Boris Johnson news – live: UK to offer new route to citizenship for Hong Kongers, as Keir Starmer says PM ‘flippant’ on lockdown easing

Labour calls for end to ‘uneven playing field’ between high street shops and online retailers

Labour's shadow chief secretary to the Treasury has said the government must ensure there is an end to the “uneven playing field” between high street shops and online retailers after lockdown.

During a debate on the Finance Bill, looking at the digital services tax, Bridget Phillipson said: “Many of the companies that will be affected by this tax are the same ones that will have benefited from the impact of Covid-19.

“Before this pandemic struck they were the beneficiaries of an uneven playing field while much-loved high street businesses struggled.”

Mr Phillipson added: “Local firms and UK chains have faced a real battle competing with those companies that base themselves overseas, don't have the same overheads as physical shops and go to great lengths to minimise their tax liabilities.

“The impact of lockdown has only exacerbated this tension. It has provided an unexpected boom to tech giants who have managed to rake it in as demand soars and business is directed online.”

A Labour amendment calling for an annual review of the proposed digital services tax has been defeated by 248 votes to 340 (a majority of 92).

Before the vote, Treasury minister Jesse Norman spoke against the amendment and said the government was planning for the tax to be reviewed in 2025.

Labour’s shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy has told Times Radio’s John Pienaar that China should be excluded from any role in the UK’s 5G network and nuclear energy construction programme following its actions in Hong Kong this week.

More on Lisa Nandy’s comments on China can be found below.

The shadow foreign secretary told Times Radio:

“We need far greater strategic independence from China, which means that we need to have home-grown alternatives for our 5G network and our nuclear power

“I don't think we should be handing over large chunks of our energy infrastructure, especially our nuclear energy infrastructure, to a country that's behaved in such an aggressive way towards the UK and the people of Hong Kong in recent weeks.”

Windrush victims could die before they receive compensation, MPs warn

The Home Office will “not rush” compensating Windrush victims, despite concerns that slow progress could see some people die before they receive a payout.

Matthew Rycroft, the department’s new permanent secretary, told MPs staff were “determined” not to make mistakes in handling applications under the “complex” scheme.

“We are determined to take our time, not to rush, not to make mistakes, and to ensure that everyone in the end gets the full compensation to which they are entitled,” Mr Rycroft told the Commons Home Affairs Committee.

Yvette Cooper, the committee’s chairwoman, said there was “concern” as two people involved in four cases raised by the committee over two years ago had since died before receiving any kind of payment or compensation for the scandal.

Mr Rycroft added that the Home Office team would work “as fast as the circumstances permit”.

Fewer than 5 per cent of claims made so far have been paid out, according to the latest figures.

Ed Miliband calls on government to ‘step up’ to prevent wave of manufacturing job losses

Labour’s shadow business secretary Ed Miliband has called on the government to “step up” to prevent a wave of job losses in the UK’s manufacturing industry.

Mr Miliband said the aerospace sector faced “acute difficulties” due to the pandemic and the UK risked losing high-skilled and well-paid jobs across the country without action.

“The loss of 1,700 jobs at Airbus is terrible news and is part of a concerning trend of job losses across the manufacturing sector,” he wrote on Twitter.

“For weeks we have been warning government about the need for sector-specific support for our industries, including in aerospace.”

The former Labour leader added: “There is a severe risk of a wave of job losses in manufacturing.

“It is time for government to step up, recognise the severe danger this poses to our economy and provide the support needed.”

The chairman of the Local Government Association’s community wellbeing board has welcomed the news that more data on local coronavirus cases will be shared with councils.

“It is clear that more precise, granular information is needed in order to help councils track down and isolate any specific outbreaks or clusters,” Councillor Ian Hudspeth said.

“This data needs to be provided promptly and shared quickly, with both district councils and upper tier local authorities, to ensure the swiftest and most effective response.”

He added: “Proportionate responses, which have the consent of the community, are the best way in dealing with local outbreaks and we expect this to happen in the vast majority of cases.

“Councils want to work with the public and local businesses on this and the use of powers should only ever be needed as a last resort, to manage the outbreak and prevent the spread of infection.”

Nandy pushes back on China comments

Labour’s shadow foreign secretary has pushed back on the suggestion she said China should be excluded entirely from the UK’s 5G network and nuclear energy construction programme, as reported by Times Radio’s John Pienaar.

“I said the UK needed to develop home grown alternatives, a proper assessment of the national security implications and maintain constructive engagement with China as part of a more strategic approach,” Lisa Nandy said in response to Mr Pienaar.

Johnson will shy away from no-deal Brexit, Peter Mandelson predicts

The government will ultimately back away from a no deal Brexit because it would be simply too damaging for businesses after the coronavirus crisis, Peter Mandelson has predicted.

“If we left the European Union at the end of this year on WTO terms, we would pay both a short-term and a long-term price in doing that,” the Labour peer told Econ Film’s CoronaNomics show.

Our economics editor, Ben Chu, has the full story below:

Manchester theatre warns of ‘devastating’ job losses due to Covid-19

Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre has warned it may have to make up to 65 per cent of permanent roles redundant due to the “monumental” impact of coronavirus on its work.

The theatre said there was “nothing on the table” in recent government announcements to give them confidence about being able to restart performances in the near future.

“As a direct result of this, and the dramatic loss of income associated with it, we have no other choice than to scale back the organisation and reduce our overheads in order to survive,” it said in a statement.

“This means that we have been forced to make the incredibly hard decision to enter a period of redundancy consultation with our staff.

“At the end of this period we may have to make up to 65 per cent of permanent roles redundant.”

You can find the full statement below: