Summary

  • Boris Johnson is addressing MPs over his plan for a new four-week lockdown across England from Thursday

  • The NHS could be overwhelmed if no action is taken, with medical staff having to choose who to treat, he warns

  • Pubs, restaurants, gyms, non-essential shops and places of worship will be affected by the lockdown

  • England will return to the regional tier system on 2 December when the measures end

  • Several senior Tory MPs oppose the move but Labour says it will back the new measures

  • Leaders from across the UK say they will "work together” on a "joint approach to the Christmas period" after diverging over Covid restrictions in recent weeks

  • Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford says two households can form a "bubble" when its firebreak lockdown ends on 9 November

  • Scotland's five-level system of Covid restrictions has come into force

  1. Government 'looking at possible benefits of vitamin D'published at 16:32 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2020

    David DavisImage source, House of Commons

    Former Conservative minister David Davis raises the idea of vitamin D - which is currently being trialled in the UK to see if it can offer a boost against Covid.

    UK residents are already advised to consider taking supplements over winter when vitamin D levels can dip. But that's to improve general health, not specifically to stop infections.

    Mr Davis said: "Over the weekend a number of eminent scientists called on the government to try to resolve the vitamin D deficiency issues in the United Kingdom to reduce the severity of the pandemic.

    "There have been dozens of studies over hundreds of countries in the last six months which show or imply, anyway, that this could reduce the infection rates by half... and the case death rates by half again."

    The PM replied that "we are indeed looking at the possible beneficial effects of vitamin D and... I know we will be updating the House shortly."

    Read more on vitamin D here.

  2. Will the PM reconsider closing gyms, tennis and golf clubs?published at 16:29 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2020

    People playing golf in Huddersfield on 2 NovemberImage source, PA Media

    Tory MP for Bracknell James Sunderland says lockdown is a "necessary evil", but says that many of his constituents in Bracknell have contacted him to express concern about the effective closure of gyms, tennis clubs and golf clubs.

    He asks: "Given the proven benefits of exercise and the lack of any clear evidence that these activities have contributed to an increase in the R rate, might the PM be willing to reconsider the current guidance within the next four weeks?"

    The prime minister apologises for not being able to give a list of exemptions because "once you unpick at one thing alas the effectiveness of the whole package is compromised".

  3. Sack testing boss Baroness Harding, PM toldpublished at 16:25 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2020

    Baroness Dido HardingImage source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    Dido Harding is the boss of NHS Test and Trace

    The MP for Bristol South, Karin Smyth, says her constituency "did everything asked of them" and obeyed the rules. "Now they're being asked to do it again because of his government's failure," she says.

    "Trust is absolutely now at rock bottom," she says. She suggests that Mr Johnson should rebuild trust by having another look at Test and Trace.

    "Firstly, he needs to sack Baroness Harding," she says.

    "I know she's a friend, I know it's difficult but it's clearly been a failure and needs to give that £12bn resource back to the experts on the local ground who know how to use it and to support people isolating."

    Mr Johnson says "whatever the drawbacks, whatever the frustrations" of the testing system, it "will achieve its target" of 500,000 capacity a day by the end of October. "Already has achieved that target," he adds.

    "We need people to self isolate to give the system the effectiveness that it needs."

    For more on Dido Harding, click here.

  4. Analysis: Strong words from senior backbencherpublished at 16:17 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2020

    Jessica Parker
    BBC political correspondent

    Senior Tory backbencher Sir Charles Walker wades in with some strong words.

    He accuses ministers of allowing the country to drift towards becoming an “authoritarian, coercive state”.

    It echoes the warnings of his colleague on the backbench Tory 1922 committee, Sir Graham Brady – who yesterday voiced concerns that the government now tells people who they’re allowed to sleep with.

    Sir Charles says he’s so worried that it’s time for a written constitution guaranteeing “fundamental rights".

    But Boris Johnson gives him pretty short shrift, suggesting people are more interested in beating the virus than hearing worthy debates about Britain’s constitutional framework.

  5. UK records 18,950 new casespublished at 16:15 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2020

    While we're still hearing from the House of Commons, the new daily coronavirus figures, external have just been released by the government.

    They show there have been a further 136 deaths, of people who had had a positive coronavirus test within the previous 28 days, bringing the total to 46,853.

    There have been 18,950 new positive tests. It means 1,053,864 people in the UK have now tested positive for the virus since the pandemic began.

  6. Tory MP 'will not support government's legislation'published at 16:14 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2020

    Tory MP for Broxbourne Sir Charles Walker says he will not be supporting the government's legislation because "as we drift further into an authoritarian, coercive state, the only legal mechanism open to me is to vote against that legislation".

    "That is all we've got left," he says. "If my constituents protest they get arrested.

    "Given that the people of this country will never ever forgive the political class for criminalising parents seeing children and children seeing parents, does the PM not agree with me that now is the time for a written consitution that guarantees the fundamental rights of our consituents?"

    The PM says: "I think what the people of this country want [...] is to defeat the coronavirus.

    "And that's why I think overwhelmingly they understand the need for these measures."

  7. Is essential travel between England and Wales permitted?published at 16:13 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2020

    Fay Jones, MP for Brecon and Radnorshire, asks about travel across the border between Wales and England.

    She asks the PM to confirm that essential travel across the border is not only permitted but encouraged.

    The PM says: "We must ask people unless it's absolutely necessary to stay at home and stop transmission of the virus.

    "That applies throughout the UK."

  8. Increase carer's allowance, urges Lib Dem leaderpublished at 16:11 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2020

    Sir Ed DaveyImage source, House of Commons

    Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey says his party will hold his government to account for "failing to listen to the scientists and refusing to lockdown weeks ago".

    He says unpaid carers are one group that has been particularly hard-hit and urges the prime minister to increase the carer's allowance by £20 a week to "give these incredible people a lifeline".

    Mr Johnson says he will look at the proposal but says the government has put £200bn towards supporting jobs and livelihoods across the UK.

  9. PM: I believe we can defeat the virus by springpublished at 16:07 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2020

    Mr Johnson ended his opening statement with a message of hope as he asked the country to pull together.

    He said the government was planning a "steady but massive expansion in the deployment of quick, turnaround tests" - and the Army had been brought in to help roll it out.

    "We have dexamethasone - the first validated life-saving treatment for the disease.

    "We have the real prospect of a vaccine in the first quarter of next year. And we have ever more sophisticated means of providing virtually-instant tests."

    He adds: "I believe that these technical developments taken together will enable us to defeat the virus by the spring as humanity has defeated every other infectious disease and I am not alone is this optimism.

    "But I cannot pretend that the way ahead is easy or without painful choices for us all.

    "So for the next four weeks I must ask again the people of this country to come together, protect the NHS and save many thousands of lives."

    You can read our latest story on his statement here.

  10. 'Westminster said no to Scotland,' says SNP MPpublished at 16:04 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2020

    SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford asks about extending the furlough scheme.

    "This weekend's last minute U-turn has finally buried the nonsense of a union of equals," he says.

    "A mini extension to furlough was only granted at the 11th hour when part of the country needed it."

    "The PM only acted when England needed support, when Scotland needed support, Westminster said no."

    Boris Johnson replies that the furlough scheme is UK-wide. He accuses Mr Blackford of "talking nonsense" and says the government has supplied Scotland with £7.2bn, saving 900,000 jobs.

  11. Analysis: 'Not a comfortable position for the PM to be in'published at 16:00 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2020

    Jessica Parker
    BBC political correspondent

    Boris Johnson says he makes “absolutely no apology" for trying to avoid a national lockdown.

    But he hasn’t avoided it leaving the door open for Sir Keir Starmer to again accuse ministers of acting too slowly.

    The Labour leader called for a circuit-breaker back in mid-October. It’s not a comfortable position for the prime minister to be in.

    He’s got Labour saying he’s wasted precious time. And he’s got some Tory MPs who think the government’s being too hasty in its willingness to lock down again.

  12. PM 'makes no apology' for bid to avoid national lockdownpublished at 15:59 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2020

    Prime Minister Boris JohnsonImage source, House of Commons

    The PM responds to Sir Keir that he is grateful that Labour will support these measures.

    But he says he makes no apology for making an effort to avoid going back into national lockdown.

    He says the regional approach and NHS Test and Trace have both done a "fantastic" job to lower the R.

    But the PM says "we need to see people self-isolating to a greater extent than they currently are".

    He says the government will protect schools and expand testing for schools.

    He also says the government is "massively" increasing help for the self-employed.

    Mr Johnson says the measures will end on 2 December and the House has the right to decide and will vote on whatever measures it chooses to bring in, and then England will go back to the tier system.

  13. Labour: PM has been too slow at every stagepublished at 15:56 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2020

    Sir Keir StarmerImage source, House of Commons

    Now it's over to the Labour leader, who starts by saying that the central lesson from the first wave is that if you don't act quickly, "the cost will be far worse" - meaning more people will lose their jobs, more businesses will close and more people will lose loved ones.

    "The prime minister failed to learn this lesson," says Sir Keir Starmer, adding: "The human cost will be higher."

    He says that Sage - the government's committee of scientific advisers - recommended an urgent two to three-week circuit break on 21 September.

    "For 40 days the prime minister ignored that advice," he says, and the resulting lockdown was "longer and deeper".

    "At every stage the prime minister has been too slow, behind the curve.

    "At every stage he's pushed away challenge, ignored advice and put what he hoped would happen ahead of what is happening.

    "At every stage he's over-promised and under-delivered."

    Sir Keir says tougher restrictions "are now needed and the virus is out of control" so Labour will back the rules.

    He asks the government to use the next four weeks to fix the test-and-trace system.

  14. Commons speakers says leaker should apologise to MPspublished at 15:50 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2020

    Lindsay Hoyle

    Before the prime minister began Speaker Lindsay Hoyle addresses the leaks to the media about the government's lockdown plan, which led to it being announced Saturday.

    Sir Lindsay has previously expressed concern about the government announcing their plans in press conferences rather than to the House of Commons.

    He said he had spoken to the prime minister who "went to great lengths to reassure me that the leaks were not from Downing Street".

    He adds that if the leaker is identified and turns out to be an MP, they should "make a full apology to the house".

    Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is now responding to the prime minister.

  15. PM: We are not going back to full-scale lockdownpublished at 15:49 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2020

    Boris JohnsonImage source, House of Commons

    "We are not going back to full-scale lockdown," he says pointing out that schools, colleges, universities and child care will remain open.

    He also says people should continue getting non-Covid health care.

    The lockdown is due to expire on 2 December, after which he says the country will return to a regional tiered approach.

    On an exit strategy, he says: "The way out is to get the R rate down and use this moment to exploit the medical and technical advances we are making to keep it low."

    He says that while scientists are "bleak in their predictions they are unanimously optimistic about the medium and long term" and cites progress with vaccines and turnaround tests.

  16. PM outlines further financial supportpublished at 15:49 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2020

    Boris Johnson addressing the CommonsImage source, House of Commons

    The PM goes on to reiterate the new measures that will be in place from Thursday - as we outlined earlier.

    Additionally, he says that Remembrance Sunday events can go ahead provided they are held outside, and that elite sport will also be able to continue.

    While the government will not ask people to shield, he says, the clinically extremely vulnerable should work only from home.

    Mr Johnson says he is "truly sorry for the anguish these restrictions will impose".

    He apologises in particular to businesses who have worked to make their sites Covid-secure.

    The PM says the government will continue to do everything it can to support jobs and livelihoods.

    Furlough will be extended, and he says that from November the government will double its support from 40 to 80% of trading profits for the self-employed

    And the deadline for applications for Covid loan schemes will be extended to end of next month.

  17. PM: Doctors will have to choose 'who will live and die' if we do nothingpublished at 15:43 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2020

    Boris JohnsonImage source, House of Commons

    Mr Johnson thanks the millions of people who have put up with local restrictions - "sometimes for months on end".

    He warns of the dangers of allowing the NHS to be overwhelmed with Covid patients, setting out the "medical and moral case" to stop it happening.

    "The sick would be turned away" as hospitals would be full up with Covid patients, warns Mr Johnson - and cancer treatment, heart surgery, and other life saving procedures could all be put at risk.

    He warns that doctors and nurses could be faced with choosing which patients to treat and "who will live and who will die".

  18. 'No alternative' but to introduce national lockdown, says PMpublished at 15:40 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2020

    Boris JohnsonImage source, House of Commons

    The prime minister begins by highlighting that the R remains above 1 and that the virus is spreading faster than the government's reasonable worst case scenario.

    He also points to projections for hospital capacity and deaths in the coming weeks.

    "Faced with these latest figures there is no alternative" but to introduce national measures he says.

    He also rejects criticism that the UK has been slower to act than other countries in Europe.

    He says it made sense to take regional action before the national lockdown.

  19. PM on his feet to announce lockdown planspublished at 15:35 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2020

    Boris Johnson is now addressing Parliament on plans to introduce a second national lockdown in England.

    The proposals were first announced in a press conference on Saturday.

  20. Who is Boris Johnson trying to convince?published at 15:33 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2020

    Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer speaking during the CBI annual conference at ITN Headquarters in central London.Image source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    Sir Keir Starmer has said Labour will vote for the second lockdown

    In a short while Boris Johnson will speak to MPs about the second lockdown in England, which is set to begin on 5 November.

    He'll want to persuade MPs - including some of his own - to back it in a vote later this week.

    But several Conservatives are likely to rebel against the government.

    Tory ex-minister Sir Desmond Swayne said it would take a "huge amount of persuasion for me to vote for this disastrous course of action", while former Cabinet minister Esther McVey said she would vote against them because the "'lockdown cure' is causing more harm than Covid".

    Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said the announcement of another lockdown was a "body blow" to the British people.

    He tweeted: "Just as the economy was picking up, even giving cause for optimism, we're now to impersonate the Grand Old Duke of York, giving in to the scientific advisers and marching England back into another lockdown."

    He said the system had "broken down... with Sage believing its advice to be more like commandments written on stone".

    Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the 1922 Committee - which is made up of Conservative backbenchers - said: "If these kinds of measures were being taken in any totalitarian country around the world we would be denouncing it as a form of evil."

    But any Tory rebellion will be more symbolic, since Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has already said his MPs will vote in favour of the new rules.

    He said it should have been brought in sooner, though. "The lockdown now will be longer, it'll be harder, we've just missed half-term and there's a very human cost to this," said Sir Keir.