INCREASE IN  HOUSEHOLD DESTITUTION

The Guardian reports: It has emerged that there were 220,000 more households living in destitution by the end of last year, potentially more than half a million people.The troubling figures come alongside calls for a major review of the support provided to the poorest during the crisis. Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, is expected to extend state support for businesses and the low-paid as part of in his Budget next month.The increase in destitution – from 197,400 to 421,500 households last year – was revealed by the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) for a Channel 4 Dispatches investigation, Britain’s £400bn Covid Bill: Who Will Pay? Destitution is defined as a two-adult household living on less than £100 a week and a single-adult household on less than £70 a week after housing costs. The research also reveals the disproportionate economic impact on regions such as the north-west of England that were placed under stricter restrictions during the tier system last autumn. NIESR estimated that the number of households living in destitution in north-west England was three times the UK figure.

 

LABOUR MPs TOLD NOT TO MENTION BREXIT

From the Guardian: Labour MPs are being asked by the party’s high command not to focus on problems caused by Brexit when asking questions in parliament, dealing with the media, or posting on social media, according to sources in the parliamentary party. After a week in which Labour leader Keir Starmer delivered a major speech on how the country should rebuild the economy and reduce inequality without once mentioning Brexit, relations with the EU or the severe problems that have confronted many UK exporters since 1 January, senior party figures reacted with astonishment. On Saturday night former cabinet member and Europe minister Peter Hain said Brexit had become the “elephant in the room” for Labour.

 

HANCOCK FACES CALLS TO RESIGN OVER COVID CONTRACTS

The Express reports:  Matt  Hancock the Health Secretary  is facing growing calls to resign as Britons insist the health secretary has to go in light of the High Court ruling that said he acted unlawfully by failing to publish the Government’s Covid contracts. Thousands of people have signed an online petition calling for Mr Hancock to resign immediately as the fallout from Friday’s ruling shows no sign of fading. Martin Chamberlain, a High Court judge, said Mr Hancock failed to comply with a public procurement law that requires the Government to publish contract awards within 30 days. Judge Chamberlain said the public were entitled to know the details of the agreements between No10 and manufacturers of personal protective equipment. 

 

GOVERNMENTS WOKE UP CALL

The Express writes: Government has gone to war with London Mayor Sadiq Khan over his plans to tear down historic statues in London as part of a woke agenda. Housing minister Christopher Pincher has written to Mr Khan to express concern that he is using £250,000 of taxpayers money on a statues commission made up of 15 mainly leftwing activists at a time when he claims he is putting up Londoners’ council tax bills. He pointed out that Labour has backed the destruction of British history and heritage with the party leader Sir Keir Starmer backing the removal of Sir Edward Colston’s statue by a mob of leftwing Black Lives Matter activists in Bristol. Demanding that the controversial statues commission is “disbanded”, Mr Pincher said: “Putting some of London’s most important pieces of history into the hands of 15 activists, the majority of whom are not historians, is a regrettable decision.”

 

DOWNING STREET AN  EVERYDAY STORY OF POLITICAL FOLK

The Daily Mail reports: A Tory think tank has called for a probe into Carrie Symonds’ role in governing the UK after Oliver Lewis quit his No.10 job. Mr Lewis, who was one of Boris Johnson’s key Brexit advisors, resigned from his anti-Scottish independence role amid a new outbreak of infighting among the Prime Minister’s backroom team – where more allies of Carrie Symonds are taking key positions. The Bow Group today called for a review to clarify the ‘position and authority’ of the Prime Minister’s fiancee, amid concern over her influence. Mr Lewis, right-hand man to chief Brexit negotiator Lord Frost (who was last week appointed to the cabinet) walked out of No 10 after he angrily denied claims of disloyalty and was reportedly told by the Prime Minister that he faced allegations of ‘briefing against the Government.

 

BLAIRS BLUEPRINT OUT OF LOCKDOWN

The SUN reports: Tony Blair  has urged Boris Johnson to reopen shops if coronavirus cases fall to under 5,000 a day. The former Prime Minister’s projection means non-essential retail could open as early as March based on the current rate of decline. The Tony Blair Institute has published his blueprint out of lockdown  along with a traffic light system on when to open different parts of the economy. It suggests that pubs and restaurants could open when cases are down to 1,000 a day – which could be May 7 if they keep falling at the current rate. Tony Blair has retained close contact with Whitehall officials and has been helpful to the Government in deciding policy. He was one of the first to advocate  prioritising giving one jab rather than two doses of the vaccine.

 

NOW THERE ARE  BIRD FLU WORRIES AS WORKERS INFECTED

The Guardian reports that an H5N8 strain of bird flu has been detected in humans for the first time, among seven workers who were infected at a Russian poultry plant in December. There is no evidence of the strain being transmitted between humans, but Russia has reported the transmission to the World Health Organization. The workers now feel well, and  the situation did not develop further after the workers had been infected during an outbreak of the strain at the plant. Other strains of bird flu, including H5N1, H7N9 and H9N2, have been transmitted to humans before the H5N8 strain which is deadly for birds,and this marks the first transmission of the strain from animals to humans. While  the strain didn’t appear to be able to spread among humans, only time will tell how soon future mutations will allow it to overcome that barrier. The discovery of this strain said Dr Anna Popova,  gives us all, the whole world, time to prepare for possible mutations and the possibility to react in a timely way and develop test systems and vaccines.

 

NO EXPORT OF UK SHELLFISH MEANS- NO IMPORT OF  EU BOTTLED WATER

The Daily Mail reports that ministers are said to be discussing measures to restrict the importation of European mineral water and seed potatoes as the UK looks set to end a number of continuity arrangements. The EU had secured a temporary agreement on the importation of seed potatoes until the end of June but this could now come under fire after Brussels refused to end its blockade on UK shellfish. Brussels has told British fishermen they are barred indefinitely from selling live mussels, oysters, clams and cockles to EU member states.

 

EU MOTOR INSURANCE LAW JUNKED

From The Express: British drivers will be spared an estimated £50-a-year increase in motor insurance because the UK will use its post-Brexit freedoms to ditch EU rules which threatened to hike up costs. Boris Johnson’s Government plans to bin an EU requirement for insurance even on private land for vehicles including ride-on lawnmowers, golf buggies, quad bikes and mobility scooters. The DfT described the decision to formally remove the impact of the Vnuk ruling from British law as a “clear win for motorists in Britain” and claimed it will protect motorsports. It stated: “The EU’s rules would have meant any motorsports collision involving vehicles from go-karting to F1 would have been treated as regular road traffic incidents requiring insurance. This could have decimated the industry due to the additional insurance costs of roughly £458million every single year.“

 

PAYMENT TO SURRENDER YOUR CAR IN NEW CLEAN AIR PLAN

The Times writes that motorists will be paid up to £3,000 to give up their cars under new plans designed to improve air quality in built-up areas, The Times has learnt. For the first time, drivers of the most polluting cars will receive public money to surrender their vehicle in favour of “credits” that can be spent on public transport, bicycles, electric scooters, car clubs and taxis. The scheme is designed to reduce car dependency in cities, leading to lower levels of congestion and air pollution. A trial programme will be launched in Coventry in the spring, aimed specifically at drivers of the most polluting vehicles — diesel cars built before 2016 and petrol models built before 2006. The scheme will last for two years and be analysed.

 

AUSTRALIA  FRIENDED AGAIN

The London Evening Standard writes: Facebook has  tentatively friended  Australia again after a major backlash over its decision to block the country’s news websites. Australian politicians are considering forcing digital businesses to reach paid-for-news agreements with media companies with draft legislation that could create a so-called News Media Bargaining Code. In response, Facebook decided to ban the sharing or viewing of news posts via its platform for users in Australia. However, the social media giant’s actions sparked an international outcry after it included accounts run by government bodies and state health departments amid the coronavirus pandemic. Facebook’s senior Asia-Pacific executive Simon Milner was forced to issue an apology and Australian premier Scott Morrison  said the platform was now back at the negotiating table.

 

AND FINALLY

From The SUN: Parents will be fined £100 for smoking in playgrounds and outside the school gates in tough new rules. The tough new rules, to be introduced in Wales from next month, mean parents and other adults will be fined £100 for smoking in playgrounds and outside the school gates. The new rules will also stop homeowners smoking while they have workers round and will also be banned in self-contained holiday cottages, caravans and Airbnbs exactly a year later. 

 

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