the labour party is very proud of its history— labour party is very proud of its history on— labour partyneed to remember that we were developing plans for— to remember that we were developing plans for a _ to remember that we were developing plans for a scottish parliament when the snp _ plans for a scottish parliament when the snp stood against us. what is going _ the snp stood against us. what is going on— the snp stood against us. what is going on currently at the moment is frankly— going on currently at the moment is frankly a _ going on currently at the moment is frankly a distraction. we should be spending _ frankly a distraction. we should be spending all of ourtime, frankly a distraction. we should be spending all of our time, the snp government, in fighting the pandemic, not a constitutional battle — pandemic, not a constitutional battle. where the first minister is entirely— battle. where the first minister is entirely wrong is that poll after poll has — entirely wrong is that poll after poll has shown that people do not regard _ poll has shown that people do not regard the ind

but labour kept up the pressure.food banks, schools, charities and communities have had to mobilise to feed hungry children because of the inadequacy of the welfare state. analysis from the house of commons library shows that 680,000 of these children could be lifted out of poverty if universal credit wasn't cut and child benefit was increased by just £5 per week. why won't she implement these changes? in 2020—2021, we'll spend over £120 billion on benefits - for working aged people. that is £120,000 million, with one in every £8 - the government spends, - three times the defence budget, nearly as large - as the nhs budget. so, we are in continuing - to support people throughout the country— during this pandemic. people on older benefits don�*t get the £20 a week increase. can ijust say how utterly disappointing it is to still have no uplift to legacy benefits ten months into this crisis? since the start of the pandemic, shielding people has been an afterthought. the increased costs they are facing are doing untold d

labour accused him of tinkering round the edges.e media on officials responsible for appalling human rights abuses in xinjiang. we have waited months. he briefed the papers that he was planning to announce this today. what has happened to this announcement, and who in government has overruled him this time? cracking down on businesses and their supply chains - is vitally important. however, in this week- of the holocaust memorial, surely magnitsky sanctions should have been in this list. _ i happen to believe that my right honourable friend . wants this to happen. so, i wonder who it is in government that is blocking this. _ he can perhaps whisper it in his chamber to me. - i promise him i won't tell anybody else outside. . —— in this chamber. the foreign secretary said he hadn't ruled out imposing direct sanctions on the officials responsible. i'm very happy to talk to him about the issue of genocide. he will know that my father fled the holocaust. i couldn't take it more seriously. i am confused why the foreign secretary can't jus

in school meals, not a labour government.— school meals, not a labour government._ government. in the first prime minister is questions - government. in the first prime minister is questions of - government. in the first prime minister is questions of the . government. in the first prime l minister is questions of the new year it wasn't just the adequacy minister is questions of the new year it wasn'tjust the adequacy of free school meals that was called into question. the labour leader also believed that the current restrictions may not be adequate, and could need tightening. unlike in the first lockdown in march, nurseries have been opened, as have children's playgrounds, and estate agents can still show prospective buyers around homes for sale. imilieu buyers around homes for sale. when death rates — buyers around homes for sale. when death rates are _ buyers around homes for sale. when death rates are much _ buyers around homes for sale. when death rates are much higher- buyers around homes for sale. “wren death rates are much higher than last march, why on ear

either devote or against the labour motion _ either devote or against the labour motion.t him because it could well be portrayed if they vote against as being _ portrayed if they vote against as being against low income families at a difficult _ being against low income families at a difficult point up and down. if they— a difficult point up and down. if they were — a difficult point up and down. if they were to vote in favour as we heard _ they were to vote in favour as we heard one — they were to vote in favour as we heard one or two of them might, of course _ heard one or two of them might, of course that— heard one or two of them might, of course that would give keir starmer something — course that would give keir starmer something of a victory so they have been _ something of a victory so they have been told _ something of a victory so they have been told effectively to sit on their— been told effectively to sit on their hands, but perhaps some of the other— their hands, but perhaps some of the other reasons they are basically ducking — other reasons they are basical

his labour shadow agreed, up to a point.d people can see this more clearly now than perhaps at any time since the end of national service. so i trust this will reinforce public support for our armed forces and help redefine a closer relationship between the military and civilian society. but i sense a frustration from the secretary of state in this statement. the government has been too slow to act at every stage of this pandemic and to slow to make the fullest use of the armed forces, as i and others on all sides of this house have argued since the summer. the snp also praised the army's efforts. can i start with vaccinations? could he perhaps update - the house exactly where those in defence who are working on covid stand in terms- of the queue, if i can put it like that, for receiving - vaccinations? would he be able to give us- an idea of how many have been vaccinated themselvesj so far up to this point? none of our defence personnel have received a vaccination. they're not in the priority groups one to four. however, we

the labour party has said that this i the labour party has said that this move _ the labour party hasy destabilising - the labour party has said that this move is deeply destabilising and l move is deeply destabilising and undermines _ move is deeply destabilising and undermines the _ move is deeply destabilising and undermines the huge _ move is deeply destabilising and undermines the huge efforts - move is deeply destabilising and . undermines the huge efforts made move is deeply destabilising and - undermines the huge efforts made and bein- undermines the huge efforts made and being made _ undermines the huge efforts made and being made to — undermines the huge efforts made and being made to make _ undermines the huge efforts made and being made to make the _ undermines the huge efforts made and being made to make the northern - being made to make the northern ireland _ being made to make the northern ireland protocol— being made to make the northern ireland protocol work. _ being made to make the northern ireland protocol work. so - being made to make the northern ireland protocol

now, labour saying the government too slow to impose lockdowns?e heard from sir keir starmer, the labour leader, saying the government has been too slow at points. he says people need to take the "stay at home" message seriously but also suggesting more measures are going to have to come, that probably some of the things that have been kept open are going to have to close in england, in particular pointing to nurseries as a potential other way in which the government could stop people moving about, by closing nurseries for most people. have a listen to the labour leader. they are tough and necessary. they may not be tough enough, but in a sense i think the most important thing is for people to get the message about stay at home. it is up to the government to put the message out there the whole time. we've had mixed messages, i'm afraid, for the past nine months, which is why we have a problem. i would like to see the prime minister out there every day with a press conference making sure the message is getting through, because that is the most cruc

labour said the disruption to trade was "serious and unacceptable".s, the lorries from northern ireland stuck in britain or are returning empty and the unnecessary checks on everything, from guide dogs to people moving house. these problems were foreseen time and — these problems were foreseen time and and again in this house and elsewhere and i'm afraid that there are inevitable consequences of the shambolic preparations for the protocol and the last—minute guidance given to businesses. did he envision lorries trapped in red tape at a border he and the secretary of state claim doesn't exist? the lyrics of the businesses are facing greater uncertainty, greater burdens and promised than what is been done to help northern ireland tolliers and accelerate grippage. no lorries have been trapped in red tape, lorries have been able to get into northern ireland without let or hindrance, and that is why as i mentioned earlier, andrew opie pointed out, the supplies on supermarket shelves are as they should be. people here find it very difficult to listen to tho

labour reckon cutting it could be devastating.he uncertainty it will add in an already uncertain time, the loss it will bring when we have already lost so much. the fear it will cause. but the minister insists it's too soon to make decisions. if the honourable gentleman opposite is certain about what the economic and social picture will look like in april, well, to be frank, he must have a crystal ball. more questions for the head of the test and trace service about its effectiveness. and concerns over the consequences of records being wiped off the police national computer. if these 400,000 lost- records are not recovered, then this human error- will have an impact on public safety, won't it? but first: mps have backed a call to keep a £20—a—week uplift in universal credit due to be stopped at the end of march. the increased payment — worth £1,000 a year — was introduced by the chancellor at the start of the pandemic as a temporary measure. 0pposition and some conservatives want it to stay, but the vote to keep it isn't binding o

the labour leader quoted her words. on, "should we have closed our borders earlier?"n advocate, says the home secretary, "of closing them last march." why did the prime minister overrule the home secretary? mr speaker, i think it was last march that the right honourable gentleman, along with many others, was actually saying that we didn't need to close borders. but as usual, captain ironside has changed his tune to suit events. keir starmer moved on to the deletion of around 400,000 fingerprint, dna and arrest records from a police database. mr speaker, it's ten days since the home office mistakingly deleted hundreds of thousands of vital criminal records, including fingerprints, crime scene data and dna records, so can the prime minister tell the house how many criminal investigations could have been damaged by this mistake? well, mr speaker, the home office is actively working to assess the damage. and as the right honourable gentleman will know from the urgent question that was held in the house only a few days ago, they believe that they will be able to rectify th

labour say that leaves the prime minister running scared from his own backbenchers.ment tomorrow, but the issue certainly isn't going away with the budget looming in march, it will cost £6 billion a year to keep this universal credit increase in place, so one of many expensive decisions for the chancellor to weigh up in the weeks ahead. nasa has tested four huge engines for its new megarocket, which it hopes will one day take astronauts to the moon. but the exercise, designed to replicate the power necessary for take—off, was stopped early, and it's not yet clear why. mark lobel has more. take off. it's one of the most anticipated moments of any space mission. here igniting all four engines together for the first time to simulate the sls rocket�*s rise into orbit for the first manned trip to the moon in decades. and here they go. gearing up to one day reach 8.8 million pounds, or to those in the know, 39.1 mega newtons of thrust, to make it the most powerful rocket ever to fly to space. and to put you out of your misery, this is what lift—off should look like. later

where does the labour pa stand disruptions. where does the labour party stand on _ disruptions.this? _ disruptions. where does the labour party stand on this? it _ disruptions. where does the labour party stand on this? it seems - disruptions. where does the labour party stand on this? it seems a - party stand on this? it seems a choice between either a harder border on the island of ireland, and the protocol was designed to stop that, or checks in the irish sea. where do they stand? we that, or checks in the irish sea. where do they stand?— that, or checks in the irish sea. where do they stand? we want to make the rotocol where do they stand? we want to make the protocol work. _ where do they stand? we want to make the protocol work. unfortunately - where do they stand? we want to make the protocol work. unfortunately a - the protocol work. unfortunately a consequence of brexit is that there will have to be some checks between great britain and northern ireland because northern ireland is effectively remaining in the customs union of the eu and also of the uk. because great bri

as the uk records its highest daily coronavirus death toll, the labour leader challenges borisjohnsonr the home secretary's claims that borders should have shut sooner. "i was an advocate," says the home secretary, "of closing them last march." i think it was last march that the right honourable gentleman, along with many others, was actually saying that we didn't need to close borders. and asjoe biden takes over as us president, there's a blunt message for his predecessor from scotland's first minister. i'm sure many of us across - the chamber and across scotland will be very happy to say "cheerio!"| to donald trump today. i think "don't haste ye back" i might be the perfect rejoinder. but first, boris johnson won the 2019 election with what should be a comfortable 80—seat majority, but the week saw some of his backbenchers defying the government on two very different issues. the first pressure point came when labour led a debate calling on ministers to keep a £20 a week uplift in universal credit due to be stopped at the end of march. the increased payment, worth £1,000 a year, was

labour has accused the prime minister of "running scared" of his own backbenchers, ahead of a vote one of commons tomorrow. conservative mps have been told to abstain on labour's demand for the temporary £20 a week increase in universal credit during the pandemic to be extended beyond april. 0ur political correspondent, jonathan blake, is here. jonathan, how much disquiet is there about this? well, plenty. and it is potentially another example of the government putting in place temporary measures during the pandemic only to come under pressure to keep them in place for longer or permanently. in april last year, the government increased by £20 a week the amount people could claim an universal credit, thatis could claim an universal credit, that is due to come to an end in april, but labour and others say it should continue, arguing this is not the time, as they put it, for the chancellor to be bringing down economic support. but crucially for the government, there are a good number of conservative mps who are uneasy about the support coming to an end as well. labour is holding a debate

the labour leader called for the swift vaccination of teachers.rst four categories of the most vulnerable have been vaccinated by mid—february, he should bring forward the vaccination of key workers and use the window of the february half term to vaccinate all teachers and all school staff. mr speaker, of course it follows that all teachers injcvi groups 1—9 will be vaccinated as a matter of priority. the uk is the first country in europe to record 100,000 covid deaths. we also have the deepest recession of any major economy. 0ur schools are closed and our borders are open. but my biggest concern is that the prime minister still hasn't learnt the lessons of last year. and ifear that, as a result, we will see more tragedy now this afternoon, i will be speaking to families who have lost loved ones to covid. what would he like me to say to those bereaved families on his behalf this afternoon? mr speaker, i'm grateful to the right honourable gentlemen for meeting the families of the bereaved — as i have done and i know members across the house have do

the labour party leader said his party supports the new measures being imposed in terms of the englandk a man and this week i'm in a televised response to their penn minister announcement last night a labour leader urged the government to use the third national lockdown in england to create a round—the—clock vaccination scheme to bring the under control. we now need a government that's worthy of the british people and that means using this lockdown to establish a massive, immediate, and round—the—clock vaccination programme. to deliver millions of doses a week by the end of this month and every village, every town, every high streets, and every gp surgery. there prime minister announced that's more than 1 surgery. there prime minister announced that's more than1 million people in england have been vaccinated so far. 1.3 million across the uk and said the government are making a priority to give the injection to the most vulnerable and the elderly by the middle of february. this afternoon with pfizer and astrazeneca combined as of this afternoon we have now back to being fed over 1.1 mi

labour said the government should have — industry.ould have acted _ industry. labour said the government should have acted earlier. _ industry. labour said the government should have acted earlier. groups - should have acted earlier. groups representing the travel industry accept the rules need to tighten but they are asking where things go from here. we they are asking where things go from here. ~ . my ., here. we are saying to the government _ here. we are saying to the government that - here. we are saying to the government that they - here. we are saying to the| government that they need here. we are saying to the - government that they need to look here. we are saying to the _ government that they need to look at all of the measures they've got in place for travel at the moment and all of those restrictions, and has actually come up with a plan to move forward so where there are restrictions they start to lift and there is a clear plan in place. for many travel _ there is a clear plan in place. for many travel and _ there is a cl

we are talking about a forced labour of ethnic minorities in china's shinjang of ethnic minorities innic minorities in china's shinjang province which is home toi million uighur muslims, many of which are held in detention camps, although beijing has repeatedly said that they are training camps tackling extremism. in recent months, our correspondent has also reported about them producing cotton, so brands around the world have been under a lot of pressure to determine if cotton in their clothes is from there and if so, stop using it. according to the telegraph, foreign secretary dominic raabe will be making a statement later today in the house of commons about items manufactured under duress entering the uk, so basically the government wants companies to make sure that no—one in their supply chain has been pa rt their supply chain has been part of a forced labour tra nsfer part of a forced labour transfer scheme, there will be heavier fines on companies that breached the terms, tougher export controls or even possible sanctions on chinese officials believed to be instrumental in the a

hang on, waita minute, the labour party is speaking very much against scottish nationalism because theywhat used to be, anyway, reliably labour seats. if scotland were to become truly independent, labour would lose a considerable cohort of its westminster mps. no one wants scotland to leave, it is notjust a practical problem for the immediate tory government, but it's been a problem for successive governments and was largely labour who proposed the devolution solution because they were hoping to buy off the scottish national interest, and the tories did the same thing, fell into the same trap, but all the parties of the uk wants the union to remain together, all the westminster parties. it isn'tjust a philosophical problem for the tories. it's a practical problem, in the end. givenjanet�*s argument, they have all got to go, what lessons, briefly, if you can, are there from china's area of the world, if you like, from some of those countries, particularly in southeast asia, but how you can make federation work? i'm not sure asia wouldj like to take any lessons from europe these days. at

labour wanted more help for those working in social care.rning £8—9 per hour, they have cared for our older people and vulnerable people at this most difficult of times. surely, they deserve more than the living wage. surely, they finally deserve to be properly valued and recognized by society, and surely, presiding officer, they deserve £15 per hour as called for by the gmb. the budget is largely silent on getting our education system back up the international rankings and the value of teachers. and business support schemes have too many holes, and it's taking too long to get the funds to business. so will the finance secretary look again at these priorities? are are kate forbes told him she was open to suggestions and ideas, and was happy to work with him. now, a pledge to vaccinate 70% of the over—80s by last weekend was missed by the welsh government. weather has been blamed for why the target wasn't reached. first minister mark drakeford told the welsh parliament many over—80s did not feel it was safe to attend appointments in the snow

conservative mps have been told to abstain on labour's vote tommorrow. at how to protect the most vulnerable communities. cornwall has been chosen to host the leaders of some of the world's biggest economies for the g7 summit injune. the seaside town of carbis bay will be the venue for discussions on debt, climate change and post—covid recovery. incoming us presidentjoe biden is expected to attend the event, along with leaders from canada, japan and the eu. winter in rome means starling season, when up to four—million birds gather in the italian capital on their migration from europe to africa. their murmerations in the skies are beautiful — but their droppings create a hazard, and the city authorities are trying new methods to move them on. here's our rome correspondent, mark lowen. in the roman twilight, nature's great dancers flock to the stage. the acrobatic twirls like wisps of smoke. a synchronised spectacle of breathtaking beauty. the starlings migrate in winter south to africa. nesting at night in central rome for warmth, flying in formation to a

the prime minister says stronger measures aren't guaranteed, but labour warns he must act now. it may be that we need to do things in the next few weeks that will be tougher in many parts of the country. so i say bring in those restrictions now, national restrictions within the next 24 hours. that has to be the first step to controlling the virus. as some schools prepare to reopen, fears of staff shortages as unions tell teachers it isn't safe. and the oxford vaccine is rolled out tomorrow, amid concerns about the overrall pace of the programme. also tonight. and there's nothing wrong with saying that, you know, er, that you've recalculated... a recording appears to show donald trump pressuring officials to overturn joe biden‘s election win in a key state. # walk on, walk on.# and he voiced the anthem of a city. gerry marsden of gerry and the pacemakers has died at the age of 78. good evening. the prime minister has warned that coronavirus restrictions in england, may need to be tightened over the next few weeks to cut the rising numbers of infections. borisjohnson also says it

he's also the labour leader of islington council in north london and joins me now.oining us. just explain to us how these free school meals are normally funded and what is the change that the government has confirmed? i change that the government has confirmed?— confirmed? i believe it's where we've been _ confirmed? i believe it's where we've been in _ confirmed? i believe it's where we've been in a _ confirmed? i believe it's where we've been in a tight _ confirmed? i believe it's where we've been in a tight national i we've been in a tight national lockdown like we're going to be in february. the government has funded free school meals for pupils who are eligible, best through providing vouchers. schools are given to families who use them in the shops. what the government are proposing for this holiday is that the covid winter support grant money, which is a good scheme and we welcome that money, but it does specifically say in the conditions for those grants and they don't replace free school meals games. so, councils which have received this money have been put

the scottish labour party leader, richard leonard, has resigned.s of the party that i step aside as leader of scottish labour with immediate effect. mr leonard had been leader of the party for three years — but polls have suggested that many scottish labour supporters struggle to recognise him. here's our political correspondent, nick eardley. richard leonard has spent the last 20 minutes saying he's going to stand down with immediate effect and he decided that is the best course for the party. it's not a great surprise because richard leonard had faced some internal criticism within the scottish labour party from the way that he has laid it over the last three years. they have been previous attempts to get rid of them. they all failed. some of them at the very last minute. it does seem that pressure from his internal critics has got too much and he decided to go potentially before he was pushed. he is from the carbon ring of the party. even a strong ally ofjeremy corbyn and a cheerleader of the former labor leader. some of the party deep down impr

labour wanted more help for those working in social care.ing £8—9 per hour, they have cared for our older people and vulnerable people at this most difficult of times. surely, they deserve more than the living wage. surely, they finally deserve to be properly valued and recognized by society, and surely, presiding officer, they deserve £15 per hour as called for by the gmb. the budget is largely silent on getting our education system back up the international rankings and the value of teachers. and business support schemes have too many holes, and it's taking too long to get the funds to business. so will the finance secretary look again at these priorities? kate forbes told him are are she was open to suggestions and ideas, and was happy to work with him. now, a pledge to vaccinate 70% of the over—80s by last weekend was missed by the welsh government. weather has been blamed for why the target wasn't reached. first minister mark drakeford told the welsh parliament many over—80s did not feel it was safe to attend appointments in the snow an

but labour says action is needed immediately.ia question the approval of a locally made coronavirus vaccine, saying it's premature and could be dangerous. civil war in america's republican party as some senators challenge the results of the us election. from tomorrow, doctors across the uk will begin the roll out of half a million doses of the oxford coronavirus vaccine. but there are questions over the speed at which those most at risk across the country will receive theirjabs, and concerns over the government's decision to delay offering the public second doses of both the oxford and pfizer vaccines. here's our science editor, david shukman. it began with a blaze of publicity and now the vaccination programme moves up a gear, to try to protect tens of millions of people now that a second type of vaccine is about to be deployed. i hearfrom particularly my general practice colleagues up and down the country that they are raring to go. they're really, really busy but they also know that this is the best thing that they can do to p

conservative mps have been told to abstain on labour's vote tommorrow.w to protect the most vulnerable communities. let's speak to the labour mp and shadow work and pensions secretary, jonathan reynolds. what is your view on what the government are doing on this universal credit issue?- universal credit issue? good morning- — universal credit issue? good morning. there _ universal credit issue? good morning. there is _ universal credit issue? good morning. there is absolutely universal credit issue? good i morning. there is absolutely no question that parliament this week must vote to cancel fat cats of £1000 a year to universal credit and working tax credit. first of all, it is about the impact on families. £1000 a year, that is your gas, electric, broadband bill for the year. this would have a substantial impact on families if it were to go ahead. also, it is the wrong thing for the economy. that is taking £6 billion of spending out of the economy when we need it. that money is spent on local shops and local services. i think parliament should recognis

the labour leader, sir keir starmer says the current restrictions may not be tough enough.rnment to reinforce the stay—at—home message, and called for a return of the daily downing street briefings, fronted by the prime minister. the government is rolling out rapid flow tests across the whole of england. the tests, which can return results in 30 minutes, will be prioritised for those who can't work from home. and tens of thousands of people in england aged over 80 are being invited to book an appointment to get the vaccine at one of seven mass vaccination centres. today matt hancock also said said he hoped all adults in the uk would be offered the vaccine by the autumn. now, the latest from our political correspondent nick eardley — and a warning that his report contains flash photography. central london this morning is quiet as you will ever see it, with shops shut, pubs closed, some parts of the country are deserted again. but there is also reel concern in government, that not everybody is following the new lockdown in the strict stay at home message. the government rules

, sometimes it's a process of labour, sometimes it's those first few hours, postnatally with the errorsre all important and extraordinary crucial for partners to be there for their own engagement with the baby and to support the woman having the baby. so having that partner is part of the whole maternity care team i really liked that phrasing, that is crucial. it's getting that communication right and thinking it through for each woman. we communication right and thinking it through for each woman.— communication right and thinking it through for each woman. we will have to leave it there. _ through for each woman. we will have to leave it there. thank _ through for each woman. we will have to leave it there. thank you _ through for each woman. we will have to leave it there. thank you so - to leave it there. thank you so much. . ., to leave it there. thank you so much. ., ~ i. the first tennis grand slam of the year, the australian open, has announced that up to 30,000 fans will be allowed to attend each day. organisers hope that up to 390,000 people will be able to attend the melbourn

ouraim, put simply, is that no company that profits from forced labour can do business in the uk, andin their supply chains. let me set out the four new steps we are now taking. first, today the sdto have issued new robust and detailed guidance to uk businesses on the specific risks faced by companies with links to xinjiang and underlining the challenges of conducting effective due diligence there. a minister led campaign of business engagement will reinforce the need for uk businesses to take concerted action to address that particular and specific risk. second, we are strengthening the operation of the modern slavery act. the home office will introduce fines for businesses that do not comply with their transparency obligations. and the home secretary will introduce the necessary legislation setting out the level of fines as soon as parliamentary time allows. third we announced last september that the transparency requirements that the transparency requirements that apply to uk businesses under the act will be extended to the public sector. so they will work with the cabinet office t

conservative mps have been told to abstain on labour's vote tommorrow. vulnerable communities. cornwall has been chosen to host the leaders of some of the world's biggest economies for the g7 summit injune. the seaside town of carbis bay will be the venue for discussions on debt, climate change and post—covid recovery. incoming us presidentjoe biden is expected to attend the event, along with leaders from canada, japan and the eu. the government is planning new laws to give protection to historic statues in england. the communities secretary, robertjenrick, says monuments which have stood for generations shouldn't be — in his words — "removed on a whim or at the behest of a baying mob". the legislation would require planning permission for any changes and a government minister would be able to veto the move. it was one of the key moments of 2020. in bristol, the toppling of edward colston's statue last summer. a 17th—century slave trader thrown into the city's harbour. as the figure was recovered and restored, a debate ensued across the uk about how we m

and he campaigned for the leadership of the labour party on a manifest of getting back to free movement. >> what the home secretary said last night is not disputed. she said last march, this is not hindsight, she was saying to the prime minister, you need to shut your borders. she was saying, so i repeat the question the prime minister avoided, why did he overrule the home secretary who claims that she said last march we should shut our borders? >> mr. speaker, we instituted one of the toughest border regimes in the world. it was only last march that he along with many others in his party were continuing to support an open border approach. i must say the whole experience of listening to the honorable gentlemen over the last few months has really been like listening to a weathervane, watching a weathervane spin around depending on the weather. with passing this pandemic, we are rolling out a vaccine program that has inoculated 4.2 million people in our country, whereas he would have joined the eu scheme if i seem to remember, he attacked the vaccine task force which secured the supplies

conservative mps have been told to abstain on labour's vote tommorrow.he uplift was always a "temporary measure". let's discuss this further with mike brewer — chief economist at the resolution foundation, a think tank focused on improving living standards for people on low—to—middle incomes. thank you forjoining us here, i mean, politicaland thank you forjoining us here, i mean, political and economic arguments here, it is an opposition day debate, so, it is not binding, there is no statutory result to the debate tomorrow but let us look at the economics because since the pandemic, there has been this broadening, wealth gap hasn't there. some families have saved during the pandemic, and others it has cost them more, talk us through your research on that subject.- them more, talk us through your research on that subject. research on that sub'ect. well, yes, that is absolutely — research on that subject. well, yes, that is absolutely right, _ research on that subject. well, yes, that is absolutely right, so, - research on that subject. well, yes, that is

i urge eve one for the labour party motion. i urge everyone to _ for the labour party motion.d to cancel this. ., ., , ., , ., ., this. jonathan reynolds for a labour ondered this. jonathan reynolds for a labour pondered in — this. jonathan reynolds for a labour pondered in reply. _ this. jonathan reynolds for a labour pondered in reply, department- this. jonathan reynolds for a labour pondered in reply, department for. pondered in reply, department for work and pensions minister will quincy said his party were waiting for more clarity before making a decision. . . ., ., , ., , decision. the chancellor has always been clear that _ decision. the chancellor has always been clear that this _ decision. the chancellor has always been clear that this measure - decision. the chancellor has always i been clear that this measure remains in place until the end of the financial year. in place until the end of the financialyear. i in place until the end of the financial year. i hear the calls from the party opposite and indeed from the party opposite and indeed from the party opposite and

ian ward is the labour leader of birmingham city council.ease in covid infections among 5 to 9 year—olds. despite being in tier 4, primary schools in birmingham have been told to open as normal. thank you forjoining us. talk us through how you are feeling as schools are due to reopen in a matter of hours, tomorrow morning. that's correct. since the end of the second lockdown, we have seen case rates in birmingham rising. 358 per 100,000 of population and continuing to rise. the difference we are experiencing now is that in the 5—9 age group and the 10—14 age group, we are also seen age group and the 10—14 age group, we are also seen case rates age group and the 10—14 age group, we are also seen case rates rise, and we did not see that back in november. it indicates that we now have the new variant of the virus present here in birmingham, and we know from the london experience that once the virus is in school, it spreads. the advice we are giving to schools is to carry out a risk assessment tomorrow morning. if it indicates it is not safe to

but labour- families, isn't it? it is very important. but labour is i families, isn't it?t scrapping it. but you . are the former children and families minister. you understand, i don't want to put words in your mouth, but many of your own mps have said this would be devastating to families. and remember, this is a prime minister, many will remember the speech when borisjohnson said he would work tirelessly to level up many areas of the uk economy and to help families in need. surely you can tell us if you agree with those mps that this would be devastating for families mps that this would be devastating forfamilies in mps that this would be devastating for families in your own mps that this would be devastating forfamilies in your own party? well, first of all, it's the same prime — well, first of all, it's the same prime minister who, when i was children's— prime minister who, when i was children's minister, i brought forward — children's minister, i brought forward the holiday food and activities programme. at that time i think i_ activities programme. at that time i th