spaces where we're likely to come into contact with strangers".

The Sage expert said the Government was not being consistent, with one rule for public transport and another for public spaces, saying: "The behaviour of the virus is the same in all of these spaces."

He added: "Scotland made it mandatory and it's not been a problem in Scotland. People have, since last week, been going about their business, going shopping, it gives people confidence.

"I should also point out that the best way to revive our economy is to prevent repeated disruptive lockdowns, these are disruptive economically but they're also disruptive psychologically.

"The more tools we can throw at the problem to avoid disruptive lockdowns the better off we are in reviving our economy."

07:49 AM

Face masks could become mandatory, Robert Buckland says

Robert Buckland has said he believes face masks should become "mandatory perhaps", noting the position is under "careful and daily review".

On Friday Boris Johnson suggested coverings could be made mandatory. However yesterday Michael Gove said this was not the Government's thinking.

Asked which side of the debate he stood, the Justice Secretary told the Today programme he erred towards allowing people to use their "good sense", but kept the door open to future rule changes.

"If it becomes necessary to nudge people further then of course we will consider that," he said, noting that had been the case with public transport.

"We will follow the evidence and take a considered decision," he added. "It is under careful and daily review."

07:46 AM

'National security comes first' on Huawei, says Robert Buckland

Robert Buckland has said it is "right to review" the decision on Huawei's involvement in the UK's technological infrastructure, saying the Government will prioritise national security above economic interests.

The Justice Secretary told the Today programme he would "note with interest" what the boss of BT has said about possible outages stemming from stripping Huawei from the telecoms network too quickly (8:05am), agreeing there were "massive practical considerations here".

But he added: "We had taken view that it was important for us to be ahead and develop technologically as quickly as possible... we want to race ahead and have the best form of internet connectivity we can, because it means more as a country we are more competitive economically, and brings greater quality of life to our citizens.

"But at the same time national security comes first."

07:39 AM

Shop workers 'should not be police' on face masks, says Waterstone's boss

Shop workers "should not be the police" of people wearing face masks, the boss of Waterstone's book chain has said.

James Daunt told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that asking customers to wear a mask was a "reasonable measure".

But he added: "There will be a tiny, tiny minority of people who will be confrontational over it and it is not the position of shop workers to enter into that situation.

"And indeed, we would ask our shop workers not to confront someone who is stealing from us, for example. We would call the police.

"We shouldn't put ourselves in confrontational positions, but I think we can, as retailers, if we are requested to do so, clearly tell everybody it is a sensible thing to do."

07:37 AM

'Sexist' beauty salon rules mean reopening might not be worth it

Beauty salons, nail bars, massage studios, skin piercing services, physical therapy businesses and spas will be allowed to reopen from today.

But the Government’s ‘sexist’ rules regarding beauty salons mean it is not financially viable for some of them to reopen, therapists have claimed.

Read the full story here.

07:32 AM

Nicola Sturgeon tweets independence threat over state aid story

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has tweeted a link to an FT report suggesting Boris Johnson is "setting up a clash with Scotland and Wales over control of state aid".

She wrote: "Make no mistake, this would be a full scale assault on devolution - a blatant move to erode the powers of the Scottish Parliament in key areas. If the Tories want to further boost support for independence, this is the way to do it."

The article suggests the new legislation, which will give Westminster statutory powers to control policies for the entire UK, could appear in a bill this autumn laying the legal foundations of a new internal market.

Make no mistake, this would be a full scale assault on devolution - a blatant move to erode the powers of the Scottish Parliament in key areas. If the Tories want to further boost support for independence, this is the way to do it. https://t.co/Gt2b3W7X05
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) July 13, 2020

07:20 AM

'Too early to say' if points-based immigration system will affect care sector

It is "too early to say" that the post-Brexit immigration system will disadvantage the care sector, a Cabinet minister has said ahead of further details of the new approach.

Robert Buckland, the Justice Secretary, told Sky News the UK's new points-based system would be "flexible" and that ministers would listen to those working in the sector to ensure "adjustments" can be made.

It comes amid fears that the sector could struggle to fill roles, which fall below the salary threshold for overseas workers, at a critical point for social care.

"It is too early to say this system will somehow disadvantage the care sector," he added. "We will be listening carefully to what is being said and ensure there is the flexibility to make adjustments for need as it rises."

Mr Buckland noted that the sector had responded to the "recruitment challenge" during the pandemic, adding: "We are going to be basing [the system] on evidence and information from various sectors."

07:15 AM

People should use common sense on face masks, says Justice Secretary

The Government wants people to "come to their own judgements" on face masks, Robert Buckland has said.

The Justice Secretary echoed Michael Gove's comments yesterday, saying it was a "courtesy" to other people to wear face masks, particularly ahead of the end of shielding this month.

But on Friday, Boris Johnson heavily hinted that it would be made mandatory, using his People's PMQs to talk about the need for "stricter" rules to be deployed. In total, 120 countries including Scotland are now making face coverings compulsory in certain public spaces.

Mr Buckland told Sky News: "I wear a face masks in an enclosed space... I carry one with me.

"It is important I do my bit to not only prevent inadvertent transmission but also to reassure people that the space is as safe as possible."

But he added: "People need to be trusted to come to their own judgements. Common sense is underestimated at our peril."

07:05 AM

Britain faces outages if Huawei stripped from telecoms network in less than 10 years, BT boss warns

Britain could face outages if the Government removes Huawei entirely from the UK's telecommunications network in less than a decade, BT has warned.

Philip Jansen, chief executive of the telecoms giant, told the Today programme it would be "impossible" to remove Huawei entirely from the UK's telecommunication network "in under 10 years".

He suggested it would require a minimum of five years but "ideally" no less than seven, he added.

"If we get in a situation where things need to go very fast, then we go into a situation where service for 24 million BT Group mobile customers is put into question - outages would be possible.

"Secondly the security and safety in the short-term could be put at risk - this is really critical here.

"If you are not able to buy or transact with Huawei that would mean you wouldn't be able to get software upgrades if you take it to its specificity."

He said there was a danger that "accelerating the rip-out" of Huawei from the 5G network meant that time was not putting effort into extending the service provision across the country.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden is expected to make a statement on Tuesday over the future of Huawei in the UK.

06:58 AM

Leicester lockdown has shone "intense" light on modern-day slavery, says minister

The lockdown in Leicester has shone "intense" light on modern-day slavery, the Justice Secretary has said, urging the wider community to "call it out" so authorities can act.

This weekend Tory MP Andrew Bridgen said he believes as many as 10,000 people could be working in slave-like conditions in textile factories in Leicester.

Mr Buckland told Sky News: "A light has now been shone on an appalling litany of abuse and I'm glad to hear that the National Crime Agency (NCA) is now conducting an investigation, its got a lot of power to bring in various agencies to start the work of an investigation into this.

"Modern-day slavery is all around us, its in every town and city in Britain and indeed in our rural areas as well, it takes many forms.

"This type of exploitation, people being paid well below under the minimum wage, having to work in unacceptable conditions, that sort of abuse has to be stamped out, it has to be examined, we have to follow the evidence and prosecute wherever possible."

He added: "What has happened with modern slavery is that we've legislated on it, we've improved the response of the agencies and the authorities to it, but now its up to all of us in our communities to identify it, call it out and to do everything we can to stamp it out.

"This is not a job that's going to take weeks, it's going to take a long time but I welcome the investigation."