Boris Johnson has said a swift public Covid-19 inquiry would be “irresponsible”, describing it as a “diversion” under the current circumstances.
Labour has repeatedly called on the prime minister to launch an inquiry this summer so that lessons are learned from the government’s mistakes.
Meanwhile, Robert Jenrick announced proposals for government commissioners to be sent in to Liverpool to run “certain and limited function” of the city’s council for the next three years amid allegations of corruption.
Also in the Commons today, Priti Patel announced her “overhaul” of the immigration system, which she has described as “firm but fair”.
Under the home secretary’s proposals, those who reach the UK illegally will be denied an automatic right to asylum and will be regularly assessed for removal from the country.
Shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds said the plans would not stop dangerous crossings and “risk withdrawing support from desperate people, such as victims of human trafficking”.
Mike Adamson, the British Red Cross’ chief executive, called the proposals “inhumane”, while Sonia Lenegan, of the Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association, said the measures are “cruel”.
‘Difficult day for our organisation’
Liverpool’s acting mayor councillor Wendy Simon and chief executive Tony Reeves said in a joint statement: “This is a difficult day for our organisation and we take the report findings extremely seriously.
“The inspector’s report has highlighted several failings but there is a collective commitment from both councillors and officers to learn from these mistakes.
They added: “We would like to reassure all residents and businesses that we will take action to address all of the issues highlighted. We know we need to rebuild your trust.
“It is reassuring that the inspector believes we have made progress in starting to deliver the wholesale changes needed. A detailed improvement plan is being drawn up and will be implemented in full.”
Proposals for ‘whole council elections’ in Liverpool
In parliament earlier, Robert Jenrick announced proposals for Liverpool city council to move to “whole council” elections from 2023 and have a reduced number of councillors elected on single member wards.
He said the forthcoming elections will proceed as planned in May.
Additional reporting by PA
‘This is not a Tory takeover,’ shadow minister says
Labour’s Steve Reed said after Robert Jenrick’s statement the party accept the report into Liverpool city council “in full”.
“The council will respond to the secretary of state’s letter in detail, but we support his intention to appoint commissioners – not at this stage to run the council as he says – but to advise and support elected representatives in strenthening the council’s systems,” he said.
He added: “I want to reassure people in Liverpool that this does not mean government ministers are coming in to run their city directly. This is not – as some would put it – a Tory takeover.”
Labour to launch review following Liverpool city council report
Steve Reed, the shadow minister for communities, said in the Commons: “Given concerns raised in the report, the general secretary of the Labour Party intends to appoint a senior figure to lead a review and reassure the people of Liverpool that the Labour Party takes these concerns seriously, and will take action against anyone in our ranks who is involved in wrongdoing of any kind.”
BREAKING: Government officials to run ‘certain functions’ of Liverpool council amid corruption claims, Jenrick announces
Proposals for Liverpool city council
Robert Jenrick has announced he is proposing to appoint commissioners to run some aspects of Liverpool City Council for the next three years.
“Expressed in formal terms, I am satisfied that the council is failing to comply with its best value duty. Therefore, I need to consider exercising my powers of intervention to secure compliance with the duty,” the minister said.
He added: “I am writing today to the council asking them to make representations both on the Inspectorate’s report and on a proposed intervention package.”
“This package is centred on putting in place commissioners who I will appoint to exercise certain and limited functions of the council as required for a minimum of three years.”
Additional reporting by PA
‘Pervasive culture seemed to be rule avoidance’
Robert Jenrick said the report found the council “consistently failed to meet its statutory and managerial responsibility”.
It also found the “pervasive culture seemed to be rule avoidance”, the minister said.
Jenrick statement on Liverpool city council
Robert Jenrick is now giving a statement on Liverpool city council in the Commons.
Watch here:
Government will not order takeover of Liverpool City Council, report suggests
The government will not send commissioners to run Liverpool City Council following allegations of corruption, a report has suggested.
Communities secretary Robert Jenrick will give a statement on the issue shortly, and is expected to announce that commissioners will be sent to help elected officials but not to run the council, according to Sky News’ Joe Pike.
Tougher EU vaccine export controls could hit UK
Brussels has insisted that export controls are needed to stop vaccines leaving the bloc, which faces a third wave of the virus.
European Commission vice-president Valdis Dombrovskis said new conditions would be imposed on manufacturers because of “very serious epidemiological situation”.
Although matters will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, the UK could be affected by the policy.
Our policy correspondent Jon Stone reports:
