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Main story: dramatic increases in all areas
Good morning and welcome to Thursday morning’s briefing with me, Alison Rourke.
The pandemic has reached a “critical” stage in England, and the prevalence of the virus has doubled since last month. While cases remain highest in the north, there has been a dramatic increase in infections in all areas. The R rate (the number of people each person infects with the virus) in the South East, South West, London and the East of England has risen above 2, compared to a national rate of 1.6. “We are seeing a pattern in the south that is similar to what we saw in the north a few weeks ago,” said Professor Paul Elliott of Imperial College London, who produced the study. “The coexistence of high prevalence and rapid growth means that the second wave of the epidemic in England has now reached a critical stage,” the report said. The R rate must be below 1 for the pandemic to reduce. The government’s top scientific and medical advisers are understood to be arguing hard with ministers over stricter restrictions in England before Christmas. Meanwhile, public health directors are being asked to sign up for rapid-result saliva test kits that could test 10% of England’s population each week. The Guardian’s Robert Booth asks if the so-called “Operation Moonshot” has a chance of success, given that the current system is struggling to keep up with demand. With the licensing plan ending on Saturday and unemployment expected to rise dramatically in the run-up to Christmas, economics editor Larry Elliott writes that it has only achieved one of its three key goals of being temporary, timely and specific. You can stay up to date with all the international Covid stories today, including France’s new national blockade, on our live blog.
Antisemitism Labor is preparing for the equality watchdog to rule that the party acted illegally in its treatment of Jewish members. The report from the Equality and Human Rights Commission is intended to recommend an independent complaints system when the results of its long-awaited investigation are released today. The conclusion of the investigation will close a painful chapter in Labor history under Jeremy Corbyn, when he was accused of institutional anti-Semitism and MPs resigned amid recriminations about toxic factionalism within the party’s headquarters. Our summary of key aspects to consider in the report is here.
Nigel Farage – The former Ukip leader appeared at a Donald Trump rally, calling the president the “toughest and bravest” person he has ever met. Farage praised Trump’s anti-establishment rhetoric and, in a veiled dig at Boris Johnson, said Trump was “the only current leader in the free world who has the guts to defend the nation state, fight for patriotism, fight globalism.”
Deadly channel – Nearly 300 asylum seekers, including 36 children, have died trying to cross the Channel into the UK in the last 20 years, according to the first analysis to collate deaths. The Race Relations Institute investigation, to be published next month and seen by The Guardian, details the cases of 292 people who have died trying to cross in a vehicle, tunnel and over water since 1999. It includes all four deaths on Tuesday. , when an Iranian Kurdish couple and two of their children died when their ship sank.
Russia meddling – A group of MPs and colleagues from various parties are taking legal action against Boris Johnson over his government’s refusal to order an investigation into Russian interference in the UK elections. The group filed a lawsuit in the high court in an attempt to force the prime minister to conduct an independent or public investigation. It is the first legal action of its kind for alleged national security failures.
‘Significant works of art’ – An unmatched collection of Jewish artifacts amassed by the Sassoon family and not seen in public for over a century will be sold at auction. The hoard of 68 items includes silverware, Hebrew manuscripts, and family artifacts, some of which date back to the 11th century. “The pieces in this sale are not just the personal property of one of the world’s great Jewish families, they are important works of art and tell an important story of Jewish patronage, collecting and scholarship,” said John Ward of Sotheby’s in New York. , which presents the sale.
Today in Focus Podcast: Marcus Rashford, Free School Meals, and Boris Johnson’s Own Political Goal
The Guardian columnist Gaby Hinsliff looks at why the government has refused to extend the free school meals plan and how the decision has failed, while Guardian journalist Aamna Mohdin reports from a food bank in Hillingdon.
Marcus Rashford’s School Meals Drive
Lunchtime Reading: ‘Covid-19 Has Ravaged The Whole Small Government Idea’
Australian actress Cate Blanchett writes about isolation, the devastating impact of the virus on the arts, and that the pandemic has “made one thing terribly clear: government is not the same as business.” Covid has “shattered the whole idea of a small government and highlighted the importance of social and economic justice.” She says the virus has hampered our ability to come together, but she also underscored how important it is. “And that need in us for a community addresses the difficult lesson we have to learn: business is not government and government is not business. The most important option when governments began to think about easing the blockages, the option that really seems to divide us deeply, is between the community and the economy. “
Sport
Marcus Rashford scored a hat-trick after coming off the bench in the 63rd minute in Manchester United’s 5-0 Champions League win over RB Leipzig. Chelsea combined defensive solidity with offensive flair as they recorded a complete 4-0 victory over Krasnodar in Russia. An effort from Ousmane Dembélé in the 14th minute and a late penalty from Lionel Messi gave Barcelona a 2-0 win over Juventus, while loaned forward Moise Kean scored twice for Paris Saint-Germain to overcome a Slow start in Istanbul Basaksehir 2-0 away win. Dr. Richard Freeman told a medical court that he never gave injections to passengers in the back of a team bus, as he claimed that Team Sky never crossed “the line.” Soccer is “at best, being ignored” by the government and “at worst, being a victim of it,” said Rick Parry in a rejection letter to culture secretary Oliver Dowden. England’s three-game Cadbury Netball Series against New Zealand began with a 58-45 loss at Hamilton on Wednesday. Primoz Roglic made a brilliant late attack to win the eighth stage of the Vuelta a España and eat up the overall lead from Richard Carapaz. Warren Gatland has asked England players to pressure their clubs for the early release next summer to avoid missing out on the British & Irish Lions tour of South Africa next year. And England will learn from the way they lost the 2015 Six Nations title on points difference when they face Italy in Rome on Saturday, according to their assistant coach John Mitchell.
Deal
Advertisers are cutting more than £ 700 million from their marketing budgets in the run-up to Christmas as the pandemic puts an end to the big-budget extravagances that typically bombard audiences during the holiday season. UK advertisers are expected to spend 724 million pounds less than last year, a 10.5% drop. This would be the biggest percentage drop for the so-called “golden” quarter since industry bodies, the Advertising Association (AA) and Warc, began compiling figures in 1982.
European markets and the FTSE will be on edge this morning after Asia Pacific markets fell into the red during Thursday trading, led by heavy losses in Australia, South Korea and Hong Kong. Follow Wednesday’s declines on growing sadness at the prospect of winter closures across Europe.
The pound is buying $ 1.30 and € 1.10.
The papers
Covid dominates the covers today. the guardian sprinkles with: “Plan to test 10% of the population each week amid a rising infection rate.” It also contains images of the Iranian Kurdish family who died trying to cross the English Channel. the Times has “Scientists expect a vaccine by Christmas”, while Telegraph leads with the news: “France enters second blockade.” the FOOT It also gives the new restrictions in Europe the maximum turnover: “France and Germany impose new limits as the increase of Covid hits the markets.” the me He is leading with ‘A Strategy Change Looming As Covid Accelerates’, focusing on mounting pressure for the government to continue the blockade of Wales. the Mail he doesn’t like the idea: “Don’t do it Boris,” says its headline. the Quick has a “Covid cancer time bomb” that says 50,000 people are missing being diagnosed. the Mirror dedicates its cover to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge paying tribute to television personality Kate Garraway, whose husband has spent months in the hospital: “You’re amazing Kate, we’d both like to give you a hug.”
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