Katy Balls is The Spectator’s former political editor.
11 min listen
Andy Burnham, mayor of Greater Manchester, today slammed the government for attempting to put the region in the highest tier of Covid-19 restrictions, saying the North would not be a 'sacrificial lamb'. Why has the three-tier system backfired on the government? John Connolly speaks to Katy Balls and James Forsyth.
This week's Prime Minister's Questions stood out from previous sessions. Boris Johnson appeared the most comfortable he has in recent weeks – boosted by the loud support of the Tory MPs allowed in the socially distanced Commons chamber. In a way this was strange – Conservative MPs have become grumpier with each week when it comes to the government's coronavirus strategy. So, what's changed? Keir Starmer's intervention on Tuesday calling for a circuit break has had a unifying effect on the party. One of the common complaints against Johnson from lockdown sceptic MPs is that his coronavirus strategy is too restrictive. The three tier system announced on Monday was seen as a further ratcheting up of measures.
16 min listen
A paper to be published by Sage scientists today claims that more than 7,000 lives could be saved if the government imposes a two-week 'circuit breaker'. With Keir Starmer today saying the policy would be in the 'national interest', Katy Balls speaks to Fraser Nelson and James Forsyth about whether Boris could put Britain into lockdown again.
As Tory MPs vent over the government's new three-tier coronavirus system, Boris Johnson appeared this evening before his party for an impromptu meeting of the 1922 committee. Ahead of votes on the measures, the Prime Minister used Zoom to address MPs dialling in from their offices. With many Conservative MPs grumpy over the latest restriction guidelines, Johnson's charm offensive got off to a bad start when he was over 15 minutes late. As MPs waited, they wrote complaints in the Zoom chat function – one attendee asked if this was what a circuit breaker looked like. Michael Fabricant's offer to sing Rule Britannia once again (he began a rendition on a similar call) went unheeded.
Keir Starmer has called for more drastic measures in a bid to control coronavirus infections. After Sage minutes were published on Monday that revealed the scientists advising the government recommended a two-week lockdown — the so-called 'circuit breaker' approach — Starmer used a press conference this evening to urge the Prime Minister to act. The Labour leader called for 'a two-to-three week circuit break in England, in line with Sage's recommendation'. Starmer suggested that this could be run 'across half-term to minimise disruption' — and offered Johnson Labour votes to get it through the Commons. His intervention means there is now clear blue water between the government and the opposition’s coronavirus response.
15 min listen
New documents from Sage show minutes from late September in which scientists advised a circuit breaker lockdown. It's clear that the government didn't take that advice. So is No 10 no longer 'following the science'? Cindy Yu talks to Katy Balls and James Forsyth.
After weeks of speculation over the government's new Covid restrictions grading system, the Prime Minister today announced the details. Addressing MPs in the Commons chamber, Boris Johnson confirmed that his strategy was entering a new phase with a three-tier system. Rather than a traffic light system with a green for go, the regional categories are medium, high and very high. Setting out the measures, Johnson attempted to say that he was striking a middle ground. He pointed to data suggesting the number of cases had quadrupled over the last three weeks as evidence that new steps were needed. However, he made a point of ruling out a national lockdown, at least for the time being, arguing that it would deprive children of their education and significantly damage the economy.
12 min listen
A three-tier system of coronavirus restrictions is set to be announced today, but the government is still locked in negotiations with local authorities over the financial support they will receive if they are placed at the highest level. With a growing number of Tory backbenchers coming out against harsher measures, could the new system backfire on the PM? Isabel Hardman speaks to Katy Balls and James Forsyth.
As Boris Johnson prepares to unveil a new three tier restrictions system, the PM and his ministers are already coming under fire from Tory MPs and local leaders for confusion and a lack of evidence-based decision making. But what of Keir Starmer? The Labour leader has amassed plenty of praise of late. With Labour and the Tories neck-and-neck in the polls, he is credited with making the party seem like a viable option following the Corbyn era. Yet scratch the surface and there are plenty of Labour MPs privately questioning Starmer's opposition strategy — particularly on coronavirus. While Starmer originally said he would provide constructive opposition, the Labour leader has become more combative over the last week or so.
21 min listen
On this week's episode, Katy Balls interviews Thérèse Coffey about her plans to get millions back into work; Rachel Johnson reveals the hidden cost of buying a puppy in lockdown; and Jeremy Clarke wins big at the horse racing.
18 min listen
John Connolly, Katy Balls and Patrick Maguire discuss Sir Keir Starmer's shift in approach to the government's Covid measures.
There was a time when the announcement of new Treasury spending tended to spell good news. However, these days it usually means that something has gone wrong on coronavirus. This afternoon, the Chancellor confirmed a shift in policy — new support packages for workers. Employees at UK firms that are forced to shut by law will now be eligible for two-thirds of their wages to be paid by the government. The scheme is estimated to cost at least hundreds of millions a month. In some quarters, this is being labelled as a U-turn — given Rishi Sunak's previous insistence that there could be no extension of the scheme. What is being offered is not only less generous than what came before, it is more targeted.
9 min listen
Today the Chancellor will announce new economic packages targeted at the areas under lockdown. But will the measures go far enough to save businesses, already under strain? Katy Balls talks to Kate Andrews and James Forsyth.
11 min listen
Overnight, news broke of the three-tier system that the government has in store for the country. First to be put into the strictest tier is likely to be large parts of the North of England, from next week onwards. Cindy Yu discusses with Katy Balls and James Forsyth the political fallout over the next few days.
If you haven’t heard of Thérèse Coffey, then this will be — to her — a sign that she has been doing something right. As Work and Pensions Secretary she has had to sign people on to benefits faster than anyone who has held the position before. If this had gone wrong during lockdown, she would be as infamous as Gavin Williamson. But the system, Universal Credit, managed 1.5 million claims in four weeks. Many things have gone wrong for the government over the past few months, but the welfare system has (so far) held up. Coffey has kept her anonymity. ‘My main task has been making sure that DWP runs effectively. Being in the news would probably be a sign that it wasn’t,’ she says over lunch in The Spectator’s boardroom.
12 min listen
Nicola Sturgeon today announced that 3.4 million Scots will be placed under increased Covid restrictions, with bars and restaurants shutting across a central belt which includes Glasgow and Edinburgh. What's behind the crackdown, and could similar measures be announced in England? Katy Balls speaks to Fraser Nelson and James Forsyth.
The next battle over coronavirus restrictions is shaping up to be the 10 p.m. hospitality curfew. Sir Keir Starmer raised the issue at Prime Minister's Questions this afternoon, asking Boris Johnson whether he was able to provide any scientific evidence for the measures — which mean all restaurants and bars must close by 10 o'clock. The Prime Minister responded by saying the case for the curfew remains the same as it was when Labour supported the policy two weeks ago. While Johnson managed to successfully use the session to highlight Labour uncertainty over certain measures — from the curfew to the rule of six — today's outing also laid the groundwork for Starmer to cause Johnson some trouble.
10 min listen
Boris Johnson gave his headline speech to an empty hall in the virtual Tory conference today. But despite promises to 'Build Back Better', was the speech overlooking the country's immediate troubles? John Connolly talks to James Forsyth and Katy Balls.
10 min listen
More than 15,000 positive tests were missed in a test and trace blunder, it was revealed today. With the government announcing a new 'traffic light' local lockdown system later this week, will the new measure be overshadowed? Katy Balls speaks to James Forsyth and Kate Andrews.
As Conservative party conference gets underway online, Boris Johnson used an appearance on the Andrew Marr show to warn of the difficult months ahead. With over ten million people currently under local lockdown restrictions, the Prime Minister said that while he is aware people are 'furious' with his government, things are not about to get better. Johnson said it was going to be a bumpy few months – which could extend well beyond Christmas: 'It’s possible that we will make significant progress on the vaccine this year. I went to see the scientists at AstraZeneca in Oxford and those teams and they seem to be doing fantastically well.
