UK coronavirus live: No 10 fails to apologise for PM's care homes slur, but claims he meant something different

In the Commons MPs have now moved on to another urgent question from Labour, this time on the £1.5bn bailout for the arts announced by the Treasury yesterday. Ministers are supposed to make major announcements like this in parliament, but Oliver Dowden, the culture secretary, made this public via a press release on Sunday night, followed by a round of interviews the following morning.

In his London Playbook briefing this morning Politico Europe’s Jack Blanchard suggested that Dowden might be facing a reprimand from the Speaker. But Dowden has not even turned up, and he has left it to his junior minister, Caroline Dinenage, to respond. So far she has just been summing up what was unveiled on Sunday night.

The EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, will have a private dinner tonight in Downing Street with his UK counterpart, David Frost, No 10 has said. No ministers will be present. The dinner will be followed by informal talks tomorrow, No 10 said.

This is from the BBC’s Adam Fleming.

NHS Providers, a group that represents hospital and other NHS bodies, has joined the chorus of bodies criticising the PM for what he said about care homes yesterday. This is from its deputy chief executive, Saffron Cordery.

The staff working in care homes and across the social care sector have done an amazing job during the pandemic, managing incredible pressure in very difficult circumstances, often with inadequate personal protective equipment (PPE) and little if any testing.

Trusts have worked in close partnership with social care in confronting the unprecedented challenges posed by Covid-19.

The prime minister’s comments risk undermining the key role played during the pandemic by social care services, which in many places has been nothing short of heroic, and has doubtless saved many lives.

In the Commons, asked when the UK will be most at risk of a second wave, Hancock says the measures in place are designed to avoid this. But he says there is an element of “seasonality” in the illness, and the risk will be higher in the winter, he says.

In the Commons Labour’s Clive Betts asks Hancock to consider the case for allowing people who are exempt from the need to wear a face covering (for example, for a medical reason) to wear a special badge showing they are exempt (which might make it harder for others to avoid wearing a face covering). And he asks if Hancock will do more to promote the wearing of face coverings in shops.

Hancock says yes to both suggestions.

Labour’s Angela Eagle asks Hancock if he agrees with the PM’s “despicable comments” blaming care workers.

Hancock says the government has been learning more about the virus throughout the crisis. He goes on:

My admiration for those that work in social care is second to none.

In the Commons Labour’s Debbie Abrahams says what Hancock said on Sunday about how public health officials in Manchester needed help understanding the testing figures was “nothing short of insulting”. She urges him to apologise.

Hancock claims that he will “not allow a divisive approach” to this crisis and that he wants everyone to work together.

Abrahams was referring to this comment from Hancock on The Andrew Marr Show, when Hancock was asked to respond to Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, saying that central government was not giving his officials enough data about local infections. Hancock told Marr:

Well, I saw the quote from Andy Burnham and I checked, and Manchester has had access to the data, and if Andy wants support and help in interpreting it, then we can give him more experts.

Hancock is responding to Ashworth.

On Leicester, he says the data is moving in the right direction.

As for the criteria for lifting the lockdown, he says the government does not have a precise figure, because the level of infection and the rate of increase both matter.

On regular testing of NHS staff, Hancock says a scheme for this is now in place. On care homes, he says they have done “amazing work”.

Echoing the line from No 10 (see 12.23pm), he says that what the PM was saying was that because asymptomatic infection was not fully understood, the correct procedures were not followed.

Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow health secretary, is responding to Hancock now.

On Leicester, he asks what is the exit strategy is for the city’s lockdown.

In Germany lockdowns are lifted when cases fall to 50 per 100,000. What is the criteria here?

He says cities like Leicester need up-to-date testing information.

And he asks the government to look again at sick pay entitlement. Low pay has been an issue in cities like Leicester, he says.

And he asks why NHS staff are not being routinely tested. Premier League footballers are, but not NHS staff.

Referring to care homes, he asks if Hancock can understand why they were “so insulted” by the PM’s comment yesterday. Which care homes did not follow procedures? And will Hancock apologise for the PM’s “crass remarks”?