Brexit
Express
LORD FROST is set to stand firm against the EU and will urge them to respect UK sovereignty amid the row over the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Ministers at Westminster and Stormont were closely watching the peak of the annual marching in Northern Ireland amid anger among pro-British unionists at post-Brexit trade barriers. The Protocol is deeply unpopular with unionists and loyalists as it creates a trade border between Northern Ireland and Great Britain and means EU rules governing trade in goods still apply in the region.
Ahead of a Parliamentary Statement in the House of Lords by Lord Frost later this month, the UK Government made clear the country would not “bend over backwards” to the European Union after Brussels said they had been generous over the Northern Ireland Protocol arrangements.
A UK Government source also stressed the importance of the protection of the Good Friday Peace Agreement which ensures peace and prosperity in the region following the Troubles.
They said: “We want to find the best way forward for Northern Ireland, we are confident of a suitable arrangement.
“But we won’t simply bend over backwards as we need to ensure the protection of the Belfast Agreement in all its dimensions.
Wales
Express
THE Welsh Government have written to the UK Government claiming Wales is being ignored when it comes to the UK policy on post-Brexit freeports.
The Labour-led administration has written to Chief Secretary to the Treasury Stephen Barclay and the Secretary of State for Wales Simon Hart calling for a joint approach on setting up a freeport in Wales in a bid to encourage economic activity after Brexit. However, despite Welsh Ministers setting out the conditions where a joint approach could be taken, Cardiff says no formal offer has been presented by the UK Government to the Welsh Government on a proposed Freeport in Wales.
Ministers say the Welsh Government cannot accept a proposal where a Welsh Freeport would receive less financial support than the £25m made available for Freeports in England.
Welsh Economy Minister Vaughan Gething MS said: “We remain open to the idea of having a Freeport in Wales, but creating one here would require the use of devolved powers. However, as it stands, the UK Government has not agreed to our request for joint decision making, and no appropriate funding has been offered.
“We have repeatedly pressed UK Ministers for constructive engagement.
“The lack of clarity about implementing Freeports in Wales, a policy driven by the UK Government, is destabilising business decisions in an already exceptionally uncertain economic environment, and is having a direct impact on investment decisions.
EU army
Express
THE European Union’s de facto army has been branded a “immature” as it struggles with delays and faltering projects.
A leaked document has revealed that 15 out of 46 projects being carried out under the bloc’s military cooperation pact are facing significant delays. The Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) agreement brought 25 EU member states together in areas of land, sea, space and cyberspace. But the annual report, which was shared with national governments, has shown that most projects are behind schedule.
The 115-page document claims that coronavirus is behind six out of the 15 delays currently being suffered by ongoing projects, according to the Politico news website.
It notes that in 14 cases the year in which delivery of the project is meant to begin “has been shifted to later years”.
And in six cases the year of “final delivery” has also been pushed back.
“For eight projects the beginning of delivery has been pulled forward,” the report says.
Illegal migrants
Mail
Around 70 migrants were brought ashore by Border Force officers today after they made the perilous crossing across the English Channel.
A group of around 20 men, many of whom appeared to be in their 20s, were brought into harbour on the beach at Dungeness, along the coast of Kent, by the Border Force cutter Speedwell at around 10.30am.
They were soon followed by around 50 migrants who were brought into the harbour by emergency teams.
The Home Office is yet to confirm exactly how many arrived on Sunday or how many have made the 21-mile crossing today but more than 7,000 migrants are believed to have crossed the Channel by small boat so far this year.
Among those making the treacherous crossing today was a young girl wearing a pink rain jacket over her life jacket and a woman, believed to be her mother.
She was sat next to a young boy who was holding the hand of a man wearing a face mask – believed to be his father.
Around 10 boats are thought to have attempted the treacherous trip across the world’s busiest shipping route today as the number of vessels left eerily floating at the harbour in Dover continues to rise.
It comes after a dramatic rescue was launched on Sunday after two people fell off a rigid hulled inflatable boat and into the freezing cold sea.
Education
Mail
Pupils taking GCSE and A-levels in England next year could be given advance notice on the exam topics to make up for the loss of learning during Covid lockdowns.
The Department for Education (DfE) and regulator Ofqual have unveiled proposals for the 2022 summer exams – which includes giving schools and colleges some choice over the topics that students are assessed on.
But final details are not expected to be confirmed until the autumn term.
Announcing the consultation, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said it is ‘right that next summer’s arrangements take into account the disruption young people have faced over the past 18 months’.
His comments come after teachers across England have finalised decisions on their pupils’ GCSE and A-level grades after this summer’s exams were cancelled for the second year in a row.
Under the proposals for next year’s GCSE and A-level exams, adaptations would be made to ensure fairness for students and other cohorts following the disruption to education during the pandemic.
A consultation on the proposed measures, which closes on August 1, sets out plans to provide exam aids, such as a formulae sheet in GCSE maths and an expanded equations sheet in GCSE physics.
Schools and colleges in England could also be given advance information on the focus of exam content in the majority of GCSE and A-level subjects and it is the Government’s intention for this to be issued in the spring term.
And in GCSE English literature, history, ancient history and geography, schools could be given some choice about the content their pupils will be assessed on.
A similar story can be found in the Telegraph
Covid
Independent
Lifting the final corornavirus restrictions will pile pressure on the NHS, England’s chief medical officer has warned, as government officials said a summer wave of Covid may lead to hundreds of daily deaths within weeks.
Speaking at Downing Street as Boris Johnson confirmed plans to lift restrictions from next Monday, Chris Whitty said the suggestion of no pressure on the NHS was “not fully realistic”.
At the same time, modelling for the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), shows that ending restrictions could lead to between 1,000 and 2,000 hospital admissions a day within weeks, with up to 200 deaths daily now thought to be likely.
The new modelling from experts from the University of Warwick, Imperial College London and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine predicts a summer wave of Covid infections in the coming weeks, with Warwick making a central estimate of around 33,700 deaths by June next year.
The size and scale of infections, hospitalisation and deaths will depend on how the public responds to measures being eased from next week.
A similar story can be found in ITV News
Mirror
England’s lockdown laws will be axed as planned in seven days but Boris Johnson will tighten advice on Covid passports, masks, vulnerable people and working from home in a massive U-turn.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid today confirmed legal restrictions on wearing masks, the ‘rule of six’ indoors and the ban on nightclubs opening will all go from July 19.
He told MPs there will “never be a perfect time” to lift the restrictions, but added: “To those who say ‘why take this step now’ I say ‘if not now, when?'”
Despite admitting cases could soar to 100,000 per day later in the summer, Mr Javid said the vaccine programme would prevent a surge in deaths and hospitalisations.
He told the Commons: “We believe this wall means we can withstand a summer wave.
“And while the wall would be higher still if we waited until winter, we know the wave would be much more dangerous.
“So while we know there are risks with any decision, this is the most responsible decision we can take.”
But Shadow Health Secretary Jon Ashworth warned the soaring case numbers and unlocking would lead to thousands suffering long Covid and a heightened risk of new variants developing.
He said: “He’s putting his foot down on the accelerator while throwing the seat belts off.”
A similar story can be found in the Times
Telegraph
Covid passports are set to be introduced for the first time in England, as Boris Johnson warned that people must exercise “extreme caution” despite the scrapping of legal restrictions.
On Monday night, the Prime Minister revealed that nightclubs and other venues with large crowds would be urged to adopt Covid certification “as a matter of social responsibility”.
He said relevant businesses should “make use” of the NHS Covid app, which shows proof of double vaccination, a recent negative test or natural immunity, as “a means of entry”.
It marked a climbdown by the government after Nadhim Zahawi, the vaccines minister, insisted in February that “we are not planning to have a [Covid] passport in the UK”.
Amid concern over a slowdown in vaccine take-up, the recommendation to use vaccine passports could become mandatory, government documents reveal.
It comes Emmanuel Macron, the French president, suggested Covid jabs could be made mandatory and announced the extension of a vaccine passport scheme. In Ireland, it has been announced that indoor hospitality will reopen only for those who are fully vaccinated.
For Britons, proof of Covid status is already required in order to travel to some countries and to avoid quarantine on return from many popular holiday destinations.
Parliament
Order order
Lindsay Hoyle has told members and their staff that “I look forward to seeing the house buzzing again” after confirming that from July 19, Covid safety precautions in the chamber – including social distancing and ticks and crosses on benches – will be scrapped. Hoyle says the “successful vaccination program” has allowed these changes to go ahead…
All parliament’s bars and restaurants will re-open and the rule of six will end. MPs will be able to resume bringing guests onto the estate for business reasons. From the start of summer recess, MPs will be able to decide how many of their staff are allowed to return to the office.
For the three days between the 19th and the Commons recess on the 22nd, the Commons will maintain a hybrid model, and while face coverings won’t be mandatory, they will be encouraged. Bobbing to catch the Speakers eye will also not appear until MPs return after the Summer, with call lists remaining the only way to get a question. The perspex screens and stickers on the floor will remain until they can be removed over the recess.
One miffed staffer points out that for MPs in the chamber, masks will be recommended, however they’ll be “required” for everyone else on the estate…
France
Mail
France is to make coronavirus vaccination passes compulsory for bars, cafés and restaurants, President Emmanuel Macron announced tonight.
In a dramatic TV address to the nation from Paris, Mr Macron said the spread of the Delta Covid variant meant tough new measures were essential.
He also said there would be ‘compulsory vaccinations’ for those working with ‘fragile people,’ such as the elderly and the disabled, as France moved towards 100 per cent vaccination.
Health experts fear that a fourth wave, once predicted for the autumn, has already begun in the country.
Mr Macron began his speech at 8:00 p.m. local time on Tuesday in optimistic mood, saying: ‘Thanks to the exceptional commitment of our caregivers, thanks to your good citizenship, we have managed to control the epidemic and breathe again.’
But he said there still had to be a balance found between the ongoing ‘need to protect lives’ and ‘freedom’.
‘The more we vaccinate, the less space we will leave for the virus to spread,’ said Mr Macron
‘It is a new speed race that is underway. We must move towards the vaccination of all French people.’
Mr Macron told care workers: ‘You will have until September 15 to get vaccinated. From September 15, checks will be made and sanctions applied’.
As well as being asked for vaccination passes on long distance planes, coaches and restaurants, anyone going out to eat or drink will need one from August 1.
‘From the beginning of August, the health pass will apply to cafés, restaurants, hospitals, retirement homes, and long-distance transport: planes, trains and coaches for long journeys,’ said Mr Macron.
Similar stories can be found in the Telegraph , Sun , Times , Evening Standard
Breitbart
Just three days ago, the country threw open its nightclubs for the first time in 16 months, completing a protracted national effort at returning to a pre-pandemic normal just in time for summer vacation. But with the delta variant now driving resurgent infections, potential new restrictions loom.
President Emmanuel Macron is hosting a top-level virus security meeting Monday morning and then giving a televised speech in the evening, the kind of solemn speech he´s given at each turning point in France´s virus epidemic.
This time, he´s expected to announce plans for a law requiring health care workers to get vaccinated, and may require special COVID-19 passes for restaurants or other day-to-day activities.
Other possibilities: A return to limits on the number of people allowed in public venues that just reawakened in May after one of the world´s longest shutdowns. Or an announcement that France could start charging money for some virus tests, which up to now have been free for everyone on French territory.
Any new measures are likely to be relatively mild for now, but aimed at reminding the French that the pandemic isn´t over yet.
“We have to live with the virus,” Europe Minister Clement Beaune said Sunday. “Living with the virus means we don´t re-close everything.”
The government´s main weapon, and main worry, is vaccinations. France has vaccinated 40% of its population and vaccines are widely available for anyone 12 and over. But demand has ebbed in recent weeks – partly because of hesitancy and also because some people thought they would get their shots when they returned from vacation.
Re opting out of Medical Data Scrape and Share : I’ve gone through all the correct channels to opt out and can report that, in short, the NHS are refusing to carry out my request.
OK they didn’t write to me saying “Your request is refused.”
But they sent me round and round in circles, asking for info that I’d already given , referring me back to GP surgery on the wrong basis that my details weren’t recognised ; to and fro, to and fro.
Well I’m not going away and giving up, I’m going to hound them mercilessly,( like they hound people to get their rotten jab).
Sent mine as hardcopy by post some weeks ago; not aware of any issues yet…
I did the same Jack and have not heard anything either.
I suggest writing to MPs as follows (Big Brother Watch template) which speaks for itself;
“I am writing to ask you to vote against the Draft Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2021, which has been announced at short notice for tomorrow.
This would make double Covid vaccinations mandatory for care home staff and people in related roles who work in or visit care homes such as cleaners, kitchen staff, trades, beauticians, volunteers and inspectors.
I’m urging you to vote against this proposal because it is:
Coercive: Mandatory vaccination abandons long held public health principles in this country. It would be the crossing of the Rubicon on medical choice, medical confidentiality and bodily autonomy – vital elements of the protected right to privacy. The Government could no longer claim that no one is “forced” to receive vaccination in England.
Counter-productive: There is no legal precedent for mandatory vaccination in the UK, except for Victorian Britain, where mandatory smallpox vaccines were ultimately reversed after instigating the anti-vaccination movement. Mandatory vaccination is likely to increase distrust. Support has long proven more effective at improving uptake than coercion.
Seismic legal shift: Mandatory vaccines have been explicitly prohibited under the Public Health Act. Hepatitis B vaccinations are not mandatory under national law for health workers, but recommended under NHS Trusts’ policies. The impact of this legal change has not been fully considered.
Unnecessary: 85% of eligible staff, and over 95% of residents in care homes have received vaccinations. Many more may have natural immunity – this has not been considered.
Discriminatory: This legal change will reverse long-held protections on workers’ medical privacy, opening a can of worms of new risks to workers’ rights. Existing or prospective employees in care homes without vaccinations could face either unwanted medical treatment or redundancy, whilst workers in sectors that serve care homes – from kitchen staff to trades and beauticians – will be seen as undesirable and face job losses. Unvaccinated employees are disproportionately likely to be young people, who face a low risk from Covid, and black and minority ethnic groups.
GMB reports that over a third of care workers will consider quitting their jobs if this vote is successful tomorrow. This is a real and serious risk to safety and quality care in care homes, when it is needed most.
Please vote against mandatory vaccinations tomorrow”.
PS Debbie Looks a bit long but I checked and think this is within word count requirement, being under 400 words?
https://wordcount.com/
Thanks for that Mary; emailed to my MP.
Mary. The vote is today, 13 July. I have emailed my MP urging him to vote against No jab, No job coercion of care home workers
Oops. Hope its this afternoon.;
Its this afternoon. I just had email from Save our Rights.
But I’m puzzled They say “Today the Government have snuck a Statutory Instrument onto the program of the day that would mandate vaccines for all care home workers”.
Do they normally vote on or discuss SI’s? statutory instrument
We are sunk. MPs voted 319 to 246 for mandatory covid injections for care home workers. Will the plumber and electrician called in for repairs at care homes need to have been jabbed? Will all visitors? What about the hairdressers and helpers?
Final confirmation, if it were needed, that we have a truly unrepresentative / evil government. I fear that only a revolution will save our country for us and our descendants.
Snuck – is that a snooze and a snack. Or is it like the word doved pp of dove, to bird?
Bliar has a lot to answer for.
Yes mary. I did my best on receiving that Big Brother Watch email. My M.P. is a typical sheep so it will do no good.
What I have discovered and it makes me furious, is that the petition on the matter is getting more signatures but has not yet reached the figure where a full debate is required. That is why TPTB are rushing this legislation through.
And there is NOTHING we can do about it.
I havent seen this petition Pauline can you post the number so I can look it up please
I think the only thing that might scupper things for a while is for every single nurse and carer etc to say NO. They wouldn’t sack ALL of them. Would they?
Frederica. It’s petition 577842. At 82,000signatures at the moment.
“My M.P. is a typical sheep so it will do no good”. I thought the same re mine but UK Column said if you keep writing to MP and get no answer or an unsatisfactory one, you have ammunition to write to the papers, opposition parties, everyone , telling them about it.
MPs dont like bad publicity.
Thanks Mary did it last night when I received Big Brother e mail. I’m a bit concerned about your problems opting out of the data sharing! I hope this is not going to be a universal problem for us all!
Frederica. I conferred with a friend over this. They said, there are 2 elements here not one ; giving your permission for the surgery uploading your data on to the database, and for the NHS sharing-probably selling- that data once they have it.
I’m clarifying this with the surgery tomorrow and will report back
If I’ve confused the issue, my apologies. but the reply I got from the NHS didn’t make sense at all and I interpreted it as a fob -off. More later.
If you are determined not to be jabbed, as is your right, join the unvaccinated project which is being run (link here) https://www.conservativewoman.co.uk/join-the-unvaccinated-control-group/ and you can register and print off a card stating that You Must Not Be Vaccinated as you are in a control group.