Politics Live
5:30pm – And that’s all from us tonight! Join us tomorrow for more news and updates.
5:20pm – Expect the Northern Ireland story to roll on for the next few days…
Source in Stormont: “The chaos is hard to exaggerate.”
— Lewis Goodall (@lewis_goodall) June 17, 2021
4:40pm – Keir Starmer responds to the report that the Treasury suppressed access to sick pay.
Keir Starmer: “Too many people felt that they couldn’t afford to self-isolate. We have been saying this for a year or more, so the idea now that this has been suppressed I think is so wrong in terms of how we fight this pandemic.” https://t.co/fQ8PaWfhJA
— Alex Wickham (@alexwickham) June 17, 2021
4:00pm – And it looks likely that Poots is gone…
Senior DUP source has just told me he expects DUP party officers will inform Edwin Poots today they have no confidence in him as leader of the party.
— Stephen Nolan (@StephenNolan) June 17, 2021
3:33pm – It’s been a quick fall from grace for the DUP leader:
Mr Poots was elected by the DUP 20 days ago. https://t.co/NzDLTjNNAS
— Lewis Goodall (@lewis_goodall) June 17, 2021
2:47pm – Go and get your vaccine jabs!
Fantastic news – everyone aged 18 and over can book their COVID-19 vaccine from tomorrow. I urge everybody to take up the offer as soon as possible to protect yourself and your loved ones. We can beat this pandemic one jab at a time. 💉💉💪🏾💪🏾⁰https://t.co/Rhyp8o1tpA
— Nadhim Zahawi (@nadhimzahawi) June 17, 2021
2:32pm – Could Edwin Poots’ leadership be under threat?
.@skydavidblevins on @skynews confirms that more than 20 DUP MLAs & MPs voted against nominating a first minister but Poots went ahead. David says "I have no idea what that means for the DUP…I suspect there will be a challenge to his leadership now"
— Beth Rigby (@BethRigby) June 17, 2021
12:35pm – If you’re confused by this statement, don’t worry I’m sure you’re not alone.
NEW: Strange about-turn from No10 on WFH rules in future. Spox insists: “There are no plans to make working from home the default or introduce a legal right to work from home.” But govt IS consulting on “making flexible working default option” which includes your “place” of work.
— Dan Bloom (@danbloom1) June 17, 2021
12:06pm – It is election day! Only if you’re in Chesham & Amersham though sadly.
If you’re in Chesham and Amersham, voting goes on til 10pm tonight. Vote! 🗳
— Lewis Goodall (@lewis_goodall) June 17, 2021
11:34am – A pretty damning inditement on the Treasury here as they intentionally surpressed access to sick pay. There have been reports that the main failure of enforcing isolation is people’s lack of access to payment.
NEW: The govt suppressed access to sick pay for people isolating at the height of the pandemic, emails between senior civil servants reveal
Treasury instructed officials to conceal from the public how the furlough scheme could help those isolatinghttps://t.co/8q9CEX7a6Z pic.twitter.com/HMoeymHdyv
— Alex Wickham (@alexwickham) June 17, 2021
10:49am – All sounding very cold war as Biden threatens Putin with potential backing from the UK:
Joe Biden’s fight back against Putin begins in Mayfair, Chelsea and the City. The British Government may finally be ready to help. My column for @timesredbox today.https://t.co/ftkVeoqpYM
— Tom Newton Dunn (@tnewtondunn) June 17, 2021
9:52am – Northern Ireland minister announces he’s received the NI nominations
I am pleased to announce that I have secured commitments from the DUP and Sinn Féin on the nomination of a First Minister and deputy First Minister.
I now expect this to happen at the earliest opportunity – later this morning!— Brandon Lewis (@BrandonLewis) June 17, 2021
8:30am – So what’s in the news this morning?
- Covid continuing to spread, although jabs offer protection
- WHO says UK aid cut risks millions of lives
- First and deputy Northern Ireland first minister nominations to be named
8:00am – Welcome back to another day of Politics Live!
