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R WE THERE YET
Boris Johnson says tiers system IS working to reduce the R rate as he again rejects national lockdown
BORIS Johnson today said the tiers system IS working to push the R rate down - as he again rejected another national lockdown.
At a press conference this afternoon the PM said the R rate - which is thought to be between 1.3 and 1.5 - was around half of what it would be if there were no rules and restrictions put on the country.
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The PM said today: "There are clear signs that our collective actions are working."
He claimed that the R rate was above one "but thanks to the efforts of people of all ages in following the guidance and the rules the R is about half its natural rate" if the virus was allowed to run free.
However, due to the time lag in reporting cases and infections, the R rate is still around three weeks behind today's data.
The PM said again today that he would not accept arguments to stop all restrictions and rules because "we would face thousands more deaths" and would be unable to isolate the vulnerable.
"An uncontrolled expansion in NHS patients would mean the NHS would have even less capacity to treat heart patients and cancer patients," he warned.
"That's why we reject the laissez fair approach.
"Others who say we need to lock the whole place down, turn the lights out, shut up shop, close schools and universities… I do not believe that is the right course now.
"Not when the psychological cost of lockdown is well know to us, the economic cost and not when… there is such an obvious variation, unlike last time, between different parts of the country."
The country is following a "middle course" instead which is being followed by other countries around the world, he said - not the circuit breaker which Labour's Sir Keir Starmer has demanded repeatedly.
"It is better to keep the economy going, so the UK can bounce back as strongly as possible once we get the virus back under control," he added.
And he insisted he was not 'at war' with the North today - claiming he didn't wait until London faced lockdown to unveil new bailout measures.
He facing anger from northern leaders who say they've faced local lockdowns for months - but new support has only been stepped up now the capital is affected.
The package announced today includes billions of pounds to keep the self-employed afloat and prevent stricken bars and restaurants in Tier Two laying off millions of workers.
But Mr Johnson denied that the timing was related to the capital and places like Essex being put under restrictions.
"The issue is really one of basic fairness between various parts of the country that are having to experience regional restrictions, that's what we were trying to achieve in the last 10 days," he said.
"What we are doing now is bringing forward measures that are designed to help businesses that can't trade as they normally would and who are experiencing a fall in income.
"And we are doing it across the whole country, it's backdated to August."
He was backed by the chancellor, who said: "This is simply about fairness.
"It's about treating people the same wherever they live and whatever their situation."
It came as:
- The first doses of a coronavirus vaccine could be available BEFORE Christmas, Vallance said - but Boris insisted "we can't rely on" finding one
- The Chief Scientific Adviser warned that test and trace isn't working as well as the case numbers continue to rise
- Cases will take some time to go back down again - meaning restrictions may not be able to be relaxed for Christmas
- And the true numbers of positive cases could be 90,000 a day
- But there was some hope that infections in young people may finally be falling
- Rishi Sunak promised support right through the winter until the spring
- The Chancellor revealed a fresh bumper furlough package which will pay even more wages to save the nation's boozers and restaurants - splashing out an extra £8billion.
Sir Patrick Vallance warned this afternoon projections show positive cases could be rising at a rapid rate.
The Government's Chief Scientific Adviser said: "Modelling consensus suggests between 53,000-90,000 infections per day are occurring - with that you expect to see an increase in hospitalisations as well.
"The number of infections overall across the country continues to increase.
"The hospital admissions, an increase in number of patients admitted to hospital every day, is up towards 1,000 now."
If the latest estimate is correct, it would mean cases have more than doubled between October 9 and 20 - just 12 days.
New ONS stats will be released tomorrow on further studies, bringing higher figures.
VACCINE HOPE?
But he raised hope that the first doses of a potential vaccine may come before Christmas.
However, the PM dampened hopes, saying "we can't, in my view, rely on that".
He said: "It may happen, we are working flat out to ensure that it does, but we can't just count on that.
"That is why we have to do all the other things that we are doing."
The Chancellor earlier unveiled new support for businesses to help them keep on staff by paying a larger chunk of their wages - and more grants for restaurants and pubs which can stay open but are being hit hard by the curfew and household mixing bans.
In his fourth economic statement in a month, he told MPs this morning he would make the new Job Support Scheme far more generous for firms that are able to stay open by increasing support from the state.
At the moment only businesses in Tier 3 which are ordered to shut - such as pubs which do not serve food - are allowed to claim up to two thirds of their staff's unworked wages under a local furlough scheme.
But now the programme - which will come in on November 1 - will allow every business across the country which is still open to get similar help.
Employees only need to work 20 per cent of their hours rather than a third, which will be a huge relief for employers.
Firms will have to just pay 5 per cent of unworked hours - on top of the hours that their staff are working anyway.
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It means that someone working just one day in five - or 20 per cent of their normal hours - can get up to 73.33 per cent of their total wages. If they work more hours, they will get more pay.
And he revealed huge new grants of up to £2,100 for hospitality businesses which remain open in Tier 2 and 3 which face the toughest restrictions - which can be backdated until August as many have been under fresh rules for months.
Firms can already claim up to £1,500 every two weeks if they are ordered to shut.
The PM and Chancellor will give a press conference later today to spell out the new support to the public.
It's expected the total new package of measures - which will start from November and likely last at least six months - will total more than £13billion.
Around £8billion of new help was announced today.
Today the Chancellor announced:
- The Job Support Scheme which replaces the furlough scheme at the end of the month is made more generous
- Workers must work a minimum of 20 per cent of hours to get help
- Businesses will pay just 5 per cent of wages - down from around 55 per cent
- Grants for self-employed people raised up to £3,750
- New grants for businesses in high-alert areas in Tier 2 and 3
The new grants scheme will cost £200million a month for England, and the self-employed scheme around £3.1billion.
The new Jobs Support Scheme - replacing furlough - will be between £1billion and £2billion per month.
But Mr Sunak warned that the nation must have "one eye on the future" and "be careful not to mortgage our children's future" with endless support packages to deal with the virus.
The Chancellor told the huge swathes of the nation under Tier 3 rules that he understands their frustration and "this is not forever".
"These are temporary restrictions to help control the spread of the virus," he added.
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However, there would be "difficult days and weeks ahead", but "we will get through this together. People are not on their own".
He stressed: "We have an economic plan that will protect the jobs and livelihoods of the British people wherever they live and whatever their situation."
Defending the controversial and confusing tiers system, he said: "Just as we have throughout this crisis, we will listen and respond to people's concerns as the situation demands.
"And I make no apology for responding to changing circumstances and so today we go further."
Hospitality firms in Tier 2 areas have seen their trade fall off a cliff due to the ban on people meeting different households in all indoor venues - as well as the 10pm curfew.
They have been crying out for extra help and support from the Government to help them deal with the loss of income.
And with more and more areas falling in to the 'High' alert level such as London last week, the Chancellor has concluded more financial support is needed.
Businesses welcomed the extra help today.
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Mike Cherry OBE, Federation of Small Businesses National Chairman, said: “This is a welcome intervention which will help protect more jobs and small businesses, as well as self-employed traders, through the difficult winter months.
"Measures to combat Covid-19 make this a tough time for many small businesses, but we are determined to make it through. These measures will help make that happen.”
And Kate Nicholls of UK Hospitality which represents pubs and restaurants across the nation, said it would "make a huge difference" in savingjobs.
She added: "It is great that the Chancellor has listened to our concerns and those of hospitality businesses.
"We have been hammered harder than any other sector and this enhanced support will be crucial in making sure businesses stay afloat and jobs kept secure."
What are the changes to the Jobs Support Scheme?
- The new scheme starts to operate from 1 November (when the furlough scheme ends) and coves all Nations of the UK
- The government will provide up to 61.67 per cent of wages for hours not worked, up to £1541.75 per month
- The cap is set above median earnings for employees in August at a reference salary of £3125 per month.
- Example: a typical full-time employee in the hospitality industry is paid an average of £1,100 per month. Under the Jobs Support Scheme for open businesses, they will still take home at least £807 a month. All the employer needs to pay is a total of £283 a month or just £70 a week; the government will pay the rest
- That means someone working just 20 per cent of their total hours will get just over 73 per cent of their total wages
- Employers using the scheme will also be able to claim the £1000 Job Retention Bonus (JRB) for each employee
- Taking together, an employer could receive over 95% of the total wage costs of their employees if they are retained until February
But earlier Andy Burnham blasted the Government for only introducing extra help now London has been affected - despite Manchester being under tougher rules for months now.
In a withering judgment of the news there would be extra financial help, Mr Burnham told MPs today: "I think there are major questions the Government needs to answer.
"It feels it is dividing and ruling, making one rule for one and one approach for another - and that's the worst way to manage things in a pandemic."
He said: "I'm really struggling with this (Mr Sunak's announcement), not because I begrudge people working in restaurants and pubs in London, of course I don't, but why now?
"Why has it taken London to go into Tier 2 for Tier 2 support to become a national issue.
"That's the question that everyone has to answer."
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Boris warned the nation that the winter ahead "is not going to be easy".
He told the Great Northern Conference: "I have to be honest with you, this winter is not going to be easy but I am certain that the people of northern England will confront this crisis with the fortitude and selflessness we have seen throughout."
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He promised the Government would be with the North "every step of the way".
£5billion has been offered in business support loans in the North West, £1.4billion in the North East, and £3.3bn in Yorkshire and the Humber.
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Sir Patrick Vallance shows slide stating that Covid infections could reach '90k infections a day' during daily briefing