Inside Politics: Boris Johnson considers new national coronavirus restrictions

No 10 is now discussing whether to impose a short period of nationwide measures as a ‘circuit break’ on the spreading disease, writes Adam Forrest

Boris Johnson outside No 10 (EPA)

Barack Obama is back. Unfortunately, he’s only back to release another book – a 786-page account of his presidency called In a Promised Land. But it’s a special book with special powers. The former president says it will show us how we “can heal our divisions and make democracy work”. Wow. If only. Back in Brexit land, divisions remain unhealed and democracy isn’t working very well. In fact, nothing is working very well. With Covid infections rising and 750,000 people missing out tests each day, the government is now thinking about new, national “circuit break” restrictions in a bid to stop the virus running out of control.

Inside the bubble

Our political correspondent Ashley Cowburn on what to look out for today:

Sir Keir Starmer will be focusing on the final preparations for Labour’s first ever virtual party conference, after its planned gathering in Liverpool was cancelled due to coronavirus. Elsewhere, home secretary Priti Patel with have to deal with a scathing report from the Commons’ home affairs committee. And health secretary Matt Hancock will be doing the morning media round to talk about his plan to protect care homes.

Daily briefing

SHORT CIRCUIT: Around ten million people in the UK are now living under tighter restrictions after the government added council areas across the north-east of England. There’s no more household-mixing in the region, and pubs and restaurants there must close early. Could we all be back under some kind of “lockdown” soon? A short period of nationwide measures aimed at acting as “circuit break” could be announced in the next week, according to the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg – with the government considering shutting down pubs and restaurants. Apparently Downing Street’s chief scientific adviser and medical officer predicted a “serious” outbreak – and said there would be a “significant” number of deaths by the end of October if the government doesn’t act. Right on cue, The Telegraph reports this morning that hospitals have been told to find extra beds for Covid-19 patients within two weeks.

BUNGLE AND ZIPPY: Baroness Dido Harding, the Tory peer in charge of Test and Trace, admitted to MPs that applications for tests was “three to four times the number of tests we currently have available” – amounting to around 750,000 missing out each day. The Sun dubbed her “Baroness Bungle”, as frustration with the system grows. The government’s processing labs are still using “cumbersome” techniques and are running out of staff, one scientist who inspected the labs told The Times. But the government continues to put a brave face on it. The baroness remains “very confident” of getting to 500,000 test a day by the end of October. Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg told the cynics to jolly well zip it. He wants us to stop “carping” and instead celebrate the “phenomenal success” of testing system. Delusional? Or tongue-in-cheek trolling? You never know with JRM.

IMPOSSIBLE IS NOTHING: Some cheery optimism by way of Brussels this morning. European Commission chief Ursula Von der Leyen said she is “still convinced” a trade deal with the British can be done – despite the “distraction” of Boris Johnson’s plan to override parts of the withdrawal agreement. Commission spokesman Eric Mamer said the EU’s request for the UK to pull his international law-breaking bill before the end of September “has not changed”. Back home, the prime minister has not yet managed to quash dissent. Former Tory leader Michael Howard said the compromise amendment “isn’t enough” for him to back it in the Lords. “The government is still asking parliament to break international law,” said Lord Howard. “As far as I’m concerned this is a matter of principle.” Another ex-Tory leader is fully behind the bill and dead against detractors, including American ones. Ian Duncan Smith said: “We don’t need lectures on the Northern Ireland peace deal from Joe Biden.”

PURELY ANECDOTAL: The Home Office has been formulating its policies on “anecdote, assumption and prejudice”, MPs have warned in a damning new report. The public accounts committee said the department has “no idea” what its own £400m-a-year immigration enforcement unit does. It also warns that another scandal along the lines of Windrush may be “right around the corner”. Elsewhere, the ONS revealed that almost two in three adults are now travelling into work. It seems the PM’s big push “back to your desk” push had an impact. Which is ironic, because reports suggest offices could be shut down again within the next few weeks if infections continue to rise. Some rare good news this morning: a new coronavirus test developed in the UK gives results in 90 minutes. The CovidNudge devices could be used to test people in offices (as well as schools and care homes).

EURO TRIP-UPS: Change, all change please! The now-traditional Thursday announcements on quarantine saw Singapore and Thailand removed from restrictions and added to the list of “travel corridor” countries (in both England and Scotland). But travellers arriving from Slovenia and Guadeloupe will now have to self-isolate for 14 days (when arriving in all parts of the UK). Meanwhile, the government is launching a new publicity drive to help Britons travelling to the EU after the Brexit transition period. Anyone interested in a trip to the continent in 2021 will be urged to visit a new, dedicated web page explaining potential problems and extra measures we may need to take, like health insurance or an international drivers licence. More importantly, you’ll be unable to go unless your passport is valid for at least another six months from the date of travel.

PRESSING THE FLESH: A former adviser to US vice president Mike Pence has said Donald Trump once suggested that Covid-19 might be a good thing because he wouldn’t have to shake hands with “disgusting people” anymore. In a video for the Republican Voters Against Trump, Olivia Troye said working at the White House was “terrifying”. The president will be more concerned by an allegation made by Amy Dorris. The former model accused the New York real estate developer of sexually assaulting and groping her at the US Open tennis tournament in 1997. “The allegations are totally false,” said the White House. Joe Biden, meanwhile, optimistically called on Trump to “step down” over his coronavirus response during his first town hall event of the election campaign.

On the record

“I am still convinced it can be done.”

Ursula Von der Leyen remains optimistic on the possibility of trade deal.

From the Twitterati

“What on earth happened to the freedom-loving, twinkly-eyed, Rabelaisian character I voted for? Oliver Hardy has left the stage, replaced by Oliver Cromwell.”

Right-wing controversialist Toby Young mourns the rule of six and the death of the Boris he once knew…

“Toby Young ditching his support for Boris Johnson because he no longer has the leadership skills of *checks notes* Oliver Hardy right okay is that where the bar is now.”

…while satirist Dave MacLadd wonders how we stopped so low.

Essential reading

Femi Oluwole, The Independent: Brexit should be ‘done’ by now – yet we face even more chaos

Caroline Lucas, The Independent: Covid is an opportunity to build a more sustainable Britain

Ailbhe Rea, New Statesman: Why the real special relationship is between the US and Ireland

David Siders, Politico: Breaking down Trump’s re-election map, state by state

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