The context is Boris Johnson’s apparent view at one stage of the pandemic (and may still be) that the majority who died would have died soon anyway and that the over 80’s aren’t worth crashing the economy for.

Fact: the life expectancy of an 80 year old man is 9 years and for a woman 10 years. After surviving another five years i.e. for an 85 year old man, life expectancy hasn’t reduced by five years to three, it is actually double that at 6 years and for a woman 7.

Boris Johnson is 57 so he should expect to reach 87, not as old as an 80 year old who has already survived the perils of the sixties and seventies.

On Tuesday’s BBC Today Programme the right wing libertarian (and old Etonian) Lord Sumption was interviewed on this subject but his erroneous statements on Covid statistics were not challenged during the interview.

Others did challenge them vigorously and the BBC did subject them to their own fact check on Wednesday.

In case there is any doubt amongst Owl’s readership here is the fact check on the interview.

fullfact.org  20 July 2021

What was claimed in the Lord Sumption interview

No more than 100,000 people have died of Covid in the UK.

Our verdict

Incorrect. So far, 124,082 deaths have been recorded in England and Wales alone, where Covid itself was the underlying cause.

The virus has not killed over 100,000 people. What has happened is that a very large number of people have died with Covid, but not necessarily of Covid. The definition is anybody who has died within 28 days of a positive test is treated as a Covid death.

The former Supreme Court judge Lord Sumption made several mistakes with Covid-19 data when talking about the disease on the Today programme this morning.

More than 100,000 people have died “of” Covid

First of all, he said that the virus had not killed more than 100,000 people, because many of the deaths recorded may have been people who were infected with Covid, but died for other reasons.

This is not true. The daily data on the number of people who have died after a positive test does include some people who died for other reasons. However, we also have data from death certificates, which records whether or not Covid itself was the “underlying cause”.

This shows that up to 2 July this year, 124,082 people died with Covid as the underlying cause of death in England and Wales alone.

On average, people who die of Covid lose about a decade of life

Lord Sumption went on to say that the people who died of Covid would soon have died anyway. He said: “At the age which they had reached, they would probably have died within a year after, as even Professor Ferguson has I think admitted.”  [1.19.00]

This is not supported by the evidence.

The mention of Professor Ferguson seems to be a reference to the government’s former scientific advisor’s comments before the Science and Technology Select Committee on 25 March 2020, when he said that the proportion of people dying of Covid in 2020 who would have died that year anyway “might be as much as half to two thirds of the deaths we are seeing from COVID-19”.

In other words, he was talking at a very early stage of the pandemic about what might be seen by the end of the year, not stating a fact, or predicting what the facts would be.

Research suggests that people dying of Covid lost far more than a year of life—about a decade on average. We have written about this in detail before. 

Thousands of people without comorbidities have died of Covid

Lord Sumption also said: “The number of people who have died who are not in highly vulnerable groups who have died without a sufficiently serious comorbidity to appear on the death certificate is very small. It’s a matter of hundreds and not thousands.” [1.19.42]

This is not true either. It seems that Lord Sumption is talking about the number of death certificates that mention Covid as the underlying cause but do not mention any pre-existing medical condition.

There were 15,883 of these deaths in England and Wales alone, up to the end of March 2021. All of them had Covid as the underlying cause.

If you added all the deaths in Scotland and Northern Ireland too, the total would be higher.

Serious health challenges existing in coastal towns must be tackled by the Government or they will “get worse”, Professor Chris Whitty has said.

Professor Chris Whitty’s report can be found here.

West Somerset and Torbay feature as two of the ten study cases (Exmouth seems to have escaped):

Torbay

A patch of the Devon coastline on England’s south-coast that includes the towns of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham, Torbay has higher rates of cardio-vascular disease, respiratory disease, and diabetes than the national average.

Its ageing housing stock – it has high numbers of former guest houses converted into relatively cheap houses of multiple occupation, and caravan parks – is identified as a key environmental factor in poor health outcomes in the area.

And, of course, he mentions the “Oldies” in Budleigh, Seaton and Sidmouth: 

“The older age profile of the coastal towns’ resident population is particularly visible in smaller seaside towns, where 31% of the resident population was aged 65 years or over, in 2019, in comparison with 22% in smaller non-coastal towns. The proportion of population aged 65 years or over was highest in Budleigh Salterton in Devon at 45%, in Hunstanton in Norfolk at 44% and in Seaton and Sidmouth also in Devon at 43%.”

Chris Whitty: serious health challenges in coastal communities must be tackled

Daisy Stephens www.lbc.co.uk

England’s chief medical officer (CMO) has recommended a cross-government national strategy to improve the health and wellbeing of coastal communities as part of his 2021 Annual Report, which found that those living in coastal communities face lower life expectancies and higher rates of many major diseases compared to people in inland areas.

“Coastal areas are some of the most beautiful, vibrant and historic places in the country,” said Prof Whitty.

“They also have some of the worst health outcomes with low life expectancy and high rates of many major diseases.

“These communities have often been overlooked by governments and the ill-health hidden because their outcomes are merged with wealthier inland areas.

“A national strategy informed by local leaders and experts will help reduce inequalities and preventable ill health.

“If we do not tackle the health problems of coastal communities vigorously and systematically there will be a long tail of preventable ill health which will get worse as current populations age.”

According to Prof Whitty’s report, Health in Coastal Communities, Blackpool is the most deprived local authority in England, and also experiences the lowest life expectancy for both males (74.4 years) and females (79.5 years).

In West Somerset, 23 per cent of residents over 16 live with a long-term condition compared to 17 per cent inland, and in the entire county, hospital admissions for self-harm are significantly higher than the rest of England.

Coastal areas in the North East, such as Hartlepool and Hull, have seen high rates of coronavirus compared to the rest of the country and both have seen a negative impact on the local economies, the report sets out.

The report also found that seaside communities have fewer postgraduate medical trainees, consultants and nurses per patient than the national average.

The report also noted a number of factors that could partly explain the trend, such as the fact that coastal towns have an oversupply of cheap guest housing and houses of multiple occupation (HMOs) which encourages the migration of vulnerable people, often with certain health needs, and that older, retired citizens with increasing health problems often settle in coastal regions.

The report comes after the Government’s levelling up agenda was introduced, which aims to invest billions of pounds in projects across the United Kingdom and in seaside towns such as Hastings and Hartlepool.

Prof Whitty set out that a cross-government national strategy should be created to improve the health and wellbeing of coastal communities.

He also called for the “mismatch” between care worker deployment and disease to be addressed and said there needed to be an improvement in data and research into health needs.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid, said: “I welcome this report from Professor Chris Whitty, which raises important points on inequalities that we must tackle to improve the health of coastal communities – and I will carefully consider these recommendations.

“Those living in coastal areas clearly face different sets of challenges to those inland but everybody, no matter where they live, should have similar opportunities in education, housing, employment and health.

“We are committed to levelling up across the nation.”

Dream on! Owl imagines that, having gained outline permission under the proposed zoning system, developers will argue that they can’t afford tree-lined streets and access to green spaces. 

Remember that Cranbrook was a pioneering example of “developer led” development.

George Grylls, Political Reporter www.thetimes.co.uk

All new homes should be built in traditional architectural styles on tree-lined streets with access to green space, the government will announce today.

Robert Jenrick, the housing secretary, is set to outline a new national model design code, stipulating the types of façade and materials local authorities should demand of new buildings.

Councils will be asked to have local design codes that fit the history of their area. Traditional stonework will be encouraged in southern cities such as Bristol and Oxford, while developments in northern towns will be asked to reflect their red-brick heritage.

The Prince of Wales, who has advocated traditional architecture with his neo-Georgian developments at Poundbury, Dorset, and Nansledan, Cornwall, is a key inspiration for the reforms.

In a speech to the think tank Policy Exchange today Jenrick will also unveil the new national planning policy framework which will recommend that developments provide access to nature and include schemes to improve biodiversity. All new streets will be planted with trees as part of an effort to plant 7,000 hectares of woodland a year.

Writing in The Times Red Box today, Jenrick says people have become disillusioned with developers after decades of poor design and that new homes must be beautiful to win public approval.

“Urban planning since the war has at times been a disaster,” he writes. “It is little wonder people are sceptical of new housing. It is a logical response to unimaginative development and poor planning.

“Good design, ready access to nature, high environmental standards, should be for all, from Haringey to Hartlepool. This is about putting communities, not developers, in the driving seat to demand beauty, and insist on a return to a sense of stewardship — to building greener, popular homes and places that stand the test of time.”

Nansledan, near Newquay, is cited as a successful example of design. The 540-acre site will accommodate more than 4,000 pastel-coloured homes. The houses have traditional pitched roofs and are built using local materials.

To help deliver the plans, Jenrick has created a taskforce to drive up standards in the building industry, with developers, architects and planners all represented.

The Office for Place will be chaired by Nicholas Boys Smith, director of Create Streets, which lobbies for more terraced housing. Boys Smith collaborated with the late Conservative philosopher Roger Scruton on the government’s Building Better, Building Beautiful commission, which recommended that aesthetic considerations should be factored into planning decisions.

The announcements form the first part of the government’s planning reforms. A planning bill will come before the Commons this autumn amid unrest from Conservative backbenchers, many of whom blame the party’s humiliation at the Chesham & Amersham by-election last month on the unpopularity of the proposals.

Under the reforms, a zonal system will prevent homeowners from objecting to developments in their area.

Ministers believe that overhauling the planning system is crucial if the government is to hit its target of building 300,000 houses a year by the middle of the decade and enable younger generations to buy their own home.

In the past year, house prices have surged thanks to the temporary lifting of stamp duty taxes. The pressures of the pandemic have also led more people to seek out roomier properties with gardens. The average house price has risen to a record £338,000, according to Rightmove.

Does outline planning permission give developers “Carte Blanche” to do whatever they like? If you think the situation is bad now, what’s it going to be like under the Government’s zoning proposals.

The latest on this particular legacy problem – Owl 

From a correspondent

You may remember that Burrington Estates achieved outline planning permission in December last year for development at Winslade Manor.  East Devon District Council overruled their own dedicated strategic policy (26B), the Local Plan, the Neighbourhood Plan and ignored the fact that part of the site was on a flood plain. The main reason that all the plans and policies were overruled and ignored was the economic benefits of employment that this scheme was promised by Burrington Estates to deliver.

Since December 2020 Burrington Estates have been in negotiations regarding the conditions on this site. Despite requesting updates nothing has been forthcoming as the negotiations have been confidential.

The Parish Council commented at last week’s Parish Council meeting that the detailed plans they had been shown contained a considerable number of differences from the outline permission. There has been no mention of the swimming pool or the community park facilities previously promised by Burringtons.  

Residents have been invited to attend a consultation event (details to be confirmed shortly.) In order to get some idea of numbers, to attend this event you need to register before 5pm Friday 23^rd July. If you want to view the proposals you need to email comments@winsladepark-consultation.co.uk or  telephone 01392 581150, specifying your contact details. 

Devon Live reports the latest ONS data confirms the first death of a care home resident from coronavirus in Devon for three months was in East Devon. Data relates to the week of July 3 to 9, but registered up to July 17.

From Freedom Day Owl understands that friends and relatives visiting care home residents will still need to wear protective equipment and be advised to minimise physical contact.

But there will not be a limit on the number of “named visitors” a resident can receive and no national limit on how many can visit in a single day.

A ferry service between Exmouth and Starcross has split opinion after making face masks compulsory for passengers, including those medically exempt.

Alex Davis www.devonlive.com 

The ferry made the announcement yesterday (July 18) on its Facebook page, stating that the ferry would be too small to accommodate those without masks

The post read: “All customers please take note from Monday 19th we are sticking to the face coverings rules which we have been running.”

“We did ask our passengers on Facebook what they would prefer and it come back keep the face coverings. With the social distancing rules change there will be lots of people sitting next to each other. So for everyone’s safety face masks or face covers must be worn by all passengers 6 years and over.”

“We are very sorry for people who can’t wear face masks. This is for everyone’s safety both crew and passengers.”

As of July 19, most legal restrictions have come to an end, including social distancing and social contact restrictions. Despite this, many businesses are still urging customers to wear face coverings in crowded, enclosed spaces.

Some commenters responded to the post, saying the company had made the right decision.

One commenter said: “Great idea, fully support. If people don’t like the cloth face coverings, they can always use the plastic visor type. Have you ever thought of standing for PM? Asking for a friend…..”

Another said: “Totally support your right to do this. Haven’t been on the ferry for a year but looking forward to joining you soon.”

While many commenters approved of the decision, many comments questioned why medically-exempt passengers wouldn’t be allowed to board without a covering.

One commenter asked: “So you will be discriminating against disabled people?”

Another said: “Appalling isn’t it. Discrimination against the disabled or those with underlying health issues.”

Starcross-Exmouth Ferry responded to these comments, saying: “We have been very busy and we haven’t got the space to put people without a mask.”

They added: “We are a private company trying to keep people safe. Just because your exempt what gives you the rights to do what you like. We do carry lots of exempt people who don’t mind sitting down for 15 minutes or so with a face covering.”

“We can’t take people in wheelchairs because they can’t get to us in the first place. There is a footbridge over the railway and steps at the end of the pier we land on.”

A scientist has cast doubt on the validity of a workplace pilot scheme used by Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak to initially avoid self-isolation, accusing the government of secrecy surrounding it and other research.

Ben Quinn www.theguardian.com 

On Monday, 24 hours on from a hasty U-turn by the prime minister and chancellor, Downing Street faced fresh questions about the workplace study and was still unable to provide basic details such as its criteria, protocols and name.

The basic scientific validity of the study was questioned by Prof Jon Deeks, who is co-chair of a Royal Statistical Society working group reviewing evidence on Covid-19 testing, after it emerged that it has no control group.

A better-known, separate Department of Health and Social Care study involved some participants self-isolating and others being allowed to take daily tests instead after being selected at random.

Deeks, a professor of biostatistics at the University of Birmingham, speaking in a personal capacity said: “Without a control group what is this [workplace] study going to tell us? The question is also: what is the status of this alleged secret study which none of us knew about? It should have a name, a protocol, and approval from Public Health England’s ethics committee.

“Part of the problem is that the Department of Health have been quite secretive about their studies. They are just not transparent.”

Deeks said the workplace scheme was part of a pattern of government pilot events, which have included Euro 2020 and Wimbledon. “The government has also been doing a thing where they set up what they describe as a ‘pilot’ if they want something to happen,” he said.

“This was the case back in January as well in relation to schools. Rather than waiting for a proper scientific study to be done they call something a ‘pilot’ and because they are in charge of everything they appear to get away with it.”

Such an approach could be taken because the health secretary is in charge of testing, evaluation studies and the manufacture of test kits and also oversees the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), Deeks said.

The government was also grilled on Monday when the prime minister travelled to Chequers after being told he was a close contact of a Covid-positive case, the health secretary, Sajid Javid.

Johnson’s spokesperson gave different answers on the issue of when Johnson travelled from Downing Street to Chequers, first telling reporters it was at the “start of the weekend”, then Friday morning, then 3pm on Friday.

Separately, a letter released by the MHRA under the Freedom of Information Act made clear that lateral flow test kits of the type which Johnson would have used daily under the pilot scheme were not authorised for daily use unless part of an approved study.

The DHSC said 20 organisations were covered by the workplace pilot.

A union representing Border Force officers has criticised the scheme, which was set up in Manchester and Dover. The PCS spokesperson said: “The trial was extremely unpopular with our members who were put in unnecessary harm’s way by having to use public transport on their days off to come in to get tested. It was completely unworkable and staff preferred to self-isolate which is what the PM and chancellor should have done when they were pinged on the test-and-trace app.”

The Committee on Standards in Public Life was set up in the wake of Tory sleaze scandals under John Major.

It exists to make sure that ministers stick to the principles of integrity, honesty, transparency and selflessness.

Boris Johnson clearly doesn’t give a fig for such concepts.

Voice of the Mirror www.mirror.co.uk

If he did he would not have appointed former Bullingdon Club colleague Ewen Fergusson to the committee.

How can an organisation charged with policing cronyism operate successfully when it has a crony among its members?

The PM is making a mockery of accountability. His former ethics adviser quit after he failed to sack Priti Patel for bullying.

He has also refused to act over Covid contracts going to Tory donors and supporters.

There is a rottenness at the heart of this Government and it flows from a leader who believes that rules are for other people.

• Change of use from guesthouse and owner accommodation to single dwelling Eastcote Clyst St Mary Exeter EX5 1AERef. No: 21/1893/FUL | Validated: Fri 09 Jul 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Siting of a new package sewage treatment plant to replace the existing and failing cess pit. Little Hayne Wilmington Honiton EX14 9LARef. No: 21/1886/FUL | Validated: Thu 08 Jul 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• General purpose livestock building. Brays Farm Dalwood Axminster EX13 7HGRef. No: 21/1878/FUL | Validated: Thu 08 Jul 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1 Willow – reduce in height to just above the unions at 4m. T2 Wilow – reduce in height to approximately 8m. Manor Cottage Old Manor Gardens Colyford Colyton EX24 6TZRef. No: 21/1877/TCA | Validated: Thu 08 Jul 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Change of use of agricultural barn into 1no dwellinghouse Land East Of Broadoak Farm (The Tallet, Aunk) Clyst HydonRef. No: 21/1876/PDQ | Validated: Wed 07 Jul 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of new general purpose agricultural building. Otter View Farm Luppitt Honiton EX14 4TPRef. No: 21/1866/FUL | Validated: Thu 08 Jul 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Large Walnut tree. Fell. Flat 3 2 Trefusis Terrace Exmouth EX8 2AXRef. No: 21/1858/TCA | Validated: Wed 07 Jul 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Alterations to fenestrations (application previously approved under 21/1071/LBC) Copplestones Ridgeway Sidbury Sidmouth EX10 0SFRef. No: 21/1865/FUL | Validated: Wed 07 Jul 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1 Wytch Elm. Reduce height to about 10ft and cut back the side growth to facilitate maintenance and show the beech in its entirety. T/2 Copper Beech. We would like to lift no 4 of the pendunculant limbs by 4 ft over the parking area. Lymside 3 Church Street Uplyme Lyme Regis DT7 3TSRef. No: 21/1874/TCA | Validated: Wed 07 Jul 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Ornamental Cherry Fell because it is planted so that it touches the house and is very close to the front door High Grove Victoria Place Budleigh Salterton EX9 6JPRef. No: 21/1857/TCA | Validated: Wed 07 Jul 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision

• T2 – Oak, Reduce western crown spread by 2m MDC 50mm. Crown raise to 4m AGL MDC 50mm and remove major hazardous deadwood. To reduce dominance of large trees over gardens, works considered relatively minor and within good arboricultural practice guidelines 44 Brixington Drive Exmouth EX8 4HJRef. No: 21/1888/TRE | Validated: Tue 06 Jul 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Addition of a Candiz retractable pergola awning situated on the first floor balcony on the street facing elevation 12 Mudbank Lane Exmouth EX8 3EGRef. No: 21/1854/FUL | Validated: Tue 06 Jul 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1, Oak – Reduce western crown spread by 2m Maximum Diameter of Cuts (MDC) 50mm. Crown raise to 4m above ground level (AGL) MDC 25mm and remove major hazardous deadwood. To reduce dominance of large trees over gardens, works considered relatively minor and within good arboricultural practice guidelines 46 Brixington Drive Exmouth EX8 4HJRef. No: 21/1851/TRE | Validated: Tue 06 Jul 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of agricultural storage barn Farway Farm Chardstock Axminster EX13 7DDRef. No: 21/1845/AGR | Validated: Tue 06 Jul 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Attic conversion with a box dormer to the rear; removal of hipped end to roof and forming a gable wall; provision of a dummy pitched roof to the front of the existing garage; providing a new front door between the garage and the bungalow; providing four opening Velux windows to the front pitched roof with integral balcony 36 Ashleigh Road Exmouth EX8 2JYRef. No: 21/1848/FUL | Validated: Fri 09 Jul 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Demolition of existing dwelling and erection of replacement dwelling The Bungalow Berry Hill Beer Seaton EX12 3JPRef. No: 21/1847/FUL | Validated: Tue 06 Jul 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1 – Oak in neighbours hedgerow. Remove 2 low primary branches and 1 low secondary branch growing to south (approximate maximum cut diameter of 75mm). Prune remaining southern aspect of canopy to reduce lateral spread of crown by approximately 2 metres. T2 – Beech. Crown lift to 8 metres and reduce overextended branches in southern aspect of canopy by approximately 1.5 metres. T3 – Ash. Crown lift to 8 metres removing 2 low primary branches growing to south. T4 – Western Red Cedar. Crown lift to 8 metres. T5 – Sycamore. Remove epicormic growth. Reasons: The trees are causing excessive shading to the southern element of the clients garden 19 Hayes End West Hill Ottery St Mary Devon EX11 1GGRef. No: 21/1842/TRE | Validated: Tue 06 Jul 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Certificate of Lawful Development for a proposed single storey side/rear extension including conversion of attached garage to habitable use, 2 side roof lights, and side dormer. Erection of front porch including repositioning of front door and alterations to fenestration.11 Carberry Avenue Exmouth EX8 3EHRef. No: 21/1840/CPL | Validated: Mon 05 Jul 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Change of use of annexe building, approved under permission 18/2546/FUL, for use as either an annexe and/or for holiday accommodation purposes Lucehayne Cottage Widworthy Honiton EX14 9JSRef. No: 21/1837/FUL | Validated: Mon 05 Jul 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed single storey extension to side / front elevation to achieve a cloakroom and utility, and proposed shelter to house refuse bin, recycling boxes and wood storage. 19 Lower Brook Meadow Sidford Sidmouth EX10 9PSRef. No: 21/1832/FUL | Validated: Mon 05 Jul 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision

• Two storey rear extension 11 Lilley Walk Honiton EX14 2EARef. No: 21/1833/FUL | Validated: Mon 05 Jul 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey flat roof rear extension including demolition of existing rear extension and installation of rendering8 Le Marchant Close Dunkeswell Honiton EX14 4XDRef. No: 21/1841/CPL | Validated: Fri 09 Jul 2021 | Status: Refused
• Conversion of a disused pavilion to 2no. 1-bed and 1no. bedsit holiday accommodation units with parking and amenity space. Budleigh Salterton Croquet Club Westfield Close Budleigh Salterton EX9 6STRef. No: 21/1839/FUL | Validated: Fri 09 Jul 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed rear ground floor extension 7 Gratton Park Cranbrook Exeter Devon EX5 7ARRef. No: 21/1822/FUL | Validated: Thu 08 Jul 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Loft conversion including 2 side gable openings and side balcony, and 2 rear rooflights The Paddocks Kerswell Cullompton EX15 2ESRef. No: 21/1828/FUL | Validated: Thu 08 Jul 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed single storey infill extension Nutts Barn Woodbury Salterton Exeter EX5 1PGRef. No: 21/1817/FUL | Validated: Wed 07 Jul 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of roof over existing silage store Crawley Farm Yarcombe Honiton EX14 9AYRef. No: 21/1812/FUL | Validated: Wed 07 Jul 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Renewal and upgrade of existing front entrance to property. 102 Scalwell Lane Seaton EX12 2STRef. No: 21/1819/FUL | Validated: Fri 09 Jul 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Installation of a Covered slurry yard Clifthayne Farm Marsh Honiton EX14 9ANRef. No: 21/1814/FUL | Validated: Mon 05 Jul 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Change of use of an existing agricultural building and associated works for use as a Livestock Collection Centre. Land On The East Side Of Tower Road Offwell HonitonRef. No: 21/1798/FUL | Validated: Tue 06 Jul 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision

• First floor rear extension with the addition of 2 x dormer, pergola to the front and single storey outbuilding to rear for use as garden room. 1 Cowley Barton Cottages Cowley Exeter EX5 5ELRef. No: 21/1795/FUL | Validated: Mon 05 Jul 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of side/front screened balcony including cladding on the north elevation 10 Chaucer Rise Exmouth EX8 5SYRef. No: 21/1800/FUL | Validated: Tue 06 Jul 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed single storey infill extension Nutts Barn Woodbury Salterton Exeter EX5 1PGRef. No: 21/1806/LBC | Validated: Wed 07 Jul 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• 3 no. new glamping Pods Higher Curscombe Farm Feniton Honiton EX14 3EURef. No: 21/1781/FUL | Validated: Wed 07 Jul 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Prior approval for change the use from a bridal shop (Ea) to a cafe (Eb) including interior alterations 140 High Street Honiton EX14 1JPRef. No: 21/1792/PDC | Validated: Wed 07 Jul 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Replacement of flat roof with two pitched roofs and demolition of existing conservatory to be replaced by single storey extension. Glen Garrif 33 Upper Highfield Sidmouth EX10 8XBRef. No: 21/1779/FUL | Validated: Wed 07 Jul 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of detached double garage structure Bucehayes Farm Cotleigh Honiton EX14 9JARef. No: 21/1777/FUL | Validated: Tue 06 Jul 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey side extension, first floor side/rear extension and addition of a porch canopy 2 Park Way Exmouth EX8 3QERef. No: 21/1769/FUL | Validated: Wed 07 Jul 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Replacement of 2no. external doors and 8no. windows on rear flat roof extension of Fairlynch Museum Fairlynch Museum 27 Fore Street Budleigh Salterton EX9 6NPRef. No: 21/1745/LBC | Validated: Wed 07 Jul 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of a chilled store. Beech House (Denhay Farm Ltd) Devonshire Road Heathpark Industrial Estate Honiton EX14 1SDRef. No: 21/1735/FUL | Validated: Tue 06 Jul 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision

• Erection of a single storey orangery including demolition of existing conservatory and removal of internal wall Oakhayes House Oakhayes Road Woodbury Exeter EX5 1JTRef. No: 21/1726/FUL | Validated: Tue 06 Jul 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of a single storey orangery including demolition of existing conservatory and removal of internal wall Oakhayes House Oakhayes Road Woodbury Exeter EX5 1JTRef. No: 21/1727/LBC | Validated: Tue 06 Jul 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Formation of new vehicle access to existing dwelling. 1 Heath Cottages Broadclyst Exeter EX5 3GZRef. No: 21/1706/FUL | Validated: Tue 06 Jul 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Removal of front door to be replaced by 2 PVC windows. 22 Elizabeth Road Exmouth EX8 4NTRef. No: 21/1707/FUL | Validated: Tue 06 Jul 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Roadside Service Area (RSA), including a Petrol Filling Station (PFS) comprising of a forecourt sales building, canopy, separate HGV and Car fuel pumps and underground storage tanks and a new Class E/Sui Generis drive-thru restaurant alongside associated car, coach and HGV parking, landscaping and off-site highway works on the B3174. Land South Of Lily Cottage Exeter Road WhimpleRef. No: 21/1688/MFUL | Validated: Wed 07 Jul 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Outline application with all mattters reserved for a new dwelling 29 Winters Lane Ottery St Mary EX11 1ARRef. No: 21/1692/OUT | Validated: Tue 06 Jul 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Change of use of 2x holiday dwellings to residential use. Garlands Stovar Long Lane Beer Seaton EX12 3EARef. No: 21/1684/FUL | Validated: Mon 05 Jul 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Variation of condition number 2(approved plans) on application 14/0530/FUL, Construction of 2 no. Semi-detached dwellings The Maltsters Arms Clyst St Mary Exeter EX5 1BLRef. No: 21/1667/VAR | Validated: Tue 06 Jul 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of a single storey sun room, with retractable glass windows, and pocket doors Brampford House Brampford Speke Exeter EX5 5DWRef. No: 21/1612/FUL | Validated: Fri 09 Jul 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Chalet style dwelling following outline permission 1 Heath Cottages Broadclyst Exeter EX5 3GZRef. No: 21/1582/FUL | Validated: Thu 08 Jul 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision

• Installation of patio doors and balcony Westcombe Moorcourt Close Sidmouth EX10 8SURef. No: 21/1566/FUL | Validated: Tue 06 Jul 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Reserved matters (layout, appearance, scale, and landscaping) for the construction of 147 dwellings and associated infrastructure, drainage, and open space pursuant to outline application 18/2799/MOUT. The discharge of outline planning conditions 1, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 26 and compliance with Section 106 obligations requiring submission of an Affordable Housing Scheme, Open Space Specification, and Community Garden Land At Exeter Science Park Clyst HonitonRef. No: 21/1282/MRES | Validated: Tue 06 Jul 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Remove existing ground floor bay window frame and replace with new wooden bay window in west elevation. East Lodge North Rousdon Lyme Regis DT7 3XURef. No: 21/1273/LBC | Validated: Wed 07 Jul 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Siting of timber clad shipping container for use as dry store for equipment and animal feed. Paddock North East Of Northleigh Cross Northleigh ColytonRef. No: 21/0965/FUL | Validated: Thu 08 Jul 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision

Boris Johnson refused to take the country into lockdown in the autumn because “the people dying are essentially all over 80”, leaked phone messages appear to show.

Interview on BBC 2 at 1900 tonight – Owl

http://www.independent.co.uk 

The WhatsApp chats, passed to the BBC by former No 10 chief of staff Dominic Cummings, also show the prime minister saying he did not “buy all this NHS overwhelmed stuff” months before deaths soared to over 1,000 a day.

And in his first interview since leaving No 10, Mr Cummings claimed the PM had to be stopped from going to see the Queen at the start of the pandemic.

Mr Johnson had already been told to avoid contact with the elderly after staff at No 10 had been taken ill.

Downing Street has not questioned the veracity of the leaked messages or denied the claims about the handling of the pandemic – though Mr Johnson’s office says the incident involving the Queen did not take place.

“He [Boris Johnson] said we should never have done the first lockdown, he said that repeatedly in meetings in No 10,” Mr Cummings, who quit in acrimony last year, told the BBC.

“After the first wave passed and after he came back to work, initially his view was essentially, thank goodness we did do that, but very quickly, as the Telegraph and various parts of the media and Tory Party started screaming, he then basically reverted and said, actually the whole thing was a disaster, we should never have done it, I was right in February, we should basically just ignore it and just let the thing wash through the country and not destroy the economy and move on.”

Mr Cummings claimed that Mr Johnson referred to TheTelegraph newspaper, which backed his leadership campaign and previously payed him £250,000 a year on top of his politicians’ salary to write a column, as “my real boss”.

Though public and scientific support for strong anti-Covid measures has remained high throughout the pandemic, a section of the Conservative-supporting press and some Tory MPs have pushed back against restrictions at every opportunity.

The former aide said the prime minister rejected the advice of chief scientific advisor and medical officer Patrick Vallance and Chris Whitty when they told him to lock down hard and early.

Messages apparently dating from 15 October – two weeks before the prime minister ordered another lockdown – appear to show Mr Johnson unperturbed by the mounting death toll.

“I must say I have been slightly rocked by some of the data on Covid fatalities,” the messages appear to show the prime minister saying.

“The median age is 82 – 81 for men 85 for women. That is above life expectancy. So get Covid and live longer.

“Hardly anyone under 60 goes into hospital (4 per cent) and of those virtually all survive. And I no longer buy all this NHS overwhelmed stuff. Folks I think we may need to recalibrate.”

Mr Cummings told the broadcaster: “His [Boris Johnson’s] attitude at that point [autumn 2020] was a weird mix of, er, partly it’s all nonsense and lockdowns don’t work anyway and partly well this is terrible but the people who are dying are essentially all over 80 and we can’t kill the economy just because of people dying over 80.”

“Lots of people heard the prime minister say that; the prime minister texted that to me and other people.”

“He put his own political interests ahead of people’s lives for sure.”

It has previously been reported that Mr Johnson said he would rather the “bodies pile high in their thousands” than order another lockdown – a claim that has not been denied by No 10.

Recounting Mr Johnson’s alleged attempt to visit the Queen when he may have been exposed to Covid-19, Mr Cummings said: “I said, what are you doing, and he said, I’m going to see the Queen and I said, what on earth are you talking about, of course you can’t go and see the Queen. He said, ah, that’s what I do every Wednesday, sod this, I’m gonna go and see her.”

“I said to him [Boris Johnson], there’s people in this office who are isolating, you might have coronavirus, I might have coronavirus, you can’t go and see the Queen. What if you go and see her and give the Queen coronavirus?

“You obviously can’t go … I just said if you, if you give her coronavirus and she dies, what are you gonna do? You can’t do that, you can’t risk that, that’s completely insane. And he said, he basically just hadn’t thought it through, he said, yeah, ‘holy s***, I can’t go.’”

A Downing Street spokesperson said: “Since the start of the pandemic, the prime minister has taken the necessary action to protect lives and livelihoods, guided by the best scientific advice,” the spokesperson said.

“The government he leads has delivered the fastest vaccination rollout in Europe, saved millions of jobs through the furlough scheme and prevented the NHS from being overwhelmed through three national lockdowns.

“The government is entirely focused on emerging cautiously from the pandemic and building back better.”

Downing Street in muddle over prime minister’s movements – as Labour demands to know if he knew Sajid Javid was feeling ill

www.independent.co.uk

Keir Starmer says Tory ministers ‘played the system’ to avoid self-isolation

No 10 changed its story about when Boris Johnson left for his Chequers country home, as Labour demanded to know if Sajid Javid already had Covid “symptoms”, following the pair’s meeting.

The prime minister’s spokesperson first said the departure was at “the start of the weekend”, then said it was on Friday morning – before correcting himself by stating it was at 3pm on Friday.

He did not answer directly whether Mr Johnson knew if his health secretary was feeling ill when he left London for Chequers – after a Friday meeting between the pair.

“The correct process has been followed,” the spokesperson said, stating Mr Johnson was at the country home when he was identified as a close contact of Mr Javid, by the test and trace system.

“Once contacted by NHS Test and Trace over the weekend, he has isolated and has not travelled subsequently because he did not want to travel across the country,” he added.

Mr Johnson led a press conference by video link – from Chequers – while Patrick Vallance, the chief scientific adviser, and deputy medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam spoke from Downing Street.

Sir Keir Starmer said there were questions to be answered, asking: “Did Boris Johnson travel to his country retreat after Sajid Javid first had symptoms?

“We know the prime minister likes to look for a loophole. We need to know when the prime minister was contacted and where he was.”

In a contradictory briefing, the spokesperson was unable to say when Mr Johnson learnt of Mr Javid’s positive test – or when he was identified as a close contact by test and trace.

At one point he stated he left for Chequers on Friday morning – before it was pointed out that there were photos of the health secretary leaving the pair’s meeting early on Friday afternoon.

After stating the departure was at 3pm, the spokesperson said: “The health secretary took his test on Saturday, so the correct process has been followed.”

He would not say whether Carrie Johnson, the prime minister’s wife was with him, but did state that the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, is quarantining in his flat above No 10.

Downing Street issued a statement at 8am on Sunday stating that both Mr Johnson and Mr Sunak would swerve isolation rules by taking part in a “daily contact testing workplace pilot”

But it was forced into a rapid U-turn amid public anger over the impression that they were dodging strict rules imposed on everyone else contacted by test and trace.

The isolation means a crucial meeting with Irish premier Micheal Martin – to discuss the crisis over the Northern Ireland Protocol and the proposed amnesty for Troubles’ killings – was scrapped.

“Infection rates across Devon are the highest they have ever been – currently at 319.3/100,000 – and are set to rise further in upcoming days as more data gets added.”

Daniel Clark www.devonlive.com

Braunton in North Devon saw more than one per cent of its residents test positive for coronavirus last week.

Latest figures for the county’s MSOA areas for the seven day period between July 8-14 show every single area is recording a cluster of three or more cases.

Four of the top five areas where the highest number of cases were confirmed were in Torbay, with Chelston, Cockington & Livermead, Paignton Central, Torquay Central, and Blatchcombe & Blagdon all seeing more than 60 cases confirmed.

But Braunton saw 96 cases in that seven day period – and with an infection rate of 1,017.4/100,000, it means that more than one per cent of the population tested positive.

Infection rates across Devon are the highest they have ever been – currently at 319.3/100,000 – and are set to rise further in upcoming days as more data gets added.

Steve Brown, Devon’s director of public health, said that while restrictions may have changed, “our responsibility as members of our family, friends and society have not changed”, and urged residents to think carefully about their actions.

He added: “We need to take personal responsibility, remain cautious, and continue with the efforts we have made so far in helping to stop the spread.

Promoted Stories

“Employers also, the rules have changed, but please continue to do the right thing by your workforce and your customers.

“The goalposts may have moved with the intended lifting of restrictions, but our responsibility as members of our family, friends and society have not changed. Please choose to do the right thing for ourselves and others.”

FULL LIST OF MSOA CLUSTERS FOR DEVON

UK runs out of Covid lateral flow tests on Freedom Day as millions order kits

Kelly-Ann Mills www.mirror.co.uk

Coronavirus lateral flow tests given out by the Government for free have run out as millions order kits on Freedom Day.

The government’s website tells people to “come back tomorrow”.

Another Devon beach cliff fall is captured on camera

Anita Merritt www.devonlive.com

Another cliff fall at a Devon beach has been captured on camera just weeks after four other separate incidents were reported in the same town.

Yesterday (July 17) some more of the notorious crumbling cliffs tumbled down causing huge plumes of red dust and a “deafening” noise.

The aftermath of the cliff fall at Sidmouth was captured by Brad Palmer during a visit to the seaside town.

Read more: Prince Charles expected to ditch face mask when he visits Exeter tomorrow

He recalled: “I was walking in that direction and saw the whole thing. A large side of of the cliff face just dropped.

“The sound was deafening. People behind us and in front all looked over to see what it was.

The aftermath of the Sidmouth beach cliff fall (Image: Brad Palmer)

“The aftermath was just a huge dust cloud which lasted about five minutes leaving a mound of mud and clay on the beach, which is accompanied by a previous rock fall in the background.”

Last month, Devon Live reported how a cliff fall had been witnessed for the fourth time over the past three weeks. It occurred on June 10, just two days after the most recent landslide in Sidmouth, which prompted a warning from Beer Coastguard team.

In May of last year there were three cliff falls which all took place within 24 hours in Sidmouth.

Seamus Jennings Times cartoon: July 19 2021

Tim Spector’s studies have correctly spotted the turning points in the evolution of the pandemic in the UK so far. So is this another one or is it something to do with the sample?

New cases plateau ahead of Freedom Day

covid.joinzoe.com 

According to ZOE COVID Study incidence figures, it is estimated that among unvaccinated people in the UK there are currently 17,581 new daily symptomatic cases of COVID on average, based on PCR test data from up to five days ago [*]. A decrease of 22% from 22,638 last week. Suggesting that the wave in the unvaccinated population has now peaked in the UK. The overall number of estimated cases is 33,118 which remains similar to last weeks which was 33,723.

Comparatively there are currently 15,537 new daily symptomatic cases in partly or fully vaccinated people, an increase of 40% from 11,084 new cases last week. With cases in the vaccinated group continuing to rise, the number of new cases in the vaccinated population is set to overtake the unvaccinated in the coming days. 

In terms of prevalence, on average 1 in 142 people in the UK currently have symptomatic COVID (Table 1). 

The UK R value is 1.0 and regional R values are; England, 1.0, Wales, 1.1, Scotland, 0.9 (Table 1). Across the regions, it’s a mixed picture. New cases in the North East and East of England are still rising but in Scotland cases are now falling. In Wales cases remain relatively low and are rising very slowly. The rest of the UK reflects the overall picture, which is one where cases have stopped in their tracks for now.

According to the ZOE COVID Study there are an estimated 550 cases of Long COVID a day among unvaccinated people in the UK. This is calculated by using the estimated number of daily new cases from ZOE and the rates of long COVID from the latest research on risk factors for long COVID [ref] and adjusting for age differences. This figure is smoothed, see Graph 2. 

The ZOE COVID Study incidence figures (new symptomatic cases) are based on reports from around one million weekly contributors and the proportion of newly symptomatic users who have received positive swab tests. The latest survey figures were based on data from 10,303 recent swab tests done between 26 June and 11 July 2021. The data excludes lateral flow tests.

Tim Spector OBE, lead scientist on the ZOE COVID Study app and Professor of Genetic Epidemiology at King’s College London, comments on the latest data:

“We are seeing the overall incidence rates plateau in the UK with an R value of 1.0, which is good news. But the rate of decline may be slower this time, as many of the restrictions in place previously will end. The numbers are still high with around 1 in 142 people with COVID, so we’ll keep a close eye on numbers and the effect of the Euro Football Championship in the coming days and weeks. Interestingly, comparing the UK globally, we are starting to see cases in the rest of the world catching up. This is probably due to the Delta variant taking hold, and the relative success of the vaccine roll out in the UK as well as vaccination rates slow in other countries. In the UK, new cases in vaccinated people are still going up and will soon outpace unvaccinated cases. This is probably because we’re running out of unvaccinated susceptible people to infect as more and more people get the vaccine. Whilst the figures look worrying, it’s important to highlight that vaccines have massively reduced severe infections and post-vaccination COVID is a much milder disease for most people. The main concern is now the risk of Long COVID.”

‍

Graph 1. The ZOE COVID Study UK Infection Survey results over time 

Graph 2. Long COVID incidence in the UK

Table 1. Incidence (daily new symptomatic cases)[*], R values and prevalence regional breakdown table 

Map of UK prevalence figures

The world watches “the great experiment” – Owl

Carlie Porterfield www.forbes.com 

Topline

The United Kingdom reported a whopping 48,161 new coronavirus cases Sunday, more than any other country in the world, just one day before most of the country is set to pull all of its pandemic restrictions despite rising infections.

Key Facts

The figure represents a more than 43% surge in new cases compared to a week ago as the U.K. is facing another wave which experts attribute to the spread of the delta variant, which is believed to be more transmissible than earlier forms of the virus.

The new infections have occurred largely among young, unvaccinated Brits, who were among the last in line to be eligible to receive a vaccine from the U.K.’s National Health Service, which is now offering jabs for anyone 18 and older.

England, which makes up more than 84% of the U.K. population, is slated to drop all pandemic restrictions Monday, including masking rules and capacity guidelines.

The other three countries that make up the U.K.—Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales—will also loosen their existing restrictions, but not to the extent that England is.

Public Health England data show coronavirus deaths and hospitalizations remain far lower than during previous pandemic peaks, which experts attribute to vaccinations preventing serious illness, though the numbers have risen over the past week.

Surprising Fact

Even the new health secretary, Sajid Javid, tested positive for coronavirus over the weekend, sending some of the nation’s top officials—including Prime Minister Boris Johnson—into isolation.

Contra

The decision to open up the U.K. amid the spike in cases has drawn backlash from public health officials and members of the medical community. Earlier this month, after the U.K. government announced plans to loosen restrictions, 122 scientists and doctors signed an open letter calling the move “dangerous and premature” and urged the government to reconsider.

Key Background

According to a Johns Hopkins University tally, the U.K. has counted more than 5.4 million confirmed infections and nearly 129,000 deaths, making it the worst-hit country in Europe by coronavirus. Despite having a more effective vaccination campaign than most European countries, new infections began to gradually rise again in June, though hospitalizations and deaths tied to coronavirus have stayed low. 

The lifting of most COVID legal restrictions on July 19 has been dubbed “freedom day” by some politicians and journalists. Though not an official designation, this popularisation of this moment with such a saying closely follows two of my 10 “golden rules” of propaganda that I’ve developed in my years studying the practice. First, appeal to the instincts rather than the reason of the audience, and second, build around a slogan. Then repeat, repeat, repeat.

Colin Alexander theconversation.com

To this end, the media’s regular use of the phrase reflects its compliance with – and encouragement of – the government’s pandemic communications strategy. It is one of these phrases that you cannot quite place where it first emerged but which quickly seeps into public discussion to the point that we all know what it means.

Throughout the pandemic, the British government has utilised a wartime propaganda playbook to deliver public communications about COVID and the purported solutions to it. In these terms, we are now heading for the end of the “combat” phase of the government’s propaganda delivery and the beginning of the post-pandemic – or post-war – phase.

In this sense, “freedom day” could be compared to VE Day (Victory in Europe Day, May 8 1945) and ought to be regarded as the latest in a long line of rhetorical associations with the second world war that have been encouraged over the last 16 months.

References to blitz spirit, the militarisation of language around and heroisation of the NHS and the attention on second world war veteran Tom Moore as the flagship of British determination and sacrifice are just a few of the ways this history has manifested in COVID Britain.

Concepts like “freedom” and “liberty” have been invoked by propagandists since the 16th-century Protestant Reformation and subsequent Enlightenment period. They emerged as influential writers – Thomas Paine, John Stuart Mill and Isaiah Berlin, to name a few – began to philosophise about the rights of the individual.

To this end, the popular use of “freedom” to describe the end of pandemic restrictions forms part of a populist audience seduction strategy, using emotional rather than rational rhetoric. The media’s purpose in using the phrase then is to be appear to be on the side of the public. As Harold Lasswell, one of the founding fathers of communications studies, wrote in 1927: the best propaganda is that which is the “champion of our dreams”.

The philosopher Patrick Nowell-Smith discussed the seductiveness of the propaganda of “freedom” in his 1954 work Ethics, noting its association with hedonism and its “deliciousness” within the human mind. He caveats that hedonism is not always about “gluttony and self-centredness” and is not always “carnal”.

From the propagandist’s point of view though, “freedom” is an effective rhetorical tool because it means whatever the target audience want it to mean. Its utility is that the term is vague but that it resonates with ease when uttered.

Understanding propaganda

One of the most common misconceptions around propaganda is that it always involves the communication of falsehoods to a mass audience and attempts to “brainwash” – evoking shades of North Korea or the Nazis. In the common mind, propaganda is synonymous with the use of dark arts to encourage a target audience to engage in behaviours or to think in ways that they would otherwise not. Undoubtedly, some propaganda does do this.

Propaganda is more complex than this and can also involve truth-telling, however selective or self-interested.

Today, propaganda is all around us. It is undertaken by governments, state institutions, corporations trying to sell us things, media organisations, charities and powerful individuals in advance of their own interests – just look at any billionaire philanthropist “doing good” while paying next to zero tax.

Individual citizens have obtained the means to broadcast for ourselves, particularly via social media platforms, and we too have become propagandists. “Influencer” is just a more acceptable way of saying “propagandist.”

“Freedom day” is not a lie, because restrictions will be lifted. However, the popularisation of it as such (rather than “most restrictions lifted day,” for example), is part of a strategy (endorsed by government and mainstream media alike) that has wanted the British public to think, act, associate and feel in certain ways since the pandemic began.

Indeed, the best, or most effective, propaganda is that which creates emotional bonds between the target audience and certain people, products, events or concepts. “Freedom day” has been so-called because the powerful want us to think in certain ways about this day, and to exclude or overlook other aspects of the pandemic that it deems undesirable.

To overwhelm the public’s conscience (or to subtly railroad it while making it seem like choices are available) is one of the highest art forms in propaganda. We see this perhaps most clearly within public discussion of the vaccine programme wherein government and media have sought to marginalise more critical views of it.

Calling it “freedom day” attempts to nullify the public by encouraging us not to scrutinise government and media performance as we should. It reflects an attempt to move the discussion from science, sociology and public health to patriotism and emancipation.

Michael Gove has been accused of falsely claiming all personal protective equipment (PPE) contracts for the NHS went through eight steps of vetting, as it emerged this did not happen with a deal for millions of unusable face masks linked to a Conservative adviser.

Rowena Mason http://www.theguardian.com 

Angela Rayner, Labour’s deputy leader, said Gove and other ministers were “apparently lying to the public and lying to parliament” by claiming that “every single procurement decision went through an eight-stage process”.

She uncovered the fact that the much-vaunted eight-step process was not undertaken in the case of Ayanda Capital, which was awarded £252m of deals for PPE supplies in spring 2020. Face masks provided by Ayanda were ultimately unusable because the Department of Health and Social Care had specified masks with ear loops, despite the NHS requiring masks that looped over the head.

The process was also not followed in the case of PestFix, a pest control supplies company with net assets of £18,000 that was awarded a contract to supply PPE worth £350m to the NHS, some of which also did not meet the health service’s technical standards.

In answer to a parliamentary question, the health minister, Jo Churchill, said: “The eight-stage process to assess and approve offers of support to supply [PPE] evolved over a short period of time at the end of April 2020 to formalise the checks quickly put in place by the cross-government PPE procurement cell in March 2020.

“Contracts with Ayanda Capital and PestFix pre-dated the formalised eight-stage assurance process but these suppliers were evaluated by officials on financial standing, technical compliance and ability to perform the contract. The contracts are awarded by the appropriate departmental accounting officer in line with our terms and conditions.”

Internal documents released as part of a judicial review case revealed in May that Ayanda, a “family office” finance house in London, was awarded two PPE contracts for a total of £252m after being referred to the VIP lane for assessing deals because its representative, Andrew Mills, was an adviser to Liz Truss, the trade secretary.

Officials pushed for the contracts to be processed as quickly as possible, with one marking emails “URGENT VIP CASE” and “VERY URGENT VIP ESCALATION”, saying that if the deal did not happen: “Andrew will escalate as high as he can possibly go!”

The two contracts were approved on 30 April 2020, five days after Ayanda was put into the VIP lane, but before required financial checks had been carried out on the company, despite a Cabinet Office official raising “major issues or concerns” because of inadequate availability of public financial information and a “low” credit score.

Ayanda has consistently said it fulfilled the contract according to the specifications it was given.

Rayner, who is the shadow chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster, Gove’s opposite number, said:

“Why have Michael Gove and government ministers apparently been lying to the public and lying to parliament to try to cover this up? Michael Gove needs to explain why he has not been telling the truth.

“We need a fully independent investigation into the Tories’ VIP fast track for PPE and testing contracts to get to the bottom of who got the contracts, how they got them and what connections they have to Conservative ministers and the Conservative party.”

Jo Maugham QC, director of Good Law Project, which brought the legal challenge to the Pestfix and Ayanda contracts, said: “You begin to wonder if there are any statements from ministers that you can rely on. It looks like they’ve been infected by Johnsonism: total lack of interest in the truth.”

A government spokesperson said: “All PPE contracts went through a robust process of checks and controls led by officials. These contracts have delivered over 9bn items of PPE to protect frontline workers.”

The government is defending the judicial review over the PPE contracts, arguing the VIP route and the contracts awarded, including to PestFix, Ayanda and another company, were lawful and reasonable as the government tried to rapidly meet a serious shortfall of PPE at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

A National Audit Office report in November said 144 referrals to the VIP lane had come from ministers’ private offices, but said of its investigation: “Ministers had properly declared their interests, and we found no evidence of their involvement in procurement decisions or contract management.”