UK coronavirus live: Gove says lockdown could be extended; Starmer rejects union calls to close schools
Latest updates: Cabinet Office minister says easing depends on R value coming down; Labour leader says schools should stay open
- Michael Gove: England lockdown could go beyond 2 December
- Welsh and Scottish leaders hit out at furlough extension in England
- Retail and hospitality sectors warn of Christmas trade meltdown
- Britain is facing perfect storm of awfulness', warns welfare expert
- Global coronavirus updates - live
3.21pm GMT
I would suggest a period of two weeks' closure towards the second half of November so that schools have time to prepare online learning, but that would create the conditions for the biggest drop in cases that we could achieve and it would then create the conditions for some kind of Christmas for more families because they need it right now.
Apparently all votes count equally, but all voters demonstrably don't to this government and the support you get from the chancellor of the exchequer depends on a horizontal line drawn across the country and on which side of it you sit ...
I can assure the government that the people of the north won't easily forget that they were judged to be worth less than their southern counterparts.
3.06pm GMT
These are from Nadine Dorries, a health minister.
Children under school age who are with their parents will not count towards the limit on two people meeting outside. This will mean that a parent can see a friend or family member with their baby or young children.
Children and adults who are dependent on round-the-clock care, such as those with severe disabilities, will also be included. The guidance will be updated to reflect this.
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