The spending cuts that are buried in the chancellor’s budget are even larger than first thought and could lead to a “second, sharp dose of austerity”, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS).
After studying the details of Rishi Sunak’s plans, the IFS said: “Most likely these figures are simply unrealistic, and borrowing or taxes will be higher than planned.
“If they are adhered to then many public services are due a second, sharp dose of austerity,” it added.
The government is also under pressure after leading charities condemned a reported Home Office plan to send asylum seekers to processing centres overseas, branding the proposal as “inhumane”.
Priti Patel wants to set up asylum facilities abroad in an attempt to overhaul the immigration system, with possible locations including Gibraltar and the Isle of Man, according to the Times.
Enver Solomon, who runs the Refugee Council charity, told the newspaper that was “an inhumane policy”, while the British Red Cross said it would have “grave humanitarian consequences”.
Indian firm denies Hancock’s explanation for vaccination slowdown
An Indian pharmaceutical company has denied Matt Hancock’s suggestion that the UK’s supply of vaccines has been slowed by slow deliveries from the south Asian nation.
The health secretary told the Commons on Thursday that the UK would receive fewer doses from India’s Serum Institute than expected in April.
However, a source at the firm told The Independent that “no specific timeframe” had been set for the [UK’s] next order”, meaning “there’s no question of it being delayed.”
Andrew Woodcock and Stuti Mishra report:
British imports to Ireland fell by 900 million euros after Brexit
British imports to Ireland fell by more than 900 million euros in January after Brexit, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) has said.
New CSO data shows there was a 65 per cent drop in imports – after the end of the free movement of goods – compared with January 2020. The largest drop was in imports of live animals, which fell by 75 per cent.
Orla McCarthy, a senior statician at CSO, said: “Traders reported that a combination of factors contributed to the large reduction in imports from Great Britain in January 2021. These included the challenges of complying with customs requirements.
“Other factors identified by traders were stockpiling of goods in Q4 2020 in preparation for Brexit, substitution with goods from other countries, and a reduction in trade volumes due to the impact of Covid-19 related restrictions throughout January.”
What’s happened to No 10’s film on the vaccine rollout?
What has happened to the glitzy No 10 film hailing the success of the UK’s vaccination programme – made, controversially, at the taxpayer’s expense?
It was supposed to be released at the end of last week, after Downing Street issued a 50-second extract on social media with the tantalising words “Coming Soon”.
The film features the advisers who have become household names through the Covid-19 crisis, including Chris Whitty, Patrick Vallance and Jonathan Van-Tam – as well as Boris Johnson himself.
But, no doubt to the intense disappointment of millions of movie fans, there has been no sign of it – and there is no clue about when it will, eventually, appear.
Has it been shelved because the four-week supply drought – forcing under-50s to wait longer for their jabs – is not a good time to be boasting about success?
“We said we will release it soon, that remains the case,” said a tight-lipped prime minister’s spokesman, when asked.
Western countries need to unite against China, says Lord Sedwill
Countries need to unite against the “unacceptable” bullying committed by China, the former cabinet secretary and national security adviser Lord Sedwill has advised.
Speaking to the Lords International Relations and Defence Committee, he said that Beijing had been able to “advance a more assertive agenda” in recent years because of a lack of unity among Western allies.
“We have seen the crackdown in Hong Kong, the appalling treat of the Uighurs in Xinjiang, and the deliberate expansionist agenda of the Belt and Road,” he said.
He also warned about the dangers of the so-called “Thucydides trap”, whereby conflict can result from one superpower (the US) feeling threatened by the rise of another (China).
“That is a dangerous place for the world to get to,” Lord Sedwill said.
NHS to be given extra £6.6 billion to cover cost of Covid, Matt Hancock announces
Matt Hancock has announced the NHS will be given an extra £6.6 billion to cover the cost of coronavirus in the first half of the financial year.
“We backed the NHS at every point in this pandemic so that they can treat patients, stay safe and save lives,” he told MPs.
The Independent’s political correspondent Ashley Cowburn has the latest on this breaking story
UK vaccination programme still on target – Hancock
Matt Hancock said the UK vaccination programme remains on course to hit its targets, despite a delayed delivery of more than a million doses from India.
He told MPs: “The targets to offer a vaccine to everyone aged 50 or over by April 15 and to all adults by the end of July, I can confirm we are on track to meet both of these targets.
“I also want to clear up some rumours that have been circulating and give people reassurance. There will be no weeks in April with no first doses. There will be no cancelled appointments as a result of supply issues – second doses will go ahead as planned.
“Most importantly, the vaccine data published yesterday shows the life-saving impact of this vaccine. It’s not just that the vaccines are safe, it’s that they make you safe – you are much safer having had one.”
Covid vaccine supply shortage due to delayed delivery of doses from India, Hancock reveals
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said that a batch of 1.7 million Covid-19 vaccine doses have been delayed.
He told the Commons: “In April, supply is tighter than this month and we have a huge number of second doses to deliver.
“During April, around 12 million people, including many colleagues in this House will receive their second dose.
“These second doses cannot be delayed as they have to be delivered within 12 weeks of the first dose.
“In the last week, we’ve had a batch of 1.7 million doses delayed because of the need to retest its stability.”
The Independent’s Andrew Woodcock has the latest on this breaking story
Budget spending cuts even bigger than expected and ‘simply unrealistic’, says think-tank
The spending cuts that are buried in Rishi Sunak’s budget are even larger than first thought, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies.
“Most likely these figures are simply unrealistic, and borrowing or taxes will be higher than planned,” the IFS said, after studying the detail of the chancellor’s plans.
“If they are adhered to then many public services are due a second, sharp dose of austerity.”
The Independent’s deputy political editor Rob Merrick reports
PM to hold Downing Street news conference today
Hot on the heels of Health Secretary Matt Hancock’s press conference yesterday the Prime Minister will also hold his own briefing today.
The news conference will at 5pm from Downing Street.
Tommy Robinson ‘misused’ donations, former allies claim
Tommy Robinson’s former far-right allies have claimed he misused supporters’ money, something which he denies.
One witness told The Independent that Mr Robinson had transferred large sums from a crowdfunding page into his business account.
The English Defence League (EDL) founder was listed on the insolvency register this month.
