Summary

  • Boris Johnson took this week's PMQs by video link

  • The prime minister is self-isolating in Downing Street having come in to contact with a colleague who later tested positive for coronavirus

  • The PM was tested for coronavirus on Monday which came back negative

  • Both the Labour and SNP party leaders challenged the PM on his comments that devolution in Scotland had been a 'disaster'

  • Boris Johnson defended himself saying the SNP's "campaign for the break up of our country" had been the disaster

  • Sir Keir Starmer also questioned the PM on government contracts for PPE supplies

  • Mr Johnson said he is "proud" of the way the government got PPE supplies at the start of the coronavirus pandemic

  • Earlier, the Labour party leader rejected allowing Jeremy Corbyn to return to the parliamentary Labour party.

  1. Thanks for following along with uspublished at 13:31 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    As we step away from our live coverage today, we leave you with our favourite story today...

    This week's Beano comic includes a pull-out section called Bean-OLD, designed to cheer up adults in the midst of the pandemic - with a comic strip featuring Boris Johnson, his outgoing aide Dominic Cummings and some other famous faces from 2020.

    Our colleague Justin Parkinson was given a sneak preview here.

    Beano-OldImage source, Beano/ PA Media

    Our reporters on the live page today were Gavin Stamp, Kate Whannel, and Richard Morris, with Johanna Howitt in the editor's chair.

    Hope you will join us again next week.

  2. PMQs: A quick summarypublished at 13:24 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    PMQsImage source, PA Media

    That's where we'll pause today's coverage of this weeks virtual sitting of PMQs. But before we go here's a quick recap of the main points:

    • As he is self isolating Boris Johnson took part in Prime Minister's Questions via video link
    • Labour leader Keir Starmer accused the PM of "undermining the fabric of the UK" with his comment that devolution in Scotland had been a disaster
    • The PM defended himself by saying the SNP's "campaign for the break up of our country" had been the disaster
    • Sir Keir also pushed Mr Johnson on sick pay for others who were isolating due to Covid-19 and reports that government contracts were more likely to be awarded to those with political connections
    • Mr Johnson insisted government support for people isolating had been "outstanding and exceptional" and that he had been "proud" of efforts to secure PPE through contracts
    • The SNP's Westminster leader Ian Blackford said the PM's reported devolution 'disaster' comment was "not a slip of the tongue but a slip of the Tory mask".
    • MPs also raised anti-vaccine conspiracy theories, child poverty and BAME access to vaccines.
  3. Analysis: The No 10 wifi holds uppublished at 13:19 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    Jessica Parker
    BBC political correspondent

    There was some scepticism – and curiosity – about how a virtual PMQs would work.

    Remember this is the first time ever that a prime minister has dialled in remotely to the Commons chamber.

    The Downing Street wifi did at least hold up but it was certainly not the liveliest of exchanges.

    However the traditional “bear pit” atmosphere (than some like and others loathe) has been lacking for a while since they put limits on the number of MPs allowed in the chamber.

  4. The false claims spreading on social media about coronavirus vaccinespublished at 13:17 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    Reality Check

    Boris Johnson was asked about the spread of disinformation by anti-vaccination activists and whether social media companies should be doing more to remove them.

    The prime minister said the government would be responding to the consultation on the ‘online harms’ white paper shortly and will be setting out plans for legislation.

    News of breakthroughs in coronavirus vaccine development – in recent days – has seen a resurgence in false claims about Covid-19 vaccines – including the baseless conspiracy theory that they’re part of a secret plan (involving the Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates) to implant microchips into humans - so they can be tracked.

    BBC Reality Check has been investigating this and other vaccine claims here.

  5. Watch: PM asked about anti-vaccine disinformationpublished at 13:15 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  6. Watch: Johnson and Blackford on Scottish devolutionpublished at 13:15 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  7. How much personal protective equipment (PPE) is made in the UK?published at 13:09 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    Reality Check

    Prime Minister Boris Johnson was asked about the National Audit Office investigation into the Covid-related contracts the government has been awarding since the start of the pandemic. A lot of them are for PPE – which covers things like masks, goggles and gowns.

    He said: “70% of PPE is now made in this country or capable of being made in this country”

    This figure is the government’s target for December rather than the proportion of PPE manufactured in the UK at the moment.

    In September, a policy paper published by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said that UK-based manufacturers are “anticipated to meet 70% of forecasted demand in December for all categories of PPE, excluding gloves”. (Gloves are excluded as raw materials are not available in the UK.)

    The target is ambitious, especially because in June, the DHSC said that it was expecting, external that only 20% of all PPE will be manufactured in the UK by the end of the year.

    The figure for the proportion of PPE currently made in the UK is not publicly available at the moment.

  8. Watch: Johnson and Starmer on PPE suppliespublished at 13:08 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  9. Watch: Johnson and Starmer on sick paypublished at 13:07 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  10. PMQs endpublished at 12:57 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    HoyleImage source, HoC

    As PMQs ends Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle says he wants to put a "big thank you" on record to the staff in parliament's broadcasting unit for "making today happen".

    On his Downing Street video link, the PM calls "hear hear".

    And with that it's over.

  11. Will vaccine rollout consider BAME inequalities?published at 12:52 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    CharalambousImage source, HoC

    Asking the final question for this week's session of PMQs, Labour's Bambos Charalambous says black, Asian and minority ethnic people are twice as likely as white people to catch coronavirus.

    How will the prime minister address "structural inequalities" when the vaccine is rolled out, he asks.

    Boris Johnson replies that the government is "thinking about this issue right now."

    He adds that it has brought forward "enhanced testing procedures for vulnerable groups".

  12. EU-US trade dispute of 'grave concern' to Scotlandpublished at 12:49 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    PMQsImage source, HoC

    Scottish Conservatives are out in force today following the row earlier this week over the PM's views on devolution.

    Douglas Ross, the leader of the Scottish Conservatives, presses the PM to throw his weight behind growth deals in Scotland.

    And John Lamont urges the PM to do all he can to resolve a trade dispute between the US and EU which he says is doing serious harm to exports such as such as whisky and cashmere which are being "hammered" by tariffs.

    The PM says the issue continues to be of grave concern and he is raising it with the US on a regular basis to try and get a settlement as soon as possible.

  13. PM rejects call to exempt Covid recovered from curbspublished at 12:47 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    JohnsonImage source, HoC

    Tory MP Christopher Chope calls for all people who have tested positive for Covid in the past six months and recovered to be exempt from current restrictions, citing research suggesting they have high levels of T-Cell immunity.

    He says this would show the PM was "following the science as well as common sense".

    The PM thanks the MP for the suggestion but says the evidence points both ways and everyone should continue to self-isolate whatever their historical position.

  14. PM asked about child povertypublished at 12:44 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    OnwurahImage source, HoC

    Labour's Chi Onwurah asked the PM about child poverty and calls on the PM to reverse planned cuts to Universal Credit.

    Mr Johnson says the government wants to tackle child poverty and support people into work.

    He says 400,000 children have been lifted out of poverty.

  15. Will PM tackle online anti-vaccine conspiracy theories?published at 12:44 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    CollinsImage source, HoC

    "It is extremely concerning that one in five people say they won't take the new vaccine," says Conservative Damian Collins.

    He asks if social media companies should do more to tackle anti-vaccine disinformation and conspiracy theories.

    Boris Johnson says he welcomes Facebook and Google's decision that no company should profit from vaccine disinformation.

    The government will be setting out plans for legislation on disinformation shortly, he adds.

  16. Ex-SNP MP Margaret Ferrier asks about EU resettlement schemepublished at 12:39 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    JohnsonImage source, HoC

    We now have an audio only question from the Independent MP Margaret Ferrier.

    She was kicked out of the SNP, after travelling to Westminster despite experiencing Covid symptoms.

    She uses her question to ask about a constituent who applied to the EU resettlement scheme for her and her son in September 2019, but is still waiting for a decision

    The EU Settlement Scheme allows EU citizens to continue living in the UK after 30 June 2021.

    Boris Johnson says the case is under urgent review and that a decision will be made shortly.

  17. PM pressed on fair deal for retailers during lockdownpublished at 12:34 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    PMQsImage source, HoC

    Tory Mark Pawsey suggests it is unfair for big supermarkets to be able to continue to sell items like clothing and homeware while specialist retailers are shut during the lockdown.

    He suggests it would be a good idea for big retailers to help smaller retailers with their tax bills.

    The PM agrees that there should be a fair playing field.

  18. PM urged to replace quarantine arrangementspublished at 12:32 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    BradyImage source, HoC

    Conservative Sir Graham Brady says "tens of thousands of jobs have already been lost in aviation and hundreds of thousands hang in the balance".

    He ask the prime minister to ensure a testing regime can be implemented to replace the current quarantine arrangements when England comes out of current lockdown restrictions.

    Boris Johnson said his government is "working hard to ensure we can replace the quarantine regulations for every category of self isolation".

    "I certainly want to help the airlines," he adds.

  19. Analysis: Devolution arguments of the head and the heartpublished at 12:31 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    Jessica Parker
    BBC political correspondent

    The SNP’s Westminster leader Ian Blackford asked the PM about devolution.

    The party has – and will continue – to say that Boris Johnson’s devolution “disaster” remarks reveal what the Prime Minister really thinks.

    In response, the PM talks about the “billions and billions” of pounds used to help support the economy, across the UK, during the pandemic.

    And a central part of the case the government makes about the union is what they say is the unmatched “might” of the Treasury.

    That may be an argument of the head, but unionists are also under pressure to come up with an argument that appeals to the heart as well.

  20. PM: The union 'has shown its value' during pandemicpublished at 12:28 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    JohnsonImage source, HoC

    Ian Blackford hits back, saying the PM's comments earlier this week - when he described Scottish devolution as a disaster, were not a "slip of the tongue but a slip of the Tory mask".

    He says the only way the Scottish people can truly prosper is through taking destiny into their own hands through independence.

    The PM points out that Scotland voted no to independence in 2014 and "will almost certainly" do so again if there is another vote.

    He goes on to praise the role of the union during the pandemic, including the role of the armed forces and furlough.

    "The union has shown its value and will continue to do so."