All care home residents to be vaccinated by end of the month, Johnson says
Members of the liaison committee will put questions to the government’s vaccines minister, Nadhim Zahawi, along with the prime minister as the latest NHS figures showed more than two million people had received a jab so far.
Meanwhile, the bosses of leading UK supermarkets wrote to Michael Gove warning food shortages in Northern Ireland will get worse as the current system becomes “unworkable” when a three-month “grace period” — allowing shops to phase in new customs checks — comes to an end.
Boris Johnson to face grilling on vaccine plan
Boris Johnson will face questions from MPs on the vaccine rollout after warnings over compliance with lockdown restrictions were stepped up to ease pressure on the NHS.
The prime minister will be grilled by the liaison committee this afternoon after facing Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer at PMQs. The committee will also focus on issues surrounding Brexit and the UK’s place in the world.
Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi will also face questions, as will health bosses involved in the rollout.
Liam James13 January 2021 08:43
Food shortages in Northern Ireland will get worse, supermarkets warn
Heads of UK supermarkets have written to Michael Gove saying “urgent intervention” is needed to prevent further food shortages in Northern Ireland.
They warn that the movement of goods across the Irish Sea will become “unworkable” if further checks are introduced after the “grace period” allowing supermarkets three months before being required to comply with all the EU’s certification requirements.
The chief executives of Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Iceland, Co-Op and Marks & Spencer wrote to the cabinet office minister.
A government spokesperson said: “A new dedicated team in government has already been set up and will be working with supermarkets, the food industry and the Northern Ireland Executive to develop ways to streamline the movement of goods in accordance with the protocol.”
Freezer shelves are empty at a Tesco in Newtownabbey as supermarkets experience post-Brexit border disruption
(PA)
Liam James13 January 2021 08:32
Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s coverage of the latest developments in Westminster and beyond today.
Liam James13 January 2021 08:14
