Boris Johnson news – live: Senior Tory MP says government ‘ruling by decree’ over new Covid powers

People of Northern Ireland being used as a ‘pawn’ in Brexit debate, Stormont’s deputy first minister says 

Stormont’s deputy first minister has warned that the people of Northern Ireland are being used as “a pawn in the middle of the Brexit debate”.

Michelle O’Neill’s words, which were addressed to the Assembly in Belfast on Monday, came after the UK government controversially said it would override parts of its Withdrawal Treaty with the EU that pertain to Northern Ireland.

The Sinn Fein vice president said she and the DUP first minister Arlene Foster sought minimal disruption to trade.

Ms O’Neill said: “We want to see frictionless trade north-south and east-west. We are in the middle of certainly, as a people, being used as a pawn in the middle of the Brexit debate right now. And that’s not a good place for us to be.”

“Our people need certainty, our businesses need certainty and we will work to make sure that that happens,” she added. 

Labour criticises government for wasting ‘enormous amounts of public money’

Shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds has condemned the government for its “cavalier” approach to public spending, while saying that Labour will “restore trust” between politics and business.

The Labour politicians made the remarks during a keynote speech on Monday at the party’s annual conference, which is being held virtually this year.

In her speech, Ms Dodds accused ministers of squandering “enormous amounts of public money’ on failed schemes during the pandemic, including £150m that was spent on face masks that NHS staff were unable to use.

The shadow chancellor also took aim at chancellor Rishi Sunak, saying that although the economy was struggling “the language of ‘restraint’” had returned.

“We all know what that means from the mouth of a Conservative chancellor. More jobs lost in places that can least afford them – with local councils being hung out to dry and forced to cut thousands of staff,” she said.

“As chancellor, I would ensure that public money was always spent wisely. Targeted where it’s needed most. Not splurged where it isn’t,” Ms Dodds added.

Lib Dems to drop pledge to rejoin EU

The Liberal Democrats are to drop their commitment to rejoining the EU in a vote at next weekend’s online annual conference.

The motion will commit the party to keeping “all options” open about the UK’s future relationship with the bloc and will require “public assent” for any future application for EU membership.

This marks a step away from former leader Jo Swinson’s manifesto pledge to prevent Brexit without a referendum if she were elected.

The Independent’s political editor Andrew Woodcock has more on the story below:

Conservative MP apologises for not wearing mask on train 

A Tory MP who was photographed not wearing a face covering on a train has apologised for his mistake.

A fellow passenger on the train from Hungerford to Paddington took a picture of Danny Kruger, the MP for Devizes, without a mask, before posting it on Twitter.

Referring to the compulsory use of face coverings on public transport since 15 June, the passenger tweeted: “Don’t blame it on the young people Boris when your own party aren’t even following your rules.”

Mr Kruger, who was first elected in December’s election, said in a statement that he “quite simply forgot” to put his mask on.

“I do apologise for my mistake,” he added, saying that he put his face covering on for the rest of his journey from Paddington.

Johnson to update MPs on Covid-19 situation on Tuesday

The prime minister will address MPs in the House of Commons on Tuesday, with his government expected to introduce new measures to tackle the resurgence of the virus. 

This comes after Matt Hancock refused to say whether or not pubs would still be open on the weekend in an interview with ITV on Monday. 

Boris Johnson’s statement comes on the same day that he will convene Cabinet and a COBRA meeting. 

PM to chair COBRA meeting on Tuesday

A spokesperson for Number 10 has confirmed that Boris Johnson will chair the COBRA committee on Tuesday morning to discuss how the government should respond to the rising number of coronavirus cases in the UK.

The emergency response meeting will be held the day after chief scientific adviser Patrick Vallance warned in a press conference that there could be up to 50,000 cases per day by mid-October if the current rate of infection is not reduced. 

The prime minister will speak to the First Ministers of Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland on Monday about the situation. 

“Tomorrow morning is an opportunity for COBRA to discuss what next steps may be required in the coronavirus response,” a Downing Street spokesman said on Monday.

Sturgeon urges Johnson to act quickly to curb virus spread

Nicola Sturgeon has said the UK must address the rapid spread of coronavirus as soon as possible.

The Scottish first minister is due to speak to Boris Johnson this afternoon where she will urge him to agree on a “four nations” strategy to curb the surge in infections.

It comes as Sir Patrick Vallance and Chris Whitty warned the UK could experience as many as 50,000 new coronavirus cases per day if no action was taken.

Ms Sturgeon urged Mr Johnson to act quickly and decisively. 

“Because of the urgency of the situation we cannot, must not and will not wait,” she told reporters at a coronavirus briefing. 

A powerful Tory backbencher has accused ministers of “ruling by decree” for “imposing” new coronavirus restrictions without proper debate. 

Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the influential 1922 Committee of Conservative backbenchers, told the BBC the government was treating the British people “like children” because MPs did not have ample time to scrutinise strict measures such as the “rule of six”.

He wants parliament to approve any new coronavirus restrictions before they come into force by way of emergency legislation.

“The government has got into the habit… of ruling by decree without the usual debate, discussion and votes in parliament that we would expect on any other matter,” he said.

“The British people aren’t used to being treated as children.

“We expect in this country to have a parliamentary democracy where our elected representatives on our behalf can require proper answers to these not just have some imposed.”

Hancock does not rule out closure of pubs by weekend

Health secretary Matt Hancock has not ruled out the possibility that pubs will close this weekend after a steep rise in coronavirus infections, writes Ashley Cowburn.

This comes after the prime minister said on Friday that the UK is “now seeing a second wave” of coronavirus.

When asked on ITV’s This Morning  whether pubs would remain open this weekend, Mr Hancock said that any changes would be made clear soon. 

After being pressed for an answer, he added: “It’s not a no, and it’s not a yes. We’ve been working on this all weekend, we haven’t taken the final decisions about what we need to do in response to the surge that we have seen in the last few weeks.”

Rise in infections is ‘all of our problem’, chief medical officer says

Professor Chris Whitty, England’s chief medical officer, has said that parts of the UK are currently experiencing “significant rates of transmission”.

The chief medical officer added that the rate of infection is rising across the country but varies from region to region.

Prof Whitty said: “It is going at different rates but it is now increasing.

“And what we’ve found is, as we go through in time, anywhere that was falling is now moving over to beginning to rise and then the rate of rise continues in an upwards direction.

“So, this is not someone else’s problem, this is all of our problem.”

He made the remarks at a coronavirus press conference in which he appeared alongside Patrick Vallance, the government’s chief scientific adviser.