Boris Johnson chairs first meeting of new government as updated Covid travel rules are announced – Mubasher | Policy

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good morning. Boris Johnson is chairing the first meeting of his new government this morning. Expect to see some video footage of him, although Johnson will ask his ministers to chant his dishonest slogan “40 new hospitals,” as he did when Cabinet first met after the 2019 election, remains unknown.

Later we expect an important announcement about the Covid travel rules. My colleague Aubrey Allegretti did a preview.

In an interview this morning, George Eustice, the environment minister, confirmed that a decision was imminent. He told Sky News:

My understanding is that no decisions have actually been made yet, although I understand that there may be a meeting today to review this. We regularly review these travel restrictions.

We obviously took an important step earlier this summer when we removed the need to quarantine those countries coming from the amber list countries – that was a really big step forward – but we kept the need for testing, and that’s really so we can follow up on any worrisome variables Through the polymerase chain reaction assay.

But, look, I know this has been brought up by the travel industry, and they think that some of these tests may be unnecessary, they may be stressful — the government will listen to that and the Cabinet Covid subcommittee that decides these things will listen perhaps later today.

Here is today’s agenda.

9 am: Boris Johnson chairs the meeting of his new government.

11.15 a.m.: Downing Street holds its daily briefing in the lobby.

12 p.m.: The Office for National Statistics publishes its weekly survey on Covid infection.

Lunchtime: Mark Drakeford, Welsh Prime Minister, holds a press conference.

Afternoon: The government is set to announce changes to Covid travel rules.

2 p.m.: Mark Buck, president of the Liberal Democratic Party, delivers a speech opening the party’s online conference. Alistair Carmichael, the party’s internal affairs spokesman, speaks at 3:15 p.m.

Also in Chorley, House of Commons Speaker (and local MP) Sir Lindsay Hoyle is hosting today’s Seven Speakers Conference.

For more Covid coverage, read our global live blog.

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