Priti Patel says sorry after bullying report; Hancock asks regulator to assess Covid vaccine approval – live

Sir Philip Rutnam, who resigned as the Home Office’s permanent secretary accusing Priti Patel of a “vicious and orchestrated briefing campaign” against him, said she was advised not to “swear and shout” at staff last year.

The Prime Minister’s adviser on ministerial standards Sir Alex Allan said in his advice that there was “no evidence that (Patel) was aware of the impact of her behaviour and no feedback was given to her at the time”.

But in a statement issued by the FDA union, Sir Philip said: “I have a high regard for Sir Alex Allan and regret his resignation, but I was at no stage asked to contribute evidence to the Cabinet Office investigation which gave rise to his advice to the Prime Minister.

The advice states that no feedback was given to the Home Secretary and that she was therefore unaware of issues that she might otherwise have addressed. This is not correct.

As early as August 2019, the month after her appointment, she was advised that she must not shout and swear at staff. I advised her on a number of further occasions between September 2019 and February 2020 about the need to treat staff with respect, and to make changes to protect health, safety and wellbeing.

Enormous efforts were made from top to bottom in the Home Office to support the new Home Secretary and respond to her direction, and significant achievements have resulted. The advice does not fairly reflect this.”

More from health secretary Matt Hancock who said it would be a “boost” to the UK if all four of its nations could reach arrangement to allow families to meet over Christmas.

Asked during the Downing Street press conference what his festive plans were, he said: “My plans at the moment are to have a small family Christmas, maybe with my father-in-law who lives on his own and is in our family bubble.

“That would be allowed under the existing rules.”

He added: “I’m very respectful of the work going on which is being led by others to see if we can get a UK-wide approach, that’s why I’m reluctant to comment any more on what the Christmas arrangements might be.

I just think it would be such a boost to the whole of the UK if the four nations each responsible for health care in a devolved way can come together and agree a set of arrangements that’s both safe and carefully and sensible but also allows families to see each other at Christmas.”

More than 70,000 deaths involving Covid-19 have now occurred in the UK, new figures show.

A total of 65,911 deaths have so far been registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate, according to the latest reports from the UK’s statistics agencies.

This includes 1,227 deaths in Northern Ireland up to November 13 (and registered up to November 18), which were confirmed by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency on Friday.

Since these figures were compiled, a further 3,957 deaths are known to have occurred in England, plus 58 in Scotland, 262 in Wales and 66 in Northern Ireland, according to additional data published on the government’s coronavirus dashboard.

These totals mean that so far 70,254 deaths involving Covid-19 have taken place in the UK.

On Hancock being questioned during the briefing about an official investigation finding that Priti Patel had bullied Civil Service staff, The Guardian’s John Crace noted:

Hancock said he has grown “more and more confident” that life will be closer to normal by spring.

He said: “Chris Whitty [the chief medical officer for England] has said he hopes that we will be able to get back more towards normal by the spring.

And with this news we’ve had over the last few weeks and with the expansion of mass testing I’m more and more confident that he’s right.

The Downing Street briefing has now concluded. The main takeaway is the MHRA has been asked to assess whether to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.

If approved, the vaccine will begin to be rolled out in the UK in December.

Hancock said it is a question for the MHRA on how long they will take to decide whether to approve the Pfizer vaccine, but said the FDA approving it in the US gave the UK government the confidence to take the next step.

When asked if there will be enough supply to vaccinate everyone by April, Hancock says there are “uncertainties” but the task for the NHS is to make sure it can deploy the vaccine as quickly as it can be manufactured.

Hancock added he cannot give a figure on the take-up percentage required yet.

A question is asked about concerns of low take-up of the vaccine.
Hancock said no vaccine will be rolled out without being signed off by the independent regulator.

There is huge amount of work going on ensuring objective, factual information is made available rather than things that aren’t true and scare stories that are put about.

Prof Van-Tam also discloses he is self-isolating due to a “household contact”.

Prof Van-Tam says we are on the “glide path” towards a vaccine but there is a risk of “side winds”.

He would not be drawn on a percentage of a vaccine being rolled out next month.

A question is asked about support for key workers and single parents who will not be paid by their employer when they isolate with their children.

Hancock said there is a £500 support payment for people on Universal Credit who are in the situation so they can “do the right thing”.

A question is asked about Sage saying any day of easing of restrictions will lead to five days of tougher rules, and the risk of relaxing rules over Christmas.

Hancock said it depends on what you get the R number down to.

“We have the much-expanded mass testing” and an approach which aims to keep people safe and seeing loved ones over Christmas, he said.