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Growth in the UK economy this month slowest since lockdown measures were in place
Growth in the UK economy this month is set to have been the slowest since lockdown measures were in place last spring, according to an early reading of a closely followed index.
The IHS Markit/CIPS flash UK composite PMI report came in at 53.4 for January so far, representing a 11-month low.
It reflected a further slowdown following the reading of 53.6 for December.
Scores above 50 represent growth, while anything below that is a contraction, meaning the UK’s private sector continued to expand during the quarter despite the slight slowdown in activity.
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Long Covid: nearly two million days lost in NHS staff absences in England
NHS trusts in England lost nearly two million days in staff absences due to long Covid in the first 18 months of the pandemic, according to figures that reveal the hidden burden of ongoing illness in the health service.
MPs on the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on coronavirus estimate that more than 1.82 million days were lost to healthcare workers with long Covid from March 2020 to September 2021 across England’s 219 NHS trusts.
Layla Moran, the Liberal Democrat MP who chairs the APPG, said the government had paid “almost no attention to long Covid and the severe impact it was having on vital public services” and called for immediate support for those affected.
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Increasing NI to pay for social care ‘the right thing to do’, says minister
Increasing national insurance contributions to pay for social care is “the right thing to do”, according to a Cabinet minister, as calls swell for the tax increase to be revised.
Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi said the move would “create a system of adult social care that is sustainable and deliverable without breaking families”.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “It is really important to just focus on why we are doing this, why I think it is the right thing to do, because it will finally create a system of adult social care that is sustainable and deliverable without breaking families.”
Pressed on suggestions the move could “shock” the economy and prevent the tax rise from raising the predicted sums, Mr Zahawi replied: “I think the Treasury have done the work on this and it is the right thing to do.
“We will of course make sure we review any policy we introduce – if it is not working, then we will look at it. I absolutely believe it is the right thing to do.”
From April 2022, National Insurance contributions will increase by 1.25 per cent and will be spent on the NHS and social care in the UK.
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Millions of Londoners including civil servants were today urged to rev the city’s economy back to running at “full speed”.
Cabinet minister Steve Barclay issued the appeal on the first Monday since working from home guidance was ditched.
He told the Standard: “Now we are learning to live with Covid and have lifted Plan B measures, it’s time to get back to full speed in all parts of Whitehall as well as London.”
Read the full report here from our political editor Nicholas Cecil.
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WHO chief says ‘we’ve still got a long way to trudge’ with the pandemic
A World Health Organisation chief has there is “still a long way to trudge” with the pandemic.
Asked whether the end of the pandemic is in sight for the countries in Europe, Dr David Nabarro, the World Health Organisation’s special envoy for Covid-19, told Sky News: “The end is in sight, but how long is it going to take to get there?
“What sort of difficulties will we face on the way? Those are the questions that none of us can answer because this virus continues to give us challenges and surprises.”
He added: “It’s as though we’re just passing the halfway mark in a marathon and we can see that yes, there is an end and fast runners are getting through ahead of us.
“But we’ve still got a long, long way to trudge and it’s going to be tough.”
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Some Britons being withdrawn from embassy in Ukraine – Foreign Office
Some British staff and dependants are being withdrawn from the embassy in Ukraine in response to growing threat from Russia, the Foreign Office said.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office stressed that the British embassy in Kyiv “remains open and will continue to carry out essential work”.
Hours earlier, the US ordered the families of all American embassy staff in the capital to leave Ukraine amid heightened fears of a Russian invasion.
Yesterday, deputy prime minister Dominic Raab said there is a “very significant” risk that Russia will mount an invasion of Ukraine.
The UK has accused President Vladimir Putin of plotting to install a pro-Moscow leader in Ukraine.
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Tory MP Nusrat Ghani ‘welcomes’ Islamophobia inquiry
Tory MP Nusrat Ghani has said she “welcomes” the Cabinet Office inquiry into allegations made that she was sacked as a junior minister due to her “Muslimness”.
She said she wanted the matter to be “taken seriously”, adding the inquiry should “include all that was said in Downing Street and by the Whip”.
Her statement in full: “As I said to the Prime Minister last night, all I want is for this to be taken seriously and for him to investigate.
“I welcome his decision to do that now.
“The terms of reference for the inquiry must include all that was said in Downing Street and by the whip.
“I look forward to seeing the terms of reference.”
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Former Brexit secretary: ‘I will wait’ for Sue Gray report before making final decision on if PM should go
A senior Tory MP has suggested it is “pretty likely” he will submit a letter of no confidence in the Prime Minister after the report into the “Partygate” scandal is published, political reporter Rachael Burford reports from Westminster.
David Davis said he will wait for the outcome of Sue Gray’s investigation before making his final decision on whether Boris Johnson should face a leadership contest.
The former Brexit secretary told the Today Programme said he will wait “three or four days” after the report into lockdown parties before sending a letter to the 1922 committee.
“I think it’s pretty likely I would want him to go, but I will wait for those few days,” he said.
“At the moment he has a legacy of having delivered Brexit and having brought us through the pandemic. As we carry on as we may do, month in, month out, it will do huge damage to the Conservative Party.”
Last week, Mr Davis called on the Prime Minister to “go” in the House of Commons.
He told him: “You have sat too long here for any good you have been doing. In the name of God, go.”
Chair of the 1922 Committee Sir Graham Brady must receive 54 letters from sitting Tory MPs to force a leadership contest.
Mr Davis added: “I like Boris, I’ve known him for 30 years but the truth is we’re now into an issue of trust. I don’t think any of the proposed people (to replace him), I’ve seen in the papers have a trust issue.”
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Islamophobia ‘not widespread’ in the Tories – Nadhim Zahawi
The education secretary has confirmed Boris Johnson spoke to Nusrat Ghani last night.
Nadhim Zahawi told Sky News it “takes someone a lot to make such a claim” but denied suggestions her allegations were dismissed at the time.
He said the prime minister “took it very seriously”, denying Mr Johnson is Islamophobic.
Mr Zahawi added that Islamophobia is “not widespread in any way” in the Conservative Party and Mr Johnson “doesn’t look at your background, your religion” when selecting ministers.
“I have not actually experienced any form of racism,” he said.
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PM gives green light for inquiry into Islamophobia allegations made by Nusrat Ghani MP
Boris Johnson has announced an inquiry into claims by Tory MP Nusrat Ghani that when she lost her job as a minister she was told it was partly because of concerns about her “Muslimness”.
A No10 spokesperson said on Monday morning: “The Prime Minister has asked the Cabinet Office to conduct an inquiry into the allegations made by Nusrat Ghani MP.
“At the time these allegations were first made, the Prime Minister recommended to her that she make a formal complain to CCHQ. She did not take up this offer.
“The Prime Minister has now asked officials to establish the facts about what happened.
“As he said at the time, the Prime Minister takes these claims very seriously.”
Read the full article here.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/london-politics-latest-news-boris-johnson-sue-gray-report-this-week-partygate-nusrat-ghani-b978339.html
